Decepticon insignia from the 2007 Transformers movie

The Decepticons (known as Destrons or on occasion Deathtrons in Japan) are the enemies of the Autobots, and the villains in the fictional universe of the Transformers toyline and related comics and cartoons. The villains take many forms, and have many different origins and stories across the numerous different Transformers media, but in almost all incarnations, they are led by Megatron. They are typically represented by the colour purple. Kamen Rider V3 ), Masked Rider V3 in English, is a Japanese tokusatsu television series. ... Destron is the name of an evil organization from Kamen Rider V3. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Transformers is a 2007 live action film based on the Transformers franchise, directed by Michael Bay and executive produced by Steven Spielberg. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For other uses of the term, see Villain (disambiguation). ... A fictional universe is an imaginary world that serves as the setting or backdrop for one or (more commonly) multiple works of fiction or translatable non-fiction. ... Various Transformers toys. ... Megatron is the primary fictional villain of the Transformers franchise throughout the various Generation 1 series. ...

Other terms for the Decepticons are Decepticans (in France), Distructors (in Italy), Robotikus (in Malaysia) and Bedragarna (in Sweden).

Generation One

Animated series

The Decepticons: from l-r Starscream, Megatron, Soundwave, Rumble and Skywarp.

In the original animated series continuity, the Decepticons owe their warlike ways to their faction's origin as military hardware robots, created by the five-faced aliens, the Quintessons, while the Autobots were designed as consumer goods. Following the rebellion that forced the Quintessons off the planet, the Decepticons - as they named themselves - lusting for power, began a civil war. The Autobots could not hope to match the superior firepower and battlefield powers of the Decepticons, and instead turned to stealth, developing the art of transformation, modifying their bodies so that they could assume other forms. With this additional power, the Autobots were able to win the conflict, and a period of peace began, known as the Golden Age of Cybertron, when energy was plentiful and the planet shone with a golden hue. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Starscream is a Decepticon (or sometimes Predacon) in the various fictional Transformers universes. ... Megatron is the primary fictional villain of the Transformers franchise throughout the various Generation 1 series. ... Soundwave is the name of three fictional characters from the Transformers universes. ... Rumble is a fictional character in the Transformers toyline. ... Skywarp is the name of several fictional characters in the Transformers toyline. ... Textual & Visual Quintesson Guide Quintesson Judge Inquirata (Quintesson scientist) prosecutor Quintesson Quintesson Guard Quintessons in the fictional Transformer Generation 1 cartoon continuum are cybernetic beings that are responsible for creating the Transformers. ...

Working in secret, the Decepticons also developed transformation technology, along with new robot-mode flight powers, and, under the command of one of the first of this new breed, Megatron, they attacked one of the capital's outer cities, killing the current Autobot leader. As the knowledge of this act was not made public, younger robots continued to idolise these powerful new flying robots - until one such young robot, Orion Pax, was duped by Megatron into allowing him access to an energy storage facility. Megatron turned on Pax and fatally injured him, but the ancient Autobot, Alpha Trion, then rebuilt Pax into the first of a new, battle-hardy breed of Autobot - now, he was Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots, who led them against Megatron and the Decepticons as the civil war erupted once more. Megatron is the primary fictional villain of the Transformers franchise throughout the various Generation 1 series. ... Orion Pax In the Transformers cartoons, Orion Pax was the original form of the robot who would one day become Optimus Prime. ... Alpha Trion circa 1985 Alpha Trion circa 9m BC A3 circa 11m BC Alpha Trion is a fictional character in the Transformers animated series. ... This article or section contains a plot summary that is overly long. ...

After five million years, Cybertron was nearly depleted of all its energy until the Decepticons received word that the Autobots were planning to search for new energy resources. Following the Autobot ship Ark in the ship Nemesis, the Decepticon engaged the Autobots in their ship. Unfortunately, they drifted too close to Earth and crashed landed in a volcano. All the occupants of the Ark went into emergency stasis, while the Decepticons on the Nemesis ejected to South America. There, they scanned the forms of local insects, becoming the Insecticons. After 4 million years, the volcano the Ark was wedged in, erupted in Earth year 1984, restarting its computer, Teletraan I. Sending out Spy Satellites, Teletraan created alternative forms out of Earth vehicles for any transformers caught in its scanning beam. The Decepticons awakened first but later the Autobots did too, thanks to Starscream.

By the Earth year 2005, however, the Decepticons had succeeded in completely conquering Cybertron, but the attack by Unicron, coupled with the temporary loss of Galvatron (a reconstructed Megatron) in that same year shattered their forces, allowing the Autobots to reclaim their home planet and rout their foes. The Decepticons fled to the planet Chaar, a world of ash and ruin, where they struggled to survive until Galvatron returned to them and reorganized them into a fighting force, battling to take back Cybertron. Unicron is a fictional character from the Transformers universes and toyline. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Chaar (in Japan, Jarr) is a fictional planet in the Transformers series. ...

The Decepticon faction logo as seen in the cartoon series is slightly different than its appearance in every other incarnation of the Transformers. There is an extra spire on the "forehead" of the symbol (resulting in the "forehead" having three spires instead of the usual two). This is because the chromed, "3-D" version of the symbol featured the spot between the two spires going off into the distance, which looked like a third spire, if you weren't considering the image's 3-D nature. Also on the cartoon series, the Decepticons had red eyes, while the Autobots had blue eyes.

Marvel Comics

In the Marvel comic continuity, it was established that the Decepticons came out of the gladiator pits on Cybertron. Early on, the Decepticons had numerous leaders as its leadership was constantly changing due to Decepticons constantly killing their leaders so that they could replace them. It would not be until a lowly Decepticon affiliated gladiator named Megatron assumed the throne that the Decepticons became a true threat to the rest of the population of Cybertron.

While Megatron was the primary leader, other Decepticons had prominent roles as leaders of the group. Shockwave, Scorponok, Bludgeon, and Ratbat all led the Decepticons, often overthrowing Megatron in the process or taking over the group during the period when Megatron was believed dead. Shockwave (Laserwave in Japan) is the name of several fictional characters in the various Transformers universes, usually belonging to the Decepticons. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Bludgeon is the name given to two fictional characters in the Transformers Universes. ... Ratbat is a Decepticon character in the fictional Transformers series. ...

In the G2 Marvel series (which continues from the G1 Marvel series), it is stated that the Decepticon forces on Cybertron underwent a massive split in the wake of Megatron's disappearance when Megatron, Optimus Prime, and their respective troops crashed on Earth. The smartest, strongest, and most intelligent Decepticons left Cybertron to colonize nearby galaxies, leaving a token leadership of overly cruel and duplicitous Decepticons to control Cybertron. These Decepticons who left their homeworld became "The Second Generation" Decepticons, who were led by the villainous Liege Maximo. On the final page of the last issue, the Liege Maximo indicates that the Decepticons and all their descendants came from him, which indicates that he is the original founder of the Decepticons. In the Transformers Generation Two comic book world, The Liege Maximo was the father of the Decepticons; He was a counterpart to the Prime line, and symbolized all a Decepticon should want to be. ...

Dreamwave Productions

Megatron, by Pat Lee

While keeping with the Marvel continuity that states that the Transformers evolve from the will of Primus (a godlike figure whose material body is Cybertron itself), Dreamwave portrays the Decepticons as a militant group that ultimately gains control over Cybertron through a coup staged against the ruling body of Transformers. In Dreamwave continuity, Megatron--an icon in Cybertronian gladiatorial combat--is the true founder and leader of the Decepticons, having stoked dissatisfaction with the Autobot High Council for not revealing the "true" conquest-oriented nature of Cybertronians. His army consisting of fellow like-minded Transformers, brought to his cause through skillful and charismatic rhetoric and propaganda. To further their military strength and prowess, many of those who joined his cause were subjected to highly painful reformatting processes that enhanced their strength and gave them self-propelled flight capabilities (although some Decepticons, such as Thundercracker already possessed such traits). Image File history File links Download high resolution version (449x619, 82 KB)Artwork by Pat Lee from Dreamwave Productions, images acquired from http://www. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (449x619, 82 KB)Artwork by Pat Lee from Dreamwave Productions, images acquired from http://www. ... Various Transformers toys. ... Primus is the benevolent godlike entity in the fictional Transformers comic universe who fought against the Chaos-Bringer Unicron. ... Cybertron from the original cartoon series Cybertron is the home world of the Autobots and Decepticons in the assorted stories in the fictional Transformers universes. ... Dreamwave Productions is a Canadian art design studio and comic book publisher, best known for their multiple Transformers comic book series. ... Thundercracker is the name given to multiple fictional characters in the Transformers Universes. ...

Megatron is at the center of the Decepticon movement, leading with an iron fist and the use of violence against any Decepticon who dares to question Megatron's leadership. However, not all Decepticons follow Megatron. One of which, Shockwave, ultimately takes over when Megatron is presumed dead. Shockwave attempts to make peace with the Autobots but is stopped by a combination of Starscream's splinter Predacon faction and Megatron, who upon his return to Cybertron goes about enslaving the entire Autobot population of Cybertron as slave labor with help from an army of mindless "Seeker" drones. The details of this massive victory were to be the plot of "The War Within III" but due to Dreamwave Comics going out of business, the series ended as a small group of Autobots lead by Blaster escaped enslavement and began a rebellion against the Decepticons. Shockwave (Laserwave in Japan) is the name of several fictional characters in the various Transformers universes, usually belonging to the Decepticons. ... Starscream is a Decepticon (or sometimes Predacon) in the various fictional Transformers universes. ... The Predacons are one of the many factions in the fictional Transformers Universes. ... Seeker Skywarp holding Megatron on the television series. ... Blaster (Broadcast in Japan, Tempo in France, Radiorobot in Italy) is the communications center of the Autobots in the Transformers television and comic series based on the popular toy line produced by Takara and Hasbro. ...

Ultimately, Megatron is overthown and is stranded on Earth with Optimus Prime and a small selection of Autobots. Shockwave resumes control over Cybertron as the entire planet and Transformers population entered the "Great Shutdown". Shockwave was the first to awaken after this lengthy period of deactivation and discovered shocking information about the Transformers species. Ultimately the rest of the Decepticons and Autobots woke up and with Shockwave's help, the two sides reconciled. However this was all a part of Shockwave's plans to turn the entire Transformers race into a war-mongering species. Shockwave revealed that Primus specifically built Transformers for two different purposes: warriors and domestic forces. The Decepticons, in Shockwave's mind, were built with the purpose of conquering worlds while the Autobots were built to defend conquered territories. Shockwave was defeated and left for dead when he sought to destroy Megatron and Optimus Prime. Since then, Megatron has reclaimed control over Cybertron's Decepticon forces. However, with the bankruptcy of Dreamwave it is likely this story will never be finished.

IDW Publishing

In IDW Publishing's new Transformers continuity, there are a number of differences to the traditional norm. The Decepticons are no longer based on Cybertron due to its devastation by rogue scientist Thunderwing. Instead, they have spread out through the galaxy, using their transforming abilities to infiltrate target worlds (such as Earth or Nebulos) disguised as local vehicles and equipment. They then use their modes to foment conflict, leading to complete anarchy as the world's political and social systems collapse. The Decepticons then move in and harvest the world's raw resources. How the world is pacified is unknown, although the The Transformers: Spotlight issue on Sixshot revealed he is often sent in to complete the destruction of entire worlds. As in other continuities, Megatron is in command, and thus far has had to deal with the rebellion of Starscream's Earth infiltration unit and the reemergence of Thunderwing, as well as moving on to Earth in order to harvest the extremely powerful Energon variant Ore-13, something which promises to give the Decepticons a significant edge over the Autobots. IDW Publishing (a division of Idea and Design Works) is an American comic book company. ... Thunderwing is a Decepticon Pretender in the Transformers toyline. ... G1 Sixshot packaging artwork Sixshot is the name of to two fictional characters from the various Transformers universes. ... Starscream is a Decepticon (or sometimes Predacon) in the various fictional Transformers universes. ... Energon is the primary source of power for the Transformers. ...

In addition, the forthcoming miniseries The Transformers: Megatron: Origin will not only detail how Megatron rose to power, but show how the Decepticons were formed as well. [1]

Robots in Disguise

Scourge (Black Convoy), leader of the Decepticons

In this continuity, the Decepticons were not the name of the evil faction, but rather a sub-faction created by Megatron. Realising that their ability to travel as Earth vehicles gave the Autobots an edge in stealth (whereas the Predacons mostly transformed into mechanical animals) Megatron decided to take drastic action. Image File history File links Scourgebc. ... Image File history File links Scourgebc. ... Megatron (known as Gigatron in Japan) was the merciless leader of the Predacons (Destrongers), including Sky-Byte, Slapper, Darkscream and Gas Skunk, in Transformers: Robots in Disguise. ...

Megatron recovered the protoforms of six Autobots that had crashed to Earth some time before looking for Fortress Maximus. Scanning them with vehicle modes at a military base and infusing them with a fraction of his spark energy to ensure their new loyalty, the first five became the Commandos. But when Megatron tried to scan a tanker truck as an alternate mode for the leader Scourge, Optimus Prime was scanned as well, resulting in much of Prime's personality being scanned as well. With an infusion of Megatron's spark energy to complete the concoction, Scourge was born, emerging from his pod as a dark twin of Optimus Prime, who proved that Megatron's programming had over-ridden any Autobot goodness within him. Appointed leader of the new "Decepticons," they quickly established themselves as a force to be reckoned with. Fortress Maximus Fortress Maximus is a fictional character from several of the Transformers series. ... The Commandos are a group of Decepticons military vehicles in the Transformers: Robots In Disguise and Transformers: Universe series. ... Scourge is the name of four fictional characters from the Transformers universes. ... Robots in Disguise (Car Robots) RiD Optimus Prime Main article: Optimus Prime In this stand-alone alternate continuity, Optimus Prime - called Fire Convoy in Japan - leads the Autobots in a secret campaign. ...

The newly created Decepticons would try many schemes over the course of the series, including attacking various dams and faking their defection to the Autobots. But their leader, Scourge, had grander ambitions in mind. The copy of Optimus' personality had been warped by Megatron's evil influence, but the individuality of Optimus remained and Scourge now wanted to control both Predacons and Decepticons. He would seize his chance when Fortress Maximus was awakened, directing him to destroy Galvatron (Megatron's new form). The attempt failed and Galvatron took a terrible revenge - he stripped the Decepticons of their individuality, turning them into little more than drones. After Galvatron's defeat by Omega Prime, the Decepticons were among those sent back to Cybertron for imprisonment. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Transformers: Robots in Disguise Omega Primes face. ...

Transformers: Universe

In the BotCon exclusive Transformers: Universe storyline, following on from the end of Beast Machines, the Decepticon name would once again be used to represent the evil faction of the story. However, these Decepticons had few links with their G1 predecessors - here they were an army of evil Transformers from across the multiverse assembled by the crippled hulk of the Dark God Unicron. Led by Razorclaw (a twisted alternate version of Tigerhawk) they took the name of one of the ancient factions in the Great War - the Decepticons. However, they were unaware that their war with the Autobots (assembled by Primus and led by Optimus Primal) served to repower Unicron as he consumed their energy and Sparks. The Universe storyline finished after the third issue, but a resolution would be found in issue #8 of the Collector's Club Comic, which revealed in flashback that, in the midst of a final battle, Unicron had disappeared (due to his destruction in Transformers: Energon), and most of the Decepticons were destroyed with him. Display cases for upcoming Transformers at BotCon 2006 BotCon, briefly known as The Official Transformers Collectors Convention (or OTFCC), is an annual convention for Transformers fans and collectors. ... Beast Machines was an animated television series produced by Mainframe Entertainment that was a direct sequel to Beast Wars and is the final television series to take place within the continuity of the original Transformers series. ... Unicron is a fictional character from the Transformers universes and toyline. ... Razorclaw is the name of several characters in the in the Transformers series. ... This does not cite its references or sources. ... Primus is the benevolent godlike entity in the fictional Transformers comic universe who fought against the Chaos-Bringer Unicron. ... Optimus Primal (Convoy, later Beast Convoy to differentiate him from the original Convoy, Blackjack in some European markets) is a fictional character from the Transformers toyline, and the leader of the Maximal forces and the main protagonist in the Beast Wars television series. ...

2007 Movie

The Decepticons make an appearance in the 2007 Transformers film. The Movie Prequel comic by IDW Publishing would reveal their origins. Originally Optimus Prime and Megatron ruled Cybertron together, due to the power of the Allspark, a mysterious device that could give life to Transformers - and keep Cybertron itself alive. Eventually, Megatron began to desire its power for himself and assembled a like-minded army of separatists - the Decepticons. Megatron soon struck, and Cybertron became embroiled in civil war. The subsequent prequel novel Transformers: Ghosts of Yesterday revealed that Starscream seized command of the Decepticons after Megatron's disappearance. Transformers is a 2007 live action film based on the Transformers franchise, directed by Michael Bay and executive produced by Steven Spielberg. ... IDW Publishing (a division of Idea and Design Works) is an American comic book company. ... The AllSpark is the Transformers afterlife, a term from the Beast Machines animated series, comprising part of the Transformers universe. ... Starscream is a Decepticon (or sometimes Predacon) in the various fictional Transformers universes. ...

Popular Culture

• If you look closely at the Decepticons Logo and the Autobots symbols together, it is fairly safe to assume that both logos came from one place, because a Decepticon symbol has sharper-drawn derivitives such as the four rectangular holes on the "forehead", the middle of the top of the head, etc., with a slightly different design.

• Despite being the villains, the Decepticons are very popular. Part of their popularity comes from having many more memorable personalities within their ranks than their Autobot foes. Examples include the eternally depressed Stunticon Dead End, the 'one robot Black Market' Swindle of the Combaticons, street thug Rumble, the ever-loyal Soundwave and the legendary traitor Starscream.

• Most memorable amongst the Decepticons is the fact that, because of their various personalities, there is constant conflict amongst each other, and as a result usually leads to the failure of a mission or physical confrontations amongst each other which causes the failure of a mission. A good example of this is Starscream's constant conflict with Megatron over leadership skills and how things should be done.

• Unlike the Autobots, the Decepticons have many sub-groups that could be seen as special forces units. For example, the Horrorcons are two very powerful Headmasters and Triple Changers that are paired up as interceptors. The Stunticons are presumably ground combat experts and the Combaticons are famous for being the most overtly militarily-oriented unit of the original Transformers line.

• According to Gangs in Greenhaven Press’ Opposing Viewpoints series the Decepticons inspired at least one real life criminal group. In the essay “A Need for Power and Respect Encourages Gang Behavior,” Isis Sap Grant recalls joining the Decepticons and that the “name was inspired by a silly Saturday morning cartoon, Transformers, which pitted the Decepticons, who were the bad guys against the Autobots, who were the law enforcers.” Formed in the early 1980s at a New York City high school, Brooklyn Tech, the gang leader, “Derek,” renamed himself Megatron and the school Cybertron. According to Isis-Sap Grant, Derek has since been shot in the head and paralyzed.

• The New Zealand Hip-Hop group The Deceptikonz are named after The Decepticons. Some of their early merchandising (such as T-Shirts) featured the Decepticon insignia as homage to their villainous counterparts.

• Referred to in the song Smooth Operator by Big Daddy Kane: "Flow and go to a slow tempo and you know / sing hoe, swing low, then yo the show / will go on, as I perform / Transformin on stage like a Decepticon/You don't even wan' know what kinda drugs I'm on/You may think I'm the ugly duckling but honey I'm the swan/My armor is slick and shiny like an aluminum pelt/but look twice you'll see scales as I wear a snake for a belt"

The Stunticons are a group of Decepticons feared for their psychotic behavior that have the capability to do death-defying vehicular stunts and wreak havoc on the streets. ... Dead End is the name of several characters in the Transformers toyline and universes. ... Swindle is the name given to five different fictional characters in the Transformers universes. ... The Combaticons toy packaging art The Combaticons (known as the Combatrons in Japan) are a group of Decepticon military vehicles in the assorted fictional universes of the Transformers. ... Rumble is a fictional character in the Transformers toyline. ... Soundwave is the name of three fictional characters from the Transformers universes. ... Starscream is a Decepticon (or sometimes Predacon) in the various fictional Transformers universes. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Headmasters are a sub-group of characters from the Transformers meta-series, distinguished by their ability to detach their heads when transforming into their alternate modes, with the heads then transforming themselves into a humanoid form. ... Triple Changers (Tripletrons in Japan) are Transformers that can transform from robot into two different vehicles. ... The Opposing Viewpoints Series is a series of books on current issues which seeks to explore the varying opinions in a balanced pros/cons debate. ... Brooklyn Technical High School is one of three primary high schools making up the specialized science circuit in New York City, the other two being Stuyvesant High School and the Bronx High School of Science. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Hip hop music. ... The Decepticonz were a ska-punk band performing in the early 90s with a large following in the Washington, DC/Northern VA area. ... Antonio Hardy (born September 10, 1968), better known by his stage name Big Daddy Kane, is a rapper from the Bed-Stuy section of Brooklyn, New York. ...

See also

• List of Decepticons