Soundwave (KOU)

Soundwave is a rocker from the Knights of Unicron continuity family.

Eat your spark out, Blaster.

More level-headed than his fellow Knights of Unicron, Soundwave is said to be the glue that holds the band together... when they actually ARE together, that is. He manages the double duty of being both the Knights' back-up vocalist and their music arranger. With keen audio-receptors and a talent for squeezing out the most metal-ness from the band's music, Soundwave is always ready to blow off the roof of whatever venue the Knights of Unicron are performing in!

Fiction

Behind the Music

Soundwave was once a member of "Bumblebee and the Hive" until their lead singer shredded his audio box, and it became necessary to scope out new talent to replace him. A demo tape from a lowly record clerk overloaded the band's collective circuits, and Optimus Prime was brought onboard the now rechristened "Knights of Unicron." Years of processor shredding musical mayhem ensued until petty infighting drove the band apart.

Soundwave eventually took on two prodigies, Ratbat and Rumble, and oversaw their growth into a pop duo. By 2014, Soundwave had moved on to acting as a judge on the hit show Cybertron's Got Talent. At least until the call to reunite with the other Knights heeded him to take the stage once again. The ensuing reunion tour was sure to be nothing short of awesome. Behind the Music

Games

Transformers Legends

Soundwave and the rest of the band welcomed Smooth Jazz into their ranks after the young 'bot proved himself in a series of grueling auditions. What ensued was years of face-melting rock 'n roll! Unfortunately, despite Soundwave's best efforts, the band eventually split up due to Optimus Prime and Megatron's continuous petty infighting. Soundwave was left to pick up the pieces in the wake of the band breaking up. Knights of Unicron

Toys

Knights of Unicron

Just imagine him teaming up with his mirrorverse counterpart and how much aft that would kick.

• Knights of Unicron Reunion Tour Set (San Diego Comic-Con 2014 exclusive, 2014)
  • Accessories: Rifle, shoulder-cannon, microphone, mohawk, arm-bandana

A redeco of the Generations: War for Cybertron Deluxe Soundwave mold, Soundwave transforms into a Cybertronian SUV-style "communications truck". He comes with his classic shoulder launcher and rifle, both of which can be mounted on his hands, right shoulder, and rear vehicle sides via 5 mm posts, and store inside his opening chest (approximating the visual of cassette spools). Soundwave's head features a light-piping gimmick, but the effect is largely neutered by his painted visor... and his hair. Yes, hair.

This glam-rocky version of Soundwave is augmented by a soft-goods mohawk (held in place by an elastic fabric strap) and a huge yellow bandana tied around his left bicep. Both additions are easily removed, though the mohawk can be a little bit of a pain to get -and keep- back in place. Neither of these add-ons strictly need to be removed to get Soundwave into vehicle mode, but the bandana does tend get in the way and make it harder to see what you're doing, lining-up-parts-wise. His additional microphone accessory does not have a particularly good place to go in vehicle mode (being too long to fit in his chest compartment), and its incredibly shallow 5mm peg means Soundwave barely holds it in the first place.

He was only available in the 2014 San Diego Comic-Con "Knights of Unicron Reunion Tour Set", which also included hair-metal versions of Megatron, Optimus Prime, Smooth Jazz, and instrument-bots Laserbeak and Ratbat.

This mold was redecoed into United Soundwave Cybertron Mode

Notes

• Oddly, Soundwave is not partnered with Laserbeak or Ratbat in this set, despite tradition.