PLAYBACK

Appearances:

UK Transformers

#230 + 231 (The Big Shutdown, parts 1 + 2)

Of note, this story was reprinted in colour later in issues #330 and 331.

Quote:  

N/A

Alt-Mode:  

Unknown.

Description:  

Playback is one of those characters who didn't even amount to a 'hi then die' character. He was dead from the moment we met him! However, his short term as a plot device did provide us with some clues into Transformers and their society.

Fist of all, Autobots and Decepticons use clearly different styles of weapons. Enough so that a private investigator can say "This guy was killed by a Decepticon weapon". Also, the Decepticons DO take prisoners of war! All these sorts of things are very useful pieces of information.

It just goes to show that, as Nightbeat put it, "Dead mechanoids do tell tales!"

Biography:  

Playback was an Autobot prisoner of war on Cybertron. He was released by Decepticon high command along with a couple of other Autobots (Horsepower and Hosehead) to be hunted down as part of a test to see if Thunderwing was suitable to become high commander of the Decepticons.

Playback was the first of the three to die, slaughtered by Thunderwing and left dead on a beach with a large hole in him. Almost naturally, this attracted the attention of self-styled private investigator, Nightbeat (and his noisy partner, Siren). While Nightbeat was investigating Playback's body, Siren chased after a couple of suspects seen near the dead body.

From the body Nightbeat surmised that Playback was a prisoner of the Decepticons (from the serial brand) and that he was killed by a Cyclone cannon. At that point his investigation was interrupted by the arrival of Siren, Hosehead and Thunderwing.

Playback then played an integral role in the defeat of Thunderwing. Nightbeat used his head component, Muzzle, to control Playback's body. He distracted Thunderwing, frightening him using the dead body. Then the other Autobots blasted Playback's fuel tanks, exploding him on top of Thunderwing. The explosion fried Thunderwing and left him to plunge, burning, into the ocean. Few Transformers had such a strong career post mortem.

Because Nightbeat was able to control Playback's body we assume that he was either a Headmaster, or that Headmasters can use their heads to control any TF body! If he WAS a headmaster then it means that a Nebulan component will DIE if his robot half dies! (Though not the other way around, because Fort Max didn't die with Gallan...)

Regardless, Playback was, well, he was dead. What more can one say?

Tech Specs/TFU:  

Hard to judge what he'd have been like. He was DEAD.

Toy:  

Again... he was too DEAD to tell. A corpse with a big hole in it? Not really a very interesting toy...

Over All:  

Playback was a surprisingly useful character for someone who spent both his appearances dead. However, what I liked about him most was his name. I get the feeling that it was some sort of pun on Simon Furman's part, but I wouldn't have a clue what that pun was. Perhaps I haven't seen enough old P.I. Movies.