Dirge (Timelines)

Dirge is a Decepticon Insecticon from the Descent into Evil portion of the Generation 1 continuity family.

Dirge is one of the last surviving Insecticons. He was originally one of their primary commanders, and is fanatically loyal to the Decepticons. He possesses an array of combat abilities, including acid-secreting claws, an incapacitating sonic screech, and the ability to shoot electricity from his robot mode hands, but his greatest asset is his tactical knowledge.^[1]

Fiction

Descent into Evil

DUUURRRRRRRRRRRGE

Long after the Insecticon clan had dispersed, Dirge and Buzzclaw were recruited by Deathsaurus to serve as the basis for a new army of Insecticon clones. Deathsaurus established a research center on Ceti Alpha Seven, where he unlocked the pair's long-dormant cloning abilities. When the Autobots discovered the facility and sent a team to destroy it, Dirge led an ambush against them. Although the Decepticons won that battle, the arrival of reinforcements ultimately led to an Autobot victory, with the cloning center destroyed and the clones' genetic matrices poisoned. Descent into Evil

TransTech

Somehow finding his way to Axiom Nexus, Dirge became an enforcer and bodyguard for Gutcruncher, a well-connected mech among the lowtechs. Gutcruncher was angling for a revolution against TransTech authority, working the populace in the hopes of standing against the Transcendent Technomorphs and seize control of their impressive technology. He was executed at a rally for his cause, and Dirge took out a bounty on the heads of Jackpot and Hubcap, two Autobots who were apparently responsible for the assassination. He worked with the Malignus Revolutionary Army and other supporters of Gutcruncher, tearing up the lowtech areas in search of the Autobots. Hubcap finally managed to clear them by tricking the real killer, Black Shadow, into confessing on his audio tapes, and replaying the Crossformer's gloating in front of Dirge. After Black Shadow admitted to using photon charges, the same weapon that killed Gutcruncher, Dirge was convinced of his guilt and had Menasor stomp him to death. Gone Too Far

Toys

Timelines

• Descent into Evil (Multi-pack, 2005)
  • Accessories: Claw-pack, tail/shield

A redeco of the Beast Wars Predacon Fuzor Buzzclaw, Timelines Dirge transforms into a praying mantis-lizard monster. His beast mode foreclaws and wing-assembly can be used as a hand-held melee weapon, and his tail can be mounted on his arm as a shield. He was only available as part of the BotCon 2005 exclusive "Descent into Evil" set, along with Buzzclaw, Chromia, Deathsaurus, Fallback, Ironhide, and Ricochet.

The same mold is used by his teammate Buzzclaw and the Virulent Clones.

Due to a production error, all Dirges had their beast mode lower jaw misassembled, so his mandibles point downwards like a funny bandito moustache. This same assembly error is also found in his set-mate Buzzclaw, the Virulent Clones, and even Universe Repugnus, leading fans to joke that the original Fuzor Buzzclaw is the "misassembled" one.

• More information on Dirge at TFU.info

References