Starscream

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Starscream (红蜘蛛) 10
Species/Race	Cybertronian / Decepticon 10 37
Gender	Masculine
Affiliation	Decepticon Corps; later commands a Moon-based Decepticon force 10 758
Occupation/Role	Leader-class Decepticon; commander of the Aerial Squadron; former deputy commander of the Decepticon Corps; scientist and Replica Soldier cultivator 10 743
Status	Active; holds Megatron captive on the far side of the Moon 972
First Appearance	Chapter 10

Background / History

Starscream rose within the Decepticon Corps through both combat ability and scientific expertise. As commander of the flight squadron, he modified and promoted many future Decepticon air-force generals, including Skywarp and Thundercracker, and brought the unit prominence during the Cybertronian Civil War. His leadership attracted followers when he attempted to overthrow Megatron. 809

His ambition repeatedly brought him into conflict with Megatron. Intelligence credits him with at least six rebellions over more than a millennium, while later accounts specifically describe two failed coups. Soundwave exposed the first conspiracy, while Shockwave and loyal elements of the flight squadron helped suppress another; Megatron subsequently stripped Starscream of his military post and imprisoned him. 10 467 809

Megatron nevertheless retained Starscream because of his scientific value. Assigned to cultivate Replica Soldiers, Starscream used the position to accumulate resources, secrets, trusted subordinates, and a private power base. He continued concealing his ambitions behind deference to Megatron. 743 785

By the time of his first meeting with Frenzy on Earth, Starscream had established a Decepticon base in an abandoned mine near Tucson, Arizona. Its geothermal generators and cultivation facilities supported his independent operations. He later expanded his Moon presence over more than a century, building factories, mines, sentry forts, and a large Replica Soldier force. 10 17 758

Appearance

Starscream is a large, somewhat plump Decepticon whose body is compared to a crab. He commonly presents a smile that appears friendly or ingratiating, though it contrasts sharply with the killing intent in his crimson electronic eyes. 10 11

• Massive, broad mechanical frame with a crab-like silhouette. 10
• Blood-red/crimson electronic eyes. 10 11
• Frequently wears a sinister or fawning smile, depending on whom he is addressing. 11 755
• Has a distinctively shrill mechanical voice. 755

Personality

Starscream is ambitious, calculating, and fundamentally disloyal. He despises Megatron's rule and repeatedly seeks an opportunity to replace him, but his earlier failures have made him more patient and careful about concealing his strength. 624 741 785

He combines superficial charm with intimidation and cruelty. During Frenzy's interrogation, he smiled while killing an engineer in front of him, then used rewards and threats to secure Frenzy's cooperation. 11 12

Despite his arrogance, Starscream recognizes dangerous opponents and acts pragmatically around them. He fears Megatron may possess an unknown contingency, tolerates Soundwave's surveillance through Ravage to avoid open conflict, and works with Onslaught despite their mutual distrust. 595 758 800

Abilities & Skills

Leader-Class Combat Ability

Starscream is a Leader-class Decepticon and one of the Corps' foremost aerial combatants.

• Regarded as the Decepticons' best aerial-combat master. 75
• Uses agility to evade Optimus Prime's fire in direct combat. 598
• Fights at close range with a saw blade. 598
• Commands and personally directs aerial assets, including unmanned warplanes. 595 747

Scientific Engineering

Starscream is among the Decepticon Corps' leading scientists, specializing in military modification, energy systems, and force production.

• Designed efficient geothermal energy-conversion devices for Decepticon supply lines. 37
• Modified Decepticon aerial units to give them aerial superiority over Autobots. 37
• Co-created the original Devastator technology alongside Shockwave and other Decepticon scientists. 848
• Applies newly proven weapons and technology to his own body. 624
• Is knowledgeable enough to study or dismantle advanced Cybertronian technology, including Space Bridge systems. 896

Replica Soldier Cultivation and Awakening

After losing his military post, Starscream became the principal executor of the Decepticon Replica Soldier program.

• Developed mature methods for rapidly mass-producing cannon-fodder Decepticon soldiers. 481
• Cultivated large numbers of Replica Soldiers on the Moon and used them as expendable military forces. 457 745
• Maintains incubation chambers and cultivation facilities for new Decepticons. 17 651
• Can preserve memory data and prepare replacement bodies, as demonstrated by Barricade's backup. 604 651
• Previously used Swindle as a Replica Soldier original after Swindle was tortured and delivered to him. 786

Strategic Manipulation

Starscream uses information, bargains, staged withdrawals, and rivalries to maneuver allies and enemies into serving his goals.

• Manipulated Frenzy into betraying Soundwave by offering a Scout Template and threatening his safety. 11 12
• Used the withdrawal of Replica Soldiers to make the Autobots suspect a trap during the Moon conflict. 749
• Exploited Onslaught's ambition and need for resources to secure cooperation on Bruticus. 758 759
• Revealed Sentinel Prime's agreement with Megatron to destabilize Prowl's trust in Sentinel Prime. 749
• Played Lockdown and Swindle against one another after Lockdown arrived on the Moon. 970

Combiner Development

Starscream developed the technology used to create Bruticus, a combiner formed from Onslaught and the Combaticons.

• Provided resources, body modifications, and combination technology to Onslaught's new Combaticons. 758
• Insisted that Bruticus remain under Onslaught's command, framing the project as a technology trial. 758
• Completed the secret project with Onslaught; Bruticus later demonstrated its strength at the Moon base. 798 848
• Intends to refine combination technology beyond Bruticus. 758

Resources and Infrastructure

• Tucson Decepticon base — abandoned mine converted into an energy-producing base with geothermal generators and cultivation facilities. 10 17
• Moon Base — a long-developed network of hundreds of sentry forts, mines, and factories on the far side of the Moon. 758
• Replica Soldier forces — a private mass-produced army cultivated through his control of Decepticon production technology. 457 743
• Bruticus project — a secretly developed giant combiner created with Onslaught and the Combaticons. 798 848
• Saw blade — melee weapon used against Optimus Prime. 598

Relationships

• Megatron — former superior and enduring rival. Starscream repeatedly rebelled against him, conceals sabotage beneath excessive flattery, and eventually holds the reduced Megatron captive. 10 755 972
• Barricade — close confidant, subordinate, and occasional double agent. Barricade entrusted Starscream with backup memory data, allowing him to be revived after death. 651 764 812
• Soundwave — intelligence rival and mutual threat. Soundwave exposed Starscream's early rebellions; Starscream later plotted against him and sold him out to Megatron. 467 664 755
• Frenzy / Sun Cheng — initially a frightened pawn whom Starscream bribed and coerced into betraying Soundwave. Their later dealings become openly transactional and hostile. 11 12 584 757
• Onslaught — uneasy collaborator in the Bruticus project. Both seek greater power and neither fully trusts the other. 758 798 892
• The Fallen — served under him after discovering him on the Moon, while privately resenting Megatron for using him in the awakening scheme. 595 604 651
• Optimus Prime — major Autobot target. Starscream led the Petra operation to eliminate him on The Fallen's orders and fought him directly. 595 598
• Astrotrain — elite Triple Changer recruited by Starscream for the hunt against Optimus Prime. 595 597
• Ravage — Soundwave's spy whom Starscream tolerates during the operation against Optimus Prime. 595
• Swindle — former supporter damaged by Starscream's failed rebellions and later exploited in the Replica Soldier program. 624 786
• Lockdown — a wary contact whom Starscream attempts to turn against Swindle and Frenzy. 970

Story Role / Major Arcs

Tucson Base and Frenzy's Betrayal

Starscream meets Frenzy at his Arizona base after Barricade brings the scout there. He interrogates Frenzy about Soundwave, Blackout, and Shockwave, killing an engineer to demonstrate the consequences of resistance. He then gives Frenzy a higher-level Scout Template and orders him to reveal Starscream's Earth presence to Soundwave and assist in retrieving an item from a human military base. 10 11 12

Frenzy carries out the transmission in a way that exposes Starscream's secret base and Breeding Chamber to Soundwave, establishing the hostility between Starscream and the Cassette Corps. 16

Severodvinsk Incident

Starscream's forces participate in the Decepticon invasion of Severodvinsk, Russia. As Frenzy defeats the remaining invaders, one uses a device to summon Starscream, while a high-speed unidentified object approaching the battlefield is identified as him. 356 358

Hunt for Optimus Prime

Acting under The Fallen's order, Starscream leads a Petra Mountains operation to kill Optimus Prime. He recruits Astrotrain, works alongside Ravage despite recognizing Soundwave's surveillance, and confronts Optimus directly. The campaign succeeds in killing Optimus Prime but costs Starscream significant numbers of Replica Soldiers and other forces. 595 598 601

Moon War and Sentinel Prime's Rescue

From the Moon Base, Starscream directs Replica Soldiers against the Autobots. He uses unmanned warplanes, reinforcements, and massed soldiers to contain the Autobot advance, then manipulates the withdrawal of his forces around the crashed ship holding Sentinel Prime. 745 747 749

He further destabilizes the Autobots by telling Prowl about Sentinel Prime's agreement with Megatron and ordering Barricade to deal with Prowl when he becomes inconvenient. 749

Bruticus Project and Power Struggle

While pretending to serve Megatron, Starscream delays Megatron's replacement body, blocks his intelligence, and prepares for the arrival of Shockwave's forces. In parallel, he pressures Onslaught into producing new Combaticons and testing Starscream's combiner technology. 755 785 812

The project produces Bruticus, which Starscream has secretly developed as a new source of power independent of Megatron and Shockwave. 798 848

Captivity of Megatron

After Megatron's scheme involving The Fallen and Sentinel Prime collapses, Starscream gains the upper hand. By this point, he has held Megatron captive for more than a year and no longer shows respect for his former commander. 972

Notable Quotes

“Work for me, and you won't lack benefits!” 12

“You only have one month left!” 785

“My master, your most loyal servant has arrived!” 847

Trivia

• Starscream's reputation within the Decepticon Corps is described as second only to Megatron's. 10
• His repeated survival after rebellion is attributed to the value of his technology, secrets, followers, and potential to cause severe damage if cornered. 585
• He is intensely jealous of Optimus Prime and covets the Matrix of Leadership. 651