Starscream (Paramount)

Starscream is a character in the Transformers film series, based on the original character of the same name. As with the original Transformers universe, Starscream is portrayed as a Decepticon and Megatron's treacherous second-in-command.

Transformers film universe

During production of the live-action movie, writer Alex Kurtzman stated that Starscream would not stray from his treacherous roots as he seeks to overthrow Megatron, and frequently engages in bickering arguments with him. In the film, he is seen vehemently pledging his allegiance to Megatron when the latter breaks free from the Hoover Dam, but unlike the other Decepticons, he is not killed in the final battle and escapes the planet at the end of the movie. For unknown reasons, he passes up a chance to take the All Spark for himself. Although, it could be that he didn't dare try, with Megatron so near.

As always, Starscream transforms into a jet, in this case an F-22 Raptor. He has a hatred of Megatron and seeks to be Leader of the Decepticons. He is bulkier than most incarnations, due to the size of the Raptor combined with the lack of mass displacement. He maintains a simian body shape with a large, triangular chest, large shoulders formed by the jet's distinctive twin tails, long arms, and small or bird-like feet. His chest is still formed by the jet's nose. The jet's powerful main engines end up on his back, allowing him to leap great heights into the air and take flight, much like a jetpack. They also allow him to control his descent if he transforms out of his jet form in midair. His movements are a combination of acrobatic and avian, grabbing hold of a bridge's bottom to launch himself up into the air and transforming in mid-flight to swoop down upon his prey. His arms store heavy weaponry, with a missile launcher carrying six missiles in his left arm and a high caliber machine gun (probably the jet's Vulcan cannon) in his right. In the movie's video game tie-ins, he is also seen detaching one or both of his wings and using them as short swords (a reference to his depiction in Transformers: Armada). When in Raptor mode he can simulate the appearance of a human pilot, the same holographic model (referred to as "Mustache Man" on-set and in the credits) that "pilots" Blackout and "drives" Barricade.

The official guide to the Transformers video game says he's 31 feet tall (9.4 m), although measuring his 2007 Voyager class toy suggests he would stand 55 feet (16.8 m) tall and 2009 Voyager toy suggests he would stand 46.2 feet tall. The Transformers U.K. magazine states he stands 31 feet (9.4 m) tall, weighs 5.3 (short) tons (4.8 tonnes) and can travel up to Mach 3.

The movie prequel comics show Starscream acquiring his Raptor form by scanning an experimental Raptor prototype before shooting it down, which should put him among the 411th Flight Test Squadron based out of Edwards Air Force Base (responsible for testing new F-22s). Movie scenes show him among a squadron bearing "ED" tail markings, placing him at Edwards. However, promotional photos of Starscream released with the movie show sufficient detail to recognize the markings on the fuselage of Starscream's disguise: the tail that forms his left shoulder bears a winged sword enclosed in a shield, denoting the Air Combat Command, as well as the letters "FF 1st FW" indicating the 1st Fighter Wing based out of Langley Air Force Base; a portion of the nose forming his chest shows a reversed version of the "flying fist" insignia of the 1st Fighter Wing's 71st Fighter Squadron. This is inaccurate on two counts, since the 71st still flies the F-15 Eagle; however, this could be a homage to the Generation 1 Starscream's F-15 mode.

Starscream's color is the same as the jet's in the movie and the video game's cutscenes, but when Starscream is controlled by the player or the computer his skin turns green.

Books

In the prequel novel Transformers: Ghosts of Yesterday it is revealed that Starscream is leader of the Decepticons following Megatron's disappearance during his search for the Allspark. He and a crew of Decepticons travel in the Nemesis to search for the Allspark and Megatron, although Starscream is not keen on finding the latter. His leadership is uneasy at best: Blackout opposes him at every turn (rightly not trusting Starscream and thinking that he would prefer that they never find Megatron), while Barricade tolerates it only as a means of finding Megatron . Encountering Ghost-1, a human craft of Cybertronian design, Starscream manipulated them into revealing that Megatron and the Allspark were on Earth, then betrayed them. After winning a vicious duel with Blackout for leadership, he launched a full-scale assault on the Autobots. Just as he and Bonecrusher almost killed Optimus Prime, Starscream was severely injured by Ghost-1. In retaliation he destroyed the human craft before retreating. Optimus Prime notes that Starscream's Cybertronian jet mode resembles that of Megatron's.

Starscream returns in Transformers: The Veiled Threat. With Megatron dead, Starscream eventually returns to Earth around Zambia where he gains control over local rebel groups by using his internal synthesizers to create gold coins. With his group composed of Dropkick, Macerator, and Payload, Starcream lead an attack on a local dam construction site, making short work of the security forces, and proceed to steal mass quantities of explosives. But as the Autobots arrive to enage his followers, Starscream springs his trap as both sides are nearly killed with Beachbreak the only casualty before Macerator is killed. Making his way to Europe, Starscream strikes a deal with an Italian criminal named Bruno Carrera to help destroy Optimus Prime in exchange for dominion over Europe when the Decepticons triumph. With Swindle and Deadend to call out the Autobots, Starscream tricks Prime with the strong set of restraints arranged by Carrera before he attacks the remaining Autobots until Prime breaks free. Forced to fall back, Starscream attacks Carrera at this villa for his “failure”.

IDW Publishing

The back story of the Transformers on ancient Cybertron is told in Transformers: Defiance. In this story Starscream returns to Cybertron after encountering an enemy scout ship in the Eshems Nebula. After being repaired for minor damage by Ratchet, Starscream and Ironhide report to Optimus Prime and Megatron. Later the planet is invaded by aliens from the Eshems Nebula and Starscream is among the defenders in the city of Metrotitan, near the temple at Simfur. In issue #2 he sided with Megatron in his decision to counter-attack Cybertron's invaders and was among the fleet that attacked their ships.

File:Starscream-protoform.jpg

Protoform Starscream in the IDW Transformers: Movie Prequel series

Starscream also appeared at the end of issue #3 of Transformers: Movie Prequel, where he, Blackout and Barricade destroyed the Mars Beagle probe. In issue 4, he traveled to Earth, gaining his F-22 alternate mode by scanning an experimental Raptor before shooting it down. The three Decepticons, detecting emissions similar to that of the Allspark, then stumbled onto Sector 7's trap for Bumblebee, wiping out their military backup. Starscream then approved Barricade's plan to follow Bumblebee and see if he could lead them to the Allspark, tailing him from the air.

He appeared in the official movie sequel comic called "The Reign of Starscream". In this story Starscream leaves the battle in Mission City, where he finds Barricade alive, but damaged, and then goes to recover Frenzy's body from the Sector 7 base under Hoover Dam in hopes of gaining information on the Allspark. After recovering Frenzy, Starscream was confronted by Sector 7 forces commanded by Agent Salazar. After an unsuccessful attempt by Salazar to use L.M.-1 in battle Starscream kidnapped Salazar and left Earth for Mars. Salazar died from decompression, much to Starscream's surprise, when they left Earth's atmosphere. Starscream barely made it to the Nemesis on Mars before he ran out of power. His return was noted by the Autobot Cosmos, who alerted Arcee, Cliffjumper, Smokescreen, Camshaft and Air Raid. Aided by Thundercracker on the Nemesis Starscream recovered and sent the information Frenzy had gathered back to Cybertron just as Hardtop spotted the Autobots closing on the Nemesis. In issue #5 Starscream sacrificed the sparks of Crankcase, Elita One, Grindcore, Signal Flare, and Warpath to bring his new Allspark Cube online. Although the cube failed to function Starscream didn't have time to find out why as Dreadwing made his bid to overthrow the Decepticons using his army of drones. Ramjet and Divebomb sided with Dreadwing, but Thundercracker and Stockade remained loyal to Starscream. Crosshairs beheaded Ramjet and the Autobots were able to deactivate the drones as Starscream overcame Dreadwing's remaining forces, including Divebomb. Dreadwing escaped to the Nemesis, but was followed by Starscream. Crashing on Mars Dreadwing thought he was free, but Starscream had followed and killed Dreadwing before turning his eye to Earth.

In Transformers: Alliance a month after the battle at Mission City Epps and Lennox contacted Optimus Prime, Ratchet and Ironhide about aiding them in escorting the remains of the Decepticons to the naval yard, but they were spied on by Barricade, who transmitted the information to Starscream, who was applying the Cybertronian symbols seen on his body in the film. Unable to ignore the possibility of being able to take out Prime, Megatron and Wreckage at once, Starscream attacked but was unable to overpower Wreckage, who was enhanced with a sliver of the Allspark. As Wreckage was about to deal a deathblow, he was distracted by Bumblebee. Starscream capitalized and gutted his foe before turning his firepower on the Autobot and the humans. However, he then retreated, having an unexpected communication from Soundwave.

Movie plot

File:Starscream-moviepilot.jpg

Starscream's hologram pilot in the live-action film

In the film, Starscream rallies the other Decepticons to battle when Frenzy alerts them to the All Spark's location. He destroys the electrical substation that powers Sector 7's base, allowing Megatron to come out of his deep freeze. Upon being reunited with Megatron, however, he is scolded by his leader for letting the All Spark escape in a manner reminiscent of his G1 counterpart: "You've failed me yet again, Starscream."

File:Starscream-2007movie.jpg

Starscream in robot form

In the final battle between the Autobots and Decepticons, he is the first Decepticon to arrive on the scene thanks to his flight capability, which he also uses to ambush the Autobots when their human allies mistake him for a friendly Air Force pilot. He aids Brawl and Megatron by firing missiles in his Raptor form at Bumblebee and Ironhide, destroying the former's legs and injuring the latter. Later, he stops Sam Witwicky from fleeing by land with the Allspark, easily disabling both Ratchet and Ironhide in the process; however, he doesn't take the Allspark. When Sam is about to hand off the Allspark to a Black Hawk crewman, Starscream shoots down the helicopter. Later, when a full airstrike has been called in on Megatron and Blackout, Starscream conceals himself among the attacking jets in order to ambush them. He destroys three of the jets, but retreats from the battle after the F-22 pilots regroup and engage him, allowing the jets to complete their mission. There is speculation that Starscream, himself, was one of the jets among those firing upon Megatron at the end, but the screenwriters have said fans will have to wait until the sequel to learn Starscream's true role in Megatron's demise.

Note: According to the bio for the Premium Deep Space Starscream toy, Starscream retreated to a nearby power plant to re-energize himself, but this was not shown in the film.

An interlude during the end credits shows Starscream leaving Earth's atmosphere, leaving questions about his role in a sequel. He can be heard speaking, though his words are not clear nor subtitled.

In the 2009 film Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Starscream is first seen on the Nemesis ship wreck and is confronted by Megatron, who is angry because Starscream left him to die on Earth. He reveals that they are nearly running out of energon, the secondary source of life, after a couple of the Cybertronian protoforms in the Nemesis die prematurely. He is later seen fighting alongside Grindor and Megatron against Optimus Prime, but is subdued quickly and his arm chopped off. He and Megatron escape after Autobot reinforcements arrive to protect Prime's body. Before reattaching his arm, Starscream is beaten by Megatron on top of a building for not being able to catch Sam. He is seen later in Egypt with the other Decepticons who are looking for Sam. He tells Rampage to spring the trap for Sam when Sam and Mikaela got close which results in the demise of Rampage and Ravage. When the Fallen is killed, Starscream convinces Megatron that retreating is their only option of survival as they leave Earth. Along with Megatron, and Soundwave, Starscream is one of the only three confirmed Decepticons who survived the film.

Titan Magazine

In "Twilight's Last Greaming" part 3 Starscream and Scorponok attack the Autobots Arcee, Armorhide, Elita One, Longarm, Skyblast and Strongarm on the moon. The Autobots flee to Earth, which is exactly what Starscream hoped they'd do.

Strascream would return in issue #22 of the Titan Transformers Magazine series in a story called "The Decepticon who Haunted Himself."

Video games

Starscream is a playable character in the video game, with a white and red 'G1 Repaint' unlockable after the player completes the Decepticon campaign. He would appear as a boss alongside with Blackout in the Autobot campaign, where he is seemingly killed by Jazz. In the Decepticon campaign he is playable, and is also featured in many cutscenes and communications. In the Nintendo DS Transformers: Decepticons game, Starscream would kill Barricade and Blackout, steal the Allspark and betray Megatron. Starscream is fought by Megatron as the final boss. Although Megatron kills Starscream, he ends up destroying the Allspark in the process.

Starscream is among the playable characters in the 2009 Revenge of the Fallen video game by Activision.

In the Nintendo DS game Revenge of the Fallen: Decepticons Grindor, Sideways, Soundwave and Starscream greet a new Decepticon protoform and send him on a mission.

Toys

• Transformers Deluxe Preview Protoform Starscream (2007)

The first Starscream figure to be released was a deluxe sized figure which represents protoform Starscream in the 2007 movie.

• Transformers Deluxe Preview Protoform Fusion Cluster Starscream (2007)

This Japanese exclusive version of Protoform Starscream is molded in orange and black, while his limbs and tail are molded in transparent orange. In Entry mode, he appears to be glowing orange from entering Earth's atmosphere.

• Transformers Legends Starscream (2007)

A Micro class vehicle of Starscream.

With a real F-22 measuring 1890 centimeters long, and this toy measuring 8.5 centimeters, this toy is about 1:222 scale.

• Transformers Legends Stealth Starscream (2008)

A redeco of Movie Legends Starscream. Also available in a 2-pack with Nightwatch Optimus Prime.

File:Starscream-moviefab.jpg

Starscream Fast Action Battler

• Transformers Fast Action Battlers Battle Blade Starscream (2007)

A Deluxe sized figure with simple transformation for younger children. The figure converts from robot mode to F-22 Raptor jet mode and features a flip-out arm blade. In vehicle mode it is 15 centimeters long. Since a real F-22 is 1890 centimeters long this toy has a scale of about 1/126 scale.

Also released in a redeco as Ramjet.

This toy was among the Transformers 2007 movie toys to be bootlegged from Chinese toy makers. A nearly identical toy, minus the Decepticon logo, was sold under the perplexing name "Latent Spider" in 2007.

With a real F-22 measuring 1890 centimeters long, and this toy measuring 17.5 centimeters, this toy is about 1:108 scale.

• Transformers Voyager Starscream (2007)

Featuring Automorph technology, this toy transforms into an F-22 Raptor and fires projectiles through his spinning arm turrets(the spinning arm turrets cannot transform into hands). In vehicle mode, he is 21 centimeters long. Since a real F-22 is 1890 centimeters long, this toy has a scale of about 1/90 scale and Starscream would stand about 55 feet (17 m) tall. A repaint of this figure was released as Thundercracker.

• Transformers Voyager Starscream redeco (2007)

A Target exclusive repaint of Voyager Starscream, showing his new form after the events of Transformers Movie. Supposedly, he changed his color scheme into a Generation One scheme to hide from the Autobots. In addition to the repaint, this toy features a head design made to resemble the original G1 head.

• Transformers Voyager Starscream (Toshiba Vardia Red Version) (2007)

A Japan-only release, this red repaint of Starscream was part of Toshiba's "HD DVD Transform" campaign, where it was included with the purchase of a Toshiba Vardia RD-A301 HD DVD Recorder.

• Transformers Voyager Deep Space Starscream (2008)

A Target exclusive metallic redeco of movie Voyager Starscream. Packaged in robot mode in a clear plastic box similar to that used for Robo-Vision Optimus Prime.

• Revenge of the Fallen Legends Starscream (2009)

A redeco of the toy from the last film with a new deco.

• Revenge of the Fallen Voyager Starscream (2009)

A new Voyager class mold first appeared on the internet in January of 2008. Although similar in size to the first movie's Voyager mold, the new toy features better proportions in jet mode, arms with hands, improved articulation, a more film accurate head, and "Mechalive" features which make gears in the chest move when you turn the head. The paint sceme is similar to the first film, but with Cybertronian 'tattoos' which he placed on his body on Mars after returning from Cybertron in the IDW comics.

The toy is 21.5 centimeters long in jet mode, 16 centimeters tall as a robot. With the real F-22 reaching 1890 centimeters long the toy is 1:88 scale. It would also imply Starscream stands 1408 centimeters (46.2 feet) tall as a robot.

• Revenge of the Fallen Robot Replicas Starscream (2009)

A Robot Replica version of Starscream, which will feature a missile-launcher arm, and a machine gun arm. This will be a movie-accurate figure of Starscream in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.

• Revenge of the Fallen Leader Starscream (2010, not released yet)

Prototype was introduced during the Hasbro Q&A session at BotCon '09. One person on the panel stated that this is his favorite toy from the movie line. The prototype features lights, sounds, a moving jaw, a galting gun that can be attached to the arm and hidden missile launchers. It is also said to be the most detail-accurate figure out of the entire line.

Non-transforming merchandise

• Starscream Micro Flyer (2007)

A RadioShack exclusive. This Radio-controlled airplane has a range of 150 feet (46 m) and a flight speed of 18.6 mph (30 km/h) and is rechargeable via controller. [1]