Detritus (G1)

Detritus is a Junkion of variable allegiance from the Japanese portion of the Generation 1 continuity family.

Three easy payments, an offer you can't refuse.

Leaving his homeworld of Junkion behind, Detritus (デトライタス Detoraitasu) has become a mercenary, selling his services to either side of the Autobot/Decepticon conflict. Rumor has it that his appearance on the battlefield turns the tide of victory to the side that employs him... when in reality, Detritus simply bides his time until he is positive which side is likely to win anyway, then offers to join that side. Like all Junkions, Detritus is capable of repairing heavy damage to himself with whatever scrap metal he can get a hold of.

Detritus's ultimate goal is to use his earnings to build his own army and overthrow Wreck-Gar as the leader of the Junkions.^[1] At one point, he had hooked up with the Decepticons under the alias Roadmaster to make use of their stolen Power Core Combination technology.

Fiction

United EX

I live! I die! I live again!

Hired by the Decepticons to join the forces of their new Master Chaos sub-group, Detritus was upgraded into a new form with enhanced regenerative capabilities that allowed him to draw the scrap material his race could use to repair themselves to his body through magnetism, and supplied with the first team of Decepticon-created Power Core drones, the Road Drones.

Lurking in a landfill, the newly dubbed "Roadmaster" (ロードマスター Rōdomasutā) ambushed Jetmaster and Grimmaster as the two Autobots returned to their headquarters from Dinobot Island. Focusing his attention on Grimmaster, he halfheartedly tried to talk the former Decepticon into returning to the fold, but, upon being rebuffed, was all too happy to demonstrate his new drone force and improved regeneration abilities. Destruction and Regeneration

2005 IDW continuity

Getting a head start.

Detritus served as Wreck-Gar's valet, carrying the Junkion leader's detached head around via chain looped around Detritus's neck, wearing Wreck-Gar's noggin like an amulet as they met with visitors to Little Cybertron. Unstopped and Unstoppable

Toys

Collector's Edition

When Mr. Safety Catch Is Not On, Mr. Missile Launcher Is Not Your Friend.

• Detritus (2004)

• ID number: 77
• Accessories: "Phase Disruptor" rifle, "Beam Machinegun", missile launcher, 3 "armor-piercing rockets", spare tire, spare tank
• Known designers: Hirofumi Ichikawa (deco, Takara)

A redeco of the original Hound toy with the retooling from The Transformers Collection release, Collector's Edition Detritus transforms into a Mitsubishi J59 off-road vehicle. He came with an entirely new decal sheet to make him fit the Junkion aesthetic better, which also includes both Autobot and Decepticon faction sigils. He also lacks most of the chrome of the original version, retaining only the chrome on his headlamps. As a Japanese release, his spring-loaded missile launcher is fully operational. He was only available through online retailers e-HOBBY. The toy features facial hair; though hard to see, his face has a small, painted goatee.

The decals for this set are printed on glossy paper rather than foil, with a fairly weak adhesive. As such, the decals designed to fold around corners do not like to stay folded. Glue may be necessary. Furthermore, the troublesome sticker #10 from Hound's original sheet is similarly given as a long strip here, rather than as the two separate stickers intended to go on either side of his waist.^[2] You can cut it in half yourself if you like! Like with Hound, the instructions also incorrectly swap stickers #14 and #15 across the arms, so they don't fit properly.^[3]

Detritus's instruction sheet uses photos of the normal Hound toy for the step-by-step instructions. The "main" picture and decal application photos, however, use Detritus.

This toy shipped out in August of 2004.

• More information on Detritus at TFU.info

United EX

"Amazing t'ing, trouble. Always I go lookin' for trouble, an' when I find it people say it ain't dere."

• Roadmaster Prime Mode (2012)

• ID number: EX 03
• Release date: October 27, 2012
• Accessories: Junker Drone, Trasher Drone, Waster Drone, Scrapper Drone

Part of the second wave of United EX product (the eighth wave of United product in total), Roadmaster is a redeco of the Power Core Combiners Mudslinger toy, transforming into a monster truck of indeterminate model. He also has a "Prime Mode" where he becomes the torso of a super robot, capable of using any auto-transforming Power Core Combiner drone-machine molds for limbs.

He comes with four color-coordinated "wasteland" vehicle drone-limbs, redecos of the Destructicons. Each one has a square socket for a Power Core Combiner connection; when attached via the blue plugs on a Commander figure, the vehicles automatically transform into a super-robot limb, and snap back to vehicle mode when disconnected. Despite the universal connector, each drone can only form one limb type (but can be swapped from left to right):

• Junker Drone—Leg (Roadmaster's left)
• Trasher Drone—Leg (Roadmaster's right)
• Waster Drone—Arm (Roadmaster's left)
• Scrapper Drone—Arm (Roadmaster's right)

The drones are likely named after terms related to Junkion.

Care needs to be taken when transforming or even just moving Roadmaster's legs, as the tolerances are a bit too tight, leaving the thighs prone to breaking at the knee-socket due to thinner walls there. Though not shown in the instructions, his thighs need to be turned around completely so the small tabs on his outer thighs are repositioned inward for vehicle mode; leaving them out pushes out on the truck cab portions, keeping the truck mode from tabbing together securely. These issues affect all versions of this mold.

The back of the box accidentally labels Roadmaster as his wave-mate "Combatmaster" in English, but he's correctly attributed in Japanese.

Roadmaster's core mold was also used to make Salvage. The Junker and Trasher Drones were also used to make two of the Power Core Combiners Stunticon drones.

Legacy

“SYK: JUS’ SAY
‘AARRGHAARRGHPLEEASSENNONONOUGH.’”

• Detritus (Deluxe Class, 2023)

• TakaraTomy ID number: TL-54
• TakaraTomy release date: February 24, 2024
• Accessories: Rocket launcher, rocket, pistol
• Known designers: Evan Brooks (Hasbro)^[4]

Part of the seventh wave of Legacy Deluxes, Legacy: Evolution Detritus is a heavy retooling of Siege Hound, transforming into an unlicensed approximation of a Jeep. To reflect his status as an arms dealer, Detritus has both Autobot and Decepticon insignia printed on him, with only one being prominently visible in each mode: the Autobot symbol on his left shoulder, the Decepticon symbol on the hood of his vehicle mode. The toy's deco takes advantage of the shape of Hound's chin to create the impression of a small molded goatee, though his package art does not reflect this. His Evo-Fusion capability is combining his blasters to form a larger one, although all three weapons are clear plastic painted over, so this can cause sticking issues.

This tooling was also used to make Generations Selects Hound, and the rocket launcher and pistol accessories were previously used with Legacy: Evolution Toxitron Collection "G2 Universe Autobot Jazz".

Merchandise

Transformers Trading Card Game

”duh-trai-tuhs”

• Detritus, Arms Dealer (2019)
  • Wave 4: War for Cybertron: Siege II
  • Rarity: RT
  • Card Number: T05/T52
  • Stars: 11

Detritus, Arms Dealer is one of 52 character cards released in Wave 4 of the Transformers Trading Card Game, War for Cybertron: Siege II. Neither Autobot nor Decepticon, this Detritus is a member of the Mercenary faction introduced in the set.

The card features original artwork for both modes, with lines by Andrew Griffith and colors by María Ana Paolo.

Notes

• The United EX story does not explicitly say that Roadmaster is Detritus, but that's about the only way it doesn't connect the two.

References

External links

• e-HOBBY Detritus toy article at TF-1.com
• Roadmaster's box-back translated at Allspark.com (via the Internet Archive)