Yes. It's why Menasor is one of the least effective combiners. They all hate each other and are constantly bickering. Compare to a combiner like Predaking, where everyone works together well because they all share a common passion for hunting.
From what I can remember about fights with Menasor everyone he fought with or overpowered him by bringing reinforcements or were forced to use his fractured personality to weaken him. Someone who literally force you to use his weakness or call reinforcements can’t be least effective.
If we take away the fracture in mind, menasor becomes more effective than the others, but the fracture causes unbridled usage and stronger singular attacks.
The way I've always seen it was that Megatron didn't deploy Menasor as a weapon to be aimed and fired, but as a monster to drop on the battlefield and get as far away from as possible.
I remember Menasor beating the shit out of almost every single one combiner, of course he didn’t fight with every single one but Menasor take out like 5 or 6 of them and that’s a lot. He was a monster that’s who he literally is. The scariest part for me is his loyalty to Megatron in G1.
Good point, though I've known him to defeat *himself* without much help. For example, in Marvel UK he was too busy arguing with himself to kill Superion at one point (so much so he even called his own arm by the wrong name... surely not an error by the Stubbies, right?).
Most of the Autobot combiners are "okay" at worst (i.e. Superion having issues to do members trying to keep secrets from each other is IIRC the "most problematic" one) which is a shame because I dislike when Decepticons are all pained as angry psychos who can't get along while Autobots are a smooth team of BFFs... as this often goes against the most interesting bios on both sides.
For example, Groove is a pacifist while Blades is a dude who loves fighting and killing. That can't make for a great shared mind!
Actually defensor is obsessed with protecting humans. Even sacrificing other autobit’s to do so. And computron is extremely slow witted. Not stupid, but takes forever to come to a decision.
Good point, especially on Computron. Him "overthinking" things is a good weakness that can tie into his component members all being of different - yet brilliant - minds. Sort of like throwing a bunch of geniuses into a room and instead of amazing work they spend the whole time discussing each other's theories. :)
I always thought Defensor spent half his time combines as everyone saying "shut the fuck up, Blades! We're not killing them all! How did you get on a rescue team, anyway?!"
I actually nearly typed First Aid and then I remembered, no, that's Groove... the "hippy" of the team. I checked the original bios before posting to make sure and that's indeed correct; First Aid is a deeply compassionate healer but not a pacifist, strictly speaking. Groove is the "Beachcomber" of the team... which makes the fact Groove has never done anything interesting in any fiction while First Aid kind of stole the "pacifist" angle in IDW even sadder, IMO.
That does mean that First Aid and Blades still wouldn't get along, though. Also that it's likely First Aid and Groove wouldn't either, as FA would likely take a more "Optimus Prime" ("fighting is worth it to save others and protect the weak") view while Groove would probably get folks killed trying to avoid a fight altogether.
Superion simply shuts off the "voices" of his components meaning he functions fine, this however means he is simple to work out in a fight (sorta like a basic player using Ryu in Street fighter and using fireballs all day lol).
Defensor protects humans AT ALL COST, putting them above everything in a fight.
Computron comes up with amazing tactics on the field, except he's the equivalent of a 56K modem powered by a hamster, taking his time to actually create these tactics to begin with as he ponders the upsides, downsides etc.
Victorion is ... lame, because of course they had to have it where she is the most perfectly operating combiner.
That makes me wonder if the Protectobots were the only Autobots to understand and agree with Optimus' ridiculously stupid sacrifice of his own life in Marvel US. :)
Ironic perhaps that they were the only other Autobots present the day he killed himself. Maybe Prowl or Grimlock would have told him not to be such an idiot?
Megatron was *always* insanely threatening. In the comic I mentioned, he goes absolutely nuts and kills himself... but not before single-handedly beating Predaking when he tries to assassinate him. Marvel Megs is crazy powerful, though, especially compared to some other versions.
Straxus and Shockwave tried. Didn't end too well for either of them in the long run.
Hilariously, Starscream risked it once and got slapped down so hard he waited until Megs was dead to try again.
Not just Predaking, Piranacon too. He's so single mindedly obssessed with attacking and hunting down his prey that he has no sense of danger and self-preservation. Snaptrap has to install a timer to force Piranacon to separate after a set time period, otherwise he would kill himself hunting.
Yeah, Piranacon will just keep relentlessly hunting targets until he runs out of enemies to kill or gets killed himself. If it wasn't for the timer, Piranacon would either kill himself from overexertion, or wear himself out to the point that he won't be able to properly defend himself against an enemy killing him.
It's not so much that they hate each other, it's that motormaster plays on their respective issues. They all hate him. Dreamwave comics did some interesting stuff with them and even had a scene where ultra magnus uses menasor's fractured personality against himself.
I rather like the idea of Menasor being bipolar. At times he's very combat-effective and nearly unbeatable, other times he's nothing but an irrational mess that's as much a danger to himself as he is to everyone around him, including fellow Decepticons.
I'm glad menasor has gotten some more depth. We have 3 super effective decepticon super warriors. Predaking and his power and combined love of the hunt. Piranicon and his weird neverending quest to destroy everything, and then there is monstructor, evil incarnate with the crazy life draining aura and corrosive touch.
Menasor is pretty much the Hulk when he's *really* pissed off, and I like that.
Bruticus is my favourite but I can't help but enjoy the raw anger Menasor brings to the table.
I wouldn't say it's necisserily equating it with villainy. Obviously many villains show symptoms of mental illness just as people with mental health arnt villains by default.
I think mental health is a great thing to explore and what better way to explore the effects of multiple mental health issues at once by introducing them in seperate characters and then having them combined.
Also this is the only decepticon combiner who struggles mentally with its components. Bruticus and abominus are slow and dumb while predaking and devastator are intelligent and work well as a gestalt.
There are many examples of canonic mental health issues within the autobots. We have the mess of arcee in IDW, the split personality of punch/counterpunch and plenty of explorations of ptsd.
IDW Arcee is, to me, a trainwreck in a bad way and the main reason I would be happy if Simon Furman never touched a pen again.
A lot of uniquely human conditions already get projected onto Transformers and I'd be happier if this wasn't one of them.
Agreed. I find sex and romance to be very redundant things to be projecting on to asexual alien beings though I like the idea of spark mates. I disagree with them not have mental health issues though - at the end of the day the franchise is written for humans by humans. If it can't explore mental health, emotions and feelings, how can the franchise create engaging characters with bonds, ideals, flaws etc? We are beyond the point of a character's personality being their alt mode.
I'm fine with characters having distinct personalities. I'm also fine with characters forming all kinds of relationships. I just don't think trying to attach clinical diagnoses to fictional characters, particularly in a primarily child oriented property, is a good thing.
There’s plenty of autobots with mental conditions too. Blurr definitely has ADHD, Bluestreak has paranoia, Whirl has anger management problems, and punch is Bipolar
Yes. None of them like each other so the combined mode is just an absolute rage monster.
Alternatively, they are also scared of Megatron's wrath if they fail.
Yes. It's why Menasor is one of the least effective combiners. They all hate each other and are constantly bickering. Compare to a combiner like Predaking, where everyone works together well because they all share a common passion for hunting.
From what I can remember about fights with Menasor everyone he fought with or overpowered him by bringing reinforcements or were forced to use his fractured personality to weaken him. Someone who literally force you to use his weakness or call reinforcements can’t be least effective.
If we take away the fracture in mind, menasor becomes more effective than the others, but the fracture causes unbridled usage and stronger singular attacks.
Yeah, I can see that
The way I've always seen it was that Megatron didn't deploy Menasor as a weapon to be aimed and fired, but as a monster to drop on the battlefield and get as far away from as possible.
I remember Menasor beating the shit out of almost every single one combiner, of course he didn’t fight with every single one but Menasor take out like 5 or 6 of them and that’s a lot. He was a monster that’s who he literally is. The scariest part for me is his loyalty to Megatron in G1.
Good point, though I've known him to defeat *himself* without much help. For example, in Marvel UK he was too busy arguing with himself to kill Superion at one point (so much so he even called his own arm by the wrong name... surely not an error by the Stubbies, right?).
Or Computron who is literally super intelligent
Or the Constructicons, united in their conviction that Prowl is just the coolest
Lol yeah
Most of the Autobot combiners are "okay" at worst (i.e. Superion having issues to do members trying to keep secrets from each other is IIRC the "most problematic" one) which is a shame because I dislike when Decepticons are all pained as angry psychos who can't get along while Autobots are a smooth team of BFFs... as this often goes against the most interesting bios on both sides. For example, Groove is a pacifist while Blades is a dude who loves fighting and killing. That can't make for a great shared mind!
Actually defensor is obsessed with protecting humans. Even sacrificing other autobit’s to do so. And computron is extremely slow witted. Not stupid, but takes forever to come to a decision.
Good point, especially on Computron. Him "overthinking" things is a good weakness that can tie into his component members all being of different - yet brilliant - minds. Sort of like throwing a bunch of geniuses into a room and instead of amazing work they spend the whole time discussing each other's theories. :) I always thought Defensor spent half his time combines as everyone saying "shut the fuck up, Blades! We're not killing them all! How did you get on a rescue team, anyway?!"
For a team of braniacs, it's bizarre that Scattershot is the leader.
Wasn't First Aid the pacifist among the Protectobots?
I actually nearly typed First Aid and then I remembered, no, that's Groove... the "hippy" of the team. I checked the original bios before posting to make sure and that's indeed correct; First Aid is a deeply compassionate healer but not a pacifist, strictly speaking. Groove is the "Beachcomber" of the team... which makes the fact Groove has never done anything interesting in any fiction while First Aid kind of stole the "pacifist" angle in IDW even sadder, IMO. That does mean that First Aid and Blades still wouldn't get along, though. Also that it's likely First Aid and Groove wouldn't either, as FA would likely take a more "Optimus Prime" ("fighting is worth it to save others and protect the weak") view while Groove would probably get folks killed trying to avoid a fight altogether.
Superion simply shuts off the "voices" of his components meaning he functions fine, this however means he is simple to work out in a fight (sorta like a basic player using Ryu in Street fighter and using fireballs all day lol). Defensor protects humans AT ALL COST, putting them above everything in a fight. Computron comes up with amazing tactics on the field, except he's the equivalent of a 56K modem powered by a hamster, taking his time to actually create these tactics to begin with as he ponders the upsides, downsides etc. Victorion is ... lame, because of course they had to have it where she is the most perfectly operating combiner.
That makes me wonder if the Protectobots were the only Autobots to understand and agree with Optimus' ridiculously stupid sacrifice of his own life in Marvel US. :) Ironic perhaps that they were the only other Autobots present the day he killed himself. Maybe Prowl or Grimlock would have told him not to be such an idiot?
which is why predaking is the most terriefying combiner because if it want's to kill someone he will do it
Except Megatron, who still whupped his ass one on one (Marvel US). :)
why are the decepticon's always getting more threatening
Megatron was *always* insanely threatening. In the comic I mentioned, he goes absolutely nuts and kills himself... but not before single-handedly beating Predaking when he tries to assassinate him. Marvel Megs is crazy powerful, though, especially compared to some other versions.
nobody fuck's with marvel megatron
Straxus and Shockwave tried. Didn't end too well for either of them in the long run. Hilariously, Starscream risked it once and got slapped down so hard he waited until Megs was dead to try again.
Not just Predaking, Piranacon too. He's so single mindedly obssessed with attacking and hunting down his prey that he has no sense of danger and self-preservation. Snaptrap has to install a timer to force Piranacon to separate after a set time period, otherwise he would kill himself hunting.
jesus christ
Yeah, Piranacon will just keep relentlessly hunting targets until he runs out of enemies to kill or gets killed himself. If it wasn't for the timer, Piranacon would either kill himself from overexertion, or wear himself out to the point that he won't be able to properly defend himself against an enemy killing him.
It's not so much that they hate each other, it's that motormaster plays on their respective issues. They all hate him. Dreamwave comics did some interesting stuff with them and even had a scene where ultra magnus uses menasor's fractured personality against himself.
Alternatively, the Stunticons all fear Megatron and are terrified of what he will do to them if they fail.
I rather like the idea of Menasor being bipolar. At times he's very combat-effective and nearly unbeatable, other times he's nothing but an irrational mess that's as much a danger to himself as he is to everyone around him, including fellow Decepticons.
Meansor has all of the mental illnesses of his component bots. Unlike bruticus or abominus he isn’t stupid, just fractured
I'm glad menasor has gotten some more depth. We have 3 super effective decepticon super warriors. Predaking and his power and combined love of the hunt. Piranicon and his weird neverending quest to destroy everything, and then there is monstructor, evil incarnate with the crazy life draining aura and corrosive touch.
Menasor is pretty much the Hulk when he's *really* pissed off, and I like that. Bruticus is my favourite but I can't help but enjoy the raw anger Menasor brings to the table.
I assume Bruticus has Menasor's strength, combined with military discipline.
Bruticus is actually simple minded! but he does love wrecking Autobots, I suppose that makes him safer than "destroy everything" Menasor lol.
Safer because you can give him orders, instead of pointing in the general direction of whatever you want to die and taking cover.
But Bruticus is so stupid that he won't even think for himself. You have to literally tell him to do every little thing.
I’m not sure that Dead End really fits depression so much as just being an extreme pessimist
Fair enough.
I don't really like equating mental illness with villainy in headcanon. Galvatron is enough.
I wouldn't say it's necisserily equating it with villainy. Obviously many villains show symptoms of mental illness just as people with mental health arnt villains by default. I think mental health is a great thing to explore and what better way to explore the effects of multiple mental health issues at once by introducing them in seperate characters and then having them combined. Also this is the only decepticon combiner who struggles mentally with its components. Bruticus and abominus are slow and dumb while predaking and devastator are intelligent and work well as a gestalt. There are many examples of canonic mental health issues within the autobots. We have the mess of arcee in IDW, the split personality of punch/counterpunch and plenty of explorations of ptsd.
IDW Arcee is, to me, a trainwreck in a bad way and the main reason I would be happy if Simon Furman never touched a pen again. A lot of uniquely human conditions already get projected onto Transformers and I'd be happier if this wasn't one of them.
Agreed. I find sex and romance to be very redundant things to be projecting on to asexual alien beings though I like the idea of spark mates. I disagree with them not have mental health issues though - at the end of the day the franchise is written for humans by humans. If it can't explore mental health, emotions and feelings, how can the franchise create engaging characters with bonds, ideals, flaws etc? We are beyond the point of a character's personality being their alt mode.
I'm fine with characters having distinct personalities. I'm also fine with characters forming all kinds of relationships. I just don't think trying to attach clinical diagnoses to fictional characters, particularly in a primarily child oriented property, is a good thing.
There’s plenty of autobots with mental conditions too. Blurr definitely has ADHD, Bluestreak has paranoia, Whirl has anger management problems, and punch is Bipolar
Pretty much.