Crosscut (G1)

Crosscut is an Autobot from the Generation 1 continuity family.

Tiberius Diaclonus

Ambassador to many worlds, Crosscut (クロスカット Kurosukatto, also Cross-Cut) is key to the Autobots' peaceful negotiations across known space. He is fluent in over 230 Earth languages and 6300 alien languages. Though he carries a lot of weaponry, it is all defensive in nature, meant to incapacitate rather than kill. In dire emergencies, he can transfer all his data and memories to his scooter-drone Clutch so his knowledge won't be lost even if he falls to the Decepticons.^[1]

Fiction

Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity

Masterpiece toy bios

Crosscut was the lone survivor of the ancient Senate formed after the Quintessons were overthrown, and was among the last to not be corrupted. Even when his title^[2] lost its meaning as war erupted, he still proved his abilities by helping to negotiate with foreigners on behalf of his fellow colonists who fled said war. At some point, Optimus Prime brought him to Earth to establish an alliance with humanity on Earth and negotiate for the construction of Autobot City. Later, he was assigned to a mission to the planet Foreston as Senator, something he saw as an opportunity as while most Autobots didn't believe in a political victory, Crosscut believed they were ready for a new government formed from bots of various walks of life to replace their current military structure. Masterpiece Crosscut bio Road Rage came to Crosscut's rescue when the ambassador was in a dangerous situation on a colony planet; he was impressed enough to invite her to be his bodyguard. Masterpiece Road Rage bio

Crosscut's mission to Foreston was revealed by Delta Magnus to check on the still operational G2 body design and development factory there, since as a Senator only he could convince the security A.I. outside to let his group in. After talking his way in, Crosscut and company found that the factory unintentionally spawned a shapeless, rampaging swarm of prototypes while still being operation after all these years, which tore through the top of the facility and left a hole the group had chanced upon earlier. When Crosscut offered Cordon the chance to upgrade to a G2 body via the facility, Cordon declined as he felt his past as part of the Regiment who bombed Diadem base made him undeserving of it. Masterpiece Crosscut bio

Legends comic

In the late 1980s, Crosscut was part of a team that attempted to protect the Transform Super Cog from being stolen by the Decepticons, but the Battlechargers were able to rev past Crosscut and a few others into the Ark. Slugslinger's Ambition

Collector's Edition toy bio

While on Cybertron, Crosscut was secretly commanded by Optimus Prime to come to Earth to undertake negotiations with humanity towards a formal alliance and building Autobot City. Collector's Edition Crosscut bio

Controverse

As an Autobot diplomat, Crosscut monitored the Galactic Justice Council's plans for the trial of Primacron in early 2011. He was appalled at their choice of a Quintesson to act as judge. Controverse

Legacy VS500 Collection Special Comic

Crosscut was a spectator for the second week of the Speedia 500 on Velocitron. Velocitron Speedia 500 Part 3

3H comics

Lives to die.

Crosscut was the navigator of Sojourner's Passage, one of several starships sent out by Rodimus Prime in 2005 to explore the universe and establish recon points. He was especially interested in establishing first contact with undiscovered alien civilizations.

Weeks later, their ship was hit by an energy pulse fired from the planet Archa Nine, and Crosscut was killed when the ship subsequently crashed. Betrayal

Wings Universe

Negotiations have broken down.

Crosscut was a member of the Elite Guard's Recon Team, working with Rest-Q, Delta Seeker, and their field leader Roadfire. A former ambassador for Cybertron to other planets, he used his translating skills to compensate for Rest-Q's hopelessly-incomprehensible dialogues.^[3] He was also a playwright of some note. Headcannon was a fan of his work. Ask Vector Prime, 16/09/2015

After the Stealth Team was exposed to nucleon, Crosscut interpreted for Rest-Q as he examined the radiation's effect on their super-structures. His upbeat delivery did little to cover the fact that Rest-Q had no idea when they would regain the ability to transform. A Team Effort

Crosscut was among the Elite Guardsmen seen defending their base from the traitorous Combaticons. The Coming Storm: Part 5 His corpse was hurled through a section of the Elite Guard headquarters by Bruticus just as the Strike Team arrived on the scene. The Coming Storm: Part 6

2005 IDW continuity

First appearance: Robots in Disguise #25

Here's some diplomacy right in your face!!

Crosscut is a former Senator turned playwright. He was forged, possessed a Vitrious-Negative spark and developed a phobia of Nanocons during the war. He became famous for being one of the few Senators to take a stand during the early days of the Decepticon uprising, and celebrated for having liberated Petrex "with wise words and a shovel". However, Crosscut preferred people to know him for his art over his wartime reputation and eventually produced a play entitled My Shovel, Your Face. The Dead Are Not Enough Twenty Plus One

After the war's official end, he joined the Lost Light and was seen drinking in Swerve's with Smokescreen shortly after First Aid and Ambulon joined the crew. No Guns, No Swords, No Briefcases

"I think his name was... Choom?"

While fighting the Ammonites on Hydrophena, he invited Swerve (who he confused with Rung) to see one of his plays (if they both survived). The Dead Are Not Enough Unfortunately, he had already forgotten Swerve's name a few hours later when asked by Blurr. Inside Swerve's bar. Named Swerve's. The Becoming When the Ammonites attacked Cybertron shortly afterwards, he joined in the fight there. Black Planet

Some time later, he helped run Swerve's (fake) "Crewditions" Towards Peace and took prospective new crewmembers Riptide, Nautica, Mirage, and Nightbeat on a tour of the Lost Light. No Guns, No Swords, No Briefcases He also began working on an experimental one-act, single stage play about information creep (called, unimaginatively, Information Creep) but didn't have time to write the play before he, and every other original crewmember of the Lost Light, vanished. Twenty Plus One

On a quantum duplicate Lost Light, Crosscut did indeed finish Information Creep and was performing it at Swerve's when the Decepticon Justice Division arrived to massacre everyone. slaughterhouse When the original Lost Light reappeared, Crosscut and the rest of the crew returned along with it. The Road Not Taken Some time later, he was seen drinking in Swerve's once again. The Lopsided Triangle

For Crosscut is an honorable man; so are they all, all honorable men

Crosscut attended Megatron's classes on the Knights of Cybertron. However, at some point he was approached by Getaway and Atomizer and vouched that he would support them in the event of a mutiny against the former Decepticon and his supporters. When the time came, the mutineers stranded Megatron, Rodimus, Swerve, and the others on the Necrobot's planet and Crosscut stood alongside Getaway as he took the Lost Light. How Bright Their Frail Deeds

After accepting Getaway as their new captain, Crosscut and the crew were unwillingly subjected to mnemosurgery by Sunder. Their memories were altered to believe Rodimus and the others left the Lost Light of their own accord, abandoning the rest of the crew. Filling in the Blanks Crosscut was socializing at "Visages" when First Aid and the Protectobots caught up with the Lost Light. He sincerely explained what he believed had happened in First Aid's absence, although the doctor noted irregularities in the story he was told. Full Circle

Getaway ultimately betrayed his crew, however. When they were trapped by the Phantom Fleet of the Grand Architect, Getaway turned Crosscut and the rest of his crew over to the Architect's ally, Scorponok. They were subjected to a Sparkeater virus, making them shambling, zombie-like drones who were later unleashed on Rodimus when his people caught up with them. A Dance Before Dying Crosscut was eventually cured and attended the Lost Light's farewell party in Swerve's. How To Say Goodbye And Mean It: Part 2

Beast Wars: Uprising

On post-war Cybertron, Cross-Cut was an immobile Builder and a member of the Builder Assembly. He and Kudon tried to advance the possibility of allowing a Micromaster into the Assembly, prompting Halogen and Sigil to look for another Decepticon member to counter progress. Identity Politics Eject thought unfavorably of Cross-Cut and his fellow assemblymen. Broken Windshields

When the Grand Uprising of the proto-races started going badly, it was Cross-Cut who suggested the Assembly rescind General Order 66, allowing their Vehicon drones to cross over into Iacon and protect the Assembly directly. He was talked out of it by Administrator Eject, and withdrew his proposal. When Ratbat revisited the proposal, Cross-Cut voted against it, but the order was rescinded by the majority. Instead of being their salvation, the Vehicons turned on their masters and assimilated all the assemblybots present, including Cross-Cut. Derailment

2019 IDW continuity

Crosscut worked alongside Nautica and Road Rage to negotiate a ceasefire between the Thraal and the Occulted Dremden, Nautica: Home and visited the third moon of Na'conda with Meteorfire and Hound before the destruction of the A'ovan biosphere. Escape Part Two At some point, he developed a crush on Nautica but she didn't return his feelings. The Change In Your Nature Part Four

Games

Transformers: Battle Tactics

Crosscut participated in battles against a variety of opponents, both Autobots and Decepticons. Sometimes there were many of him! He was an Uncommon character that could be recruited by collecting 135 units of Cybermetal, and 64 units of Transmetal. Transformers: Battle Tactics

Transformers Roleplaying Game

Crosscut was protected by his bodyguard and social adviser Road Rage. Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook

Toys

Collector's Edition

Crosscuts die like Mudflaps shelfwarm.

• Crosscut (October 2002)

• ID number: 95
• Accessories: "Electro-Magnetic Pulse Emitter" (rifle), "Stun Grenade" launcher, 3 "Stun Grenades", "Twin Vertigo-Gun" (double-barreled blaster), "Clutch" drone
• Known designers: Shōji Kawamori (Studio Nue)

Collector's Edition Crosscut is a redeco and retool of the original Skids toy, transforming into a Honda City R hatchback. His retooled head and hood, as well as his color scheme, are all based on the pre-Transformers silver Diaclone "Honda City R" (ホンダ・シティR (アール)) toy, which was exclusive to a "Double Set" with a blue version of the "4WD Hi-Lux Wrecker Type" (pre-Hoist) that was also only available in that set.

Also like the Diaclone toy, Crosscut comes with a Honda Motocompo "scooter" accessory named "Clutch" that fits in his hatchback; this part of the toy was omitted from The Transformers Skids. As he was a Japanese release, his spring-loaded missile launcher is fully functional thanks to their different safety standards.

Crosscut was an exclusive to e-HOBBY, sold only in a set with the similarly-Diaclone-inspired Road Rage. Pre-orders ended on July 31 of 2002, and the toys were sent out in October.

This tooling was redecoed to make the Transformers Generations 2009 Volume 3 exclusive Screech.

• More information on Crosscut at TFU.info

Generations

Your scooter can't save you now!

• Crosscut (Deluxe Class, 2014)

• Series / Number: 02 / #016
• Accessories: Small gun, large gun (combine to form rifle)
• Known designer: Joe Kyde (Hasbro)

Part of the tenth wave of 2012-onwards Generations Deluxe Class toys, Thrilling 30 Crosscut is a retool of Skids, featuring a new head based on Crosscut's original toy. He transforms from a contemporary-looking hatchback into a heavily-armed robot, featuring (non-launching) missile pods in both shoulders, dual flip-out guns on each wrist, and two pairs of over-the-shoulder cannons. He comes with a rifle resembling his original toy's electromagnetic pulse emitter and a pistol based on a nudge gun. These weapons can combine into a larger rifle, and can be held or peg onto his vehicle sides via 5 mm post.

The leg assembly error that many Skids figures had seems to have been corrected on this release. He has visible light-piping on the back of his head, but his eyes are painted yellow, rendering it useless. Sadly the balance problem was also left unresolved, causing Crosscut to have a great deal of trouble standing up unless posed in a way that offsets the weight.

In the United States and Hasbro's Asian markets, he came packed with the Hasbro exclusive cover variant of "The Dead Are Not Enough: Dark Cybertron Chapter 7", with its pages out of order (pages 1-4 are placed between pages 20 and 21). In Canada, the comic was not included.

The original version of this sculpt was also used to make Age of Extinction Rollbar and Timelines Burn Out.

• More information on Generations Crosscut at TFU.info

Masterpiece

He's going across the world, taking cuts out of wallets.

• Senatorcrosscut [sic] (2022)

• ID number: MP-53+
• Release date: March 26, 2022
• Accessories: "Electro-Magnetic Pulse Emitter" (rifle), "Stun Grenade" (smaller blaster), "Twin Vertigo-Gun" (double-barreled blaster), "Clutch" drone

MP-53+ "Senator Crosscut" (romanized "Senatorcrosscut" on the packaging and packaging materials) is a redeco of MP-54 Reboost, which itself is a retool and redeco of MP-53 Skids, and transforms into a fully-licensed Honda City R. He is accompanied by his "Clutch Drone", redecoed from Reboost's Component X, a Honda scooter that can store in the trunk of the vehicle mode.

• Translation of story information included with Masterpiece Crosscut at Soundwave's Oblivion

Legacy

Pimp My Congressional Representative.

• Crosscut (Deluxe Class, 2023)

• TakaraTomy name: Senator Crosscut
• TakaraTomy ID number: TL-38
• TakaraTomy release date: September 30, 2023
• Accessories: Energon Axe, rifle, twin-blaster
• Known designers: Mark Maher (Hasbro)^[4], Tomoki Tatsumi (TakaraTomy)

Released in the second wave of Legacy: Evolution Deluxes (fifth wave of Deluxes for the entire Legacy line), Crosscut is a redeco of Legacy Skids, using the "battle mask" head sculpt from Diaclone Universe Burn Out. He transforms into a compact car legally distinct from a Honda City Turbo. He comes with a rifle, a twin-blaster, as well as a translucent-blue Energon rifle that doubles as an axe (though the instructions make no note of using it this way). The three weapons can combine to form a super weapon, now dubbed as an Evo-Fusion ability.

Crosscut’s wheels are cast in solid red plastic, the result of them being gang-molded with red parts that were black on Skids. Apparently painting them black was not in the budget, as Crosscut's car mode is already almost completely painted in shiny silver.

Notes

This is not my beautiful skull!

• Crosscut's "new" head and coloration are based on one of the original pre-Transformers versions of the Diaclone Honda City R (ホンダ・シティR (アール)) mold. The original silver version was only available in a "double set" with a blue version of the "4WD Hi-Lux Wrecker Type" (pre-Hoist) that was also only available in that set. A red Diaclone version of the Honda City R was never ported over to Transformers but did eventually inspire the character Reboost. The Diaclone figure was also solicited in a variant black deco, but that version was ultimately not released.^[5]
• Crosscut and Road Rage are notable for being the first additions to the Generation 1-era cast of characters after the original line ended since the short-lived Machine Wars series. This also started the general trend toward e-HOBBY releases being new characters rather than old characters in new colors.
• The Crosscut version of the mold was the one initially considered for the original Generation 1 line rather than the "Honda City Turbo" model that would become Skids. The original Skids's instructions have the Crosscut tooling's line-art, and in the Marvel UK comic, artists Dan Reed and John Stokes drew Skids with Crosscut's head in several panels. In addition, the red Reboost version was used by Takara in a preliminary 1985 packaging mural.^[6] (Said mural featured other oddities, such as the Skids tooling in the black deco.) It's possible the Turbo model was chosen because its face was more human-looking (to go along with the generally more humanized faces the characters were given in the cartoon), but this is merely speculation.

Foreign names

• Cantonese: Sap⁶zi⁶baa¹ (十字疤, "Cross-Scar")

References