Grindcore (G1)

Grindcore is a Decepticon or unaligned Transformer from the Generation 1 continuity family.

Onslaught called, he wants his look back.

Grindcore is a bruiser. He likes to get up close and personal due to his physical prowess. He's a bit of a braggart, often boasting of the beatings he's capable of handing out.

As part of the Master Chaos sub-group, he operates under the codename Tankmaster (タンクマスター Tankumasutā), and is partnered with the Targetmaster Wheezel.

Fiction

2005 IDW continuity

No, really. He's got a C&D letter for you.

Grindcore was a crewman on the maiden (and only) voyage of the original Ark exploratory vessel millions of years ago. Lost in the depths of the Benzuli Expanse, he and his crewmates were sucked into the Dead Universe and became undead servants of its evil will.

In the present day, Grindcore stood by his commander Nemesis Prime as their plans came to fruition and the Expansion began, spreading the influence of the Dead Universe across the living one. Spotlight: Cyclonus As the forces of the Dead Universe began their attack on Earth, Grindcore accompanied Straxus to the Jiangxi province of China, where he went to work assembling a space bridge and bickering with his partner. Spotlight: Doubledealer Presently, an Autobot squad arrived, and Grindcore was singled out by Sideswipe as his "designated whipping bot." Though he warned the Autobot of biting off more than he could chew, Sideswipe managed to overpower the Dead Universe Cybertronian, and moved on to fight Straxus. Powered by the Dead Universe's strange energies, Grindcore got up again to resume his attack as Straxus fell, only to be put down again... just in time for Straxus to recover... and rise again as Straxus went down... ad nauseum. But when the Benzuli Expanse anomaly was sealed off, both Grindcore and Straxus finally ceased functioning, leaving Sideswipe the victor by default. Spotlight: Sideswipe

United EX

Onslaught's happy with the settlement, but now Brawl wants to have a talk...

A loyal servant of Megatron, Grindcore joined the Master Chaos sub-group under the command of the Decepticon High Regent Scrash to investigate the mysterious commander's true motives. Refitted with a new body capable of interacting with the Power Core Drones developed by the Autobots that Scrash's forces would soon steal, Grindcore took on the codename "Tankmaster".

Tankmaster hid amongst the debris of a landfill to watch Grimmaster and Roadmaster battle, emerging to ambush Grimmaster when he gained the upper hand. Prepared to execute the former Decepticon without hesitation, Tankmaster was foiled at the last second by the surprise appearance of Marinemaster, whose lightning speed on sea and land quickly overcame Tankmaster's defenses. Marinemaster proposed that the fallen Tankmaster offer up some information in exchange for his life; although not immediately convinced that the young Autobot had a killing streak in him, Tankmaster soon recognized his resolve, and revealed that Scrash was not his true leader, cluing the Autobots in to the factionalization that had sprung up in the Decepticon ranks. Ocean Encounter

Precursor World

Tankmaster was under the command of the two Straxuses headquartered at Darkmount, and stood by the disembodied head of Straxus when he taunted the intruding Magna Convoy. Cybertron Magna Convoy prequel comic

Toys

United EX

OK! Since Onslaught has a problem with me being his doppelganger, how about letting me keep the ability to be a torso? Deal?

• Tankmaster vs Marinemaster (Vs pack, 2012)

• ID number: EX-P3
• Release date: November 17, 2012

Released in the third and final wave of TakaraTomy's United EX toyline, Tankmaster is a redeco of the Power Core Combiners Heavytread toy, transforming into a Merkava main battle tank. Tankmaster also has a secondary "Prime Mode" configuration in which he forms a super robot torso that can be equipped with any Power Core Combiners drone limbs.

He comes with his Mini-Con Targetmaster partner Wheezel, who combines with Tankmaster in vehicle mode to form a clawed mine plow similar to the US Marine Corps Assault Breacher Vehicle.

He was only available in a set with Marinemaster.

Notes

• Simon Furman revealed on his blog that the creation of Grindcore sprang from his liking the name, as well as wanting a few new characters in the cast.