Dirge (Transformers)
Dirge Box Art
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| Decepticon | |
|---|---|
| Information | |
| Sub-group | Deluxe Vehicles, Predacons, Seekers, Voyagers |
| Function | Warrior |
| Rank | 5 |
| Partner | Ramjet, Thundercracker, and Thrust |
| Motto | "Fear is the element that unites all losers." |
| Alternate modes | Cybertronian jet, Modified F-15 |
| Series |
Transformers: Generation 1 Transformers: Timelines Transformers: Universe Transformers: Generations |
| English voice actor | Bud Davis |
| Predacon | |
|---|---|
| Information | |
| Function | Aerial Officer, Aerial Captain |
| Rank | 5 |
| Partner | Thrust, Thrustol |
| Motto | "Nothing tastes better than mass destruction." "Hey, check me out! I’m a bug…robot…thingy…" |
| Alternate modes |
Dassault Rafale Fighter Jet Giant Cybernetic Wasp |
| Series | Beast Wars Second |
| Voiced by | Eiji Takemoto |
| Decepticon | |
|---|---|
| Information | |
| Sub-group | Convention Exclusives, Fuzors, Insecticons |
| Function | Commander |
| Rank | 7.8 |
| Partner | Deathsaurus and Buzzclaw |
| Motto | "To lead is to inspire fear!" |
| Alternate modes | Mantis/Lizard Fuzor |
| Series | Transformers: Timelines |
| Decepticon | |
|---|---|
| Information | |
| Sub-group | Mayhem Suppression Squad |
| Function | Morale Officer |
| Motto | "A little laughter rarely kills anybody." |
| Alternate modes | Modified F-15, Mantis/Lizard Pretender Shell |
| Series | Transformers: Timelines |
| Decepticon | |
|---|---|
| Information | |
| Sub-group | Starscream clones |
| Function | Air Warrior |
| Alternate modes | Futuristic Harrier Jet |
| Series | Transformers Animated |
The TAV-8B Harrier
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| Decepticon | |
|---|---|
| Information | |
| Sub-group | Deluxe Vehicles |
| Rank | 6 |
| Alternate modes | McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II |
| Series | Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen |
| Decepticon | |
|---|---|
| Information | |
| Alternate modes | Cybertronian jet |
| Series | Transformers: War for Cybertron |
Dirge is the name of several different fictional characters from the Transformers series. He was first introduced in 1985 as a villain in the Transformers series, appearing in the comic book by Marvel Comics and voiced by Bud Davis in the animated television series. Since then the name Dirge was also used by several other Transformers characters. In 2007 a limited edition Dirge toy was sold at the Transformers convention Botcon.
Dirge was first introduced in 1985. Thrust, Ramjet and Dirge are part of a team dubbed by Transformers fans as the "Coneheads" for the way their character models were drawn to make them visually distinct from the original Decepticon jets Starscream, Skywarp, and Thundercracker despite their toys being modifications of the same mold used to create that original trio. The toys themselves use the nosecone of the jet to become the head of the robot, but on the original jets the nosecone points back, forming a seemingly normal head. To make the three newer jets distinctive, the character model creators illustrated them with the nosecones pointing up in robot mode - despite the fact that this is not how their toy instructions or box art depict them. (Ironically, when the hinge holding the toy's fuselage/torso and head/nosecone in robot mode wears down, pointing the nosecone upward is the only way to keep the cockpit/midsection from leaning backward, away from the die-cast metal portion of the Seekers' chests.)
Dirge was described as a mournful, silent warrior reliant on - and consumed by - fear. While an expert at inflicting fear on others, Dirge was also prone to succumbing to fear. Dirge's effectiveness evaporated under situations where Dirge feels he is not in control.
In jet mode, Dirge had the ability to induce fear in other robots through his engines. The engines apparently emitted certain frequencies that caused disorientation and provoked fear in the Transformers' equivalent of the central nervous system. He also carried two air-to-air missiles and two automatic machine guns.
Although he would not appear personally in the Transformers comic until issue #17, Dirge's vehicle mode, along with Ramjet and Thrust's were being mass-produced under slave labor when Shockwave assumed control of Blackrock Aircraft Assembly Plant #1 (issues #8-12; the planes seen in issues #11-12). This suggests that the planes were either F-15s redesigned by Shockwave for use as Decepticons or that they were already made from blueprints produced (on Earth) by the Blackrock company. This implies that this is how the three Seekers gained their Earth modes when they eventually came to Earth. (In issue #17, Dirge is seen using a vehicle mode similar in design to his future Earthly mode.)
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Wikipedia