Rollbar is the name given to three fictional characters in the Transformers universes.

Transformers: Generation 1

Rollbar first appeared in the 1987 range as part of the Autobot Throttlebot team, similar to the Decepticon Battlechargers in which they were pulled back and then set loose along the floor or other flat surface -- minus the auto-transformation.

Rollbar's bio described him as a brave, battle hardened veteran. He exists for the sole purpose of showing the Decepticons how tough he is. As leader of the Throttlebots, Rollbar often tries to inspire them with his speeches and jokes, usually eliciting only amusement from his more laid-back troops.

Animated series

Rollbar appeared in the third season of the animated series as leader of the Throttlebots, often working in tandem with Bumblebee, although he rarely had any major roles.

Transformers: The Headmasters

Rollbar made a brief appearance in the first episode of the Japanese exclusive series Transformers: The Headmasters. He was one of the reinforcements summoned to defend Vector Sigma alongside the Dinobots, but was put to sleep by Mindwipe's hypnotic attack.

Marvel Comics

Rollbar had a more prominent role in the accompanying Transformers comic from Marvel. He first appeared in issue 29 of the US comic, where he was in command of the Throttlebots on Cybertron. Captured by Ratbat, he and the others were not killed, but sent to Earth on a special mission - to kill the Scaplet infected Autobots and Decepticons in order to keep the infection from spreading - otherwise, he would have Earth sterilised of all life. Unwilling to kill their fellow Autobot Blaster, they nonetheless were sent to Earth, tracking down the infected Goldbug. Preparing to kill him, they discovered water was effective in killing the creatures. With some unwilling aid from the Decepticons the Scraplets were cured and the Throttlebots joined Blaster and Goldbug (renegades from Grimlock's leadership) on Earth.

After a brief side-adventure in the UK comics where they battled Soundwave and the Combaticons over the destruction of the bodies of Galvatron and Ultra Magnus, the group encountered the Combaticons again, being attacked by Vortex. The group were then attacked by R.A.A.T, the Combaticons and the Protectobots, sent by Grimlock to capture Blaster. In the resulting mayhem, Rollbar and the other Throttlebots were taken out by Circuit Breaker and captured by RAAT. Captured and dissected, the Throttlebots had their brains transferrd to the rtemore control cars of a sympathetic scientist. The RAAT base was then attacked by the Predacons. The Autobots fled, but the Predacons tracked them down, capturing Buster Witwicky in the process. Rollbar and the others Throttlebots's bodies were later reconstructed only to be destroyed by Underbase-powered Starscream. After that, it is unclear if they were revived again.

Dreamwave Productions

Like many other Transformers who did not appear in Dreamwave's G1 stories, Rollbar nonetheless received a one-page bio in their More Than Meets the Eye profile series.

Toys

• Generation 1 Rollbar (1987)

He was a simple Transformer with no articulation at all. Rollbar had scenery reflected in his windshield.

• Transformers: Alternators Rollbar (2006)

The Generation 1 Rollbar returns after nearly a twenty year gap for Alternators as a direct recolor of Swindle. Although his original toy was green, his fellow Autobot, Alternatore Hound was already released as a green Jeep Wrangler, and it was therefore decided to release him with an orange deco in order to avoid releasing figures that are too similar. Compared to Swindle, Rollbar lacks the black detail paint on the vehicle's doors and grille. As a robot, his arms are fully painted, while the head is the same color as Swindle's. The deviation from his original coloring and limited modifications from the Swindle figure means that Rollbar's most accurate attribute to his original G1 figure is his vehicle mode being that of a Jeep. Alternators Rollbar has not appeared in any fiction.

Transformers: Robots in Disguise

Rollbar is the name given to the Japanese Car Robots Greenjeeper; a repaint of the G1 Combaticon Swindle. He forms the right leg of the team's combined form, the gestalt Ruination. He first appears in standard army camouflage then in 2003 he is repainted into arctic camouflage as a Wal*Mart exclusive. This color scheme does not appear outside America and is not shown in the TV series.

An under-developed character; Rollbar is a hand-to-hand combat specialist, he loves to fight and prefers arctic environment.

Animated series

Rollbar's first appearance in the TV series was in episode #14 The Decepticons. As with his fellow Decepticons, Rollbar was created when Megatron found six Autobot protoforms and used his own energy to corrupt them.

3H Enterprises

His only appearance in the official storyline of Transformers: Universe was as a member of the Ruination combiner team in the 2004 BotCon voice actor play, where he was commanded by Reptilion.

Toys

• Robots in Disguise Rollbar (2001)

With Ruinations official height being given as 15 meters (49.2 feet) tall, and the toy measuring 25 centimeters tall, the toy would have a scale of about 1/60. This would mean Mega-Octane would stand 11.4 meters (37.4 feet) tall, while the other Commandos would stand about 4.8 meters (15.7 feet) tall.

• Robots in Disguise Rollbar Redeco

The Commandos were packaged together in a uniform "urban camo" redeco.

• Universe Rollbar (2004)

A recolor of the Robots in Disguise Rollbar was released in Wal*Mart stores as part of a Ruination gift-set. He is painted in desert camo.

Transformers: Armada

Rollbar is a white dune buggy. He is detailed in gray and black. In the cartoon continuity, he featured prominently in the Japanese Linkage'' DVD comic, which chronicles how he came to be partnered with Scavenger, as well as his short time alongside the "Super Stunt Team."

Dreamwave Productions

Rollbar appeared among the Mini-Cons in issue #18 of the Transformers: Armada comic book who aided Over-Run using the Mini-Con Matrix in the defeat of Unicron.

His bio portrayed him as being insanely brave to the point of stupidity. Even before the war broke out he was renowned for standing up to Megatron and the Decepticons. Teamed up with Scavenger, his strength and take-no-prisoners attitude mean the duo gave become a force to be reckoned with.

Toys

• Armada Scavenger with Rollbar (2002)

Armada Rollbar gets repainted as a G1 Hound homage and is now paired up with Treadbolt, a repaint of Armada Scavenger. It is not known why he gets paired with a different character in the storyline.

Links

G1 Rollbar Toy Image Gallery

RiD RollbarToy Review

Armada Rollbar Toy Review and Image Gallery

Energon RollbarToy Review and Image Gallery

Alternators Rollbar Toy Image Gallery