Mirage (RID)

Mirage is an Autobot from the Robots in Disguise continuity family.

Stealthy McNinja.

Mirage is one of the elite Spychangers, and is their best marksman. As a Spychanger, he has the ability to drive on almost any surface, and can also cloak himself and thereby render himself invisible. Though he's generally a loner who prefers to work alone (which really grinds W.A.R.S.'s gears), he and his team-mate Ironhide go way back.

Fiction

Cartoon continuity

2001 Robots in Disguise cartoon

Voice actor: Wally Wingert (English), Ryō Naitō (Japanese), Mikhail Tihonov (Russian), Wan-gyeong Seong (Korean), Sérgio Stern (Portuguese)

You can make your own scale joke here, can't you? I was going to make one about Somalian warlords, personally.

When the Predacons stole a plutonium energy generator and attempted to escape along a beach, Mirage along with Ironhide and W.A.R.S. cut them off by driving across the water. He climbed into Ironhide's truck bed for some "cyber-jousting". The Predacons eventually escaped with a fake generator which the Spychangers had swapped for the real one. Spychangers to the Rescue

After Optimus was captured and tortured by Megatron, the Spychangers joined the Autobot Brothers in rescuing their leader and seeing off the Predacons. Sideburn's Obsession

Later, the team tried to protect a ruby from Predacon theft, but the mission failed–partly because of Mirage's unwillingness to fire at the Predacons and risk hitting a chemical tank. Mirage would not explain himself, and "left" the Spychangers because he felt they should trust his motives, but when his friend Ironhide tried to convince him to come to his senses, he became aware that he was carrying a transmitter created by Gas Skunk. Mirage used this to his advantage, and deceptively alienated Ironhide, while at the same time deceiving the Predacons that he could be a potential ally. Ultimately, he carried the ruse to its full extent, leading his fellow Spychangers to the laser weapon the Predacons had created. Using hand signals, he helped them to understand his plan, and they successfully destroyed the weapon with help from T-AI and the Global Space Bridge. Mirage's Betrayal

The Spychangers also took part in the International Grand Prix in an attempt to find Skid-Z and were blinded by Megatron a short time into the race. Skid Z's Choice On another occasion, the Spychangers were called back to base to watch footage of various battles, but had to wrap up a fight with the Predacons first. Mirage rode on Ironhide again. Hope for the Future

The Spychangers accompanied Optimus Prime to Montrose Island where Predacon activity was causing the volcano to become violent. They attempted to keep Scourge and Sky-Byte busy while Optimus went to use his blizzard storm on the volcano. Hot Shot ordered Mirage to keep Scourge away from Optimus, but the Decepticon simply took a flying leap over the Spychanger. When the volcano was ruptured and lava threatened the nearby resort, the Spychangers used their Inferno Blast to divert its path. Mirage gave some encouraging words when Crosswise was concerned his engine was overheating. Volcano

In between all their adventures, the Autobots still had to perform some of the more menial tasks, such as regularly testing out the global space bridge. Lessons of the Past

Sent to stop the Decepticons from finding Fortress Maximus, the Spychangers jumped out in front of the foe and were soundly trounced by Armorhide and Rollbar. Fortress Maximus

The Spychangers took part in the ambush of the Decepticons after the Autobot base was discovered. They marveled at the firepower of the Megastar, and didn't really contribute much for the rest of the battle. Surprise Attack! After Galvatron's defeat, they celebrated by racing with Skid-Z. The Final Battle

Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity

Super Spychanger Lottery

With God Magnus having departed Earth aboard Brave Maximus, the Autobots were unable to call upon his power when a new menace, suddenly arose to challenge them. In order to combat this threat, a plan was put into motion to upgrade the Spychangers with Spark Engines, granting them Super Modes.

Super Counter Arrow gained immense speed, to the point of being able to produce "images" and nobody being able to match his quickslinging. The Secret of the Birth of the Super Spychangers

Ask Vector Prime

According to a story heard by Vector Prime at Axiom Nexus, the threat was Chainsaw and his Mutants. Super Counter Arrow used his illusions to defeat Jackhammer when he attacked Antarctica. Later, when Chainsaw and the rest of his Mutants attempted to overrun the Autobot base, he helped repulse them. Using the power of teamwork, the Super Spychangers defeated and captured the villains. Though the Go-Brillium which powered them was used up and they were no longer Super, they retained new color schemes. Ask Vector Prime, 2015/08/01

Legends comic

When Scourge and his Combatrons attacked the Dimensional Patrol's Neo Brave Maximus to rescue Devil Gigatron, the Super Spychangers were sent out to the front lines. Their damage to the Combatrons' ship led to it crashing into the base. LGEX Scourge Prologue

Ask Vector Prime

In the future of Viron 102.0 Beta, Mirage was a victim of the extradimensional criminal Megatron during the Spark War. However, he used the Genetronic Translink System to control a Vehicon body even with his spark in enemy hands! He traveled back in time to guide the Protector against Cryotek and decided to serve in the Elite Guard as "Mirage GT" while he was at it.

As part of the Guard, he helped face threats such as the Recyclons, Planet X in the Skeleton Nebula, Jhiaxus's Destructicons, and such bizarre threats as the Metabeasts of Zeotopia, the Intruder Empire, and the Elder Gods! Ask Vector Prime, 2015/09/22

Toys

Robots in Disguise (2001)

"You'd think that the 'Transformers' on the spoiler would mean it's a Transformer, but there's no Autobot symbol on it, so clearly it can't oh wow you fooled me!"

• Counter Arrow (Spychanger, March 2000)

• ID number: C-010
• Release date: March ??, 2003
• Accessories: Rifle
• Known designers: Masakatsu Saito (concept artist)

Released in the first wave of Car Robots product, "Counter Arrow" is a redeco of the Generation 2 Go-Bot Double Clutch mold, transforming into a Lola T94 Indy car. He features a through-axle wheel construction that allows him to zip quickly along smooth surfaces in vehicle mode, and is compatible with many "Hot Wheels" and "Matchbox" racetracks. The black portion of his hood has heat-sensitive paint that reveals an Autobot insignia, in a method similar to the original rubsigns.

This mold was also used to make the Generation 2 and Universe versions of Mirage.

• More information on Counter Arrow at TFU.info

• Spychanger DX 6-Piece Set (Multi-pack, March 2000)

• ID number: C-011
• Release date: March ??, 2000
• Accessories: Rifle

All six Spychangers were not only sold as individuals in Japan, but in a six-piece giftset as well. The toys are identical to their individual releases, including all six individual bio cards.

Sonokong also released this giftset in Korean markets in new windowless packaging, with each member lacking the heat-sensitive insignia.

• Korean blog post detailing the Sonokong release

• Counter Arrow (Original Spychanger, 2000)

• Release date: August ??, 2000
• Accessories: Rifle

An exclusive "Original Spychanger" redeco of Counter Arrow in clear-blue and clear-green plastics, this version was only available from JUSCO stores in Japan as a direct-mail premium to members of their "Peppy Kids Republic" (元気キッズ共和国 Genki Kidzu Kyōwakoku), a sort of subsidiary/offshoot for selling baby goods and children's clothing. Since membership was open only to kids 12 and under and this version was shipped blind-packed, getting the entire set of six was extremely difficult.

• More information on Counter Arrow clear version at TFU.info

• Ironhide / Mirage (Basic Class two-pack, 2001)

• Accessories: Rifle

The Hasbro Robots in Disguise version of "Mirage" was available only in a two-pack with Ironhide, released in the first wave of "Basic" toys. This version replaces the heat-sensitive insignia was replaced with a normal Autobot insignia tampograph, and adds more paint operations, mainly red highlights. The red piping on his hood is also a brighter shade than the Takara vesion's.

The initial releases of this set have Ironhide packaged in robot mode with Mirage in vehicle mode, pointed straight upward. Later releases have both toys in vehicle mode, tilted to a 1 o'clock position.

• More information on Mirage at TFU.info

GT. We bring good things to life.

• Nightcruz / Mirage GT / Scavenger (Mega Class 3-pack, 2002)

• Takara release date: July 31, 2002
• Accessories: Left & right tailpipe-missiles, head-mounted blaster

A redeco of the Beast Machines Vehicon Mirage, Robots in Disguise "Mirage GT" transforms into a Cybertronic dragster similar in shape to an F-1 racer. In both modes he has pair of pressure-launch tailpipe-missiles; in car mode they attach to his spoiler, while in robot mode one is affixed to each arm. The small blaster-weapon attached to his head can also be removed and used as a hand-held weapon. He was available only in a 3-pack with Nightcruz and Scavenger.

Mirage GT features a assembly error in that his legs are swapped. This is easily fixable by popping the legs off at the hip and switching them.

This set was released in Japan as a Toys"R"Us exclusive "USA Edition" set.

This mold was planned for use as a convention-exclusive version of Devcon, which was ultimately never made.

• More information on Mirage GT at TFU.info

• Mirage (Spy Changer, 2002)

• Accessories: Rifle

All six original Spychangers were redecoed in colorless-clear plastics (keeping their normal paint applications, though), and released on individual cards through KB Toys and Target chains. This packaging was the first to identify the team as "Spy Changers" in Hasbro's markets.

• More information on Mirage at TFU.info

• Mirage (Spy Changer, 2003)

• Accessories: Rifle

A second round of KB Toys-exclusive "Spy Changers" was released on individual Armada-style cards. This time around, Mirage was done in clear-green and clear-blue, a seeming reversal of the JUSCO exclusive deco.

This exact toy was later re-released as Universe Mirage.

• More information on Mirage at TFU.info

• Mirage (Tiny Tins, 2003)

• Accessories: Rifle, collectors' tin

The normal Hasbro version of Mirage was released as part of the first assortment of Tiny Tins Transformers, coming with a carrying tin.

Super Spychanger Lottery

• Super Counter Arrow (Spychanger, 2003)

• Release date: March ??, 2003
• Accessories: Rifle

Three years after the Car Robots line ended in Japan, Takara put out individually blind-boxed redecoes of the Spychangers, this time as part of the Super Spychanger Lottery line. These particular redecos represented Super Mode versions of the Spychangers. Counter Arrow was given a red and black deco.

In each case of twelve Super Spychangers, two were all-clear-plastic versions (but keeping their paint applications). All six Spychangers had a clear variant, but there was no way to tell which toys in the case were clear without opening the boxes and the opaque plastic baggies within.

• More information on Super Counter Arrow at TFU.info
• More information on clear Super Counter Arrow at TFU.info

Notes

• Until a 2015 entry of the Facebook edition of Ask Vector Prime, nothing said if Mirage and Mirage GT were the same guy or different dudes. His depiction pays homage to GT's nature as a repaint of the Beast Machines Vehicon Mirage (and that Mirage's accidental time travel in "Apelinq's War Journals"), as well as using the GT System from Binaltech that was itself inspired by... Mirage GT! Gotta love fans turned pro.
• Mirage speaks with a French accent in the Latin Spanish dub.

Foreign names

• Japanese: Counter Arrow (カウンターアロー Kauntā Arō), Mirage GT (ミラージュGT Mirāju GT)
• Korean: Countarrow (카운트아로 Kaunteuaro)