Appearances:  

UK Transformers

#231 (The Big Shutdown, part 1)

Of interest, this story was later printed in colour in issue #330.

Quote:  

"We'll fight our way out if necessary!"

Alt-Mode:

Car.

Description:

Horsepower was used as a simple tool to add spice to the story. He didn't NEED to be there, but being there added a lot to the story.

Furman was obviously trying to build a kind of 'film noir' feel in this short story. All film noir P.I. movies have to have cannon fodder who get killed in the course of the twisting tale. Horsepower just happened to be one of those people who were slaughtered in the name of 'feeling'. Poor Horsepower.

Biography:  

Horsepower was an Autobot prisoner of war. He was set free by the Decepticon high command (ARMED no less) so that he could be hunted down by Thunderwing. This was all part of Thunderwing's 'test' to see if he was worthy of Decepticon leadership.

Horsepower, along with his companions, Playback and Hosehead, did their best to stay alive. Playback was slaughtered (see Playback's entry), but Hosehead and Horsepower managed to stay alive a little bit longer.

While examining Playback's body Horsepower and Hosehead encountered two other Transformers who they immediately assumed to be working with Thunderwing. One of them, Siren, chased after the pair.

By the time they both realised they were on the same side it was too late. Thunderwing had followed the noise Siren was making and discovered them. While Siren and Hosehead were squabbling Thunderwing blasted poor Horsepower into smithereens. And of Horsepower, no more was ever heard.

Tech Specs/TFU:  

I suspect he would have had similar medium-range stats to Siren and Hosehead. More than that I can't say (Well, I can, but I'll restrain myself just this once...).

Toy:  

Horsepower might have actually made not too bad of a toy. He seemed to be fairly similar to Siren or Nightbeat in body form, right down to the little guns which become parts of his head. However, he clearly was NOT a headmaster. It's interesting that the Decepticons gave him an earthen alt mode: clearly wanting the Autobots to have every chance they could against Thunderwing. This means he would have made a much more cool toy: he actually LOOKS like a car!

Basically, I assume his toy would be fairly similar to Nightbeat or Siren, except it would somehow TF without the whole 'Headmaster' thing going down, however that might be accomplished.

Over All:  

I quite like Horsepower for the same reason I really like Playback: his name. We didn't really learn much from Horsepower, but boy he has a cool name. And it relates to his alt mode, and possibly his powers too. That's cool. Not just a random name. Always cool for an obscure character!

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