Groundbreaker

Groundbreaker is an Autobot Pretender from the Generation 1 continuity family.

Good, bad...I'm the 'bot with the guns.

Have you ever heard the saying "shoot first, ask questions later"? Well, Groundbreaker is kind of like that, only without the "ask questions" part. If patience is a virtue, then Groundbreaker is in the fastlane straight to the Pit, and that's the way he likes it. Groundbreaker is always the first in line, the first to engage the enemy, the first to open fire and usually the first to screw up. But from Groundbreaker's point of view, whoever comes in first is the winner and what you win doesn't matter, just as long as you come in first.

Fiction

Marvel The Transformers comics

A member of Fortress Maximus's crew aboard the Steelhaven, Groundbreaker volunteered for the synthoplasmic conversion process Optimus Prime had stolen from Scorponok, transforming him into an Autobot Pretender. With Optimus Prime coordinating the Pretenders' first battle with the Decepticons, Groundbreaker and his teammates easily overwhelmed the opposing force. Pretender to the Throne!

Later, Groundbreaker and Sky High were on standby while Optimus Prime sent Cloudburst and Landmine on a mission. Guess Who the Mecannibals Are Having for Dinner?

2005 IDW continuity

First appearance: Stormbringer #1

Groundbreaker was stationed on board the Autobot Orbital Command Hub, eagerly awaiting the call to battle. Stormbringer #1

Later he, Cloudburst, Landmine, and Waverider were sent to investigate the Benzuli Expanse, but discovered that any probes or drones entering the area immediately ceased to function. After reporting this to Jetfire, he volunteered them for the Pretender process as a means of safely entering the expanse. Spotlight: Hardhead

Cyclonus was later patrolling the Benzuli Expanse with Galvatron to look for those who would disturb the Expansion. Upon spotting Cloudburst's ship, Cyclonus called "dibs" and Galvatron happily let Cyclonus attack the vessel. Spotlight: Doubledealer Fortunately Groundbreaker and the rest of the crew were rescued by the Technobots who transported them to their ship and presented them with new and improved Pretender shells. Now equipped to deal with the Dead Universe and its denizens, the four warriors finished off Cyclonus and entered the Benzuli Expanse, where they put the Nega-Cores once they were sent so that they would detonate inside the Dead Universe and destroy it. Spotlight: Sideswipe Everything in Its Right Place

2019 IDW continuity

First appearance: Transformers #30

I mostly just appear in group shots, but this time I have a new color scheme at least!

One of Pyra Magna's faithful Companions, Groundbreaker adopted his commander's color scheme in protest of her imprisonment after the War of the Threefold Spark. He joined back up with his fellow Companions after Pyra Magna was released and enlisted by Optimus Prime to combat the Decepticon menace. The Companions hid under a shimmer field as Pyra met with Strika as part of a parlay and sprung into action when it turned into an assassination attempt on their leader. Facing off with a group of Decepticons Strika had brought along, Sunstreaker ordered Groundbreaker ahead to Pyra Magna's side while he and Windcharger handled their opponents. After driving the Decepticons off, Pyra announced that they would be putting their support behind Optimus Prime for the time being. We Are Not Meant To Be Darkness

holy yikes, bro

Groundbreaker was among those sent to rescue Termagax from the Insecticon clone swarm, arriving aboard Sky Lynx and engaging the horde with gusto. After the swarm retreated he took a moment to kick a dead clone into the nearby Sea of Rust, where it was immediately devoured by rust worms, much to his and Rust Dust's amusement. Setting up a defensive position in front of House, Groundbreaker had a brief chat with Subsea about the latter's anxiousness before the Decepticons arrived and attacked. Groundbreaker eagerly retaliated alongside Rust Dust as the battle raged in earnest. Sea of Rust II

Groundbreaker and his fellow Companions were poised to defend Crystal City when the Decepticons launched an attack on it. A Dust of Crystals Pyra Magna next had the Companions travel to the Sonic Canyons to confront a returned Exarchon. As they passed over the expanding Sea of Rust on their way there, Groundbreaker couldn't help but be fascinated by the frenzied activity of the rust worms within it. The Companions arrived at Exarchon's hideout to find a group of Decepticons led by Sixshot already engaged in battle with him. War's End Part Two Groundbreaker took on Exarchon's forces alongside his comrades and the Decepticons. War's End Part Three

Toys

The Transformers

I always shoot first

• Groundbreaker (Pretender, 1988)

• Accessories: "Electron rifle", blaster, blaster base/spoiler, belt, helmet, left & right shoulder pads
• Known designers: Masakatsu Saito (concept artist)

Released in the fifth year of the original The Transformers toyline (fourth in European markets), Groundbreaker transforms into a "rocket car", with a large spoiler/gun assembly mounted on top (described in his bio as giving it the ability to fly via a remote-control system). His small hand-held blaster weapon mounts on this spoiler in vehicle mode.

Similar to Sky High and Splashdown, he has an animal design for his shell's chest panel, resembling a big cat or a bear or some such predatory mammal. Unusually for an Autobot Pretender, the shell has additional removable armor plating. The spoiler/blaster assembly becomes a second hand-held blaster for the shell.

No version of this mold or character was released in Japan.

• More information on Groundbreaker at TFU.info

Notes

• A blue prototype Pretender shell with a strong resemblance to Groundbreaker's was displayed alongside the two Double Pretenders at BotCon 1996. Whether it actually had any connection to that concept is unknown, but at least one site reported this to be the case.

Foreign names

• French: Explosol (Canada)
• Italian: Felin