Over-Run

For other uses, see Overrun.

Over-Run is the name of several fictional characters from the Transformers series. The third Over-Run was given that name after a controversy over his initial name, Spastic. The original character, was initially called Runabout before being renamed Over-Run due to trademark purposes.

Transformers: Generation 1 (Decepticon)

Runabout/Over-Run
Decepticon
Information
Sub-group Battlechargers
Function Shock Trooper
Rank 6
Motto "A pretty car makes an even prettier wreck." (Generation 1), "Beauty is fleeting. Especially when I’m around." (Timelines)
Alternate modes Lotus Esprit
Series Transformers: Generation 1
Transformers: Timelines
English voice actor Roger Behr
Japanese voice actor Yoku Shioya

Over-Run (originally known as Runabout) formed one half of the Battlecharger duo with Runamuck. Runabout is not the brains of the Battlechargers, but he is much calmer and certainly more articulate than Runamuck, and his presence helps keep the latter's cross-wired mind on task. That said, Runabout usually joins in with whatever mad ideas Runamuck comes up with, just to keep from being bored. Runabout is very susceptible to boredom.[1]

In Transformers: Galaxy Force, Runabout is the Japanese name for the Decepticon called Runamuck in the U.S. He came packaged with the Autobot Longrack. He was created to be an intentional homage to the original character.

Marvel Comics

Runabout gets eaten in Marvel Comics.

Runabout and Runamuck first appeared in the U.S. Marvel Transformers comics in issue 23 where they responded to Megatron's request to announce a challenge to Optimus Prime in a dramatic fashion. Taking him up on this, the two Battlechargers caused random mayhem, until witnessing a young boy scrawling graffiti. Inspired by the youngster, they followed him and his family throughout America, graffiting Mount Rushmore and the Washington Monument on the way. They would then encounter the Transformer hating Circuit Breaker, who attacked them and nearly killed the family the two Battlechargers had been following. Stripped of her command in RAAT, she turned to a group of Autobots she had captured led by Blaster, who agreed to let her combine them into a super-Autobot if she would let them go afterwards. They caught up with the Battlechargers as they defaced the Statue of Liberty and defeated them both, dropping their broken bodies into New York Harbor.

They would not show up again until much later in the series, when they appeared as part of a group of rogue Decepticons recruited by Shockwave to fight Scorponok in the Decepticon Civil War, attacking the Decepticon base in New Jersey, before all involved were transported to Cybertron, where both later took part in the climactic battle with Unicron. A wreck that appears to be Runamuck in vehicle mode was shown among the casualties of the battle, while Runabout was killed soon after by a cannibalistic race of primitive mechanoids who emerged from under Cybertron's surface. While Runabout was indeed not seen again, Runamuck does later reappear, fighting and dying among Megatron's forces in battle against Jhiaxus's second-generation Cybertronians.

Both also appeared in the U.K. comics divergent continuity Earthforce tales, as part of the Decepticon forces under Megatron and Shockwave.

Runabout also appeared as part of Galvatron's forces in a nightmare alternate universe where Unicron had destroyed Cybertron, and Galvatron and the Decepticons ruled Earth. He was killed by Inferno.

Animated series

Runamuck and Runabout

Runabout's presence in the Transformers television series is limited to one episode - where he was among the Decepticon forces in the third-season episode "Ghost in the Machine". During this episode he was one of the Decepticons who were guarding Trypticon, when Scourge (who was thought a traitor by the Decepticons for his possessed actions earlier) and the ghost of Starscream arrived to steal one of the battle station's eyes, as part of a deal with Unicron to get Starscream's body back. Starscream possessed Runabout and had him shoot Runamuck . Runamuck was able to send for reinforcements, but the two traitors escaped after Starscream took over Astrotrain. Starscream later returned to Trypticon to connect Unicron's head to Cybertron and make it his new body, but was stopped by Dirge, Thrust and the Battlechargers, who sabotaged Trypticon, before Autobot planted explosives blasted Unicron's head into orbit. Runabout did not appear again.

Dreamwave Productions

Runabout's Dreamwave bio indicated that he simply lived to commit one evil deed after the other, especially targeting attractive structures, even on the battlefield. This has led to him being classed as a serial killer by the Autobots. He is slightly smarter than the average Decepticon.

Runabout was recruited as a Decepticon under the leadership of Megatron in his war against the Autobots on the planet Cybertron. When Megatron and Autobot leader Optimus Prime disappeared in an accident with a space bridge, the Autobot and Decepticon forces splintered into smaller factions. Runabout joined up with the Predacons under the leadership of Starscream.

After the Great Shutdown on Cybertron ended, Runabout was reformatted in the form of an Earth sports car and served under Shockwave. Later he would be responsible for killing Broadside, before himself being seemingly killed by a Sharkticon. Wounded and looking to recharge, Runabout and Runamuck broke into Shockwave's abandoned lab where they accidentally released Sunstorm.

In issue #2 of the third Generation One series, titled "Black Sunshine", the Protectabots were ordered by Prowl to inventigate the energy anomaly created by Sunstorm escaping Shockwave's abandoned secret lab. When they arrived they discovered the hole left in the roof by Sunstorm and the deactivated Battlechargers Runabout and Runamuck. Streetwise reported back to Prowl as First Aid repaired the Decepticons.

IDW Publishing

After Dreamwave's closure, the rights to the Transformers comics were taken up by IDW Publishing. They have begun to publish their own new material, including a miniseries called Infiltration featuring some of the Generation One Transformers. In Infiltration, Starscream is in command of a small group of Decepticons on Earth consisting of Skywarp, Thundercracker, Astrotrain, Blitzwing, and the Battlechargers Runabout and Runamuck. Starscream had discovered an ore on Earth that was the Transformer equivalent of steroids, making him bold enough to advance their infiltration phase ahead of schedule. However, it seems that humans have somehow obtained evidence of the Transformers' existence, which would derail Starscream's plans. Runabout has thus far appeared as part of Starscream's elimination squad along with Runamuck, disposing of any evidence of their operation on Earth. The two, with aid from Thundercracker, pursued Ratchet, who was harbouring three humans who had discovered evidence of the Decepticon presence on Earth. They failed. However, with the arrival of Megatron on Earth, they suddenly had more important things to worry about. Powered up by Ore-13, they, along with Thundercracker and Astrotrain, were sent to confront Megatron as he arrived looking for Starscream. In spite of their powered up status they surrendered without a fight in the face of Megatron's wrath. In the sequel series The Transformers: Escalation it was revealed Runabout had acquired an unscrupulous senator for the Decepticons' purposes. He and Runamuck were seen being ordered to manipulate the facsimiles.

Fun Publications

Wing of Honor

In The Coming Storm Nexus Prime and Aquarius Quintesson arrive on the Wings of Honor Cybertron where they are attacked by Jetstorm, Deluge, Runabout and Runamuck. Nexus Prime quickly trounces the four Decepticons and leaves that dimension with his traveling companion.

Runabout appears in "A Flash Forward" by Fun Publications. In the year 2005 Devastator attacks Autobot City. He is opposed by Ultra Magnus, Sideswipe, Red Alert and Tracks. Firing every weapon they have, the Autobots are able to force Devastator to break apart into the individual Constructicons. Now outnumbered the Autobots retreated. Red Alert is killed covering the withdrawal, as Megatron watches. These events and others are related to Jhaixus by Runabout and Runamuck in 2013.[2] After coming out of stasis on Cybertron with no memories, Side Burn was taken by Runabout and Runamuck to see Jhaixus. On the planet Nebulos the Autobots discover security footage proving that Runabout and Runamuch kidnapped the scientist Hi-Q.[3]

Toys

Runabout transforms into a Lotus Turbo Esprit sports car. An auto-transformer, he uses a pull-back motor to propel him forward in both car and robot modes, though starting in car mode triggers his transformation to robot after he rolls forward a short distance. His mold is very similar to his partner Runamuck, who transforms into a white Pontiac Firebird Trans-Am. As with nearly all Transformers toys released in 1986, Runabout was an all-new mold and not a reissue from a previous toy line.[4]
A Transformers Collectors Club exclusive black redeco of Generations Wheeljack with a new head sculpt, to be released in 2012. Because the club was unable to secure the name "Runabout" the toy will be called "Over-Run" on the packaging.[5]

Transformers: Generation 1 (Autobot)

Over-Run
Autobot
Information
Sub-group Action Masters, Elite Guard
Function Air Defense
Rank 7
Motto "I rule the skies with a heavy hand!"
Alternate modes None
Series Transformers: Generation 1

The original Over-Run is an Autobot Action Master.

Dreamwave Productions

Although Over-Run didn't appear in any stories published by Dreamwave Productions, he was featured in their More Than Meets The Eye biography series.

Fun Publications

In Fun Publications stories Over-Run is part of the Elite Guard Strike Team, commanded by Metalhawk.

The Elite Guard Alpha Team and Strike Team did battle against a horde of ferrovorous bugs in one of Cybertron's city-states. Magnum then ordered the Strike Team to escort the Alpha Team to Space Port Bravo for their next mission. The Strike Team then reported to Magnum and Sentinel Major, who introduced them to the new Elite Guard Special-Ops Team, also called the Combaticons.[6][7][8]

While on patrol Onslaught told Metalhawk the story of how his Elite Guard team captured Thunderwing. Metalhawk then told Onslaught about how his team captured Blue Bacchus. The teams of Elite Guardsmen then came across a Decepticon who was separated from his group. Brawl was able to get the location of a Decepticon base from the captive before he went offline. The Guard teams fround the base and were able to kill Shadowcaster, the base's leader. Metalhawk's team reported to Magnum, but the Combaticons stayed to investigate, Onslaught thinking their victory was too easy. They were captured by Decepticons.[9]

Metalhawk and his Strike Team were searching for Decepticons when they ran into a crazy "empty" who ranted about the coming of the "brute". They received a distress signal from Sentinel Major ordering all Elite Guard units to return base. When Metalhawk's team arrived at the base Ricochet told them of a Decepticon attack. Among the attackers are the Combaticions, but when Sentinel Major orders them to surrender, they combine into Bruticus and crush Sentinel Major.[10]

When most of the members of the Autobot Elite Guard confronted Bruticus they were nearly wiped out, with Bruticus killing most of the Guard. Dion was able to blind Bruticus, forcing it to separate into the Combaticons, but the Combaticons finished off most of the remaining Guard, including Metalhawk, who was killed by Onslaught. This left only Dion alive, buried in the rubble, and Thunderclash's team, which was off planet at the time.[11]

Toys

A new mold.

Transformers: Armada

Over-Run
Mini-Con
Information
Sub-group Triple Changers
Function Optimus Prime, Ultra Magnus
Motto "To understand your adversary... you must first understand yourself."
Alternate modes Jet/Gun
Series Transformers: Armada
Transformers: Universe

The second Over-Run is a Mini-Con partner to Optimus Prime in the Armada series, and then partnered with Ultra Magnus in the Universe series.

Dreamwave Productions

Over-Run appeared among the Mini-Cons in issue #18 of the Transformers: Armada comic book where many Mini-Cons aided him in using the Mini-Con Matrix in the defeat of Unicron.

Toys

Deluxe-sized toy came with the Mini-Con Over-Run. Mini-Con could be used to activate a punching action gimmick. Several variants of this figure exist. One difference is some had yellow painted headlights, while other had silver.[12][13]
Repainted as Armada Scourge with Run-Over, Universe Ultra Magnus with Over-Run and later as a Cybertron Deluxe Optimus Prime.
The toy for this version of Ultra Magnus is a white recolor of the Armada Deluxe Optimus Prime and Over-Run toy. There was an error in the assembly of the toy where the lower parts of his arms were swapped with each other, meaning he could not bend his arms up at the elbows fully, unless they are fixed.

Transformers: Power Core Combiners

Over-Run/Spastic
Decepticon
Information
Sub-group Stunticons, Power Core Combiners, Scouts
Rank 7
Partner Four Stunticon drones
Alternate modes Race car
Series Transformers: Power Core Combiners

The third Over-Run was originally to be called Spastic. He was to be a Decepticon Commander in the Power Core Combiners range and packaged with four Stunticon drones.[14] He is violent and impulsive.

Controversy

The announcement of this toy in mid-November 2010 caused considerable controversy, gaining Hasbro substantial negative publicity across UK and Australian national newspapers and UK TV shows in the run-up to Christmas, as spastic is offensive in British/Commonwealth. While having the same roots, the term has evolved in a different direction in the US and is not generally considered offensive.[15] Hasbro later issued a statement saying that they did not intend to cause any offence, and that the toy would not be available in Europe via traditional retail channels.,[16] but subsequently announced that the name would be withdrawn entirely.[17] The figure was subsequently renamed "Over-Run".[18]

Toys

A yellow-painted reworking of Leadfoot that was intended to come with four drone cars, all of which combine with the core model to form a larger robot. The Toyota GT-One and the Mini Cooper S drones were to be repaints of those from Double Clutch and the Rallybots, while the other two were repaints of those from Mudslinger and Destructicons.[19] Boxes for this toy actually say his name is "Spastic", but then have a sticker over that saying "Over-Run."

References

  1. ↑ Lee's Guide to Loose 1986 Transformers: The Decepticons. Lee's Toy Review magazine, issue #204, November 2009
  2. ↑ Flint Dille, Jesse Wittenrich & Pete Sinclair (w), Matt Frank & Josh Warner (p), Matt Frank (i), Thomas Deer (col), Jesse Wittenrich (let), Pete Sinclair (ed). "A Flash Forward Part 1" The Transformers Collectors Club 44 (February–March 2012), Fun Publications
  3. ↑ Jesse Wittenrich & Pete Sinclair (June–July 2012). "A Flash Forward Part 3". Transformers Collectors Club Magazine. 1 (45): 6–11.
  4. ↑ Cobra Island Toys - Runabout
  5. ↑ Transformers Collectors Club - Over-Run (a.k.a. Runabout)
  6. ↑ Jesse Wittenrich & Pete Sinclair (w), Dan Khanna (p), Frank Milkovich (i), Thomas Deer (col), Jesse Wittenrich (let), Pete Sinclair (ed). "The Coming Storm: Part 2" The Transformers Collectors Club 32 (April–May 2010), Fun Publications
  7. ↑ http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/transformers-collectors-club-2010-comic-the-coming-storm-preview/18031/
  8. ↑ http://www.bsckids.com/2010/03/transformers-club-magazine-comic-preview/
  9. ↑ Jesse Wittenrich & Pete Sinclair (w), Dan Khanna (p), Frank Milkovich (i), Thomas Deer (col), Jesse Wittenrich (let), Pete Sinclair (ed). "The Coming Storm: Part 3" The Transformers Collectors Club 33 (June–July 2010), Fun Publications
  10. ↑ Jesse Wittenrich & Pete Sinclair (w), Dan Khanna (p), Josh Warner (i), Thomas Deer (col), Jesse Wittenrich (let), Pete Sinclair (ed). "The Coming Storm: Part 5" The Transformers Collectors Club 35 (Oct–Nov 2010), Fun Publications
  11. ↑ Jesse Wittenrich & Pete Sinclair (w), Dan Khanna (p), Josh Warner (i), Thomas Deer (col), Jesse Wittenrich (let), Pete Sinclair (ed). "The Coming Storm: Part 6" The Transformers Collectors Club 36 (Dec/Jan 2011), Fun Publications
  12. ↑ "Optimus Prime with Over-Run". Unicron.us. Retrieved 2011-04-04.
  13. ↑ http://www.hasbro.com/common/instruct/Transformers_Armada_Optimus_Prime_with_Over_Run.pdf
  14. ↑ Hasbro Showcases its Iconic Brands at San Diego Comic-Con. Business Wire; July 20, 2010
  15. ↑ UK Transformers fans' fury over new character called 'Spastic' - The Daily Record
  16. ↑ 'Transformer Spastic' UK launch scrapped over fears it may cause offence, Mail Online
  17. ↑ 'Disability Bitch and the Spastic Transformer'
  18. ↑ TFW2005.com - Over-Run with Stunticons
  19. ↑ http://www.hasbro.com/common/documents/dad2d6781c4311ddbd0b0800200c9a66/9C366C8C5056900B10D388F4C5CA4CE6.pdf
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