Vortex (G1)


 * Vortex is a Decepticon Combaticon from the Generation 1 continuity family.



In a past life, it is very possible that Vortex was a rollercoaster of some sort. He is the interrogator of the Decepticons and his favorite method of divulging secrets from trembling Autobots is to take them on Mr. Vortex's Wild Ride. Laughing like a maniac, Vortex will treat Autobots held hostage within his cargo hold to a psychotic helicopter ride of twists, turns and near-death experiences. Then, once he has learned everything they have to tell: kerplop!

Vortex can combine with his fellow Combaticons to form Bruticus.

Japanese name: Vorter
 * Hungarian name: Vortex (meaning Eddy, yes)

Generation 2
Vortex, along with the other Combaticons, formed the first line of defense against Jhiaxus' attack on Warworld. While Vortex's ultimate fate is unseen, the fact that Jhiaxus' troops ultimately took Warworld, it is likely he was destroyed.

Animated continuity

 * Voice actor: Johnny Haymer (US), Ken Shiroyama (Japan)

Vortex was one of five Decepticon renegades liberated by Starscream in the Air Commander's latest attempt to unseat Megatron. Rebuilt into new bodies based on WWII-era human military vehicles and dubbed the Combaticons, the renegades worked with Starscream primarily to gain the energy absorbers the schemer left out of their new forms. While Vortex and the others were at first successful, the Stunticons' intervention meant the brigade's defeat, and all six were exiled to a remote asteroid.

Vortex and his fellow Combaticons soon escaped the asteroid and invaded Cybertron, defeating Shockwave's defenses as Bruticus. After Onslaught modified the space bridge to pull Earth into the sun, the Combaticons were attacked by unknown forces, which were actually holograms. Vortex was quite happy, as he loved sneak attacks. Once again, however, the Combaticons were defeated by outside intervention, as the Autobots and Decepticons temporarily allied against the renegades. While Megatron allowed the Autobots to believe the Combaticons had been destroyed, he secretly had Bruticus (and his components, we guess) reprogrammed to serve more loyally.

Dreamwave comics continuity
Shortly after Optimus Prime became the new Autobot Supreme Commander, Blast Off took part in the Decepticon assault upon Iacon. Blast Off enjoyed strutting his stuff in his less aerodynamic but more heavily armed original form.

Millions of years later, Blast Off, along with his fellow Combaticons, was imprisioned by Shockwave, until they were released by Starscream.

When Sunstorm appeared on Earth, the battered Combaticons were ordered by Starscream to combine into Bruticus and deal with the crazed zealot. It did not end well.



The repaired Combaticons were brought to Guadalcanal where they could hone their somewhat lackluster combat skills and listen to Starscream's long-winded aspirations of glory. Starscream orders them to defeat the magnificent Autobot Sky Lynx as a means to train themselves for greater battles. Blast Off declared to Vortex to 'take [Sky Lynx] down', but unfortunately, the Combaticons do not fare well when the crafty Autobot splits into his two forms, and Blast Off is embarassingly grabbed in the flying form's jaws while Vortex watches on.

This was the least of their troubles, however, as Predaking showed up as soon as Sky Lynx was deactivated. This encounter also did not end well.

Devil's Due G.I. Joe vs the Transformers comics continuity
As part of Serpent O.R.'s forces, Vortex defended the newly unified Decepticon army's base against a combined Autobot/G.I. Joe strike force.

Generation 1

 * Vortex (1985)
 * Team ID number: C4
 * Japanese ID number: D-66




 * Vortex transforms into a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. He is armed with a small chin-mounted machine gun and two large tri-barrel gattling guns mounted astern on his tail.


 * In robot mode Vortex is armed with his helicopter chin gun, and along with fellow Combaticon Blast Off, is one of the first Transformers figures to utilize ball-joints, located in his shoulders. Vortex normally becomes the left arm of Bruticus, but as a Scramble City design, he can also occupy any other limb slot on Bruticus.


 * This mold was redecoed as Operation Combination Target Hawk, Robots in Disguise Ro-Tor, and Universe Ro-Tor.

Generation 2

 * Vortex (1994)
 * Team ID number: C4
 * During the Generation 2 line, Vortex was redecoed blue with purple camoflage paint. His weapons were also redecoed purple, and his chest was changed to a different shade of purple, making him totally inconspicuous.