Deep Cover

Deep Cover is an Autobot from the Generation 1 continuity family.

Jerry Orbot.

Deep Cover (ディープカバー Dīpu Kabā) is part of the Interplanetary Personnel Exchange Program set up between the Autobots and the human police forces. He and his brother Clampdown work with local authorities to stem the tide of human crime. His many years of undercover work have taken their toll on him; though he remains vigilant and a fierce defender of the innocent, he sometimes comes across as very weary, struggling with inner demons.

He has quite the impressive bag of tricks, as he can not only project illusions, but is capable of shrinking himself down to 1/40th his normal size for brief periods of time. These special powers are perfect for the solo infiltration missions that have become his specialty.^[1]

Fiction

TransTech

Deep Cover was one of many countless "offworlders" living in Axiom Nexus. Gone Too Far

Wings Universe

During the Machine Wars, Deep Cover fought in defense of the Autobot city-states when Jhiaxus and his clone army invaded the planet. Termination

War for Cybertron Trilogy cartoon

So undercover, we don't even know if that's him!

Deep Cover was being nursed by Red Alert while Shockwave's counter-Alpha Trion Protocols virus swept the Ark. Siege episode 5

War for Cybertron Trilogy marketing material

During the war for Cybertron, Deep Cover was a Ground Command Infantry Private. War for Cybertron Trilogy toy packaging

Velocitron Speedia 500

Deep Cover was one of many spectators for the Speedia 500 race on Velocitron. Velocitron Speedia 500 Part 2

Toys

Collector's Edition

Shrinking feature not included.

• Deep Cover (March 2003)

• ID number: 92
• Accessories: "Gyrojet Rifle", missile launcher, 3 "Smart Missiles"

Collector's Edition Deep Cover is a redeco of the original Sideswipe toy, transforming into a New Countach LP500S. His deco is based on (but slightly modified from) the pre-Transformers black version of the Diaclone Countach LP500S toy that was only available in the late-line "Powered Convoy DX Set." Several decals that were factory-applied on the original Diaclone version were replaced by painted tampographs, like his headlamps, plus the trademark-infringing "Lamborghini" badge decals on his doors and hood changed to generic police-star badges. As a Japanese-only release, Deep Cover's spring-loaded missile launcher is fully operational; many Transformers released in Western markets had their springs weakened for safety reasons.

He was only available in an e-HOBBY exclusive set with Clampdown; both toys were separately boxed but could only be bought as a pair. Pre-orders for the set closed on January 10, 2003, with the toys shipping out in March.

This mold was also used for Tigertrack and—with added roof lights—Clampdown and Red Alert.

• More information on Deep Cover at TFU.info

Generations Selects

Bake 'em away, toys!

• Deep Cover (Deluxe Class, 2021)

• Series: War for Cybertron: Earthrise
• ID number: WFC-GS23
• Accessories: Missile launcher, missile, blaster

A Generations Selects add-on to Earthrise, Deep Cover is a redeco of Siege Sideswipe, transforming from robot to Cybertronian car and back. Deep Cover keeps a similar deco layout to "Covert Clone Sideswipe", but has royal blue plastic in place of Sideswipe's red, as well as police badges placed on his chest and the side of his vehicle mode. Deep Cover has multiple 5 mm ports and 3 mm posts to accommodate the C.O.M.B.A.T. System/F.O.S.S.I.L. Technology weaponry and "Fire Blast" effects, respectively. As with Tigertrack, Deep Cover borrows Sideswipe's (non-firing) missile launcher and missile, and Red Alert's gun, both of which are compatible with the C.O.M.B.A.T. System.

A unique case amongst Generations Selects releases, the toy packaging features Earthrise-style graphics and Kingdom-styled plastic tray-less packaging. Much like previous 2020 Hasbro Selects product, Deep Cover is branded under the War for Cybertron Trilogy, though was announced and released in 2021 alongside Kingdom.

Deep Cover was first listed for sale in mid-January 2021 by online retailer Rogue Toys, before they promptly removed the product's description page (tsk, tsk). The toy was properly revealed by Hasbro Pulse about two and a half weeks later on TransformersTuesday, suggesting that Rogue Toys had suffered a street date slip-up. Unique to Deep Cover's announcement, the stock photography used featured an added background graphic that had "VICTORY" written in Ancient Autobot among the hexagonal patterns; a detail carried over from the War for Cybertron Trilogy-branded Generations Selects packaging that features "VICTORY" and other words that reference war and battle, also written in Ancient Autobot.

War for Cybertron Trilogy

He's a member of the boys in blue.

• Deep Cover (Deluxe Class, 2021)

• TakaraTomy ID number: WFC-17
• TakaraTomy release date: September 25, 2021
• Accessories: Missile launcher, missile

Promoting the Kingdom chapter of the Netflix War for Cybertron Trilogy cartoon, Deep Cover's entry into the War for Cybertron Trilogy toyline is a redeco of the above mold, with the radical difference of swapping the black and blue parts of his deco, and not including the Red Alert blaster. He is heavily painted: his newly-blue parts are actually gray plastic almost completely painted over, and he additionally has extensive silver and black deco representing battle damage.

And no, Deep Cover did not, in fact, appear in the cartoon, at least by name. It's possible this deco was used as a background generic.

This toy, like most Netflix War for Cybertron Trilogy toys, was a Walmart exclusive in the U.S. and Canada. Like the rest of its Deluxe Class wave, Deep Cover was found in Walmart stores in mid-March 2021^[2] before an official unveiling by TakaraTomy.

Notes

• Deep Cover's coloration is based on a pre-Transformers Diaclone coloration of the toy. This coloration was originally only available in the "Powered Convoy DX set", which also contained the "Powered Convoy" toy (pre-Ultra Magnus) and an exclusive red redeco of the "F-1 Ligier JS-11" Formula One car (pre-Mirage).
• Deep Cover's shrinking ability puts him at about the same height as his Diaclone-mold toy, making him one of the few Transformers to have a true 1:1 scale toy in robot mode.

References