Clone (subgroup)

Clones are a subgroup from the Generation 1 continuity family.

Fastlane and Cloudraker

Clones are brothers with identical robot modes and different alternate modes.

Known clone pairs are:

Autobots

• Fastlane and Cloudraker

Decepticons

• Pounce and Wingspan

Fiction

The Transformers cartoon

In 2007, Pounce and Wingspan took part in a Decepticon raid on Earth to steal the Key to the Plasma Energy Chamber from Autobot City The Rebirth, Part 1

The Headmasters cartoon

All four clones grew up as friends on the same unidentified planet. Fastlane and Cloudraker then split up from Pounce and Wingspan to develop their skills separately. While they were apart, Pounce and Wingspan came under the influence of Galvatron and became Decepticons.

Clone pairs sometimes speak in unison. Mystery of the Space Pirate Ship

Wings Universe

At an unknown point in Cybertronian history, the blueprints for Pounce and Wingspan were copied and mass-produced. The resulting air- and ground- body-types were sold on the black market as made-to-order mercenaries. Often used as cannon fodder, Star Seeker Captain Cannonball instead made these buccaneers individuals, giving them names and jobs aboard his warship the Tidal Wave. They became the Dread Pirate Crew, the backbone of the Star Seekers. Dread Pirate Crew profile

War for Cybertron Trilogy marketing material

When the Ark detected energon on Biosfera, they dispatched the Clones Fastlane and Cloudraker to investigate. Unfortunately, after arriving they made contact with Decepticon Clones Pounce and Wingspan. Even more unfortunately, the Decepticons' beast modes gave them a distinct advantage in jungle warfare. Encounter 3: Biosfera Clones

Toys

The Transformers

Pounce. Or Wingspan, whatever.

• Pounce & Wingspan (Clones, 1987)
• Fastlane & Cloudraker (Clones, 1987)

Released in 1987, both pairs were only available as part of a two-pack set. Each clone came with a pair of rifles and two rubsign insignias, one identifying their faction and the other to distinguish the two by revealing an image of their unique alt-mode. Due to the requirement of identical robot modes, at least when viewed from the front, Clones are good examples of Transformer toys with non-integrated alt-mode kibble sticking out of their backs.

Timelines

A clone of a clone, eh?

• Dread Pirate Crew (Deluxe, 2014)
  • Priate Clone Pounce
  • Priate Clone Wingspan

Available at BotCon 2014 as a souvenir double-pack, both "Priate Clone Pounce" and "Priate Clone Wingspan" are redecoes of the Prime: Robots in Disguise Vehicon molds—specifically, the molds of the regular car Vehicon and the "Jet Vehicon".

The "Dread Pirate Crew" also comes with two differently colored versions of the Arms Micron Igu, now Arms Minicons named "Pillage" and "Plunder".

Kre-O

Can one really be a clone if there's no brother to be a clone of?

• Wingspan Hawk (Kreon Micro-Changer, 2014)

Part of the fifth assortment of blind-bagged Kreon Micro-Changers, "Wingspan Hawk" is possibly renamed for trademark reasons.

Titans Return

30 years later, we're back in the main line!

• Chaos on Velocitron (Multi-pack, 2017)
  • Fastclash
• Siege on Cybertron (Multi-pack, 2017)
  • Decepticon Pounce
• Wingspan vs Cloudraker (2-pack, 2017)
  • Cloudraker
  • Wingspan

Both Titans Return "Decepticon Pounce" and "Fastclash" (Fastlane renamed due to trademark issues) are the only new mold Legends Class figures on their respective sets. Meanwhile, Cloudraker and Wingspan were released as a two-pack.

Legends

• Clonebot Set (Autobot Clones) (January 27, 2018)
  • ID number: LG58

Legends Fastlane and Cloudraker are redecos of their Titans Return toys, available in a two-pack.

• Clonetron Set (Decepticon Clones) (February 24, 2018)
  • ID number: LG61

Legends Pounce and Wingspan are also redecoes of their Titans Return toys, available in a two-pack.

War for Cybertron: Earthrise

We're just clones, sir. We're meant to be expendable.

• Decepticon Clones 2-Pack (2-pack, 2020)
  • Decepticon Pounce
  • Wingspan

In 2020, "Decepticon Pounce" and Wingspan were released as a two-pack as part of the Target exclusive Cybertronian Villains subline. Their decoes are identical or near-identical to the Legends release above.

Not to me.

• Biosfera Autobot Clones (2-pack, 2020)
  • Fastlane
  • Cloudraker

Not long afterwards, Fastlane and Cloudraker were released as part of Amazon's Galactic Odyssey Collection. These versions are minor redecoes of the above Titans Return toys.

Notes

Foreign names

• Japanese: Clonebot (Autobot, クローンボット Kurōnbotto), Clonetron (Decepticon, クローントロン Kurōntoron)
• Mandarin: Kèlóng Zhànshì (China, 克隆战士, "Clone Fighter")
• Italian: Duoform 1 (Autobot), Duoform 2 (Decepticon)

References