Blackout (Movie)

Blackout is a Decepticon from the Transformers portion of the movie continuity family.

He would appreciate you not trying to shoot him in the crotch. Really, he would.

The massive Blackout (aka N.B.E. 23^{[citation needed]}) has been described as the "hound" of Megatron. In better days, he was always to be found looming powerful and silent behind his leader's right shoulder. When given a target, he hunts it down with fierce determination.

Blackout is not happy with the progress Starscream is making towards finding the missing Decepticon leader. He suspects (quite rightly) that Starscream would prefer Megatron to stay lost. Blackout is openly mutinous and will challenge Starscream's leadership at any opportunity, not for his own sake, but to better serve his ultimate goal of finding his lost master.

Blackout has a sneaky side and uses his symbiotic companion Scorponok's small size to great advantage.

Fiction

Transformers film

This race sucks.

Blackout flew into the airspace of US SOCCENT Forward Operations Base in Qatar and refused to identify himself, prompting base commander Colonel Sharp to dispatch two F-22 Raptors to escort the Decepticon into their base. One of the Raptors reported that Blackout had the registry number of 4500X on his vertical stabilizer, the number of the helicopter Blackout had scanned and destroyed three months earlier in Afghanistan.

All your base are belong to us.

Once landed, Blackout was surrounded by the soldiers stationed at the base and ordered to power down and disembark his crew, or deadly force would be used. Seeing no reason to hide himself any further, Blackout transformed under a hail of automatic weapons fire from the shocked humans. Activating his heavy machine guns and rocket launchers, Blackout made quick work of the soldiers closest to him, then unleashed a massive shock wave that killed the rest of the troops and shattered their vehicles and the windows of the operations control tower. Blackout made his way around the base, tossing tanks aside, crushing soldiers underfoot and blowing up aircraft. Eventually, he reached the operations bunker and tore off the roof to link up with their server and download its files in an attempt to find information on Project: Ice Man. Unfortunately, the base commander intervened, cutting the physical hard line of the server, severing Blackout's connection and thwarting the primary objective of his mission.

Watch me twirl my moustache as I contemplate the destruction of Earth.

Still, Blackout carried out his second objective—the destruction of the human base. As he proceeded, a human soldier was nearly crushed. Instinctively, the soldier recorded images of Blackout, the Decepticon indulging this brief moment of curiosity by looking straight back at the human. Blackout then activated a chest-mounted laser cannon to put the fleshling out of its misery, but before he could do so, he was struck by a grenade fired by another soldier, and the human made his escape. Enraged, Blackout fired flare countermeasures into the sky to confuse any other attempts to attack him, then ejected Scorponok from his back and sent his minion to track the fleeing soldiers. Blackout then turned his attention and his weapons back to the rest of the base, eventually destroying it, leaving no survivors.

Evidently, after the attack, Blackout flew back to the United States, as he was in the vicinity when Frenzy reported the discovery of AllSpark's location and Starscream ordered their forces to mobilize. Blackout was the last to acknowledge the order, then rallied in Megatron's name, perhaps to remind Starscream who his master was.

Point that thing someplace else!

Blackout arrived at Mission City just as the final battle was getting underway. Megatron's order of "Decepticons attack" must have been music to his ears, and he followed his master's commands whole heartedly. He attempted to block ladiesman217's path as the boy was trying to get away with the AllSpark, before he was attacked by Ironhide. The Autobot threw a car at Blackout, who fired his laser cannon to destroy the vehicle and knock Ironhide over. He flew ahead of ladiesman217, attempting to use his rotor weapon to kill him, but the human managed to dodge this attack.

MY CROTCH! MY EVIL CROTCH!!!

Blackout withdrew from the battle for a few moments, but returned as Optimus Prime and Megatron fought. Seeing his master under attack, Blackout activated his hand-held rotor weapon and prepared to come to defense of his lord, but soldiers—including survivors of the SOCCENT base attack—attempted to stop him by painting him with targeting lasers for friendly F-22 Raptors to fire upon. As Blackout activated his cannon, he noticed the lasers targeted on him. Underestimating the fighting spirit and desire for vengeance of the humans, Blackout tried to finish them off until Captain Lennox, using an abandoned motorcycle, charged at him and fired a sabot round into his crotch (ouch), as F-22s pounded the Decepticon with missiles, extinguishing his spark.

Blackout's remains were later dumped in the deepest second deepest part of the ocean—the Laurentian Abyss—along with his fellow dead Decepticons. Transformers

Ghosts of Yesterday

Blackout had spent thousands of years searching for Megatron and the AllSpark under Starscream aboard the Nemesis. While Starscream was hoping not to find Megatron, Blackout was working against him in hopes of restoring the former leader. Upon discovering a vessel similar to Megatron's alternate mode, Blackout became convinced that Megatron was nearby. However, the Autobots arrived in the Ark to investigate the ship, and Starscream ordered the Decepticons to wait while he investigated the alien ship. Growing impatient, Blackout convinced Frenzy and Bonecrusher to join him in an attack on the Autobots. Blackout, Scorponok, and Frenzy ganged up on Optimus Prime, but he managed to defeat them, forcing Blackout to call for a retreat. After Prime headed to investigate Bumblebee's disappearance, Starscream ordered them to attack, and Bonecrusher was given command. Blackout, however, was able to sneak Scorponok on board the Ark.

After Starscream returned, Blackout demanded answers. Starscream claimed that Prime and Bumblebee were killed by indigenous worms, while the alien ship was destroyed when it fell into a cavern. Blackout, unconvinced, challenged Starscream, but was seriously damaged, and had to be taken back to the Nemesis. However, Prime, Bumblebee, and the ship appeared soon after. When Starscream ordered the Decepticons to destroy the ship, Blackout demanded answers, which Bonecrusher and Barricade agreed to. However, Ratchet was able to force Scorponok off the Ark, and Blackout, still healing, sped to his rescue. What a pal. Ghosts of Yesterday

IDW movie comics

In space, EVERYONE hears HIM!

In the distant past, Blackout was a member of the Cybertronian Defense Force. During an attack by unknown aliens on the city of Metrotitan, he could be seen picking up a wrecked enemy tank. Defiance #1 In the aftermath of the attack, Megatron consulted with the mysterious relic dug up near Simfur and (essentially) declared a military dictatorship over Cybertron. Blackout followed Megatron and the other flight-capable soldiers into battle, using his special powers to disrupt the enemy flagship's targeting array. Defiance #2

After science division leader Optimus survived an attempted kidnapping by Starscream's squadron, Megatron declared the scientist and his followers traitors, and reformed the army under a new banner: the Decepticons. Defiance #3

An ominous rumble is Blackout's only response...

During the subsequent civil war, Blackout fought alongside Megatron, until his master ordered 'this loyal hound' to assist Starscream's unit in keeping Optimus Prime's forces busy, while Megatron pursued his destiny. Arriving soon after Brawl delivered news of Megatron's location, Blackout and Starscream witnessed the successful Autobot launch of the AllSpark. Blackout restrained Starscream from going after it, the pair nearly coming to blows when Blackout launched Scorponok from his chest. Fortunately, Starscream calmed down, and after witnessing Megatron leave the planet himself, the group took on protoform transition forms and followed. Planetfall

Meanwhile, Starscream crew also went after Optimus Prime's starship in a Decepticon battlecruiser. Just before launch, Blackout listened to Barricade's not-so-quiet concerns that Starscream wasn't telling them everything. Unfortunately for the Decepticons, they were led into a trap by the Autobots, and their ship (and Starscream's advance scout Dreadwing) was crippled by concussion chain mines. Blackout gave a detailed damage report when ordered but was berated for giving his observation on what had occurred, and was ordered to despatch Scorponok to retrieve Dreadwing.

Apparently the crew of military helicopters don't count as "witnesses".

After making repairs to their ship, the Decepticons followed the AllSpark's trace energy and landed on Mars. The Reign of Starscream #1 There, they destroyed a primitive human rover scout and decided to investigate the nearby third planet of this solar system. Movie Prequel #3

Making planetfall on Earth in Afghanistan in 2003, Blackout attracted the attention of a military vehicle of the local creatures. Witnessing the ease with which Wreckage destroyed the carrier, Starscream pondered that Megatron would have been able to subjugate these beings if he was able to. Blackout replied that they needed to find out why he hadn't yet. Starscream's unit then attacked the nearby air base where Blackout scanned and adopted the form of an MH-53 Pave Low helicopter, then easily hacked into the files of the human computers. Inside, he found files on something called 'Project: Iceman', which he suspected was related to Megatron. After the base's destruction, Blackout and the others split up. The Reign of Starscream #1 Blackout scanned another USAF MH-53 Pave Low helicopter, but apparently was not detected by the humans, nor caused any casualties, in contrast to Starscream and Barricade. When Starscream told the Decepticons that their mission was to find the AllSpark, Blackout reminded Starscream that they must also find Megatron.

Beware, Qatar! Beware! Muhahahahahaha!

Later, after being lured into a trap intended for Bumblebee set by a group of impressively equipped humans, Blackout attacked the organisation's bunker and attempted to hack into their main server, but failed after they disconnected their local systems. The only lead he got was a name...Sector Seven. Movie Prequel #4 A few years later, Blackout headed towards Qatar, intent on attacking a military base similar to the first one he and his comrades attacked in hopes that accessing the information there could connect his past findings. Planetfall

In the aftermath of the battle in Mission City, Sector Seven hauled away Blackout's corpse along with the other Decepticon bodies. The clandestine human organization brought the bodies to a secret facility in the Nevada desert, with the intention of getting every bit of information they could out of the dead Decepticons before they were forced to dump them into the sea. Alliance #1

Transformers: Beginnings

Voice actor: Brian Stepanek (English)

Transformers: Beginnings

Titan movie comics

During the war on Cybertron, Blackout preferred to sow confusion and disarray before he attacked, rather than engage in direct confrontation and risk being killed. He would only go into ground battles under cover of loud noise and pyrotechnics (which he himself caused with his devastating sonic shriek emitters). Unfortunately for him, this meant he kept getting stuck leading the first wave of attacks! To protect himself, he used an army of drone troopers (presumably Scorponoks) to draw enemy fire. These drones were called "the swarm" and Blackout deliberately encouraged rumours about them so their arrival would strike fear into the hearts of enemies. Blackout Profile Despite being a coward at heart, he began to revel in the chaos and carnage he was causing, even if the odd Decepticon ended up as collateral damage! Jazz V. Blackout

Half an hour after his death and before his body was dumped in the sea, Blackout was briefly turned into a rampaging zombie by Starscream. Starscream's Militia

Alternate timeline

In a divergent timeline, the Decepticons succeeded at Mission City and conquered the United States. Blackout assaulted an Autobot convoy at Shreveport, Louisiana as part of a general terror campaign. Dark Spark Later, he was a key part in a Decepticon ambush, appearing from nowhere to blankside Autobot ground troops. The Decepticon Who Haunted Himself

Blackout was one of the Decepticon Heartland generals, and had to report the grim news to Starscream of just how badly Stockade had gummed up their advance. Revolution Part Two By the time the battle reached him in Philadelphia, he was commanding the only Decepticon force left standing. He rejected an offer to defect to Stockade's team, defiantly saying this planet was theirs, and sicced Scorponok on him. Scorponok failed and Blackout went down. Revolution Part Three

I Can Read! books

Blackout, Brawl, and Scalpel were at a sea-side dock when they encountered Ratchet and Ironhide. The Decepticons attempted to attack, but were held off by an electrical attack courtesy of Ratchet, allowing the Autobots to escape. Ratchet to the Rescue

Beast Wars Diorama Story

At some point, Blackout and multiple Autobots and Decepticons traversed dimensions and found themselves on a different Earth, in the distant past. They crossed paths with new Transformer factions, the Maximals and the Predacons, who were engaged in a conflict called the Beast Wars. Tigatron Chapter Blackout joined forces with the Predacons. Gimlet Chapter With the combined might of both Predacon and Decepticon, they attempted one all-out attack, but the combined Autobot-Maximal force attacked with their own first. Motorarm Chapter

Toy bios

Blackout is extremely disciplined, and as such keeps his bodywork pristine. Premium Series Blackout He is incredibly single-minded in pursuing his quarry. Titanium Series Blackout

Besides Scorponok, Blackout has fought alongside Barricade for untold years, leaving nothing but devastated worlds in their wake as they searched for the AllSpark. Unleashed

Ratchet and Blackout are apparently total opposites. Rescue Ratchet Vs. Blackout At some point, Blackout had a knock-down, drag-out fight with Ironhide, possibly in a desert. Ironhide Vs Desert Blackout He may have also once gotten into a fight where Optimus Prime deployed twin forearm swords. Optimus Prime and Blackout

Together with Scorponok, Blackout would seek out and annihilate Megatron's enemies, leaving no witnesses to his passing. He preferred to destroy everything around him because he did not want anything that could benefit the enemy to survive his assaults. Cyberverse Blackout

Revenge of the Fallen: The Junior Novel

Blackout captured the car carrying Mikaela, Leo and Sam and dropped it into an abandoned factory. Later, he joined Megatron and Starscream to take on Optimus Prime. Optimus managed to stab Blackout, seemingly killing him. While Optimus was busy with Blackout, Megatron took this opportunity to impale Optimus, gravely injuring him.Revenge of the Fallen: The Junior Novel

Unite for the Universe

The body of either Blackout or Grindor was among the Decepticon corpses waiting to be melted down at the N.E.S.T. N.B.E. Resource Redistribution Plant. Ambition Instigated

Transformers: The Ultimate Pop-Up Universe

Blackout was one of the many Decepticons who pursued the AllSpark to Earth. He participated in an enormous battle against the Autobots in a human settlement. The Ultimate Pop-Up Universe

Mission to Cybertron comic

I want to tell you about the Transformers! This character article is a stub and is missing information on their fictional appearances. You can help Transformers Wiki by expanding it.

Mission to Cybertron

Games

Sector Seven game

The Game Full of Death and Suffering...! This character article is a stub and is missing information on their video game appearances. You can help Transformers Wiki by expanding it.

Sector Seven (game)

Transformers The Game (console)

Voice actor: Noah Nelson (English), Martial Le Minoux (French), Javier Gámir (Castilian Spanish)

Autobot campaign

During the battle of Mission City, Blackout suffered a humiliating defeat from Jazz, even though he had help from Starscream and two Dreadwings. That's got be the most humiliating thing for any of the characters in the videogame, losing to somebody a third of his size. Transformers The Game

Decepticon campaign

Time for a cool...Pepsi?

Blackout and Scorponok were sent to the SOCCENT Base to destroy the human military installation there and download information from the military servers on the location of the AllSpark. The pair were successful, though Blackout's escape was briefly interrupted by the arrival of a squad of human jet fighters. After blasting them to tiny bits, he made good his escape.

Blackout arrived at Hoover Dam, where his scans failed to detect the energy signatures of Megatron or the AllSpark. Starscream ordered him to break the dam piece by piece. Blackout fired a pair of missiles and fought off a squad of Autobot sports car drones that were defending the installation. As Megatron emerged, he bowed before his lord. He then followed the newly revived Megatron to Mission City, where he engaged in a final showdown with Ironhide, who had just punted Scorponok. The Autobot warhorse certainly gave the massive Decepticon a run for his money. The huge number of Autobot drones backing Ironhide up didn't make things any easier.

During Megatron's battle with Optimus Prime, Blackout attempted to assist his master by charging Prime. Prime punched the massive Decepticon, sending him flying. How embarrassing. Transformers The Game

Transformers: The Game (PSP)

Dispatched to Qatar, Blackout attempted to download data from a United States military base in the region that would lead the Decepticons to Megatron and the AllSpark only for the humans to cut off the power. After a failed attempt at downloading data from auxiliary sites, Shockwave and Thundercracker arrived to reinforce Blackout against the remaining US military presence but quickly jetted off to raise a drone army.

Continuing his campaign against the US military, when reinforcements came, Blackout noted to Shockwave that the Autobots had managed to shut down the Decepticons' drones, though he was confident that the two of them could defeat the US army on their own. Validating that belief, Blackout then flew to the Hoover Dam, where Megatron was held, backing up Starscream's efforts to disable the Dam's force field. Transformers The Game (PSP)

Transformers: Autobots

As Jazz retrieved Sector 7 vehicles for Optimus Prime, he happened upon their helicopter, which to his surprise turned out to be Blackout. The two battled at Tranqulity's power plant, where Jazz managed to defeat him. Humiliated, he transformed and flew away.

Blackout made his presence felt again as Bumblebee raced back to Tranquility carrying the AllSpark with him. He chased Bumblebee through the streets until he was intercepted on a rooftop by Ratchet, who put an end to his menace for good. Transformers: Autobots

Transformers: Decepticons

Blackout was among the Megatron loyalists on Earth following Barricade's lead who chafed under Starscream's leadership. After Barricade and a low-ranking soldier determined they needed to obtain a file in Qatar, Barricade arranged for Blackout to transport the rookie to the base on the other side of the world. They met up with Brawl, who was happy to see Blackout again after they caused a ruckus at Tyger Pax some years ago. Neither Blackout or Brawl were pleased to be under the young 'bot's command on Starscream's orders, though Blackout was mature enough to not fall to bickering like Brawl and defused an argument between them. Blackout was sent out to destroy the communications arrays in the Qatar SOCCENT military base. When the task was completed, he returned for more orders. Soon after, the Decepticons encountered an Autobot strike team led by Ratchet, who appeared at the base to stop them from blowing the hell out of everything. While the rookie fought Ratchet, Blackout and Brawl fended off his followers.

Their work in Qatar complete, Blackout and the Decepticons returned to Tranquility to report to Barricade. Blackout reported that Autobots were arriving in the city and that Sector 7 was setting up some heavy weaponry to go after the Decepticons with. While the rookie was sent to deal with it, Blackout then confided in Barricade and Brawl that he'd found evidence confirming that the humans had access to a Cybertronian energy source. Blackout helped provide cover for Barricade while he cracked the files they'd gathered, but then reported that Optimus Prime himself was on his way with more Autobot reinforcements. Later, Blackout bore witness as Barricade decried Starscream as a backstabbing weasel, finally giving the rookie a crash course on why they were loyal to Megatron.

The crew made their way to Hoover Dam to free Megatron, as Barricade had long since deduced that Megatron was the only Decepticon Starscream would put this much effort into finding. However, the group was taken aback to learn that Sector 7 had the AllSpark as well, but accepted the rookie as their own once he made clear he was joining Team Megatron for good. Dropping off some bombs for Brawl to set, Blackout and the other Decepticons attempted to blow up the Dam to simultaneously release Megatron and thaw him out, but were thwarted by Jazz and his drones. Their heroic attempts were for naught, as Megatron managed to escape anyway while Blackout and Barricade retrieved Megatron's weapons chip. Afterwards, they encountered their leader and reactivated his weapons. After Megatron's charismatic speech, they set out to Tranquility, where Megatron declared all-out war and unleashed his troops, Blackout included, to capture the AllSpark and defeat Starscream and the Autobots once and for all.

Blackout arrived just as Starscream killed Bumblebee to claim the AllSpark. He ordered Starscream to surrender in the name of Megatron... just in time to be blasted to slag by an AllSpark-powered Starscream with a single blast. That's still slightly less embarrassing than being beaten by a half-dead Jazz.

After Starscream was defeated, the rookie expressed remorse that Blackout and the others had all fallen in the battle, but Megatron dismissed his slain troops as weaknesses that needed to be purged.Transformers: Decepticons

Web Wars

Blackout battled the Autobots across the digital frontier, vying to wrestle control of numerous websites across the internet from their hands! Web Wars

Transformers Online (2017 video game)

The Game Full of Death and Suffering...! This character article is a stub and is missing information on their video game appearances. You can help Transformers Wiki by expanding it. Transformers Online

Commercial appearances

Blackout spoiled any chance some guy had at impressing his lady-friend by making him screech like a banshee, and then blasting his car to scrap. Bummer. Transformers Chevy tie-in commercial

Toys

Transformers (2007)

Legends Class toys

I have no fingers? You did this, Starscream!

• Blackout (Legends Class, 2007)

A much smaller and highly simplified version of the character, Legends Blackout features limited articulation and detail, with the helicopter mode not being a particularly faithful recreation of a Sikorsky MH-53 Pave Low heavy-lift helicopter (the placement of the fuel tanks, in particular making him look more like a CH-53 Sea Stallion). Even though the robot mode sports an attempt to emulate the movie character's chest design, this does not involve the use of obvious fake elements of the helicopter mode's cockpit, unlike other Legends Class toys of movie characters. Curiously, the instructions on the back of the card show how to transform him from his alt-mode to his robot mode, which is the reverse of the rest of the Legends Class packaging.

This toy was redecoed into Revenge of the Fallen Grindor and Spinister.

• More information on Legends Blackout at TFU.info

Hey, look! It's Grindor! Stop! That is so dumb! Do something else!

• Ironhide vs. Desert Blackout ("Allspark Battles" Legends Class two-pack, 2007)

• Known designers: Andrew Scribner (deco artist)

Desert Blackout is a tan redeco of the previously released Legends Blackout toy. He comes with an all-new Legends Class Ironhide. Oddly, he doesn't have a faction symbol anywhere on his body.

• More information on Desert Blackout at TFU.info

Voyager Class toys

The largest Transformer in the film. Ironically, one of the smallest Voyager-class toys ever.

• Blackout (Voyager Class, 2007)

• TakaraTomy ID number: MD-01
• Accessories: Rotor assembly, Scorponok mini-figure
• Known designers: Eric Siebenaler (Hasbro), Takio Ejima (TakaraTomy), Joe Kyde (deco artist)

Released in the first wave of Transformers Voyager Class figures, Blackout transforms into a licensed MH-53 Pave Low helicopter, though he has a rather film-inaccurate slate grey base colour and a totally random gold radome. An aft "cage" compartment has a button-activated latch to release a small PVC figurine of his partner, Scorponok. A plunger on the very end of his tail can be pressed in a geared action to rotate his rotor blades. By attaching the Deluxe-class Scorponok to his underside, the rotor gimmick also spins Scorponok's claws, though with the added gears, the momentum dies out instantly.

The entire rotor assembly on his back can be removed and converted into a gigantic fan weapon, to vaguely represent the hand-held rotor-blade weapon he wields in the film. Because of the size of his rotor assembly, Blackout is also much shorter than most Voyager-class figures despite his bulk, being barely taller than a Deluxe figure.

During transformation, Blackout's delicate Automorphing gimmick is activated when the user swings down his legs, which in turn flips the gray chest section his head is mounted upon up and into position, and lifts his back assembly and locks into place behind his head. Another, less impressive automorph is in his legs—if you pull his knees down, his shin armor pops out a bit.

It is very easy for the gears in the cockpit/chest to become misaligned during transformation, enough so that the chest/head section refuses to align with the cockpit halves. Getting the gears back into alignment is a veritable nightmare, as so many other parts shift and move as you attempt to manipulate the respective pieces. Swinging the legs down locks the back assembly into place for robot mode, but simply swinging the legs back does not unlock it, with the user being required to actively separate the parts by hand. Failing to do so will likely misalign your Blackout into oblivion.

Unfortunately, Blackout's most major design flaw resides in his shoulders; there is not enough clearance for them to move past the cockpit assembly due to the tabs catching on the inner molded details. This means that the pieces have to be flexed past each other, which can often result in a myriad of damages to your figure if you're not careful.

Coincidentally, the two hard points located on Blackout's shoulders, intended to support his abominably large weapon, are actually the same size as the Mini-Con Powerlinx plugs on most Unicron Trilogy figures.

His head and overall appearance is more accurate to the concept art [1]

This mold was also used to make Evac for the AllSpark Power refresh of the movie toyline, and was then redecoed into Whirl for Revenge of the Fallen, while the original Blackout tooling was redecoed into Grindor for the same line.

• More information on Voyager Blackout at TFU.info

Ignoring the vast difference in scale between Scorponok's two figures while linked to Blackout takes some imagination.

• Decepticon Desert Attack (Toys'R'Us exclusive two-pack, 2007)

• Accessories: Scorponok mini-figure

This package, based on their first appearance in the film, features an unchanged Voyager Blackout packaged with an unchanged Deluxe Scorponok, which was exclusively available at Toys"R"Us stores around the world. Since Voyager Blackout was gang-molded with the miniature Scorponok figure the single release came with, this means that the set contains two Scorponok toys in different sizes.

• Blackout Ver. 4500X (Lawson exclusive Voyager Class, Japan 2007)

• Accessories: Scorponok mini-figure, Autobot and Decepticon pins

This Voyager class Blackout repaint is exclusive to the Lawson Japan convenience store chain, with the purchase of the movie DVD. He is redecoed in a somewhat more realistic color scheme for vehicle mode, 4500X markings and a drastically changed plastic color scheme in robot mode (many parts once black are now silver or the same colour as his helicopter hull). Additionally, the mini-Scorponok figurine has been repainted in metallic colours and detailed to resemble the deluxe-class toy (and the movie CG design, of course).

Also included a set of two brass Autobot and Decepticon insignia pins.

NOW the size is perfect.

• Blackout ("Premium Series" Voyager Class, USA 2008)

• Accessories: Scorponok mini-figure

This redeco of the Voyager Class Blackout toy is based on the same plastic color layout and paint mask as the Japanese Lawson exclusive "Version 4500X" redeco of Voyager Blackout, down to the improved paint on the Scorponok mini-figure. As a matter of fact, both toys were almost identical, the main difference being that the paint used on Version 4500X's is more matte than the paint used on the Premium Series release.

Unlike some of the early "Premium Series" toys, Blackout was available as a mass market release.

• More information on Premium Series Blackout at TFU.info

• Unleashed y Voyager (2007)

Voyager Class Blackout was also available in a two-pack with Unleashed Bumblebee in Mexican markets. Both items are identical to their standard original releases.

• Transformers Commemorative Box Set (Decepticon) (2008)

Released an an exclusive for Animation-Comic-Game Hong Kong (ACG, also known as Ani-Con) 2008, The Premium Series Blackout toy is released without any changes along with Premium Series Megatron, Premium Barricade, Deep Space Starscream, and a Brawl. The toys are packaged with a synthetic, leather-like box with a half-trimmed Decepticon Symbol, and it comes with a sheet of Certificate of Authenticity.

The boxsets are limited to 100 pieces.

Fast Action Battlers

... Brownout?

• Gyro Blade Blackout (Fast Action Battler, 2007)

• Accessories: Missile

A simplified version of Blackout, designed for smaller children. His rotor blade can be detached and inserted into his left hand to represent the hand-held rotor blade seen in the film, just like the Voyager class version. He also features a chest cannon which can be flipped up from his back. Oddly, you can only see one-fourth of Blackout's head from a 90-degree angle. Even less of it is visible when his chest cannon is flipped up. He features a firing missile.

This toy was redecoed into Revenge of the Fallen Grindor.

Dark of the Moon

At long last, not grossly undersized compared to his teammates!

• Blackout (Cyberverse Commander Class, 2011)

• Series: 1
• Number: 005
• TakaraTomy ID number: CV15
• Accessories: Scorponok
• Known designers: Joe Kyde (Hasbro)

Blackout is a Cyberverse Commander Class figure, featuring a surprisingly complex transformation into yet another Sikorsky Pave Low. Curiously, despite the development of this toy after two live-action movies, his robot mode appears to have the same preproduction feet as the larger and earlier toys. Since his left arm ends up having the Pave Low's tail rotor, Blackout is able to use it as a weapon if one chooses and hold either Scorponok or any C joint accessory with his hands.

He is mis-transformed in the package to better fit inside it, with the helicopter panels to his sides being spread out instead of being aligned parallel to his body, thus he appears that way in official photos.

Blackout includes his symbiotic partner Scorponok, who has some minor tail articulation and transforms into a hand-held blaster weapon for Blackout (or any other Cyberverse figure with the appropriate hands). Scorponok can also be carried along on the underside of Blackout's vehicle-mode tail. Though unmentioned in the instructions, Scorponok can also peg into the (otherwise pointless) peg on the back of Blackout's robot mode, just under his rotor blades, mimicking the way he was stored and ejected off of Blackout in the movie.

• More information on Cyberverse Blackout at TFU.info

The Last Knight

Annnnnnd we're back.

• Decepticon Blackout (Tiny Turbo Changer, 2017)

• Series: 1
• Bag Code: G

Released in Series 1 of Tiny Turbo Changers, Blackout changes from robot to an unlicensed approximation of the MH53 Pave-Low Helicopter. He features ball-jointed shoulders and his hands are compatible with Cyberverse weapons and other small accessories. Blind-bags stamped with 'G' contain Blackout.

This toy has also been redecoed as Chopter and Chopper Mode Dropkick.

Studio Series

Grindor redeco in 3, 2, 1...

• Decepticon Blackout (Leader Class, 2018)

• Movie: Transformers
• Hasbro ID number: 08
• TakaraTomy ID number: SS-08
• TakaraTomy release date: April 28, 2018
• Accessories: Tail rotor, Scorponok figure, "Desert Base Assault" backdrop
• Known designers: Takashi Kunihiro (TakaraTomy)

Studio Series "Decepticon Blackout" is the first Leader Class version of the character, with slight fudging of the normal limits in size to produce a robot mode roughly in-scale with other Studio Series toys. He features a fairly complex transformation involving lots of panels folding away without feeling too much like a shellformer. His name is tampographed onto livery bands of the tail. A Decepticon emblem is also tampoed just below the windscreen on the nose. Non-spinning landing gear is attached to the back half of the compartment section and the nose, but they can't be folded away in vehicle mode due to lack of space. While stock photos appear to be a more military accurate gunmetal color, the final release version is a slightly bluer shade, but not as much as earlier toys.

In vehicle mode, Blackout appears as an MH-53 Pave Low helicopter with a mostly screen-accurate deco, including the 4500X designation marking, USAF emblems, and danger warnings near the propellers. His robot mode is bulky and mostly accurate to his onscreen appearances, including details like the helicopter engine behind his head that previous versions omitted. His tail rotor can be attached to either forearm to simulate his weapon from the movie, though on-screen this used the larger propeller from his back. The refueling probe, often mistaken for a gun, can also flip up as his non-firing chest cannon in robot mode.

A tiny, surprisingly well-decoed Scorponok is included which can hide in the tail section of the helicopter mode. Scorponok can also be stored on a small peg on his back. Scorponok's feet are aligned in such a way that, when pegged onto Blackout's back, he will hold the two innermost blades in place securely to prevent the propeller assembly from swinging freely. However, Scorponok has to be pegged with his head pointing down, instead of up as the instructions suggest, to do this without deforming the soft plastic rotors.

Blackout comes with a cardboard backdrop depicting the SOCCENT Forward Operations Base under siege, as shown in the opening of Transformers.

It's quite common for Blackout to have at least one Air Force logo on his helicopter mode tail printed upside down. There's no way to check for this error while the figure is still in its packaging, since the logos end up on Blackout's obscured soles. Also, as the panels containing the USAF emblems end up as the bottoms of his feet in robot mode, they can get scratched rather easily.

Exercise caution if your copy has misplaced pegs that connect the shoulders and the torso. Do NOT use force if the pegs do not properly line up with the slots, as the force will eventually cause the thin plastic to break.

Blackout is slightly mistransformed in packaging with his refueling probe being folded flat against his body and his digitigrade legs and leg details also flattened. His lower back/helicopter tail area panel is also left hanging down to keep him as flat as possible in package.

Blackout was slightly retooled to make Grindor, with a new Ravage mini-partner.

Well played, HasTak. Now paint it in black and purple and call it ROTF Spinister.

• Decepticon Blackout (Giveaway figure, 2018)

• Movie: Transformers
• ID number: 08
• Accessories: Tail rotor, Scorponok, "Desert Base Assault" backdrop

Decepticon Blackout is a redeco of the above figure. He is an exclusive Lucky Draw prize in a contest only accessible to people who bought Studio Series figures on May 15, 2018, on Hasbro China's official Taobao online shop. There were only 88 Blackouts made. While he is decoed in the same colours as most of his previously-released toys, Blackout also features a less-than-accurate camouflage deco painted by Chinese artist Li Yunfeng of SangZong Repaint Studio.

The warning sticker on the packaging notes that fiddling and transforming him may result in the deco being chipped off.

• Transformers 15th Anniversary Decepticon Multipack (Multi-pack, 2023)

• Movie: Transformers
• ID number: 08
• Accessories: Tail rotor, Scorponok figure, "Decepticon AllSpark Hunt" reversible backdrop

"15th Anniversary" Blackout is a seemingly unchanged re-release of the original SS-08 Blackout above. As such, he does not have the more articulated hands introduced with his remold Grindor. He once again has his detachable tail rotor weapon and is accompanied by Scorponok.

This figure comes in an Amazon exclusive 4-pack alongside Studio Series Megatron, Starscream, and Barricade, released to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the first live-action Transformers film (though it was released after the 16th anniversary). The pack comes with a unique reversible backdrop depicting Hoover Dam on one side and battle of Mission City on the other. Notably, fellow Decepticons Bonecrusher, Brawl, and Frenzy are absent from this team pack.

Masterpiece Movie Series

Hasbro: "Hey kids, here's a perfect stand-in to scale with your Studio Series figures to recreate the Forest Fight, including when Prime rips his head in two!"
Blackout: "Yeah! Great—wait, WHAT?!"

• Decepticon Blackout & Scorponok (2022)

• Movie: Transformers
• ID number: MPM-13
• Accessories: Rotor weapon, Scorponok figure, 2 miniguns, 2 Fire Blast effects
• Known designers: Sam Smith (Hasbro), Tomoki Tatsumi (TakaraTomy)^[1]

Masterpiece Movie Series Blackout is a large screen-accurate representation of the character's CGI model and transforms into a massive licensed MH-53 Pave Low helicopter. He shares many design cues with his smaller Studio Series toy above, but unlike that toy, this Blackout features articulated hands, a fold-out chest cannon, and a completely covered helicopter underside with an opening cargo ramp. Additionally, Blackout includes a pair of miniguns for his forearms and a small-scale version of his main rotor blades as a weapon, much like his on-screen appearance, rather than using the tail rotor like his Studio Series toy. It can be held in either of his hands, though the method used isn't entirely accurate to the film, where the rotor sat on the back of his hand. Amazingly, this rotor blade weapon actually forms part of the main rotor of his alternate mode!

Also included with Blackout are two Fire Blast effects that can plug into either of the miniguns and his chest cannon. If the accessory/feature count wasn't already pretty high, an articulated Scorponok is also included, and can store on Blackout's back in robot mode or in the rear fuselage of his helicopter mode.

Blackout's stock photos feature a few mistransformations: his left shoulder is too low, panels on his inner legs haven't been folded out, and a panel on his waist skirt hasn't been collapsed.

Merchandise

Transformers (2007)

• TRANSFORMERS Chess Set (2007)

Two identical silver-colored plastic statues of Blackout serve as the Chess Set's Autobot-side Knights.

Lunchables

Now it will be impossible to shoot him in the crotch!

• Blackout ("Pocket Transformers" toy prize, 2007)

What could only be called a "pseudo-figure" (and that's still being pretty generous), Blackout "transforms" from a flat, blueish-gray structure emblazoned with the Decepticon symbol and the word "Transformers" to a robot by folding out. Blackout is represented by stickers decorated with artwork of the character on the top, bottom, and two fold out "arms". His name is also spelled out, across his feet in this mode.

This mold was also used to create the lunchables figure for Megatron and Starscream. A similar mold was used to create the Lunchables figure for Optimus, Ironhide and Bumblebee, though with the Autobot symbol sculpted in instead of the Decepticon one. Each iteration of this mold was made with a different color of plastic.

• More information on Lunchables Blackout at TFU.info

3D Battle-Card Game

• Blackout (3D Battle Card, 2007)

A 29-point "uncommon" character in the 3D Battle-Card Game, Blackout "transforms" into a black helicopter. He uses the same parts layout as Evac, Vortex and Whirl.

Titanium Series

Scorponok! I can't move! Quick, drag me away!

• Blackout (3" Robot Masters, 2007)

• Accessories: Decepticon display stand

This three-inch figurine, as with all Titaniums, is partially made of die-cast metal and plastic, sculpted holding his rotor-blades as a hand weapon. Interestingly, Blackout has a more unique sculpt to him; the weapon is sculpted as it was briefly seen in the movie, but on the wrong hand. Blackout himself has an altered leg & foot design as well as having the main rotor-blades on his back excluded, matching it up more with the fact that instead of using his tail rotor, he uses his main rotor as a multi-purpose melee weapon, echoing the game render. His articulation is limited to his shoulders, head and waist, and he comes packaged with a movie-style Decepticon symbol display base.

• More information on Titanium Series Blackout at TFU.info

Unleashed

After camping out in the Ruby Crystal Mines of Burma, the two vowed to never go spelunking again.....

• Blackout and Barricade (2008)

• Known designers: Bill Rawley (Hasbro)

The Blackout and Barricade turnaround is a 3D sculpture of the two characters in both robot mode emerging from rubble and explosions, with a movie-accurate sculpt (compared to the various transforming toys.) The 'turnaround' aspect of these sculptures simply means one can turn the piece around to display a raised-relief of the movie-style Decepticon sigil instead.

This product's release was cancelled for the US market, but was released in Australia and in Asia.

Radio Shack

• Blackout (2007)

A remote control helicopter sold at Radio Shack, this little heli operates on 2-channels, features blades with a diameter of just under 5.5 inches and an LED light mounted on the front fuselage. The design of the helicopter is rather inaccurate to an MH-53 Pave Low, and is coloured black for some reason.

Transformers Movie Screen Cleaners

• Blackout (2008)

Released by Tomy Yujin on January 2008, this Dangler is a faction logo-shaped screen cleaner for your cell phone, with a stock image of Blackout printed on the other side.

Burger King

• Blackout (2007)

This Burger King toy is a small plastic replica of Blackout's Pave Low vehicle form, with two special features:

• Holding his cockpit window up to a light source and peering through a small lens behind his front landing wheel will reveal an image of his CGI-rendered robot mode.
• His wheels are linked to his rotor drive shaft—spinning them will cause his rotors to spin rapidly, possibly flying off and disappearing under the nearest piece of furniture, where the cat will eventually find them and chew them to pieces.

• More information on Burger King Blackout at TFU.info

Robot Heroes

Blackout's hobbies include worshipping Megatron, and jumping out of bushes and yelling "BOOGA-BOOGA!" at small children.

• Optimus Prime & Blackout (Two-pack, 2007)

• Known designers: Bill Rawley (Hasbro), Marcelo Matere (concept artist)

Packaged with Optimus Prime, Robot Heroes Blackout is a cute style rendition of the character. Most notably, his face has been given a more traditional mouth and nose, making him appear more like a grumpy old man. His articulation is the standard three points, however, the kibble in his design limits the movement.

• More information on Robot Heroes Blackout at TFU.info

• Blackout (Single-pack, 2008)

In some countries outside of North America, Blackout was released individually in a blindpack with no notable changes.

Keeps 'em where I can sees 'em!

• The Final Battle (Multi-pack, 2008)

Packaged with redecoes of Jazz, Ratchet, Optimus Prime, and Megatron. "Battle Damaged Blackout" is a slightly redecoed version of the two-pack version. No molding has changed, and the articulation is still limited. His exclusive deco is a black paint wash over various parts of his body to evoke battle damage. Oddly, the undersides of his arms get this deco but not the top, meaning the toy is meant to only be posed with arms raised. "The Final Battle" 5-pack was sold exclusively in Walmart stores.

• More information on Final Battle Blackout at TFU.info

"Sure you aren't Grindor or somethin'?" "Nope."

• Optimus Prime & Blackout (Two-pack, 2009)

Just like his first Robot Heroes set, Blackout comes with Optimus Prime. While Optimus Prime is a different mold, Blackout is a redeco of the previous figure. With his blue and tan, Blackout kinda looks like Grindor.

• More information on Robot Heroes Blackout at TFU.info

Revenge of the Fallen

Titanium Series

• Rescue Ratchet vs. Blackout (3-inch Robot Masters multi-pack, 2009)

• Accessories: Movie Decepticon sigil display stand

This Toys"R"Us-exclusive set features an unchanged version of 2007's Titanium Series Blackout and a redecoed Ratchet.

Figure Collection

Just pretend I'm Grindor if it makes you happy.

• Blackout (2010)

• Accessories: Stand

The Figure Collection edition of Blackout is based on his Fast Action Battlers toy, making him extremely off-model from his movie look. He is cast leaning back and has a chunk of kibble protruding from his back to stop him toppling forwards, however he's still very top heavy.

Missile Mania Board Game

• Blackout

Blackout is one of eight characters featured in the Missile Mania board game, represented by a small standee adorned with artwork of the character.

Let's see what you can see... This article is in need of images.

McDonald's

"Talk to the Rotor."

• Blackout (Happy Meal, 2010)

• Accessories: rotor

Part of the 2010 McDonald's Revenge of the Fallen promotion, Blackout does not transform but features a spinning/firing rotor mechanism instead. The rotor can be placed on his back, or mounted on his arm to be fired. Blackout does not feature any light-piping, but does have three points articulation. He was only available during week 6 of the promotion, and came with an instruction sheet that doubles as an ad for McWorld, featuring an exclusive code for the website.

Prime 1 Studio

• Blackout (2022)

• Movie: Transformers
• ID number: MMTFM-30
• Accessories: Base

Prime 1 Studio Museum Masterline Blackout is a massive (81.9 cm tall with the base) non-transforming sculpture made of polystone along with other materials. The statue has glowing LED eyes, and his sand-motiffed base features actual sand.

He features his rotor blade weapon deployed on his right hand and is meant to be paired with the Scorponok statue released concurrently from the same series.

• More information on Blackout at Prime 1 Studio's website

Notes

Blackoutwave lives in constant fear of pterodactyls.

• According to screenwriter Roberto Orci, Blackout was conceived as Vortex—matching Brawl as a character based on a Combaticon—in the first draft of the script.^[2][3]
• At a later stage of the preproduction process, Blackout was Soundwave, hence his symbiotic relationship with Scorponok, who was originally conceived as Ravage. Though this obviously changed, his portrayal in the Ghosts of Yesterday novel is rather Soundwave-esque. Likewise, in the IDW prequel comic, Blackout is the only Decepticon to land on Earth and acquire his alternate mode without any witnesses, whereas Starscream and Barricade had to kill existing witnesses. In the film itself, Blackout's only speaking role has him quickly reporting to Starscream's call... in Cybertronian, with he alone both hailing Megatron upon the AllSpark's discovery and attempting to aid him in battle against Prime. What's more, all this "Soundwave-ness" is further enhanced by Hasbro's official bio, calling Blackout "his leader's hound".
• Seriously, Blackout wins the award for being the Transformers character from the 2007 movie that has gone through the most working names: Aside from "Vortex" and "Soundwave", other names associated with the character were "Grimlock",^[4] "Devastator",^[5] and "Incinerator"^[6] at different stages of the pre-production process. The name "Incinerator" was later used for a different toy from the movie toyline, and the names "Devastator", "Grimlock" and "Soundwave" would go on to be used by three other characters in later films, with "Vortex" ending up as a toyline-only character in the sequels.
  • He also wins the award of being the first Transformer to physically appear on-screen in the live-action film series (not counting Optimus Prime's narration at the beginning of the movie).
• The period of time that Blackout acquired his vehicle mode in the film, three months prior to the unfolding events, contradicts the origin of his vehicle mode in IDW's Movie Prequel comics, with him apparently having scanned and destroyed the MH-53 Pave Low all the way back in 2003.
• Scorponok's alternate mode is actually a part of Blackout's helicopter mode; he's made up of a General Electric T64 turboshaft engine and various other helicopter bits. Considering Blackout didn't appear to be missing any integral parts of his alternate mode when answering Frenzy's call or during the final battle in Mission City, either Scorponok reattached himself to Blackout after he escaped the US Air Force's counter-attack in Qatar, or Blackout somehow magically regrew the parts that were previously made up by Scorponok.
• Blackout is never actually seen using his chest cannon in the film, even though he unfurls it quite emphatically on two separate occasions.
• During a transmission from Burger King's website, Optimus Prime has decreed that we are not to ride this helicopter. The current ridability of other helicopters the world over is unknown. Stand by for further updates as they become available.
• Blackout uses a mouthplate in the movie, seen in a brief shot of the side of his face before Epps takes his photo at the beginning of the film, and again when Epps was targeting him during the climactic battle.
• Blackout is clearly using his Pave Low mode's six-bladed main rotor (but smaller) as a hand weapon despite the fact that his robot mode also always has its main rotor folded up on his back. The Voyager toy and 2007 video game both have him detaching his back-mounted rotor to use as a weapon, while the Studio Series figure compensates by having his smaller, four-bladed tail rotor as a weapon affixed to his forearm. The Masterpiece Movie Series figure splits the difference by having part of the main rotor detach to form his hand weapon, while the rest stays on his backpack and folds up for robot mode.
• Blackout and Megatron are the only two Decepticons shown being dumped in the Laurentian Abyss at the end of the first film. Megatron is shown missing his left arm and his right leg, while Blackout has been dismantled entirely into smaller pieces. Blackout's dismantled parts shown on-screen also appear to be physical props.
• In Hasbro's online "Vector Sigma: The Cybertronian Database" feature, Blackout's alternate mode is erroneously portrayed as Skyhammer's alternate mode. Likewise, his "Energon Wave" weapon is portrayed as Skyhammer's MechTech weapon.
• According to Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen: The Movie Universe, Blackout is 33 feet tall. However, Optimus Prime is clearly half the size of Grindor, who shares the same body-type as Blackout. Therefore, Blackout's height should be around 55 feet tall.
• In Transformers: The Game, if one stops climbing a building as Blackout, he will scratch his butt.
• In the Decepticon Chapter "The Mighty Will Fall" of this game, he was strong enough to defeat almost every kind of drone and this guy, who was invincible during most of the battle, while in the Autobot Chapter "Unfriendly Skies", he was easily defeated by the shortest Autobot, even though he had backup. By Jazz. The guy who needed help to defeat a few drones. Then again, that's just one of the few plot holes from that game.
• Blackout/Grindor's head design is re-used on some of the Decepticon Protoforms that appear in Revenge of the Fallen and Dark of the Moon, specifically the ones with large horns on their shoulders.
• The Prime 1 Studio's website's product page description for their Blackout statue says that Blackout is Megatron's third-in-command.^[7]

Blackout vs. Grindor

• Revenge of the Fallen never explicitly establishes Grindor as a separate character from Blackout. Screenwriter Roberto Orci, when asked, was not sure whether they were supposed to be the same character or not.^[8] In the TFWiki.net Hasbro Q&A for July 2009, it was confirmed that Grindor, not Blackout, appears in the movie.
• A closer inspection of Grindor's CGI model before Optimus prime so much as lays a sword or a hook on Grindor during the forest battle, shows that he has large quantities of rust and/or battle damage throughout his body (much like the revived Megatron) possibly hinting towards Grindor being a revived Blackout. Further, Blackout and Megatron are the only two Decepticons shown being dumped into the Laurentian Abyss at the end of the first film. Some of the pieces of the dismantled Blackout being dumped by Navy crew members (see right) have a similar damage/rust pattern as Grindor's too.
• Internal files for the Revenge of the Fallen video game identify the character as Blackout, indicating that the game had been developed with the understanding that they were the same character. However, the dialog was re-recorded to refer to the character as Grindor.
• Both the character gallery special feature included in the film's 2-disc special edition and the Revenge of the Fallen: The Junior Novel name the helicopter Decepticon as Blackout. As such, Blackout is featured in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen: The Movie Universe instead of Grindor.
• To alleviate the confusion between Blackout and Grindor's identities, Grindor's redecoes of Blackout's toys were given distinct (though not necessarily screen-accurate) color decos. However, Grindor's Studio Series figure has a more screen-accurate deco, with only subtle differences from Blackout.

Foreign names

• Japanese: Blackout (ブラックアウト Burakkuauto)
• Hungarian: Kisülés ("Discharge")
• Mandarin: Hēi Mó (Taiwan, 黑魔, "Black Demon"), Xuànyūn (China, 眩晕, "Dizziness")
• Ukrainian: Vymyckach (Вимикач, "Off Switch")

References