Transformers sickness
From Transformers Wiki
Do you collect Transformers toys? Do you spend a little too much time around Transformers paraphernalia? If so, then you run the risk of contracting Transformers sickness (TF病 Toransufōmā-byō), a condition that will turn you into an actual Transformer. It's not entirely bad, as there are some advantages to becoming a heavily-armed killing machine.
Although there is no known cure, prevention is the best strategy when dealing with an outbreak of Transformers sickness. For the sake of you and your loved ones, it's probably best to avoid massive collections of Transformers nerdery entirely.
Fiction
Legends World
The first victim of Transformers sickness was Rattrap, who didn't particularly mind, though his friends did. After diagnosing him with the disease, Doctor Bump told him to get rid of his toys in hopes of recovering, but Rattrap refused, preferring to remain a Transformer forever rather than lose his collection. Bonus Edition Vol. 1 He would later learn to control the symptoms, allowing him to transform between normal and Transformer forms at will if he had a Transformer toy at hand. Bonus Edition Vol. 3 Next to contract the disease was Optimus Primal, which was strange, since he wasn't a Transformers fan at all! Bump recognized that in his case, the cause was eating too many bananas, but like Rattrap, Primal refused to change his lifestyle and remained a Transformer for a while. Bonus Edition Vol. 2
Transformers sickness served to turn Rhinox into Tankor, Bonus Edition Vol. 3 but he eventually reverted to his original body when Jetfire blasted him really hard. Bonus Edition Vol. 7 While she wasn't a fan either, Rattrap's aunt Arcee was another victim thanks to prolonged exposure to her nephew's toys. Bonus Edition Vol. 10 Bump again advised that she throw the toys away, but she refused out of her love for Rattrap and continued her life as a Transformer. Arcee Chapter
When Windblade revealed the Legends World to be an artificial world where hopes and dreams could come true, Waspinator realized that this innate power of their universe was the cause of the Transformers sickness going around. Bonus Edition Vol. 12 Closet Transformer fan Blackarachnia would later contract it as well. Bonus Edition Vol. 17 Optimus Primal then transformed again, this time into a robotic gorilla, something he blamed on a banana relapse. Bonus Edition Vol. EX
Elaborating on the nature of Transformers sickness, Leo Prime explained that as Zamojin-made copies of real Transformers, all Legends natives were capable of transforming into their "ancestors"' bodies using Jūchōkon. What they thought was a sickness was in fact them subconsciously accessing this ability. Bonus Edition Vol. 41 Transformers nerd Big Convoy would later be transformed into a robotic mammoth, a form he used to disguise himself as "Big Fight" when helping Blitzwing with a Quintesson invasion. Bonus Edition Vol. 59
Notes
- But if you're reading this, then it's probably too late.