Michael Black asked:
In generation 1, Blackout from Transformers is Spaceshot’s
partner and they’re a team of Micromasters Combiners. Originally
they always appeared together in the animated series, thus making
it hard to distinguish between the two who was who. According
to his biography, Blackout is a brave warrior, but frequently a
coward when the odds where just slightly turned against him or
his team. On the other hand Spaceshot obliged him to keep
pushing till the end of the battle was reached.
Fast forwarding all the way to 2007, Blackout appears in the live
action movie as a Decepticon who can transform into a military
helicopter. Early scripts implied that this helicopter transforming
character would be named Vortex, but potentially because of
Lack of trademark on the name they decided to switch it to
Blackout. In fact, Blackout had numerous codenames before
finalizing: Incinerator, Soundwave and Vortex. All of these names
had been used by at least one transformers toy in the past.
The movie writers agree that Blackout from Transformers is the
biggest Decepticon, this gives him the ability to transport other
Decepticons from one place to another. Blackout has the unique
ability to interrupt electronic equipment by releasing EMP blasts.
He also has an array of canons and missile launchers which serve
well during battle. When in helicopter mode, he can simulate the
holographic appearance of a human being driving the helicopter,
who’s referred to as Mustache Man. Furthermore, Scorponok is
transported by Blackout on his back.
Like many other Transformers, Blackout’s tech specs vary
depending on the source. If you take a look at his tech spec card
he’s supposed to be 33 feet tall, but according to the toy he
should be 55 feet tall. His height remains a mystery, yet it’s a
know fact that he’s even larger than Decepticon leader Megatron.
In the movie’s prequel novel Blackout stands out as Starscream’s
biggest rival for the leadership of the Decepticons. When he
finally got the opportunity he led Frenzy and Bonecrusher to an
Autobot attack in which he failed miserably against Optimus
Prime. He then fought a duel against Starscream for complete
Decepticon leadership, but he lost against the superior prowess of
his stronger opponent.
Blackout is the very first Transformer to appear in the movie.
With Scorponok riding on his back, they are the first to disengage
an attack against US military forces in Qatar. Conveniently he’s
disguised as a US military helicopter which was lost three months
earlier, thus he was able to sneak in the SOCCENT base without
mayor issues. Once inside the base, he shatters it to pieces only
leaving a handful of humans alive. Later in the movie Blackout
eads over to Frenzy’s calling about finding the Allspark. When
summoned by Starscream, Blackout from Transformers proves to
be ultimately loyal to Megatron, in his own words: “All hail
Megatron”. In the final battle he’s eventually killed by Captain
Lennox and jet fighters simultaneously shooting heavy missiles
towards him.