Blitzwing (TFA)


 * Blitzwing is a Decepticon in the Transformers Animated continuity family.



Blitzwing not only has three modes (robot, jet, and tank), he also has three alternate personalities (a cold strategist, a short-tempered hothead, and a total nutcase) along with the faces rattling around in his head to go with them. He's as liable to have a conversation with himself as he is to say a word to his fellow Decepticons. Pretty much the only thing that keeps him in line is that all three of his personalities are scared to death of Megatron.

Blitzwing's cold personality is represented by a long, blue face with a monocle and talks with quiet disdain. His easily angered personality has a red face and is gap-toothed, making him look and sound like a certain Austrian musclehead. Finally, his crazy personality's face looks like nothing so much as a black jack-o'-lantern and just sounds hysterical. All three personalities have a German accent.

Blitzwing's special power is based on ice-rays, flame-rays, or laser-rays, depending on which personality is dominant at the time.

"Ze name iz Blitzwing, insect—remember it! Cause it's ze last thing you're gonna hear before I—express my feelings in song!"

- Blitzwing switching personalities like we switch shoes

Transformers Animated cartoon



 * Voice actor: Bumper Robinson (US), ? (Japan)

Blitzwing was aboard the Nemesis with the other Decepticons at the time of the All Spark's re-discovery. He partially froze Blackarachnia's arm, commenting on how her demeanor was as unpleasant as her organic beast mode. When Blackarachnia advised him to blow it out his actuator, Blitzwing angrily demanded that she refer to him by his proper name, or else he would...express his feelings in song! His out-of-tune rendition of "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" got all the Decepticons arguing until Megatron entered, prompting Blitzwing to fall silent with the rest.

When it became clear the Nemesis was going to crash into an exploding space bridge, Blitzwing fled in an escape pod.

After Megatron's disappearance, Blitzwing placed a bounty on Optimus Prime, intending to punish him for destroying Megatron. Fifty solar cycles later, the bounty hunter Lockdown contacted Blitzwing, saying he had Prime. Blitzwing promised that Lockdown would receive payment once Blitzwing received Prime&mdash;then asked if he could please, please please see Prime turn into a fire truck.

Blitzwing and Lugnut followed a beacon to the Moon to find the wreckage of the Nemesis. The pair of them had similar problems determining the dominant species on Earth as the Autobots did, mistaking Earth's automatons and machines for sentient beings. During an encounter with the Autobots, Megatron opted to radio Lugnut exclusively, leaving Blitzwing struggling to work out what exactly was going on. Blitzwing believed Lugnut was only listening to voices in his head, so Lugnut had to take him along forcibly. Uncertain of the number and strength of the Autobots' "reinforcements" (the Detroit Police Department), the pair scanned Earth vehicles for disguises so they could lay low. Blitzwing's calculating persona wanted to scan a fighter jet, while his aggressive side wanted a tank. After a brief argument, his crazy side won out and scanned both.

The two Decepticons followed the Autobots to Lake Erie, where Blitzwing froze the lake. When the Autobots submerged, he followed them in tank form. Blitzwing was lured by the Autobots towards the Ark and blasted by one of its weapons systems. He and Lugnut were left fragmented but functional and floated to the surface, only to be met by Starscream, who offered to repair them in exchange for a pledge of undying allegiance...

Animated

 * Blitzwing (Deluxe?, 2008)


 * Blitzwing transforms into a futuristic "Mech-Warrior"ish-tank with large, anti-aircraft-like guns and a squat jet with tracks. The robot mode has three faces, which can be switched around. He looks awesome.

Trivia

 * Marty Isenberg originally envisioned a character who could change into anything. When that (obviously) proved unworkable in toy terms, the character of Blitzwing as a triple-changer was suggested for the role.


 * His helmet is an obvious nod to a World War II-era German Stahlhelm helmet and goggles. Given the overall design in robot mode, the nature of his personalities and even his name itself, this really isn't very surprising.


 * Blitzwing's face-changing gimmick was in part inspired by Man-E-Faces from Masters of the Universe. He's not the first Transformers toy to feature multiple rotating faces; Alpha Q, inspired by the five-faced Generation 1 Quintessons, holds that distinction.  Whether Blitzwing (or the Quintessons) have any roots in such larger cultural currents as the many three-faced depictions of the Buddha and various gods from the Hindu pantheon remains unknown.


 * Blitzwing's decision to scan both a tank and a jet in Lost and Found was an interesting one, possibly implying that Blitzwing wasn't a Triple Changer to begin with, and perhaps that other Animated-era Transformers can take on multiple forms if they just scan other vehicles. He's only a tank when he's in angry mode, and only a jet when in his colder, calculating personality, so if a requirement to being a Triple Changer is having a few bolts loose, maybe that's not a road other Transformers wish to take.