TRANSFORMERS: Revisiting The Characters of Generation 1 - SPIKE

TRANSFORMERS:  Revisiting the Characters of Generation 1

    "I can't believe this is happening to me!" - Spike, 1984.

AUTOBOT

Name - SPIKE

Function - Autobot Pal

Series Debut - 1st Appearance 1984

Sub-Group - Headmaster (1988)

"Hi!"

BACKGROUND...

    Life has been a wild ride for Spike Witwicky!  It all began in 1984 when Spike was 14 years old.  One summer day while working alongside his father, "Sparkplug", on an oil rig in the ocean, (as most 14 year old's do) a bizarre occurrence happened.  The rig was raided by evil robots from space called Decepticons.  Seeking fuel resources, they attacked the surprised workers and began using the oil to make energon cubes.        

    Thankfully, the heroic Autobots arrived.  As the 2 factions fought, the Decepticons critically damaged the oil rig and fled the scene.  The Autobots let them escape and instead focused on saving the humans.  In the end, the Autobots gained lifelong friends in Spike and Sparkplug.

    Spike spent a lot of time with the Autobots.  He would often help them acclimate to life on Earth by educating them on the planet's history or advising them on human customs.  He forged a close friendship with many of the Autobots, especially Bumblebee!  Spike even took part in several big moments - like the creation of the Dinobots!  He has accompanied various Autobots on missions and has even been to the Transformer's home planet of Cybertron on occasion.  

    Young but brave, Spike has had experiences like no other human.  He has... tried to fight Rumble, used an Autobot laser gun to fend off attacking Decepticons, rode the Decepticon space bridge to Cybertron, had his mind transferred into an Autobot body made of spare parts, almost gotten eaten by dinosaurs on an island existing in some kind of time-rift, went back in time and met Merlin and King Arthur, got stationed on Moon Base 2, was eaten by Unicron, was rescued from Unicron, ventured with the Autobots to the planet Nebulos, ANNNNNND became the head of Fortress Maximus.  Just to name a few things...

    Spike remained loyal to the Autobots as the years went by, working alongside them in any project they were endeavoring on.  He was there in the 2000s when they built Autobot City on Earth, and around that time he married another Autobot human ally - Carly.  Together they eventually had a son named Daniel.

    Say what you want about Spike, but when he met the Autobots, he signed on to be around for the long haul!  

MY THOUGHTS...

    What can you say about Spike?  Well, he was only mildly annoying in the cartoons.  He never had any effect on my Transformer battles as a kid, especially since he didn't have a figure.  No, you can't say he DID have a figure because the Headmaster that came out in 1987 wasn't something everyone was able to pick up.  Plus, I was about out of Transformers by that time.

    Spike did keep things interesting though, so his presence wasn't without some appreciation.  I mean, to imagine cruising with an Autobot like Hound or Optimus Prime.  That type stuff seemed pretty cool!  Who wouldn't want to have an Autobot friend that could turn into a car or jet?

    But here are a few questions to consider...  

    #1.)  When everybody is leaving a situation (like a battle with the Decepticons), how did Spike decide WHO he wanted to ride with?  Sure, Bumblebee was his pal, but did he ever say "Hey, I think I'll ride with Sideswipe this time!  We are going to drive through my neighborhood and wave at the girlies."  Or maybe he wasn't so shallow, but yet was still in a hurry...?  "You know, I'll pass on riding with Trailbreaker or Prime this time.  I'd really like to get back and get dinner.  I'll go home with Jazz or Tracks?"

    #2.)  How did the Autobots feel about this situation?  Sunstreaker might say "Aww man, I need to transform and drive off before Spike waves me down again!  He's all sweaty from the battle, he's going to want to hit a drive thru on the way home, play his crummy music, ask stupid questions, and he'll crank the A/C on full blast the whole time!  It's so annoying!"

    #3.)  He spent a LOT of time at the Ark with his other human pals.  In fact, he seemed to ALWAYS be there.  Did he live there?  Was there a kitchen and bathroom in the Ark?  Did he have his own bedroom there?  Or did they have to pick him up everyday?  First thing every morning, he calls Optimus on the phone "Okay Prime, I'm up!  Can you send someone over to get me and Dad?  Oh, and we need cruise over to the other side of town to get Carly too.  Oh, and I think Chip wants to go.  Do you mind if we get him?"  Optimus is rolling his optic sensors "Ugh, WHY??"

    What are YOUR thoughts on Spike?  Cool or annoying?  If you had to get picked up by an Autobot every day, which one would you pick?

    (Information on the character's lore was taken from the Sunbow Transformers cartoon series, including the Movie and the figure's original Tech-Spec.)