Grax

Grax is a Decepticon-allied Nebulan Headmaster from the Generation 1 continuity family.

A ruthless businessman and industrialist, Grax was willing to do whatever it took to solidify his place at the top of Nebulan business world. Not that he needed much convincing to undergo the binary bonding process to combine with Skullcruncher in order to eliminate his business rivals, the Decepticon methods of utterly and cruelly absorbing all foes were just more literally bloody versions of Grax's own. Skullcruncher didn't see the similarity though, Nebulan corporate types were barely even a snack...

Grax adds considerably to the somewhat slow mind of Skullcruncher, which admittedly isn't hard, but still finds most of his suggestions ignored unless they involve either eating the corpses of your enemies or inventive noises to make when grinding your teeth.

Grax's nature varies. In some universes he is an organic Nebulan; in others he is a robotic Cybertronian.

Fiction

Marvel The Transformers comics

Grax began as an industrialist and lackey of Lord Zarak. In order to push Zarak's anti-robot agenda on Nebulos, he had some hired thugs instigate a riot during the Nebulan demonstrations against the Autobots. After their partner, Vorath, copied some Cybertronian transmission signals, Grax also had one of his communications complexes in the remote Plains of Thok completely retrofitted to serve as an intergalactic broadcasting antenna. Unfortunately for them, Zarak's group was successful in reaching other Cybertronians—Scorponok and the Decepticons arrived in Thok, taking Grax, Zarak and the other Nebulans captive while they began their campaign against Fortress Maximus's Autobots. Broken Glass! After a series of failures against the new Autobot Headmasters, however, Scorponok agreed to form a partnership with Lord Zarak, duplicating the procedure with his Decepticons. Grax was binary bonded to one of Scorponok's top operatives, Skullcruncher. In their combined form, Grax/Skullcruncher participated in an ambush against Fortress Maximus's soldiers, tackling the Autobot leader alongside Monzo/Weirdwolf. Though they were largely ineffectual in the battle themselves, the rest of the Decepticons managed to secure a victory over the Autobots. Love and Steel! Impressed with his newfound power, Grax considered using it to wipe out his business competitors on Nebulos. Brothers in Armor!!

After Ratbat voiced his disgust for organics during a meeting between his troops and those serving under Scorponok, the latter took offense at the comment. He had Zarak reveal his human form to show Ratbat that he was in fact dealing with the very kind of life form he abhorred, with Grax and the other Decepticon Headmasters following suit. Cold War!

The Transformers cartoon

Voice actor: Milt Jamin (English), Eiji Itō (Japanese), Gerd Wiedenhofen (German)

Grax was among several Hive members who were rebuilt as Headmasters in order to match the firepower of the Hive's rivals and their new Autobot allies. Despite the new power and mobility granted to him as a Headmaster, Grax wondered if it was a bad investment after seeing the slovenly Skullcruncher he was to bond with. The Rebirth, Part 2

Galvatron was not amused when the Decepticons returned to Cybertron and revealed Grax and the Hive were their new partners. The Rebirth, Part 3

Swamp of the Scorpion

Grax was under the command of Lord Zarak when the later planned to steal Nebulos's oil supply. Stationed deep within Nebulos's jungle-swamp, Grax and the Decepticons ran into opposition in the form of a young Nebulan and the Autobot Highbrow. Which side of the conflict emerged victorious depended on the decisions you made! Swamp of the Scorpion

Ask Vector Prime

In Primax 1086.0 Kappa, Grax was an ally of Mortilus Zarak and allowed him use of an industrial facility for experimentation on Transformers defeated by the Nebulans decades ago. Ask Vector Prime, 2015/06/11

Titans Return marketing material

An ancient Titan Master, Grax could mask the energy signature of whomever he bonded to, granting invisibility. When the Titan Masters joined the modern Autobot-Decepticon conflict, Grax was partnered with Skullsmasher. Titans Return Grax/Skullsmasher toy bio Grax, Skullsmasher, and Rot-Gut travelled to Caminus, where they stole some secret Autobot codes. Pursued by Blaster, Stripes, and Rewind, the Decepticons eluded their pursuers by having Rot-Gut combine with Skullsmasher's body. Rot-Gut imparted his power onto Skullsmasher, allowing Skullsmasher to fire a cloud of toxic rust from his blaster. Grax was later present as Skullsmasher's head during a Decepticon assault led by Soundwave on Cybertron. Titans Return: The Power of the Titan Masters

Commercial appearances

• After several Transformers blasted their way to the planet Nebulon, they were forced to surrender to the locals. Grax was one of several Nebulons who fused with a Cybertronian partner, so that the war between Autobots and Decepticons could resume on their world. Headmaster comic book commercial
• Grax, Vorath, and Monzo rode atop of their Decepticon partners into battle, coming to blows against their Autobot-allied counterparts in the middle of a Nebulan city. Headmasters commercial
• Grax watched over Skullcruncher's training at the Decepticon Headmasters' secret base. There, he had his Decepticon partner smash stone sculptures of their Autobot enemies. Decepticon Headmasters commercial

Games

Transformers Roleplaying Game

Grax was a ruthless businessman who formed a binary bond with the brutish Decepticon Skullcruncher. Despite their differing origins and personalities, they both delighted in destroying competitors. The Enigma of Combination

Toys

The Transformers

I got GPS on my face!!!

• Skullcruncher with Grax (Headmaster, 1987)

Released in the fourth year of Hasbro's US The Transformers toyline (third year in Europe and in Takara's Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers line), Headmaster Grax transforms from an armored humanoid into a robot head. Though he only came with his partner Skullcruncher, in head mode he is compatible with any other Headmaster body. On the larger Headmasters, he gives three of Skullcruncher's Tech Spec stats in their display window, but the smaller ones still display their normal heads' stats due to their construction.

• More information on Grax at TFU.info

Titans Return

The crocodile rider. Or the alligator rider. Either way, it's still kickass.

• Grax & Skullsmasher (Deluxe Class, 2016)

• Known designers: John Warden (Hasbro), Emiliano Santalucia (concept artist)

Only available with his larger partner Skullsmasher, Grax was released as part of the first wave of Titans Return Deluxe Class toys. He can either ride Skullsmasher in his beast mode, or form his head in his robot mode, or, for that matter, form the head of any other Deluxe, Voyager, or Leader Class figure from the same line.

Grax was retooled to make Titans Return Gatorface, and redecoed in Japan to make Legends Grax, the small Headmaster stage of Legends Skull.

Retro Headmasters

• Skullcruncher (Deluxe Class, 2021)

Released as part of the Retro Headmasters line, Grax is a redeco of the Titans Return toy once again, this time utilizing the Headmasters anime face from the Legends release of Skullcruncher. He even comes in a window-box that looks as much like the original toy's box as legally possible.

Along with the rest of the Retro Headmasters toys, Skullcruncher was a Walmart exclusive in Canada and the US, and was also sold exclusively at The Warehouse and Toyworld in New Zealand.

Merchandise

Transformers Trading Card Game

• Grax (2020)
  • Wave 5: Titan Masters Attack
  • Rarity: RT
  • Card Number: T24/T46
  • Stars: 3

This card's set was originally set for an April 2020 release, however due to the global COVID-19 pandemic the release was pushed back to May 29, 2020.

Notes

Foreign names

• Japanese: Grax (グラックス Gurakkusu)