Landquake (Energon)

Landquake is an Autobot from the Energon portion of the Unicron Trilogy continuity family.

You brute you brute you brute you bruuuute! *sobs*

Landquake is almost the dictionary definition of the phrase "gentle giant". Relatively uninterested in combat (unlike his brother, Landmine), Landquake prefers to use his massive strength and endurance to help the Omnicons dig for Energon. However, if the Decepticons bring the fight to him, Landquake is more than willing to teach them a lesson. He may be emotional and sensitive, but he knows how to handle unruly opponents.

Fiction

Energon comic

When Alpha Quintesson sent hordes of Terrorcon drones to ravage Earth, Landquake was part of the team sent to Los Angeles, California to tackle the Insecticon clone army there, under the command of Jetfire. The others in his squad were Bulkhead, Cliffjumper, Perceptor, and Tow-Line. Multiplicity, Pt. 2 He mainly used his armored vehicle mode to run down swarms of the creatures on the ground. Multiplicity, Pt. 3 The team began running low on energy before they were running low on Terrorcons, until Rad turned up in his Energon Volant Accumulator jet and used Energon vapor to give them a recharge. Also Megatron teleported in and tore into the Terrorcon horde, forcing it to retreat off-planet. Multiplicity, Pt. 4

Toys

Energon

• Landquake (Command Class, 2004)

• Accessories: Trailer/"Gunnery Station"/backpack & gauntlets, missile
• Known designers: Eric Siebenaler (Hasbro)

A redeco of the Energon Command Class (Ultra) Landmine toy in white, brown, and blue, Energon: The Powerlinx Battles Landquake transforms into a Cybertronic half-track battlefield recovery vehicle. The front of the vehicle features a large plow, while the rear has a rotating crane with a working winch, as well as a spring-loaded missile launcher. The front half of the vehicle can separate from the tracked portion as a smaller truck cab, and can transform into the standard robot. The tracked portion can then be reconfigured into a "Gunnery Station" that Landquake's robot mode can man. Most of the crane is detachable, possibly for safety reasons, as it doesn't appear to attach anywhere else. Landquake sports a "mountain" logo that would subsequently be seen again on Cybertron Brushguard, although no particular meaning behind it has ever been indicated.

In robot mode, Landquake has no weapons, but his standard 5 mm fists can hold any energon weapons or other weapons sporting a compatible peg system. In the dead center of his chest is his spark crystal, over which an energon star can be attached. As a red Powerlinx Autobot, Landquake cannot combine with any other Autobot except for the rear "trailer" half of his vehicle, forming his "Brute Mode" (or Powerlinx Landquake). The tracks, with their flip-out digger claws, mount on his arms while the remaining portion forms a weapons backpack. Connecting the backpack to Landquake will depress a button which activates the classic Generation 1 transformation sound effect.

While this toy was not released in Japan, the Energon cartoon used this deco as a powered up form for Landmine. This mold was also redecoed into Timelines Landshark.

• More information on Landquake at TFU.info

Merchandise

Attacktix

• Starter Set (2007)

Available only in the second Transformers Attacktix four-piece Starter Set (along with Generation 1's Optimus Prime and Megatron plus Cybertron Skywarp), Landquake is a redeco of the Attacktix Landmine piece. As a redeco of Landmine he possesses the same excellent defense and four point articulation. There is a slight sculpt difference with Landmine; his thrust-attack arm is assembled upside-down. The attack still works fine and it helps to make Landquake different visually.

His special power is "Jam" which does not allow the opponent to use any shooters for the remainder of the turn. His power normally has a 50% success rate, but due to its wording it's possible to neutralize his power simply by attacking him using your last attack to topple him.

• More information on Attacktix Landquake at TFU.info

Notes

• In the Energon comic, Landquake's head changes back and forth across his appearances. He is first seen in issue #27 with a head design seemingly based on Robots in Disguise (2001) Landfill's. However, on the next page, his head is that of the toy. The next time he is shown in robot mode, issue #29, he has Landfill's head again.