Soundbarrier

Soundbarrier is an Autobot Battle Master from the Earthrise portion of the Generation 1 continuity family.

GUARD VENT
GUARD: 2000

Air Command Engineering Private Soundbarrier can transform into a shield to protect fellow Autobots from enemy fire. Just don't expect him to enjoy it.^[1]

Sometimes, he is a mass-produced body-type of Selectors.

Fiction

Generations Selects Special Comic

I'm sure the tables and chairs won't rise up against us.

A type of Selector created by humans with the power of Angolmois Energy, the prolific Soundbarriers were used as ramps, servants, and assorted furniture. However, the Selectors didn't care for their position in life and sought to rebel against humanity with the help of Megatron's Decepticons. With their assistance, the Soundbarriers and other Selectors began their rebellion in Neo Scramble City. Volcanicus comic 1

One Soundbarrier stood by Selector leader Rung as he denounced Optimus Prime's treatment of the Dinobots, and later watched as the new combiner Volcaticon announced his intent to find a solution that would benefit both humans and Selectors, moments before the Quintessons and their Terrorcon servants invaded. Volcanicus comic 2

The Quintessons had a brutal history with slave robots rebelling, and this time was no exception. Using Angolmois Energy, the Quintessons and their enforcers the Terrorcons could forcibly reformat Selectors into loyal slaves called Slitherfangs. A Quintesson Judge demonstrated the process to a distraught Spike Witwicky on one of his loyal household Soundbarriers, while Hun-Gurrr processed several rebel Soundbarriers on the battlefield into Slitherfangs. Abominus comic 1 The Quintessons' extreme tactics put everyone else on the same side. Soundbarriers helped humanity get to safety aboard Astrotrain and other vessels as the Angolmois Energy on Earth went wild in response to the Quintessons. Abominus comic 2

Megatron harnessed the Angolmois Energy away from Abominus, but by becoming Megatron Omega he became just another threat. Lio Convoy arrived from the distant future with the knowledge of how to wield Angolmois Energy productively. Rung and several Soundbarriers lent their Angolmois strength to Lio Convoy, manifesting his Green Lion mode and giving them upgraded power as well. Finale

Games

Transformers: Earth Wars

Soundbarrier was annoyed that Springer and Kup treated him as a mere tool. Soundbarrier arrival

Toys

War for Cybertron: Earthrise

You'll want at least 10 of me.

• Soundbarrier (Battle Master, 2020)

• Hasbro ID number: WFC-E1
• TakaraTomy ID number: ER EX-01
• TakaraTomy release date: April 25, 2020
• Accessories: "Fire Blast"

Part of the first wave of Earthrise Battle Masters, Soundbarrier transforms from robot mode to a shield that can be held by any C.O.M.B.A.T. System-compatible figure. His alt mode also features an A.I.R. Lock System connector on each end, allowing him to connect with any compatible pieces or Battle Masters. He can also connect with himself to create ramps.

An included "Fire Blast" effect can be attached to any of Soundbarriers 3 mm posts, simulating gunfire colliding with them. The effect piece also has a 5 mm post.

Unfortunately, Soundbarrier has numerous flaws that plague many copies of the figure. For one, the tabs located on his arms and legs, meant to secure them in his shield/ramp mode, do not always fit in the holes they are intended for, sometimes actually popping out from tension. Another issue is that, due to the way the 5mm peg for the alt mode is designed to fold into his chest, said peg is really short, and only has half of a post for most of its' length. This means that many figures have trouble holding Soundbarrier's shield mode in their hands, and shallow 5mm ports suffer loose connection as well.

Finally, by virtue of the shield mode being two pieces of translucent plastic connected by a stiff, pinned hinge, many copies of Soundbarrier are known to break in half when trying to transform him. Be careful.

Like all Earthrise toys, the cardboard back of Soundbarrier's package includes an exclusive cut-out collectible piece of a larger star map. Unlike most larger toy size classes, this piece does not include a named location.

In Japan, Soundbarrier was only available as a TakaraTomy Mall exclusive.

This mold was also used to make Sheeldron.

War for Cybertron Trilogy

• Autobot Optimus Prime (Battle 3-Pack, 2020)

• TakaraTomy ID number: WFC-11
• TakaraTomy release date: February 20, 2021

A redeco of Earthrise Soundbarrier in opaque and translucent yellow, but without the "Fire Blast", War for Cybertron Trilogy Sheeldron transforms from a robot into a shield.

It is highly likely that Sheeldron suffers from the same breakage flaws as Soundbarrier.

Sheeldron was only available in a multi-pack with "Autobot Optimus Prime" and Enerax. This set was exclusive to walmart stores in the US and Canada.

Notes

• Robby Musso designed Soundbarrier.^[2]

Foreign names

• Japanese: Soundbarrier (サウンドバリア Saundobaria)

References