Skywarp (BW)

Skywarp is a Maximal from the Beast Wars II portion of the Generation 1 continuity family.

Recognizable as the one who does not push people down stairs.

Skywarp (スカイワープ Sukaiwāpu) isn't necessarily a stuffy stick-in-the-mud, but he's certainly not the life of the party. A decorated and dignified teacher on Cybertron, his primary interest is to mold young Maximals into the scholars and warriors of the future. As such, Skywarp was presented with perhaps his greatest challenge: the wild and rebellious Lio Junior. Together with Santon, Skywarp has made it his mission to shape the disrespectful little brat into the spitting image of Lio Convoy. Lucky for Skywarp, he's as patient as he is boring.

Skywarp's expertise resides in aerial combat and technical innovation, particularly in the field of electronics. Together with Lio Junior and Santon, he can combine to form the mighty Magnaboss.

Fiction

Cartoon continuity

Beast Wars II cartoon

Voice actor: Mantarō Iwao (Japanese)

Skywarp and his partner Santon were sent to Gaia with information about the artificial planet, Nemesis. They intended to warn Lio Convoy about Galvatron's secret weapon. On their journey, they also detected a new powerful lifeform emerging on Gaia. This lifeform, the Maximal cub Lio Junior, was created through a duplication of Lio Convoy's Energon Matrix. Upon their arrival, Santon and Skywarp found Lio Convoy and Lio Junior in battle with Galvatron. Through forced fusion, they created the combiner Magnaboss with Lio Junior, giving him an outlet for his great energies. Enter Lio Junior

After Magnaboss dispatched Galvatron, Santon and Skywarp explained their mission to Lio Convoy and told him about Nemesis. They also acted as go-betweens in the contentious relationship between Lio Convoy and Lio Junior. As Convoy and Junior patched things up, the combined Magnaboss helped Lio Convoy temporarily defeat Gigastorm, the new Angolmois Energy-powered version of Megastorm. Megastorm Reborn Gigastorm remained a powerful foe, however, so Lio Junior and his team joined the Maximals in a new operation to eliminate him. They lured Gigastorm into an unstable area and intended to bury him in a collapsed mountain pass. Gigastorm survived their best efforts, though. The New Weapon, Tako Tank

While reviewing his machinations, Galvatron recalled Skywarp's arrival on Gaia and his first encounter with Magnaboss. The Artificial Planet Nemesis

Santon and Skywarp reviewed strategy with Lio Convoy and Apache over the upcoming threat of Nemesis. In their absence, Lio Junior detected a nearby Angolmois Energy mining operation and led the other Maximals into an impulsive raid. Skywarp and the others were forced to join the ill-advised raid when they heard of Lio Junior's attack, and were nearly destroyed when Nemesis rained down fire from above and destroyed the base with them still inside. Still, the Maximals survived the assault, and Skywarp's team formed Magnaboss in the aftermath to battle the Predacons. Gigastorm's Treachery

When Lio Junior got it in his head to jump into a pit of Angolmois Energy and hope for a power-up, Santon and Skywarp raced to stop him. They warned Lio Junior that his pure Angolmois Energy might not react well with the corrupted Angolmois Energy affected by Nemesis. At the same pit, Starscream and BB fell into the Angolmois Energy and emerged as corrupted Cyborg Beasts. Hellscream and Max-B proved to be formidable opponents, even holding their own against Skywarp's team in their Magnaboss form. The End of Starscream After laughing off a kidnapping attempt by Dirge and Thrust, Skywarp and his friends encountered a more serious threat when the duo evolved into Dirgegun and Thrustor via Angolmois Energy. They found Scuba frozen solid in a block of ice by Thruster's Trasher Horn. Santon and Skywarp stayed behind to help Scuba while Lio Junior raced to warn Lio Convoy. The Lio Convoy Assassination Plot

After being dispatched to secure the site of a mysterious falling object, Santon and Skywarp grew upset with Lio Junior's constant grandstanding. They felt he was focused more on his own ego and proving himself than on their mission to preserve peace in the universe. The object turned out to be a powerful teleport gate, able to summoned warriors from anywhere in space and time using the command key. When the Predacons arrived and stole the key, Lio Junior rashly engaged in battle. Santon and Skywarp actually refused to combine with him as Magnaboss in this fight due to their distaste for his methods. As a result, Tasmania Kid was seriously injured by Hellscream.

Although the Maximals secured the command key, a rift had grown between Lio Junior and the others. He stalked off on his own, and later seemingly joined the Predacons of his own will. Several Maximals were quick to call him traitor, but the injured Tasmania Kid told everyone Lio Junior was merely trying to prove himself worthy of their trust. By the time Lio Junior broke free from the Predacons' cells, Santon and Skywarp were already there to greet him. They formed Magnaboss to drive off the Cyborg Beasts, but suffered a serious injury in the process. As the Predacons had summoned Majin Zarak, Magnaboss used his dwindling energy to summon Optimus Primal for their side. After the defeat of Majin Zarak, Santon and Skywarp made amends with Lio Junior and the trio was inseparable once more. Lio Convoy in Imminent Danger!

With Nemesis on the way, the Maximals needed to prevent the Angolmois Energy from becoming unstable. Skywarp and the Maximals used freeze devices to cool the substance and keep it from getting too volatile. Tripledacus attempted to block the Angolmois Energy geysers with a massive iceberg block, and so Lio Junior and Skywarp ran interference for him against the Cyborg Beasts. The Magnaboss trio later joined forces to help drive off the remaining Predacons. The Great Angolmois Freezing Tactic

During a major operation to destroy Nemesis with an Angolmois Energy-powered artillery cannon, Magnaboss was given the key role of getting the cannon into position while the other Maximals diverted the Predacons with decoys. At the volcano of Angolmois Energy, Magnaboss was powering up the cannon when Galvatron and Gigastorm arrived to stop him. Skywarp and Santon separated from Magnaboss in order to delay the villains, giving Lio Junior enough time to fire the weapon. Unfortunately, the Angolmois Energy was too much for the cannon and it overloaded before striking Nemesis. Knock Out Nemesis

The Magnaboss trio continued raiding Galvatron's Angolmois Energy fortresses thanks to Lio Junior's insight. At one location, Galvatron himself appeared and tried to convince Lio Junior of the righteousness of the Predacon cause. Santon and Skywarp nearly lost the youngster when he was swept up in a wave of Angolmois Energy, but he soon emerged seemingly okay. However, when they met with Lio Convoy afterwards, Lio Junior attacked his commander, spouting Predacon slogans and rhetoric. It seemed Galvatron had used the corrupted Angolmois Energy to corrupt Lio Junior as well. Santon and Skywarp attempted to forced merge with Lio Junior to control him, but Lio Junior's influence was too strong and even Magnaboss began haltingly carrying out the corrupted Lio Junior's will. Lio Convoy finally managed to drain off the corrupted Angolmois Energy through his shared connection to Lio Junior's Energon Matrix, freeing all three Maximals from Galvatron's influence. Lio Junior's Revolt!?

When a Martian emissary robot arrived on Gaia, it claimed to be capable of stopping the corrupted Angolmois energy. Santon, Skywarp, and Lio Junior formed Magnaboss to block for Lio Convoy as he brought the robot to the mother computer necessary to complete its task. While battling the Cyborg Beasts, however, Lio Junior spotted and interacted with a robot named Moon. Even merged with him as Magnaboss, Santon and Skywarp couldn't see the little android, but Lio Junior reported that Moon said the emissary robot planned to destroy Gaia. The mother computer would crash the moon into Gaia to prevent the escape of corrupted Angolmois Energy into the universe. Emissary of the Fourth Planet As Magnaboss, the trio helped Lio Convoy and the other Maximals break through the mother computer's defenses and stop the emissary from ending all life on the planet. The Crisis of Planet Gaia

As the Maximals prepared to use Santon and Skywarp's starship to reach Nemesis, they constructed a hidden missile catapult to get the lift and trajectory necessary for the interception. The Predacons uncovered their plan, however, and a battle ensued. Skywarp and friends formed Magnaboss to help the crew of the Yukikaze arrive in time for lift-off. Fly Out! Planet Gaia After launch, the ship was brought down by the Space Pirate Seacons, who were under the influence of Nemesis and Galvatron. Skywarp matched Scylla blast-for-blast, intercepting her Blowing Kiss of Death with his own Sky Missiles. They soon formed Magnaboss to battle the combined God Neptune, and the Seacons were eventually defeated. The Maximals used a slingshot maneuver to zip around the moon's gravity and send themselves back into Nemesis's path. Revenge of the Space Pirates

As the Maximals arrived on Nemesis, they abandoned ship so the Predacons shot down an empty vessel. Magnaboss helped transport the others to the surface where they gathered by an exhaust port, which NAVI calculated could lead to Nemesis's core. While Lio Convoy and Scuba went spelunking to shut down Nemesis at the core, Skywarp and his fellow Maximals remained behind to defend their rear flank. They initially formed Magnaboss to oppose the Cyborg Beasts, but Galvatron soon triggered Nemesis to siphon all the corrupted Angolmois Energy from Gaia. As the devastating Angolmois Energy filled the exhaust port, Lio Junior feared his father was in dire peril and separated from his mentors to check on Lio Convoy. Breaking into Nemesis Indeed, Galvatron soon emerged from the core claiming Lio Convoy was dead. Despite this disheartening news, Skywarp and the Maximals continued to fight on in the name of their commander. Legend! The Green Warrior

In the end, Lio Convoy was not dead, but had combined with Lio Junior into a powerful Green Warrior. Moreover, Scuba and the Tako Tank had reached the core and arranged for Nemesis's destruction. As Galvatron and the Green Warrior battled, the Cyborg Beasts continued to hassle the Maximals. Santon and Skywarp wistfully acknowledged Lio Junior had grown beyond their teachings, and was now accepted as a full Maximal warrior by his father. When Nemesis finally erupted, Lio Convoy used all the strength of his Energon Matrix to preserve the lives of Skywarp and his Maximal brethren. Although Gaia was saved, the Maximals were left floating in the void, caught in a wormhole created by Nemesis's destruction. They took heart, however, in the appearance of a great light Lio Convoy said would lead them to their next adventure. Farewell! Lio Convoy

Beast Wars Neo cartoon

After the defeat of Unicron, Skywarp returned to Cybertron. There and as part of Magnaboss, he was witness to one of Big Convoy and Magmatron's tussles. Graduation Ceremony!!

Beast Wars II comic

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.

2006 IDW Beast Wars continuity

Skywarp was an instructor in the aerial division of the Maximal Military Academy. Despite his important work, he was sent to support Lio Convoy's forces at Gaea, where he was altered by Lio Junior's spark to be able to combine with him and Santon to form Magnaboss. Beast Wars Sourcebook #4

Beast Wars: Uprising

Skywarp was on the Maximal team in a fateful match of the Games, which was interrupted by Lio Convoy's assassination of Supersonic and call for an uprising against the Builders. Broken Windshields

2005 IDW continuity

Skywarp was one of Onyx Prime's Maximals. When this bestial horde invaded Cybertron, he was one of the many warriors who wound up battling Arcee and held her in chains with Bigmos when the Liege Maximo had her captured. This proved to be fatal for the duo as Arcee pulled them in and tore them apart. Unforgivable

War for Cybertron Trilogy marketing material

The Maximals traveled across time to find the AllSpark and change the fate of Cybertron. While battling the Predacons on pre-Ice Age Earth, both sides were joined by the Autobots and Decepticons, their epic battle changing their combined destinies forever.

During the collective battle, Skywarp and Sideswipe attempted to keep the Decepticon/Predacon threat at bay while being pursued by Scorponok. Battle Across Time Collection marketing material^[1]

Toys

Beast Wars

• Skywarp (スカイワープ, 1998)

• ID number: C-27
• Release date: 1998 September
• Accessories: 2 "Sky Missiles", 2 "Wingalibur" swords
• Known designers: Takio Ejima (TakaraTomy), Masakatsu Saito (concept artist)

Part of the eighth wave of Beast Wars II products in Takara's Beast Wars toyline, Skywarp is a slight repaint of the Beast Wars eagle Silverbolt, transforming into a bald eagle. The differences between the two toys are Skywarp's silver-painted helmet and pinkish-red robot eyes, as well as very slight differences in plastic hues.

In beast mode, Skywarp's wings contain his spring-loaded "Sky Missile" launchers that can be folded forward when the figure is positioned in a straight-standing pose, with the wing tips opened up. In robot mode, the white lower feather sections of his wings can be removed and held in his hands as his "Wingalibur" (a portmanteau of "wing" and "Excalibur") swords. Skywarp forms the headdress, chest-armor and back of Magnaboss.

Like Silverbolt, Skywarp is prone to Gold Plastic Syndrome.

• More information on Skywarp at TFU.info

 

Left: Takara packaging pictured
Right: Sonokong packaging pictured

• Magnaboss (マグナボス, 1998)

• ID number: X-4
• Release date: 1998 September
• Accessories: 2 "Sky Missiles", 2 "Wingalibur" swords

Skywarp was also available in an Ultra-class giftset with his fellow combiners Lio Junior and Santon. There are no notable differences between the individual and giftset versions of the toys proper... though the giftset does not contain the bio/Tech Spec cards for the individuals, only for the combined mode.

Sonokong also released this gift set in their Beast-War toyline under the same name. Aside from the difference in packaging, the Korean release (which calls Skywarp "Skyhawk") is identical to the Takara releases.

War for Cybertron: Kingdom

Notably, the only prank he's got up his sleeve is making you THINK he has Gold Plastic Syndrome.

• Maximal Skywarp / Sideswipe (Multi-pack, 2021)

• Hasbro ID number: WFC-K42
• TakaraTomy name: Maximal Skywarp & Sideswipe (マクシマルスカイワープ&サイドワイプ)
• TakaraTomy ID number: KD EX-10
• TakaraTomy release date: 2022 January 29
• Accessories: 2 "Photon Blasters"^[2]
• Known designers: Yūya Ōnishi (TakaraTomy), AJ Piejko-Brown (packaging)

Released to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Beast Wars, Kingdom "Maximal Skywarp" is a retool of Deluxe Class Airazor from the same line, transforming into a realistic peregrine falcon colored as a bald eagle in 22 steps. His new head is closely based on his appearance in the Beast Wars II cartoon, including a faux-eagle head on top. The beast mode has multiple joints in his wings, legs, and head, and an opening beak. He includes two "Photon Blasters" that can be held in his hands and store on his beast mode rear.

Due to being a head retool of Airazor, his beast mode head is visible as his chest in robot mode. His feet can also turn around (similar to Hasbro's stock photography, and his box art) for closer accuracy to his cartoon model.

It is currently unknown if the wings' stress mark issue from the original Airazor release is still present.

Revealed on #TransformersTuesday, Skywarp was released with Sideswipe as a part of the "Battle Across Time Collection". Though similar to the Siege "Final Strike Figure Series", being exclusive multi-packs with package art that combines into a larger piece, the "Battle Across Time Collection" label is printed on the box. The two-pack is exclusive to Amazon and Hasbro Pulse in the US, and in the UK on Hasbro Pulse and several online retailers.

Being two Deluxe Class toys, Amazon priced the set at $44.99 USD, but Hasbro Pulse priced the set at $47.99 USD. Amazon later changed the price to match the other "Battle Across Time Collection" set at $52.99 USD, despite the other set being one Deluxe and one Voyager and this set only containing two Deluxe Class toys. The Amazon price eventually went down to the Hasbro Pulse price. Sheesh!

Notes

• Much like the rest of the new cast introduced from "Enter Lio Junior" onwards, Skywarp received a completely original character model by Takashi Yamamoto for "Lio Convoy in Imminent Danger!", whereas his cartoon character model was designed by Hiroyuki Taiga.

Foreign names

• Korean: Skyhawk (스카이호크 Seukaihokeu)

References