Tankor (BM)

Tankor is a Vehicon from the Beast Era portion of the Generation 1 continuity family.

Go ahead and make fun of his name. He won't get it and he'll kill you anyway.

Tankor SMAAAAAASHHH! Tankor PULLLVERIZZZZEEE! Tankor SLAG BEAST BOTS! Tankor is the brute force part of Megatron's first trio of Vehicon Generals and commander of the powerful Tank Drones. He's slow, simple-minded and immensely powerful. Lovably dim, his limited intelligence can be a drawback; he can easily be confused, misled, or even turned against Megatron, though temporarily. However, this is balanced out by his natural state of blind frustration and destructive rage, which makes getting him to listen to any cajoling a less than simple task.

Tankor's nature varies. Sometimes he is in actuality a programmed shell personality given life by the spark of the Maximal Rhinox, or the spark of the Predacon Scorponok. And sometimes, he's just some guy.

His command code is "Pulverize".

Fiction

Beast Wars cartoon continuity

Beast Machines cartoon

Voice actor: Paul Dobson, Richard Newman (as Rhinox, later Tankor) (English), Daiki Nakamura (Japanese), Yang Guang (Chinese), Maurício Berger (Portuguese), Gerald Paradies (German), Claudio Fattoretto (Italian), Bruno Bulté (French), José Gilberto Vilchis (Latin-American Spanish)

"Tankor's name litt... leeter... as it sounds!"

When the Maximals returning to Cybertron from the Beast Wars were infected with Megatron's virus, Rhinox was not as lucky as most of his comrades. While the Transmetals were able to stay mobile for a time, Rhinox was immediately paralyzed and overtaken by Tank Drones. His spark was forcibly removed and stored in a canister in Megatron's citadel. Apocalypse

When Megatron found that he needed underlings to properly control his Vehicon armies in battle, he used Rhinox's spark to power his Tank General Tankor. He reasoned that if the Maximals discovered their new enemy had once been their close friend, they would be less willing to fight him. Unfortunately for Megatron, Tankor was only marginally more intelligent than the mindless drones he was created to lead. Meanwhile, Rhinox's spark/consciousness remained intact inside Tankor, albeit unable to act. Fires of the Past

The Maxies are playing with the big boys now!

After Megatron claimed there were fabulous prizes to be won! for whichever general got the Maximals, Tankor went after them and, after a vicious battle, actually captured them. He then took them to Megatron and demanded his reward... which would be to have his spark removed. Primal managed to use his affinity with the Allspark to contact Tankor's spark and convince him to do the right thing: the Vehicon helped them escape and went on the run with then, but Megatron was able to remote delete the tank's memories of this so he'd be their enemy again. Primal felt something familiar about that spark, though. Mercenary Pursuits

The Maximals tried to ambush Tankor to see whether drones would stop functioning without their general; the plan was ultimately unsuccessful due to Rattrap's interference. Tankor received severe damage nonetheless, and had to spend half a solar cycle in a preparation chamber. Once he was operational once more, he rushed out to defend Megatron against the Maximals. But Megatron had made a deal with Rattrap while Tankor was offline, and ordered the Vehicon General to allow the Maximals free passage out of his citadel. The Weak Component

Tankor was part of an attack against the Maximals near a spark-extraction factory. He mostly harassed Rattrap, until he lost track of the rodent. He then turned his attentions to a grounded Nightscream. The two Maximals teamed up to take Tankor out, with Nightscream using his vampiric attack to drain Tankor of his energon. Discovery

Tankor was put in charge of overseeing cargo-transfer at a space port. He continuously ordered his drones to work faster, no matter how fast they were already working. Rattrap then got his attention by throwing an explosive his way. This of course got the reaction they had hoped out of Tankor, and the Vehicon General began chasing Cheetor and Rattrap. During the chase, Cheetor tricked Tankor into blowing up a bunch of his own drones. The chase continued until Rattrap got into position to hit Tankor with a crane. Though Tankor wasn't phased from being knocked into the distance, Rattrap managed to hop onto him, and hack into his brain. Accessing Tankor's memories, Rattrap discovered that the Vehicon General had once been his friend Rhinox. Descent

The Maximals woke Tankor's spark, but the Rhinox they got was not the Rhinox they expected. Tainted and embittered by his time inside Tankor, Rhinox rejected the Maximals and embraced Megatron's plan for a "peaceful", technologically pure Cybertron, only with himself at its head instead of Megatron. Apocalypse

Don't make me pull this spark over.

Tankor-Rhinox immediately began plotting against both Megatron and the Maximals. He caught and reprogrammed one of Megatron's Diagnostic Drones, forcing it to work for him. Survivor He found the Oracle and, using the Diagnostic Drone, retrieved the Key to Vector Sigma from within. He then faked his own death, seeking to remove himself from both factions' suspicions. The Key Manipulating events from behind the scenes, Tankor tricked Rattrap into activating an organic rapid-growth catalyst that would make the organics appear much more powerful and out of control, thus inspiring Megatron to take more radical measures to contain them. The Catalyst

His escalating arms race gambit worked in manipulating Megatron into firing the key on a planetary scale—which would have killed all the organics, including the Maximals and Megatron, leaving Tankor to rule a pure mechanical world. Tankor's manipulations failed when he tried to attack Megatron, and a provision against doing so, hard-wired into his programming, shut him down. Due to Tankor's manipulations, however, Primal opened the Plasma Energy Chamber and Megatron fired the Key. The ensuing clash of energies destroyed Tankor's body, and his spark joined the Allspark. End of the Line

Primal met Rhinox's spark one last time within the Allspark, where Rhinox expressed regret over his recent actions. Fallout

The Wreckers comic

After using the Divine Light to access Primus's power, Cryotek reanimated several Sharkticon corpses into facsimiles of Megatron's old subordinates, including one of Tankor. Wreckers: Finale Part II

Dreamwave Armada comic

When the Heralds of Unicron destabilized the space bridge nexus, causing the space bridges to become windows to other dimensions, Jetfire caught a glimpse of Tankor in one of the portals. Worlds Collide, Part 4 of 4

Universe CD-ROM

"TANKOR RAAAAAAAAAPTURED."

On an alternate Cybertron, Tankor fought alongside the Decepticons Obsidian, Razorclaw, Reptilion, and Blackarachnia against Optimus Primal and his Autobots. One of these battles—the most violent of that year—was interrupted by a mysterious ship that sucked those Decepticons up on beams of light and sped away. None of the combatants realized that it was taking its captives to Unicron for use in a massive army. Transformers: Universe CD-ROM

Universe comic

Because that's what friends do.

In a parallel universe, the Predacon Megatron "decimated" Cybertron's population by capturing their sparks. Universe Obsidian profile (It is unknown whether this literally means he only got one-tenth of the Cybertronians.) Instead of Rhinox, Tankor was created from Scorponok. Ask Vector Prime, 2015/08/16 Tankor served under him, a veneer of dumb, brutish loyalty secretly concealing his actual dumb, brutish loyalty to Obsidian, Universe Tankor profile who arrived partway through the Spark War. Ask Vector Prime, 2015/08/16 It was at the latter's bidding that Tankor terminated Megatron, allowing Obsidian to supplant the Predacon's rule with an iron-fisted tyranny of his own. Tankor became the enforcer of this new regime, knowing no purpose but the destruction of all that stood before his master. Universe Tankor profile Waspscream's Predacons, returning Maximals, the Mutants, and the Wreckers all fought back and were met with barbarous tactics. Ask Vector Prime, 2015/08/16 The pair held the planet in fear... until Unicron decided that such a mindset would serve his own purposes, and he pulled them out of their universe entirely. Universe Tankor profile They served him reluctantly. Ask Vector Prime, 2015/08/16

Stop hitting yourself! Stop hitting yourself!

Unicron, his ruined form trapped between dimensions, sought to revitalize himself by pitting abducted Transformers against each other within his own body, absorbing their energon radiation and, eventually, sparks. But Tankor was spared this fate, instead overseeing the deathmatch arena along with Obsidian, Razorclaw, Reptilion, and Striker. Silverbolt, one of the intended victims, recognized Tankor. Obsidian confirmed the familiarity, but noted that in his and Tankor's own timeline, Silverbolt had "died screaming". Abduction

For all his accomplishments, Tankor still did a pretty crappy job of keeping Optimus Primal from freeing Silverbolt and dozens of other captives. Escape

In the final battle of the Universe War, Rhinox defeated this Tankor, presumably getting some closure for his actions as his own universe's Tankor. Revelations Part 2

2005 IDW continuity

"You promised us PEACE!" shouted the guy with a giant missile launcher cannon over his shoulder.

Before the war, Tankor was involved in underground gladiatorial fights. Megatron Origin #2

During the war, Tankor fled Cybertron, and returned there in the present day with the promise of peace. No Exit When a submerged Titan was discovered, which declared Starscream the chosen one, Tankor witnessed this along with many others Primus: All Good Things and believed in the promise of post-factional peace that Starscream preached. Shortly into Starscream's reign, Tankor helped Flatline deal with the wounded after the Necrotitan's death wave, and, having fallen in with Scoop's religious rhetoric, he accused Starscream of being the source of the city's troubles and of letting them all down. No Exit When 70 billion Ammonites struck Iacon, Tankor was among those evacuated from the burning city. Black Planet

Tankor attended the public trial of Megatron. Towards Peace Six months later he was drinking at Maccadam's Old Oil House alongside another Tankor he had befriended. Other Cybertronians came to call him "Fat Tankor" to differentiate the two, though wisely not to his face A 'Bot and Her City and he thought they were calling him "Fast Tankor". Mistakes and Mayhem

At the bar the two Tankors were interviewed by Circuit on the subject of a recent attack on Windblade, and 'Fast' Tankor was quick to point the blame at Starscream. A Long Way Down Windblade brought them both with her into the depths of Metroplex to show evidence of Starscream's foul play, only for the group to be captured and imprisoned by Starscream's Badgeless thugs. Fortunately they were broken out of jail by Chromia, Sky-Byte, and Swindle. Windblade vol. 1 #3

When contact was established with Windblade's homeworld Caminus in the wake of Menasor's attack, Tankor and his bar friends volunteered to help with relief efforts. During a live broadcast, Tankor grumbled about how much of a jerk Ironhide was and how nobody appreciated them, only to find that the Camiens, cut off from Cybertron since before the war, had no idea what a "Decepticon" was and were just happy to receive some extra help. The Possible Light

This state of affairs didn't last long; Prowl and the Constructicons invaded from Earth shortly afterwards, with the intent of cutting Cybertron off from its colonies. Tankor engaged in futile battle against Devastator (while yelling that he'd change his name to "Better Tankor" if he took the combiner down) even if he did manage to save Waspinator. Superion saved them... but sadly not before Tankor learned people weren't calling him "fast". Mistakes and Mayhem

Later, when Swindle sparked another combiner battle in the midst of a Decepticon riot, both Tankors and Sparkstalker backed up Chromia in securing the spacebridge, and watched as Optimus Maximus successfully subdued the out-of-control Devastator. All That Remains To commemorate the end of the "Combiner Wars," Blurr threw a rad party, and both the Tankors killed it on the dance floor with Waspinator. Windblade vol. 2 #4 Tankor was again hanging at Maccadam's when the Dinobots had too much to drink and started beating everyone up. Redemption

On Chosen One Day, Fat Tankor and Tall Tankor got matching tattoos. It was adorable. Choose Me They both found jobs at Ironhide's private security firm, I.H. Cybertronian Securities, 07:00:00 and volunteered to join the Cybertronian Security Forces when their employer was put in charge of that. Applicable Skills They went through plenty of training and bonding with the other recruits, never realizing that one of them, Blast Off, was a spy. Things We Said We'd Never Do As part of the security forces, Tankor fought against Bruticus. The Line Between Us

When Sentinel Prime showed up in the Decepticon ghetto and started killing people, the Tankors and Ironhide responded and fought him to little success. The Last Autobot During an attack of undead Titans, the Tankors were among the recruits charged with evacuating civilians. Ping

Some months later, Baron Ironblood and his Iron Ring attacked Cybertron, and both the Tankors were present as Ironhide and Windblade tried to triangulate the positions of the interloping humans. First Strike #4 Though Cybertron was able to repel the invasion, it came at a steep cost: his true form revealed, the wizard Merklynn magically converted Cybertron's energon to fuel the rise of a new city dubbed "New Prysmos." First Strike #6 As a member of Cybertronian security, Tankor was assigned to guard the checkpoint just outside New Prysmos; Schismatic as Iacon rebuilt, Fat Tankor—Tall Tankor watching the bar at Blurr's—intervened in a dispute between Windblade and a Carcerian colonist. The Chosen One

After Thundercracker was chosen to create a biopic about the life of Starscream, Tankor joined the production crew as the make-up artist. He painted Acid Storm grey for the part, something that the green Seeker wasn't pleased about. Tankor himself played the part of Megatron in the film. After the film's completion, Thundercracker rewarded "Team Starscream" with gift baskets. Tankor would rather the group be known by literally any other name. Starscream: The Movie

Following the unexpected return of Shockwave, in the guise of "Onyx Prime," the two Tankors were among the many Decepticons who watched Starscream—having recently escaped from prison—announce his return to the Decepticon cause. Despite some initial hesitancy, Fat Tankor pointed out that First Speaker Windblade's alliance with humanity, and her faith in the Thirteen, hadn't worked out in their favour. Unforgivable Members of Starscream's neo-Decepticon faction decamped from the Decepticon ghetto to take up residence in the dead body of Metrotitan, who had fatally crashed on the outskirts of Iacon during the recent invasion. Unstopped and Unstoppable

Yer a wizard, Tankor.

When Ironhide and Kup travelled underground to parley with the recently arrived Prysmosians, Tankor deactivated the force field that surrounded the city to let them through. Before he could grant access to Wheeljack and Breakdown, the latter's arm was decayed by the out-of-control magic of the Talisman . Schismatic To Tankor's surprise, Ironhide's vehicle mode suddenly plowed right through the security checkpoint. Cybertron No More When Virulina's plot to destroy the Transformers had been foiled, and New Prysmos raised to the surface of Cybertron, Tankor joined the other heroes in Iacon, and wondered if the Prysmosians would teach him magic. The Curtain

As Unicron awoke and began his assault on the galaxy thanks to Shockwave's manipulations, the two Tankors gathered inside Metrotitan and listened to Starscream's plan to reunite the scattered Decepticons across the galaxy to stop the planet-eater, and watched as the Maximal Rhinox invited Starscream to Shockwave's cell to discuss the future. Unstopped and Unstoppable

When Unicron himself appeared in the skies above Cybertron shortly afterwards, the two friends joined the Decepticon mob as they stormed Iacon's spaceport to try and flee the planet. Distressed by Tall Tankor taking off and flying into the sky, Fat Tankor was approached by Needlenose, who had hoped to calm the situation... only for a telepathic message from Soundwave to alert the crowd to Starscream's desperate plant to abandon Cybertron, leaving them to die—and the furious mob, Tankor included, overwhelmed security and made for Metroplex. Our Finest

Salvation, however, came from the surprise activation of the Talisman in New Prysmos, and the two Tankors were among the many Cybertronians teleported to Victoria Falls on Earth, just before the planet itself was destroyed by Unicron. Road's End As the scattered Transformers regrouped on Earth, the Tankors were among the Decepticons who berated Starscream for nearly abandoning them to die. The next morning, as Unicron and his Maximal army arrived over Earth, both Tankors were among the many warriors teleported into orbit to stall the monster planet and his minions while Prime and his retinue tried to kill Unicron from within. Assembly The pair took part in the great battle against Unicron and his forces, though it is unknown if they survived the experience. Ceremony

Legends World

Main article: Rhinox (BW)#Legends World

In the Legends World, '80s-obsessed salaryman Rhinox wished he could become a cool robot and, thanks to the powers of his world, he was transformed into Tankor! Seeking to bring the joys of the '80s to the Legends World, Tankor constructed Whirl and Roadbuster to help him carry on his plans. However, he suffered a series of setbacks and was eventually reverted to Rhinox.

Beast Wars: Uprising

Tankor was one of three sentient Vehicons Generals created by Galvatron using the sparks of his former minions, Doomshot, Krunix, and Nucleon, following the Vehicon Apocalypse. The Inexorable March

Games

Transformers Legends

Tankor was part of a group of Decepticons who teamed up with the Autobots Windblade and Nightbeat to battle the Ammonites on a distant planet. Together, they were able to drive off several Ammonite attacks, but the two factions soon started fighting one another over differing opinions. Eventually, the Autobots defeated the Ammonites and sent the Decepticons packing. Though angered by this turn of events, Tankor and the other Decepticons found consolation that the Ammonites also tasted defeat at the Autobots' hands, and returned to their starship. Into the Abyss

Tankor was one of Megatron's generals after the Predacon conquered Cybertron. When the Maximals returned to the planet, he, Thrust and Jetstorm were sent to take care of them, but failed. Beast Machines

Transformers: Battle Tactics

Tankor participated in battles against a variety of opponents, both Autobots and Decepticons. Sometimes there were many of him! He was a Common character who could be recruited after collecting 14 units of Cybermetal. Transformers: Battle Tactics

Toys

Beast Machines

Pay special attention to his clan marking! It's extremely important to the plot! /s

• Tankor (Mega Class, 1999)

• Accessories: "Energy blast" projectile
• Known designers: Takio Ejima (TakaraTomy)

Part of the first wave of Beast Machines product, Tankor transforms into a large Cybertronic tank. Aside from a spring-loaded missile launcher, he also features a light-piped "scanner eye" on his turret which moves when a knob on the back of the tank is turned. The tank head has an opening panel on its back that allows the tank eye's light-piping to activate. Tankor can assume an "Attack Mode" where the panels on the front of his tank mode open to reveal twin sawblades that spin via gear-wheel system when the tank is pushed along.

In robot mode, all of his gimmicks are retained, though the "scanner eye" is this time in his robot head. Tankor features an articulated jaw and his spark crystal is accessible by a red hatch on the side of his tank head.

For reasons unknown, his name was misspelled as "Tankorr" on some versions of his instructions. As the design was based on early cartoon concept art, his color also differs substantially from his final appearance in the show. Tankor's function in his bio is erroneously printed "Predacon General".

This toy was redecoed into Universe incarnation of Tankor. The toy was also the model for the Beast Era incarnation of Quake while the appearance of the toy itself was repurposed as Quake's drones. Separately, the toy itself was also used as inspiration for Skold's pre-beast body.

• More information on Tankor at TFU.info

• Tankor (Happy Meal Toy, 2000)

One of nine Beast Machines Happy Meal toys from McDonald's restaurants, Tankor transforms into a small Cybertronic tank based a bit more on the show's CGI model. This toy features a fair bit of articulation (about 8 points in robot mode), though some points are more useful than others. His head articulation, for example, is quite nice. The toy also has lightpiping through the spark and missile rack on his belly.

• More information on McDonald's Tankor at TFU.info

These are awesome. There should be Tank Drone redecoes in these colors.

• Tankor (Little Red Rooster Meal, 2001)

The Happy Meal toy was retooled and redecoed for release in Australia, through the Red Rooster fast food chain. Aside from the original coloration, this mold was also cast in the colors of the other three molds used by Red Rooster: Jetstorm, Megatron, and Rattrap. The retooling involved removing (and plugging up) Tankor's light piping, meaning that his neck is no longer translucent plastic. Due to the softer plastic used to construct him it can be difficult to get Red Rooster Tankor's arms to come out.

• More information on Red Rooster Deep Blue Tankor at TFU.info
• More information on Red Rooster Green Tankor at TFU.info
• More information on Red Rooster Red Tankor at TFU.info

Universe (2003)

We've never actually met before, but here we are!

• Tankor & Obsidian (Ultra, 2003)

• Accessories: "Energy blast" projectile

Part of the first wave of Universe Ultra sets, Tankor is a redeco of the original Mega toy in an olive-green and mustard-yellow coloration with "energon surge" paint on various parts. He retains all of the gimmickry of the original toy.

He was only available in an Ultra-level two-pack with Obsidian.

• More information on Universe Tankor at TFU.info

Beast Wars Returns

Once again, the army builder deco is the considerably more expensive one...

• Vehicon Tankor (Basic, 2005)

• ID number: BR-06
• Release date: March 26, 2005
• Accessories: "Energy blast" projectile

Released in the second wave of the Japanese Toys"R"Us exclusive Beast Wars Returns line (the Japanese name for Beast Machines), Tankor is a redeco of the Basic Class Tank Drone, transforming into a Cybertronic four-tracked tank. Pressing the spark crystal on his cannon connects a gear-wheel system on the underside of his tank mode, spinning his barrel as he is pushed along, eventually firing a spring-loaded "energy blast" missile.

Although the Beast Wars Returns line's aim was show-accurate decos, this toy's coloration is highly (in fact, almost perfectly) accurate to the Tank Drones rather than Tankor himself, which is ironic, given that the Hasbro Tank Drone is colored like Tankor. It even has the Tank Drones' green headlights rather than Tankor's standard yellow.

Either way, it is woefully out of scale with the other Beast Machines toys. Like the rest of the line, actually...

This mold was also used to make Universe Stockade.

• More information on Beast Wars Returns Tankor at TFU.info

Generations

"Tankor, smashing!"

• Tankor (Deluxe Class, 2014)

• Series / Number: 02 / #015
• Accessories: Missile
• Known designers: Yūya Ōnishi (TakaraTomy)

Part of the ninth wave of 2012-onwards Generations: Thrilling 30 Deluxe Class toys, Tankor is accurate to his cartoon appearance in robot mode. In both robot mode and tank mode, he has a firing missile that is launched when the cannon barrel is pulled back. Some versions of this figure have two left elbows, preventing him from transforming into vehicle mode. So much for quality control.

He comes with a copy of "No Exit: Dark Cybertron Chapter 6", which places its pages massively out of order.

Perhaps due to the numerous flaws with the toy and included comic, Tankor was one of the most common pegwarmers of the Thrilling 30 line, remaining on store shelves for years after its release.

• More information on Generations Tankor at TFU.info

Legends

• Tankor (Deluxe, 2014)

• ID number: LG03
• Release date: November 29, 2014
• Accessories: Missile

Legends Tankor is a redeco of Generations Deluxe Class Tankor with some slight changes in hues and more silver paint. He comes with a leaflet featuring a character profile, tech specs, and the Legends Bonus Edition Vol. 3 mini-comic. It is unknown if this release retains the two left elbows problem from the Hasbro release.

This figure doubles as the Tankor Drones.

Merchandise

Robot Heroes

An adorable little fascist!

• Cheetor & Tankor (Two-pack, 2008)

• Known designers: Bill Rawley (Hasbro), Marcelo Matere (concept artist)

Tankor is part of the fourth wave of Universe Robot Heroes and is designated as from the "Beast Machines Series," along with his packmate Cheetor. His sculpt is derived from his television show appearance, but his colorscheme is taken from the Tank Drone toy. Tankor has articulation at the neck and shoulders, though his left arm doesn't have good clearance with his hip.

Rather than using the Beast Machines Maximal and Vehicon symbols, the embossed faction logos on the top of the Cheetor/Tankor packaging are the pre-existing Beast Wars Maximal and Predacon symbols found on Beast Wars-themed Universe Robot Heroes packs.

• More information on Robot Heroes Tankor at TFU.info

Notes

• Tankor is influenced by the Hulk.^[1]
• Skir's original intention was that Rhinox had "seen all sides of the argument, and chose to go more in Megatron's direction" in Beast Machines, and that after a quiet chat, he and Optimus would part company. As Richard Newman played that scene with growling and shouting, Rhinox instead sounded not quite in his right mind after his experiences.^[2]
• In the Japanese dub, Tankor spoke with Rhinox's vocal tic of ending sentences in dana (ダナ). This was done to absolute excess, as entire lines of dialogue would be replaced with Tankor screaming "DANADANADANADANADANADANAAAAA!"
• The Beast Wars: Uprising incarnation of Tankor is a "virtual retool" of Titans Return Hardhead.
• In the Beast Machines series bible, an unused season two episode idea featured a resurrected Tankor who decides the only way to restore the balance between nature and technology is to "destroy everything," necessitating an uneasy alliance between Primal and Megatron to take him down. His spark is ultimately removed and contained, and Rhinox would have returned along with the restored Cybertron in the final episode. ^[3]

Foreign names

• Japanese: Tankor (タンカー Tankā)^[4]
• Mandarin: Tank (坦克 Tǎnkè)

References