Substitute Autobot

The Substitute Autobots is a subgroup from Transformers Animated continuity family.

"Alpha, we need four Autobots with attitude!"
"All we've got is a dinosaur, a half-assed Decepticon, a twerp and a walking junk heap."

When the world's destiny is at stake, when all hope seems to be lost, when every hero has been defeated, an uncanny team arises from the depths of despair, forming the most unlikely alliance to restore Hope and Justice. They are known as... the Substitute Autobots!

• Leader Sari Sumdac!
• Scrapper!
• Snarl!
• Wreck-Gar!

Yup, we're all pretty much doomed.

Fiction

Animated cartoon

When the Earth-bound Autobots and the full population of Detroit were under the control of Soundwave, Sari Sumdac went to Dinobot Island, hoping to find some help to rescue them. But Grimlock and Swoop were less than responsive to her call. Determined to not give up, Sari pursued her quest and finally located Scrapper and the newly named Snarl. She quickly managed to convince them to return with her to the city. On their way, they met Wreck-Gar, who was all too happy to join the team. Thus was born the ragtag unit called the Substitute Autobots, with Sari naturally taking the lead. Well, theoretically.

Before they were even able to concoct a concrete plan, they lost both the element of surprise and their outnumbering advantage, having to face not only Soundwave, but also the whole of Optimus Prime's brainwashed team. With little choice, Sari gave the order to attack, but the fight didn't start well—Wreck Gar was a little too over-obedient to follow any order and also lacked adequate equipment, Scrapper was simply ineffective, and Snarl had just not yet understood what he was supposed to do. Having to deal with both Laserbeak and Soundwave, Sari ended up losing control of her jet-pack and was ejected into the snow, soon followed by the rest of her team.

Realizing Soundwave wouldn't be able to control all the Autobots in separate activities at the same time, Sari ordered they attack separately. Snarl charged on Ratchet, Scrapper took on Bulkhead, Wreck-Gar faced Bumblebee and Prowl, and she herself dealt with Optimus Prime, effectively giving too much for the Decepticon to handle at once. Snarl overpowered and tied up Ratchet while Scrapper froze Bulkhead. The team was finally getting the hang of things and was beginning to take the upper hand in the battle. And then Wreck-Gar played some accordion... Bumblebee and Prowl tried to attack Sari, although Prowl's attack was strangely...helpful. Wreck-Gar finally immobilized Bumblebee, which meant the only ones left were Prowl and Optimus Prime. Not bad for a bunch of losers. Unfortunately, Soundwave could now focus total control on Optimus, knowing that was all he needed to win the battle. Optimus rapidly overpowered Scrapper, Snarl and Wreck-Gar and was about to chop down Sari, when Prowl, whose attempts to resist Soundwave had finally succeeded, struck with his shurikens. Soundwave lost control of Prime, who was relieved to see he hadn't harmed Sari. From this point on, the Substitute Autobots let Optimus Prime deal with the problem. He dealt with it pretty good.

After that, the team disbanded, Scrapper judging it was just not worth the pain (and lack of overtime pay), Snarl simply wanting to go home, and Sari being all too happy her management duties were over. As for Wreck-Gar, well, his mind was already on something else...

And so ended the brief, shining(?) career of the Substitute Autobots...til next time? Human Error, Part II

Notes

• The Substitute Autobots may be named in homage to DC Comics' Legion of Substitute Heroes.
• In the mirror universe version of "Human Error, Part II", the Substitute Autobots' role is fulfilled by hobobots.

Foreign names

• Japanese: オートボット助け隊 (Autobot Tasuke Tai, Autobot Support Team)