Reflector (G1)


 * Reflector is a Decepticon in the Generation 1 continuity family.



Reflector likes to watch. He lives (they live?) to observe anything and everything, from scenery, to wildlife, to architecture. But above all else, Reflector likes to watch his comrades, learn their dark secrets, and profit from them. Reflector is also very impressed with his own abilities both in the fields of observation and blackmail.

Reflector is composed of three separate robots - Spectro, Spyglass and Viewfinder - who combine into the single camera altmode that is Reflector.

Animated continuity

 * Voice actor: Chris Latta (US), Yoku Shioya (Japan)



Reflector is unique among the Decepticons: he is three robots who talk and act in unison as a single mind in three (largely identical) bodies. He was (they were?) with Megatron on the Nemesis during its assault on the Ark. He was thus among Megatron's troops after their reawakening on Earth. Reflector and Thundercracker did some scouting shortly after the Decepticons left the Ark. Reflector demonstrated his ability to zoom-focus and print pictures in camera mode.

He later spied on the laboratory of Dr. Alcazar, the mentor of boy genius Chip Chase. Using his zoom-focus and photographic powers once more, Reflector secretly obtained the entry-code for the laboratory's security system. He claimed that stealing the anti-matter formula was going to be a piece of oil cake. Megatron used the code to sneak into the laboratory, though he was still too slow, as Dr. Alcazar had enough time to transfer all the information on the anti-matter formula to Chip Chase's home computer via something called the internet. Reflector later gathered valuable intelligence prior to the Decepticon attack on the Great Falls hydroelectric power plant.

Beyond the trio that makes up the camera, there are other Reflector-type Decepticon soldiers considered separate. One of these was nearly sacrificed to send over the Space Bridge with a shipment of Energon cube.

Reflector becomes less active as the battle for Earth went on, almost disappearing entirely. He was last seen in 2005, participating in the initial Decepticon assault on Autobot City.

(Note: The individual names Spectro, Spyglass, and Viewfinder are never used in the cartoon, he (all three of him) is simply "Reflector." In his cartoon design all three robots are based on the center (Viewfinder) section of the toy, though they're given a humanized face and only one of the three Reflectors would have the actual camera lens in his chest. The series story bible specifically discouraged writers from using Reflector, as plans to include the toy in the regular toyline were, for some reason, scrapped after the series was developed.)

Fight! Super Robot Lifeform manga
Astrotrain photographed the incomplete Autobot City, with the aid of Reflector's camera mode, so that Megatron could decipher whether or not it was powerful enough to stand up to Trypticon.

Dreamwave comics continuity
Reflector were not part of Megatron's crew, but worked for Shockwave on Cybertron, monitoring the planet and its inhabitants for him from a central mainframe. They were seemingly destroyed by Starscream.

(Note: Dreamwave continuity is the only place in official fiction (so far) where the three Reflector components are portrayed as separate characters rather than the single composite being described by their tech spec and shown in the cartoon. The Fusion novel set in Dreamwave continuity erroneously presented Reflector as being on Earth prior to this, and in compensation, its sequel, Annihilation, identified the Earthbound Reflector as the "true" Reflector, and the Cybertron-based one as a "copy" of some form.)

Generation 1

 * Reflector (Mail-away, 1986/1987; wide release in Japan, 1985)
 * Japanese ID number: 21


 * Reflector was available only as a mail away promotion in 1986-1987 (ironically after his character had long since disappeared from the cartoon), at a cost of $10 and two robot points. It is composed of three distinct robots that combine to form a camera. It includes a telephoto lens and old-style flashcube accessories as well as various guns. His role early in the cartoon makes it seem likely his toy was originally planned for inclusion in the original 1984 line. Why Hasbro decided not to release it so late in the game is unknown, as is what reversed the decision later to make it a viable mail-away. However, he was given a full release in Japan.

Merchandise

 * Reflector (Decoy, 1986)


 * A small plastic decoy of Reflector was part of the Decoy promotion and given away with many smaller TFs. It was based on the cartoon design of the central (lensed) Reflector unit. He came in either red or purple plastic: the red version is much rareer and goes for a lot more on the secondary market.

Trivia



 * Reflector's original toy was used in the South Korean cartoon Solar Adventure (초 합금 로보트 쏠라 원, 투, 드리) as the "Canon Robo" in which he kills a bunch of North Koreans.


 * Early on in the cartoon, the animators filled out the Decepticon ranks on Earth by adding numerous unnamed robots based on the main characters; extra Reflector units were frequently among these. The practice lessened and finally stopped as more actual Decepticon characters were introduced.


 * The episode Divide and Conquer shows Reflector displaying an ability that is otherwise never spoken of or utilised. When one of his components is hurled backwards at the other two, and impacts with one, it disappears in a flash. The remaining component then topples back into the last one, and again, vanishes in a flash, leaving only one Reflector robot remaining. This seems to suggest that Reflector may be one individual who is capable of duplicating his form; such an idea would help explain the appearance of the numerous Reflector-style robots noted above.


 * Not so surprisingly, Reflector (or rather his Microchange counterpart, Microx) was first designed as a single unit.