Rumbler (G1)

Rumbler is an Autobot Action Master from the Generation 1 continuity family.

No, I CAN'T make earthquakes! Stop asking me that.

Rumbler is called on in times of major crisis to form a line of defense against the Decepticons. His massive heavily armored Exo-suit roams the battlefield, impervious to enemy firepower, pounding and mauling all attackers who cross its path.

Fiction

Wings Universe

Not pictured: His identical twin, Frenzyr.

Rumbler and his twin brother Sprocket were part of Powerflash's Elite Guard Stealth Team. They invaded and destroyed a Decepticon fortress in Gygax, among other exploits. A Team Effort On one of his first missions, Sprocket wound up getting his processor scrambled. Rumbler and the rest of the Stealth Team wound up breaking him out of an Iacon mental institution so that he could rejoin them on their missions. Sprocket's Wings of Honor profile

Before another mission, Rumbler caught Sprocket talking to his imaginary friend Halogen again, something that regularly drove him nuts. Rumbler subsequently had to endure mockery from Tap-Out, which he responded to with threats of physical violence. The team was given their new mission by Sentinel Major, to prevent Gutcruncher's Decepticon faction from securing an asteroid with a mysterious power source on it.

Powerflash came up with a plan that first required Rumbler and Sprocket to disguise Powerflash and Tap-Out with paint. When Powerflash acquired the Darklon, Rumbler was skeptical about Sprocket's claims that he had made friends with the ship's computer. Rumbler and his brother concealed themselves in a storage bay on the ship while Powerflash and Tap-Out convinced the Decepticons that it was a ship for hire. Of course, once the Decepticons were on board, the deception quickly unraveled, and Powerflash let Rumbler out to cause some havoc. He managed to disable all three Decepticons, though Sprocket somehow managed to take half the credit.

After the ship reached the asteroid, Rumbler was not convinced it was a great place to visit. He and Powerflash disembarked, only to find that Gutcruncher's team had managed to free themselves. While Rumbler and Powerflash were held at gunpoint with their own F-249 Quantum Pulse Regulators, Sprocket emerged from the ship to join them, and confided in the others that he'd neglected to recharge the guns after their last battle. The Decepticons and Autobots found a crystal monolith in a nearby crater and were zapped unconscious by it. When they recovered, they found they were unable to transform and were forced to hike back to the Darklon. The Decepticons got there first, but Rumbler was able to force the exterior door open, and they two teams realized that the crystal had granted them enhanced power. The Autobots swiftly overcame the Decepticons while it was still sinking in, and Rumbler punched out Gutcruncher, despite Powerflash bagsying the Warlord. Back on Cybertron, they were given a clean bill of health and told they'd be able to transform again when the effects of the radiation wore off. A Team Effort

Rumbler and the rest of the Stealth Team defended Elite Guard headquarters with Sentinel Major when the Combaticons attacked it at the head of Deathsaurus's troops. The Coming Storm: Part 5 Most everyone was killed when the Combaticons formed Bruticus. The Coming Storm: Part 6 Rumbler and Sprocket were among the survivors who were repaired. They joined Ironfist and Big Bang in coming to the aid of Magnum's team, who were fighting Deathsaurus and his troops. A short time later they were set upon by Decepticons, though the Autobots eventually prevailed. Battle Lines, Part 4 A week after the battle, Rumbler was part of the Autobot forces ready when the Decepticons assaulted Iacon. He and Sprocket were sent flying by a shot from Shockwave. Battle Lines, Part 5 Rumbler did not survive. This was not acknowledged by Sprocket, who spoke to "Rumbler" as if he were there in the ship that departed for Paradron. Battle Lines, Part 6

2005 IDW continuity

Fully kitted up in his exo-suit, Rumbler helped defend Cybertron from Shockwave's Ammonite army. Black Planet

Toys

The Transformers

No I'm not made of candy.

• 4WD All-Terrain Vehicle with Action Master Rumbler (Motorized Exo-Suit Action Master, 1991)

• Accessories: "4WD All-Terrain Vehicle" Exo-suit, 2 rotating defence pounder flail-weapons
• Known designers: Takio Ejima (TakaraTomy)

Released in the seventh year of the European-market Transformers toyline (the first year following the end of the US line), Action Master Rumbler is a redeco of Sprocket, a non-transforming 3¾-inch action figure, with swivel neck, shoulders and knees, and steel-ball-jointed hips. His body shows hints of some form of fighter jet alternate mode, with tiny wings on the backs of his biceps and exhaust thrusters in his heels. He is compatible with any other Action Master accessory or vehicle, with 3 mm holes in his fists and feet for weapons and stands, and a 5 mm hole in his back for backpacks. He has no dedicated weapon accessories of his own, and in fact his exo-suit's weapons are not compatible with him.

He comes with a battery powered, self-propelled "4WD All-Terrain Vehicle" with dual flails that can be attached to the front wheels. The ATV also transforms into an armored exo-suit; in this mode it can still roll forward under battery power. (The exo-suit is the same base vehicle as the simultaneously-released Slicer, but with alternate weaponry).

Unfortunately, Rumbler's mace weapons are cast in rubber, and can eventually harden, rot, and break over time. The rubber traction bands on the rear 4WD tires are also prone to splitting.

This set was only available in European markets, the year after the Transformers line was ended in the US. As such, it tends to demand a high price nowadays, especially given the fragility of its weapons.

• More information on Rumbler at TFU.info

Notes

• Years after his release, Sprocket was given the alternate mode of "Overdrive Observer" so presumably Rumbler had the same alternate mode.