Stormcloud (Energon)

Stormcloud is a Decepticon from the Energon portion of the Unicron Trilogy continuity family.

Stormcloud is a member of the Destruction Team, five super-energon-powered military vehicles who combine to form the mighty Bruticus Maximus. Gifted with an awesome name, fit for the cover of one of the better heavy metal albums, he had no such destiny. No, his fate was to become a cloud—a cloud of ionized particles, that is.

Sometimes he is known as Vortex.

Fiction

Energon cartoon

Shortly after awakening from their long slumber, Bruticus Maximus and Constructicon Maximus were ordered by Galvatron to pursue the fleeing Superion Maximus after the Autobot attempted to attack the Decepticon leader. Both combiners separated into their individual components and gave chase. They later pledged their allegiance to Galvatron, believing him to be the future of Cybertron. Wishes

When Six Shot pinpointed an Autobot signal on the planet's surface, Galvatron sent Constructicon Maximus and Bruticus Maximus out to investigate. The two combiners came upon Autobot refugees looking about the crashed Miranda II for survivors, and decided to have some fun by beating them up. Arcee and Kicker sped by to allow the Autobots to escape, and Bruticus Maximus split into Stormcloud and his other components to give them chase. They were unable to catch the pair, but came upon them again after the Omnicons had managed to clog up an energon pipeline, hindering the Decepticons' planetary defense grid. Bruticus Maximus assumed his combined form to gun them down, but was countered by the arrival of Optimus Prime and other Autobot reinforcements. Break Through

During a virtual training match between the Autobots and Decepticons, Stormcloud was part of Barricade's Destruction Team, fighting the Air Team alongside the Construction Team. They combined into Bruticus Maximus to defeat Superion Maximus, only to be defeated in turn by Optimus Supreme. Distribution

Stormcloud and the other Destruction Team member eventually paid for their treachery during a final show down with the Air Team. Bruticus Maximus and Constructicon Maximus double teamed Superion Maximus, who held his own and destroyed Constructicon's spark before the Autobot was reduced to Storm Jet. However, the ghost of Superion's brother appeared, destroying Blackout, giving Storm Jet the chance to procure Constructicons's dead limbs and recombine into Superion. Before Bruticus could recover, the Autobot pierced his spark causing an explosion which engulfed them all. Spark

Toys

Energon

With him on rhythm, Storm Jet on bass and Duststorm on drums, The Stormbringers were set to rock Cybertron!

• Bruticus (Multi-pack, 2004)

• ID number: SD-21
• Release date: October 14, 2014
• Accessories: Energon blaster, Decepticon-type energon star
• Known designers: Eric Siebenaler (Hasbro), Takio Ejima (TakaraTomy)

Takara's Super Link Vorter shares a mold with his teammate Blast Off, transforming into an orange and brown assault helicopter somewhat similar to an AH-1 Cobra.

Vorter can form an arm or leg to any Energon-style "Powerlinx Combiner" super robot, though his nominal placement is as the right leg to Bruticus. His quintuple-barreled "super energon" cannon can form either a hand or footplate for his limb-modes.

All five members of Bruticus were only available in the Takara Super Link line as part of a complete super-robot multi-pack, released in the seventeenth and final wave of toys, of which Bruticus was the only release.

This mold was also used for the Fun Publications Transformers Collectors' Club-exclusive Timelines Topspin, and the Universe (2008) Bruticus Maximus team members Vortex and Swindle, who in turn double as Revenge of the Fallen Vortex and Swindle. Another planned redeco, movie Reverb, was canceled.

• Comparison between Stormcloud and his Japanese counterpart Vorter at Autobase Aichi

But Stormcloud had bills and decided to join the Decepticons - a 9 to 5 job, sure, but he could quit later and it wouldn't change him, right? Right?

• Stormcloud (Energon Class, 2005)

• Team ID number: D1
• Accessories: Energon blaster, Decepticon-type energon star
• Known designers: Eric Siebenaler (Hasbro), Takio Ejima (TakaraTomy)

The Hasbro release of Stormcloud was sold on an individual card, in the seventh wave of Energon "Energon Class" (aka "Basic") toys.

Stormcloud is is largely identical to Takara's Vorter; the most immediately-noticeable difference is that he has the "Powerlinx" gear symbol on the left side of his tail-strut, a detail Vorter lacks. His clear-blue plastic is also a lighter shade, while his blue paint applications are actually darker.

• More information on Stormcloud at TFU.info

Merchandise

3D Battle-Card Game

Orange you glad to see me?

• Vortex (2007)
  • Rarity: Uncommon
  • Point value: 28

Released in the "Energon Wars" expansion of the Wizards of the Coast 3D Battle-Card Game, Vortex (visually based on Energon Stormcloud) is a set of parts punched out of two plastic cards which can be assembled into both a robot and a helicopter. He also comes with a character stat card.

Like all 3D Battle Cards, Vortex was randomly-packed in sets of two "figures" per pack. This expansion was exclusive to Target stores and hobby specialty shops.

He uses the same parts layout as Blackout, Evac, and Whirl.

Notes

Foreign names

• Japanese: Vorter (ボルター Borutā)