Blaster is the name of several fictional characters in the Transformers television and comic series based on the popular toy line produced by Takara Tomy and Hasbro. Due to trademark reasons, he is sometimes called Autobot Blaster. He is an Autobot who specializes in communications. Transformers: Generation 1 Blaster's initial transformation is an AM/FM Stereo Cassette Player, commonly referred to as a boombox or ghettoblaster, hence the name. Blaster was a popular character from the original series while not featuring as prominently in the modern Transformers universe. As a member of the Autobot communications sub-group Blaster frequently worked with its other members – Eject, Grand Slam, Raindance, Ramhorn, Rewind and Steeljaw. He is the Autobots' answer to the evil Decepticon Soundwave, who serves as his archenemy. Blaster (Tempo in France, Radiorobot in Italy, Broadcast in Japan, Össztűz in Hungary), like the Autobot Jazz, has a great love of Earth culture, rock music and other forms of music as long as it is hard. He's normally at the forefront of any given situation. As an AM/FM stereo cassette player, he can perform as a deck, plus receive radio signals on a variety of frequencies. Acting as the Autobot communications center, he can transmit signals within a 4,000 mile radius. Blaster is often depicted as carrying various cassette tape warriors within his deck, including (Steeljaw, Ramhorn, Rewind and Eject). Reception According to Dan Fleming in Powerplay: toys as popular culture, Blaster represents a guardian of more primitive heroes, as well as the hidden power of technology. Blaster was voted the 5th top Transformer who was “bad ass” in the comics by Topless Robots. According to Heather Hendershots book about Saturday Morning cartoons, Blaster has a "black coded" voice and name. Animated series Blaster's first appearance was in episode 20, "Dinobot Island, Part 1" with no origin provided, simply appearing among the Autobots. Blaster frequently spoke in rhyme resembling rap music lyrics. He had several important appearances in season 2, most notably in "Blaster Blues", when Spike and Carly brought Blaster to a concert because he loved music. Blaster decided to share his music by transmitting the show to the other Autobots but drove everyone but Cosmos and Jazz, who liked his taste in music, crazy also because the music was so loud they were unable to respond to a Decepticon attack as they got away with stealing a powerful decoder. Blaster and