Predaking (G1)


 * Predaking is a Decepticon Predacon from the Generation 1 continuity family.



Predaking is the ferocious fusion of all five of the Predacons: Divebomb, Headstrong, Rampage, Tantrum, and team leader Razorclaw.

In most cases of combiners, it is a given that strength and raw power would be heavily boosted as a result of the combination, however, Predaking has a little bit more going for him. His tracking skills increase exponentially, granting him heightened radar and other robotic senses. Nothing can escape his grasp and no creature can slip past his notice. When Predaking is on your trail, all hope is lost.

Generation 1 cartoon
Voice Actor: Bud Davis (US), Tomomichi Nishimura (Japan)



Whenever the Predacons appeared, it was pretty well a given that Predaking would soon follow. Though utterly gigantic and menacing, Predaking was basically a paper tiger, easily beaten off every time he appeared. He could sometimes generate windstorms.

Predaking and Sky Lynx were frequent adversaries, with the egotistical Autobot usually the victor of their encounters.

On the Moon, Predaking fought alongside Terrorcon combiner Abominus until they, along with the other 'primative' animal-based Transformers, were called away by Primacron's Assistant. They were led to an ancient world, in the hopes their primative instincts would defeat Primacron's latest creation, the energy-draining Tornadron. After the defeated Trypticon's corpse seemingly crushed Grimlock, the primatives split up and ran for their lives. The Predacons continued to run until Headstrong declared he would rather stand and fight than die running. Concurring, his fellow Predacons merged with him to form Predaking, but was quickly put into stasis lock by Tornadron.

Later, Predaking and Devastator are seen chasing Broadside in the sea.

2010 Manga
Predaking suffered an embarrassing defeat at the hands of the Omnibots.

The precise origins of the animated Predacons are never divulged in the series, with them simply appearing in Five Faces of Darkness Part 5'' with no explanation. A TV Magazine story page later made the claim that Predaking was built through cooperation between the Decepticons and the Quintessons, although whether or not that was the original intention of the American series writers is unknown.''

Headmasters
Predaking showed up a few times, usually just long enough for him to get beat up by Fortress Maximus.

Zone OVA and manga
Voice Actor: Yukimasa Kishino (Japan)



(Predaking is referred to as one of the Nine Great Demon Generals. This terminology, coupled with the presence of the previously deceased Black Zarak in their ranks and Violen Jygar's supernatural origins, could mean that Predaking died previously to Zone and was likewise brought back to life. However, this is unconfirmed, meaning that Violen Jygar may have simply recruited the still-living Predaking to be a General.)



Predaking was selected by Violen Jygar as one of his 9 Decepticon Demon-Generals. Given the rank of Beast General and gifted with new weaponry and armor, Violen Jygar sent Predaking to the Earth to steal the Zodiac before the Autobots could get it. He failed, however, and after seeing the likes of King Poseidon and Trypticon get killed in battle, attempted to escape. His escape was thwarted by Dai Atlas, who sliced him into two from head to crotch, exposing his vaguely organic-looking brain and killing the Decepticon.

Dreamwave comics continuity


Starscream and his Combaticons were in training when Predaking suddenly arose from the sea, seeking to capture the treacherous Decepticon Air Commander. The Combaticons quickly formed into (the much-less intelligent) Bruticus and counter-attacked by destroying Predaking's shoulder-mounted guns. Forced back, Predaking quickly put down his opponent by firing one of his foot cannons at Bruticus' head, blasting off part of his face.

When Starcream fled, lamenting Bruticus' latest defeat, Predaking attempted to follow until Bruticus crushed one of his wings and threw him onto the island. Damaged, but not defeated, Predaking easily dodged the slow-witted Combaticon combiner's rifle blast, then errected a defensive energy field around himself to deflect the follow-up shot. As Bruticus pondered a possible rifle malfunction, Predaking punched his rival in the face with a spiked knuckle, then impaled the crippled Bruticus upon Headstrong's horn, finally deactivating the Combaticons.

The Beast Within
For the fist time in comic book history, Predaking is completly and totally owned.

Generation 1

 * Predaking (1986, 2004)
 * Japanese ID number: D-78


 * Predaking is, by far, the largest of the traditional central component-leader-type combiner toys. He is formed by combining all five Predacons together. Unlike the Scramble City-style toys such as Bruticus or Defensor, Predaking's arms and legs are not interchangable. Razorclaw's sword and beast mode cannon serve as Predaking's primary weapons, with Tantrum and Headstrong's back-mounted cannons as his feet.


 * Hasbro only released the individual Predacons, but a giftset was avalible in Japan. In late 2004, Predaking was reissued to much rejoicing of people who could not afford the aftermarket prices on a vintage piece.

Titanium Series

 * Predaking (3" Robot Masters, 2006)




 * As part of the Titanium series 3" line, Predaking is constructed of mostly diecast metal and plastic parts, but cannot transform and has very limited articulation. His sculpt and colour scheme is based upon the original G1 toy, but has Rampage and Divebomb occupying each others positions, like the cartoon and comic model.

Trivia

 * A Predaking Action Master was planned at one point, but apparently went no further than a concept sketch. It was intended to be the included rider of a transforming dirt bike .  While Predaking was scrapped, the bike was refined and included with the Action Master Axer.


 * Incidentally, the aforementioned concept art was found in an Arby's parking lot after the end of Botcon 2000, where it had presumably come unstowed.