Dune Runner (Armada)

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Dune Runner is a Mini-Con from the Armada portion of the Unicron Trilogy continuity family

Ironically, can't stand David Lynch films.

Dune Runner is the Adventure Mini-Con Team's technical expert, with a knack for gauging field conditions and other mission variables. He's usually a bright and cheery Mini-Con who lets everyone around him know it, looking to brighten the mood of those around him.

But his emotional lows run as extreme as his highs; should something upset him, he is subject to depression and relentless complaining. A particular trigger for this is forcing him to leave warmer climates for damper or colder ones. As such, Iceberg's penchant for trying to steer the Team to cold-weather missions ends up doubly annoying.

Fiction

Linkage

"The drug's dangerous," she said, "but it gives insight."

Dune Runner was among the newly enhanced Mini-Cons on Earth who answered Combusta's call for assistance with the mutant Autobot Ravenus. Dune Runner soared in and used his powers to help contain the creature and bring him back to his original form before he was mutated by Unicron.

Afterwards, he joined the gathered Mini-Cons in saying goodbye to their human ally Stella Holley, then joined the Autobots on board the Axalon to return to Cybertron for the final battle against the Mini-Cons' dark creator. Linkage Part 12

Dreamwave Armada comic

Dune Runner was one of the many Mini-Cons stationed on Earth's Moon for millennia. Armada #9 When the Decepticons invaded, the Adventure Team were part of the first wave of defense against them. Armada #10 However, due to Leader-1 and Dualor's fighting, the base's defences were destroyed, and the entire installation had to be abandoned. The Mini-Cons escaped to Earth in a series of emergency rocket-pods. Armada #11

Later, after (temporarily) siding with the Autobots, the Adventure Team was dispatched to Alaska in order to retrieve the last Mini-Con escape pod from the Moonbase. However, when the team started digging, they were interrupted by Thrust (who Dune Runner shot in the face with his cutting torch), and then the super-powered Cyclonus, who scattered the team. Fire & Ice He was recovered by Jolt when Autobot reinforcements arrived. Armada #13 Dune Runner and the rest of the team then returned to base via space bridge in response to the appearance of a near-dead alternate Optimus Prime. Worlds Collide, Part 1 of 4

The whole of the Earth-based Mini-Con force gathered in Arizona's Black Mesa to take the space bridge back to Cybertron to fight off the approaching Unicron. He was among the Mini-Cons at the Loop in Cyber City, giving his power to the Mini-Con Matrix that dealt the critical blow to Unicron. The End

Transformers Legends anthology

With some greasing from Alexis, Dune Runner and Ransack managed to get themselves on an archaeological expedition to the Labná ruins in Mexico. Though Dune Runner was content to stand back and watch the humans work, his companion manage to cause a collapse, falling into a hole with Doctor Jessica Theist. Dune Runner called down to Ransack to see if the human was safe. Fire in the Dark

Toys

Armada

Walk without rhythm and you won't attract the worm

• Adventure Mini-Con Team (Mini-Con 3-pack, 2002 / 2003)

• Takara ID number: MM-16
• Takara release date: August 28, 2003
• Known designers: Takashi Kunihiro (Takara), Joe Kyde (deco artist)

Armada Dune Runner transforms into a "sand rail" off-road buggy with a swiveling gun turret on his back end. He has a gear-wheel system that rocks the gun barrel back and forth when he is rolled forward or backward. His gear-wheel can also attach to the underside of the Armada Cyclonus mold, and use the larger toy’s rotor system to activate his gun barrel.

As a Mini-Con, he has a "Powerlinx" socket on the underside of his vehicle mode that allows him to attach to larger toys with compatible Powerlinx plugs, activating special gimmicks on the larger toys when attached to a "live" plug.

He was normally only available in a three-pack with his teammates Iceberg and Ransack. In the Hasbro line, the Adventure Team were released in the third assortment of Mini-Con teams. In Japan, it was part of the seventh wave of Legend of the Microns product, released in August 2003. Aside from packaging, there are no noteworthy differences between the two releases.

This mold was also used to make Armada Ironhide, Micron Booster Crunch, and Cybertron Kobushi.

• More information on Dune Runner at TFU.info

• Grap Supermode & Adventure Micron (Multi-pack, 2003)

• ID number: MS-07
• Release date: August 28, 2003

In Japan, the Adventure Team was available both in an individual set and in a multi-pack with Hoist and "Spark" Liftor.

All of the toys in the set are identical to their individual releases.

"We Mini-Cons have a saying: 'Primus created Cybertron to train the faithful.' One cannot go against the word of Primus."

• Adventure Micron Exdimensions (Mini-Con 3-pack, 2003)

• ID number: MM-19
• Release date: September 11, 2003

A limited-edition (yet still standard retail) redeco of the Adventure Team was released in Japan. For the Exdimensions release, Dune Runner (or "Spike", as he is known there) has a silver deco with yellow and black warning stripes on his back end.

This toy also doubles as the separate character Spike.

• More information on Exdimensions Spike at TFU.info

• Powerlinx Cyclonus with Crumplezone and Bonus Mini-Con (Bonus pack, 2003)

• Powerlinx Hot Shot with Jolt and Bonus Mini-Con (Bonus pack, 2003)

• Release date: November 28, 2003

US Toys"R"Us stores had special bonus pack Super-Con (Deluxe) toys on Black Friday 2003, which came with a single bonus Mini-Con attached to the card over their sticker, for less than the price of a normal Super-Con during their post-Thanksgiving Black Friday sale. Each of the Adventure Team Mini-Cons could come packaged with either Powerlinx Cyclonus or Powerlinx Hot Shot.

• Battle for the Matrix (Multi-pack, 2003)

• Release date: November 28, 2003

For Kmart's 2003 Black Friday sales, they offered a massive multi-pack of toys. The only truly exclusive item was a gold version of Super Base Optimus Prime; the rest are unchanged versions of Sparkplug, Jetfire and Comettor, the Adventure Mini-Con Team, and (inexplicably) Longarm.

• Adventure Mini-Con Team (Mini-Con 3-pack, 2003)

Test-shots of a slightly-altered Adventure Team have popped up from various sources. It's possible this was intended to be a mid-series deco-change for the team, though it looks unfinished at best. The team has exactly the same paint application layouts in exactly the same colors as the original.

Dune Runner's plastics have changed to blue, which looks real interesting with his painted-tan arms.

Proceed on your way to oblivion. This item has been canceled, with no current plans for release.

Energon

• Adventure Mini-Con Team / Sea Mini-Con Team (Multi-pack, 2004)

An unaltered version of the original Adventure Team was released as part of an Energon-series "Mini-Con 6-pack" with the Sea Mini-Con Team.

This set was one of three six-pack exclusives to Toys"R"Us stores in the US, and the only one of the three that was not a "shared" exclusive with Walmart.

Notes

• In the Armada episode "Tactician", Prowl was erroneously colored green, leading some to believe it was Dune Runner that appeared.

Foreign names

• Japanese: Spike (スパイク Supaiku)