Transformers 3 Dark of the Moon featured several new transformers that were integral to the plot of the film and highly anticipated by fans of the beloved 1980s robots. They were mostly recognizable, despite the significant upgrades they'd undergone in the interest of modernity and creative license. An unfortunate example of corporate conflicting interests got in the way, however, as many of the new Transformers were never named on screen, due to copyright issues of competing toy companies. Nonetheless, they remained a visual feast, even though most felt they didn't receive enough screen time in the human-oriented Dark of the Moon. Following is an assessment of the Autobot Transformers that appeared in the final movie of the franchise.
The New Transformers
Sentinel Prime was certainly the most significant new Transformer; and, despite the way things started out with this formidably-equipped Prime, the way they ended up likely warrants exclusion from a listing in the Autobots ranks. Sentinel had a huge alt-mode as a Rosenbauer Panther Fire Truck, and was once the mentor of Optimus Prime, before he betrayed all that they both supposedly held dear (the sanctity of sentient life) and took a moral nosedive into oblivion. His compass had become so skewed that somehow, in the mind of this once great Protector, it had become justifiable to kill much of a race of beings - humans - and doom the rest to slavery, to bring back to life a dead planet that the Transformers, themselves, had destroyed. That's what you call a psychotic break of the robotic variety. Optimus Prime relieved him of not only that notion, but every future notion he'd never have.
Another new Transformer in Dark of the Moon was the Autobot called Que, or Wheeljack. He transformed into an electric blue Mercedes-Benz and was bid an unceremonious goodbye by the Decepticon Soundwave, who mercilessly blew his brains out.
Mirage - Dino, as he was referred to in the media, due to the fracas over copyrights with the name Mirage - made his debut in Dark of the Moon by executing Sideswipe-like blade-prowess against enemies found by the joint Transformer-human Decepticon-hunting task force, NEST. In addition to his pair of Cybertanium blades (they can cut through just about anything) Dino-Mirage's chassis houses a projectile weapon, electromagnetic pulse beam and an illusion-projector.
Probably the most anticipated new transformers on the Autobot side were the Wreckers, a 3-robot squad of tough-nosed, antisocial mayhem experts. Called Leadfoot, Roadbuster and Topspin, they were elite and stealthy infiltrators armed to the teeth, and often approached quietly before making an explosive entrance. In Dark of the Moon, they were all modeled on earthly NASCAR designs.
Last, as well as least, we have the Autobot Brains making his way into Dark of the Moon. His alt-mode varies, but he can manifest as a self-surfing IBM laptop, doing research on all manner of things unattended. There is some question as to whether the useful Brains was one of the few Autobots that made it out of Dark of the Moon, where so many of their number died; he valiantly helped reprogram an enemy ship, saving Bumblebee in the process (more accurately, rather, allowing Bumblebee to save himself).
A severely injured Optimus walked away from the scene of battle with only Bumblebee, Ratchet, Mirage and Sideswipe, leaving fans to wonder how the heck a sure-to-come Transformers 4 will make out, given that all the Decepticons were killed. They'll think of something, we suppose.
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