Who is the Autobot Second in Command?

Discussion in 'Transformers General Discussion' started by Heliblade, Sep 11, 2017.

?

Best Autobot SIC?

Poll closed Sep 18, 2017.
  1. Ironhide

    12.9%
  2. Jazz

    37.1%
  3. Prowl

    29.0%
  4. Jetfire

    1.6%
  5. Ultra Magnus

    14.5%
  6. Other

    4.8%
  1. Heliblade

    Heliblade Autobot Vigilante of Kaon

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    Okay so the Decepticons have a clear cut SIC: Starscream. Sometimes Soundwave, Shockwave, or Cyclonus fill in.

    But what of the Autobots? The SIC always seems to change every series. But who is the best for the series overall? My personal choice is Prowl, with Ultra Magnus at a close second place.

    What about you guys?
     
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  2. Dropkick

    Dropkick Doktor

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    I always believed that it was either Prowl or Jazz as the SIC. Magnus is one of Prime's oldest friends and the city commander, but he's not the best SIC.
    That role always went to either Jazz or Prowl.

    But Prowl really never went further than being a Prick with an analytical attitude.

    Personally, I think it's Jazz, because not only does Prime trust Jazz with many things, one example was Prime automatically choosing Jazz as a role for the "Fake stunticons". Not only that, Prime usually consults Jazz about a lot of things in the G1 cartoon, and especially in IDW.
    So I think that the best SIC was Jazz.
     
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  3. flamepanther

    flamepanther Interested, but not really

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    I know the tech specs weren't always followed, but they support the impression that it was Jazz. His bio says that he's "the indispensable right-hand man to Optimus Prime." The closest thing we get in the bios for Prowl or Ironhide is that Ironhide is "bodyguard to Optimus Prime."
     
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  4. MrVanimal

    MrVanimal Well-Known Member

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    Prowl pre movie, Ultra Magnus post movie if going by G1 cartoon.
     
  5. TFFan01

    TFFan01 Well-Known Member

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    Jazz was ordering all the Autobots around in the first episode so, at the time I guess it was him.
     
    Last edited: Sep 11, 2017
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  6. pilot00

    pilot00 Well-Known Member

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    Jazz in seasons 1-2. Ultra Magnus in s3 and the movie (till Primes Death).
    Contrary to Jazz, Prowl as far as I can remember was never shown taking command of any situations.
     
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  7. Prime Noble

    Prime Noble Well-Known Member

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    Prowl. He was closer to his tech specs of patient and logical in the Marvel Budiansky stories and Dreamwave. He commanded the earthbound Autobots when Shockwave took Prime's head.

    I hated that Furman made him whiney and IDW a prick.

    Jazz and Prowl were joint second in command in Marvel UK.
     
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  8. BumblebeeFan71

    BumblebeeFan71 Loyal Starscream Follower

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    I had always assumed Ironhide is second command. Though in hindsight... I think that was more of the movies than G1 that have me that impression.
     
  9. DOTM Bumblebee

    DOTM Bumblebee Funny Little Man

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    Prowl in the comics (Marvel and IDW), Jazz in the cartoon. Ultra Magnus is clearly second-in-command to Rodimus and then Optimus again post-Movie.
     
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  10. Ramberk Magnus

    Ramberk Magnus Well-Known Member

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    Ironhide. In my imagination if Optimus died or went missing, I think Ironhide would be asked by most Autobots to lead. Prowl is the best tactician and strategist but he doesn't have the charisma or leadership qualities that Optimus and Ironhide have. Jazz would not want to lead and is more suitable to special operations with small or solo units.

    If Ironhide and Prime are MIA, then its a toss-up between Prowl and Ultra Magnus. If those four are MIA, then you grab Jazz. If Jazz is missing, then you grab Kup. If Kup is missing, then Springer, Hot Rod and Grimlock would fight it out. After this, the Autobots are pretty much screwed.

    My Imaginary G1 Autobot Chain of Command

    1. Optimus
    2. Ironhide
    3/4. Prowl / Ultra Magnus
    5. Jazz
    6. Kup
    7. Spring/Hot Rod/Grimlock
    8. Autobots, you are screwed. Unless Silverbolt or Hot Spot steps up at this point I guess. Or Sky Lynx if you are super desperate.
    9. Bumblebee. Because the plot would make it happen.
     
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  11. LegionMaximus

    LegionMaximus Well-Known Member

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    I always got the impression it was Jazz. Ultra Magnus would also make sense, but in terms of G1 (Sunbow cartoon) he was never actually around when Optimus was. Like, Ultra Magnus suddenly turns up in the movie, a short time before Prime dies.

    Ironhide seems to me like the kind of guy who's happy to advise, but doesn't want to lead.
     
  12. SpiderManchild

    SpiderManchild Banned

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    In my house, the half a foot tall Autobots that only come alive at night are often heard battling the Decepticons, they don't know that I know they're alive but I sleep with one eye open. And I can confirm, Jazz relays Primes orders to the troops all the time.
     
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  13. KFGatri

    KFGatri Madman with a Blue Box

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    Ironhide, Jazz and Prowl. Prowl for the strategy, Jazz for selecting the team to execute the strategy, Ironhide as field commander. Going off of the original miniseries, at least.
     
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  14. Altered Prime

    Altered Prime Well-Known Member

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    Do you mean the pilot episodes or the miniseries comic?
    Either way I don't see how you can cunclude Ironhide based on either of those

    I don't remember him much from the comic right now but in the miniseries pilot he was kind of disobeying orders and being very impulsive
     
  15. BScorpinok75

    BScorpinok75 Squadron X #1 Consultant

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    Jazz n Prowl then UM...
     
  16. Macross79

    Macross79 Banned

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    I would say both Ironhide and Prowl are second in command. Jazz was more Prime's specialist.
     
  17. jaws

    jaws Well-Known Member

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    Never clearly defined
     
  18. SaberPrime

    SaberPrime Banned

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    I'm confused, are you asking who is actually second in command or who we think should be second in command?

    The cannon answer for G1 it's Jazz. That was established in the pilot as when the other Autobots line up awaiting orders Jazz is standing out of line next to Optimus and it's literally said at one point that Jazz is second in command.

    That being said I think Ironhide seems like he would of been better suited for such a high ranking position cause Jazz seems a little immature like he seems more concerned about how cool his vehicle mode is while other bots don't seem to care what they transform into or like their vehicle modes for more practical reasons. Plus he choose his name based on a music style he likes. Bumblebee is suppose to be the youngest of the Autobots but Jazz seems to be not much older. Ironhide seems to be one of Optimus' closest friends, has a much more serious attitude, and just in general seems like an over all better choice for second in command.

    Though in the movie and season 3 it's obviously Ultra Magnus.

    Also I don't think Stars cream was ever really clearly defined as second in command. At least not in G1. The Cons were just as confusing if not more so cause even though they said he was it doesn't make sense for someone who openly defies Megatron and tries to take over as leader every chance he gets to actually have such a high rank. I would of guessed it was Shockwave, possibly the reason he was chosen to stay behind on Cybertron or Sound wave who is easily Megatron's most loyal and trusted soldier. And then in season 3 it's clearly Cyclonus. Not so clear in the movie, Scourge and Cyclonus didn't really seem to have very defined personalities till season 3, but it was clear one of them was going to be the new second in command.

    Should really be asking this about RID1 cause the second in command of the Predacons was clearly Sky-Byte and later Scourge sharing the same rank. But the Autobots never really had a clear second in Command. I think maybe Prowl or possibly X-Brawn but I think Prowl is more likely.

    I do think over all the Autobots seem to change second in commands more often than the Decepticons. Starscream has in cannon held that rank at least seven different times while the Autobots have never been consistent. Even within the same series, Prime went from Ratchet, to Arcee, to Ultra Magnus but none of them were ever really clearly defined, it just sort of felt like they were at different times. Animated I'm sure it was Ratchet, at least of Optimus' crew, of Autobots as a whole it was clearly Sentinel Prime as he took the title Sentinel Magnus for a while after Shockwave put Ultra Magnus in stasis. Plus Sentinel was the Prime who served on his ship. Though all Primes are suppose to be the same rank but it seemed like Sentinel was always next in line for Magnus.
     
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  19. flamepanther

    flamepanther Interested, but not really

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    That's just Jazz and Ironhide's personal demeanor though. Jazz is plenty capable of being serious when he needs to. More importantly, he's cool-headed and good at coming up with a plan on the spot. These are the qualities that allow him to stand in for Optimus Prime when needed. Ironhide certainly seems more like a military type of guy. He's good at following or relaying Prime's orders for sure. But on his own, he's also hotheaded and stubborn, not terribly strategic, and probably wouldn't make very good decisions as a leader.
     
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  20. LegionMaximus

    LegionMaximus Well-Known Member

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    Starscream was clearly defined at the Decepticon SIC, he and Megatron both mention it frequently.

    Even the Autobots knew it, as they are eager to believe "fake clone Optimus" after he proves himself by "taking out the Decepticon's Number Two guy" (who was actually a fake clone Starscream.) I wonder if the Decepticons, like us, sat around debating who the heck the Number Two Autobot was . . .

    I imagine the reason there was contention after Megatron getting dumped was just that the Decepticons tended to be power-hungry and not care about the command structure. I mean, this is the army where Swindle sold the rest of his gestalt to make a little dinero.
     
    Last edited: Sep 14, 2017