Hightower (Universe Ultra)

Hightower is a Decepticon from the 2001 Robots in Disguise continuity family (via the 2003 Universe toyline).

"I was a florist. You know, flowers an' slag."

Hightower is one of four Decepticons who combine into the mighty Devastator. He is a snobbish, supercilious, unpopular perfectionist who feels demeaned to have to associate with the other Constructicons.

Fiction

Ask Vector Prime

In Viron 704.31 Epsilon, Hightower was created when Build Cyclone was reformatted by Megazarak's Robo-Smasher. The Build Team was ego-wiped and implanted with shell programs drawn from old Predacon personality components. On the eve of an important battle, members of both sides of the war, including the Constructicons, were snatched away by Unicron to participate in the Universe War. Ask Vector Prime, 2015/07/30

Toys

Universe (2003)

• Long Haul & Hightower (Ultra Class 2-pack, 2006)

• Accessories: Pistol, crane-cannon
• Known designers: Marcelo Matere (packaging artist)

A redeco of the Robots in Disguise Deluxe Class Hightower mold, Hightower transforms into a crane truck. His crane-boom detaches to form a massive cannon with flip-out barrel. His small hand-held pistol stores in his boom-operator's compartment. He can form both arms (simultaneously) or either leg of the team's combined Devastator super robot mode.

This set was originally slated to be available as part of the Universe line's general retail Ultra assortment, but the sudden discontinuation of Universe as a general retail line resulted in a large amount of already produced sets taking up space in one of Hasbro's warehouses. Hasbro eventually struck a deal with Target, who agreed to pick up this set as an exclusive, along with the two other canceled Universe Ultra two-packs of Overbite/Repugnus. and Bonecrusher/Scavenger.

• More information on Hightower at TFU.info

Notes

• As with the contemporaneous Universe Micromaster, it is highly likely that Hightower's name came about due to Hasbro's inability to secure the trademark for "Hook" in the mid-2000s, in light of the Generation 1 naming theme otherwise present in Hightower's teammates.
• Rather cleverly, the Facebook edition of Ask Vector Prime used the Autobot Hightower's Japanese name for the Decepticon Hightower's old identity, thus obviating the need to explain why "Hightower" didn't change his name upon being brainwashed.