Bluestreak (G1)


 * Bluestreak is an Autobot in the Generation 1 continuity family. He is also known as Silverstreak.



Bluestreak is a talker. He talks a lot. Any subject, any time of the day, his lips are flapping while his Autobot comrades are rolling their eyes. Could be about things on Earth, could be about things on Cybertron, could be about just about anything, but the point is, y'know, he's talking. Words are coming out of his mouth in a near constant prattling stream. Some think he's vapid, that his mouth just moves a billion times faster than his brain, if his brain is moving at all. Or they imagine that he's a fool who doesn't know when to shut up, that he drones on and on and on and on because maybe he just likes to hear himself speak or something.

His friends realize, however, that his jabbering hides a deeper pain. At the beginning of the war, Bluesteak's home city was totally destroyed by Decepticons. He was the only survivor. It's as if by talking he tries to somehow drown out his own fears and memories. "There's some demons runnin' loose inside that boy," says Hound, "and sometimes I think they grab hold of him and won't let him go." He hated war, he still does, but ever since he's hated Decepticons even more. It is odd to see a bot of peace so willingly take up arms, but Bluestreak's got a score to settle.

Talk may be cheap, but it keeps him sane.


 * Italian name: Ariete ("Ram")
 * French-Canadian name: Jaseur
 * Hungarian name: Kékvillám ("Blue Lightning")
 * Japanese name: Streak

Marvel Comics continuity
Bluestreak arrived on Earth with his fellow Autobots four million years ago, and remained inactive until 1984. Along with Mirage and Huffer, Bluestreak was one of the less-sympathetic of the Ark's crew when it came to humans. He once suggested repairing the Ark and simply abandoning Earth's people to the Decepticons, after hearing that Sparkplug Witwicky had allegedly provided their foes with a fuel conversion process while he was their prisoner.

Despite their conflicting views, Optimus Prime still recognized Bluestreak's skill as a sharpshooter, and chose him to be one of the five Autobots recharged in the Chambers of Transference, in the hopes that at least some Autobots would be at full capacity when the inevitable Decepticon attack came. When it did, Bluestreak was brazen enough to attack Megatron himself, head-on. Despite their temporary victory, the battle-weary Autobots were blindsided by the returning Decepticon Shockwave, who knocked them all down with a single blast.

Ratchet remained free, however, and with the help of the Dinobots he recaptured the Ark and the deactivated Autobots from Decepticon control. Ratchet then went to work revived all the damaged Autobots in quick order. In the following days, Bluestreak was one of the first Autobots to confront new foes such as the Constructicons and Jetfire. ''He also suffered considerable injuries trying to wrangle the savage Grimlock in Doonstown. ''

Bluestreak spent a considerable period of time out of action once Prime was recovered by the Autobots, and would not be seen again until well after Grimlock assumed control of the army. His return was short-lived, however, as he was soon destroyed battling the Underbase-empowered Starscream.

Animated continuity
Voice Actor: Casey Kasem (US), Kōki Kataoka (Japan) Katsumi Suzuki ("Attack of the Autobots" and "Day of the Machines" only)



Bluestreak was one of the original crew members of the Ark when it set off from Cybertron in search of new sources of fuel and energy. Attacked en-route by the Decepticon flagship Nemesis, the Ark crashed into a volcano and the Autobots lay dormant for millions of years. When the volcano erupted and activated Teletraan-1 in 1984, Bluestreak was reformatted into a Datsun 280Z.

Bluestreak was also among the Autobots who went to the Ruby Crystal Mine of Burma. . Then, when Ironhide flew off after the Decepticons Bluestreak joined in with a dogfight with Skywarp. He avoided injury, but abandoned the chase when Ironhide was shot down, and managed to drag his friend to safety after a water landing.

Bluestreak and Prowl chased after Soundwave, Thundercracker, and Starscream when they tried to steal an antimatter formula. Thanks to Chip Chase they managed to escape safely.



Bluestreak's skill as a gunner was frequently employed in combat. On one occasion, Laserbeak was trying to fly off with Spike Witwicky, and Bluestreak was able to target and shoot one of the tin-turkey's legs without hitting Spike to free him. Another time, the Autobots were attempting to recapture the irreplaceable robot ninja Nightbird for her creator, after the Decepticons turned her against humanity. Optimus Prime was insistent the Autobots not shoot or harm Nightbird, but Bluestreak saved Prime anyway from the attacking ninja by cleanly shooting her laser sword out of Nightbird's hands.

Along with several fellow Autobots, Bluestreak participated in the Europa 2000, an international charity race stretching from Paris to Istanbul. When the the arrogant racing driver Auggie Cahnay cut across Bumblebee, an indignant Bluestreak helped his understandably angry friend catch up to the American and attempt to teach him some manners. Later, after running afoul of the Stunticons, Bluestreak learned of Megatron's plan for the Pearl of Bahoudin and the dissapearance of several other Autobots. Ironically, it is Cahnay who helps the Autobot cripple Menasor and thwart Megatron's scheme after his car is stolen, much to Bluestreak's surprise. Cahnay went on to win the race by driving Bluestreak in a photo finish with the other Autobots that weren't driven off the road by the Stunticons.

In the year 2005, Bluestreak can briefly be seen (Don't blink! You'll miss it!) helping Kup move a roadblock, just before Hot Rod and Daniel Witwicky crash through it.

Binaltech
Suffering from the Cosmic Rust virus, Bluestreak was one of the first Autobots reconstructed using Binaltech technology. Alongside Smokescreen, Hound, Tracks, and Sideswipe, he helped Earth Defense Command drive the Decepticons off of Earth. Bluestreak continued serving on Earth at Autobot City, under Ultra Magnus's overall command.

Dreamwave comics continuity
When the Autbot/Decepticon war erupted 8.7 million years ago, destroying his home city, Bluestreak, then a merchant, joined the Autobot army. 500,000 years later, he related Sentinel Prime's death to Optronix, and later served in the last-ditch attempt to defend Iacon from Shockwave's forces.

7.4 million years ago, Bluestreak remained with the Autobots after the apparent death of Optimus Prime. He and Trailbreaker remained at Autobase while Prowl led a task force against Trypticon; while there, they met Jetfire and apprised him of the current situation on Cybertron. 1.4 million years later, Bluestreak and an Autobot/Decepticon/Ultracon force helped defend a pace ceremony at Tyger Pax from the Predacons.

Bluestreak was among the crew of the Ark when it crashed on Earth 4 million years ago, and awoke in 1984 to battle the Decepticons. After years of fighting, Bluestreak and the other Autobots took part in Operation Liberation in 1998, a joint human/Autobot operation that defeated and captured the Earth-bound Decepticons. However, the Ark II, which was meant to convey the Autobots, the captured Decepticons, and a number of humans back to Cybertron was sabotaged by General Robert Hallo, sending Bluestreak and his comrades to the bottom of the Arctic Ocean.

Bluestreak was later recovered by the sinister Lazarus, and his deactivated form was used to power Megatron's deadly metal virus weapon. By the time he was rescued by Optimus Prime, his energy had been almost fatally depleted.

Bluestreak recovered, however, and rejoined his newly-active comrades. When Shockwave came to Earth and announced that the Autobot/Decepticon wars were over, and that the two factions had been united, Bluestreak was more than skeptical, suggesting it was a trick. The memory of his destroyed home-city still haunted him, and he would not believe the same beings who killed innocents could change their ways. His views clashed with Gears', who did not see the point in fighting wars that had been ended. Despite his objections, Bluestreak was among the Autobots who joined Optimus Prime in surrendering to Shockwave's lieutenant, Ultra Magnus. Ferried back to Cybertron by Sky Lynx, Bluestreak and the others were imprisoned and scheduled for execution, but were freed by Broadside and taken to an underground hideout. He fought in the battle to retake Iacon, and witnessed Shockwave activating the Matrix of Leadership. Victorious, Bluestreak and his comrades began to rebuild their planet.

IDW Comics continuity
Bluestreak was on Cybertron during the Decepticons post-Thunderwing advance, shortly before the planet was abandoned, and fought against their final big push.

Bluestreak leads a squad of Autobots on Varas Centralus, probably the counter-insurgency team assigned to that planet. He believes the planet, being ravaged by a Decepticon infiltration unit in Phase Six, to be "a lost cause," and suggests to Springer that the Autobots pull out.

He later returns to Autobot Orbital Command Hub in order to personally greet Blaster on his return to life.

Generation 1

 * Bluestreak (Autobot Car, 1984/1985)
 * Japanese ID number: 08




 * The original Bluestreak toy was based on the Diaclone "Fairlady Z" toy, and transforms into an accurate replica of a Datsun Fairlady Z. The all-silver deco for the mold was unique to its Transformers release, not a carry-over from Diaclone, though it was heavily based on the second version of his Diaclone toy. Reused photography and artwork of Bluestreak's Diaclone incarnation led to considerable confusion in that it retained a blue and gray paint scheme not seen in the American toyline. The doors can open in car mode, but the vehicle mode lacks any kind of automotive interior. As with most Generation 1 toys of the time, he was constructed partially of die-cast metal and had rubber tires.


 * In robot mode, Bluestreak has the classic 'car hood-chest' design also featured on fellow Autobots Jazz, Prowl and Smokescreen, and is armed with a vacuum-metalized laser rifle and two shoulder-mounted rocket launchers that can each fire one of the three included projectiles.


 * This mold was retooled to make Prowl, and again for Smokescreen.


 * Streak (anime version) (2002)


 * An exclusive to Takara's e-Hobby shop, this version of Bluestreak was sold bundled in a set, though not packaged together, with a gold-plated version of Meister. Often called 'Anime Streak' by fans and collectors, this toy used the color scheme from the second version of his Diaclone toy (which was used as the basis for his cartoon and comic character model), with a black roof and hood instead of the original Transformer toy's silver.


 * Streak (silver plated version) (2003)


 * Also an e-Hobby-exclusive, this version of Bluestreak was almost entirely vacuum-metalized, much like the gold-plated Jazz, but in silver. Like the gold Jazz, the Chrome Streak emulated a "campaign car" prize item from the original Diaclone line.


 * Silverstreak (2004)


 * Realeased as part of Hasbro's Toys "R" Us exclusive Commemorative Series III reissues in the same colours as his original 1980s release, although his packaging pictures depicts Takara's 'Anime Streak' version. For this release he has been redubbed "Silverstreak" due to Hasbro's apparent inability to secure the trademark for the name "Bluestreak". Due to safety reasons, the springs in his rocket launchers were removed, and his laser rifle and projectiles were not vacuum-metalized.

Alternators

 * Silverstreak (Alternator, 2004)
 * Alternator ID number: 4
 * Japanese ID number: BT-03




 * The second Subaru Impreza toy released in the Alternators line was actually the first to be developed, but due to marketing suggestions, the more eye-catching Smokescreen was released first. Silverstreak transforms into a very accurate silver 2003 Subaru Impreza WRX, with opening hood, trunk, and all four doors as well as a detailed interior. He also featured working steering and rubber tires.


 * His robot mode is based upon his original toy, as well as his cartoon model, but with changes made to reflect modern standards of Transformers toys, as well as his new vehicle mode. He is armed with a laser rifle formed from his turbo intercooler, and has the capacity to mount two spring-loaded rocket launchers on either side of his shoulders, though these were only included with the retool of Binaltech Smokescreen.


 * Unusual for an Alternators release, Silverstreak was fully painted silver, similar to his Binaltech release. The silver paint on Silverstreak is more flat compared to the sparkled paint of the Binaltech version.


 * The first shipment of the Alternator version used the right side steering like the Japanese release. Soon afterwards, a modified version was release with the steering wheel on the left side of the vehicle.


 * This mold was also used to make Ricochet and Binaltech Asterisk Alert.

Universe

 * Silverstreak (Spy Changer, 2004)


 * A redeco of Robots in Disguise Side Swipe, he is based upon his pre-G1 release 'blue' colour scheme, with a silver hood. He is armed with a small gun that is disguised as a tailpipe in vehicle mode.


 * The original release of this toy (and the others in the assortment), exclusive to Kay-Bee stores, came on cards that lacked a sub-line designation. Later releases that were also available through chains like Dollar General were put on Universe cards.

Smallest Transformers

 * Streak (2004)
 * Japanese ID Number: GTF X-3




 * A retool of Smallest Transformers Prowl, STF Streak is a much simplified, much smaller replica of his original toy. Although resembling his G1 form, he has less articulation and his wheels do not roll. Streak was one of two chase figures in the second wave of the line.

Trivia

 * One of the longest-running myths about Transformers is the existence of the "blue-sided Bluestreak" as shown in the original toy catalogs, which used one of the two different Diaclone variants of the Fairlady mold . No sealed samples of the blue-sided Bluestreak in a Transformers box have ever been found. Oddly enough, though the catalogs featured numerous pictures of toys that did not match up with finished product (like Astrotrain and Perceptor), blue-sided Bluestreak is the only one that seems to have taken on the "my brother's friend's cousin had one" status.


 * In recent years, toys based on the Bluestreak character were renamed "Silverstreak" for trademark reasons, because a company named Gendron currently holds the trademark for "Toledo 'Blue Streak'" in the "toys" category.


 * Aaron Archer, as Orson, when asked about the Commemorative Series Silverstreak's deco, said the figure was based on the 1984 version of figure rather than the 2002 e-Hobby "Streak" release due to his desire to give collectors a version closer to the one released in 1984. While this is most likely true, it may also have to do with Hasbro's inability, or desire not to release figures too similar to e-Hobby exclusives, thus a required change for Silverstreak from e-Hobby Streak.


 * The deco for Hasbro's retool of the Alternators Acura RSX mold was originally designed with Bluestreak in mind, specifically the original Diaclone deco mentioned above. Early leaked packaging samples even sported an abbreviated form of the name "Bluestreak" on their license plates. Ultimately, however, Hasbro decided to rename the toy and release it as "Autobot Camshaft" instead, possibly because they already had a representation of the Bluestreak character in the Alternators line (Silverstreak).