Firestorm's Fan Characters

[Firestorm]

Cleansweep is awesome! And it's great that you came up with this concept years before IDW did it with Tailgate. As much as I like IDW Tailgate, he is a deviation away from his original persona (someone who thinks that all vehicles are living). I totally agree on seeing not just less common alt modes, but mundane alt modes that don't stick out and draw undue attention. Everyone loves exotic sports cars, but they really do draw loads of attention to themselves, which isn't good if you want to be in disguise and blend -- especially if your mission is to gather intelligence. I always find it interesting when see someone driving something like a Lamborghini down the middle of a busy street and everyone turns around to look at it. It's an understandable reaction, but yeah, not a great choice of alt mode if you want to be able to freely move around unnoticed.

funny you should mention Tailgate. reading MTMTE I saw a lot of similarities in him to Cleansweep. which is partially one of the reasons I came to like Tailgate in the comics.
I don't know much about G1 Tailgate but based on TFwiki, yes, he's quite a deviation to that in MTMTE
I've considered changing Cleansweep's personality a bit since he's pretty similar to MTMTE Tailgate, but this is how I had always envisioned him so it's how I'm keeping him.

and I completely agree on Mundane alt-modes. one of my biggest problems with the Bay movies for example was that the Autobot's altmodes were all top of the line, fancypants sports cars that stick out like big glossy yellow and black sore thumbs.
yes the appeal of all these sleek stylish expensive cars is part of the draw for the audience, but in universe it makes no sense at all.
Really doesn't help one remain a robot in disguise when all eyes are on you because you stand out so much from the crowd.

Thankfully Cleansweep is simultaneously uncommon, AND mundane. ... somehow.

I'm hoping I can dig up some of my old sketchbooks that have earlier drawings of Cleansweep as well as easily a dozen other characters I designed as a kid. refresh my memory on some of the ones I had forgotten, and also show how some characters have changed and also to show how my drawing skills have improved

[GoktimusPrime]

I've considered changing Cleansweep's personality a bit since he's pretty similar to MTMTE Tailgate, but this is how I had always envisioned him so it's how I'm keeping him.

As you said, you've had the concept for longer than the IDW character, so I don't see any need to change it. Besides... Tailgate's a muscle car.

and I completely agree on Mundane alt-modes. one of my biggest problems with the Bay movies for example was that the Autobot's altmodes were all top of the line, fancypants sports cars that stick out like big glossy yellow and black sore thumbs.
yes the appeal of all these sleek stylish expensive cars is part of the draw for the audience, but in universe it makes no sense at all.
Really doesn't help one remain a robot in disguise when all eyes are on you because you stand out so much from the crowd.

This was the appeal of the original G1 Bumblebee. Having the most mundane alt mode made him the ideal spy (hence why his function was Espionage). One of my favourite scenes in Captain America Civil War was when (mild spoiler) Cap, Bucky and Falcon make their get away in a Volkswagen Beetle! Doing that in something like a fancy sports car or muscle car probably wouldn't have worked. Heck, Sam & Co. tried to cross international borders until Bumblebee's ridiculously attention-seeking Camaro mode drew the attention of security guards, and through them the Decepticons knew exactly where the Autobots were. They might've had a better chance of slipping by if they'd been in a more ordinary looking vehicle.



The movie did occasionally have some more inconspicuous alt modes, including:
* Bumblebee; 1970s Camaro ("It's custom faded?!"). I kinda wish that he'd kept that alt mode throughout the entire film instead of rescanning just to impress a human girl he hardly knows.
* Frenzy; CD player, then mobile phone. Dude managed to infiltrate Air Force One!
* Skids & Mudflap; the ice cream truck then as hatchbacks. Never sports cars, never muscle cars. Probably the only cool thing about these characters.
* Wheelie; radio control car (a better spy than Bumblebee)
* Brain; laptop computer
* Dispensor; vending machine
* Ejector; toaster (& various other appliance-bots)
* Optimus Prime, Age of Extinction; run down Marmon 97 truck. He deliberately took this form to evade Cemetery Wind; staying as the chopper flamed Peterbilt 379 made him too much of an exposed target.
* Bumblebee, Age of Extinction; 1960s Camaro. Again, took this form to remain hidden. Sure beats hiding in an abandoned paddle boat funnel.
* "Alice"; human. Being a physically "attractive" female was deliberately chosen because seducing Sam was part of his plan. What? Just because "Alice" happens to transform into a female alt mode doesn't necessarily make him a female Decepticon!

[SMHFConvoy]

Thunderhoof, John Deere tractor

[Firestorm]

Who ordered the cold shoulder?



Name: Coldsnap
Allegiance: Decepticon
Alt Mode: Snowmobile
Motto: "Come near me and you'll be stopped cold"
Bio: Coldsnap doesn't like being around anyone else, preferring to keep to herself out in the arctic. A survival expert. she spends her days honing her skills in combat and swordsmanship. if her sword skills aren't enough and the myriad of traps she has set around her arctic domain have proven ineffective she is also armed with her Cryo-Tech rifle with which she can freeze any oncoming threat solid, to let their spark slowly fizzle out, entombed in ice.

umm yeah, here's my newest creation. between her and Cleansweep I seem to have a habit for creating characters that are cut off from society, I may need to create some that would actually be a part of the main forces of their respective armies at some point too instead of filling the world with a bunch of withdrawn hermits.
I also tried to actually give this character some weapons that aren't built in like cleansweep's water or the twin's fists. so she can wield her skis are sabres and also her fuel tank, exhaust pipe and part of her treads form a rifle for her.

Alternate Colour Scheme Idea


Original Sketch

[Firestorm]

The winds of change are blowing



Names: Headwind & Tailwind
Allegience: Decepticons
Altmode: Figther Jets
Mottos: "Prepare to be blown away!" - Headwind "Can't I just blow this off?...." - Tailwind
Bios: There are plenty of Decepticons who believe in their cause, plenty of fanatics. very few however are as devoted as Headwind, who rivals even the DJD in her fanaticism. 110% loyal to the Decepticons, Headwind wants nothing more than to prove herself useful. Especially to her idol the Decepticon second in Command, Starscream.
Unlike his Spark-Sister, Tailwind isn't quite so gung-ho in fighting for the decepticons, He'd rather be kicking back with a tall mug of Engex, than be out flying and shooting and risking his life. If he didn't care so much for his sister, he would have never joined the Decepticons with her, and would never have gotten involved in this crazy war.
It's a good thing Tailwind has stuck around though, as together with his sister they form the powerful Galeforce

Yeah, I've gone with twins again. These two were an idea I had in my mind for a while. a brother-sister duo of decepticons with vastly different personalities. and a wind theme.
to show her devotion to the 'cons, Headwind is designed with her Tailfins from jet mode forming a Decepticon Insignia, Tailwind's fins do too, but his isn't as obvious. (and yeah, The design of their robot modes are based somewhat on a mix of G1 and Prime Starscream)
The idea is both transform into the same type of jet, but transform differently so that they have slightly different robot modes.
and yes, "Galeforce" is coming up next :wink:

Alternative, realistic jet colours


Original Sketch

[Firestorm]

CYCLONE! TRIGGER!



Name: Galeforce
Allegence: Decepticon
Altmode: None
Motto: There's a storm coming, and that storm is me.
Bio: The powerful combined form of Headwind and Tailwind, Galeforce boasts the ability to create powerful bursts of wind, strong enough to send even the largest of Cybertronians hurtling away.
Apathetic and Solely focussed on serving the decepticons Galeforce's personality is a combination of both of it's component parts. it doesn't matter much to Galeforce who gets caught in the crossfire, as long as the target is dealt with.

my first attempt at a combining character, Galeforce was... an interesting experiment. I may someday try doing a full 5 character gestalt, but for now I'm happy with just Galeforce.
I had a lot of trouble coming up with a design I was happy with for this one, and then just as much trouble creating a colour layout. as I was torn between doing something more logical, like a Safeguard/Kamen Rider W style Lengthways half and half layout, or more of a mishmash with contrasting colours.
obviously it would be pretty much impossible for Galeforce to ever be made as a toy given how illogical it's parts layout is, but hey, at least it looks cool. (plus you know, it'd never be a toy anyway)

Original Sketch


Alternate Colour layout


Playing with Background layer effects

[Firestorm]

"Feh, Turbo-revvin' young punk"



Name: "Nanatron"
Allegiance: Decepticon
Alt-Mode: Small WWII-era tank
Motto: Survival on the battlefield, starts with a good strategy
Bio: Few Decepticons would ever be brazen or foolish enough to ever talk back to Megatron, knowing that doing so would likely result in them staring down the barrel of his fusion cannon. "Nanatron" however has no qualms about putting the young tyrant in his place. having survived millions of years on the battlefield has made her almost fearless. or at least that's what it seems like to others. In actuality "Nanatron" never makes a move without first weighing up all the possible outcomes.
in a past life she was a brilliant scholar and one of the sharpest minds on all of Cybertron, teaching others who were eager to learn. But after the war began, she found a better use for her mind. crafting countless military strategies and quickly rising up the ranks in the Decepticon army. her Tactical brilliance has gotten her out of countless seemingly hopeless situations. and her continued success in the field has shown her just how powerful her tactical mind is. with it she can lead the Decepticon army to victory. She knows that she can talk back to Megatron, because she also knows that she's too valuable to his cause to let anything happen to her.

Umm.. so here we have my latest... ahh.... creation.
I wanted this character to be a little old lady who was tough as nails and would even tell off Megatron without any hesitation.
I aimed for a sort of regal look to her with the flowing shoulder tread, monocle and cane. and wanted her personality to also contain a mix of regal refinement with being savage and bloodthirsty.
fun fact, this character is also partially based on my year 9 maths teacher.
oh also, her cane in robot mode is made from her tank mode gun barrel and can double as a bang stick like weapon.
I'm not really sure on the colour scheme for her, and I had a heap of trouble coming up with a name for her. (I'm open to suggestions.) so for now I am just using the nickname "Nanatron"
next time I'll post something that isn't a female Decepticon. I swear

Original Sketch


Another Drawing

[Firestorm]

"There's been an outbreak"



Name: Carsick
Allegiance: Decepticon
Alt-Mode: Velocitronian Speedster
Motto: "When it comes to winning, anything goes."
Bio: Originally a famed racer on Velocitron, Carsick loved to win races. he was absolutely obsessed with winning and with the fame and admiration that came from it. Never wanting his winning streak to end, he turned to less than acceptable measures. Augmenting his body, and fueling himself with an unstable super-concoction of his own creation in an attempt to improve his top speed and assure future victories, Carsick would stop at nothing to remain on top.
as better, faster racers continued to make names for themselves Carsick, his mind warped by his obsession to winning and by the addictive negative affects of his fuel became more and more ruthless and reckless in his endless hunger for victory. building booby traps into his vehicle mode as well as powerful neuro-toxins to unleash on the competition, Carsick was finally found to be cheating and was banished from ever being allowed to race again.
shamed, banished and suffering the affects of everything he had done to his body, Carsick's became filled with a thirst for revenge, attacking and infecting citizens the citizens of Velocitron by night. using his neuro-toxins to cause hallucinations, disorientation, and in some cases, forced stasis. if carsick can't race, then no one can. and those big shots like Override and Blurr who banished him will suffer the worst.

So here we have my newest character, Carsick. born entirely from a name, I'm actually really happy with this characer. and how he turned out. I don't feel like I touched on it enough in the (rather long) bio i wrote, but the idea is that he's able to cause various debilitating affects to other cybertronian's minds (ie: making cars, sick)
next time comes one of my oldest fan-characters

Original Sketch


Alt Mode
(I can't draw cars to save my life)


Attempt at shading