Wideload (Energon)

Let's see what you can see... This article is in need of images. Specifics: Japanese toy

Wideload is a Decepticon combiner limb from the Energon portion of the Unicron Trilogy continuity family.

He could have survived if his brother Heavy Load hadn't joined in the bullying to protect himself. In the end, he felt he could be nothing but a leg. It's a tragedy they couldn't put on a kids show.

A weighty tome could no doubt be written about Wideload, an ancient warrior from Cybertron's deep past, but nobody really cares about him anyway. He is able to combine with Construction Team leader Steamhammer into the towering Constructicon Maximus.

Why was he so obscure? Were there bullies in primary programming who destroyed his self-confidence, ridiculing him for his name and awkward, deformed arm? Who can say?

Fiction

Energon cartoon

Voice actor: Don Brown (English)

Shortly after awakening from their long slumber, Constructicon Maximus and Bruticus Maximus were ordered by Galvatron to pursue the fleeing Superion Maximus after the Autobot attempted to attack the Decepticon leader. Both combiners separated into their individual components and gave chase. They later pledged their allegiance to Galvatron, believing he was the future of Cybertron. Wishes

When Six Shot pinpointed an Autobot signal on the planet's surface, Galvatron sent Constructicon Maximus and Bruticus Maximus out to investigate. Wideload and the other components of Constructicon Maximus split from their combined form to beat down Autobot refugees who were attempting to look over the Miranda II's crash site for survivors. Their rampage was interrupted by the arrival of Arcee and Kicker. Though Bruticus Maximus gave chase to the duo, they got away. The Decepticons found their quarry again a little later, after the Omnicons had blocked off some energon pipelines to weaken the Decepticons' planetary defense grid. They recombined to gun down Kicker and the Omnicons, but were countered by the arrival of Optimus Prime and other Autobot reinforcements. Break Through

At least I got some screen time...

During a virtual training match between the Autobots and Decepticons, Wideload and the other Constructicon team members fought alongside the Destruction Team against Storm Jet and his Air Team. Both sides combined and clashed, with Superion Maximus losing the battle. However, they were quickly defeated by Optimus Supreme in the next round. Distribution

After Optimus was blasted under a pile of debris, Galvatron called for Constructicon Maximus and Scorponok to help dig him out. Constructicon Maximus used his individual vehicle modes to clear rubble under which Optimus lay. Superion Maximus, the Prime Force, and Omega Supreme showed up to run interference before the Decepticons could put Optimus down, and Constructicon Maximus recombined to fight the new arrivals. Decepticon Army

When Rodimus, Prowl, and Landmine, now back in control of Cybertron's warp gates, teleported in front of Constructicon Maximus and Bruticus Maximus, the former split into his component pieces to do battle. Elsewhere, Galvatron submerged himself into the Super Energon pool a second time, and made the world quake as he began to grow to enormous proportions. Not knowing what the tremor signified, Constructicon Maximus decided to bail from the fight, and resumed his combined form before flying off. Galvatron Terror

Wideload and the other Constructicon Team members eventually paid for their treachery during a final showdown with the Air Team. Bruticus Maximus and Constructicon Maximus double-teamed Superion Maximus, who held his own and destroyed Constructicon's spark before the Autobot was reduced to just Storm Jet. However, the ghost of Superion's brother appeared and destroyed Blackout, giving Storm Jet the chance to procure Constructicons's dead limbs (including Wideload) and recombined into Superion. Before Bruticus could recover, the Autobot pierced his spark, causing an explosion which engulfed them all. Spark

Toys

Energon

• Buildron (Multi-pack, 2004)

• ID number: EX-01
• Release date: November 17 2004
• Accessories: Energon clamp, Decepticon energon star
• Known designers: Eric Siebenaler (Hasbro)

Sharing a mold with his teammate Long Haul, Super Link Gren transforms into a heavy-lifting mobile crane of made-up model. His crane boom can extend to almost twice its length, plus features a 5 mm post-hole at the hook to mount his "energon" clamp-weapon. He also includes a blue "super energon" Decepticon-style energon star that can be affixed to the spark crystals of most Super Link / Energon toys.

He can also form a leg or arm to any Energon-style "Powerlinx Combiner" super robot, though his nominal placement is as the huge right boot of Buildron. Incidentally, if used as an arm, if you rotate the chest plate upwards and reposition his arms, his waist and hips are free to move, giving the combiner arm a functional elbow.

All five members of Buildron were only available in Japan as part of a Toys"R"Us exclusive multi-pack.

This mold was used to make Classics Hightower and Long Haul.

• Comparison between Wideload and Gren at Autobase Aichi

• Wideload (Energon Class, 2005)

• Team ID number: C3
• Accessories: Energon clamp, Decepticon energon chip
• Known designers: Eric Siebenaler (Hasbro), Marcelo Matere (packaging artist)

The Hasbro release of Wideload was sold on an individual card, in the eighth and final wave of Energon "Energon Class" (aka "Basic") toys.

Wideload has a number of small but significant deco changes from the Takara "Gren" release. His tan and clear-blue plastics are both lighter shades than Gren's, and he uses black plastics instead of Gren's medium-gray. Many of his paint colors are also slightly different tones, plus he has the gear-shaped "Powerlinx" symbol on his crane-cabin roof, which Gren lacks.

• More information on Wideload at TFU.info

Universe (2003)

A new toy! Oh wait...

• Wideload (Basic Class, 2006)

• Accessories: Energon clamp, Decepticon energon chip

Wideload was repackaged without changes onto a Universe-themed card, sold through discount chains in the US such as Big Lots! and Family Dollar. This version has the gear insignia.

No mention of his combining ability is made on the cardback, likely because only some of the Constructicon Maximus components were made available in this fashion.

Notes

• Unlike basically every other combiner limb in the cartoon, Wideload did have a few lines in the episode "Break Through", as seen above. Whether this was meant to be Wideload as an individual talking, or Constructicon Maximus talking through one of his component parts, is up in the air.

Foreign names

• Japanese: Gren (グレン Guren)