Slamdance (G1)

Slamdance is an Autobot Mini-Cassette combiner from the Generation 1 continuity family.

Thanks to combiner technology, Slamdance can be both fair and balanced.

Slamdance is not a great warrior, but he is a brilliant journalist. The combined form of Grand Slam and Raindance, he combines the former's gravitas and vanity with the latter's mastery in data gathering. He can be a bit stuffy, but his dedication to presenting an accurate and unbiased account of current events is welcomed in his war-tossed times. He keeps the Autobots honest.

Fiction

Dreamwave Generation One continuity

It's some kinda Under-All-Vector-Oracle!

Merged as Slamdance, Raindance and Grand Slam served as a correspondent overseeing the Pax Cybertronia between the Autobots, Decepticons, and Ultracons. Engineered by Ultra Magnus and accepted by Shockwave and Ratbat as a means for pooling their dwindling energy resources, the Pax was to be an ending of the Dark Ages. Slamdance's attempts to interview any of the Decepticon participants were met with either indifference or hostility. Unfortunately, a bombing run followed by an all-out assault by Starscream and his Predacons ended all hopes of an easy truce, and the dramatic return of Megatron with his cloned Aerospace Extermination Squadron ended any ideas of truce at all. The Age of Wrath Slamdance avoided the termination sweeps only by falling deep underground and coming across what he believed was the legendary "Source", a sentient mainframe at the core of Cybertron. The Age of Wrath Pt.3 He eventually linked up with the resistance movement organized by Blaster and Perceptor, The Age of Wrath Pt.2 and shared the story of how he narrowly escaped death with Eject, Rewind, Ramhorn, Flash, Scorch, and Boss. Perceptor had to interrupt and remind him of his actual duties, ending storytime. The Age of Wrath Pt.3

Slamdance and the Triggerbots accompanied Blaster as he used an ancient map of Cybertron's depths to infiltrate Megatron's slave camp, only for them to be discovered by Megatron himself. The Age of Wrath Pt.4

Wings Universe

Slamdance took it upon himself to start setting up his own broadcast in the middle of a competing network anchorperson's shot. When confronted about the matter, he mentioned that nobody was watching the other channel anyway, and, oh yeah, they'd been scooped on knowing about the Combaticons' capture. Oops, maybe he should have kept that a secret... Around Cybertron #11

2005 IDW continuity

First appearance: The Transformers vol. 1 #28

As a reporter for the Iaconian Newsfeed Service, Slamdance reported Nominus Prime's death before the war. Post Hoc While reporting on a newly emerged and controversial recording of Pious Maximus, he was interrupted by the news of a police chase taking place in the Translucentica Heights. Patternism A short time later, he reported that the registration period for Decepticons had been closed. An Intimate Beheading As the war began with Megatron's rebellion, Slamdance reported that the INS had received footage of Sentinel Prime's body following his death at Megatron's hands. The Last Autobot

Slamdance was stationed at the Kimia Facility and was present when it was attacked by Cyclonus and an army of Sweeps. He managed to escape in a cramped escape pod piloted by Chromedome and Brainstorm. He and the others drifted in the pod for some time until they were rescued by Arcee. Kings From her and Hardhead, they learned about Galvatron's misguided plan to save the universe (which would in actuality let the Dead Universe into it), prompting them to fly the ship to Cybertron and help defeat him. Genesis

Footage from one of Slamdance's reports was incorporated by Rewind into his final, stitched-together message to Chromedome. The Gloaming Following the end of the war, he reported on the public opinion on the Autobots changing in the wake of Megatron's trial. Words Hang in the Air

Slamdance went on to serve on the Lost Light under Rodimus and Megatron's "co-captaincy" and fought against Rust Giants on Miliarium under the latter's direction. However, when Getaway and Atomizer led a mutiny against the former Decepticon and his supporters shortly afterward, Slamdance was not amongst those who stood up for Megatron. How Bright Their Frail Deeds He was eventually exposed to the Sparkeater virus when Getaway turned his crew over to the Grand Architect to save his own life. First Aid was able to cure the diseased using concussive medicine. Lūstrāre

War for Cybertron Trilogy marketing material

During the war for Cybertron, Slamdance was a Ground Command Intelligence Sergeant and a member of the "Autobot Alphastrike Counterforce". Final Strike Figure Series marketing material^[1]

After Hound scouted out the Sea of Rust for a place to set up a possible safe zone, Slamdance and the rest of the Autobot Alphastrike Counterforce made themselves at home inside an underground base on the outer edge of the Sea of Rust that shielded them from the toxic atmosphere. Siege Teletraan-1 Data Files While there, Alphastrike analyzed the Decepticon Phantomstrike Squadron's attack patterns to anticipate their next strike on key Autobot positions. Final Strike Figure Series marketing material^[1]

While the Phantomstrike Squadron was positioned at Darkmount, south-east of Alphastrike's position,^[2] Greenlight—who had been tracking the Phantomstrike Squadron from her drop point in a nearby deserted Decepticon zone—attempted to transmit the all-clear for the attack to commence, but her transmission was discovered by the Phantomstrike Squadron who corrupted its signal. Teletraan-1 attempted to retrieve the full transmission from the Decepticons to gather the location data needed to assess the threat. Following this, a battle ensued between both strike teams. Siege Teletraan-1 Data Files

Toys

The Transformers

Not pictured: his artsy brother, Sundance.

• Grand Slam / Raindance (Mini-Cassette, 1988)

• Accessories: "Smoke discharger" cannon, left & right "dual repulsors", 2 "proton missiles"
• Known designers: Masakatsu Saito (concept artist)

Released in the fifth year of the The Transformers toyline (fourth year in the European line), Slamdance combines the two Mini-Cassettes Grand Slam and Raindance into a humanoid robot mode (which the individuals lack). In this combined mode he can make use of all of his components' chromed add-on weapons, though his general lack of articulation makes it difficult for him to aim most of them.

Since the two individuals were only ever sold as a combined set, that was the only way to get Slamdance.

• More information on Slamdance at TFU.info

War for Cybertron: Siege

I guess I can't fit into Twincast's chest anymore.

• Autobot Alphastrike Counterforce (Multi-pack, 2019)

• ID number: WFC-S26
• Hidden message code: GRANDRAIN
• Accessories: "W-10 Smokecloak Blaster," "JF-10 A2A Protons Rocket Launcher" (combine to form "LR Fumeblast Super Cannon")

Siege Slamdance is a retooling of Deluxe Class Skytread with a new head, transforming from a jet and a Cybertronian tank which combine to form his robot mode. He includes two guns compatible with the C.O.M.B.A.T. System, which can combine to form a launcher, form his tank barrels in vehicle mode or be added to the jet mode. He features multiple hardpoints on his body and his weapons to accommodate "Fire Blasts" from the Battle Masters assortment (or the one included), which can be used to simulate blaster fire or explosions. The nature of Skytread's mold means Slamdance's components swapped positions, resulting in a flip-flopped color scheme in robot mode as compared to his original character design.

Sharing a mold with Skytread, Slamdance uses the same connection port and plug system as Power of the Primes Battletrap, allowing for mixing and matching between the components.

Unfortunately, several early Slamdance figures came with their left legs shattered apart in-package.^[3] Most commonly, the left foot is broken off, but the whole foreleg assembly is susceptible to cracking. Amazon did many exchanges upon release. Less serious is that, particularly for intact copies, the left foot's transformation joint can be very tight. Loosening the joint's screw will solve the issue immediately.

Slamdance was only available in the "Autobot Alphastrike Counterforce" pack alongside Covert Clone Sideswipe and Trenchfoot. The set was an Amazon exclusive in North America, which also labeled the set as "Final Strike Figure Series: Part 1." In Europe, it was supposed to be an Amazon exclusive as well, but was actually never stocked. A preliminary name for this pack was "Firestormer Battle Pack", which showed up in several online listings, and also on Hasbro shipping cases for the set.

Notes

• Slamdance plays guitar as part of a band that includes Legout and Decibel on the retailer incentive cover to Spotlight: Blaster.

Foreign names

• Japanese: Slamdance (スラムダンス Suramudansu)

References