Firestorm's Fan Characters

[Firestorm]

a little sketch I did

Some people just don't appreciate Cleansweep's talents

[GoktimusPrime]

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.

[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