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: Engineer Extraordinaire...and Occasional Menace to Society Voice Actor: Chris Latta First Appearance: "More Than Meets The Eye, Part 1"

Nightwind's Words of Wisdom:

Wheeljack is, in a word, fun. And I like him for that reason if for no other. I mean, I'm the first to admit that dark and angsty characters attract me like a magnet, yes...but even I admit that it's nice to have some characters that are just fun, with not a whiff of darkness or angst about them. And Wheeljack is one of those characters.

He's generally a happy boy. Cheerful. Nothing seems to get him down. He can brush off even Huffer's pessimism with disarming ease. I like that. If nothing else, it makes him a fun, light character to write for and, believe me, sometimes I need that, as deep into darkness as I can get sometimes. Plus, he is the perfect foil for the grouchy, cynical, world-weary Ratchet, which is why I'll pretty much always toss those two together in fanfic. They are opposites in almost every way, yet they work well together and get along well. Plus, their areas of expertise overlap nicely, so they make a good team. Wheeljack can drag Ratchet out of funk and Ratchet can bring Wheeljack back down to Earth when necessary...which, with Wheeljack, is quite often.

Also, Wheeljack's a tinkerer, always playing with gadgets, tweaking them to make them just a little bit better, a little more efficient, a little more...deadly. It doesn't matter if the gadget in question is his latest superweapon or something like...Well, Grimlock, for instance. I, too, am a tinkerer of sorts, though not nearly at Wheeljack's level. So, I appreciate that aspect of him. If nothing else, someone who seeks to improve things is a good person. Besides, the fact that his tinkering sometimes quite literally backfires on him is...amusing.

And of course, I have to love Wheeljack just because the Dinobots are his brainchild. Of all the Autobots, he is, I think, the only one who truly cares about them on anything deeper than a superficial level. To me, he is in all the ways that matter the Dinobots' father. So, again, I have to love him just for that, too. I would have loved to have seen that aspect expanded upon in the cartoon, actually...but then again, that's what fanfic is for.

The Official Word:

Profile: "That guy can build a neutron bomb out of a wristwatch and a rusty can," says Bluestreak, and that's not far from the truth. As well as the Ark fashioned the Autobots, Wheeljack is always coming up with ways to improve them, particularly their weaponry. His knack for creating wild new gadgets has earned him a "mad scientist" reputation and their deadly effectiveness has earned him the respect of friends and enemies alike. He is also the Autobot most adept at driving while in his automobile mode and has pulled off tricks that Hollywood stunt drivers haven't even dreamed of yet. He fully enjoys showing off when the opportunity presents itself.

Abilities: In addition to those mentioned above, Wheeljack, while in Aubotbot mode, can use the solid-fuel rockets in his arms to fly at speeds of 320 mph with a range of 800 miles. His shoulder-mounted cannons shoot a variety of shells: a magnetic-inducer shell, which douses its victims in a magnetic dust that attracts ferrous objects from distances up to 4000 feet away that adhere to and eventually disable the victim; a shrapnel-needle shell, which explodes into millions of hair-thin filaments that can pierce even the strongest armor and disrupt internal circuitry; and a gyro-inhibitor shell, which implants itself upon impact and destroys the balance of its victims. Wheeljack is continually adding new gimmicks to his shells.

Weaknesses: Wheeljack is his own worst enemy. He frequently injures himself while experimenting with new weapons.

Miscellaneous:

Best Place to Wheeljack-Watch:
Hmmmm...For me, it's probably a close tie between "S.O.S Dinobots" and "Atlantis, Arise"...

In the former, my heart breaks for Wheeljack when he's watching the deactivated Dinobots being sealed in a cavern. He doesn't have the most expressive face, no, but his whole bearing just radiates sorry for that little bit... Poor DinoDaddy! :( And I also love the way he thumbs his nose at Optimus Prime and continues to work on the Dinobots anyway...and I really love the way Jack's vindicated in the end, when the Dinobots save the day. :D Take that, Optimus, you jerk!

Now, in "Atlantis, Arise"....*sigh* You just can't beat Jack being all self-sacrificial. :)

Nightwind's Favorite Wheeljack Quotes:

"It's Independence Day!"
~Freeing the human slaves in "The Ultimate Doom."

"I think you're gonna eat those words on silicon wafer."
~Sticking it to a doubting Huffer in "Dinobot Island."

"It's too late for me...but nobody else is gonna follow you, either!"
~Ah, behold the macho, self-sacrificing Jack in "Atlantis, Arise." Even Megatron thinks he's gallant. Foolishly so, yes, but still gallant... ;)