Transformers The War Within: Grimlock

"Among the winners, there is no room for the weak."

Affiliation: In the early solar cycles of the Cybertron civil war, Grimlock defected from the Arena 'fight clubs' and started a faction dubbed the "Lightning Strike Coalition," roughly allied with the Autobots.

Function:  Unit Commander

Alternate mode:  Cybertronian Tank Vehicle

Weapon: Energon Sword and Laser Rifle

First Cartoon Appearance: none (in this form)

First Comics Appearance: War Within, Volume 1, issue 1

Grimlock fights not because he believes in the Autobot ideal of peace and freedom, but because he knows what Megatron really is.  He was there at the beginning of the Decepticon movement, mudguard deep in the  spilled oil on the arena floor.  He knows what it is to feel the electron-surge of total victory over his foes.  His coolant too has sung as he pressed his blade against the torso of a helpless opponent.

But to Grimlock, no weakness is worthy of respect, least of all that weakness that disguises itself as strength.  Where is the satisfaction of crushing those who cannot defend themselves, or slaughtering a building full of unarmed innocents?  How does madness like that prove one's strength?  Better to die fighting against an enemy so powerful that defeat is almost certain.  Better still to turn that enemy back and drive him broken before you.  To someday see Megatron so broken, that is why Grimlock fights.

unique feature:  Tragic programming flaw resulting in speech impediment.

Strength:  10
intelligence: 7
speed:  3
endurance:  10
rank:  9
courage:  10
firepower:  8
skill:  10 

Other appearances: The War Within comics published by Dreamwave Comics, were set on Cybertron and tell stories of many popular G1 characters before the events of the cartoon series, set in 1984.  Though the events in this series run contrary to G1 episodes such as "War Dawn."  (A different origin story for Optimus Prime.)  A majority of fans consider these characters to be the same individuals as those of G1 cartoons.  Below is a complete list Grimlock appearances throughout the Transformers mythology: 

* 1985 was the first G1 Original
* 1989 released as Classic Pretender
* 1990 in Action Master form
* 1993 the G1 toy was recolored in gray, blue and turquoise for G2.
* 1997 in Beast Wars Grimlock
* 2001 in TF: RID sorry, no character page yet...
* 2003 Transformers Dinobots Grimlock (reclolor of BW Dinobot, in ~universe resembling packaging.)
* 2004 an Energon Combiner, 3 inch Titanium G1 Grimlock
* 2007 Transformers Classics
* 2008 reborn in Animated and Titanium War Within Grimlock and Activator Grimlock.
* 2009 25th Anniversary Masterpiece Grimlock, coming soon.

Bibliography of significant appearances: Grimlock plays a very significant role in each of the three War Within series, including The Dark Ages and Age of Wrath, where he apparently "died."  Was he to be brought back to life in this series?  We may never know as the series never concluded, ending in issue #3 when Dreamwave Comics filed for bankruptcy.