Vortex (G1)

Vortex is a Decepticon Combaticon from the Generation 1 continuity family.

Spin it to win it.

In a past life, it is very possible that Vortex was a roller coaster of some sort. He is the interrogator of the Decepticons, and his favorite method of coaxing secrets from trembling Autobots is to take them on Mr. Vortex's Wild Ride. Laughing like a maniac, Vortex will treat Autobots held hostage within his cargo hold to a psychotic helicopter ride of twists, turns and near-death experiences. Then, once he has learned everything they have to tell: Kerplop!

Vortex can combine with his fellow Combaticons to form Bruticus.

Fiction

Generation 1 cartoon continuity

The Transformers cartoon

Voice actor: Johnny Haymer (English), Ken Shiroyama (Japanese), Yoku Shioya (Japanese, "Aerial Assault"), Toshiro Ishii (Japanese, 2010), Osamu Saka (Japanese, "Surprise Party"), Eiji Yanagisawa (Japanese, "The Rebirth") , Willi Röbke (German, "Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2"), Thomas Rau (German, "Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4"), Michael Rüth (German, "The Ultimate Weapon"), Tonio von der Meden (German, Generation 2 "Starscream's Brigade" & "The Revenge of Bruticus"), Willy Schäfer (German, Generation 2 "The Ultimate Weapon"), Georges Atlas (European French), Francis Lax (European French, "Aerial Assault"), Roberto Pirillo (Portuguese), Hélio Ribeiro (Portuguese, "The Revenge of Bruticus"), Paulo Flores (Portuguese, "The Ultimate Weapon")

"Hey dude, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore!"
"Shut up, Jazz."

Vortex was one of the five renegade Decepticons liberated by Starscream in the Air Commander's latest attempt to unseat Megatron. As an element of their imprisonment, they had been reduced to mere personality components, so Starscream installed them into abandoned World War II military vehicles. The transplant caused the vehicles to immediately reconfigure themselves: Vortex in particular went from being a Chance Vought F4U Corsair^[1] to being a helicopter, before turning into a robot. Starscream called them "Combaticons" and announced their names as they transformed, but they didn't recognize him. Nor did they feel particularly indebted to him for their release; in the end, Starscream only guaranteed their loyalty though having given them bodies bereft of energy absorbers, so they would be dependent upon him to refuel. While their first missions for Starscream were initially successful, the Stunticons' intervention meant the brigade's defeat, and Megatron exiled all six to a remote asteroid. Starscream's Brigade

Another example of why headbanging isn't more popular among the Decepticons.

Vortex and his fellow Combaticons soon escaped the asteroid and invaded Cybertron, defeating Shockwave's defenses as Bruticus. After Onslaught modified the space bridge to pull Earth into the sun, the Combaticons were attacked by unknown forces, which were actually holograms. Vortex was quite happy, as he loved sneak attacks. Once again, however, the Combaticons were defeated by outside intervention, as the Autobots and Decepticons temporarily allied against the renegades. While Megatron allowed the Autobots to believe the Combaticons had been destroyed, he secretly had Bruticus (and his components, we guess) reprogrammed to serve more loyally. The Revenge of Bruticus

Some time later, the Combaticons set a trap for the Aerialbots, and Vortex attacked them alongside Dirge. He was eventually shot down by Air Raid and retreated back to Megatron's Giant Purple Griffin, which the Aerialbots eventually discovered. In the ensuing battle, Vortex took control of a few of Megatron's jet fighter drones, but didn't fare particularly well anyway. The Combaticons then tried to merge into Bruticus, but were defeated by Superion. Aerial Assault Afterwards, Bruticus was blown to pieces by Defensor, and Swindle sold Vortex's parts. What a friend. Vortex and the other Combaticons were eventually repaired just in time for Bruticus to be defeated again. B.O.T.

"Hey, my semi-automatic glue gun isn't firing lasers any more! It must be... broken?"

After the great battle at Autobot City, the Combaticons were among the battered Decepticon forces who withdrew to Chaar. Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1 When the Decepticons spotted Rodimus Prime and Grimlock spying on them, Vortex was the first to note that their weapons weren't working due to their low energy levels. He and his comrades simply opted for bashing the intruders to death instead. Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2 The Combaticons later participated in a Quintesson-led assault on a group of Autobots trapped on Goo, Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3 until Galvatron returned and took back control of his forces. Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4 Vortex was among the Decepticons that attempted (and failed) to stop the Autobots from delivering a transformation cog to Metroplex. Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5

"Confess! Where is the candlestick? What were you doing in the conservatory?"

The Combaticons later performed a hit-and-run attack on Cybertron in order to destroy a peace conference shuttle. When the Autobots fought back, Vortex shot Wheelie with a barrage of lasers, but was blasted out of the sky by Ultra Magnus for it. Surprise Party Much later, Vortex was charged with guarding Trypticon in the Netherlands. Spike and Daniel Witwicky, seated in a disguised Ultra Magnus and Rodimus Prime, respectively, tried tricking him into thinking they were repairmen in order to infiltrate the city-bot, but unfortunately Vortex could detect the "nauseating smell of Autobot fumes" on them. He tried shaking the truth out of Daniel, only to accidentally throw him off a cliff. The Autobots were forced to abandon their disguises in order to save him, and Rodimus blasted Vortex into unconsciousness. The Ultimate Weapon

The difference between a Decepticon and a Decepticon infected with the hate plague is... murky, at best.

As part of Bruticus, Vortex and his fellow Combaticons were at Galvatron's side during the conquest of Paradron, and ultimately forced to flee the planet after it was rigged to explode. Fight or Flee Bruticus engaged in battle with Defensor in Japan but Vortex and the others had to separate and retreat when Sky Lynx arrived on the scene. Vortex was among those Decepticons that watched a Matrix-possessed Scourge overthrow Galvatron and Cyclonus and joined another attack on Japan that ended once Galvatron retook command. The Burden Hardest to Bear

When the Earth was infected by the Hate Plague, the Combaticons were among the early victims. In a frenzy, Vortex started flying around an airfield blowing up jumbo jets. The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1 By order of Galvatron, the Combaticons later constructed a giant planetary rocket engine that was used to propel Cybertron into orbit around Earth. They also dragged away the bodies of defeated Autobots to use as fuel for the engine. The Rebirth, Part 3

Japanese cartoon continuity

Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers story pages

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Scramble City

Vortex and the other Combaticons were dispatched to help the Stunticons in a battle against the Aerialbots. As Bruticus and Menasor, the two groups nearly defeated Superion, until Scramble City arrived and blew them away. Scramble City: Mobilization

The Headmasters cartoon

The Combaticons participated in a major Decepticon assault on Cybertron, during which Vortex performed air strikes until he was shot down by Optimus Prime. Four Warriors Come out of the Sky He later combined with the other Combaticons to continue fighting, but even Bruticus was driven away by the arrival of Battleship Maximus. The Mystery of Planet Master The Combaticons were subsequently sent to Earth, where they set out to stop Hot Rod from retrieving the Matrix of Leadership for Optimus Prime. They didn't get far before being ambushed by the Protectobots, who buried the team in a rockfall. Birth of the Fantastic Double Prime Vortex and the others later defended Trypticon against Twincast's attempted infiltration, but got their hands full when the Aerialbots also joined the battle. The Great Cassette Operation

The Decepticon army, including the Combaticons, later attacked Cybertron again, in order to obtain the precious Cybertonuron created by Vector Sigma. Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 1 This didn't go very well, as Bruticus was again defeated by Defensor. Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 2 Bruticus was then sent to San Francisco with orders to destroy any Autobots out to kill the giant carnivorous plant hidden there by Scorponok. He ended up dueling with Raiden, the Trainbot combiner. Head On!! Fortress Maximus Vortex and his team were later seen under the command of Sixshot, who ordered them to attack an Autobot energy facility in Miami in order to divert troops from Autobot City. Ultra Magnus Dies!! They also unleashed Bruticus as Sixshot continued his reign of terror over the Autobots on Earth. The Emperor of Destruction Vanishes on an Iceberg

Vortex later watched and cheered as Scorponok officially took leadership of the Decepticons. I Risk My Life for Earth As Bruticus's arm, he later tried to lure Fortress Maximus away from the Decepticon base on Master, but it didn't work. The Zarak Shield Turns the Tide Bruticus was later seen laughing with Predaking as they sank the luxury liner Queen World in the Atlantic Ocean. The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 1) Naturally, Vortex and the Combaticons were part of the final climactic battle with the Autobot army at the North Pole, and retreated into space when Scorponok's plan to tear Earth apart appeared to become a reality. The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 2)

Unite Warriors

Vortex was present at the Combaticons' illegal arms trading market when Elise Presser, Martin, and Roland showed up, wanting to sell their own product, B.O.T. II. He didn't believe their claim, suspecting that B.O.T. II was actually made to spy on the Combaticons. Shopping at the Dark Bazaar!

Zone cartoon, manga, and story pages

Seeking to create a Decepticon Zone to counter the Autobot Zone, Emperor of Destruction Violengiguar gathered together the Nine Great Demon Generals, upgrading them with powerful new armor and weaponry, then sent them forth to conquer planets. Vortex was of those summoned, but only as part of Bruticus. Zone Part 1 Zone Enter the New Supreme Commander, Dai Atlas!

TV Magazine comic continuity

Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers comic

As Bruticus, Vortex and the Combaticons aided Menasor when the Stunticons' new base found itself under attack from Defensor and Superion. Whilst Bruticus took care of Defensor with relative ease, Superion shot his leg components off, allowing First Aid and Streetwise to steal their places. Taking control of the giant's flight systems, the two Protectobots flew off with Bruticus's remaining components, planning to drop them off somewhere over the ocean. Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #5

Vortex and the Combaticons were later ordered to hunt down a dog imbued with energy. The Autobot Mini Vehicles led by Powerglide soon arrived to save the poor animal, and the Combaticons formed Bruticus in response. However, the dog used its energy to power up Powerglide, who used Scramble Power to combine with his comrades and drill straight through him, forcing the Combaticons to withdraw. Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #8

The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers

In the year 2010, Vortex participated in a Decepticon attack on the planet Feminia. He and his team merged into Bruticus in order to battle alongside Menasor and Devastator against their Autobot counterparts Superion, Defensor and Omega Supreme. The fight was fairly evenly matched until Galvatron called up his ace-in-the-hole, Predaking, whose power was unmatched by any of the Autobots... except for the Omnibots, who essentially tied Predaking's shoelaces together until he fell over, straight into Bruticus and his chums, sending them all toppling to the ground and knocking them to bits. The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers #5

The Great Transformer War manga

Galvatron kidnapped Doctor Dalton of Eran to upgrade the might of his combiner warriors. When the Autobot combiners arrived to save Dalton, Vortex and his teammates were deployed at high speeds from Onslaught's launcher mode. They met Superion in mid-air, and the force of their deployment enabled the combiner teams to tear him apart. The Combaticons then merged into Bruticus to move in for the kill. They were ultimately outwitted by the Autobots, however, who rescued Dalton and safely returned to Metroplex. The Great Transformer War #1

Wings Universe

Vortex was part of an Autobot Elite Guard special ops unit created by Magnum to take out the various leaders of the new Decepticon faction, in the hopes of ending the war quickly. The Coming Storm: Part 2

But prior to their main mission, the Autobot High Council sent out the Combaticons on a more diplomatic mission for the Elite Guard. Teamed with their fellow squad, Metalhawk's Strike Team, Vortex and the Combaticons were to meet up with an archeological team stationed in Median and aid them guard what Alpha Trion assured them to be a find of monumental importance.

The two teams assumed at first that their task would be do some heavy-lifting for the scientists. Upon their arrival, they found out that they were to fight off Decepticon incursions in the area, and that an artifact uncovered by dig coordinator Flipsides and her team could be pivotal in the upcoming war. Said artifact was the Heart of the Dragon, an ancient personality component for a 'bot of mass destruction. At this time, Vortex discovered that they wouldn't be able to call for reinforcements in the event they needed them; Median was so remote that their radios didn't have the power to reach civilization.

Vortex and the Elite Guard began fortifying the town to Onslaught's specifications. The enemy attack came in due course, and Vortex operated on the second line of defense with Onslaught, Brawl and the Strike Team's weaponry expert, Ironfist. But by using "sensor ghosts," the Decepticon Stormtroopers were able to dupe the Autobots into thinking they were all in one location, when in truth they had split up so that some of their members could reach the Heart unnoticed. Onslaught quickly caught on to the ruse, and sent Vortex and Ironfist to check on the artifact while the rest of their team held back whatever Decepticons they could. The two Autobots found that the Heart had already been stolen by the time they reached the excavation site. They then fell prey to a Decepticon ambush; instead of scurrying off immediately after getting a hold of the artifact, Aquablast and Rage had laid in wait to take them out. Vortex was hit by Aquablast's chemical weapon, causing him to short out and crash into a nearby building.

The Elite Guard pursued the Decepticons, taking Vortex with them, despite the fact it would still take him a while to reboot; he was strapped onto Brawl's turret and carried to their destination. They managed to infiltrate the Stormtroopers' transforming mobile fortress, the Metrotitan, and Vortex regained his senses as they were skulking through its corridors. They were forced to confront Brimstone, a powerful but unstable Transformer brought to life by the Heart of the Dragon. With the help of Drench, who felt his commander had gone too far in unleashing Brimstone, the Autobots escaped the fortress just as Brimstone achieved a critical mass and self-destructed due to his small body not being able to contain his immense power. Flames of Yesterday

The Combaticons and Strike Team continued to be teamed up for missions. On one such outing, they managed to extract the coordinates to Shadowcaster's hideout from a Decepticon warrior. By having Metalhawk drop down a few charges from the air, and having Vortex observe where the Decepticons would scurry off to, they planned to pinpoint the exact location of the Decepticons' lair in the rundown city he was occupying. This plan went off without a hitch, and after their target had been taken care of, Vortex helped Swindle scavenge some loot out from the Decepticons' base. While the Strike Team went back to base to report their success, the Constructicons stuck around to investigate the area further, and were captured by Decepticons. The Coming Storm: Part 3

After being caged-up, the Combaticons were taken to meet Deathsaurus. The smooth-talking warlord swayed Vortex to the Decepticons' way of thinking by offering him some high-grade oil (his assistant, Lyzack, brought him a full tray of the stuff!) and enlisted the Combaticons to destroy the Elite Guard. The Coming Storm: Part 4 Deathsaurus bestowed on the team new armor, and the ability to merge into Bruticus. A week later, the Combaticons took part in an attack on Elite Guard HQ, and when confronted by Sentinel Major, showed off their new Combiner mode. The Coming Storm: Part 5 Bruticus managed to slaughter pretty much all of the Guard before Dion blinded the giant, forcing them to separate. After Vortex suggested that Dion had probably perished at Bruticus's hand, they headed back to Deathsaurus's base for repairs. The Coming Storm: Part 6

Repairs proceeded, but the Combaticons were startled to learn that Deathsaurus could force them to combine into Bruticus at will. Battle Lines, Part 1 Battle Lines, Part 2 They still turned out to help defend the base against the remnants of the Elite Guard. Vortex boasted that if they formed Bruticus, killing the Guard would be like fighting mindless drones, however as the Combaticons attempted to merge, they were blasted mid-combination. Battle Lines, Part 3 They picked themselves up again, but were still unable to merge, as Blast Off had gone missing. At the end of the battle, the team failed to retreat fast enough and were captured by the Elite Guard. Battle Lines, Part 4

In the hands of the compromised Gyronian Sentry Team, the Combaticons were whisked away to Deathsaurus's fortress, now under Megatron's control. Though Megatron gave them the option, none of them cared to help Deathsaurus, and they were imprisoned and their personality components subsequently interred in the Decepticon Detention Center. Battle Lines, Part 5

Marvel Comics continuity

Marvel The Transformers comics

Buster Witwicky was the only human in existence to have ever possessed the Autobots' Creation Matrix in his mind. Months after returning the Matrix to its true guardian, Optimus Prime, Buster began experiencing nightmares of strange new Transformers, Special Teams with the ability to merge into a 5-in-1 giant. Vortex and his Combaticon teammates appeared in one of Buster's earlier dreams, before he sought help from the Autobots. In order to process the information his subconscious was feeding him, Buster linked his mind with Prime, so that the next dream came through far clearer than the previous ones. He and Prime observed a toy commercial scenario where Vortex and his fellow Combaticons joined forces with the Stunticons against their Autobot counterparts, the Protectobots and Aerialbots. The Combaticons fought together as Bruticus, but were defeated by the teamwork shown by Autobot gestalts Superion and Defensor. After Prime and Buster awoke, the Autobots immediately went to work designing these new warriors. Thanks to Soundwave's hacking skills, however, Megatron and Shockwave also saw the visions and began working on their own Special Teams. The Special Teams Have Arrived Second Generation!

For the glory of Mesmeron!

At Megatron's command, Vortex began scouting human energy projects for possible sources of energon for the Decepticons to steal. Hovering over Energy Futures Industries on the Oregon coast, Vortex learned about a new device called a hydrothermocline, which could potentially summon limitless energy from beneath the seas. He summoned Megatron and the rest of the Combaticons for a late night raid. Unfortunately for them, the Autobots had been doing a little spying of their own, and the Combaticons found Optimus Prime and the Protectobots lying in wait at EFI when they arrived. Optimus and Megatron were busy measuring who had the biggest gestalt when Ethan Zachary, a human programmer working at EFI, offered them a better solution than brawling. Using his Multi-World video game scenario, Zachery could upload the Autobots and Decepticons into the game, allowing them to fight without risking the hydro-whatsis or innocent lives in the process.

Inside Multi-World, Vortex and Blast Off teamed up to hunt down Protectobots. In the region known as the Cloud-Steppes, composed of a series of roadways connected to hovering clouds, they came across Groove and Blades. Vortex chose the simplest solution and began cutting through the cables with his rotor blades, sending the ground-bound Groove and several Cloud-Steppers to their doom. Groove saved himself, and Blades caught the cloud people as they fell. The Autobots' new friends then turned their cloud powers against the Combaticons, blinding them long enough for Groove to... blind them again. Stupid pacifists. Anyway, Vortex and Blast Off then crashed into each other and "died", their consciousnesses returning to reality. The other Combaticons fared just as well, leaving Megatron alone to fight Prime and Defensor. Blindly choking his subordinates in the real world, Megatron got close enough for Vortex to whisper a "cheat code" he had overheard when first scouting the location... AFTERDEATH. Despite using the password to cheat, Megatron still lost the battle. But, because Optimus Prime was forced to sacrifice innocent "people" in the game to defeat Megatron, he allowed the Decepticons to take the hydrothermocline anyway. Truly an overdeveloped sense of honor. Afterdeath! These events were observed by the time travelling Dicet Alpha-zero. The Quest!

During the Decepticon plans to move the hydrothermocline to a more energy efficient location for its work, Vortex was transporting the land-bound Decepticons to their island base. At Shockwave's request, however, he was dissuaded from picking up Megatron on time, allowing Shockwave's Predacon mercenaries time to complete their assassination attempt on the Decepticon leader. Megatron survived, but ended up blowing himself up anyway, leaving Vortex and the Combaticons under Shockwave's command. Gone but Not Forgotten! When fuel auditor Ratbat arrived to supervise the Decepticon activities, Shockwave engineered a daring daylight raid on an oil tanker in the Caribbean. Vortex, the Coneheads and the Insecticons successfully commandeered the vessel and brought it to the Decepticons island base. It was the perfect plan... with the small technicality of there not being any fuel in the tanker. Buster Witwicky and the Car Wash of Doom

On a later mission, Soundwave and the Combaticons were commissioned with destroying the inactive super-Decepticon known as Galvatron, who had been trapped inside the lava flow of an active volcano, preserving him like a fly in amber. Shockwave nevertheless saw Galvatron as a potential threat to his command, and wanted him eliminated permanently. Vortex and the others were to set up explosive charges around the mouth, burying the future warrior forever. Their plans were waylaid by a group of human females, who used up most of the explosives against the Combaticons. The Decepticons were then forced to retreat once Blaster and the Throttlebots arrived to back-up the humans, but they swore vengeance for the interference. Ladies' Night

"Is THIS how I've been making other people feel?? God, I'm horrible!"

Vortex began trailing the Throttlebots, and caught up with them on a California freeway. He was freely taking pot shots at them until Blaster transformed and supported himself on Rollbar and Chase's vehicle modes, firing back at the Combaticon with his electro-scrambler gun. After nearly causing a traffic pile-up, Blaster got a good shot at Vortex, overloading his circuitry and sending the Decepticon careening through the sky. Once he recovered, Vortex tracked Blaster and the Throttlebots to a used car dealership, and summoned the rest of the Combaticons. Matters became complicated when the Protectobots also arrived on the scene, looking to arrest Blaster and Goldbug for going AWOL and rebelling against the Autobot commander, Grimlock... not to mention the RAAT brigade of human military officers looking to take the Autobots into custody as well. The resulting four-way war left everyone confused and the dealership a wreck. Vortex was blinded early on battling Streetwise, and the Combaticons ultimately retreated once Blaster joined forces with the Protectobots. In the melee, however, the Throttlebots were carted off by RAAT, and the Protectobots still took Blaster into custody for Grimlock after the fight was over. Used Autobots

Vortex tracked the Protectobots from a distance, as they transported the mode-locked Blaster back to the Ark for trial and execution. The two teams clashed again at a (mostly) abandoned railyard once the Combaticons had fully assembled on Vortex's position. Vortex clashed with his opposite number, the Protectobot helicopter known as Blades, trading fire in the skies. Despite his computer image-guided targeting technology, Blades was unable to overcome Vortex's aerial agility and score a decent hit. The Combaticons eventually combined into Bruticus and managed to defeat the united Defensor in battle. Meanwhile, Blaster had managed to shake off his mode-lock and, despite his current situation, brought down the Decepticons in defense of his fellow Autobots. Child's Play

The Combaticons licked their wounds and eventually limped back to the Decepticons' hidden island base in the Caribbean. When the Autobots launched an attack on the Decepticons' island headquarters to rescue a recently captured Buster Witwicky, Shockwave converted the landmass into its rocket-ship mode and had it blast off into space. Vortex was standing at the ready, within the ship's control room, as this took place. Decepticon leadership soon changed from Shockwave to Ratbat after the former was critically injured and believed dead following a space battle with Fortress Maximus. The Desert Island of Space! When the Autobots decided the best way for Grimlock and Blaster to finally settle their differences was through trial by combat, Ratbat brought the Decepticons to the combat site on the moon and launched a full-scale assault on the unsuspecting Autobots. Vortex and Laserbeak managed to shoot down Jetfire, but ultimately Grimlock and Blaster put aside their differences and turned the tide, sending the Decepticons packing. Totaled!

For their next trick, the Decepticons turned their deserted desert island base into a tropical paradise for humans, using the tourist trade to hide their true motives and protect themselves from any Autobot attack with human shields. Despite their distaste for flesh-creatures, many of the Decepticons were in good spirits. Vortex was seen trading stories with Drag Strip about how he told off one of the Constructicons. Those nerds. Club Con! The charade soon came to an end, but the Decepticons had acquired what they had been after in the meantime; two dormant Autobot mini-cassettes carrying data on the powerful Underbase. Once Buster was put through a Realvision simulation to test out the simulator itself, Vortex helped escort the boy back to his cell, allowing Ratbat and Starscream to view the data privately. The Flames of Boltax!

Eventually, the Combaticons fell under the command of Scorponok. On his orders, Vortex's team staged a raid on the Rutter U.S. Military Base. There, they secured two armed warheads and components from an advanced guidance computer. The Protectobots intervened part-way through the theft, but once Blast Off cleared the area with the loot, the rest of the team used hit-and-run tactics to fend their rivals off, eventually managing their own getaway.

Afterwards, the remaining Combaticons went to check on Darkwing and Dreadwind's progress at Alternate Reality, Inc., where Scorponok had likewise tasked them to steal a floppy disk containing a back-up copy of Optimus Prime's mind. They found Defensor about to shoot the jets out of the sky, and blasted the Combiner in the back, crippling him before he could pull the trigger. With the mission a success, Vortex's group then made themselves scarce. Prime Bomb!

Marvel UK future timelines

Vortex and the Decepticon air force were led into battle by Astrotrain in 2008. They planned to strike back against the Autobots, but were instead ambushed by the Quintessons in what could have been a massacre. Putting aside his pride, Decepticon commander Soundwave radioed the Autobots for assistance, and soon the two factions were fighting side by side on Cybertron against the invading Quintesson forces. After the fight was over, Soundwave left the battlefield in Vortex's ridiculously oversized helicopter mode. Space Pirates!

Transformers Comic-Magazin

Vortex and the Combaticons sought to seize Earth's energy resources for the Decepticons. As Bruticus, they fought against Superion. Transformers in Action: He Who Laughs Last ...

Marvel Generation 2 comic

When Megatron was looking to forge an alliance with Optimus Prime against Jhiaxus's Cybertronians, he brought a contingent of Decepticons to Ethos to back-up the Autobots. Vortex joined Starscream and Ransack in supplementing the Aerialbots and the other Autobot sky forces. Escalation!

Vortex, along with the other Combaticons, formed the first line of defense against Jhiaxus's attack on Warworld. While Vortex's ultimate fate is unseen, the fact that Jhiaxus's troops ultimately took Warworld makes it likely he was destroyed. Total War!

The Special Teams

Vortex and the rest of the Combaticons were created by Starscream on a remote Pacific island, by combining military vehicles with Energon cubes. They then drove to the Pullen Power Plant, passing Optimus Prime en route, though the Autobot leader was none-the-wiser to the Decepticons in disguise. Onslaught then ordered to rest of his team to merge with him to form Bruticus. The Special Teams

Battle Beneath the Ice

Vortex and his fellow Combaticons were searching for a mysterious city beneath the ice when the Aerialbots, Skydive and Slingshot, interfered. Vortex got into a dogfight with Skydive, flying through the icy mountains and canyons of the North Pole. Luckily, as a Super Seasprite helicopter, he was infinitely more maneuverable than an F-16. Vortex led Skydive straight towards a mountain wall, and shot upwards at the last instant to send the Aerialbot flying nose first into the side of the mountain. Unfortunately for Vortex, Skydive vaporized the mountain peak with his nega-gun and, flipping back around in robot mode, clocked the Combaticon with a solid blow while Vortex was blinding by the steam.

Vortex was presumably still seeing stars when the rest of the Decepticons learned the city-dwellers were the true enemy and joined forces with the Autobots against them. Hopefully, Vortex's fellow Combaticons remembered to pick him up for repairs when they departed. Battle Beneath the Ice

St. Michael The Transformers Sticker Book

Vortex and the rest of the Combaticons served under Galvatron on a Decepticon ship, when they managed to shoot down the ship being captained by Ultra Magnus. After the Autobots crash-landed on planet Barrenikon, the Decepticons landed their ship nearby to finish off their enemies. In the many possible adventures that followed, Vortex and the other Decepticons often underestimated you, which often led to them losing to the Autobots, leaving them either stranded on Barrenikon, or fleeing after they received too much damage. That is, if you somehow didn't get yourself killed at their hands. The Transformers Sticker Book

Dreamwave Generation One continuity

Shortly after Optimus Prime became the new Autobot Supreme Commander, Vortex and the other Combaticons took part in the Decepticon assault upon Iacon under Shockwave's command. The War Within #3 Vortex was at Shockwave's side when the latter ordered his troops to make their final push against the Decagon, The War Within #4 and rushed to the front lines as the Autobots' final defenses were breached. The War Within #5 The Decepticons didn't get to savor their victory however, as Starscream then activated one of Cybertron's planetary engines. This caused Iacon to crumble into a crater, forcing Vortex and the rest of the Decepticons to pull out of the area. The War Within #6

Millions of years later, after the Great Shutdown, Vortex, along with his fellow Combaticons, was imprisoned in the Detention Banks in Quadrant Epsilon by Shockwave under his new "Cybertronian" regime. Cold War When the Autobots rose up against Shockwave and the Decepticons, Starscream turned tail and escaped to Earth with the protoforms of the Combaticons. Revelation

Returning to the Nemesis via an uncooperative Sky Lynx, Starscream realized he needed to take parts from the Autobots' Ark if he ever hoped to get the Nemesis flying again, and for that he needed considerable firepower. Fortunately, there was a nearby abandoned military testing ground from which the Combaticons could scan Earth-based alternate modes. Black Sunshine When the attack on the Ark was launched, the Autobots had little problem defending against the first wave, successfully capturing Soundwave, Skywarp and Thundercracker, but several of the Autobots were soundly beaten when the Combaticons showed up and combined into the mighty Bruticus. The behemoth attacked the Ark freeing his Decepticon compatriots before going after Brawn and Ratchet. Unfortunately, the Autobots activated their ship's self-destruct before escaping, damaging the Combaticons in the resulting explosion. When Starscream berated them for letting the ship be destroyed, Vortex groaned in pain. Night of the Combaticons

Damaged or not, they soon had to face a powerful enemy when the crazed zealot Sunstorm appeared on Earth, but before they could attack him, Bruticus' head was blown apart by Cliffjumper in the Autobot supply ship Orion. In the aftermath, Bruticus's barely-conscious body was battered upon by an angry Brawn. Black Sunshine Vortex and the other Decepticons were made the Autobots' prisoners, until Starscream negotiated a deal for their release in exchange for his aid against Sunstorm. Skyfire

The repaired Combaticons were brought to Guadalcanal, where they could hone their somewhat lackluster combat skills and listen to Starscream's long-winded aspirations of glory. Starscream ordered them to defeat the Autobot Sky Lynx as a means to train themselves for greater battles. Blast Off ordered Vortex to "take [Sky Lynx] down", but the crafty Autobot split into his two forms, and Blast Off was embarrassingly grabbed in the flying form's jaws while Vortex looked on.

This was the least of their troubles, however, as Predaking showed up as soon as Sky Lynx was deactivated. This encounter also did not end well. The Route of All Evil

G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers

As part of Serpent O.R.'s forces, Vortex defended the newly unified Decepticon army's base against a combined Autobot/G.I. Joe strike force. The Art of War #5

The Beast Within

During a particularly violent battle between the Autobots and the Decepticons, Vortex watched on in horror as The Beast, the Dinobots’ gestalt form, dispatched Predaking in one sword strike. Brought out of his stupor by Onslaught, Vortex joined with the other Combaticons to form Bruticus. The Beast Within

2005 IDW continuity

• First Appearance: Spotlight: Arcee

When Scorponok took command of the Decepticons, the Combaticons rebelled and left Cybertron, becoming mercenaries. While breaking into a weapons vault on the Presidium they were approached by Starscream and offered ample payment for returning to the Decepticon fold, which Vortex and the other Combaticons accepted. Primacy #2

Vortex was part of the Combaticons', under the command of Banzaitron's Decepticon Secret Service. They attacked the Garrus-9 penal facility to seize the new gestalt Transformers. When Arcee turned up to kill them all, it was Vortex who reacted quickly and sprang the gestalts while under fire. He then dissed Fortress Maximus on the way out. Spotlight: Arcee

After a deal was negotiated between Arcee and Banzaitron, Vortex and the other Combaticons later helped her in an attempt to recapture Monstructor (who had been stolen by Jhiaxus and Nemesis Prime's forces) on Rotan, though the insane Autobot disappeared mid-battle. Spotlight: Sideswipe

Years later on Earth the Combaticons were hired by North Korean leader Kim Jong Du to lead an attack on the South. Brawl, Onslaught and Vortex destroyed a South Korean outpost on the border of the DMZ to this end, with Vortex destroying air support the South had sent. The Land Ironclads

None of the Combaticons were particularly happy about working for humans, but as the Koreans were the only ones able to produce energon for them, they had little choice in the matter. It wasn't long before the Autobots got involved, attacking the Combaticons while they were bickering and attempting to keep Vortex groundbound. Using his rotor blades, Vortex managed to deflect Smokescreen's smokescreen and damage Cliffjumper before taking to the air. The Autobots called in their own air support in the form of Jetfire, but the scientist failed to stand up to a trained soldier like Vortex, who cut one of his wings and sent him crashing into Broadside. He then picked up Onslaught before retreating. Ranks of Bronze

OOF!

As the Combaticons toasted to their victory, Vortex bragged about Jetfire's defeat and wished that the Autobots would come back so he could do it all over again. His wish was immediately granted, as Optimus Prime smashed through the wall and sent Vortex flying into Ratchet, who attempted to cut his rotors off. He managed to shake the Autobot off and take flight...only to be knocked back down by Thundercracker, now allied with the Autobots. Hawk Among the Sparrows The Combaticons soon found themselves defeated, and they didn't get involved when the Predacons got showed up and the humans attempted to nuke all the Transformers. Fortunately for Vortex and his teammates, the Autobots didn't have the resources to take prisoners, so they remained at large. Thundercracker destroyed the energon facilities in North Korea, though, so the Combaticons wouldn't get involved with them again. All My Sins Remembered

Vortex and his fellow Combaticon teammates later stewed over Starscream's leadership of Cybertron and his attempts to sweep the past aside, particularly after the death of their teammate, Swindle. The Will of the Few However, the Combaticons did stop planning revenge long enough to celebrate Chosen One Day and honor their leader, Onslaught. Choose Me

While Onslaught was busy trying to find Swindle's body, Vortex and Brawl took several odd jobs to pay for their home and engex. He showed particular annoyance when Blast Off went out as well, given that their client was found by Blast Off. 07:00:00 During the riots, Vortex and Brawl took engex bets on whether or not Blast Off was alive; Vortex won the bet and added that today was a good day for their Combaticons as a whole. When Onslaught took Blast Off for debriefing, Vortex threatened that he and Brawl would go on without them, though it proved just to be hot air. Applicable Skills

When Blast Off eventually found the location of Swindle's body, he and Vortex were dispatched to find Wheeljack, much to Vortex's delight. Chromia showed up to stop them and Vortex attacked her, only to be disarmed rather quickly. Blast Off then held Chromia at gunpoint, threatening to kill her should Wheeljack not come with them. Vortex urged his fellow Combaticon to kill her anyway, and was disappointed when they didn't. They soon met up with Onslaught and Brawl and learned that Swindle was brain dead and his body was being held deep inside Metroplex. Things We Said We'd Never Do Onslaught took the Enigma of Combination and fused all of the Combaticons into Bruticus, Vortex serving as the left arm. However, due to Swindle's brain dead mind, Bruticus was incredibly unstable. Regardless, Vortex reveled in their new-found power (also being the one who named their combined form). Following a brief rampage, the gestalt was defeated, and Vortex passed out on the pavement. The Line Between Us

Vortex and the other Combaticons were imprisoned and awaiting trial, though Ironhide was reluctant to prosecute them if their mental scarring proved too great. Ping The Combaticons were still comatose when Starscream told the Eukarian mnemosurgeon Airachnid to turn them to his side as one of his combiners. Because the Combaticons minds had imprinted on each other during their combination, Airachnid found them more susceptible to the process, and thus had them believe that they had always been working for Starscream, using the aware-of-the-manipulation Blast Off to cover any holes in the story. As a result, Vortex and the others were made to believe that they had been Starscream's secret and loyal bodyguards, and that their forming of Bruticus had been a last-ditch attempt to save Swindle's life with Starscream's approval. The Price of You Soon the Combaticons "resumed" their work of protecting Starscream, and at one stage Vortex mentioned to Starscream that Onslaught and Blast Off had a date. If I Know You

Vortex was among the security detail for the ceremony to welcome Earth into the Council of Worlds. When a group of human assailants attacked, he mobilised to fight back and evacuate Starscream. First Strike #1

Onslaught and Vortex later ushered Circuit and Longtooth out of the Council chambers during Windblade's official return to her post, and when Vortex dared the two reporters to resist, Onslaught warned him not to cause trouble. Vortex and Blast Off later stood guard outside Starscream's office as Windblade confronted Starscream, and Vortex spouted unusual ideas for what the two candidates were up to, from murder to proposing. During the final debate before the election to decide the new leader of Cybertron, Starscream revealed all of his crimes to the public, including the manipulation of the Combaticons. As a result, Onslaught and the other Combaticons were imprisoned for their rampage as Bruticus. The Chosen One

Transformers: All Spark

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. Another Episode, Part 1 Another Episode, Part 2

Kre-O online comic

Pew-ex! Pew-ex! Pew-ex!

Take this-ex!

Vortex was one of the Decepticons who joined Megatron in the Nemesis to chase the Autobots in the Ark-ex. After they boarded the Ark, it crashed to Earth (due to all the extra weight) and the Transformers fell to a four million year-long sleep-ex. They woke up to a new world filled with the blocks they coveted-ex. Kreon Story

Vortex was charged with guarding the Decepticon Base, allowing no-one to pass until Megatron returned-ex. The "lookout from Hell" took his duties very seriously, even to the point of refusing Megatron entry-ex. After all, Megatron wasn't actually inside the base yet, plus he could be an impostor-ex! Vowing to give his all in his job, Vortex block-transformed a helicopter into Mega-Vortex-ex. Frustrated, Megatron called Optimus Prime and the other Autobots to attack the base and drive the damned lookout off-ex. In gratitude, Megatron threw a thank-you party for his saviors, which he immediately began to regret when a battered Vortex finally showed up and welcomed him home-ex. A Reliable Warrior!? Vortex the Lookout from Hell

After being thoroughly humiliated by Knock Out's lame attempt at recreating "See-Through Power" via putting Megatron in a woman's see-through negligee, the Decepticon leader walloped the doctor with amazing force-ex. Vortex, ever the unobservant, took this as a sign of just how amazing "See-Through Power" was-ex. Wheeljack's Bizarre Invention! Optimus Power Up!?

Vortex was part of a massive Decepticon invasion force intended to take over the Autobot base while said Autobots were away having a picnic-ex. However, Optimus Prime plowed through them with his truck and left them scattered... and then left in just as big a hurry-ex. Returning to the scene after.. ahem, taking care of some pressing business, Optimus gathered up the still-wiped-out Kreons, bound them up on a flatbed trailer, and took them to the picnic-ex. Emergency! Hurry to the Base, Optimus!

Vortex was invited by Starscream into his new unit, the Combaticons, getting a new color scheme in the process-ex. Even as part of a team he insisted on staying home and guarding the base—when the Combaticons combined into Bruticus and attacked the Autobots, he fretted and worried so much about the base's safety that the entire team agreed to come home with him and guard it together-ex. New Military Unit Combaticon! Bruticus, Combine! After Megatron was allowed to live in the Metroplex for Christmas, Vortex showed up and told the readers that all's well that ends well-ex. Two Giant Bases! Everybody Getting Along, Come On, Fight! Vortex formed Bruticus again during a scheme to steal Metroplex's transformation cog, but the Combaticons were defeated by the Protectobots' Defensor-ex. The friendly Protectobot First Aid then took Vortex and his mates back to the Autobot base to treat their injuries-ex. Bad at Fighting? Rescue Team Protectobots, Dispatch!

Vortex was among the Kreons summoned by Megatron to conquer the Legends World-ex. Special Chapter

Transformers vs. G.I. Joe

The Combaticons infiltrated G.I. Joe disguised as their vehicles, with Vortex taking on the form of a Tomahawk chopper. During the Decepticon-Cobra attack on the United Nations, the Combaticons revealed themselves and combined into Bruticus to fight GIJONIN. Expelled from the Garden

Win If You Dare

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. Win If You Dare

2019 IDW continuity

First appearance: Galaxies #4

All aboard the Dystopi-copter!

At some point, Vortex posed in a group photo with many Cybertronians, including Blast Off. Open Comms As a member of the Rise, Vortex came to pickup the Insecticons along with the Energon cubes they had produced off of Mayalx with Onslaught, Brawl, and Blast Off. Constructicons Rising, Part 4

Back on Cybertron, the Combaticons integrated with the remaining command structure of the Rise, now that many of Shockwave's forces had left to join the official Decepticon guard. Vortex performed light guard duty, overseeing the unstable and unsettling Sunstorm. Test Flight II Exarchon the Threefold Spark returned and recruited his old collaborator Shockwave at the Rise base. Vortex and the Combaticons decided to throw in with Exarchon rather than become smaller fish in the Decepticon army. War's End Part One The Combaticons deployed to meet a second Threefold Spark body, possessing Deathsaurus, at a hidden base he had never shared with Shockwave. They agreed to serve as deterrence for any invaders while Exarchon finished his plans. Sure enough, Cyclonus and a force of Decepticons led by Sixshot soon assaulted the canyon. War's End Part Two A group of Autobots became involved as well, but they all pulled back once the Combiner Devastator arrived from deep space at Shockwave's call. Vortex and the others cautiously welcomed Devastator, along with the Rise's other lieutenant Slipstream as reinforcements. Exarchon became greedy, however, and tried to impose his spark on Devastator rather than using him as an ally. War's End Part Three He failed, but it left the Constructicons disabled and useless as support. The Combaticons soon faced a united attack from the Autobots and Decepticons again. Exarchon was defeated, trapped in a Titan spark cage, which was then destroyed. Vortex and his cohorts were taken into Decepticon custody. War's End Part Four

Alternate future

In the future where Exarchon rose again, Vortex ended up serving the Threefold Spark. He and Triggerhappy located the last remaining rebels on Cybertron with a horde of Skywarp drones and slaughtered them. Test Flight II

Energon Universe

Vortex and the Combaticons were chasing down Elita One and Ultra Magnus on Cybertron. The combaticon had found the pair and reported in before being shot down by Elita. Transformers (2023) issue 9

Commercial appearances

• Vortex and the rest of the Combaticons charged down a ravine to face-off against Metroplex. As they neared him, the Combaticons combined into Bruticus and took to the skies. Bruticus and Metroplex commercial
• Vortex was part of a massive battle between Kreons-ex. After being knocked around by the Autobots some, he and the Combaticons combined into Bruticus-ex. They then chased the Autobots off alongside Predaking-ex. KRE-O Transformers Micro Changers and Combiners Construction Sets commercial

Games

Transformers Legends

When a team of Autobots led by Mirage went on the offensive, Blast Off, Swindle and Vortex used superior military tactics to fight them off. War Dawn

During a later fight, Vortex arrived on the battlefield along other Decepticon reinforcements. What outcome the battle yielded is unclear. By Land, Sea, or Air

Transformers: Battle Tactics

Now with extra vintage flavor!

Vortex participated in battles against a variety of opponents, both Autobots and Decepticons. Sometimes there were many of him! He was a Super Rare character who could be recruited by collecting 250 units of Cybermetal, 75 units of Transmetal, and 10 cores of this character. Transformers: Battle Tactics

Transformers: Earth Wars

Shoot off Grenades over a large area and miss all of them. Yeah, That'll get em' to talk!

Vortex served as one of Megatron's more elite warriors under the command of Onslaught. He honestly couldn't care less about Swindle being on the dirty mud-ball before him and the other Combaticons. Transformers: Earth Wars

When Megatron needed recruits for his new combiner, he immediately enlisted the Combaticons. During the time Shockwave was prepping them for the combination process, Vortex heard that Swindle stole a bunch of his comrades stuff, which made him extremely pissed off. Once the process was complete, Vortex could form the left arm of Bruticus. Countdown to Combination

• Class: Gunner
• Lowest star rating: 2 star
• Weapons: Vortex uses a standard-issue grenade launcher.
• Ability: Cluster Strike: Fire off 16 grenades dealing damage to a large area.
  • Cost: 3 ability points +1 for reuses.

Vortex at Transformers: Earth Wars Wiki

Transformers: Bumblebee Overdrive

Vortex was in command of the tenth Decepticon base attacked and destroyed by the Autobots during a series of raids. He battled against the invaders in helicopter mode, but was eventually defeated. Transformers: Bumblebee Overdrive

Transformers Roleplaying Game

Vortex was a member of the Combaticons. Decepticon Directive

On Earth, Vortex and the other Combaticons acted as a liaison between the Decepticons and the forces of Cobra, offering them advanced alien technology in exchange for their full cooperation. While meeting with Chameleon in southern France, the Autobots attacked and only narrowly escaped after Onslaught wounded Bumblebee. The Combaticons, minus Swindle, spent days pursuing the battered Autobots across southern France before bumping into a G.I. Joe encampment; leery of their advanced weapons and unable to form Bruticus, the Combaticons retreated. Cobra/Con Fusion

Toys

The Transformers

Get to da choppa. I dare ya.

• Vortex (Combaticon, 1985/1986)
  • Team ID number: C4
  • Takara/GiG ID number: D-66
  • Accessories: semi-automatic glue gun, left & right cannons

The Transformers Vortex transforms into a Kaman SH-2 Seasprite helicopter. He is armed with a small, chin-mounted semi-automatic glue gun and two large, tri-barrel Gatling guns mounted astern on his tail.

In robot mode, Vortex is armed with his helicopter chin gun, and along with fellow Combaticon Blast Off, is one of the first Transformers figures to utilize ball-joints, located in his shoulders. The top of his helicopter mode (where his rotor attaches) is capable of rotating as part of his transformation so that the rotor can be mounted 'forwards' in vehicle mode but high on his back in robot mode. Many pictures of Vortex neglect this step, leaving him mistransformed and awkward looking in his helicopter form. Vortex normally becomes the left arm of Bruticus, but as a Scramble City-style design, he can also occupy any other limb slot on Bruticus.

There are a few variations of this toy. Initial releases of Vortex gave him a die-cast metal chestplate painted deep purple. Later releases replaced the metal with lighter-purple plastic. The plastic used on Vortex's inner arms, upper legs, and head is mildly prone to photodegradation. If yellowing does occur, it is very apt to shatter, usually at the right hand peg, shoulder joints, or the neck.

Vortex's left side cannon was retooled into the Action Master Over-Run's "rotary photon pulse laser cannon", which appropriately can be attached to his Attack Copter.

• More information on Vortex at TFU.info

• Bruticus (Gift set, 1985)
  • Takara ID number: D-69
  • Accessories: semi-automatic glue gun, left & right cannons

In addition to his single release, Vortex was also sold in a "Bruticus" giftset alongside the other Combaticons. The gift set was never available in the USA or Canada, but only in Japan and Italy.

In 1988, GiG also re-released the Bruticus set in Italy, with five random "Exogini Transformers" (Decoys) added.

• Decepticon Vortex (1991)
  • Accessories: semi-automatic glue gun, left & right cannons

In 1991, Vortex was re-released as part of the European "Classics" line; like many toys released in this series, Vortex was retooled to remove the rubsign indent from his vehicle mode.

Generation 2

• Vortex (Combaticon, 1994)
  • Team ID number: C4
  • Accessories: pistol, left & right cannons

During the Generation 2 line, Vortex was redecoed blue with purple camouflage paint. His weapons were also redecoed purple, and his chest was changed to a different shade of purple, making him totally inconspicuous.

• More information on Generation 2 Vortex at TFU.info

"I can chop you up with this blade or these blades. Decisions, decisions."

• Bruticus (Box set, 2012)
  • Accessories: 2 swords

• Known designers: Andrew Franks (deco artist)

Part of a giftset exclusive to Amazon and BigBadToyStore, this version of Vortex is a redeco of Generations Fall of Cybertron Vortex in Generation 2 colors. He can form any arm or leg of Bruticus, although his nominal placement is as the left arm, as usual.

This toy was retooled into Fall of Cybertron Autobot Whirl.

Universe (2008)

MY PSYCHO-COPTER GOES SOISOISOISOISOISOI

• Bruticus Maximus (2008)
  • Series: G1 Series
  • Accessories: quad blaster (hand/foot), Decepticon-type energon star

Universe Vortex is a redeco of the Energon Blackout/Stormcloud sculpt, transforming into a blue/gray assault helicopter somewhat similar to an AH-1 Cobra. "V-1" is tampographed on the right side of his cockpit. When combined with the other Combaticons, Vortex is nominally Bruticus Maximus' left arm, though he can be used in any other limb position.

He was only available as part of the Universe Bruticus Maximus giftset, which also contains Swindle, another redeco of the same sculpt used for Vortex. The Universe version of the giftset was initially intended to be released as a Target exclusive in the United States, but ultimately ended up being only available in some non-American markets such as Australia and Singapore. Instead, American markets eventually received a rebranded version of this giftset (with no changes to the toys themselves) in Revenge of the Fallen packaging (thereby creating new live-action film series Vortex and Swindle characters), exclusively available at Target stores in the United States and at Zellers stores in Canada.

This sculpt was also used to make Timelines Topspin, as well as the United versions of Vortex (see below) and Swindle. Another planned redeco, Movie Reverb, was canceled.

• More information on Universe Vortex at TFU.info

Transformers (campaign item)

And he doesn't take American Express.

• Destron Vorter (Micron, 2009)

A redeco of the Classics Mini-Con Divebomb, Vorter now transforms into an AH-64D Longbow Apache assault helicopter. As a Mini-Con, he has a "Powerlinx" socket on the underside of his vehicle mode, allowing him to attach to compatible toys.

Vorter was only available by signing up for a Transformers-themed Visa credit card through Pocket Card Co., Ltd. Vorter was sent to those who got the Decepticon-themed card, with Sling sent to those who get the Autobot card. Everyone braced for these being super-expensive to obtain on the secondary market, but in the end, apparently these got dumped to dealers in large numbers and now are among the cheapest of the Japanese promo Microns available.

This toy doubles as the separate Beast Wars: Uprising character Vorter, and this mold was also used to make Torque Gain and Universe Cloudraker and Crosshairs.

• More information on Henkei! Vorter at TFU.info

Encore

• Bruticus (2009)
  • ID number: 16

A reissue of the original G1 Vortex toy at first sight, this toy is actually a redeco of the Robots in Disguise Ro-Tor retool of the sculpt. This version of Vortex was only available as part of a Bruticus gift set released under TakaraTomy's Encore line of reissues.

Generations

• Vortex (Deluxe Class, 2012)
  • Series/number: 01/#006
  • PART 3 OF 5!
  • TakaraTomy ID number: TG04
  • TakaraTomy release date: January 26, 2013
  • Accessories: 2 swords

A redeco of Vortex from the Decepticon Bruticus gift set was available individually alongside his fellow Combaticons as part of the second wave of the Fall of Cybertron-themed 2012-onwards Deluxe Class Generations assortment. These versions of the Combaticons replace the game-accurate, Generation 1-inspired decoes with more "flashy" colors apparently homaging the color scheme of Bruticus Maximus. Vortex replaces the ocher and red colors from his gift set release with red and purple, with the swords' blades sporting paint operations in a lime-ish shade of yellow.

The Takara release of this figure features an altered palette: his red and purple paint job is swapped in favor of a metallic gold-and-dark red paint scheme. Interestingly enough, the Decepticon sigil on his midsection in robot mode is not a tampograph; it is a sticker.

Unsurprisingly for an Aligned toy inspired by Generation 1, Fall of Cybertron Vortex appeared in many Generation 1-based stories. The TakaraTomy deco of this toy appeared in the Transformers: All Spark manga series and the Transformers Cloud illustrated text stories. This toy also serves as a rough stand-in for Vortex's body in IDW Publishing's Windblade vol. 2 comic series.^[2]

• More information on retail Vortex at TFU.info

United

• Bruticus (November 7, 2012)
  • Accessories: quad blaster (hand/foot), Decepticon-type energon star

Released exclusively by TakaraTomy in non-Japanese Asian markets, this redeco of the Energon Bruticus Maximus set has colours similar to the previous Universe/Revenge of the Fallen release, but with a greater emphasis on G1-accuracy. Vortex's colour layout is similar to the previous releases, but has a darker, more G1-accurate blue-green. Additionally, the quad blaster/combined mode foot/hand previously cast in translucent coloured plastic is now opaque grey, though his energon star remains red.

Bot Shots

• Combaticons (Multi-pack, 2013?)
  • Number: T0??

• Known designers: Andrew Scribner (deco artist)

• • • Fist strength:
    • Blaster strength:
    • Sword strength: 828

Bot Shots Vortex transforms from tiny attack helicopter to robot when a sharp impact is applied to his front end. He was to be sold in a five-pack with Onslaught, Decepticon Brawl, Blast Off, and Swindle, but this never saw release. He would have been the only new mold in the set.

This was also to be used to make Bot Shots Protectobot Blades, who similarly went unreleased.

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

Kre-O

This thumbnail is three hundred p-ex!

• Rotor Rage (Kre-O set, 2012-ex)
  • Set number: 36959-ex
  • Pieces: 217-ex
  • Kreons: Vortex, ATV Driver, Commando-ex
  • Accessories: Clip-on rifle, "Dark Energon" torso piece-ex

Available with the "Rotor Rage" set, the "mega" Vortex build can be built as a robot or an assault helicopter with space for a single Kreon pilot-ex. In both modes he has a working winch and pressure-launch missiles-ex.

The Vortex Kreon in this set features chest printing based on Fall of Cybertron Vortex, although his pink torso and dark helmet suggest it was based on preliminary concept rather than the bright red of the finalized game model-ex. He also comes with an alternate clear-purple "Dark Energon" torso piece-ex. This piece was apparently intended to feature the Vortex tampographs at some point, but like all of the extra torsos in this year's assortment, it's been been left unimpressively blank-ex.

• More information on Rotor Rage Vortex at TFU.info-ex

It's Lord Vortech-ex!

• Decepticon Bruticus (Micro-Changer Combiner, 2013-ex)
  • Set number: A2225-ex
  • Pieces: 79-ex
  • Accessories: 2 clip-on rifles-ex

• Known designers: Ed Masiello (Hasbro)

A redecoed version of Vortex, based on his Generation 1 appearance, comes as part of the Bruticus Micro-Changer combiner set, and can be rebuilt from his robot mode into a helicopter-ex. Well, we say "rebuilt" but really you're doing little more than laying him face-down, swinging his arm-rifles to be landing skids, and then pegging one piece onto the leg as a tail-rotor-ex. He can also contribute his bricks to form Bruticus-ex.

The set also comes with Onslaught, Brawl, and Swindle-ex.

• More information on Micro-Changer Vortex at TFU.info-ex

• Combiner Robot Mega Pack (3-pack, 2016-ex)
  • Set number: ???-ex
  • Pieces: 245-ex

3 years later, the 3 Micro-Changer combiners, Superion, Bruticus, and Menasor were reissued and released as a 3-pack-ex. The toys were unchanged from their individual releases-ex.

Combiner Wars

Oh, quit whining. It's not like you guys didn't see me coming anyway.

• Decepticon Vortex (Deluxe Class, 2016)
  • Accessories: gun, double-barreled gun/fist/foot

Unsurprisingly, Combiner Wars "Decepticon Vortex" is a redeco of Combiner Wars Alpha Bravo. He transforms into a military attack helicopter and comes with two guns, one of which can transform into a foot or a hand.

Being a Combiner Wars figure, Vortex can combine with his fellow Combaticons to form Bruticus as either an arm or a leg. He can also combine with any Unite Warriors Voyager class figure or even into one of Legends Godbomber's legs.

Though Vortex's wave was scheduled for a first quarter 2016 release, it arrived on U.S. store shelves in late 2015.

Vortex comes with a copy of "Combiner Wars #1" (actually Robots in Disguise #8). In Canada, Latin America, and Europe, he was available in different types of multilingual packaging including a character card featuring his comic book cover/package art instead. In the USA, Vortex and the last three waves of Combiner Wars Deluxe and Voyager figures later showed up at TJ Maxx at reduced prices with the collector card.

• More information on Combiner Wars Vortex at TFU.info

Now this you didn't expect!

• Bruticus (Collection pack, 2016)
  • Accessories: Gun, double-barreled gun/fist/foot

A Generation 2-themed redeco of Combiner Wars Vortex was packed along with the other Combaticons (including Shockwave), and sold together in a massive box.

• More information on Combiner Wars Generation 2 Vortex at TFU.info

Unite Warriors

Putting the "X" back in Vortex.

• Bruticus (giftset, June 25, 2016)
  • ID number: UW-07
  • Accessories: gun, double-barreled gun/fist/foot

Takara's Unite Warriors iteration of Bruticus features "Vorter" as a redeco/retool of Alpha Bravo, with a new rotor that has four blades on it instead of just two. His new deco is patterned after his G1 cartoon appearance, swapping out the Hasbro version's multiple colors in favor of being mostly grey with bright blue on his thighs, arm missiles and chest, along with a few other matching blue paint apps on his legs/cockpit. Unite Warriors Vorter was sold only in a multi-pack with the other Combatrons.

Notes

• The character models of the Combaticons are kinda... okay, heavily made-up. Early models of the team which were a bit more accurate to the toys—except for the heads, oddly enough—have shown up in various sourcebooks, though Vortex's is still off in some very odd ways.

Vortex took Swindle for a little ride.

• Vortex's original Bio motto, "I'm Vortex, fly me - if you dare!" is a humorous reworking of a controversial 1971 National Airlines advertising campaign (created by F. William Free), where National's female flight attendants invited potential passengers to "fly" them. In Vortex's case, his offer leads to the Autobots' doom!
• In "Second Generation!", Vortex uses his seldom-used camouflage circuits to disguise himself as Blades. Either that, or Soundwave's letters page was covering for a stubbie colouring error. Perish the thought!^[3]
• The packaging of the 1990 European Classics release of the original Onslaught toy depicted the Combaticons in (mostly) new color schemes, despite the fact that the actual toys looked identical to their original releases. While it may never be known for certain, it has been theorized that these colors originated from a packaging printing error rather than a legitimate attempt to redeco the Combaticons.
• In the Wings of Honor continuity the Combaticons are swayed to the Decepticon side by Deathsaurus appealing to their darker natures, represented by one of the Seven Deadly Sins. Vortex's vice is his love of fine oil, most likely to represent Gluttony.
• As with all of the second-year "Quest for Energon" sets, Kre-O Vortex's alternate "Dark Energon" torso was apparently supposed to have his normal chest tampograph on it, but they all ended up blank-ex.
• In the Japanese online Kre-O manga, Vortex ends all of his sentences with the exclamation "-ex". This theoretically could lead to some very embarrassing verbal gaffes-ex... no ifs, ands, or bu-
• For no apparent reason, Vortex did not appear alongside the other Combaticons in IDW Publishing's 2012-2014 "season 1" of the Robots in Disguise comic series. The others did, redesigned as many series characters were after concept art for their counterparts in the War for Cybertron and Fall of Cybertron console games. Vortex finally returned to IDW continuity in 2015's Windblade vol. 2 #7, having the Generation 1 body but in his Fall of Cybertron color scheme. This would be revised in the next year's Till All Are One #1 to the team being unified as stylised drawings of Combiner Wars toy designs.

Foreign names

• Japanese: Vorter (ボルター Borutā), Vortex (ボーテックス Bōtekkusu)
• Mandarin: Xuàn Fēng (旋风 "Whirlwind")
• Russian: Vihr' (Вихрь, "Whirlwind")

References