Smokescreen is a Decepticon from the Generation 2 portion of the Generation 1 continuity family.

No, I'm not Starscream.

Smokescreen is paired up with the much larger Decepticon Dreadwing, forming a deadly duo. Little is known about Smokescreen's past or origins, only that he can be very manipulative and has a bizarre hatred of both Autobots and Decepticons. He takes great advantage of his partner Dreadwing's sheer strength.

Fiction

Marvel Generation 2 comic

"Megatron, look at me before Furman forgets I exist!"

Part of the new wave of Decepticon forces, Smokescreen was connected to Darkwing's vehicle form as they attacked the Rheanimum facility on the planet Tykos. Following this attack, he pointed Megatron towards Skullgrin's crashing shuttle. New Dawn

Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity

Story of Binaltech

When the Decepticons unleashed Cosmic Rust on Earth, Smokescreen was one of the many Autobots infected with the virus. As Earth Defense Command created the Binaltech Project in order to help the Autobots, Smokescreen was the first patient to undergo transference into an electro-cell powered new body. Binaltech Is... With the help of his fellow Binaltech Autobots, Smokescreen and his new power helped drive the Decepticons off the planet. Arise! Evil Binaltechs He remained part of the soldiers based at Autobot City on Earth. As Chip Chase developed the new Genetronic Translink system, Smokescreen volunteered to be the first Autobot outfitted with the tech. Thanks to the GT system, his spark was transplanted into subspace, allowing him to connect with multiple autonomous Binaltech bodies simultaneously. GT Units Online!

BT World

Many months later, in the new universe, two Smokescreen GT units served alongside Tracks as back-up for Mirage as he infiltrated Cybertron. Kill Switch

Smokescreen returned to Autobot City with the other Binaltech warriors after the defeat of Nemesis Prime. Outlier

Legends comic (1)

In 2004, Smokescreen, still in one of his GT bodies, was among the Autobots who welcomed new recruits Roadbuster and Whirl into their ranks. Bonus Edition Vol. 7

The Headmasters cartoon

In 2011, Smokescreen, in his original body, was present on Athenia to hear Hound's theories about the Vector Sigma supercomputer. Four Warriors Come out of the Sky

Legends comic (2)

"I'll solve this problem with my four hyper-intelligent brains!" "I'm hungry!" "I'm cold!" "I'm itchy!" "Where are the girls?"

Smokescreen had used the GT System to control up to eight bodies simultaneously, but when the time came to return his mind to a single body, something went wrong and his mind fractured into multiple personalities vying for control. GT07, an evil personality that lived to destroy, came out out on top and left the Autobots, though he was plagued by the voices of the other Smokescreens in his head. LG-EX Big Powered Prologue Part One

Train Wars

When the Fallen attacked Cybertron, Smokescreen took him as a master and accompanied him as he rampaged and took Vector Sigma into his possession. Train Wars Smokescreen was eventually taken care of by Goshooter and Shūta Gō, who used their teamwork to smash his face in. Train Wars 2

Legends comic (3)

Smokescreen was recovered by Dreadwing, who rebuilt him into a new jet body and informed him of the rise and fall of the Cybertron Alliance in his absence. He decided to join Dreadwing's personal cause to destroy both Autobots and Decepticons alike, believing it would lead to lasting peace and thus serve as atonement for his crimes. LG-EX Big Powered Prologue Part One

G-2 pack-in manga and story pages

He's the hype man who shouts along with all of Dreadwing's rhyming couplets.

When Smokescreen met the pacifist Dreadwing, he tricked the hulking brute into believing that the only way to end the war between the Autobots and Decepticons was to destroy the Autobots and the Decepticons. Smokescreen and Dreadwing initially sided with no one, but eventually joined the forces of Megatron. G-2 Part 3

During a decisive battle between Megatron and Optimus Prime, Megatron managed to gain the upper hand after a surprise attack by Hooligan crippled Prime's weaponry. Defenseless, Megatron ordered an aerial assault from Dreadwing and Smokescreen. The pair swooped down and bombarded Optimus Prime with missiles, nearly killing him. Their enemy virtually dead, they left the killing blow to Megatron. G-2 #10

Later, Smokescreen took part in Megatron's final assault on the Autobots. When he was defeated, Smokescreen and the rest of the Decepticons were driven into deep space. G-2 Part 6

15 Go! Go!

As Jetfire sought out Battle Convoy with Teletraan 15 and Steeljaw aboard, Steeljaw Volume Smokescreen and his partner Dreadwing attacked them in the hopes of being led back to the other Autobots. Battle Convoy appeared and badly damaged Dreadwing, defeating the pair. Battle Convoy Volume

Legends comic (4)

At some point, Smokescreen was embroiled in a battle around Metroplex. Bonus Edition EX Metroplex He and Dreadwing later joined up with Galvatron II and participated in his attack on Beast. The Road to Legends' Revival Chapter 3 Upon witnessing the Monsterbots wield Beast Power, they deemed it too dangerous as it might fuel further conflict and attempted to destroy the Autobots, only to be defeated by Repugnus. Bonus Edition EX Repugnus While the disgraced Galvatron was rejected by his master, Unicron Neo, Smokescreen and Dreadwing remained loyal to Unicron and were reformatted into new bodies. LG-EX Big Powered Prologue Part One Even the revelation that Unicron Neo was actually Dark Nova didn't bother them as long as his goal was to destroy the Transformers, and they assisted in Dark Nova's attack on the Z Planet where they battled Land Powered. LG-EX Big Powered Prologue Part Two

In the aftermath of Dark Nova's defeat, Smokescreen and Dreadwing witnessed the resurrection of the Legends World, still believing that peace between Transformers was a transient illusion. They were approached by Devcon, whose words and cooperation with Slizardo and the Skuxxoid moved Smokescreen enough to rejoin the Autobot fold. Dreadwing was still unconvinced, but Smokescreen changed his mind by pointing out that they themselves were proof that cooperation between an Autobot and a Decepticon could exist. Epiloge

2005 IDW continuity

Smokescreen served under the command of Turmoil when their second-in-command Deadlock violated orders. Deadlock attacked the Autobots when Turmoil ordered him not to, and then executed a fellow Decepticon who planned on reporting his insubordination. Deadlock tried to rally Smokescreen and several other soldiers from Turmoil's forces under his new leadership. Smokescreen and his comrades refused, and turned Deadlock over to Turmoil to answer for his attempted mutiny. Drift #1

Commercial appearances

Dreadwing and Smokescreen flew over an empty street to harass a pitiful young human, who fled in terror at the sight of them. Smokescreen contented himself to fly overhead and fire his blasters while Dreadwing transformed into his tank mode and smushed a parked car. Two Autobots responded to the boy's cries for help, only for Dreadwing and Smokescreen to assume their robot modes start tossing them around with ease. Dreadwing and Smokescreen commercial

Toys

Generation 2

Unfortunately, being one of the best G2 toys doesn't stop him from struggling with severe insecurity regarding his wingspan.

• Dreadwing (1994)

• Takara ID number: TRF-10
• Accessories: Two launchers, two missiles
• Known designers: Takio Ejima (TakaraTomy), Masakatsu Saito (concept artist)

Available only with his larger partner Dreadwing, Generation 2 Smokescreen transforms into a fighter jet of undetermined (probably made-up) model. He has two side-mounted spring-loaded rocket launchers that become hand-weapons in robot mode. He can combine with Dreadwing's vehicle mode to form the large stealth bomber jet. For some reason he came with an Autobot-style instruction book that instructed you to put Smokescreen's forehead sticker on the center of Dreadwing's face.

Smokescreen's arms are misassembled, as his thumbs end up on the outside of his fists in robot mode and upper arms have an exposed screw on the exposed side.

In Japan, due to various retcons that took place in the ever-expanding Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity, this Smokescreen toy also doubles as the Generation 1 character of the same name.

• More information on Smokescreen at TFU.info

Transformers (2010)

At last, he has the wingspan he's always wanted!

• Dreadwing & Smokescreen (Multi-pack, 2010)

• Release date: July 17, 2010
• Accessories: Left and right axes
• Known designers: Masu Yoshi (TakaraTomy, deco)

Available exclusively at the Tokyo Toy Show 2010, this Dreadwing & Smokescreen set is a redeco of Revenge of the Fallen Voyager Class Mindwipe and Scout Class Skystalker respectively. TakaraTomy designer Masu Yoshi's inspiration for this set apparently stemmed from a desire to compete with BotCon 2010's Generation 2 theme for its exclusive toys.^[1] Besides the obvious colour changes, the live-action movie Decepticon insignias have been replaced with Generation 2 Decepticon insignia.

Smokescreen transforms from a robot into a flying-wing-style stealth jet drone similar to the BAE Corax. Undocumented in the instructions, the two axes that peg into his palms as weapons for his robot mode can also clip directly to his forearms (giving them a superficial similarity to tonfa). For vehicle mode, they integrate into the stealth jet's wings. The robot mode feet are spring-loaded so the heels and toes collapse down and together when the feet are lifted off the ground.

The instructions include a "battle mode", which is essentially the vehicle mode with the robot legs untransformed, similar to the "Gerwalk" mode seen on Generation 1 Jetfire, which of course, derived from The Super Dimension Fortress Macross.

Like the original Generation 2 toys, in vehicle mode, Smokescreen can attach on top of Dreadwing's alternate mode via two pegs.

The blue plastic that makes up most of Smokescreen is more fragile than most and will crack under stress, such as repeated removal and replacing of the hook weapons into the wings.

This mold was also used to make Hunt for the Decepticons Sunspot and Generations Laserbeak. In 2014, the boxset was re-released as a lucky draw prize for the Transformers Celebration 2014 event held at Ikebukuro Sunshine City store's Toys"R"Us, though this was very likely remaining stock.

Generations (Japan)

Now he's got no wingspan at all! (Well, at least not in vehicle mode.)

• Smokescreen (2015)
  • Accessories: Presumably gun

A mock-up of 2008 Universe Deluxe Class Smokescreen redecoed in the colors of this Smokescreen was shown in Transformers Generations 2014 Volume 1 as part of a fan poll to determine Vol. 2's exclusive toy, as well as guaranteeing that character a starring role in the volume's fiction. Smokescreen only received 2.9% of the votes,^[2] so the mysterious connection between the two Smokescreens hinted at by the poll's write-up–itself a reference to a common bit of Japanese fanon from back in the day that the Generation 1 and G-2 Smokescreens were the same individual–went unaddressed until "Legends' Revival" was released in 2019, finally canonizing the idea for Japanese continuity.

Proceed on your way to oblivion. This item has been canceled, with no current plans for release.

Merchandise

Transformers Character Card

• Smokescreen & Dreadwing Set (October 17, 2023)
  • ID number: 61 & 62

Released as part of the ninth wave of the e-HOBBY exclusive Transformers Character Card series, this pair of holographic trading cards depict super-deformed art of Smokescreen and Dreadwing along with character profiles and tech specs.

• Translation of Smokescreen's Transformers Character Card

Notes

• Generation 2 Smokescreen is the toy that TakaraTomy designer Takio Ejima is most proud of.
• While Smokescreen is identified by name on United States (English) and Canadian (English/French) packaging (including an obligatory alternate French name for the Canadian version), European packaging doesn't even acknowledge him as a separate character: English/French/Portuguese packaging (on which Dreadwing is named "Stealth Assault") merely states that the box "Also includes robot/jet fighter!" in all three languages, whereas French/Dutch/German packaging (on which Dreadwing is named "Ace Evader") translates the English call-out into German as "Also includes robot/plane!", but misinterprets it as "Contains: Robot and a plane" for the Dutch version, and completely misses the mark with the French version, which substitutes the original call-out for "Replica of a stealth plane".
• In the Legends manga, Smokescreen is said to be able to control eight bodies simultaneously; the four personalities actually named on panel correspond to the racing numbers present on the variants of his original Binaltech toy (GT07 and 08) and its later retool (GT01 and 02). The latter toy, "Smokescreen GT", included the pack-in material that introduced the concept of the GT system, implying that it was Smokescreen's new body that allowed him to make use of it. ...All this to say that, technically, the Binaltech Smokescreen toy with a #7 racing number can't quite be repurposed into the GT07 character, given it lacks the necessary retooled parts.

Foreign names

• Japanese: Smokescreen (スモークスクリーン Sumōkusukurīn)
• French: Fumigène (Canada, "smoke bomb")

References