Rodimus, Paradron, Cybertron, yadda yadda

[Dominic]

Grimlock really did not like Tracks apparently. That was all the motivation he needed.

The story itself was from late in the run. I am pretty sure it was one of the black and white stories that really does not fit anywhere.

Seriously, Grimlock was a dingus.


Dom
-

[Onslaught Six]

Earthforce, those were. Mostly done to promote the UK Classics reissues and Actionmasters, I think, wasn't it?

Wiki claims there's no viable reason for why Grimlock specifically hates Tracks, though.
http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Makin%27_Tracks%21

[Dominic]

The "Earth Force" stories were indeed meant to promote the UK "Classics" toys. And, they did not fit in with the main book, let alone the US book. Ultimately, "Earth Force", and Furman's fly by night style in writing them are what made it necessary to assume multiple Megatrons and Galvatron. There is even an "Earth Force" story where Prowl is musing like a toy-hack about the good old days from before 1986.

(To be fair, some of the "Earth Force" stories are pretty good. But, for the most part, it is pretty obvious that Furman was just counting time and collecting checks.)

I think Grimlock's motivation is that he does not like Tracks. He really does not need a better one. (Well, let me rephrase that. Grimlock does not need a better motivation for the purposes of the story. He was kind of a dingus, and said story was consistent with that characterization.)


Dom
-why can't it be that simple?

[Shockwave]

Because if someone's a dick, you just avoid them or minimize contact with them as much as possible, you don't kill them. Grimlock trying to keep Tracks dead/crippled implies that "something" had happened between them to make Grimlock have stronger feelings beyond "You're a dick".

[Dominic]

And, Grimlock is kind of a dick. For him, not liking Tracks is motivation enough to keep Tracks dead or crippled.

Grimlock has a motivation.


Dom
-why are we assuming Grimlock is a nice guy?

[Sparky Prime]

Like I said before, simply not liking Tracks isn't motivation enough, especially given Grimlock's general disposition. Grimlock is well known for being characterized as not liking many of his fellow Autobots, yet, you don't see him going around sabotaging all of them when they're in for repairs. It doesn't make sense he'd single out Tracks to try and keep offline if it was something as trivial as just not liking him. For Grimlock to go to those lengths implies it's more than that, some reason why Grimlock would single out Tracks. It's an error that this story offers no such explanation.

[138 Scourge]

I don't know, I sort of like the idea of Grimlock being such a jerk that he'd go to that kind of lengths to keep Tracks shut down just because he doesn't like his face. According to that article, he didn't want Tracks back because "He's a pain".

In a way, that works better than if there had been a reason. Say if it was Blaster, where we know why there might be hard feelings, it'd be a really sinister, calculating move. When it's Tracks, a guy that Grimlock's hardly ever interacted with, it's kind of funny. This story seems like it could fit right in as an episode of the G1 series.

[Sparky Prime]

According to that article, he didn't want Tracks back because "He's a pain".

The article also points out this is hardly unique to Tracks. Since Grimlock doesn't get along with many of the other Autobots, undoubtedly he thinks a lot of them are "a pain". It's not enough of a reason for him to want to keep Tracks offline.

In a way, that works better than if there had been a reason. Say if it was Blaster, where we know why there might be hard feelings, it'd be a really sinister, calculating move. When it's Tracks, a guy that Grimlock's hardly ever interacted with, it's kind of funny. This story seems like it could fit right in as an episode of the G1 series.

I don't see it... If anything, that makes it worst to me. Why would Grimlock hate a guy so much to want to keep them offline when he hardly ever interacted with in them the first place? He'd barely even know who Tracks is. It just doesn't add up.

[Shockwave]

I'm totally with Sparky on this one. Sorry, but "Grimlock's a dick" just isn't enough of a reason for him to single out Tracks for keeping offline. Now if the argument was "Grimlock's a sick, twisted, sadistic psychopathic" then yes, that would totally be enough of a reason. But he's not, so it doesn't.

[Dominic]

I never had a problem seeing Grimlock as that much of a twisted jerk.

Dom
-always figured that is what it came down to.