Breakdown (G1)

Breakdown is a Decepticon Stunticon from the Generation 1 continuity family.

Ever since the invention of Targetmasters, Breakdown has been convinced his pistol is out to kill him... (It really is!)

Breakdown has an acute case of paranoia. (What was that!?) He genuinely believes that things, both living and inanimate, are watching him. (They're all over me!) Breakdown doesn't like to stand out in a crowd. (Did you hear that!?) He dreads being different and garnering attention. (Stop staring at me!) At times, he almost wishes he was a human so he could just disappear and no one would notice. (Get them off meeeee!) Needless to say, he and Red Alert (He's one of THEM!!) would be energon drinking buddies if each wasn't likely to be convinced the other was trying to poison him.

In vehicle mode, Breakdown's engine has got the shakes so hard that it can actually cause mechanical failures in other vehicles. (They're faking!) He can also rely (Ha! As if!) on his concussion rifle if he gets cornered in an alley. As you'd expect, his paranoia is his worst weakness. It's such a problem that the stress can trigger mechanical problems, and it does, constantly. (Oh, yeah, I bet you'd love to claim this was "self-inflicted"!)

Breakdown can also combine (They'll never take me alive!!) with his fellow Stunticons to form Menasor. As if the combiner wasn't unstable enough (It's not paranoia if they're really out to get you!!!), he's forced into working together with Wildrider (Oh god, I have to run together with HIM?) when they form Menasor's legs.

Fiction

Generation 1 cartoon continuity

The Transformers cartoon

Voice actor: Jack Angel (English, "The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1"), Alan Oppenheimer (English), Keiichi Nanba (Japanese), Takurō Kitagawa (Japanese, "The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1"), Show Hayami (Japanese, "Cosmic Rust", "Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1"), Reinhard Brock (German, "Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1"), Hans-Rainer Müller (German, "Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2"), Ulrich Bernsdorff (German, "Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3"), Albert Augier (European French, "The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1"), François Leccia (European French, "Masquerade"), Unknown actors (European French, "Cosmic Rust" & "Five Faces of Darkness" episodes), Júlio César (Portuguese), Carlos Marques (Portuguese, "Cosmic Rust"), Ricardo Schnetzer (Portuguese, "Masquerade"), Júlio Chaves (Portuguese, "Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3")

These Snap-Tite kits are awesome!

After a failed attempt to steal experimental rocket fuel from United States military, Megatron realized that while the Decepticons controlled the skies, the Autobots had supremacy on the ground, and so they needed new ground-based warriors who could out-drive and out-fight the Autobots on their terms. Rumble was sent to steal various human vehicles that would be rebuilt to become the new Stunticons. Breakdown was given life by Vector Sigma along with the rest of the Stunticons. He agreed to obey Megatron, but there was a certain reluctance in his voice. He probably thought Megatron was out to get him, or something. The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1

I'm Breakdown and... what the $*#@! are you looking at?!

Whilst the Autobots were trapped on Cybertron, the Decepticons returned to Earth with the newly awakened Stunticons who began wreaking havoc and damaging the Autobots' good name by attacking the US military base containing the experimental rocket fuel. Eventually, the Autobots returned with the newly built Aerialbots whose combined form Superion defeated the Stunticon combiner Menasor. The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2

Despite this defeat, the Stunticons were the key component in Megatron's elaborate scheme to hold a fake charity race from Paris to Istanbul so he could steal US driver Auggie Cahnay's car which would be melted down to house the powerful Pearl of Bahoudin. One by one, the Stunticons disabled the Autobot participants assigned to protect Cahnay. Afterwards, the Stunticons were defeated when Cahnay rammed his car into Menasor's face. Trans-Europe Express

When Megatron was infected with Cosmic Rust after a trip to the lost Autobot colony of Antilla, the Stunticons were assigned to capture the Autobot scientist Perceptor, who had developed the powerful anti-corrosion Corrostop. Arriving incognito on a ferry, Breakdown transformed and nervously informed the human passengers that this was a mutiny...no, no a hijack! Anyway, they were taking over the boat! Breakdown forced the humans into the captain's cabin, though he actually locked them in the garage. After Megatron cured himself and infected the Autobots with the Cosmic Rust, Menasor attacked the Statue of Liberty in New York City with the ancient Lightning Bug heat ray, intent on stopping the Autobots from matter-duplicating more Corrostop from the layer they sprayed on the statue. Superion defeated Menasor and destroyed the Lightning Bug. Cosmic Rust

Oh, God, People!, get away from me!

After Starscream was banished for yet another failed coup, he returned with a powerful new Decepticon team called the Combaticons, who were able to outfight Autobot and Decepticon alike. With Megatron needing a trump card, Soundwave attempted to call on the Stunticons to help, but they refused as they were having a demolition derby with various human-owned cars. However, the Stunticons belatedly arrived after the Combaticons' combined form of Bruticus defeated Devastator and forced Megatron to acknowledge Starscream as the new Decepticon leader. Realizing that Starscream would not stop at Megatron, the Stunticons merged into Menasor and disabled Bruticus in one mighty punch. Starscream's Brigade

Shouldn't the insanely paranoid Lambo Autobot have taken his place?

While assembling a new weapon capable of destroying any target by creating a chain reaction in its molecules, Megatron found himself short a few key components to finish the device. He sent the Stunticons out to retrieve those components by any means necessary. Breakdown and Wildrider assaulted a local optics laboratory to gather new focusing lenses for the cannon's beam. On their way to the weapon's construction site, they were intercepted by a troop of Autobots. It was Grapple who brought down Breakdown, setting him on fire with his arc-welder rifle by using a trail of fuel as a fuse. The Stunticons were dragged back to Autobot Headquarters for imprisonment, an experience that Breakdown considered thoroughly "mortifrying". Once brought in, the Stunticons' radios were disabled and they were trapped in vehicle mode behind energized bars. The Autobots then used camouflage paint to alter their appearances and mimic the Stunticons, hoping to get close enough to Megatron to catch him unawares. Autobot warrior Sideswipe assumed Breakdown's appearance for the mission. After they left, however, Breakdown tried using his unique vibratory pulses to disrupt his bars and break free, and just as he "preducted", it worked! He caught his Autobot captors by surprise and blasted several of them before they could react, giving him enough time to free his fellow Stunticons and form Menasor. After a brief but memorable conflict, Menasor escaped the Ark and returned to Megatron. The cannon was rendered unusable by the Autobots' intervention, though, and Megatron's plan failed. Masquerade

Breakdown never did like sitting around the campfire with the other Decepticons.

In the wake of Unicron's attack on Cybertron in the year 2005 and the subsequent Decepticon exile to Chaar in 2006, the Stunticons were reduced to being scavengers, fighting like slaargs with their fellow Decepticons over the few scraps of energon they had. Motormaster determined that the Decepticons needed strong leadership to survive, and hope came when Cyclonus brought news of Galvatron's survival and asked for the Decepticons to donate their remaining energon to revive their leader. While Dead End was pessimistic about their survival, Breakdown said they were doomed anyway without a leader and focus. Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1 Breakdown joined in on the attack when the Decepticons noticed Rodimus Prime and Grimlock spying on them. Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2 While Cyclonus and the Sweeps were recovering Galvatron, the Quintessons arrived on Chaar with an offer of energon in exchange for attacking the Autobots. The Stunticons were instrumental in convincing the other Decepticons to ally themselves with the Quintessons. Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3 After Galvatron returned to seize control of the Decepticons, the Stunticons were part of the Decepticon team attacking the Autobots on Earth. Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5

Breakdown merged with his fellow Stunticons into Menasor to take on Defensor during a battle in the Netherlands. They later got their butts kicked by Rodimus Prime and Ultra Magnus when the two helped steal Trypticon's transformation cog. The Ultimate Weapon Breakdown watched as a Matrix-possessed Scourge seized command from Galvatron and joined his attack on Japan. The Burden Hardest to Bear

After hearing Optimus Prime's body was being stored in Dr. Morgan's lab, Breakdown followed Galvatron in an attack on the facility, but wound up being infected by the Hate Plague. The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1

Japanese cartoon continuity

Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers story pages

I want to tell you about the Transformers! This character article is a stub and is missing information on their fictional appearances. You can help Transformers Wiki by expanding it.

Scramble City

Arm? Leg? He's the guy with the gun!

Breakdown and the Stunticons were summoned by Megatron to put an end to the Scramble City project, and succeeded where Starscream had failed. Their first strike was impressive, holding back Optimus Prime and a cadre of Autobots and shooting the Aerialbots out of the skies. When the Aerialbots formed Superion, Breakdown and his teammates followed suit and merged into Menasor. During the battle, the Stunticons tried mixing it up by swapping around their usual configuration, and Breakdown became Menasor's left arm. Scramble City: Mobilization

The Headmasters cartoon

Breakdown and the Stunticons participated in Galvatron's siege on Cybertron. They managed to gain the high ground against the Dinobots and Throttlebots, and rained laser fire down on their opponents. Four Warriors Come out of the Sky Breakdown and his team formed Menasor to fight their Autobot counterparts, but were steamrolled by the might and firepower of the Battleship Maximus. Transporting back to Earth, they attempted to interfere with Hot Rod's quest for the Matrix. Breakdown and the Stunticons were confronted by the Aerialbots in the desert, but the battle of their combiner forms eventually led them to the Arctic. The Mystery of Planet Master

When Vector Sigma began perfecting the new super-metal Cybertonuron on Cybertron, Galvatron ordered another all-out attack on the planet to seize the metal for the Decepticons before the Autobots could make use of it. Breakdown and the Stunticons journeyed to Cybertron with the strike force, and confronted their old enemies, the Aerialbots. The Aerialbots got the drop on Breakdown's group by forming Superion and lashing out before the Stunticons could form Menasor as well. Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 1 Breakdown and the Stunticons were still in a firefight sometime later, as Chromedome passed by looking for Mindwipe and the Decepticon Headmasters. Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 2 In San Francisco, Breakdown and the Stunticons assisted Bruticus in using a carnivorous plant to distract the Autobots from Scorponok's plans on Zarak. They fought against the Technobots and Computron. Head On!! Fortress Maximus

Sometime later, Breakdown and the Stunticons gathered in the desert as their Ninja Commander Sixshot began issuing orders. They assembled as Menasor, and took part in the escalating Decepticon war effort as five separate Autobot outposts were attacked simultaneously at Sixshot's command. The Emperor of Destruction Vanishes on an Iceberg The Stunticons remained on Earth while Scorponok took the bulk of the Decepticon forces to planet Master, hiding from the Autobots in the sunken continent of Lemuria where they mined crysmagnetal. When Scorponok returned, the Stunticons, combined as Menasor, joined in the final battle between the Autobot and Decepticons at the North Pole. The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 2)

Zone

Seeking to create a Decepticon Zone to counter the Autobot Zone, Decepticon Emperor Violengiguar gathered together the Nine Great Demon Generals, upgrading them with powerful new armor and weaponry, then sent them forth to conquer planets. Breakdown was among those summoned, but only as a part of Menasor. Zone Part 1 Enter the New Supreme Commander, Dai Atlas!

e-HOBBY comics

Grand Scourge dropped in through a tear in space-time during a fight between the Autobots and Decepticons, and used his Matrix Breaker sword to disassemble Menasor with a single blow. After grappling Dead End, the dimensional intruder realized he could forcefully combine with the Stunticons. Though Breakdown attempted to flee, Grand Scourge managed to have him form the left leg of his gestalt mode. Decepticon Dark Commander Grand Scourge

Unite Warriors

I want to tell you about the Transformers! This character article is a stub and is missing information on their fictional appearances. You can help Transformers Wiki by expanding it. Today Is Us Stunticons' Annual Holiday Demolition Race!

Legacy VS500 Collection Special Comic

Breakdown was a spectator for the second week of the Speedia 500 on Velocitron. Velocitron Speedia 500 Part 3

TV Magazine comic continuity

Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers comic

It's nice to see him happy once in a while!

Breakdown listened to Megatron boast about how Trypticon would trounce Metroplex once its construction was complete. Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #3

Breakdown and the Stunticons decided to have a little fun and tear up a baseball stadium in Japan. Luckily, the Autobots' plucky young ally Kenji was present to radio for assistance. All the combiner teams assembled, and it was Menasor and Bruticus against Superion and Defensor! Defensor was forced to break apart by the combined Decepticon attack, but Superion and Kenji got the idea to shoot out the Decepticons' leg components. Groove and Blades took advantage of the empty combiner ports and took over as Menasor's legs while First Aid and Streetwise took over as Bruticus' lower limbs. All four Protectobots immediately launched Menasor and Bruticus into the ocean. Breakdown was last seen chasing his "possessed" teammates into the distance. Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #5

While posing as Autobots, Breakdown, Onslaught and the Stunticons rampaged through the city streets, smearing the good name of their adversaries. Later, Frenzy and Rumble posed as humans to rally people against the Autobots, and Motormaster's brigade staged an attack on the rally to drive the point home. The Autobot fire engines Hot Spot and Inferno arrived, however, and used their water hoses to wash off the Decepticons' fake insignia. Enraged, Motormaster planned to combine into Menasor...only to see Breakdown and the others were already retreating into the distance. Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #7

Breakdown was one of the Decepticons that oversaw the conversion of a dog into a Decepticon weapon. The awesome energy within the animal allowed it to escape, and Megatron was forced to send out the Combaticons in order to retrieve it. Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #8

The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers

In the year 2010, Breakdown participated in a Decepticon attack on the planet Feminia. He and his team merged into Menasor in order to battle alongside Bruticus and Devastator against their Autobot counterparts Superion, Defensor and Omega Supreme. The fight was fairly evenly matched until Galvatron called up his ace-in-the-hole, Predaking, whose power was unmatched by any of the Autobots... except for the Omnibots, who essentially tied Predaking's shoelaces together until he fell over, straight into Menasor and his chums, sending them all toppling to the ground and knocking them to bits. The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers #5

The Great Transformer War

Galvatron kidnapped Doctor Dalton of Eran to upgrade the might of his combiner warriors. When the Autobot combiners arrived to save Dalton, Breakdown and his teammates were deployed at high speeds from Motormaster's launcher mode. They met Superion in mid-air, and the force of their deployment enabled the combiner teams to tear him apart. The Stunticons then merged into Menasor to move in for the kill. They were ultimately outwitted by the Autobots, however, who rescued Dalton and safely returned to Metroplex. The Great Transformer War #1

Zone comic

Seeking to create a Decepticon Zone to counter the Autobot Zone, Decepticon Emperor Violengiguar gathered together the Nine Great Demon Generals, upgrading them with powerful new armor and weaponry, then sent them forth to conquer planets. Breakdown was among those summoned, but only as a part of Menasor. Zone Part 1 Zone

Full Throttle Scramble Power!

The Decepticons constructed a new weapon to pursue their energy-plundering campaign on Earth, the Omega Wave Cannon. With the device at the ready, the Stunticons headed out to retrieve some energy from a power plant. They were met with the Aerialbots, and both teams combined into the gestalt forms. As they battled, Menasor made great use of his modular nature, having his Stunticon components swap between being arms and legs. Atop of this, Superion was crippled by the Omega Wave Cannon, giving the Decepticons the advantage. But the Autobots turned the tide of the battle by sending out massive amounts of reinforcements into the field, and the Decepticons were sent packing. Full Throttle Scramble Power!

Wings Universe

Some time after the return of Cybertron's Golden Age, Breakdown was the only remaining Stunticon. The others were all placed in stasis after a brutal fight with Defensor. Breakdown left Galvatron's army. His self-esteem had decreased considerably without Menasor to prove his value, and he feared it was only a matter of time before the volatile Decepticon leader simply did away with him. Breakdown traveled back to Earth in hopes of tracking down the last Protectobot Streetwise for revenge, and eventually joined Clench’s Decepticon Syndicate.

In 2010, Breakdown helped Clench take control of the Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland, where the Decepticons and the Quintesson agent Sky-Byte hoped to harness the potential of the chemical forestonite. Breakdown expressed his distrust of Sky-Byte, but his views were ignored by Clench who nominated both soldiers as test subjects for the refined forestonite. Luckily for them, the new fuel worked as intended. Breakdown's vibration ability was enhanced considerably, allowing him to fire sonic booms at his enemies.

He got to try out his new powers and try for vengeance when Streetwise and his fellow Generation 2 Autobots broke in, attempting to stop Clench's plan. After throttling Streetwise for a while, Breakdown had his enemy in his grip, but when he saw the Autobot commander Spark making a grab for the forestonite, he blasted the supply, hoping to blow it and Spark up.

Instead, the shattered canisters released forestonite gas, and exposed the Autobots to the same mutations as the Decepticons. Now granted the capability to phase through objects, Streetwise vanished from sight, psyching out the increasingly paranoid Breakdown. Eventually, he was able to sneak right up on the Decepticon. Breakdown would’ve been taken prisoner, but an explosion from outside startled Streetwise just long enough for Breakdown to transform and speed off in escape. Generation 2: Redux

Marvel Comics continuity

Marvel The Transformers comics

Many years ago on Cybertron, Breakdown existed before he was born and had joined Bombshell and Razorclaw in shooting at Sky Lynx. Spacehikers!

Breakdown is the blue guy in the background.

Though Buster Witwicky had given the Creation Matrix back to Optimus Prime, its influence was still present in his mind. He and Prime had their minds connected to a machine, where they shared a vision of a "Second Generation" of Transformers. Breakdown was the member of the Stunticons, one of four Special Teams. In this vision, Breakdown and his fellow Stunticons combined into Menasor and fought the Autobots Superion and Defensor. But Megatron and Soundwave were listening in on this vision, and both sides planned to make it reality. The Special Teams Have Arrived Second Generation!

Upon learning that the cerebro-shell implanted in Optimus Prime had also granted them access to the powers of the Creation Matrix, Megatron and Soundwave immediately built a team of Decepticons. The new Stunticons, which included Breakdown, were sent to find the Autobot Skids, who had earned new trust from the Autobots by publicly saving a human. After Breakdown and the others knocked over every car in their way to get to Skids, they turned to "protect" him from the new Aerialbots, hoping to confuse the public and discredit the Autobots. Breakdown combined with his fellow Stunticons to form Menasor, and they fought the Aerialbots' Superion. Heavy Traffic!

The other Stunticons watched as Megatron raged at the accidentally insolent Motormaster. Breakdown looked especially concerned as Megatron seemed to have crushed Motormaster under a boulder, but Megatron had purposefully missed to teach him a lesson. Prey!

Breakdown had traveled early with some other Decepticons to their new island headquarters, where he helped construct an energy transfer pipeline that led from the island through the space bridge to Cybertron. Megatron, meanwhile, had been attacked by Predaking under secret orders from Shockwave. When Predaking was defeated, (possibly) Breakdown found a "laser disk" inside Predaking that proved Shockwave's treachery. And then Megatron went nuts and apparently blew up himself and the Space Bridge before their eyes. Gone but Not Forgotten!

Breakdown is responsible for the mints on pillows.

Breakdown was seen among the Decepticons on board Shockwave's island base. When it was attacked by Fortress Maximus, Breakdown and the others traveled with the space-faring island headquarters into Earth's orbit, though Shockwave was seemingly killed in the process. The Desert Island of Space! Ratbat, who had assumed command, organized Breakdown and the other Decepticons in a battle against the Autobots on the Moon. Goldbug defended himself by throwing a moon rock at his head. But when their island ship was damaged, Ratbat called for a retreat. Totaled!

Ratbat moved their space-traveling island base back to Earth's seas, where it became a human travel resort to smokescreen the Decepticons' efforts to locate a key to finding the powerful Underbase. Breakdown was advertised on television as part of the island's smiling welcoming party. Club Con! Shortly thereafter, Ratbat's Decepticons met with Scorponok's Decepticons, and tempers and suspicions came to a head between the two groups as Breakdown was helping move fuel to the island base's fission tubes. Cold War!

Earthforce

Breakdown was briefly seen at the Enclave, rubbing shoulders with the various troops from Megatron and Shockwave's factions. The Bad Guy's Ball! Later, after the factions merged, he drove into battle alongside the Stunticons and Battlechargers when Soundwave led an attack on Autobot Earthbase. Although the Autobot defense systems were down at the time, Breakdown and his comrades were still ultimately driven off. Divide and Conquer! On another occasion, Starscream and Soundwave learned the Autobots had a human reporter writing a positive story about them. Fearing that good publicity among the humans would give Earthforce an edge, they sent the Stunticons to kidnap the human. Front Line! As Motormaster made off with the reporter, Breakdown and the Stunticons ran interference against the Autobot cars following him. After Jazz transformed and got off a quick shot at their leader, Breakdown rear-ended him in the legs. The Autobot was knocked out of the fight, but so was Breakdown as he had caved in his own hood in the effort. End of the Road!

Marvel UK future timelines

Lucky Draw Orange Stunticons

Breakdown and the Stunticons attacked Kup on the road in 2003, making an attempt to steal the plans for the upcoming Autobot City. They were successful, but the plans were a set of fakes, so they ultimately didn't gain anything. Ark Duty

In 2008, Scourge, Cyclonus, and Death's Head were compelled by Unicron to make an assassination attempt on the Decepticon leader, Shockwave. They sealed the door to the audience chamber during the attack, and so Soundwave summoned the Stunticons as Menasor to break through the door. They eventually did so, and Breakdown and Dead End were about to execute the Decepticon traitors when Death's Head returned with news of Shockwave's demise. Using a series of explosives built into his hover platform as an incentive, the bounty hunter forced Soundwave and the other Decepticons to submit to their leadership. The Legacy of Unicron!

Transformers Comic-Magazin

Breakdown and the Stunticons battled the Autobots over possession of an oil refinery and its resources. He Who Laughs Last...

Marvel Generation 2 comic

Sneering because they forgot about his snazzy new colors.

Breakdown was among the Decepticons rallied for war against the Cybertronians after Skullgrin's death. New Dawn

The Special Teams

Breakdown and the rest of the Stunticons were being kept a secret from the Autobots until Megatron was ready to dispatch them on a raid on the Pullen Power Plant. Once in position, the Stunticons raced forward, ready to take whatever Autobots might be guarding the location by surprise. Breakdown drove ahead of the rest of the group, scouting for an open road to their destination. Encountering the Protectobots en route, Motormaster ordered Breakdown and the other Stunticons to combine into Menasor to do battle. Dead End and Breakdown received the most damage during the fight, prompting them to send signals to their gestalt form to flee the battle. The fight soon began to weigh in the Autobots’ favour, prompting Menasor to split up into individual robots once more, who dispersed away from the battlefield. The Special Teams

Dreamwave Generation One continuity

The Stunticons were deemed psychotic and too dangerous to function in society, and as a result were placed into perpetual stasis lock inside of a prison facility. Later, in an attempt to create a diversion while he set his final plans in motion, Shockwave arranged for the release of the Stunticons. Cold War They formed into Menasor and ran amok for a while, until Ultra Magnus arrived and began insulting them. Unable to reconcile with this, the five Stunticons began to bicker with each other over whose fault it was that they were failing, temporarily stopping Menasor and allowing Ultra Magnus to ram the combiner in the chest, forcing him to separate into his component parts and disabling the Stunticons. Passive Aggression

G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers

"I learned this from Scrounge!"

It must've been Breakdown's lucky day when Teletran 3 went haywire and transported him and the Stunticons to 1930s Chicago, as unlike his comrades, he stayed conscious the whole time instead of getting locked in a new vehicle mode. Breakdown decided to stay quiet, however, and let himself be used by a human criminal gang until he and the others were found by a group of G.I. Joes and Cobra members sent to bring the lost Cybertronians back to the future. After overhearing Optimus Prime explaining what would happen to Earth if the Stunticons weren't retrieved, Breakdown revealed himself and stole Beachhead's disruption units, using them to awaken Dead End, Wildrider and Drag Strip. With Motormaster absent, Breakdown led the others in a car chase across Chicago, which ended when Prime and the humans found Motormaster and sent everyone back to present-day Cybertron. G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II #2

WESSIDE!

The Stunticons were later recruited into Serpent O.R.'s army, and Breakdown both helped capture some Autobots and G.I. Joes and attack an Autobot peace ceremony in the form of Menasor. The Art of War #3 Following the battle, he and Nautilator were assigned to guard the imprisoned Joes, and Breakdown told his fellow Decepticon how freaky it was to be on Earth and have all those fleshlings stare at you. He then decided to check up on the prisoner in black, only to hypnotized by the human's Arashikage ninja techniques and forced to gun down Nautilator. After then freeing the humans, Breakdown was released from Snake-Eyes's control and fell unconscious. The Art of War #4 After coming to his senses, Breakdown joined his fellow Decepticons in repelling a joint Autobot/G.I. Joe assault. Despite being backed up by powerful 'bots such as Trypticon, the Decepticons were defeated and Cybertron remained in the Autobots' control. The Art of War #5

The Beast Within

During a particularly violent battle between the Autobots and the Decepticons, Breakdown joined with the other Stunticons to form Menasor and do battle with The Beast, the Dinobots’ combined form. The Beast Within

Mystery of Convoy strategy guide manga

For further information, see: #Games

The five Stunticons confronted Ultra Magnus as he reached the end of the Floating City, combining into Menasor and opening fire on the Autobot. Menasor's Weak Point is His Forehead!

2005 IDW continuity

First appearance: The Transformers #1

Early in the war, Breakdown and Wildrider tried to take out the anti-Decepticon pirate news broadcaster, Blaster, after Soundwave had revealed his location. They attacked Blaster only to be taken out by the arriving Optimus Prime. Broadcast

After Megatron fell in battle and the powerful but unreliable Scorponok took over the cause, many Decepticons scattered rather than serve under him. Breakdown and the Stunticons became highwaymen on Magmara Nine until Thundercracker arrived and told them Megatron was back in charge. Primacy #2 Breakdown and the Stunticons participated in a massive strike on Autobot-controlled Cybertron under Megatron's command, launching the modern incarnation of the Autobot/Decepticon War. Primacy #4

"I hated that show!"

Breakdown was among the Decepticons abandoned on Earth after the fall of Megatron. Two years later, he was so desperate for energon that he attacked a human solar power planet, looking to somehow recharge. Skywatch was dispatched to the scene, and they overpowered the Stunticon using armored Crash suits. By attaching a mode-lock device, the Skywatch agents forcibly reverted Breakdown to vehicle mode, leaving him trapped and unable to operate himself. Spike Witwicky took possession of Breakdown's car mode himself after the battle. ...For All Mankind

Breakdown was then been relegated to Spike's pimpmobile, although the human did repair the battle damage first before taking the Decepticon out on the town. New Arrivals, Old Encounters Witwicky drove Breakdown to Skywatches' headquarters to interrogate Optimus Prime, who had surrendered himself. A Rude Awakening

After an enlightening conversation with Optimus, Spike left to drive Breakdown around to help clear his head. He asked Breakdown rhetorical questions about his feelings on the war, knowing that the suppressor kept the captive Decepticon from being able to listen, but Spike's one-sided chat was suddenly interrupted. The other Stunticons had surrounded Breakdown on the road, hoping to rescue him. Reclaiming Breakdown wouldn't be easy, as Spike began unloading gunfire at them through his busted window. Despite these countermeasures, Spike was forced to abandon Breakdown by leaping out his window into a body of water when he saw the much bigger Motormaster heading towards him in a game of chicken.

Breakdown was returned to the construction site of a spaceship, built by an alliance between some Decepticons and a group of Autobots led by Hot Rod. Swindle spent three hours doing mysterious repairs on Breakdown, cutting into time needed to build the spaceship, a decision that had begun to rub the Autobots the wrong way. But when Ultra Magnus and a group of deputized Autobots under Bumblebee's command arrived to arrest everyone for their illegal actions, Swindle's gambit was revealed. Breakdown had been rebuilt, like the other Stunticons, to combine into the massive Menasor. Surprise! Enemies of the System

Breakdown teaches Spike an important lesson in helmet safety.

Despite their new physical power, however, the Stunticons' combiner process was imperfect. The individual robots' personalities did not properly blend into one another to create the Menasor gestalt mind, leaving them mentally disorganized. Breakdown was heard complaining that he couldn't see anything from his position as one of the legs. The Autobots took advantage of this weakness, targeting the individual Stunticon components in sequence. Breakdown was seen surrendering to Skywatch in the aftermath. Earthworks

Months later, the Stunticons were freed from their captivity when Decepticons under Megatron's command returned to Earth and attacked the Skywatch facility where they were held. The Demolished Man Around six weeks later, Breakdown ran Spike off his motorbike and attempted to kill him. Unfortunately, Prowl and Streetwise were observing Spike as part of the Autobots' investigation into him, and they gave Breakdown a bit of a beating. Police Action #1 He returned to the other Decepticons, who were planning on joining Megatron on Cybertron via space bridge, but ended up staying behind alongside the other Stunticons to destroy an intruding Bumblebee. However, Bumblebee was able to capture all five of them by sabotaging the bridge, causing a power surge that knocked them out. The Question

Losing to Bumblebee was a major blow to the Stunticons' egos and reputation. They mostly stayed off the radar when Cybertron was repopulated following the Chaos event, congregating in the Decepticon ghetto outside of New Iacon. When Swindle arrived with the Enigma of Combination to restore Menasor, however, Breakdown and the Stunticons jumped at the chance to reclaim their fame. Swindle and the Stunticons travelled through Metroplex's space bridge and stormed Caminus. First Contact

Things quickly went downhill for the Stunticons and Menasor was summarily trounced by the similarly rebuilt Superion. The Stunticons were disassembled, sent back to Cybertron, and imprisoned. The Sum and Its Parts Swindle sprang the Stunticons as part of a diversion; they formed Menasor and incited a Decepticon riot at Metroplex's space bridge. You, Me, and the Universe The Stunticons fared poorly in their second fight against the Autobot combiners, and after Menasor fell the Stunticons were put away for good. All That Remains

TransTech

Aw dang we hoped they'd bump into the teal and pink one!

A Breakdown (in a forestonite-enhanced body) was among the many Offworlders in Axiom Nexus. Transcendent: Part 4

Another Breakdown, hailing from a universe where an Autobot-Decepticon alliance was fighting a group of violent techno-organic aliens known as Destructons, was tasked by Galvatron to find the Destuctons' ancient structure known as the Maelstrom Fracture Obelisk. Eventually finding it, Breakdown was about to report its location when the Destructon known as Psychokhan attacked, piercing him with a Psychospear. The spear's mental assault combined with the power of the obelisk's Disentanglement Field to send Breakdown flinging through the multiverse. Years later, the Transcendent Technomorphs found his energy signature in transwarp and brought him into Axiom Nexus. The advanced Cybertronians quickly fitted him with an identification bolt and left him under constant surveillance. TFSS Breakdown bio card

Breakdown was playing cards with a number of other bots in Axiom Nexus when Hero Prime and Beast Prime turned up looking for Depth Charge. Invasion: Epilogue

Ask Vector Prime

Breakdown was presumably present as part of Menasor during the Battle for Sherman Dam in Primax 096.0 Beta. Ask Vector Prime, 2015/09/06

Commercial appearances

For some reason he has a thing about BotCon.

• Breakdown and the rest of the Stunticons drove over a barren, rocky terrain to meet against the Aerialbots. Both teams combined, and their gestalt forms engaged in a no-holds-barred slug-fest. Aerialbots and Stunticons commercial
• Megatron called Breakdown and Counterpunch to him to help him brainstorm ideas for more ultimate weapons. Breakdown suggested they visit BotCon again, as it was the destination for everything Transformers-related. Also, there would be exclusive toys, special guests, and various functions and events! Little did Breakdown know that Counterpunch was a double agent, and that the Decepticons' designs for BotCon would soon be relayed to the Autobots. BotCon 2010 Promo

Games

Bot Shots Battle Game!

Okay, Breakdown, just keep it together and smile...OH GOD SOMEONE'S BEEN PLAYING ME ALL ALONG!

Breakdown participated in numerous one-on-one matches against other Autobots and Decepticons, using his fists, his sword, or his gun to defeat his opponents. Sometimes, he even faced off against himself! Bot Shots Battle Game!

Transformers Legends

Signal Lancer just can't catch a break.

Breakdown and the rest of the Stunticons were created in response to the failure of a Decepticon campaign to acquire Autobot superfuel. Realizing they needed a strong ground force, Breakdown and his kin were created by modifying Earth vehicles with Cybertronian technology, and then bringing them before Vector Sigma to be imbued with the spark of life. The Autobots brought the Aerialbots to life at the same time, and the Decepticons found themselves on the losing side until the Stunticons merged into Menasor. The Decepticons lost nonetheless, though they acquired the key to Vector Sigma as a consolation prize. The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1 Later, Breakdown participated in a fight on Earth as the Decepticons attempted to use the power of the key to transform Earth into a new Cybertron. Even though he and his fellow Stunticons merged into Menasor, the battle was still lost to the Autobots, and the Decepticons fled. Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2

Even Megatron had trouble controlling the Stunticons. The team went on a crime spree in the back alleys of human cities until they were tracked down and stopped by Prowl and his team. The Thin Blue Line

Breakdown was among Galvatron's Decepticon troops who attacked a small group of Autobots, forcing them into hiding in the Autobot Mausoleum. Dark Awakening

Wildrider and Breakdown were sent to stop a convoy of Autobots from delivering a vital component to a power station to prevent it exploding. Possibly because they were the only ones crazy enough not to realize they'd be in danger if they were near the station when it exploded. They failed anyway. Rushdown Road

Angry Birds Transformers

Main article: Chef Pig#As Breakdown

Breakdown appears as a character unlockable in Challenge Events. He is portrayed by Chef Pig. Angry Birds Transformers

Transformers: Battle Tactics

Oh no...everyone is out to get me! I WAS RIGHT ALL ALONG! I gotta get out. I GOTTA GET OUT OF THIS GAME!!

Breakdown participated in battles against a variety of opponents, both Autobots and Decepticons. Sometimes there were many of him! He was an Uncommon character who could be recruited by collecting 45 units of Cybermetal, and 20 units of Transmetal. Transformers: Battle Tactics

Transformers: Devastation

As Wheeljack was about to repair the Proudstar's damaged Plasma Core, Breakdown and the other Stunticons arrived and formed Menasor in an attempt to stop the Autobots. Transformers: Devastation

Transformers: Frontiers

The Game Full of Death and Suffering...! This character article is a stub and is missing information on their video game appearances. You can help Transformers Wiki by expanding it. Transformers: Frontiers

Transformers: Earth Wars

OH GOD!!! I WAS RIGHT!!!! MY CONSPIRACY WAS RIGHT!!!! HE'S COMING!!!!!! RUN FOR YOUR LIVEEEEES!!!!!!

Extremely self-conscious, almost to the extent of paranoia, Breakdown thinks everyone is not just looking at him, but staring at him, especially when he's in vehicle mode. Sometimes, his circuits get so overloaded with worry that his engine stalls mid-drive. Breakdown liked being on Cybertron where he fit in, but on Earth - disguise or no disguise - this scout feels he sticks out like a sore thumb. Breakdown bio

Breakdown showed up through the Space Bridge sometime during the battle for the Fractal Map, but was too afraid to take part.

He had a nice "talk" with Octopunch when Octopunch was sulking about his loss on Aquatron. Breakdown avoided having a conversation by saying he had more important things to do, like getting his servos realigned. Octopunch Research

Breakdown wasn't too pleased when the bragging Dragstrip arrived on Earth, but Bludgeon welcomed him, and then told Breakdown to show his "friend" where the Autobots are on the race track. Race Day Mayhem

• Class: Gunner
• Lowest Star Rating: 2 star
• Weapons: Breakdown uses a standard issue grenade launcher.
• Ability: EMP Rocket Barrage - Breakdown fires off 5 rockets that disables enemy buildings for a few seconds.
• Cost: 4 ability points (was 5) +2 for reuses.

Breakdown at Transformers: Earth Wars Wiki

Transformers: Bumblebee Overdrive

Breakdown was among the Decepticons defending their multiple bases against Autobot invasors. Transformers: Bumblebee Overdrive

Transformers Roleplaying Game

Breakdown was a member of the Stunticons Decepticon Directive and a natural-born follower: he gladly followed ‘bots like Megatron and Starscream into battle, and had a close relationship with his partner Knock Out. However, he also developed a fierce rivalry with the Autobot Bulkhead. Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook

Toys

The Transformers

Wahoo reaction, now a gucci cola sale

• Breakdown (Stunticon, 1986/1987)
  • Team ID number: S2
  • Japanese ID number: D-51
  • Accessories: concussion rifle, plasma-energy blaster, connector

The original Breakdown toy transforms into an off white Lamborghini Countach. He comes with a blue double-barreled plasma-energy blaster that attaches to the back of his vehicle mode. In robot mode, he is armed with a small blue laser pistol. As he was designed with the Scramble City-style of combination, he can form the arm or leg to any similarly-constructed super robot. Although the 1986 Stunticon gift set shows Breakdown as the left arm of Menasor, Breakdown's nominal placement is as Menasor's right leg.

In early preproduction samples of the toy, Breakdown's Decepticon sticker was placed on his vehicle-mode door—but at some point, it was replaced with a rubsign, which then in turn was moved to a sculpted indent on the toy's roof for the final release (the instructions ended up suggesting that the Decepticon sticker be placed on his crotch). With the rubsign taking up space on the roof, the original Countach-accurate trapezoid sculpted indent was shortened, and another red sticker was dropped from the sticker sheet—but the printed red section remains, allowing you to cut it out and apply it yourself if you wish. Breakdown's arm stickers are mirrored, leaving it up to preference which sides they should go on; sources agree that the red dots should be at the top. Finally, the small square stickers—which the instructions suggest slapping onto the front of his shins—appear to be sized for the square regions next to his knee hinges, a fact supported by early test shots of the figure; on those test shots, the red dots run down the middle, while the boxart instead suggests they should be at the top.^[1]

• More information on Breakdown at TFU.info
• Instructions for Breakdown at Botchthecrab.com

• Menasor (Giftset, 1986)
  • Japanese ID number: D-55
  • Accessories: concussion rifle, plasma-energy blaster, connector

Breakdown was also available as part of the Menasor giftset in numerous markets, along with his teammates Motormaster, Dead End, Drag Strip, and Wildrider. All of the toys in the set are identical to their individual releases.

• More information on Menasor at TFU.info

• Breakdown (1990)
  • Accessories: concussion rifle, plasma-energy blaster, connector

Breakdown was rereleased without changes in 1990 as part of the European/Australian Classics reissue line.

Generation 2

Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean you aren't teal.

• Breakdown (Stunticon, 1994)

• Team ID number: S3
• Accessories: Rifle, twin-barreled cannon, connector

Generation 2 Breakdown was released as an exclusive at BotCon 1994. Its confirmed production run numbers a mere 300 specimens: 204 were available at BotCon '94, an additional 48 were given official release the following January at the 1995 Florida Extravaganza Collectibles Show, and the rest initially remained in Hasbro's possession and over the years have probably made their way into private collections. Originally, Hasbro had planned to mass-release a complete set of Generation 2 Stunticons, but ultimately only Breakdown saw official release in any form. The "collect them all!" cross-sell on the back of the packaging featuring the other Stunticons was covered by a BotCon 1994 sticker.

The toy is, of course, a redeco of the original Breakdown toy, and has the distinction of being the first BotCon toy ever.

• More information on Generation 2 Breakdown at TFU.info

Timelines

Cue the Miami Vice theme.

• Generation 2: Redux (BotCon 2010 box set)
  • Accessories: pistol, engine block

A redeco and new-head retooling of the Universe Sideswipe/Sunstreaker mold, Breakdown transforms into a heavily-modified-for-legal-purposes Lamborghini Gallardo in his Generation 2 color scheme. He uses the "Sideswipe" robot mode with the hood-chest. His pistol can be mounted in either of the holes on his shoulders, as well as combined with the removable engine assembly to form a beefier-looking weapon. The engine can also be mounted on his back as his jet pack. His license plate reads "BCFW94", as in "BotCon Fort Wayne '94", the very first BotCon ever. The toy is pinker and golder than the original BotCon toy, probably due to oversaturated TFWiki photos. The same issue carried through to the Kreon listed below.

Breakdown features the hole where the light bar would screw in on Henkei! Henkei! Red Alert on the top of his car mode roof. In order to match the original release, his headlights are painted over rather than being transparent pieces like in previous uses of this mold.

He is part of a Generation 2-themed five-figure box set available exclusively at BotCon 2010, alongside Clench, Autobot Spark, Streetwise, and Sky-Byte.

This mold was also used to make Henkei!/Generations Red Alert and the Club-exclusive Punch/Counterpunch.

• More information on Timelines G2 Breakdown at TFU.info

I'm not even my own mold? THEY'RE ERASING MY IDENTITY!!!

• Breakdown (Deluxe, 2013)
  • TFSS1 number: 4
  • Accessories: concussion cannon, vibro-projection engine

By popular demand, a redeco of BotCon 2010 Breakdown in his pre-Forestonite Generation 1 colors. He was the fourth figure sent out as part of the Transformers Collectors' Club Transformers Figure Subscription Service 1.0 in 2013.

This version of the figure seems to suffer from mold degradation; the "dramatic head reveal" function doesn't stay in place, the gun and supercharger can't stay clipped together, it's difficult for the gun to peg into the holes near Breakdown's shoulders, and his balljoints are rather loose. Just like the previous figure, his headlights are painted over.

• More information on Timelines Subscription Service Breakdown at TFU.info

Bot Shots

I can't even combine anymore!!! WHO AM I?!?

• Stunticons (Multi-pack, 2013)
  • Number: T010
    • Fist strength: 685
    • Blaster strength: 570
    • Sword strength: 355

A redeco of the Roadbuster Bot Shot in white and blue, Breakdown automatically transforms between car and robot mode, when a sharp impact is applied to his front end. He was sold in a five-pack with Motorbreath, Dead End, Decepticon Dragstrip, and Brake-Neck.

• More information on Breakdown at TFU.info

Kre-O

Wait, I can get eaten?! AHHHHHHHH!!!!

• Menasor (Micro-Changer Combiner, 2014)
  • Set number: A7308
  • Pieces: 90
  • Accessories: pistol

• Known designers: Ed Masiello (Hasbro)

"Decepticon Breakdown" is a Kreon included with the Menasor Micro-Changer combiner set, and can be rebuilt from robot to either sports car or Menasor's right leg. His deco is based on the Generation 1 Breakdown toy, and he wears a blue Starscream helmet.

• More information on Breakdown at TFU.info

AND NOW I LOOK LIKE CANDY!!!! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!!!

• Kreon Breakdown (Kreon Souvenir Figure Set, 2014)
  • Accessories: small pistol, double-barreled pistol

"Kreon Breakdown" uses the same body tampograph pattern and vehicle mode build as the retail version, but his colors and faction symbol are from the Generation 2 version of Breakdown, plus he has a different face with a Constructicon helmet. His vehicle mode build also uses tampographs for extra detailing as opposed to the decals of the retail version.

He was only available as part of a BotCon 2014 Kre-O six-pack, including Fractyl, Gigatron, Landshark, Rattrap, and Shattered Glass Rodimus.

• More information on BotCon Breakdown at TFU.info

• Combiner Robot Mega Pack (3-pack, 2016)
  • Set number: ???
  • Pieces: 245

3 years later, the 3 Micro-Changer combiners, Superion, Bruticus, and Menasor, were reissued and released as a 3-pack. The toys were unchanged from their individual releases.

Combiner Wars

Back to my old self! (But what's in it for THEM?!?)

• Breakdown (Deluxe Class, 2015)
  • 4 of 5: Menasor
  • Accessories: sword/gun, gun/fist/foot

• Known designers: John Warden (Hasbro)

Part of the second wave of Combiner Wars Deluxe Class toys, Breakdown transforms from a supercar resembling a Lamborghini Diablo crossed with a Kode 0 to robot and back. As a Combiner Wars Deluxe, he is able to form a limb for any Combiner Wars-style Voyager figure but is, of course, intended to be combined with Motormaster, Drag Strip, Dead End, Offroad, and Blackjack to create Menasor. He is also officially associated with Galvatronus.

The limb piece can connect on the vehicle mode's top in two different ways: either by using the 5mm peghole arrangement most of the other Stunticons use, or through a system of tabs which incorporate the weapon closer to the vehicle, evoking the custom engines Sunstreaker had for some reason. The limb piece can also be stored on the robot's back, a feature also shown in the figure's package art, also evoking the custom engines Sunstreaker had for some reason (this can either be achieved by using the 5 mm peg, or by folding back the limb piece's palm and thumb, and using the guide-rails located on the sides of the limb piece). Breakdown's sword/gun can tab into either of the slots on the car mode's sides.

Strangely, unlike the other Stunticons, Breakdown's limb piece is not molded in purple plastic, but instead molded in black and painted a more blue-ish shade of purple, causing it to stand out among the other Stunticon hands and feet.

Breakdown comes with a copy of Combiner Wars #5 (actually Robots in Disguise #13). In non-U.S. releases, he comes with a collector card featuring art from the episode "The Thin Blue Line" of Transformers Legends.

As a part of the first and second wave promotion in Hasbro's Asian markets, a free sticker sheet for the Aerialbots and Stunticons was given out when purchasing any four Deluxe Class toys from those waves. As such, Breakdown was given Generation 1 toy-esque stickers for the owner to apply if they wanted.^[2]

This mold was differently retooled each time to make Sunstreaker, Jumpstream, Wheeljack, Ravage, and Wrecker Counterpunch. It also served as the model for the non-toy Of Masters and Mayhem incarnation of Sideswipe and the Spatiotemporal Challengers incarnation of Turbo.

• More information on Combiner Wars Breakdown at TFU.info

This again...

• Menasor (Collection Pack, 2016)
  • Accessories: sword, Stunticon weapons/extremities

Breaking the cycle of being a BotCon exclusive, this Breakdown is a redeco of his Combiner Wars toy in his Generation 2 color-scheme. Well, okay, technically, his color scheme is based on somebody's digibash based on somebody's hand-painted recreation of the cancelled Generation 2 toys. The tampograph on his windscreen now reads "94 RACING" as a reference to the intended 1994 release of the G2 Stunticon toys.

This Breakdown is only available in a Generation 2-themed gift set of Menasor with Motormaster, Dragstrip, Brake-Neck, Dead End and Blackjack

• More information on Combiner Wars Generation 2 Breakdown at TFU.info

Unite Warriors

Ah! I look slightly more obvious! Get them away from me!

• Menasor (giftset, August 22, 2015)
  • ID number: UW-02
  • Accessories: sword, hand/foot/gun

• Known designers: Hisao Nishimoto (TakaraTomy)

The Unite Warriors release of Breakdown is sold in a Menasor gift set that includes the five original "Stuntrons". He has numerous changes in deco to better match his look in the Generation 1 cartoon. Oddly, the Takara version of Breakdown substitutes his regular hand/foot weapon for one identical to Drag Strip's. Whilst this means that the hands and feet can be symmetrical in combined mode (with two of the Drag Strip type and two of the Dead End type), this does mean that it doesn't clip onto his car roof like the original did, nor can it slide into the specially-molded groove in the back of his robot mode.

This toy is also officially associated with Scourge Grand Prime.

Legacy

I'm the last one to be released? This is a setup, I know it!!

• Breakdown (Deluxe Class, 2023)

• 4 of 5: Menasor
• TakaraTomy ID number: TL-24
• TakaraTomy release date: March 25, 2023
• Accessories: Pistol, spoiler
• Known designers: Mark Maher (Hasbro), Shogo Hasui (TakaraTomy)^[3]

The final member of the Legacy Stunticons to be revealed, Breakdown is a retool of his teammate Wild Rider, with the top panels of the back of his car mode, chest and head retooled, resulting in him transforming into a combination of a Ferrari 308 and Lamborghini Countach. Breakdown includes his spoiler, which must be detached for transformation into robot mode. The spoiler can be wielded as a boomerang-like weapon or form a sort of axe weapon when combined with Breakdown's gun. Notably, he only comes with one gun unlike the other deluxe Stunticons who were all packaged with two each. Said gun can be stored under the front of his vehicle mode (via an already-existed peg hole from Wild Rider's mold) or mount onto one of the peg holes normally used for his spoiler. He retains Wild Rider's light piping, which is still painted over. Interestingly, Breakdown's feet, while reusing those of Wild Rider, have a peg hole on each foot (presumably for C.O.M.B.A.T. System gimmick).

This figure is not compatible with any prior systems of combination. As Legacy Menasor is designed with a specific limb configuration in mind, Breakdown is limited to being one of Menasor's legs, but unlike Dragstrip and Dead End as the arms, he can be used for either the left or right leg.

This figure was revealed at the Japanese Takara Tomy Hobby Expo convention, prior to any official reveal from Hasbro.^[4]

While presented by Hasbro with the initial assortment for the 2023 Evolution subline, Hasbro marketing representative Ben MacCrae noted the team had gone out of their way to keep Breakdown in vanilla Legacy packaging to maintain continuity across the team for mint-in-box collectors.^[3] This didn't entirely extend to his instructions, though: Early production runs featured the Evolution branding and color scheme, and also made no mention of the Menasor leg mode whatsoever, but a running change variant saw the instructions changed to the vanilla Legacy branding and color scheme, with the Menasor leg mode for Breakdown added as well. But if you're a MISB collector, it's not like you're going to be seeing those instructions anyway, so.

Breakdown was scheduled for release in the first quarter of 2023 but arrived at Philippine retail in late November 2022.

THEY'RE GONNA TAKE OFF MY HEAD!!!

• Stunticon Menasor (Giftset, 2023)

• TakaraTomy name: Stunticon Menastor (スタンティコンメナソー)
• TakaraTomy ID number: TL-90
• TakaraTomy release date: 2025 March 29
• Accessories: Pistol, spoiler, alternate head
• Known designers: Mark Maher (Hasbro), Shogo Hasui (TakaraTomy)

A redeco and minor retool of the above Legacy figure. Breakdown is based on the original 1986 Generation 1 toy's deco and decals, and features a brand new head that more closely resembles the one of the original toy… even though none of the other Stunticons were given alternate heads. The original head featured on the individual release is packaged with the accessories.

Breakdown was released in a giftset with the other Legacy Stunticons, each done in a toy-accurate deco. This set was revealed at San Diego Comic Con 2023, and went up for preorder as a Hasbro Pulse exclusive on August 1.

This is the correct color scheme, right? ...RIGHT?!

• G2 Universe Breakdown (Deluxe Class, 2025)

• Accessories: Pistol, spoiler
• Known designers: Mark Maher (Hasbro), Shogo Hasui (TakaraTomy)

Released in the fifth and final wave of Legacy: United Deluxes, "G2 Universe Breakdown" is another redeco of the above Legacy figure, this time in the teal, silver, and (albeit darker) purple of the original Generation 2 toy. This time, he only comes with the toy-based head.

This iteration replicates the hood deco faithfully (including leaving out a rectangle of black paint that also wasn't there on the source material because of a transformation hinge), but does regrettably omit the roof and door's tampographed details.

Designer commentary on Legacy G2 Universe Breakdown from Mark Maher on Instagram

This item is currently scheduled for release, but is not yet available at mass retail.

Merchandise

Transformers Trading Card Game

• Breakdown, Paranoid Scout (2019)
  • Wave 2: Rise of the Combiners
  • Rarity: CT
  • Card Number: T13/T46
  • Stars: 5

Breakdown, Paranoid Scout was released as part of the Transformers Trading Card Game Wave 2: Rise of the Combiners. Like all other members of combiner teams released in the set, Breakdown, Paranoid Scout is a folding card, with the Bot and Alt modes being depicted when the card is folded in half, and a holofoil portion of the the combined mode depicted when unfolded. The reverse of Breakdown, Paranoid Scout depicts Menasor's left arm, which is formed by Breakdown in the artwork.

The artwork for Bot and Alt Mode is reused from the Transformers Legends mobile game, and is based on the 2013 Transformers Collectors' Club Transformers Figure Subscription Service 1.0 Breakdown figure.

Breakdown, Paranoid Scout can be used to form Menasor, Menacing Colossus with the use of the Action card Stunticon Enigma while he and the other Wave 2 Stunticons are in Bot mode on the battlefield or KO area.

Notes

So what if he can't transform? He doesn't have to link up to that jerk Motormaster ever again!

• An unofficial Action Master Generation 2 Breakdown was an exclusive at BotCon 2004, created from bootlegged Action Master Sideswipe parts. Though this wiki does not normally list unofficial items, this one is put here simply to reinforce that even though it is a BotCon toy, it was from the one year that BotCon was unofficial, and the toy is not Hasbro-approved either. Thank you, won't we?
• Despite popular belief, Breakdown's eyes in the Generation 1 cartoon are purple, not yellow. However, the shade of lavender used for said eyes causes an optical illusion when placed next to the dark red of his face, making them look yellow. This misconception has since gone on to influence practically every single future version of the character ever, including all of his fictional appearances, official illustrations, and toy releases.
• In the Transformers Decepticons game based on the 2007 movie, an unlocked alternate mode called "Scout" is a homage to Breakdown.
• Revenge of the Fallen Runamuck's vehicle mode deco homages Breakdown's Generation 1 form. Brakedown of the same franchise is another homage.
• Breakdown's depiction in IDW Publishing's The Transformers comic is based upon Universe Sunstreaker's design sans roof. Since you can remove that mold's roof without tools, you can mistransform the Subscription Service figure mentioned above to match this portrayal.

Foreign names

• Japanese: Breakdown (ブレークダウン Burēkudaun, ブレイクダウン Bureikudaun)
• French: Panicon (Canada, 1986 release), Optique (Canada, 1990 "Classic" version)
• Hungarian: Vibrátor ("Vibrator")
• Italian: Caimano ("Caiman")
• Mandarin: P^hāo-máo (Taiwan, 拋錨, "Reject Anchor"), Dǎjí​ (China, 打击, "Strike")
• Russian: Krushitel (Крушитель, "Crasher")

References