Blitzwing
Bombshell
Cliffjumper
Cyclonus
Elita-One
Galvatron
Gears
Grimlock
Hoist
Hot Rod
Hound
Inferno
Ironhide
Jazz
Megatron
Optimus Prime
Perceptor
Prowl
Ramjet
Ratchet
Rodimus Prime
Rumble
Skyfire
Skywarp
Slag
Snarl
Starscream
Swoop
Thundercracker
Thrust
Tracks
Ultra Magnus
Wheeljack

Function: Grumpy, Broody Warrior Dude Voice Actor: John Stephenson First Appearance: "More Than Meets The Eye, Part 1"

Nightwind's Words of Wisdom:

Thundercracker's the guy with the name that's waaaay too long. And for the longest time, I was so totally fixated on Starscream that I never paid much attention to Thundercracker and Skywarp. It's only relatively recently that I really started to appreciate those two. And then I (only relatively recently) read Thundercracker's "Transformers Universe" profile...and now it's hard to say who I like better, Screamer or TC. Other than his totally un-Thundercracker-like motto thingy, I love Thundercracker's profile, with the whole "uncertainty about the Decepticon cause" angle. I love it so much that it inspired me to write a fanfic focusing solely on him! I wish like crazy that some of that uncertainty, that second-guessing nature, and that--yes!--adorable vulnerability had made it into the cartoon ("Fire on the Mountain" was the closest the show came.).

Why? Because it makes Thundercracker a thinker, not just a generic violent, stupid, and/or power-mad follower, as most of the "non-star" Decepticons were generally portrayed. The Decepticons needed some character depth beyond the "superficial standard villain" thing. And Thundercracker could have injected some depth easily. According to his profile (and according to me!), he's a guy who, perhaps, doesn't believe everything he hears, a guy who has to sit and think about things and hash them out in his head before he knows what truly to believe...and then, even after he's got everything all worked out in his noggin, he can still be swayed by the opinions of his friends. And I'm the same way. I used to identify solely with Starscream...but lately, as I've become less like Starscream, I've become particularly enamored with Thundercracker... Well, the Thundercracker of his profile, that is. Love him, love him, love him to death!

The Official Word:

Profile: Soaring swiftly through the clouds, Thundercracker gazes with scorn on the creatures below. He is utterly contemptuous of anything that cannot lift itself off the ground and claim the sky. Occasionally, he expresses that contempt by diving and striking, leaving flame and destruction as he again speeds upward. Yet he is not totally convinced of the cause that he serves. Only the words of his Decepticon companions about the rightness of their cause, the destiny of conquest that is their birthright, convince him to go on. He is persuaded because he wants to be persuaded. Without a sense of purpose, Thundercracker would find his life unbearable.

Abilities: Like his follow Decepticon jet fighters, Thundercracker can attain speeds of up to 1,500 mph. He has the additional ability to produce controlled sonic booms of deafening magnitude that can be heard within a 200-mile radius. He can launch a drone rocket with a range of 500 miles that behaves similarly to a cruise missile and has the concussive force of 3,000 lbs. of TNT. He has a shoulder-mounted automatic incendiary gun that shoots at 100 rounds per minute heat-resistant ceramic bullets containing a highly explosive flammable material that ignites on impact.

Weaknesses: Lingering doubts in Thundercracker's subconscious sometimes surface and impede his effectiveness, particularly when innocent human lives are endangered. Usually his fear of Decepticon Leader Megatron compels him to overlook these doubts.

Miscellaneous:

Best Place to Thundercracker-Watch:
"Fire on the Mountain" or, for extreme amusement, "Microbots," just to watch him pass out. *snicker*

Nightwind's Favorite Thundercracker Quotes:

"Y'know, Skywarp... I can't wait to get back to Cybertron. Earth's so...flat."
~Pissing and moaning in "More Than Meets The Eye."

"Maybe we should wrap him up and put a little bow on him."
~Contemplating how to make Bumblebee into a presentable gift for Megatron...and I like this line because of the way TC smiles right after saying it. AWOOOOOOOOO! *drools* ;)

"This stuff's the greatest!"
~A drunken TC in "Microbots." Milliseconds after uttering that line, the poor boy's out like a light...

"Yeah, but even without our new weapon, I can still fry your circuits extra crispy. Megatron would love it... But that geeky Starscream would take all the credit! On the other hand, if I let you wreck our new weapon, Megatron might blame Starscream...which would make me very happy..."
~ The Great Thundercracker vs. Thundercracker Debate in "Fire on the Mountain." Gotta love it when my boy talks to himself out loud, not just in his head... *snicker*

"Maybe the Autobots aren't such wimps after all!"
~Taunting Megatron and Starscream at the end of "Fire on the Mountain." The line makes me wince, though, because you just know poor Thundercracker's gonna pay for saying it...

"Leader? How you do you figure that, Choo-Choo Brain?"
~Taunting Astrotrain in "Triple Takeover." He said "choo-choo!" :)