Dirge (Transformers)

Dirge is the name of several different fictional characters from the Transformers series. He was first introduced in 1985 as a villain in the Transformers series, appearing in the comic book by Marvel Comics and voiced by Bud Davis in the animated television series. Since then the name Dirge was also used by several other Transformers characters. In 2007 a limited edition Dirge toy was sold at the Transformers convention Botcon.

Animated series
Dirge made his first appearance in 1985, during the second season of the cartoon in episode #35, "Auto Berserk". How he came to Earth was not shown.[3]

Dirge made regular appearances in the second season, and played prominent roles in episodes such as "The Gambler" (episode #47), where he and Ramjet have been sent to the planet of Monacus to discuss 'business' with a citizen, and "The Girl Who Loved Powerglide" (episode #54), where he almost destroys Powerglide. Dirge, however, was never shown using his fear-inducing engines. The closest example to his use of fear as a weapon is in "Megatron's Master Plan, Part 2". Along with Thrust and Ramjet, he is shown flying low over a human city. The populace seemed to be in utter panic. It's not clear if this was an intended demonstration of his fear-inducing abilities, because the defenseless townspeople were already terrorized by the sight of the Decepticons, having earlier sentenced the Autobots to an unknown fate in space.

During The Transformers: The Movie, Dirge was briefly shown during the Battle of Autobot City. A scene involving Dirge was edited, in which he among other Decepticons, were assaulted by Optimus Prime on his way to challenge Megatron. In the removed portion, Dirge returns to jump Optimus (facing Megatron) from behind, only to be slammed into the ground. Optimus then rises to continue his dialogue with Megatron. Dirge appeared again later in the movie, being the first at Starscream's coronation to spot the incoming Galvatron andCyclonus. He appeared towards the end of the movie, attempting to escape from Unicron as Cybertron was being torn apart. A blue jet similar to Dirge was seen destroyed during the scene, which led to speculation that Dirge was destroyed.

Dirge, however, did survive and made sporadic appearances in the third season. In an early episode of the season (episode #66, "Five Faces Of Darkness Part 1") he was shown to have been destroyed by Ultra Magnus, but Dirge can be seen in episode #71, "The Killing Jar", amongst other later episodes. In one of those later episodes, "Ghost in the Machine", Dirge and Thrust are among other Decepticons being punished by Galvatron for failing to stop a demoralizing assault by Starscream—now a ghost possessing the bodies of other Decepticons. Just before he and the other offenders are to be hunted down, Trypticon, the Decepticon city is possessed, trapping Dirge, Thrust, Runamuck and Runabout inside. Dirge liberates Trypticon from Starscream's control, just before the traitorous ghost was about to aid Unicron in destroying Cybertron.

Dirge appeared in episode 1 and 15 of the Japanese exclusive Headmasters series.