Skywarp

Skywarp is the name of several fictional characters in the Transformers toyline.

Generation One (1984)

US cartoon

Skywarp is one of the Seekers alongside Starscream and Thundercracker.

Function: Warrior

Motto: "Strike when the enemy isn't looking."

Bio: Skywarp is the sneakiest of all Decepticons. Enjoys playing cruel pranks on fellow Decepticons and appearing out of nowhere to attack Autobots. Not too smart. Would be useless without Megatron's supervision. Top speed of 1500mph. Can instantly teleport up to 2.5 miles. Carries heat-seeking missiles and variable-calibre machine guns.

Note: Due to what appears to be a mistake in production, the tech spec numbers for Skywarp and Starscream were seemingly swapped, since Starscream is described the leader and fastest of the Seekers in the text, yet the numbers show Skywarp as being higher ranking and faster.

He was among the original group Decepticons that joined Megatron as he pursued Optimus Prime. On Cybertron he transformed into a triangular ship. But when the Autobot the Decepticon ships crashed, he lay dormant for 4 million years in Oregon until a volcano activated Teletran One and began repairing both Decepticons and Autobots. The computer scanned vehicles to give the Transformers. Skywarp was given that of an black F-15 Eagle with purple highlights (the three Seekers are physically identical except in their color schemes). Also unique to Skywarp is his ability to teleport short distances while in the air. Unlike his Seeker brethren Starscream, he is completely loyal at all times to the Decepticon leader, Megatron. According to his tech spec, he "is the sneakiest of all Decepticons", and "would be useless without supervision". Like the other Skyraiders, he had guns in his jet mode that he also used in his robot mode.

Although a popular character in the Transformers universe, Skywarp seldom shows much of an identity other than that of being a loyal Decepticon soldier. In 2005, Skywarp was among those who died in the Battle Of Autobot City that mortally wounded the factions' two leaders. Set adrift with Megatron, Skywarp and his leader encountered Unicron. Through Unicron's power, Skywarp was reformated as one of two warriors each named Cyclonus, minions of Galvatron. It is not known whether or not Skywarp is the Cyclonus that is typically depicted in Season Three of the series.

Marvel Comics

Skywarp's up for raiding sir, and my teleportational power'll pop me right into their midst to make mischief. - Skywarp in the Marvel Transformers comic.

Dreamwave Comics

Skywarp was recruited as a Decepticon under the leadership of Megatron in his war against the Autobots on the planet Cybertron. Skywarp became a member of the elite Seekers under Aerospace Commander Starscream. He often worked with fellow Seeker Thundercracker.

Skywarp and Thundercracker launched an attack against the city of Altihex, where they killed the Autobot named Overhaul and routed Grimlock, Kup, Wheeljack, Ironhide, Skids, Bumblebee and Trailbreaker (Transformers: The War Within #1).

Starscream, Skywarp and Thundercracker attacked the city of Protihex under the orders of Megatron. Knowing that Grimlock joined with the Autobots, but was dissatisified with them, Starscream offered Grimlock the chance to join the attack on Protihex. Grimlock rejected the offer and not only evacuated the Autobot outpost before the attack could occur, but he left an explosive trap for Starscream and company. If not for Skywarp's ability to teleport them all to safety, the Decepticons may have not escaped alive (Transformers: The War Within #3).

When Megatron and Autobot leader Optimus Prime disappeared in an accident with a space bridge, the Autobot and Decepticon forces splintered into smaller factions. Skywarp stayed with the Decepticons under the leadership of Shockwave.

Skywarp was chosen as a member of the crew of the Nemesis when Megatron launched it to attack the Ark, an Autobot ship. Both ships fought, and after the Decepticons boarded the Ark, it crashed on the planet Earth. All on board were placed in emergency stasis lock for millions of years.

In the Earth year 1984, a volcanic explosion awakened the Ark. The Ark's computer, Teletran One, reformatted all on board to be able to assume the forms of Earth machines. Skywarp was given the form of an F-15 fighter jet.

Eventually the combined forces of the Autobots on Earth, and their human allies were able to capture the Decepticons. A ship called the Ark II was built to take the Cybertonians back to Cybertron, along with some human companions, but the ship exploded shortly after takeoff. The human allies were killed, but the Cybertonians were lost in the ocean, again in statis lock.

Skywarp and others were recovered by a rogue military unit and reprogrammed as slave war machines, but Megatron broke free and then freed his fellow Decepticons, including Skywarp.

Returning to Earth under the command of Starscream, Skywarp, Soundwave and Thundercracker were captures by the Autobots and locked in cells on board the Ark. They escaped when the Ark was attacked by Bruticus (Transformers: Generation One III #1).

Machine Wars (1997)

A Decepticon jet based on an unused flip-changing mold left which was prototyped in Generation: Two was used for Skywarp in the Machine Wars toy line.

Function: Warrior

Motto: "Strike when their backs are turned!"

Bio: Considered the sneakiest Decepticon to ever fly in the sky. Pulls practical jokes on fellow fighter planes. Low intelligence makes him prone to accidents and occasional mid-air collisions. Instant conversion capabilities allow for immediate battle-ready status.

Beast Wars 2nd (1998)

The second character named Skywarp. A Maximal from Cybertron, he is one third of the Magnaboss Squad. He was released as Silverbolt in the U.S. Although the U.S. version of this toy never appeared in a show or had an individual tech spec, the Japanese version appeared in the Japanese series and had his own tech spec.

Function: Sonic Speed Instructor

Bio: Skywarp is an aerial combat instructor dispatched from Seibertron as reinforcements for Lioconvoy's troops. While strict, he has more consideration than anyone else for young Cybertron warriors. Part of his wings become Wing Caliber Swords and he has super-oscillation generators in his wing tips. Combining these with his sonic booms, the clears the ground around him. And if that's not enough, he can fold over his wings and fire his Sky Missiles.

Transformers: Armada (2003)

Skywarp made an appearance in the series, Transformers: Armada. However, he did not appear in the show, and was restricted to the toy-line, where he was a remold of the Starscream mold, rather than a recolor like his fellow seeker, Thundercracker. His Mini-Con was a jet named Thunderclash.

Motto: "Bull's eye in the sky, oh my!"

Bio: [From the Undercover Files of ~ Autobot] They say that the clouds get a little bit darker when Skywarp is in the air, and they're not too far off, There's a darkness around this Decepticon that's as intense as his grim attitude, Serious-minded and determined but with an ironic wit, he's the kind of 'bot I can respect and trust to do his job, the only problem is that he's on the wrong side of the Autobot/Decepticon fence, As much as I appreciate this quiet, professional Decepticon's abilities, I know that I can't let myself be fooled into thinking he's actually my, well, friend. That's the kind of mistake that an amateur makes, and I'm no newbie. If Skywarp knew that I was working deep cover for the Autobots, would our friendship mean more than doing his duty? Or would he live up to the cold, remorseless reputation he's earned so far? Maybe I've been here too long, but-of all the Decepticons I've worked with while undercover-Skywarp is the only one I don't want to face in battle.. .and it's not just because of his formidable skills.

Weapons and Abilities: Strong, smart, and super-fast, he's easily a match for his prominent relative, Starscream. Unlike that questionable bit of robo-trash, Skywarp is a consummate professional. He's an incredible marksman in his jet mode, capable of targeting a meter-long target at a distance of 10 kilometers with no problems. This ability has gained him the nickname "Bull's-Eye in the Sky;' which has become his mocking catchphrase after slagging an opponent, He's equally intense about his abilities in robot mode, training hard in all types of martial arts until he's as precise, silent, and deadly as what the Earthlings call a "ninja:' His two missile launchers each fire a salvo of 10 mini-projectiles that Skywarp can aim with uncanny precision. He also wields a diamond-hard blade in robot mode with fatal efficiency.

Weaknesses: Beneath his cool exterior, Skywarp is still sensitive to comments that he earned his position with the Decepticons solely by being related to Starscream, Maybe he trains so hard to dismiss those accusations once and for all. Regardless, comments about how he earned his position are the only thing that can always easily bait Skywarp.

Transformers: Universe (2004)

In the Botcon comic series, Skywarp returns after tricking the second Megatron into giving him a new body. Strangely, Skywarp joins the Wreckers alongside Cyclonus, contrary to his apparent reformatting into the Decepticon warrior. This toy was a recolor of Machine Wars Deluxe Jetstorm.

3H Comics

After the end of the Great War 300 years in the future, a Predacon named Megatron conquored Cybertron with his Vehicon army. Megatron attempted to using Skywarp's spark to create a Vehicon to use against the few Maximals who opposed him, but Skywarp broke free and joined up with the Wreckers under the command of Primal Prime.

Robot Masters (2005)

A toy of Skywarp, a recolor of the earlier Starscream Robot Masters toy, was sold in Japan.

Transformers: Cybertron (2005)

A promotional toy called Skywarp was given away at the San Diego ComicCon which was a recolor of the smaller Cybertron Starscream toy. This toy was colored to resemble the original Skywarp's black and purple colors.

A second toy named Skywarp was made, this time a purple recolor of the Deluxe sized Thundercracker.

Neither of these two Skywarps have made any appearances in the Cybertron television series or comics.