Wrecker Hook (Transformers Generation 1 Profiles)

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Name: Wrecker Hook
Allegiance: Decepticons
Function: Maintenance
Timeline: Generation 1

My power is unsurpassed!

Profile:

When Wrecker Hook joined the Decepticons, nobody - not even Wrecker Hook himself - had no idea who he was. He simply appeared one day, stumbling out of the spacebridge, and everyone present assumed he'd bravely evaded an Autobot ambush on the far side of the spacebridge portal. Even after Megatron realised that there was no record of Wrecker Hook anywhere in the Decepticons' databanks, he was happy to keep Wrecker Hook around. Megatron appreciated Wrecker Hook's serious work ethic: he'd willingly and without question tackle repair jobs that other Decepticons wouldn't do, even without hesitation crawling into the Decepticon base's sewage ducts. Plus, he was a loyal soldier, if occasionally a little slow-witted; the fact that Wrecker Hook did his job and didn't plot against Megatron eventually won him a degree of trust and acceptance. The only time that Wrecker Hook's taciturn attitude falters is when he sees illegally parked vehicles. This sends him into a white-hot rage. "No parking... MEANS NO PARKING!" he roars, before destroying the vehicle and a large part of the surrounding area, displaying his formidable strength.

Over time, Wrecker Hook has begun to recall bits of his past. He believes he used to be an Autobot, but feels as though he never truly felt at home in their ranks, which has driven Wrecker Hook to stay with the Decepticons and not seek any further information on his past life. Wrecker Hook has adopted a particularly unique outlook on life that combines the bits of the Autobot and Decepticon codes that he personally agrees with. Throughout his amnesia, Wrecker Hook has formed a close friendship with the Decepticon Air Hunter; a friendship that has endured even after Wrecker Hook's Autobot past became known.

Tow Truck mode:

Author notes:

Wrecker Hook is a fun concept. In Japan, he's explicitly the same guy as RiD Tow-Line - both share a name in Japan, and the Japanese RiD, Car Robots, is in the Generation 1 continuity which makes it easier for an amnesiac Tow-Line to turn up among the Decepticons.

I really liked this idea, and reconciled it with the US continuity where Robots in Disguise was a different continuity using that old sci-fi standby - the teleporter malfunction (seriously, how does this not happen more often in Transformers?) I decided to stick with the amnesiac storyline, but to have a few elements come through, like the catchphrase and the hatred of illegally parked vehicles - only less restrained that in the original characterisation. He's a bad guy now after all.

I also decided to consider that amnesia is very rarely permanent, and asked what might happen if Wrecker Hook starts to remember who he was? I figured some Decepticons might no longer trust him, and that it would be interesting if Wrecker Hook ends up adopting the bits of Autobot and Decepticon ideologies he personally agrees with, becoming a real shade of grey. Lastly, I figured some of the Decepticons might stand by Wrecker Hook, even after the revelation of his identity. Air Hunter is a noble guy and seemed exactly the kind of guy who'd be friends with Wrecker Hook, even after more of his past comes out. Air Hunter is, fundamentally, a nice guy who'll stand by his friends, and this also has the bonus of keeping a couple of the Robot Masters Decepticons together as a team.

Toys of Transformers Generation 1 Wrecker Hook

Transformers Robot Masters Wrecker Hook

Originally, I got this guy because I wanted to have a version of the tow truck flipchanger mold (at the time, I didn't have the Robots in Disguise Tow-Line). Even though I now have the original Tow-Line, I prefer this one. The colour scheme is gloriously edgy - it's red, black, and flames, that pretty much screams "edgelord" - even though Wrecker Hook himself is anything but. I like it, though. There's something cool about the way the colour scheme works, what with the "Robot Masters" branding stamped on the side of the truck. It's probably the most exciting deco this mold has ever had, actually. The poseability is decent, lots of balljoints means a good range of motion. The extra weapon is fantastic, too.

I like this one. He's quirky, and the backstory only makes him more fun.

More information on Transformers Robot Masters Wrecker Hook at TFW2005

See more Transformers Robot Masters toys in my collection.