Starscream

Starscream is a fictional robotic character in the Transformers franchise. He is usually the second-in-command of the Decepticons and usually transforms into a fighter jet. Most versions of the character depict him as a treacherous and cowardly air commander who seeks to overthrow the Decepticon leader Megatron and to assume control of the Decepticons.

The toy that would become Starscream first appeared in the 1983 Diaclone toy catalog as "Jet Robo". This toy transformed into a fighter jet and came in two colors.^[1] When the toy was added to the Transformers toyline to become a new character, the first suggestion for a name was "Ulchtar".^[2] Bob Budiansky convinced Hasbro to name the character "Starscream" instead.^[3]

In the original The Transformers cartoon, Starscream is one of the main villains. While he serves as the second-in-command to the Decepticon leader Megatron, he constantly tries to overthrow him and become the leader of the Decepticons himself. This makes him both an enemy of the Autobots and a source of trouble to his own faction.^[4] Although Megatron knows what Starscream is like, he never inflicts any lasting punishment on him.^[5] This original version of Starscream is voiced by Christopher Collins in English and by Hirotaka Suzuoki in Japanese.^[6] In The Transformers: The Movie, Megatron is badly wounded in a battle with Optimus Prime, the leader of the Autobots.^[7] Starscream uses Megatron's injuries to eject him into space and to finally take his place. However, Megatron is found by Unicron, who rebuilds Megatron into Galvatron. Galvatron crashes Starscream's coronation and incinerates him.^[5] Starscream dies, but continues to exist as a ghost with the ability to possess people in the third season.

In the 1990s, the Transformers franchise was rebooted as Transformers: Beast Wars. In the episode "Possession", Starscream's immortality is said to be due to his immortal "spark", which is a Transformer's "soul".^[3] Versions of Starscream have appeared in almost all adaptations of the Transformers franchise, often with different histories. In the The Transformers comic series by Marvel Comics, his backstory is that he was the leader of a criminal organization before joining Megatron, while the comic series by Dreamwave Productions depicts him as a former scientist-turned-gladiator. Both of the comic timelines by IDW Publishing present him as a former politician.^[8]

Starscream appears in the live-action 2007 Transformers film directed by Michael Bay. In this film, Starscream is not characterized as a traitor like in the original series, but rather as sycophantic to Megatron.^[3] In the 2007 film, Starscream transforms into a Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor.^[9][10] He also appears in the film's sequels, Revenge of the Fallen and Dark of the Moon,^[3] and is ultimately killed in Dark of the Moon by the human Sam Witwicky.^[4] He also makes a brief appearance in the opening scene of the reboot film Bumblebee, this time more closely resembling his original cartoon design.^[11]

The film Transformers One covers the origins of Starscream's relationship with Megatron. This version of Starscream is the leader of the Cybertron High Guard, a group working to sabotage and overthrow Sentinel Prime. D-16 (later named Megatron) battles Starscream for leadership and wins. From then on, the High Guard follow Megatron and become known as the Decepticons.^[12] In Transformers One, Starscream is voiced by Steve Buscemi.^[6][13]

• Starscream at the Transformers Wiki