# Grimlock

Grimlock is a fictional character of the Transformers franchise. He is usually portrayed as the leader of the Dinobots, a subfaction of Autobots who can transform into dinosaurs. Grimlock is known for his dialogue being spoken in the third person and his alternate mode being that of a tyrannosaurus. He appeared on screen along with other Dinobots in the fourth installment of the Transformers film series. Since his debut he has become a staple character of the franchise, appearing in cartoons, comics and other literature, video games, and having numerous toys and merchandise made in his likeness.

## Transformers: Generation 1

In the Generation 1 continuity, Grimlock is the leader of the Dinobots. Grimlock’s character is merciless and contemptuous of those he considers beneath him, such as human beings and, at times his fellow Autobots. The character's initial sense of superiority was changed by the relationships he formed with others as he got to know them on a personal level and began seeing them as equals.
Grimlock is among some of the strongest of the Generation 1 transformers, possibly equal to or even superior to Optimus Prime and Megatron. In his tyrannosaurus form his jaws can snap virtually anything that comes between them, and he can shoot a heat ray from his mouth. He has no significant weaknesses, except for a relatively slow top speed and arrogance. The original character profiles written by Bob Budiansky and Dan Bobro indicate that Grimlock and the Dinobots were intended to come from Cybertron to Earth like most of the other Transformers. However, the cartoon would disregard this entirely, showing the Dinobots as being created by the autobots themselves. Also in the cartoon, Grimlock and the rest of the dinobots are simple-minded and brutish, highlighted by them talking in the third person and with a caveman-like dialect.

## Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001)

The first completely different character to bear the name of Grimlock was one inhabiting the alternate universe of the 2001 Transformers toyline, Transformers: Robots in Disguise. Rather than the taking the form of a dinosaur, he transforms into an excavator and is a member of a sub-faction of autobots known as the Build Team. He also lacks the character's traits of speaking in the third person and an arrogance towards others. He was voiced by Tom Wyner in the English dub of the show, while in the original Japanese version he was voiced by Hiroki Takahashi, and went by the name Build Hurricane.

## Transformers Cinematic Universe
### Live-action films

In Transformers: Age of Extinction, Grimlock and the Dinobots are captured by Lockdown as trophies, referred to as legendary knights. After the Autobots escape with the part of the ship holding them, Optimus releases the Dinobots for backup and engages in a battle for dominance with Grimlock which Optimus wins.
Grimlock returned in Transformers: The Last Knight. Grimlock is among the Autobots taking sanctuary at Cade Yeager's junkyard. He has taken up the personality of a dog, often eating the local police chief's car. Mini-Grimlock, a baby dinosaur, also appears in The Last Knight as one of the Autobots in Cade's junkyard. It gains Grimlock's fire breath, which it uses in Cade's trailer. Mini-Grimlock is seen snuggling with Izabella and around the other Autobots.

## Transformers: Animated

Grimlock appears in Transformers: Animated, which began airing in 2007. He is similar to his animated Generation 1 incarnation in persona and form, but with his face modified to have a feral look. His beast mode now looks more like how an actual tyrannosaurus is thought to look and his roar bears a likeness the T. rex's roar from Jurassic Park.

## Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015)

In Transformers: Robots in Disguise, as one of many Decepticon prisoners aboard the Autobot ship Alchemor, Grimlock was the only one not to escape when the vessel crashed on Earth, and is eventually recruited as an autobot. This adaption of the character also shows up in the preschool television series Transformers: Rescue Bots Academy.

## Transformers: Cyberverse

Grimlock is one of the characters who appeared in Transformers: Cyberverse, and unlike past versions of the character, he is shown to be charismatic and civilized, but only when in his Dino mode does he show impediments in speech (akin to Bruce Banner / The Incredible Hulk). Grimlock, now alone on prehistoric Earth, scanned a Tyrannosaurus alt. mode and became known as the King of the Dinosaurs.

## Transformers: EarthSpark

Grimlock is one of the physically strongest and most imposing Autobots, whether in his robot mode or his fire-breathing tyrannosaurus rex beast mode. As scary as he may seem, he's a good guy through and through, and happy to nurture and encourage the new generation of Cybertronians. He values strength, not just physical, but filling his charges with confidence and the spirit to find themselves. This guidance has brought him close to the Terran gentle Jawbreaker, who scanned a dinosaur alternate mode in emulation of him.
Grimlock's most powerful and dangerous trait, however, is his anger. Able to channel his fury into a "rage mode" that makes him an unstoppable engine of destruction, he becomes a potential threat to even his closest allies when his optics go from blue to red. While he's usually able to control his anger, prolonged time in his dinosaur mode can disrupt his system, and the traumas he's suffered carry triggers, meaning those around him have to be careful not to set him off.

## In video games

* Grimlock appears as a minor character in the portable version of Transformers: War for Cybertron and as one of the main characters in the 2012 sequel Transformers: Fall of Cybertron.
* Grimlock shows up as a playable character in the 2015 game Transformers: Devastation.
* In the crossover game Angry Birds Transformers, Grimlock is portrayed by Hal the Boomerang Bird. Notably, this version of the character is not a humanoid who can change into a tyrannosaurus, but rather a dinosaur who can change into a motorcycle.

## Literature

Grimlock has appeared in various forms of literature of the Transformers brand, from the likes of graphic novels to children's books.

### Children's books

* Grimlock was featured in the 1985 Find Your Fate Junior book called Dinobots Strike Back by Casey Todd.
* Grimlock appeared in the 1986 story and coloring book The Lost Treasure of Cybertron by Marvel Books.
* Grimlock was featured in the 1993 Transformers: Generation 2 coloring book "Decepticon Madness" by Bud Simpson.

### Comics

* In the Marvel Comics' Transformers series writter Bob Budiansky had presented the origin for the Dinobots as he had originally conceived it. Grimlock also appeared in the short-lived Generation 2 comic series, which was exclusive to the UK.
* Both the Generation 1 Grimlock and his Transformers: Robots in Disguise counterpart appeared in the countless storylines of the comics by 3H Enterprises.
* Grimlock has also shown up in the comics produced by IDW Publishing. Having notable roles in issues of Transformers Spotlight and The Transformers: Devastation.
* Grimlock and his fellow dinobots show up in their own titular comic series, Rage of the Dinobots, which was a spinoff to the Transformers: Prime television series.