| Cartoon Overview
Shockwave is the true identity of Megatron's agent on Cybertron. Long ago, he disguised himself as an Autobot cadet, Longarm, using his ability to change size, and went on to climb through the ranks until he became a Prime, and the head of Cybertronian Intelligence, all the while preparing for the day when Megatron would return and claim Cybertron in the name of the Decepticons.
As a cadet at the Autobot Boot Camp, Longarm earned his name for his ability to stretch out his limbs. He was kind to Bumblebee, unlike his fellow cadets Ironhide and Wasp. He desired to become an intelligence officer (as a part of his and Megatron's plan to bring down Cybertron - what better place than from within Cybertron's intelligence agency?). On learning that Bumblebee knew there was a spy and suspected Wasp, Longarm "helped" Bumblebee "expose" Wasp as the spy - in reality, he played Bumblebee and framed Wasp to cover his own tracks.
Many years later, Shockwave - in his Longarm identity - was now promoted to the rank of Prime, and was head of Cybertronian Intelligence. When Bumblebee contacted him about a transmission he intercepted, Shockwave was able to cover up the evidence - as the transmission was between himself and Megatron.
When Megatron's plan to construct a Spacebridge was completed, in A Bridge Too Close, Shockwave was ready. He was waiting on Cybertron, supplying Megatron with the exit code necessary for Megatron to transfer his army to Cybertron. He was also ready to give Optimus Prime, the test subject for the Spacebridge, a warm welcome.
Fortunately for Shockwave, even though the Autobots managed to foil Megatron's plan, they had no way to contact Cybertron and inform Ultra Magnus of Longarm Prime's true identity. Even so, Shockwave became increasingly paranoid about his postion, and so when Blurr arrived back on Cybertron, with news of the true traitor to the Elite Guard and Cybertron, Shockwave killed him mercilessly using a compactor within the tunnel network beneath Cybertron. Later, Shockwave as Longarm Prime insisted that should contact with Optimus Prime's team be reestablished, all communications be filtered by him - for security reasons, of course.
When the Elite Guard arrive on Earth in pursuit of Wasp, Shockwave becomes desperate. Knowing that it is only a matter of time before his cover is blown, he tries to contact Megatron one last time. Unable to make contact, he resolves to take matters into his own hands. At the end of "Where is Thy Sting?" Shockwave's duel identity has been fully exposed, but it was too late - he attacked and critically damaged Ultra Magnus, taking his hammer.
Shockwave reappeared in "This is Why I Hate Machines". He was initially found by Ratchet in some supposedly disused tunnels, where he bested Ratchet with the help of the Magnus Hammer. Next, he broke into the Autobot Central Infirmary using security codes acquired from Rattletrap, under orders from Megatron to recover the access codes for Omega Supreme. Hot on his tail, Ratchet also entered the Central Infirmary and unwittingly led Shockwave straight to Arcee. In the fight that followed, Shockwave and Ratchet fought each other to a standstill, the fight spilling over into the room where Ultra Magnus was being treated. Ratchet was able to recover the Magnus Hammer from Shockwave, but Shockwave got away with Arcee when Sentinel Prime arrived and assumed Ratchet was a traitor. Later, on board Omega Supreme, Shockwave reverted to his "true colors" and was named Megatron's most loyal servant, much to the irritation of Lugnut.
"Endgame" saw Shockwave get on the unwanted end of Lugnut's anger of no longer being Megatron's greatest servant and receive a beating (all of which was orchestrated by Starscream to give him a chance to get a new body). Once Starscream was no longer stirring up things between Shockwave and Lugnut, Shockwave was able to continue to work on recovering the activation codes for Omega Supreme from Arcee. He succeeded, and transferred the codes into Lugnut, who imprinted upon three clones of Omega Supreme. However, there was a limitation to the codes - part of them was missing, requiring Shockwave to wire Lugnut directly into the Lugnut Supremes to control them.
Shockwave remained behind on the moon and attacked Ratchet, Bumblebee and Bulkhead there when they arrived in "Endgame Part 2" to regain control of Omega Supreme. He used Arcee as bait to trap the Autobots, and tried to sucker punch them. While Ratchet, Arcee and Sari got away, Bumblebee and Bulkhead faced off against Shockwave and managed to defeat him after a brief struggle. Shockwave transformed back into his Longarm identity and tried desperately to plead with Bumblebee and Bulkhead, appealing to them as his former "platoon mates", to no success.
Along with Lugnut and Megatron, Shockwave was arrested and taken back to Cybertron as a prisoner.
A version of Shockwave also appears in Soundwave's virtual reality in "Human Error", where he blasts a building, giving the then-human Autobots a chance to show that human or robot, they are heroes to the core.
Powers and Abilities
Shockwave has an advanced ability to change his size and appearance, allowing him to disguise himself as a completely different Transformer. Shockwave can even change his primary color at will. In both Longarm and Shockwave forms, he can extend his arms and legs to many times their original length. In Shockwave form he is also capable of flight using jets in his feet.
Perhaps Shockwave's most dangerous ability, though, before he revealed himself to the Autobots, was his position as the head of Cybertron's Intelligence Division. In this position, he could arrange to cover up or delay reports as necessary to further the cause of Megatron and the Decepticons.
As Longarm, he transforms into a hi-tech crane rig. As Shockwave, he transforms into a futuristic "H" tank. Appearances
Transformers Animated
25 Autoboot Camp
28 A Bridge Too Close Part One
29 A Bridge Too Close Part Two
30 Transwarped Part 1
31 Transwarped Part 2
32 Transwarped Part 3
34 Where is Thy Sting
37 Human Error Part 1
40 This is Why I Hate Machines
41 Endgame Part 1
42 Endgame Part 2
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Shockwave, as Longarm Prime, was revealed to have been the 'bot who made the fastest progress through the ranks of the Elite Guard in memory in The Arrival #1. In spite of this, he was looked down on by Sentinel Prime. After he asked about why the Elite Guard were not searching for the Allspark (so he could follow the search and help the Decepticons claim it) Sentinel snapped at him, claiming Longarm didn't know why the Allspark was hidden in the first place. If only Sentinel knew...