Ratchet (G1)

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===

{{noteukonly}}

[[IMage:Ratchetg1first.jpg|thumb|left|This look didn't last long.]]
Shortly after the Transformers arrived on Earth, [[Sparkplug Witwicky (G1)|Sparkplug Witwicky]] suffered a heart attack, so Ratchet drove Sparkplug and his son [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster]] to the hospital.  It was during this leave that [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] freed himself from his four-million-year sleep and completely wiped out the fuel-deprived Autobot forces with one blast.  {{storylink|The Last Stand}}

Ratchet soon discovered, to his horror, that he was the last Autobot still functional on Earth, up against the entire Decepticon army.  Covertly invading the ''Ark'', he learned that even the mighty [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] had fallen.  However, Prime's head, though detached, still functioned, and the Autobot Commander told Ratchet that he must rise up to meet this challenge.  Ratchet did not believe he could; he was a doctor, not a warrior (dammit, Jim). {{storylink|Warrior School!}} 

[[Image:Ratchetwarriorschool.jpg|thumb|right|The more you know!™]]
Still, Ratchet tried.  Shockwave had returned in full strength and deposed the mighty [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]].  In his weakened state, Megatron could not hope to defeat Shockwave and reclaim his leadership, but Ratchet approached him with a possible solution.  Ratchet knew how Shockwave had fallen 4 million years ago, and struck a deal: If Ratchet could defeat Shockwave, Megatron would relinquish Decepticon control of the ''Ark'' and its wrecked Autobot inhabitants.

Ratchet journeyed to the [[Savage Land]], where the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] had fought Shockwave to a stalemate, leaving all dormant in a tar pit prison.  He dug up the Dinobots and repaired them.  Soon after, he met with Megatron on a snowy ski slope and announced that he had fulfilled his half of the bargain; Shockwave was defeated.  Megatron, of course, went back on his part of the deal and threatened to kill Ratchet.  Ratchet declared that he knew all along Megatron would not hold up his end of the bargain and admitted that he had not, in fact, defeated Shockwave.  The Dinobots sprung up out of the snow surrounding Megatron and fought him, but did not succeed.  Megatron now stood alone, triumphant, mocking Ratchet and his lack of a warrior's edge.  With nothing to lose, Ratchet charged Megatron, but he was ineffectual.  However, the charge had loosened the ground on which Megatron stood, and the Decepticon leader fell off the cliff side and disappeared. {{storylink|Repeat Performance!}} 

''On their return trip to the ''Ark'', Ratchet helped educate the Dinobots about human/Autobot relations by telling them the story of a recent battle with the Decepticons at a hydroelectric dam. {{storylink|Decepticon Dam-Busters!}} When they arrived, Ratchet and the Dinobots found the ''Ark'' defended by [[Guardian#omega-class|Guardian]], an Autobot combat drone which had been reprogrammed by Shockwave.  Ratchet rescued the Dinobots from the powerful drone by remembering and exploiting one of its few weaknesses, an access port which could admit a fine laser.  Ratchet then began the task of repairing the Autobots, placing priority on those whose command skills would be useful.  This put him at odds with Dinobot leader [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]], who felt that the fallen Dinobot [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] should be repaired first. {{storylink|The Wrath of Grimlock!}}''

''When Prowl devised a plan to use the Matrix to create an army of monstrous Autobot warriors, debate over the plan's ethics threatened to divide the Autobots. Ratchet remained neutral and asked Optimus Prime to step in and provide guidance. {{storylink|Crisis of Command!}}''

''Ratchet and Wheeljack collaborated on a Transformer-sized robotic suit, to be used by [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] in battle. Optimus Prime was unamused. {{storylink|Robot Buster!}}''

[[Image:Ratchetmechanic.jpg|thumb|left|Such irony.]]

After the destruction of Optimus Prime, Ratchet was not able to repair him.  Unable to deal with his failure, Ratchet wandered off on his own during Optimus's funeral.  Ratchet decided that rather than moping, he should concern himself with the other damaged Autobots under his care, so he headed towards a junkyard to look for spare parts he could use.  However, he was abducted in vehicle mode by the [[Mechanic]] and his accomplice [[Juan]] when the two thieves were found by the police.  Ratchet revealed himself when they arrived at the Mechanic's hideout, but the Mechanic froze Ratchet with his own surgical weapons and headed for the ''Ark'', intent on finding technology that would ensure he would never be threatened by the police again.  When he had unfrozen, Ratchet followed the human back to the ''Ark'', but was defeated by his own surgical tools.  But using pieces he took from the junkyard, he repaired [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], and the appearance of the police car frightened the Mechanic away.  The Mechanic escaped with Ratchet's tools and the [[Power Booster Rod]].  {{storylink|Funeral for a Friend!}}

When an [[Underbase]]-powered [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] decimated the Earthbound Autobot forces, Ratchet was left with the monumental task of repairing them.  During a period of work-induced stress, he began to hallucinate visions of his patients attacking him and accusing him of being worthless.  It was during this time that the Decepticon [[Sports Car Patrol]], posing as Autobots, offered to help transport Ratchet to Cybertron, where he could have access to new medical technology that had been created during his 4-million-year absence on Earth.  He and three of the Sports Car Patrol took the bodies of [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]], [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]], and [[Bumblebee (G1)|Goldbug]] with him, though Ratchet was curious why [[Blackjack]] stayed behind on the ''Ark''.  Ratchet's concerns were answered when, upon arrival on Cybertron, he saw standing before him the believed-to-be-deceased Megatron, who had orchestrated the entire scheme. {{storylink|Back from the Dead}}

Megatron brought Ratchet the remains of Starscream, demanding Ratchet repair the Air Commander while Blackjack held the ''Ark'' and its medical bay inhabitants hostage.  Ratchet agreed, and he used [[Pretender]] technology to repair Starscream while secretly repairing Grimlock, Jazz, and Goldbug as well.  After Pretender Starscream was sent to Earth, Megatron sought out Ratchet to kill him, but Ratchet had his own Pretenders ready. {{storylink|The Resurrection Gambit!}}  Ratchet sprung Grimlock, Jazz, and Bumblebee (Ratchet preferred Bumblebee's original form) on Megatron, but Megatron and his Micromasters were too powerful for them.  The Pretenders and Micromasters' battle wandered outside the Decepticon base, and Ratchet was left alone.  Sacrificing his life, Ratchet warped the bombs Blackjack had put on the ''Ark'' into the Decepticon base in an attempt to kill both himself and Megatron.  Megatron tried to escape through the warp portal, but Ratchet tackled him, and the base exploded. {{storylink|Skin Deep}}

[[Image:Megs ratch.jpg|thumb|right|Ratchet to the left of me, Megatron to the right—Here I am, stuck in the middle with you.]]

Optimus Prime was devastated by the loss of Ratchet. {{storylink|Yesterday's Heroes!}}  He assigned the detective [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] to investigate Ratchet's death, and Nightbeat hypothesized that Ratchet could possibly still be alive.  There was an initial blast which could have knocked Ratchet into the portal and into [[unspace]], a netherworld between the warp portal's starting and ending points.  A probe was sent to retrieve him, and it succeeded—but it also brought back Megatron, who was fused with Ratchet as a single, monstrous being. {{storylink|Eye of the Storm}}  The Ratchet/Megatron creature rampaged through the ''Ark'', wounding several Autobots, but Optimus Prime would not let them harm it.  This put Optimus Prime in an awkward position: Was the life of Ratchet worth the possible loss of his other troops?  The creature fought his way into the engine rooms and began tearing stuff apart, and Prime's choice was made for him: The creature must be stopped.  Prime fought Ratchet/Megatron to a standstill, and, alarmingly, the part that was Ratchet took control and pulled Prime's gun to his own forehead, pleading for the Autobot Commander to put him out of his misery.  In an unpopular decision, Optimus Prime ordered [[Fixit]] to separate Megatron and Ratchet, even if it meant saving Megatron.  Bonded at a molecular level, neither could survive without the other, even when separated. {{storylink|The Price of Life!}}

[[Image:Ratchetjollies.jpg|250px|thumb|left|Just tell him how many already!]]

Separated by Fixit, they remained in stasis on the ''Ark'' until Grimlock and his [[Nucleon]]-revived Dinobots found the ''Ark'' abandoned during the Transformers' battle with [[Unicron]].  They filled the entire medical bay chambers with Nucleon, not aware that Megatron lay there in storage.  {{storylink|The Void! (Marvel US comic)}}  Shockwave and [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] stole the ''Ark'' after Unicron was defeated, in an attempt to return to Earth and conquer it. {{storylink|Still Life!}}  However, just as Megatron awoke, Starscream and Shockwave were interrupted by [[Galvatron II]], who had snuck on board before launch.  While Galvatron and Megatron teamed up on Shockwave, Starscream went to check on any other possible survivors in the medical bay.  He found Ratchet, whose mind was still connected to Megatron's, and Starscream fought the confused Autobot easily.  However, when Starscream mused that Ratchet was no fun to kill, Ratchet became enraged and defeated him in a berserker state.  Determined to end what he had started, Ratchet blew up the ''Ark'' as it was approaching Earth's orbit, sending all four Decepticons and himself to a supposed death.<ref>Except all the Decepticons eventually turn up alive, bar Shockwave.</ref> {{storylink|A Savage Circle}}

{{note|In the [[Generation 2 (Marvel comic)|''Generation 2'' comics]], despite Megatron and Ratchet's inseparable mind-link, Megatron's return was without Ratchet, who is unmentioned outside of Optimus Prime's flashbacks.  In [[Games of Deception|''Timelines: Games of Deception'']], however, Ratchet's deactivated body can be seen lying behind Megatron in the background.}}

====Marvel UK future timelines====

''Ratchet was present at the Ark in 2003 when [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] announced his plans for a fully-functional transforming fortress known as [[Autobot City]]. {{storylink|Ark Duty}}''

===Cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Don Messick]], [[Wally Burr ]] (English), [[Masashi Ebara]] (Japanese)

[[Image:Ratchetg1cartoon.jpg|thumb|right|Ruh-roh.  Rooby-rooby-roo!]]

Ratchet served as chief medical officer of the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' on its mission to seek out new energy sources to fuel the Autobot struggle against the Decepticons.  When the ''Ark'' was boarded by the crew of the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]'', Ratchet attempted to defend his ship by attacking [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]], but was thrown into a computer console for his trouble.  Ratchet and the other Transformers were forced into emergency [[stasis lock]] when the out-of-control ''Ark'' crashed into a volcano on a [[Earth|primitive planet]].  Four million years later, the volcano erupted, activating [[Teletraan I]] to rebuild the Autobots and Decepticons.  Ratchet was rebuilt into a human-scaled ambulance.  After [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] and [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper's]] failed scouting mission ended in a counterattack by [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]], Ratchet arrived with [[Hauler]] to pull the damaged Hound out of a ravine.  Once he finished repairing Hound, Ratchet was part of the battlegroup sent to stop the Decepticons stealing the oil from an off-shore oil rig.  However, he did not fare well in this battle. {{storylink|More Than Meets the Eye, Part 1}}

After the Autobots saved their new human friends, Spike and Sparkplug Witwicky, from the oil rig fire, Ratchet repaired [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]]'s damaged arm in the repair bay outside the ''Ark.'' {{storylink|More Than Meets the Eye, Part 2}}  When Optimus Prime was caught in the explosion of the [[Ruby Crystal Mines of Burma]], Ratchet helped the Autobot leader recover, but evidently his skills as a medic were not required, as Prime was totally fine after transforming back into robot mode.  Soon afterwards, Ironhide was shot by Skywarp, so Ratchet carried the old-timer back to base for repairs. {{storylink|More Than Meets the Eye, Part 3}}

During an ill-fated Autobot attempt to defend the local solar power plant, Starscream managed to shoot the guns out of Ratchet and Prowl's hands.  Smarting from the concussion blast, Ratchet called for the Autobots to fall back.  However, Ironhide once again managed to get himself damaged while saving Optimus Prime.  Ironhide objected to Ratchet and Sparkplug's diagnosis of his damage, but Ratchet warned him against backtalk or the medic would short out Ironhide's mouth circuit.  To prevent further argument, he shut down Ironhide, cutting off the warrior in mid-sentence.  After the Autobots were led into a trap by a reprogrammed Bumblebee, Ratchet discovered the tampering done by the Decepticons and restored the little Autobot. {{storylink|Transport to Oblivion}}

In addition to patching up his fellow warriors whenever someone (usually [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]) had roughed them up a little, Ratchet was also in charge of helping whenever [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] had another invention in the making.  Working together, the two Autobots designed and built the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] more or less from scratch—and did a pretty good job, considering they were working with substandard materials. {{storylink|S.O.S. Dinobots}}  Ratchet was also responsible for saving [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime's]] life, performing a daring surgery on the Autobot leader while subjected to attacks by [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]]. {{storylink|Divide and Conquer}}  When [[Skyfire (G1)|Skyfire]] refused to assassinate the Autobots and was gunned down by [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], it was Ratchet who reconstructed the giant Decepticon scientist and gave him the chance to reform. {{storylink|Fire in the Sky}}

[[Image:G1_ChangingGears_Ratchet_karate.jpg|thumb|left|170px|Now COUGH!]]

In 1985, after Spike was injured during a battle with the Decepticons, Ratchet carried their injured human friend to the metro hospital.  While Spike's mind was transferred into the [[Autobot X]] experimental body Sparkplug had made earlier, Ratchet repaired the battle-damaged Bumblebee, but was forced to cut short his repairs after Spike went on a rampage in his new body.  After Spike's mind was returned to his real body, Ratchet theorised that he could probably fix the problems in the mind-transfer process, but thought it was better left alone. {{storylink|Autobot Spike}}  When Megatron captured [[Gears (G1)|Gears]] and unwittingly threatened the destruction of the Earth with his [[Solar Needle]], Ratchet totally fly-kicked Thundercracker.  After the Decepticons retreated, Ratchet and Wheeljack argued over which wire they had to disconnect to stabilize the [[Sun]].  However, nobody seemed to notice that he and Gears sounded exactly the same. {{storylink|Changing Gears}}

[[Image:TFTM_Ratchet_dies.jpg|thumb|right|170px|Seen here suffering from a unique condition known as "Dying Ratchet Syndrome".]]

In the year 2005, while piloting a secret mission to [[Autobot City]] in order to gather a stockpile of [[energon]] from Earth, Ratchet and his allies were attacked by Megatron.  Ratchet and Ironhide returned fire, but they were both shot repeatedly and left for dead on the floor of the shuttle as the Decepticons continued with their attack on Autobot City. {{storylink|The Transformers: The Movie}}

Ratchet's body was evidently recovered for interment, as his grave was housed in the interstellar [[Autobot Mausoleum]].  Sadly, it was not Ratchet's fate to rest in peace; along with the mausoleum itself, Ratchet's remains were later plunged into a sun as a side-effect of a [[Quintesson]] plot. {{storylink|Dark Awakening}}
{{-}}

====''Binaltech''====

Along with [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]], Ratchet helped implant [[Chip Chase|Chip Chase's]] consciousness into the lifeless Prowl-2 shell when Prowl's spark was lost in [[subspace]].

====War For Cybertron Trilogy====
While scouring the ground, Ratchet finds [[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]] buried under the rubble. Barely alive. He tells Ratchet that if he’s come to kill him then he’s too late. Ratchet receives a visit from [[Optimus Prime (Primax)|Optimus Prime]] and the [[Autobot]]s. They’ve come in hopes that he’ll help fix the Spacebridge. However, Ratchet doesn’t do that work anymore. They follow him inside, where he has set up a clinic for injured bots. Ratchet refuses to go back to that life. He pulls out a blaster and demands that they leave. When [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] prepares for a fight, Impactor tackles him to the ground. They can’t believe that he’s healed Impactor, a known Decepticon. Impactor explains that he was pre-determined to slave away in the mines, pulling energon from the core until death or deactivation.

He has no desire to help them fix the Spacebridge. However, upon learning that [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] plans to weaponize the [[Allspark]], he reconsiders. They join Mirage down below while he watches as Impactor helps an Autobot. It’s one of Ratchet’s rules. Everyone he helps has to help everyone else. Ratchet asks Impactor to keep watch while he helps Optimus. However, Impactor wants to join them on their mission to fix the Spacebridge. While he may be a Decepticon, long before that, he swore an oath to protect the people of Cybertron.{{storylink|Episode 3}}

Ratchet gives [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] a hand in the infirmary. Impactor looks around and can’t believe that so many bots have been killed at Megatron’s command. Ratchet, Sideswipe, Chromia, Impactor, and Mirage go to the Spacebridge. They’ll have 20 Astro-cycles to get in and repair it before the patrols circle back around. They get the Spacebridge up and running. Unfortunately, they are spotted by the patrol. Impactor saves Ratchet from the gunfire, using his body as a shield. Chromia manages to take out all three Seekers.{{storylink|Episode 4}}

Ratchet and Impactor have restored the Spacebridge. Mirage and Chromia join them. Sideswipe watches from above for Decepticons. Once the bridge is activated, it will draw the attention of every Seeker in the area. They start the Spacebridge to ensure that it works, which it does, attracting Seekers in the process. Mirage manages to use his cloaking ability to hide the Spacebridge from the incoming Seekers.{{storylink|Episode 5}}

Optimus tells Ratchet, who is under fire, to activate the Spacebridge. Ratchet is nearly hit by the Seekers, but Impactor jumps in front of him. Again, using his body as a shield. Ratchet actives the Spacebridge and checks on Impactor, who, with his dying breath, thanks Ratchet for showing him the light. He later boards the Ark and leaves through the Spacebridge.{{storylink|Episode 6}}

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
[[Image:Ratchettww.jpg|thumb|left|The Cybertronian red cross is Pac-Man.]]
8.2 million years ago, Ratchet accompanied [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], and [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] to the [[Sub-Orbital District]] of [[Iacon]], which had been devastated after [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] activated the planetary engines.<ref>[[The War Within issue 2]]</ref>  He found no life signs in the entire blast radius. {{storylink|The War Within}}

600,000 years later, Ratchet remained with the Prowl-led Autobots after Optimus Prime disappeared in a [[space bridge]] explosion.  He repaired [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] after the theoretician was damaged in a battle with [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]].<ref>[[Confrontation|The War Within: The Dark Ages issue 5]]</ref> {{storylink|The War Within: The Dark Ages}}

Ratchet was among the crew of the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' when it crashed on [[Earth]], and awoke in 1984 to battle the [[Decepticons]].  After years of fighting, Ratchet 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 Ratchet and his comrades to the bottom of the [[Arctic Ocean]].  Years later, Ratchet was brought back by the sinister [[Lazarus]], who had recovered and reprogrammed a number of Transformers for his nefarious ends.  However, when [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] broke free of Lazarus's control, he hooked up Ratchet and a number of other Autobots to a device that generated a deadly "metal virus".  Soon after, [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] detached Ratchet and the others from the doomsday device. {{storylink|Prime Directive}}

[[Image:Ratchetdw.jpg|thumb|right|My crotch is my stomach.]]
<!--Mmmmmmmmmm! some strange glowing thing (drools).-->

Repaired by his comrades, Ratchet took part in a battle in the [[Canada|Canadian]] Arctic with the Decepticons over possession of a crashed spacecraft containing [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]].  As the Autobots overwhelmed their foes, [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] arrived on the planet and gave them an ultimatum: Surrender and return to a newly unified Cybertron, or be destroyed.  The Autobots returned to the ''Ark'', where Optimus Prime assigned Ratchet to a [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]]-led team that was to remain on Earth. {{storylink|Brothers' Burden}} After Shockwave's lieutenant, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]], took Prime and others back to Cybertron, Ratchet and [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] remained at the ''Ark'' as Jazz, [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]], and [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] attempted to locate Scourge and his ship. {{storylink|Cold War}}

When [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] and a team of Decepticons arrived on Earth, they attacked the ''Ark''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s inhabitants, wanting the starship for themselves.  In the initial assault, the Autobots managed to take [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]], his cassettes, [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]], and [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] prisoner, but eventually all the Autobots but Ratchet and Brawn were defeated by the mighty [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]].  Expecting a supply ship from Cybertron later that day, Ratchet and Brawn slipped past the ''Ark''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s berserk defense systems in order to contact the ship and warn them.  Unfortunately, Bruticus arrived soon after, and they were forced to destroy the ''Ark'' rather than let the Decepticons have access to [[Teletraan I]]. {{storylink|Night of the Combaticons}} Before the battle could escalate further, it was interrupted by the arrival of [[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]], a [[Seeker]] seemingly powered by supernatural forces.  An uneasy truce was formed between the small group of Autobots and Decepticons, and Ratchet begrudgingly put his medic skills to work on Starscream. {{storylink|Skyfire (comic issue)|Skyfire}}

Ratchet later aided in the construction of Autobot City. {{storylink|The Route of All Evil}}

===''G.I.Joe vs Transformers''===
[[Image:Ratchetjoetf2.jpg|140px|thumb|left|Physician, arm thyself.]]

In an alternate timeline, a newly formed [[human]] terrorist organization named [[Cobra]] uncovered the ''Ark'' buried in a dormant volcano.  Finding two armies of giant, transformable robots, they repurposed these aliens for their own use, rebuilding them so they could reconfigure into various Cobra-designed vehicles.  Ratchet was reprogrammed and rebuilt into a Cobra HISS tank.  [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] was able to break free from his reprogramming and awaken the other Transformers, and, with the help of the human anti-terrorist task-force [[G.I.Joe]], he defeated Megatron and Cobra.  An alliance between the Autobots and the United States government was formed. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers}}

A malfunction in [[Teletran 3]] sent dozens of Transformers into various points in history, an act which, if not reversed, would result in a perpetual holocaust being unleashed across [[Earth]].  To retrieve one Transformer and bring him home, a team of Cobra and G.I. Joe agents were sent 15 years into an apocalyptic future where [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] and his Decepticons ruled.  The remaining cyborged humans had formed a resistance which had only one Autobot warrior who stood between them and utter annihilation.  The last Autobot alive, Ratchet had grown bitter and battle-hardened after years of guerrilla warfare, and he demanded the team sent to bring him back to the present day help him complete one more mission.  Ratchet, the Joes, and the Cobra agents were successful in freeing a factory nearby that was manned by enslaved humans, but Ratchet refused to go home with them and abandon his calling.  [[Barbecue]] returned Ratchet home against his wishes, and as Ratchet cursed the stupid little creature, the [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] of the present day shot Ratchet in the back, putting him out of commission. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II issue 3}}

Later, when [[Serpent O.R.]] took Optimus Prime prisoner, Ratchet (still in his post-apocalyptic body) was part of [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]]'s rescue team. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 4}}
{{-}}

=== IDW comics continuity ===
{{ongoing}}
[[Image:Ratchetidw.jpg|thumb|left|IDW's Ratchet, design and art by E.J. Su.  Apparently, he got a "telling Prowl off" upgrade, too.]]
[[Image:Ratchetholomatter.jpg|100px|thumb|right|Ratchet's [[Holomatter|holo-matter avatar]] has no mouth, and he must snark.]]

Before the war with the Decepticons Ratchet served with the Security Forces stationed in Kaon. He was present at the funeral of Bumper and Fastback. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 3}}

Ratchet was part of a detachment of Autobots that had operated covertly on Earth for at least four years, attempting to foil a Decepticon insurgency. Although a loyal warrior, Ratchet's conscience got the better of him when he intercepted a Decepticon pulsewave ordering the elimination of [[Stoker|a human being]].  While he was too late to save that human, he encountered two more{{m-}}[[Verity Carlo]] and [[Hunter O'Nion]]{{m-}}who had stumbled upon the Decepticon plot. {{storylink|Infiltration issue 0}}  Ratchet broke cover to save their lives, subjecting himself to the wrath of [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], who threatened disciplinary action. {{storylink|Infiltration issue 3}}

Ratchet was seemingly alone in his convictions, until [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] agreed to help him and the humans investigate an abandoned Decepticon bunker in [[Nebraska]].  [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] and [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] arrived while the humans were reconnoitering and began an aerial bombardment of the bunker, intending to destroy it.  Bumblebee and Ratchet engaged the Decepticons in order to buy the humans time to escape the collapsing bunker. {{storylink|Infiltration issue 4}}

The Autobots and humans were leaving the Decepticons to finish their work when an enraged [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] burst from the buried ruins of the bunker.  Thankfully for them, Megatron was more concerned with the treachery of Blitzwing and Skywarp, allowing Ratchet and the others to escape with their lives. {{storylink|Infiltration issue 5}}  Unwilling to risk their safety further, Ratchet subsequently returned the humans to ''[[Ark-17]]'', where they met the newly arrived Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Infiltration issue 6}}

Later, Ratchet and [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]], against orders, accompanied Verity Carlo and [[Jimmy Pink]] to find the now-missing [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] and Hunter O'Nion while Prime and the other Autobots went to [[Brasnya]].  When the humans set off a trap, the Autobots saved them, though Ironhide was critically injured and Ratchet was forced to abandon him to bring the humans to safety. {{storylink|Escalation|Escalation #1-6}}

When the Autobots decided to relocate the ''Ark-17'', they were attacked by [[Sixshot]], who downed the ship in mid-flight. {{storylink|Devastation issue 1}}  Ratchet was ordered to take Verity and Jimmy into an escape pod while the rest of the crew piloted the ship into the ocean. {{storylink|Devastation issue 2}}  Sixshot soon found Ratchet and pursued him relentlessly, forcing Ratchet to abandon Verity and Jimmy for their own safety.  When cornered at the water's edge, Ratchet made an apparent last stand, but was saved by the timely arrival of the other Autobots. {{storylink|Devastation issue 3}}  The humans made their way back to the Autobots to warn them about an air attack by the military, and Ratchet took them with him on an orbital bounce to the ''[[Ark-32]]''.   Unfortunately, this killed Verity and Jimmy. {{storylink|Devastation issue 4}}

Guilt-stricken, Ratchet managed to restart their hearts after more than 5 minutes, but they may have suffered brain damage. {{storylink|Devastation issue 5}}

===''Hearts of Steel''===
With Optimus Prime in stasis lock, Ratchet and [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] appeared to be the co-leaders of the Autobots in the 19th century. {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 1}}  Despite [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]]'s pleading, he was reluctant to interfere with the humans, but nevertheless participated in the pursuit of the [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] as it headed to [[New York City|New York]]. {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 4}}  

His "Ice Age Wars" altmode is uncertain, but it clearly has scales and spikes.  His 19th-century altmode is a medical boxcar.  He may be the very first Transformer depicted with a boxcar altmode, as prior to this, all train-based Transformers were locomotives.

===Descent into Evil===
[[Image:Ratchetironhidedescent.jpg|thumb|left|Amazingly not dead.]]
Years after the Decepticon and Autobot Wars had ended, Ratchet and five other Autobots were sent to [[Ceti Alpha Seven]] to destroy [[Deathsaurus (G1)|General Deathsaurus]]'s Insecticon clone lab and stop his planned Decepticon uprising.  After a team of four (consisting of [[Outback|Fallback]], [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]], [[Flareup (G1)|Flareup]], and [[Ricochet (Descent into Evil)|Ricochet]]) failed, Ratchet and [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] followed to help.  After battling swarms of [[Virulent Clones]] and [[Buzzclaw (Timelines)|Buzzclaw]], they finally met up with Deathsaurus himself.  Ironhide stayed to fight the general, and Ratchet separated to find their fallen friends.  

Ratchet managed to gather the victims but was captured by Deathsaurus along with Ironhide.  Both were restrained inside the lab, which was set to detonate.  Before this happened, Ricochet snuck in and freed them, allowing them to gather the wounded and escape as the clone lab was destroyed. {{storylink|Descent Into Evil}}
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