Tankor

Tankor is the name of several fictional characters from the various Transformers universes. Most versions of Tankor turn into a Tanks.

Beast Wars

Rhinox/Tankor
Maximal/Predacon/Vehicon/Decepticon
Information
Sub-group Deluxe Beast, Deluxe Vehicles, Transmetals, Mega Vehicles
Function Defense, Strategic Defense, Tank-Drone General, Enforcer
Rank 5 (original and transmetal), 8 (10th Anniversary and Timelines), 9 (Universe Tankor)
Partner Obsidian
Motto "Power in defense of freedom will always triumph over power used for evil."
"Among the winners, there is no room for the weak."
"TANKOR smash! Smash good!"
Alternate modes Scoop Loader, Northern White Rhinoceros, Transmetal Rhinoceros, Cybertronian Tank
Series Beast Wars
Transformers: Timelines
Transformers: Universe
English voice actor Paul Dobson (As Tankor)
Richard Newman (As Rhinox)
Japanese voice actor Daiki Nakamura

The original Tankor started out as Rhinox, a character from the Beast Wars television series. He first appears in Beast Wars as Rhinox, but later becomes Tankor in Beast Machines. Rhinox transforms into a Rhinoceros, as Tankor he turns into a Cybertronian Tank.

Rhinox's character in the Beast Wars television series is very different from how the toy was depicted. As one of the first year toys, the toy of Rhinox was created before the television series came along, and his character was written by Hasbro. These characterizations were largely thrown out the window by the television series producers.

Rhinox's original tech spec portrayed him as an immensely tough and territorial Maximal dedicated to battling the Predacons. His Transmetal tech spec showed that he appreciated his increased mobility, pulling high speed attacks on the Predacons and showing off with wheelies. His 10th Anniversary Tech Spec was more in-line with the show portrayal.

The show bible for Beast Wars describes Rhinox as a straight man who is inspired by Bud Abbott.

Rhinox was a Maximal and Optimus Primal's oldest friend, although it seems Rhinox has known Rattrap for even longer, stating he was his best friend in the episode A Better Mousetrap. His beast mode is in the form of a large brown rhinoceros (it rarely appeared in the second season, and was never seen in the third). He has two machine guns as weapons, which fans have nicknamed the “Chainguns of Doom”, though technically they are more akin to Gatling guns. He usually stays in the base and acts as an engineer and second in command of the Maximals. Rhinox created the Maximal Base's automated defense system, dubbed Sentinel.

Rhinox seems generally as capable of leadership as Optimus Primal, and Optimus Primal has told him as much. However, Rhinox abhors the babysitting and loss of independence that come with being a full-time leader. He is indisputably loyal to Optimus Primal; their mutual respect is so strong that Rhinox is the only Maximal that Optimus Primal seeks advice from (causing mild, intermittent jealousy among a few other Maximals). In extreme situations the Maximals often turn to him first – (for example in Possession when Cheetor and Rattrap are faced with a massive battery of autoguns they both call for "Rhinox!"). This is perhaps most notable in Optimal Situation when Optimus orders them to pursue Megatron to save the base, but it takes Rhinox to get them moving (telling them he can handle the repairs by himself). Rhinox's true abilities come out when, in the episode Dark Designs, he is reprogrammed into a Predacon – only to outwit and damage every other Predacon, much to the dismay of Megatron. Rhinox is the only Maximal whose form does not physically change or evolve for the duration of the series; though in the toyline he did become a transmetal. He spent much of the second and third season minding the Maximal Base rather than going out on missions.

He has a brilliant mind, a thirst for peace, and an astounding vigor and a resolve to do whatever it takes to maintain that peace. He does whatever it is that is asked of him, even though the requests often made of him are impossible. But being the ever resourceful engineer, Rhinox finds a way. Rhinox also contributes in countless other ways, he is considered to be second-in-command to Optimus Primal and also often serves as the enforcer, keeping the troops in rank. His great size and strength is another one of his advantages, in addition to his incredibly quick thinking. These attributes have saved the Maximals countless times throughout the series. Rhinox also seems to have either a fear of flight (though has been seen flying and even piloting other ships) or more likely, a fear of heights, as seen in "The Agenda part 3" where he hesitates on get on Optimus Primal's flying board, and his reactions once he is on.

Rhinox's voice actor attended Botcon 2006 at the Lexington Convention Center for the 10th anniversary of the TV series.[1]

As Tankor, he is a Vehicon General who was in charge of the Tank Drones. His tech specs portray his unintelligence as a ruse he uses to make his enemies underestimate him. Tankor's motto is word for word the same as that used on the Generation 1 Dinobot Grimlock, but he seems to have more of a connection to The Incredible Hulk.

Animated series

Rhinox was defense officer of the Maximal ship called the Axalon, commanded by Optimus Primal. Their mission was one of exploration and to get rid of the abomination called Protoform X, but things didn't go as planned. With crewmates Cheetor and Rattrap, the Axalon chased the Predacon criminal Megatron through transwarp space after the theft of the Golden Disk. The Maximals and Predacons crashed on prehistoric Earth, where high energon levels threatened to destroy the crew unless they adopted organic alternate modes. Rhinox was given the form of a rhino in "Beast Wars Part 1".

Rhinox's talents would be displayed at multiple points in the Beast Wars. He would be the one principally responsible for saving the life of the protoform that would become Airazor, developing a paternalistic bond with her. Rhinox also created Sentinel, a security computer that could defend their base from the Predacons. Later, after being blinded by an energon explosion caused by Scorponok, Rhinox displayed his leadership abilities and coolness under pressure when he guided a similarly blinded Rattrap, Dinobot and Cheetor back to base, showing them how to let their other senses help them and drive off the opportunistic Predacons.

In "The Probe", Rhinox stayed behind the base to make a disc to contact a probe from Cybertron, while the other Maximals were being forced to be in beast mode by Tarantulas's new device. When he got to them was in time for him to knock over Megatron before he could destroy them. But when he was typing the code to contact the probe, he was transformed into beast mode by the "LENS", who then destroyed the Maximal device built to contact the probe. The Maximals too would have been destroyed if only it wasn't for Cheetor and Tigatron's timely arrival.

His most prominent episode in season one was in "Dark Designs", when he was turned into a Predacon by Megatron, only for the personality shift to prompt Rhinox to attempt to usurp Megatron by taking out all the other Predacons. When Megatron found out he sent his last two functioning warriors, Scorponok and Terrorsaur, but Rhinox was able to pit them against each other, defeating both of them before taking out Megatron, only for the Predacon leader to return Rhinox to his Maximal programming when he was gloating. After he was turned back, the other Maximals came and rescued him. They (with Waspinator's inadvertent help) destroyed the machine that turn him into a Predacon during their rescue.

His other prominent episode was in "The Low Road", when he was infected with a cold-like virus which nearly destroyed him and the other Maximals. Dinobot and Rattrap managed to get the counter virus from Tarantulas, resulting in a defeat for the Predacons. Megatron would later describe it as the most humiliating defeat of his career, given that the fight culminated in Rhinox defeating the Predacons by emitting a powerful fart after consuming bean vines that had been growing around the Maximal base to blow the Predacons out of their own headquarters.

Rhinox was damaged by Tarantulas and Blackarachnia during a Predacon attack in the first season’s finale, and was subsequently offline for Primal's heroic sacrifice.[2]

Rhinox was among those unaffected by the Quantum Wave which turned many Cybertronians into Transmetals. It's theorized by fans that he didn't change because he was in a cryo-regeneration chamber at the time (after being damaged by Tarantulas and Blackarachnia), and was protected from it. However in the toy line he WAS released as a Transmetal and his tech spec stated he was changed by the Quantum Surge, but due to limitation in the show production, the producers kept Rhinox in his original form.

Rhinox becomes the new leader of the Maximals after Optimus's apparent death. It was revealed that even the Predacons respect him (perhaps after the events of "Dark Design) when the newly Transmetal Megatron flees rather than face a furious Rhinox, angered by Optimus's death at Megatron's hands. Rhinox even ventured (alone) into the "Other side of the Matrix" ("where all are one") using the hole in space/time left by the Vok Planet Buster's destruction, retrieving Optimus Primal's spark and placing it in a new Transmetal body. After Primals resurrection, he relieved his leadership back to him.

Rhinox continued to battle the Predacons and use his medical skills. When Transmutate's stasis pod fell to Earth it was Rhinox who determined that she could be a potential threat (much to Silverbolt's disgust) and also realized that Dinobot's wounds were fatal after his climactic battle with the Predacons. When Megatron attempted to alter history, Primal and the other Maximals pursued him to the Ark, relying on Rhinox's great strength to force the doors of the damaged Ark open. However, they were too late. Megatron had shot Optimus Prime in the head and all of time began to destabilize.

Note: The only time he was seen in beast mode in season two was in "Other Visits (Part 1)" when they showed every one transformed from their beast mode, and finally in "Code of Hero" when he was running towards Dinobot with the other Maximals to aid him to fight the Predacons.

Megatron's plan was thwarted when Blackarachnia unexpectedly switched sides, allowing Rhinox and the former Predacon to repair Prime's body while Optimus Primal safeguarded his Spark. He then tried to use Teletraan I defense weapons, to only fail and propose to get Sentinel at the old base. He later defended the Ark alongside Rattrap, only being saved by Depth Charge's timely arrival, and managed to help Blackarachnia in her switch to a Transmetal II body.

In the series conclusion, as Megatron attempted to use the Decepticon ship Nemesis to destroy the Ark and humanity, Rhinox realized that the Dinobot Clone’s transmission meant that history was still being written. Taking the Omega Delta Autobot shuttle, Rhinox managed to crash it through the bridge of the Nemesis effectively ending Megatron's threat, and with it, the Beast Wars. After this, Rhinox returned with the other Maximals back to Cybertron. It is interesting to note that throughout the third season, Rhinox was not seen once in beast mode. This can be explained because once the Vok weapon was destroyed, it rid earth of most of the unstable energon caches, therefore nulling the need to revert to beast mode. It should also be noted that none of the transmetals had the need to revert to beast mode, other than covering ground, because their new, altered forms protected them from the energon exposure, as did their beast modes.

Unfortunately for the Maximals, Megatron broke free of his bonds in transwarp and arrived on Cybertron ahead of them, taking over the planet. When the Maximal survivors inside the Autobot shuttle reached Cybertron, it was shot down by Megatron's forces and landed on the planet. The Maximals were chased by Megatron's Vehicon drones, who threw canisters of Megatron's transformation-freezing virus at them. All those Maximals whose bodies had been altered during the Beast Wars were transformed back to their original bodies and frozen in their beast modes. Rhinox and Silverbolt, however, had their sparks captured by Megatron.

Megatron used Rhinox's spark to give life to one of the original three Vehicon generals: Tankor. As Tankor, Rhinox was a simple-minded powerhouse who never felt any emotions other than rage. His spark remained dormant inside of Tankor for some time, conscious and aware, but never capable of reaching the surface. It wasn't long before Cheetor and Rattrap discovered that their former comrade was trapped inside the technological titan.

Each of the three original Vehicon Generals had their own personalized command codes; Tankor's was: "Tankor Pulverize!!!"

In one episode, Optimus Primal, still unaware of Tankor's prior identity, used his spark telepathy to convince Tankor that Megatron was his enemy, and to join the Maximals. Megatron countered by deleting Tankor's memories of the events and blocking any further attempts to contact Tankor's mind (Mercenary Pursuits).

After the Maximal Rattrap attempted to interface Tankor's CPU, Tankor regained the blocked memories of his time as Rhinox. Optimus Primal chose not to forcibly undo Megatron's Vehicon reprogramming of him in fear that would make the Maximals no better than Megatron. This proved to be a mistake as Tankor remained with the Vehicons, now with Rhinox's genius and memories. Tankor hid the new knowledge of his identity from his fellow Vehicons, and continued to act like the old Tankor in their presence.

While Tankor agreed with Megatron's ideal Cyberton, he saw the partially organic Megatron as unfit to lead it, preferring himself as its ideal leader given his pure technological make-up and his experiences as both Maximal and Vehicon (Rhinox expressed a similar view when he was reprogrammed as a Predacon in the Beast Wars Series) and planned to overthrow Megatron. Tankor reprogrammed the Diagnostic Drone to only obey him so it could retrieve the Key to Vector Sigma, which could purge all organics from Cybertron, like the Maximals. Then he manipulated the Oracle to send false visions to Optimus so that the Maximals would find the Plasma Energy Chamber and use it to destroy Megatron. Tankor was killed at the end of the first season of Beast Machines when he was going to destroy Megatron but it was revealed that all Vehicons were hard-wire programmed with fail-safes that prevent them from harming Megatron. It was revealed that Megatron knew of his deception all along. When he was killed, Tankor became Rhinox again and rejoined the Matrix, forgiven for his crimes as Tankor.

In the US he was voiced by Paul Dobson prior to the re-awakening of his prior memories. After that, he was voiced by Richard Newman using Rhinox's old voice, although on occasion he used his Tankor voice to deceive the Vehicons.

According to DVD commentary by Bob Skir, Tankor's character was influenced by the Incredible Hulk.

In Transformers Animated, a rhinoceros appears at the end of the episode "Predacons Rising", paying homage to Rhinox. With the rhino are a gorilla, a cheetah and a rat - each one paying homage to Optimus Primal, Cheetor and Rattrap, respectively.

Comics

3H Enterprises

Rhinox was one of the stars of the 1997 BotCon Convention Comics, a story set near the end of season one of the Beast Wars television series. In the convention comics plot, Inferno and Blackarachnia watched as the Predacon scientist Fractyl attempted to invent energon armor capable of protecting them from energon build up. Although seemingly successful, the armor was stolen by the Maximal thief Packrat. Blackarachnia and Fractyl realized the energon armor was flawed and could destroy the planet if it came in contact with large amounts of energon. Inferno pursued Packrat, but since Packrat didn't need to assume beast mode with the armor on, he got the upper hand in the fight with Inferno. Hearing the battle, Airazor, Cheetor and Rhinox joined Packrat. Fractyl convinced Rhinox that the armor was a threat to them all. Rhinox was able to talk Packrat into giving up the armor, which Fractyl aided them in doing. When Blackarachnia arrived with Megatron, Packrat suggested that Fractyl pretend to be attacking the Maximals, who fled. Megatron was impressed with Fractyl's new found battle prowess.

Even with the death of Tankor in the Beast Machines storyline, Rhinox would return in the story of Transformers: Universe.

In Transformers: Universe #3 Alpha Trion and Primus claim they need Primal to choose his troops from any Cybertonians, past or present, and he chooses Rhinox and Depth Charge, who are brought back to life. Although Rhinox is happy to have a second chance to redeem himself for his acts as Tankor, Depth Charge isn't pleased with being brought back from the dead. Subsequently Rhinox would appear as Primal's lieutenant in the 2004 BotCon voice actor play, using his technical expertise to build a device that stops Unicron pulling Transformers from other dimensions. However, this caused an Autobot shuttle piloted by Bumblebee, Cosmos and Tracks to become lost in Rhinox's time. The Autobots would assist Rhinox' forces (Rattrap, Silverbolt and Waspinator) to defeat the Decepticons and send both the Autobots and several other timelost groups back to their own times and realities.

Although 3H Enterprises losing the license would forestall the conclusion to the Universe storyline, an explanation of sorts would be found in issue 8 of the Transformers Collectors Club magazine Cybertron/Robots in Disguise, where Optimus Prime told the tale of how Unicron's forces were defeated in one last battle by Optimus Primal's forces, as Unicron disappeared due to the black hole opened in Transformers: Energon. Here Tankor returned as a Decepticon in the ranks of Unicron’s army. According to his tech spec and appearances in the comic book series, this was a Tankor from a parallel universe were Tankor never recovered his memory and so was not killed. Apparently Jetstorm was restored as Silverbolt for there was also an Obsidian, but no Strika because Tankor was still active. Obsidian therefore made Tankor his new partner and together they overthrew Megatron and ruled Cybertron themselves. Unicron, impressed by their ruthlessness, abducted them from their own dimension. Impressed in turn by Unicron's massive power, the two agreed and became his servants.

This Tankor more closely resembled the Tankor toy than the CGI Tankor. He has massive firepower and durability, but he still relies on Obsidian as the brains of their partnership. In the final battle between Unicron's Army and The Children of Primus,

Tankor was bested by a surprising foe - Rhinox, resurrected by Optimus Primal as his lieutenant, giving Rhinox a chance to face his darkest demon, himself as Tankor.

Dreamwave Productions

Tankor would make a very surprising cameo appearance in Dreamwave's Transformers:Armada Comic. With Optimus Prime having disappeared to an alternate dimension devastated by Unicron. As Jetfire attempted to locate him through Spacebridge links to other dimensions, one of these clearly shows Tankor.

Fun Publications

Rhinox would appear in the BotCon Timelines tale Dawn of Futures Past, as the engineer of the Axalon. With his work seemingly cut out keeping the other two crew members in line, he was soon called upon to restore the Axalon after it was attacked and crippled by Laserbeak and Buzzsaw. With the former Decepticons distracted by another Maximal ship, Rhinox was able to get the ship's engines and guns online in time to destroy the Predacons. His engineering expertise was soon called upon again to save the lives of the other Maximal ship's pilot and passenger by performing a remote spark transfer to the blank protoforms in the Axalon's cargo hold. Rattrap refers to him (insultingly) as a "big rhinoceros", foreshadowing his later transformation in the Beast Wars.[3]

IDW Publishing

Rhinox had a biography printed in the Beast Wars Sourcebook by IDW Publishing.[4]

TFcon comics

Tankor appeared in the 2006 TransformersCon voice actor play. Voices in the play were performed by a variety of volunteers and the actual voice actors attending the convention. In this play various Transformers from different timelines and realities were swept up in a repeat wave and transported along with Unicron to Earth. The Transformers included the original Tracks, Ariel, Cosmos and Megatron, Beast Wars Tarantulas, Robots in Disguise Sky-Byte and Beast Machines Tankor. Eventually the Transformers were able to learn that the death of Unicron in 2005 was what created the repeat wave. They defeated Unicron by tricking him into transforming and using up his power, then using the Key to Vector Sigma program (which Tankor had brought with him) to tap into the power of Vector Sigma itself, and through it the Autobot Matrix of Leadership. With Unicron severely drained the various Transformers faded back to their original timelines. Before returning to his timeline Tankor thanked his Autobot ancestors, telling them it was an honor to work with them.

Toys

This Deluxe sized toy came with a mutant mask and a sword which never made it to the animated series. The original toy of Rhinox came with a duel spinning mace weapon, but the show depicted this as an automatic chaingun weapon.[5][6]
Rhinox did actually have a Transmetal body, desipite the series. This figure was available packaged together with Transmetal Tarantulas in Japan. The Hasbro version of this toy has the word Rhinox on it, while the Takara version had the word Cybertron on it.[7][8]
A simple fast food premium available at Rally's and Checkers restaurants.
A redeco of the original Rhinox toy in grey and red.
A redeco of the Transmetal Rhinox toy in blue and grey.
Like many of the Beast Machines figures, the toy of Tankor bore only as passing resemblance to the animation model on the television series. Furthermore, though the toy was named "Tankor" and said so on its box; the instructions oddly misspell his name as "Tankorr." A later toy meant to represent the Tank-Drones resembled Tankor's animated incarnation more closely.[9]
There was also a Happy Meal toy of Tankor available from McDonalds which resembled his appearance on the series. In some countries this figure was released in different colors.
In the series, Tankor and his Drones looked identical. In Japan, the Tank-Drone mold (repainted in more show accurate colors) was used to represent Tankor in the Beast Wars Returns toy line.
In 2005 the original Rhinox toy was one of the toys selected for the Beast Wars 10th Anniversary toyline. He was repainted in more show-accurate colors. He came packaged with one of the six pieces used to make the Transmutate toy.[10][11]
A pre-Beast Wars Rhinox toy was made for BotCon 2006. The toy was a redeco of Transformers: Cybertron Landmine. A Maximal who knows much about his Autobot Ancestors, Rhinox values the ideals they fought for and wears their sigil on his chest as a constant reminder of this. (Presumably BotCon forgot to remove the insignia).
Redecos of the Beast Machines toys.

Transformers: Universe

Tankor
Autobot
Information
Sub-group Micromasters, Railbots
Alternate modes SNCF TGV Atlantique
Series Transformers: Generation 1
Transformers: Universe
Transformers: Cybertron

The name of Tankor was used again in Transformers: Universe as a Micromaster Autobot who turned into a locomotive, and was part of a U.S. release of the Japanese Sixliner team. He has not appeared in any official fiction.

According to the story with Sixtrain Red Mode, the Sixtrain turns red and becomes more powerful when empowered by a piece of the Maxtix.[12]

Toys

He is a repaint of the original Micromasters Alan and Altan. Tankor came with the head and rifle for Rail Racer.[13]
The Micromaster Railbots were released in Cybertron packaging in European countries, as they didn't have the Transformers: Universe line.

Transformers: Cybertron

Tankor
Autobot
Information
Sub-group Mini-Cons
Alternate modes Tank
Series Transformers: Cybertron

The name was used yet again in the Transformers: Cybertron line as a Mini-Con aligned with the Autobots who turned into a tank. He was a repaint of the Mini-Con Wreckage. He came packaged with Cybertron Shockwave. Neither has appeared in any official fiction.

After the Unicron Battles, many Mini-Con choose to remain on Earth in hiding and separate from the ongoing conflict between the Autobots and Decepticons. Tankor, with other Mini-Cons, hid among the armed forces of Earth so that they could protect the humans from Shockwave and the Sky Attack Team. The desire to protect human life is nearly an obsession for Tankor; he exists solely to prevent the damage inflicted by Shockwave and his aerial companions. The return of the Transformers to Earth has forced them once again to take sides in a larger conflict.

Toys

Shockwave and Tankor were included with the Decepticon Mudflap as a promotional item at Target Stores in 2006.

Transformers: Generation 1

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Tankor
Decepticon
Information
Sub-group Legends
Alternate modes Tank
Series Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Little is known about this Decepticon. His colors are a homage to Beast Machines Tankor.

Titan Magazines

Tankor attacked the Alamo, and was countered by a team of Autobots including Rollbar.

Toys

This Legends-only toy is a Decepticon and a redeco of Brawl.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-154327750.html TRANSFORMERS Fans Gather in Kentucky to Celebrate Their Love of 'MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE' Toys. Business Wire September 27, 2006
  2. ↑ http://www.secondtruth.com/bwtf/char4.htm
  3. ↑ http://www.seibertron.com/comics/view.php?comic_id=848
  4. ↑ http://www.monstersandcritics.com/books/comics/news/article_1343405.php/Creators_of_Transformers_Beast_Wars_The_Gathering_are_back
  5. ↑ http://www.cobraislandtoys.com/tf/1996/rhinox.html
  6. ↑ Alvarez, J.E. (2001). The Unofficial Guide to Transformers 1980s Through 1990s Revised & Expanded 2nd Edition. Schiffer Publishing Ltd. p. 121. ISBN 0-7643-1364-9.
  7. ↑ http://www.hasbro.com/common/instruct/TransformerFuzorsMaximalRhinox.pdf
  8. ↑ Alvarez, J.E. (2001). The Unofficial Guide to Transformers 1980s Through 1990s Revised & Expanded 2nd Edition. Schiffer Publishing Ltd. p. 125. ISBN 0-7643-1364-9.
  9. ↑ http://www.bwtf.com/toyreviews/bm/tankor
  10. ↑ http://www.hasbro.com/media/content/printable.cfm?release=467
  11. ↑ http://www.mastercollector.com/articles/reviews/bw10thanv.htm
  12. ↑ http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://www.geocities.com/oblivionsgallery13/micromasterstory.html&date=2009-10-25+23:54:26
  13. ↑ http://www.tfu.info/2005/Autobot/KBTankor/tankor.htm
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