Starscream (Transformers)

Starscream

Starscream art by IDW Publishing
Autobot/Decepticon/Neutral
Information
Sub-group	Commander
Function	Second In Command, Commander of Aerospace
Rank	9
Partner	Megatron, Skywarp, Thundercracker
Motto	"Conquest is made of the ashes of one's enemies'. "
Alternate modes	Cybertronian Fighter Jet, F-15 Eagle (G1) Cybertronian Fighter Jet resembling a Sukhoi Su-35 (Armada) Modified F-22 Raptor Jet Fighter (Energon) Cybertronian Space Jet (Cybertron) F-16 Fighting Falcon (Transformers: Prime)
Series	Transformers: Generation 1 Transformers: Generation 2 Transformers: Robot Masters Transformers Classics Transformers: Universe Beast Wars Second Transformers: Armada Transformers: Energon Transformers: Cybertron Transformers Animated Transformers: Prime
English voice actor	Chris Latta (The Transformers) Doug Parker (Beast Wars) Michael Dobson (Unicron Trilogy) Tom Kenny (Animated) Steve Blum (Prime/Robots in Disguise) Sam Riegel (War for Cybetron/Fall of Cybertron/Rise of the Dark Spark) Scott Whyte (Transformers: Devastation)
Japanese voice actor	Hirotaka Suzuoki (The Transformers, Japanese) Kazuki Yao (Beast Wars, Japanese) Jin Yamanoi (Armada) Nobuo Tobita (Energon) Takaya Kuroda (Cybertron) Tomokazu Sugita (Q Transformers: Mystery of Convoy)

Starscream

Starscream (right) confronted by Megatron (left)
Decepticon
Information
Sub-group	Deluxe Vehicles
Function	Decepticon Second-in-command and First Lieutenant, Energon Seeker Air Commander
Rank	9 (10 for the majority of the first season)
Partner	Megatron, Soundwave, Knock Out, Shockwave
Motto	"I, Megatron's true heir, Lord Starscream! Emperor of Destruction!"
Alternate modes	Cybertronian Jet, General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon
Series	Transformers: Prime Transformers: Generations
English voice actor	Sam Riegel (War for Cybertron video game) Steve Blum (Prime TV series)

Starscream is a fictional character in the Transformers franchise. He is one of the most frequently occurring characters in the Transformers fictional work, appearing in almost all versions of the story. Formerly a scientist and a graduate of the Cybertron War Academy, Starscream is a treacherous high-ranking Decepticon who turns into a jet fighter, and desires to replace Megatron as the leader of the Decepticons.

Authors have created many characters in the franchise based on the appeal of Starscream's treachery and cunning; most of these share his desire to lead the Decepticons. Starscream has the ambition to overthrow Megatron as the Decepticons' leader. He has controlled the Decepticons at times, but he usually suffers defeat. Starscream is ruthless, cruel, and more intelligent than average Decepticons, but also, unlikely to act directly on his aspirations without first securing conditions favorable to his ascension. He considers himself vastly superior to other Decepticons and finds Megatron contemptible for his antiquated military strategies and tactics.

Starscream believes the Decepticons should employ guile and speed more readily than brute force to defeat the Autobots. However, given the chance to lead, he is often less successful in this than Megatron. While Megatron frequently overlooks him as a threat, authors suggest such reasons for Megatron's tolerance of Starscream's presence as grudging respect for his scheming nature and precautionary observation. Others suggest that Starscream's treacherous nature is welcomed; that without a threat to his command, Megatron believes he would become soft and overconfident. Even so, Starscream often quickly exhausts Megatron's patience; violent-yet-brief verbal and/or physical conflicts between the two are not uncommon. As such, there have been times when Megatron has been close to killing Starscream, and on one occasion Starscream is only saved by a rockfall.

In his original appearance, Starscream transforms into a McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle. As Decepticon Air Commander, he leads the other Decepticon Seeker jets, many of whom share his physical design. His technical specifications indicate top speed as Mach 2.8 and altitude ceiling as 52 miles (84 km). Launchers mounted on his arm (under his wings in jet mode) can deliver cluster bombs capable of leveling a 10,000 square feet (900 m²) area and fire his signature null ray, which for brief periods disrupts the flow of electricity in any circuitry it contacts. This action temporarily renders inoperable any electronic device or machine, including Transformers.