R-Blade

R-Blade is an Autobot Cyberjet from the Robotmasters portion of the Generation 1 continuity family.

A Jetfire homage and a Jetfire redeco, which as Jetfire had a different color scheme. Still with us?

R-Blade (アールブレイド Āru Bureido) is a member of the Cyberjets, and works as a consul at Autobot City, working on matters of diplomacy with the humans of Earth. When pressed into battle, his "Sonic Lance" missiles are loaded with a wide variety of warheads, giving him a great many combat options. Thankfully, he has the skill to properly exploit those options.

He's a big Jetfire fanboy, which explains his colors.^[1]

Fiction

Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity

Robotmasters comic

R-Blade responded to Mirage's distress signal as he was being attacked by the time-displaced Predacon Megatron. R-Blade was quickly knocked aside, but managed to get up and contribute a volley of firepower that drove off the smirking dino. Clash! The Two Leaders The New Battle Begins!

Later, R-Blade was the unlucky Autobot taking a group beating from Psycho-Orb, Air Hunter, and Wrecker Hook. However, Optimus Primal appeared through a space-time rift and saved his hash. To War! Optimus Primal

R-Blade was witness to Optimus Prime upgrading himself with black body technology. As the process was taking place, Optimus suddenly begun to convulse in pain, and R-Blade noticed Buzz Saw slipping away from the laboratory. The Autobots were soon to learn that the Decepticons had sabotaged the Autobots' experiments, and stolen the black body process for their own nefarious ends! Black Body

While out on flying patrol with Optimus Primal and Delta Seeker, the trio were approached by Starscream, Wingstun, and X-Gunner, who apparently wanted to have a test of air-speed. Leaving Optimus in their wake, the five jet-form Transformers took off, with the Decepticons ahead. R-Blade used a special spinning technique to get ahead of the Decepticons, and generated a smokescreen, giving Delta Seeker the chance to knock all three out of the sky. Through Sea and Sky: The World's Fastest Race

And then...the Autobots and Decepticons battled for three days and nights. The Autobots won. Everybody went home. And Then

Legends comic

In 2004 while handling a piece of solitarium ore together with Jetfire and basking in the joy of working alongside his idol, R-Blade got caught up in an attack by Sky-Byte, who blew up the solitarium. Jetfire ordered him to run to keep him from getting caught in the explosion and sent to another dimension. Bonus Edition Vol. 6 When Jetfire returned to the G1 World with Roadbuster and Whirl in tow, R-Blade was there to gleefully welcome back his senior. Jumpstarter Chapter

Metrowars

In 2035 while R-Blade was stationed at Scramble City during its rebuilding following an attack from Metrotitan, the Decepticons attacked again. With his idol, Jetfire, and Delta Seeker, R-Blade helped defend the city. Metrowars

Robotmasters 3D diorama comic

R-Blade was part of a group of Autobots who aided the city of Athens in preparing for the Olympics. When Smokesniper and Gigant Bomb attacked, R-Blade and the other Autobots were able to intimidate them with their numbers and make the Decepticons clean up their mess. Robotmasters Vol. 1

Toys

Robotmasters

R-Blade, walking copyright violation.

• R-Blade (2004)

• ID number: RM-05
• Release date: July 15, 2004
• Accessories: "Sonic Lance" missile, "Flare Gun" rifle

Part of the first wave of Takara's Robotmasters toys, R-Blade is a redeco of the Generation 2 Cyberjet Hooligan mold, transforming into the swing-wing Navalized Advanced Tactical Fighter variant of the Lockheed-Martin F-22 Raptor, with a deco clearly inspired by the original Jetfire toy. In both modes, he has a pressure-launch missile launcher (dubbed the "Gauntlet Frame"). Unique to this version of the mold is the silver-chromed "Flare Gun" weapon. He also only came with a single "Sonic Lance" missile, unlike other versions of this sculpt, which came with multiple missiles.

R-Blade's "Flare Gun" weapon was later given to a redeco of 2007 Movie Legends Class Starscream that was included in a Toys"R"Us exclusive four-pack.

• More information on R-Blade at TFU.info

References