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Mirage is the name of several fictional characters from the Transformers series in the Transformers robot superhero franchise. Mirage is one of the most re-used names in the Transformers series, and is almost entirely synonymous with characters possessing Formula One racing car alternate modes. The first Mirage was introduced in 1984 as an Autobot spy.

Transformers Generation 1

Some might say that Mirage (Ligier in Japan, Mistero in Italy, Miragem in Portugal) was created with a silver sparkplug in his mouth. On Cybertron, he was one of the planet's elite upper class, preferring to spend his days hunting turbo-foxes instead of involving himself in conflict. When that became unavoidable, Mirage enlisted with the Autobot forces, although he is often unsure about his motivations for doing so, which leaves his fellow Autobots finding it hard to trust him – a problem not helped by the fact that Mirage can rarely hide that he is often unwilling to fight directly, or his contempt for the "commoners" he is now forced to interact with. He has no lost love for Earth, and would happily return to his old life on Cybertron if he could.

It is ironic that, given his unwillingness to fight, Mirage is a superior hand-to-hand combatant, and a skilled sharpshooter, having honed his talents hunting game on Cybertron. He is armed with a rifle which fires explosive, armor-piercing darts, but the most important piece of his arsenal in his function as a spy is his shoulder-mounted electro-disruptor, which can bend photons to make Mirage invisible, or appear to be where he is not, or even alter his physical appearance, hence his name.

Reception

In the WTF@TFW podcast for July 9, 2009 Henkei! Deluxe Electro Disruptor Ligier was selected as one of the New Picture Picks.^[1]

Mirage is one of the favorite Autobots of IGN.^[2]

Animated series

The animated series opted to present Mirage's desire to return to Cybertron as a genuinely sad longing, rather than as a result of any great dislike of Earth; and his unwillingness to fight was portrayed in "More than Meets the Eye" more as a semi-pacifistic nature. This shaped him into a more gentle character, not especially like the snob suggested by his profile. His actions immediately after the Transformers' reactivation on Earth in 1984 were heroic ones, working with Hound on a plan to dupe the Decepticons, and using his invisibility powers to sneak aboard the villains' space cruiser as it launched, sabotaging it from within and forcing it to crash back to Earth.

Be it as a result of his own desire not to engage in combat or not, Mirage's role in the Autobots' battles on Earth was a distinctly minimal one, leaving him confined to the background on the battlefield, or not present at all.

Mirage was accused of being a traitor to the Autobots when Cliffjumper found a Decepticon base which was an area he was patrolling at before but he didn't see them. However, Mirage was still accused when Cliffjumper believed that he did see them and decided to concealed the information. After a battle with the Decepticons, Mirage left base to perform a plan of his own by framing the Decepticons for stealing Energon Cubes from the Insecticons. Mirage failed to see that he was being watch by Cliffjumper, who was spying to see if the Decepticons moved somewhere else. During the fight between the Decepticons and the Insecicons, Mirage tried to get away from the crossfire but was knocked out unconscious where the Insecticons find him in this state with Shrapnel ready to finish him off but Bombshell stooped him. Seeing that they could make use of him, Mirage was implanted with one Bombshell's cerebro-shell. While under Bombshell's control, Mirage fought the Decepticons until Megatron explained that their being tricked. Mirage was almost destroyed by Bombshell when he was ready to make him pay for tricking them but Megatron stopped him as he had an idea of using him to destroy the rest of the Autobots. Mirage led Cliffjumper, Optimus Prime and Ratchet into an ambush by the Decepticons along with the Insecticons. During the fight, Mirage gets knocked out by Cliffjumper along with almost getting blast into pieces by Bombshell, who was done with him, but was saved by Ratchet. Unconscious, Mirage cerebro-shell was removed by Ratchet when he was investigateing him which set him free from Bombshell's control. Mirage's set up became clear to both Optimus Prime and Ratchet when they saw the cerebra-shell with Cliffjumper listening in on their conclusion as to what was going on which helped him realize that Mirage wasn't a traitor to the Autobots. Regaining consciousness, Mirage gets up to say that he never wanted to do anything against his Autobot friends then tried to explained why but they assured him that there's no reason to explain as they know the truth. Mirage, who ended up getting a little headache from being controlled, joins the fight with his Autobot friends then retreated when Megatron destroyed his own base of operation. After the battle was over, Mirage recovered then Cliffjumper comes over to apologizes to him for not trusting him.

Towards the end of the year, Mirage was among the team of five Autobots who disguised themselves as the Stunticons, with Mirage's alternate mode making him the perfect choice to masquerade as Drag Strip. Penetrating the Decepticons' camp, the Autobots ran into trouble when the real Stunticons arrived, trying to prove their identities by forming Menasor. With a combination of Windcharger's magnetic powers and Mirage's illusion-creating ability, the Autobots were able to appear as Menasor too, but the deception was soon revealed, though they were still able to thwart the Decepticons' plans.

Mirage was absent from the events of 2005 and 2006 without explanation; however, a storyboarded scene from The Transformers: The Movie featuring Mirage was cut from the finished film. In the removed scene, amidst the transformation of Autobot City, Mirage shot the Insecticon Bombshell as a corridor Mirage was in retracted, before the corridor was then blown up by Megatron. Whether or not this would have killed Mirage is not made clear, though due to the fact that the film's aim was to kill off the entire 1984 product line, his death is highly likely.

Books

Mirage was featured in the 1985 Transformers audio books Autobots' Lightning Strike and Megatron's Fight for Power.^[3]

Mirage appeared in the 1986 Ladybird Books story Decepticon Hideout by John Grant.^[4]

Comics

Dreamwave Productions

Dreamwave Productions' 21st Century re-imagining of the G1 universe presented a Mirage much closer to the cold, snobbish character his tech specs originally suggested.

As ever, when the civil war on Cybertron broke out, Mirage eventually sided with the Autobots, and even maintained his allegiance to them when the two warring forces split off into several smaller factions following the disappearance of Optimus Prime and Megatron. During this period of unrest, when The Fallen attacked the Autobot base in order to capture Blitzwing, Mirage was among the Autobots who tried to stop him.

As one of the Autobots on the Ark, Mirage participated in the battles on Earth, awakening in 1984 and developing a loathing of the planet. It was no doubt a relief for him to head back to Cybertron in 1999 after the Autobots defeated and captured the Decepticons, but when an act of sabotage caused their craft to explode shortly after leaving Earth, Mirage was among the Transformers who were able to avoid having their bodies appropriated by the terrorist Lazarus. He was reactivated by Optimus Prime in 2002 and participated in the ensuing battles against the Decepticons that culminated in a nuclear explosion above San Francisco.

The following year, when Shockwave arrived on Earth to arrest Prime and Megatron's forces as war criminals, the Autobots were naturally resistant to the idea. Mirage was among a squad who monitored Shockwave's movements on Earth, but upon discovering that Ultra Magnus was under Shockwave's command, surrendered himself and the others, recognising this as his chance to return to Cybertron. When Optimus Prime then overthrew Shockwave, who was revealed to possess sinister ulterior motives, Mirage was among the Autobots who voted to stay on the planet rather than return to Earth, even though he had discovered that Shockwave had divided up his old estate and holdings amongst others.

Fun Publications

Classic Mirage's biography was featured in issue 13 of the Transformers Collectors Club magazine.

In the story Crossing Over by Fun Publications Mirage was among Autobot troops of Optimus Prime who responded to the sighting of Megatron and arrived in time to save the dimensional traveling Autobot Skyfall from Megatron's wraith.

In the Transformers: Timelines story "Games of Deception" Mirage was captured by the Decepticons and rescued.

IDW Publishing

There was a Spotlight issue on Mirage. This story addresses Mirage's conflicted loyalties, raising the prospect that Mirage is either insane, or has swapped places with a Mirage of different loyalties from an alternate timeline. While there has been no conclusive evidence either way, the events of "All Hail Megatron" seem to indicate that Mirage is simply conflicted about his loyalties, and not from an alternate timeline.

Mirage was on the Autobot Orbital Command Hub in Spotlight: Blaster. He was present when Blaster was recovered and returned to the Autobots.

In "All Hail Megatron", Mirage is accused by several other Autobots of being a traitor. Despite a lack of hard evidence, and his protests of innocence, Mirage was beaten and severely injured by Ironhide (issue 8). During the beating, Mirage's faction sigil, (printed on his chest), was damaged, mirroring art from the "Spotlight: Mirage" special. Despite waiting to have the sigil restored, Mirage apparently remained loyal to the Autobots, saving Ironhide's life in battle. (issue 10.)

In "The Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye", Mirage (who went with Rodimus and several others aboard the Lost Light spaceship to find the fabled Knights of Cybertron) gets back due to psychological/mental troubles (related to his past appearances); he dreamed a war on Cybertron, so he was taken back by the Protectobots on a shuttle; on Cybertron he talks with Ironhide and Sunstreaker (even they had odd dreams or memories), then Mirage, Sunstreaker, Ironhide, Prowl and Optimus Prime were bonded into a huge gestalt (Optimus Maximus) and went to stop the Combiner Wars (Optimus Maximus is a remold of Combiner Wars Menasor; Mirage is created using the Dragstrip mold).

Marvel Comics

Following the awakening on Earth, Mirage immediately made clear his desire to return to Cybertron, even going so far as to question where his loyalties lay, if a different alliance would allow him to return to his home world. Attacked by Ravage in an early battle, Mirage attempted to reason with him, seeing no reason that two Transformers should fight, viewing cooperation as the best way to get back to Cybertron. However, when he clashed with Ravage for a second time, and had his arm severed by the Decepticon's fangs, Mirage came to the realisation that only by fighting on the side of the Autobots did he truly stand a chance of returning to the world he loved.

Mirage did not play any major role in battles which immediately followed and managed to avoid being among the ranks of the injured following the Autobots' climactic clash with Shockwave.

During the UK-only story 'Crisis of Command', Mirage hawkishly supported Prowl's party who advocated exploiting the Creation Matrix to animate dedicated war machines. However, Mirage and Hound (a bitter opponent of this ethically questionable strategy) put aside political differences to combine their special abilities and capture the Decepticon spy, Ravage.

He remained largely absent from combat situations until the Underbase-empowered Starscream threatened the world; attempting to defend New York City with a large number of his fellow Autobots, Mirage was deactivated by the Decepticon. His damaged body was stored in a stasis pod on the Ark, until he and his fellow fallen comrades were brought back online through the power of nucleon.

After the end of their original Transformers comic book series, Marvel continued the story with its Transformers: Generation 2 series a few years later, accompanying the toyline of the same name. In the comic, Mirage was among a team led by Grimlock onto the Twilight, the flagship of the second-generation Cybertronians led by Jhiaxus. Overwhelmed by the troops on board, the Autobots were captured but eventually mounted an escape attempt. The first to rush into battle, Mirage was destroyed by a flamethrower to his neck; his death was soon avenged in battle by Ironhide.

Games

Mirage is one of the light blue robots in the 2010 card game Monopoly Deal Transformers.

Toys

Alternators

• 
  Alternators Mirage (2006)

2006's Transformers: Alternators toyline, featuring updated versions of classic G1 characters with modern vehicular alternate modes, 1:24 scale and complex transformations, introduced a new version of Mirage, who transforms into a Ford GT with a Michigan license plate. Although the American toyline offers no supporting fiction for the Alternators toys, the line's Japanese counterpart, Binaltech, has featured a growing storyline, a new chapter released with each toy, making it clear that the Alternators/Binaltech timeline branches off from the animated series continuity prior to Transformers: The Movie. However, with the line currently stalled in Japan, it seems unlikely that a new chapter of the story will be written to precisely explain the specifics of Mirage's acquisition of his new form, or any of its special features, any time soon. Fan-made sticker sheets have been produced to make Alternators Mirage look more like his Generation 1 version. A red version of Mirage's Ford GT mold, identified as Hot Rodimus has been issued in the Kiss Players toyline, with a new head sculpt and a number of additional accessories.^[5]

Classic

• 
  Classic Deluxe Mirage (2006)

The original Mirage received an upgrade in 2006 in the Transformers: Classics line. This Deluxe class car came out in the second wave of the Classics line. Instead of having advertisements from Ligier on it, this Mirage advertised Witwicky Sparkplugs on his spoiler, a reference to the human character from the original Transformers animated series, Sparkplug Witwicky. This toy was designed by Alex Kubalsky.^[6] The transformation of this Mirage is very faithful to the original toy.^[7]

The mold for this figure was also used for Universe Decepticon Drag Strip^[8] and Transformers: Allspark Battles Decepticon Fracture.^[9]

Generation 1

• 
  Generation 1 Autobot Car Mirage (1984)

The toy that was to become the Autobot Mirage was originally designed by Koujin Ohno in 1982 and released as part of the Japanese Diaclone series by Takara.^[10] Mirage transforms into a Ligier JS11-Ford Formula One racing car, which is the origin for his Japanese name. He bears the racing number 26 – denoting the vehicle as that which was driven by Jacques Laffite in the 1980 season – and sponsorship logos for "Citanes", a reference to the cigarette company, Gitanes. It was announced at Botcon 2005 that the mold for Mirage's original toy, first released in 1984, has been lost, meaning that the toy cannot be reissued like many others have. However, Chinese manufacturers have used Reverse Engineering to remake the Mirage mold, making knockoffs of it along with the original packaging.

Generation 2

• 
  Generation 2 Go-Bot Mirage (1995)

A new incarnation of Mirage was introduced to the toyline in 1995 - still a racing car, Mirage was now part of the smaller, simpler line of Go-Bots figures, and shared his mold with another figure named Double Clutch.^[11]

The figure was later repainted into a new Spy Changer Mirage for the Robot in Disguise toyline (see below) and then brought back in new colors as the original Mirage for the Transformers: Universe line.

• 
  Generation 2 Autobot Car Mirage (unreleased)

A recolor of the Generation 1 toy was considered for the Generation 2 line, in pink and green. Concept art and a hand painted prototype were created, but the figure was never made.^[12]

Gentei! Gentei!

• 
  Gentei! Gentei! C-04 Deluxe Electro Disruptor Ligier (2009)

A Million publishing mail-order exclusive remold of the Henkei Deluxe figure in black and transparent plastic.^[13]

Henkei! Henkei!

• 
  Henkei! Henkei! C-04 Deluxe Ligier (2008)

The Japanese version of the Classics Deluxe figure by Takara Tomy is repainted in more Generation 1-accurate colors with chrome parts.^[14]

Machine Wars

• 
  Machine Wars Basic Mirage (1997)

In 1997, the small Machine Wars toyline was released exclusively in KB Toys stores, and featured a new Mirage figure with a spring-loaded transformation and the traditional racing car alternate mode(now a Champ Car), shared by the line's Prowl figure. The lack of any supporting fiction for the line leaves its place in continuity hard to define, but Mirage's bio-card makes it clear that the figure represents a new version of the G1 character, presenting him to possess the same personality, ability and function - the only difference is his new motto, "Can you keep up with my speed?"

The figure was repainted as Skid-Z for the Transformers: Robots in Disguise anime and toy line.

Robot Masters

• 
  Robot Masters Basic Rijie (2004)

The original Mirage returned in 2004 as part of the new Japanese-exclusive toyline, Transformers: Robot Masters. Released as Rijie (an alternate romanization of Ligier, Mirage's Japanese name), the figure was a recolor of his Machine Wars toy, recolored to resemble the G1 incarnation of the character, and the toy's profile - which spun out of the animated series at a point prior to The Transformers: The Movie - made it clear that this was the original Mirage, still wielding his electro-disruptor and possessing his invisibility powers.

Timelines

• 
  Timelines Deluxe Mirage (2007)

A version of the Classics Deluxe figure remolded in translucent blue plastic was given out at BotCon 2007 for free to preregistered guests. This represents Mirage as he turns invisible.^[15]

Universe

• 
  Universe Spy Changer Mirage (2006)

Released in mid 2006, a re-package of the transparent green recolor of RiD Spy Changer Mirage made it out at discount stores as a Universe toy. According to the bio on the box this toy was now representing Generation 1 Mirage. This is only fitting since the mold was previously used for Generation 2 Mirage.

This toy shouldn't be confused with the first Universe Mirage, who was a repackage of the Armada Mini-Con Mirage in the Universe line.

Combiner Wars

• 'Combiner Wars Mirage (2015)

This version is a redeco and the new head of the Decepticon Dragstrip, and like him can form a limb (arm or leg) of a combiner; Mirage is part of a 5-member squad (him, Sunstreaker, Prowl, Ironhide and Optimus Prime) who form Optimus Maximus, an original gestalt (although the toys are redecos of the Stunticons).

Beast Machines

The first truly new, different character to bear the name of Mirage appeared in the 1999 Beast Machines toyline, a portent of the frequent reuse the name would soon receive. A member of the evil Vehicons, with the requisite (albeit stylised and alien) racing car alternate mode, this Mirage did not appear in the accompanying animated series, but was characterised as an experiment by Megatron in bridging the intelligence gap between Vehicon drones and their generals.

Mirage's biography presents him as a trickster who enjoys playing cruel pranks on his comrades, making him unpopular with his fellow Vehicons. He is not particularly smart and would be entirely useless without Megatron's own supervision and orders. He possesses the power of teleportation, able to appear from nowhere to attack his foes, and is armed with a plasma blaster and dual missile launchers. With the exception of his weaponry, Mirage's biography is a carbon copy of that of the G1 Decepticon, Skywarp.

3H Enterprises

The Mirage Vehicon drones, as well as the original, made a cameo in the BotCon "Wreckers" comic. The original Mirage appeared being sent by Megatron to investigate a transwarp anomaly - which in reality bore the forces of Primal Prime. Mirage was caught up in a battle with the Wreckers, and he and Apelinq were sucked into the anomaly. While Apelinq survived, Mirage's fate is unknown.

The Mirage drones appeared under the command of Quake and Blastcharge. They battled the Wreckers, but were largely destroyed in the ensuing battle.

Toys

• 
  Beast Machines Basic Mirage (1999)

Beast Machines Mirage features pressure-launching missiles, and was later repainted and released in as part of the Robots in Disguise line, as an Autobot named Mirage GT (see below).

Plans existed to remold and redeco the toy into the Autobot bounty hunter, Devcon, to be released as an exclusive for a future BotCon. By extension, the toy would have been a Transformers: Universe figure, but plans were abandoned when 3H Enterprises lost the license to the hold the convention. Although the toy was not produced, the character did appear in the Transformers: Universe - Wreckers comic series.

Transformers: Robots in Disguise

The parallel universe of the 2001 line, Transformers: Robots in Disguise introduced another new Mirage, known
as Counter Arrow in the original Japanese version, Car Robots. Mirage is the fastest of the Spy Changers, which makes him the best choice for spying on the enemy – he'll be in and out before anyone is the wiser. As an excellent marksman, he is fittingly armed with a sniper rifle, and, like the other Spy Changers, possesses optical camouflage powers that can make him appear invisible and is able to drive over any surface, including water, and even upside-down

Animated series

Mirage made his debut with the rest of the Spy Changers rescuing a plutonium generator from the clutches of the Predacons. His most focal role, however, proved to be an unintentional homage to G1 Mirage's own biggest role, when the other Spy Changers inaccurately suspected Mirage of betraying the Autobots to the Predacons.

After an incident where Mirage, fearing collateral damage, allowed the Predacons to get away, the others on the team accused him of failure. A furious Mirage walked out, realizing the Predacons had put a bug on him. His best friend Ironhide attempted to talk him out of it, but snapped and punched him when Mirage threatened to join the Predacons, much to the listening Predacons' delight. Slapper, Gas Skunk and Darkscream soon approached him, and he seemingly joined up with them. Mirage called the Spy Changers to Megatron's latest weapon, ostensibly to lure them into a trap. He managed to communicate his true intentions to the other Spy Changers, and they destroyed the laser.

A guilty Ironhide demanded that Mirage hit him to even things out between them - but Mirage simply prodded his friend, claiming they were now even before challenging him to a race back to base. Mirage and his teammates would then continue to fight for the Autobot cause up until the conclusion of the series. Following the defeat of Galvatron and his forces, the group would enjoy racing on Earth before departing for Cybertron.

Other media

"Ask Vector Prime" revealed that Mirage's adventures were far from over, as his universe would eventually descend into a Spark War similar to that which occurred in Beast Machines. Despite his Spark being captured by an alternate version of Beast Wars Megatron, Mirage was able to employ a new Vehicon body using the Genetronic Translink System. Eventually he would travel back in time to aid Air Attack Optimus Primal in the Maximal leader's efforts to aid the Autobots in battling Galvatron and Cryotek, before joining the Elite Guard.

Toys

• 
  Car Robots Spy Changer Counter Arrow (2000)

A redeco of the toy previously released as Generation 2 Mirage released as part of the Car Robots line in Japan by Takara. Instead of a standard Autobot logo on his chest it features a heat-sensitive rub-symbol of the logo.

• 
  Car Robots Jusco Clear Counter Arrow (2000)

A Jusco store exclusive of Counter Arrow redone in clear blue and green plastic.

• 
  Robots in Disguise Spy Changer Mirage (2001)

A slight redeco of Counter Arrow, particularly change to a painted Autobot logo to his chest.

The toy, originally sold in a two-pack with Ironhide and packaged with a Tiny Tin.

• 
  Kaybee Clear Mirage (2001)

A Kaybee store exclusive with clear plastic replacing the white, representing Mirage as he turns invisible.

• 
  Kaybee Clear Mirage Recolor (2001)

A Kaybee store exclusive with green and blue (the opposite of the Jusco Counter Arrow) clear plastic replacing the white, representing Mirage as he turns invisible. This toy was later repackaged in the Transformers: Universe line as a new form og Generation 1 Mirage.

• 
  Car Robots Super Counter Arrow (2003)

A red recolor of Counter Arrow available only in blind packaged boxes in Japan which represent Counter Arrow powered up by Ultra Magnus. Addly, this and all following Takara versions of Counter Arrow would have the painted Autobot symbol added by Hasbro for Mirage.

• 
  Car Robots Clear Super Counter Arrow (2003)

A recolor of Super Counter Arrow available only in blind packaged boxes in Japan which represent Counter Arrow powered up by Ultra Magnus and going invisible.

• Mirage GT

A recolor of Beast Machines Mirage and the unproduced Devcon figure in black and yellow colors; released with repaints of Scavenger, whose new character shared that name, and Spy Streak, who was made into a female character named Nightcruz.

Transformers: Armada

The alternate universe of Transformers: Armada introduced another Mirage (known in Japan as Indy) in 2002, this time a member of the diminutive Mini-Con faction and one third of the Race Team, alongside Dirt Boss and Downshift. In the early days of the war, his skills in stealth and speed led him to prefer running and hiding to fighting, but upon witnessing the atrocities of war, he viewed his cowardice as the worst crime of all, and stepped up to a command position in hopes of doing something about it. Although smart, observant and direct, Mirage still carries with him the guilt from the earlier part of his life, when he ignored his principles in favor of his own self-preservation.

Animated series

As a Mini-Con, Mirage possessed no given personality in the Armada animated series, communicating only in bleeps and spending most of his time onscreen in the merged form of the Skyboom Shield as the Autobots and Decepticons battled for ownership of it and the other Mini-Con weapons.

Mirage appeared in episode #49, called "Alliance." He is among the Mini-Cons assisting the Autobots and Decepticons evacuating from Cybertron when it was attacked by Unicron.

Dreamwave Productions

Mirage remained without any characterisation until Dreamwave Productions produced the character profile above, which presented Mirage to be the leader of the Race Team. Like his G1 progenitor, Dreamwave presented Armada Mirage to possess a light-bending invisibility power, capable of rendering himself and other objects imperceptible, which he used in defence of the Mini-Con's moonbase in the Dreamwave comic book storyline.

In Transformers: Armada #9-11 by Dreamwave Productions the Race Team were among the Mini-Cons survived crashing on Earth's moon. Under the leadership of Dualor they built a fortress there and defended it from an attack by Megatron, Starscream, Thrust and Cyclonus. Once Megatron overpowered the base the Mini-Cons escaped to Earth.

Mirage appeared among the Mini-Cons in issue #18 of the Transformers: Armada comic book who aided Over-Run using the Mini-Con Matrix in the defeat of Unicron.

Mirage was brought to the Speed Planet under the protection of Hot Shot, where he quickly overcome his sadness at his separation from Downshift and Dirt Boss when he discovered the planet's perfect raceways. Now he and Hot Shot are a nearly unbeatable racing team.

Cybertron story

Mirage ended up on the Speed Planet, where his damaged body was found by Override who recognized his potential and took him in. Repaired by her, Mirage became her willing partner, helping her win race after race. Upon discovering that Mirage's team-mate, Downshift, had been captured by Speed Planet native Dirt Boss (no relation to the Race Team member), the team have dedicated themselves to hunting down the villain and rescuing Downshift.

Toys

• 
  Armada Race Team Mirage (2002)

Packaged with Dirt Boss and Downshift as the Race Team, Mirage's mold is based on an earlier figure, Swindle – the transformation of the toy is identical, aside from an additional waist swivel, but every piece is molded differently – and, naturally, transforms into a Formula One racing car. He can combine with the rest of the Mini-Con Race Team into the Skyboom Shield.

Mirage was recolored in green and black to become the Japanese exclusive figure, Topgear, available only with the third DVD volume release of the series. His teammates were also released in such a manner, as "Midship" and "Tailside", and together, the "Speed Chaser Team," as they were dubbed, could combine into the "Magnawing," and featured in the Linkage manga included with the DVDs as servants of Unicron.

The original version of Armada Mirage (and the rest of the Race Team) was repackaged individually with a collectible Tiny Tin.

• 
  Armada Road Assault Mirage (2003)

The Race Team was later redecoed in red and white as the Road Assault Team. In Japan, Mirage was later redecoed in blue and white.

The Road Assault Mini-Con Team was repackaged with the Space Team as a discount six pack of Mini-Cons under the Energon label. These toys were identical to the Armada version.

• 
  Cybertron Mirage (2005)

A recolor of Armada Mini-Con Mirage in a Tiny-Tin was released as a promotional item inside the boxes for Hot Shot and Override as a Wal-Mart exclusive promotion. While this seemed like a novel way to keep Mini-Cons in the Unicron Trilogy toy and story lines, neither Cybertron's Hot Shot, nor Override had Mini-Con powerlink points on them.

Transformers: Energon

Despite occupying the same continuity as Transformers: Armada and its Mirage, Transformers: Energon introduced its own Mirage (named Shockfleet in Japan) in 2004, an upgraded version of the lumbering Decepticon battleship, Tidal Wave. Unusually for a character bearing the name, he transforms into a high-speed gunboat. This Mirage has proved himself as much a threat on land as he is on water, turning destruction into an art form.

Animated Series

Mirage first appeared in "Unicron Unleashed", where he led a large force of Terrorcons down to Cybertron as a distraction to allow Shockblast to sneak in with the main force. The plan worked and Unicron was restored to functionality. He later helped to defend Unicron from the Autobots and followed Megatron into the rift in space that had opened up during the crisis.

Mirage eventually became a comic relief character, serving as Megatron's lapdog, and later becoming a bumbling henchman, along with Snow Cat and Demolishor. His loyalty to Megatron/Galvatron proved to be his downfall in "The Sun", where he followed Starscream and Galvatron into an energon sun and died, burning up in the intense heat.

Toys

• 
  Energon Mirage (2004)

Mirage is an upgraded body for Tidal Wave, transforming into a sleek assault speedboat with multiple spring-loaded missile launchers as well as fold-out wings for his "Hyper Mode". As something of a shellformer, Mirage's transformation sequence is one of the most complex for the Energon toy line and as a side effect, he ends up with some obnoxiously large vehicle mode shell kibble. Some bad design and excessively tight knee joints means his lower legs will often detach from the upper thighs whenever one tries to bend his knees.

The initial releases of Mirage were one-per-case, and was part of a wave that saw limited distribution due to a glut of early product on the shelves. However, Mirage was later put into "Mega-Buy" multi-packs at a buy-one-get-one-free price at numerous chains, including Toys 'R' Us and Wal-Mart, relieving much of the demand for the item.
This mold was also redecoed into Energon Dreadwing and BotCon 2009 Banzai-Tron.

Shattered Glass

An evil mirror-universe version of Mirage serves as one of Optimus Prime's Autobots in the Shattered Glass universe. Mirage is a former bank robber who was experimented on by Ratchet. He is now permanently partly transparent.

Fun Publications

Mirage gets interviewed by Andromeda in Around Cybertron #6.

Toys

• Henkei Deluxe Electro Disruptor Liger

A recolor of Classic Mirage. This toy was repurposed as Shattered Glass Mirage.

Transformers Cinematic Universe

Mirage appears in Transformers: Dark of the Moon as a red Ferrari 458 Italia. In the film, he is known as "Dino" and he speaks in an Italian accent. He also wields two wrist blades that can be detached onto a length of cable.^[17]

Development

Film concept art of Sentinel Prime by artist Josh Nizzi named the character who would become Mirage as "Rush".^[18]

Books

Mirage appears as a character in the Transformers: Dark of the Moon The Junior Novel. In it, he was decapitated by Starscream while he trying to aid Sam Witwicky, Carly Spencer, and the NEST team being led by Epps out of the falling skyscraper being brought down by Shockwave's drillerbot. His remains were used by Soundwave to taunt Bumblebee, Ratchet, Wheeljack, and Sideswipe before preparing to execute them. Sam Witwicky avenges Mirage's death by using one of Wheeljack's boomsticks on Starscream, screaming "This is for Mirage" as he plunges a boomstick into one of Starscream's eyes.^[19]

Comics

IDW Publishing

Mirage appeared in the comics Transformers: Rising Storm, when Sam Witwicky and Bumblebee were being menaced by Decepticons after their small companion Brains, Mirage and Wheeljack arrived for the save.

Mirage appeared in the graphic novel version of Transformers: Dark of the Moon. Here, his head was ripped off by Soundwave during the Decepticon occupation of Earth, taking Wheeljack's place as the Autobot who gets executed.

Films

Mirage, known as "Dino" in the film, appears in Transformers: Dark of the Moon, and serves as one of the main Autobot characters. He first appears at the Nuclear facility with Bumblebee, Sideswipe and Que. He is seen at the Washington D.C nest base and informs Charlotte Mearing that Optimus is in a bad mood. He later appears when he battles Hatchet on the highway and kills him with help from Bumblebee and Sideswipe. He is among the Autobots that are exiled from Earth on the Xanthium - and though having been thought to have been killed by Starscream, he escapes along with all the other Autobots.

Dino/Mirage participates in the final battle and is among several other Autobots who are being held captive by Soundwave, Barricade and several other Decepticons. After witnessing the death of Que and the Decepticon ships raining down on them, Dino/Mirage escapes and battles the Decepticons whom held him captive. Dino/Mirage is one of the surviving Autobots at the end of the film, alongside Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Ratchet, Sideswipe, Roadbuster, Topspin, Brains, and Leadfoot .

In some early versions of the script, Dino/Mirage had at least two deaths planned. In one version, which was kept in the novelization, he was decapitated by Starscream. Another version, which was kept in the comic book adaptation and the junior novelization, has Dino(instead of Que) being executed by Soundwave.

In Transformers: The Last Knight reveals that Wheelie and Topspin have survived being hunted by Cemetery Wind. And given that Sideswipe was also mentioned to have been killed by Cemetery Wind in Age of Extinction tie-in material, roadbuster is also alive with topspin so Dino is the only transformer whose whereabouts are unknown.

Video games

Mirage is a playable character in the Dark of the Moon video game. The level starts with Mirage having to avoid Starscream on a highway in South America. During his mission, he meets up with Bumblebee and Sideswipe and together they pursue Starscream and try to foil his attempts to launch a rocket into space. Despite defeating Starscream in the end, the rocket however successfully launches.

Toys

• 
  Transformers 3D Battle Card Game Mirage (2007)

Mirage is among the characters which appeared in the Transformers 3D Battle Card Game by Wizards of the Coast. He is a blue and white Ford GT almost identical to his Alternator form, with the exception of movie-style exposed facial robotics and joints.

• 
  Dark of the Moon Speed Stars Mirage (2011)

A diecast car of Mirage. It is part of the trans-scan line of the Speed Stars vehicles for the third film.

• 
  Transformers Cyberverse Legion Mirage (2012)

A remold of Revenge of the Fallen Legends Sideways with an added weapon. This toy is to be made available with waves of Transformers: Prime Cyberverse figures.

• 
  Movie Advanced Series Deluxe Class Autobot Dino (2014)

A remold of Revenge of the Fallen Deluxe Class Sideways with an added weapon and with a new head sculpt.

• 
  Movie Edition Tiny Turbo Changer Autobot Dino (2018)

Transformers Animated

Mirage appears in Transformers Animated, though he was never shown in the animated series. His appearance is based on his Generation 1 counterpart, along with his ability to turn invisible. Cliffjumper distrusts him due to this power, and because he was an outspoken critic of Ultra Magnus' and Sentinel Prime's policies.

Fun Publications

Mirage made a cameo in The Stunticon Job, taking place after the events in the cartoon series, attending Motormaster's stunt convoy show.

Kre-O Transformers

Mirage is an Autobot spy, and is based on the Generation 1 version of the character.

Fictional biography

Some call me the best AUTOBOT spy ever assembled. I guess I am pretty quick. And I don't know of any other KREON characters that can match my stealth and cunning... Does that make me the best ever? I don't know. I'll let history decide. All I can do is keep risking my life day in and day out…

Favorite Pastime: Watching the KRE-O Grand Prix with my fellow AUTOBOTS.

Most Prized Possession: My rubberized, detachable, ENERGON infused race wheels.

Person You Most Admire: Brick, James Brick, secret agent.

Animated series

Kreon Mirage appeared in the animated short "Last Bot Standing."^[20]

Kreon Mirage appeared in the animated short "Bot Stars."^[21]

Kreon Mirage appeared in the animated short "The Big Race."^[22]

Games

Kre-O Mirage appears in the flash video game Kre-O Transformers Konquest. In this game Kreon Optimus Prime attempts to avoid bombs and collect parts to rebuild Kre-O Ratchet, Mirage, Prowl, Oprimus Prime and Bumblebee.^[23]

Toys

• 
  Kre-O Transformers Mirage (2011)

A Lego-like building block kit of Mirage with 119 pieces to assemble in either car or robot mode. Comes with 2 Kreon figures of Mirage and a human race driver.

References

• 
  Bellemo, Mark (2007). Transformers Identification and Price Guide. Krause Publications. p. 20. ISBN 978-0-89689-445-7.
  


• 
  Furman, Simon (2004). Transformers: The Ultimate Guide. DK Publishing Inc. p. 110. ISBN 1-4053-0461-8.
  

External links

• Mirage galleries at Seibertron.com


• Mirage at the Transformers Wiki