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| “ | Megatron: What if you could go somewhere safe? Starscream: Nowhere is safe if it's with you. |
„ |
| ~ Starscream refuses Megatron's offer - his most famous quote. |
| “ | Decepticons! When the sun next rises, it will shine upon New Cybertron, I her ruler! | „ |
| ~ Starscream addressing his followers. |
| “ | All who stand in opposition shall perish beneath the heel of my Chaos Titan! | „ |
| ~ Starscream's plan to dominate earth. |
Starscream is is one of the two main antagonists (Alongside Dr. Meridian) of the 2022 cartoon series Transformers: EarthSpark, serving as a supporting character in season 1, the main antagonist of season 2 and the overarching antagonist of season 3.
Starscream was once a high-ranking member of the Decepticons who served under Megatron. A history of abuse from his former leader has left him with some very deep scars.
He is voiced by Steve Blum, who is known for voicing Razor-Fin from the same series, Starscream’s Aligned counterpart, Backtrack, Polarclaw, and Ransack from the Transformers Aligned series, Amon from The Legend of Korra, Vilgax and Zs'Skayr from Ben 10 series, Jindiao from Kung Fu Panda: Paws of Destiny, the Green Goblin from The Spectacular Spider-Man, and Makucha from The Lion Guard.
Personality[]
| “ | Hashtag: You are more cruel than Megatron ever was. Starscream: Such compliments in my moment of triumph! And now, watch me be more effective than Megatron ever was. |
„ |
| ~ Starscream gleefully admits what Hashtag said about him. |
Starscream, true to his reputation, is ambitious, deceitful, and selfish. He has a lust for power and a natural hand at leadership that he will gladly utilize. After years of abuse at Megatron’s hands, Starscream is left with deep psychological scars and a desire for vengeance. Starscream is unused to being believed, and after Hashtag attempted to convince him to open up about his trauma, he was even willing to sacrifice himself for her, despite his innate sense of self-preservation. However, his power-hungry nature often trumps his sense of morality. Starscream makes a point of returning favours, however, making him generally more honorable than previous iterations of his character.
History[]
Background[]
Starscream was a Decepticon under the leadership of Megatron in the war against the Autobots. Megatron would later betray the Decepticons and defect to the Autobots, causing Starscream to regard him as a traitor. Starscream was present in the Battle of the Space Bridge and unsuccessfully tried to stop Megatron from throwing the AllSpark into the space bridge. The battle brought the long war to a swift close, scattering the Decepticons.
At some point during the fifteen years between the Transformers war and the episode "Decoy", Starscream was captured and detained in G.H.O.S.T.'s secret detention facility.
Season 1[]
In G.H.O.S.T.'s Detention Facility[]
Undeterred by his capture, Starscream watched gleefully as Ravage was released into the facility by Soundwave for recon. Later in "Hashtag: Oops", Starscream would be seen glaring angrily as G.H.O.S.T. employees tortured Skullcruncher.
Escaping from G.H.O.S.T./Pursuing the Terrans[]
In "What Dwells Within", Starscream, Skywarp and Nova Storm escape the G.H.O.S.T. detention facility into an ancient, unmapped cave system.
A series of coincidences lead the three Seekers to run into the Terrans. Starscream plans to use the Terrans as hostages, but he and his partners are temporarily paralyzed by Twitch's EMP blast. The cave system begins opening hidden doors for the Terrans, and they flee with the Seekers in pursuit.
Encountering the Dweller[]
One door opens to reveal a gigantic creature called the Dweller, which seizes Nova Storm and begins to drain her Energon. Starscream can only look on in horror, but the Terrans managed to free the Seeker, and the accidental group run into the cave system. Nova Storm and Skywarp express their anger at Starscream leaving them to be killed by the Dweller. Thrash berates Starscream for his selfishness, but the Seeker doesn't react until Twitch proclaims that Nova Storm and Skywarp should follow Megatron instead; Starscream angrily lashes out, snapping that Megatron walks free while his former troops are locked in prison, and that the real Megatron was a ruthless tyrant who ruled over the Decepticons using fear. Their argument is interrupted by the Dweller, which had found a different route to them and begins chasing them once again.
Starscream runs into a different tunnel to the others and is consequently caught by the beast, but he is saved by the Terran Hashtag. The two come across a map room displaying their location in the tunnel system- and an exit. Starscream tries to threaten Hashtag into using her ability to unlock the cave system's doors to help him escape but is taken aback when the latter reveals she believed his stories of Megatron's abuse. The two are soon rejoined by Nova Storm, Skywarp, and the rest of the Terrans; the Terrans devise a plan to trap the Dweller in the cave system using the doors, and, after a look from Hashtag, Starscream talks the other two Seekers into helping.
Encountering Megatron[]
They split into pairs to enact the plan, with Starscream and Hashtag travelling together. The two are soon found by Megatron, who had entered the tunnels in search of the escaped Seeker and immediately attacks Starscream. Hashtag steps in to defend Starscream, but they are both surprised by and dragged off by the Dweller. Starscream nearly sacrifices himself to allow the Terran to escape, but she manages to defeat the Dweller and save him.
After finding their way out of the cave system, Starscream turns down Megatron's offer of safety. He bids Hashtag farewell before teleporting away with Skywarp and Nova Storm.
Aiding in the Battle Against Mandroid[]
In "The Last Hope, Part 2", Starscream, Skywarp and Nova Storm hear of how the Terrans freed the remaining Decepticons from G.H.O.S.T. and return to aid them in their fight against Dr. Meridian. Starscream takes the opportunity to enact some revenge on a mind-controlled Megatron. When Meridian's superweapon deactivates every Transformer on the planet, Starscream drops lifeless from the sky, but is brought online again along with the Autobots, Decepticons, and Terrans by Robby and Mo through use of the Emberstone, which shattered as a consequence.
Season 2[]
Restarting a War[]
Possibly as a way of showing gratitude for their freedom, the Decepticons helped the Maltos and Autobots rebuild in the aftermath of the successful defeat and death of Mandroid (who readily accepted his death and gladly moved on for good). However, it doesn’t take long for conflict to arise as Starscream reinstates war against the Autobots (and consequently, the Maltos) to claim shards of the now-broken and corrupted Emberstone for his own use.
Hunt for the Shards[]
One year later, the Decepticons, now lead by Starscream, and the Autobots and Maltos are locked in a race to locate the scattered Emberstone shards. Under Starscream’s orders, the Decepticons Nova Storm and Breakdown intercept an Ember shard, but by when it receives contact with water, it gives life to a new Terran.
In the Decepticon base, Breakdown reports the victory (of sorts) against the Malto and Autobot team to Starscream, who is less than pleased, reiterating to Breakdown that his mission was to retrieve the shard, not bring home a Terran. The newcomer introduces himself as Aftermath. Starscream takes silent interest in the Ember shard inside Aftermath’s chest, and leaves the Chaos Terran under Breakdown’s supervision. Starscream reveals that a great weapon lies under the town of Witwicky, and that every piece of the Emberstone will be required to bring it online and conquer the planet, turning it into a new Cybertron.
The Maltos formulate a plan to recover the Ember shards in Starscream’s possession by sneaking directly into the Decepticon base. They orchestrate a fake mission to recover three shards, allowing Soundwave to overhear them and report to Starscream, who declares war. He pulls Breakdown aside and tells him to remain and ensure that Aftermath stays out of trouble and leads the attack. He and Megatron fight one-on-one, with Starscream declaring that there will be no peace while earth is ruled by humans and Autobots, calling Megatron a traitor and claiming the shard. However, he is angered to realise it is a fake and that the entire thing was a diversion, and he, Nova Storm, and Skywarp, begin a rapid return to base The Maltos flee, airborne, from the base’s automatic surface-to-air missiles. Nightshade instructs their siblings to fly directly towards the approaching Seekers, only to fly straight past and allow the missiles to hit them instead.
Retrieving the Cyber Slayer[]
Later, a new Chaos Terran, Spitfire (really Twitch in Spitfire’s body) was found by Aftermath and brought to the Decepticon base. While Starscream was discussing his plans to steal the Cyber Slayer to Soundwave, Twitch accidentally alerts them to her eavesdropping, and Starscream asks her if there is a problem. Twitch attempts to play the role of the chaotic Spitfire, seemingly appeasing Starscream’s questions, and he orders Aftermath to keep her out of the way.
Starscream asks Twitch what she is looking at. The Malto in disguise responds with disrespect, to the shock of the Decepticons, but Starscream seemingly lets her off with nothing but a warning, to Skywarp’s irritation. Twitch takes the opportunity to provoke Skywarp, and the ensuing fight results in the holographic projection of the Decepticons’ plan being damaged. Starscream snaps at her to leave, which she does.
The real Spitfire, back in her body, returns to the Decepticon base. At first, Starscream is less than pleased that she dare return after ruining the mission, until Spitfire reveals that Twitch was an impostor, and that she retrieved the Cyber Slayer. Upon seeing the weapon, Starscream laughs maniacally.
Under Starscream’s orders, the Chaos Terrans use the Cyber Slayer to tear open an entry way to the same tunnels he, Nova Storm, and Skywarp had escaped GHOST into. In reality, the tunnels were part of the Titan Terratronus, which had laid in slumber under Witwicky to protect the Emberstone. Starscream plans to corrupt her Spark with the corrupted Emberstone, and take control of her, using her power to turn Earth into New Cybertron. Shockwave is against this, and implores Starscream to focus his efforts on returning to Cybertron instead, but Starscream tells him that there is a chance Cybertron no longer survives.
Taking Control of Titan Terratronus[]
Unaware of his end goal to use Terratronus to conquer earth, the Maltos stage a full-on attack of the Decepticon base to retrieve half of the Emberstone. Realising their base is unguarded, Starscream sends Spitfire to steal the Maltos’ shards, which she successfully does- as well as take a hostage, Alex Malto. Starscream offers a trade: their father’s life for the remaining shards, and they begrudgingly accept.
Starscream hands Spitfire the shards, telling her she’s earned the honor, and the Emberstone begins reforming, albeit corrupted and red. Energy shoots out of it, deactivating the Autobots and Maltos in the area but leaving the Decepticons. Starscream praises Spitfire.
Hashtag and Mo Malto are already guarding Terratronus’s Spark chamber when Aftermath and Spitfire tear into it. Starscream makes his entrance, gloating, and bearing the almost completed Emberstone. Hashtag is hurt and asks him how he can turn around and do the same thing his abusers did, but he reminds her that he advised her to take care of herself- and that is exactly what he is doing.
Aftermath locks Hashtag and Mo out of the chamber just as they are joined by Thrash and Robby, and Starscream orders Aftermath to give him the Cyber Slayer. He then reveals the real reason he brought the Chaos Terrans with him, and with the weapon, stabs through Aftermath’s chest to take the Ember shard inside. Spitfire, realizing the same will happen to her, attempts to flee, but Starscream tears out her shard as well. Hashtag realizes how cruel Starscream can be, but he only takes it as a compliment.
The now completed Emberstone forms into a sleeve around Starscream’s arm, allowing him to control Titan Terratronus, forcing her to awaken and rise. Starscream, mad with this newfound power, evicts the Terrans and begins attacking both his allies and enemies indiscriminately. Shockwave tells the Decepticons that Starscream has lost control of both weapon and mind, and invites them to follow him.
Defeated by the Maltos[]
Starscream gloats at the power, while the Maltos attempt to recreate their dome shield by concentrating their powers. Starscream just laughs and destroys their first attempt. However, by concentrating their powers, Robby and Mo manage to contain the Titan. Terratronus, and Starscream within her, are caught inside the dome and unable to break through it, and Starscream cries out in anger. The Prime power also reverses the deactivation he caused with the corrupted Emberstone, bringing the Autobots and Maltobots back to life. By visualizing it, Robby and Mo are able to summon the Emberstone as well, leaving Terratronus in stasis, and Starscream without his superweapon. However, the Emberstone is destroyed, permanently.
In Season 3, Starscream was still trapped behind Terratronus' eye and watched as the events of the following weeks played out. He also witnessed the other Decepticons escape Earth onboard Prowl's ship. When the Quintessons arrived on Earth, the Maltos and the Autobots knew that they needed help from Terratronus and arrived at the female Titan's spark chamber to rescue the Chaos Terrans, only to find Starscream having a tea party with their corpses. Starscream was knocked unconscious with the Cyber Slayer by Hashtag, and Prowl dragged Starscream off to the Autobot base. After Starscream was back in custody, the Autobots and Maltos restored the Chaos Terrans to life and then Mo restored Terratronus to life so that the female Titan could successfully destroy all the Quintessons for good.
Quotes[]
| “ | Hashtag: Is this how Megatron treated you? Starscream: You... believe me? |
„ |
| ~ Starscream surprised by Hashtag's sympathy. |
| “ | Megatron: What if you could go somewhere safe? Starscream: Nowhere is safe if it's with you. |
„ |
| ~ Starscream refuses Megatron's offer. |
| “ | I appreciate your propensity for destruction. You are Chaos, after all. Which, tragically for you, is why you're here! | „ |
| ~ Starscream, shortly before killing Aftermath and taking his Ember shard. |
| “ | Hashtag: Starscream, after everything you told me about being taken advantage of for so long, how can you just turn around and do the same thing? Starscream: Hashtag, my advice was 'remember to take care of yourself.' Which is exactly what I am doing. |
„ |
| ~ Hashtag confronts Starscream as he takes control of Terratronus. |
Relationships[]
Allies[]
- Decepticons
- Skywarp - Partner
- Nova Storm - Partner
- Soundwave
- Shockwave
- Frenzy
- Hardtop
- Swindle
- Skullcruncher
- Breakdown
- Terrans
- Hashtag - Former Friend
Enemies[]
- G.H.O.S.T.
- Dr. Meridian †
- Karen Croft †
- Arachnamechs
- Dweller †
- Megatron - Former Abuser
- Autobots
- Malto Family
- Terrans
- Chaos Terrans - Victims; revived
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Starscream has a unique music theme that often plays during his dramatic entrances.
- This is the first incarnation of Starscream since his Armada incarnation to be less evil and possessing affable and tragic qualities, unlike other incarnations who are known to be treacherous and psychopathic. However, this is subverted in season 2 as Starscream was faking these qualities all along and was just manipulating everyone around him and taking advantage of Hashtag's trust; this eventually leads to Starscream paying the price when he is taken back into custody for his crimes in the Season 3 Judgement Day two-part episode.
- This is one of the five incarnations of Starscream not to have died in Transformers Series, along with his versions from Aligned continuity, the reboot films, the War For Cybertron trilogy and One.
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 Villains
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Decepticons G.H.O.S.T. Chaos Terrans Quintessons Others | ||