Editing Soundwave (Transformers) (section)

==Transformers: Generation 1==
'''Soundwave''' is one of the characters from the original Transformers line. His alternate mode is a [[microcassette]] recorder and he has a distinctive monotone, computerized voice.<ref>{{Cite magazine|author=J.D. Reed;Sara White/Boston |url=http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,954424,00.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121209035038/http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,954424,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 9, 2012 |title=Living: Hot Toys with a Special Twist - Printout |magazine=TIME |date=1984-10-01 |access-date=2010-04-27}}</ref>

Soundwave is able to detect and [[Radio jamming|jam]] transmissions across the entire energy spectrum, a talent that makes him suited to his position as a Decepticon Communications Officer. Additionally, he has a [[photographic memory]] on account of the data storage capacity of the magnetic disks in his chest compartment, and he is armed with a shoulder-mounted laser cannon and hand-held concussion blaster. Soundwave is physically strong compared to most Transformers. His alternative form is that of an Earthly [[microcassette]] [[Cassette deck|deck]]. Within the tape compartment, which becomes his chest in robot mode, he stores a variety of Decepticon spies, all of which take the alternative form of a microcassette. These spy characters include [[Ravage (Transformers)|Ravage]], [[Laserbeak]], [[Buzzsaw (Transformers)|Buzzsaw]], [[Ratbat]], [[Rumble (Transformers)|Rumble]], [[Frenzy (Transformers)|Frenzy]], [[Slugfest (Transformers)|Slugfest]], [[Wingthing]], [[List of The Transformers (TV series) characters#Decepticon Mini-Cassettes|Autoscout]] and [[Overkill (Transformers)|Overkill]], all of whom are under Soundwave's command in the original television series. [[Squawktalk]] and [[Beastbox (Transformers)|Beastbox]] were additional cassette characters under Soundwave's control within the US toyline, who never appeared in the cartoon.<ref>{{cite web|author=Seibertron.com |url=http://www.seibertron.com/database/character.php?view=&char_id=6 |title=Soundwave (Decepticon Communications, Transformers G1) |publisher=Seibertron.com |access-date=2010-04-27}}</ref>

Soundwave's cassettes are quick to serve and defend Soundwave in a crisis, and generally relate to him as servants or even pets. However, when his cassette [[Ratbat]] became leader of the Decepticons in the [[Marvel Comics|Marvel Comics series]], Soundwave fully shifted his trademark loyalty from [[Megatron (Transformers)|Megatron]] to him. In the Dreamwave comics, Ratbat led the [[Ultracons]] faction, while Soundwave remained with the Decepticons led by [[Shockwave (Transformers)|Shockwave]], although within that continuity these events occurred before Ratbat took up a cassette form. In the IDW comics, on pre-war Cybertron, Soundwave functioned as a personal assistant to Ratbat, who was a Senator at the time, however, Soundwave's true loyalty was with Megatron. When the time came for him and [[Starscream]] to massacre the Senate, he enslaved Ratbat by bestowing the smaller, weaker cassette body upon him.

===Animated series===
In the original ''[[The Transformers (TV series)|Transformers]]'' cartoon, Soundwave was Megatron's most reliable aide, frequently sent on important [[reconnaissance]] missions with his cassettes, and often playing a key role in many schemes against the Autobots. On Cybertron, he used his ability to transform into a lamp-post to spy on the Autobot city of Iacon, learning of the Autobots' plan to search for energy on other worlds. Soundwave participated in Megatron's assault on the Autobots' spacecraft, the Ark, and met the same fate as the other occupants when the ship crashed on prehistoric Earth, leaving everyone trapped in stasis. After awakening on Earth in 1984, Soundwave played a crucial part in generating energon cubes and devising strategies to construct a new spacecraft for the Decepticons to journey back to Cybertron.

Later, he used his mind-reading talents to acquire an [[antimatter]] formula for the Decepticons from the brain of Chip Chase. He and his cassette minions were often on spying missions against the Autobots.

One of Soundwave's most notable misadventures came in season 2 when, operating a plan conceived by [[Starscream]], he [[brainwashing|brainwashed]] humans with [[ultrasound|ultrasonic]] vibrations, leading to a confrontation with his Autobot Communications Officer counterpart, [[Blaster (Transformers)|Blaster]], and to a lasting rivalry between the two.

Soundwave rarely displayed much emotion, infrequently exhibiting any traits that could be considered to be in line with his [[tech spec]]. However, he showed distress when one of his cassettes were hurt in battle, and he always came across as extremely loyal to Megatron, even going so far as to recover his body after being beaten close to death by [[Optimus Prime]] at the battle of [[Autobot City]] in 2005 (''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''). But while Soundwave was loyal, he was far from outspoken, and he kept silent when Megatron's body was subsequently ejected into space, and, although he did suggest himself as a replacement leader ("''Soundwave: superior, Constructicons: inferior.''"), Soundwave again loyally served Megatron when he was reformatted as [[Galvatron]].

In season 3, although operating in a less prominent capacity for most of the time, Soundwave played a prominent role in Galvatron's attempt to learn the secret of a sonic weapon on the planet Eurythma, where sound and music were the way of life, leaving Soundwave entranced by the planet's perfect melodies. Recording each piece of the harmony that formed the devastating sonic effect, Soundwave was defeated when the Eurythmans countered the harmony with white noise, and was again pulled into a confrontation with Blaster, who erased his recordings.

Soundwave made his final appearance in the American cartoon series, the Season 3 finale, ''The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1'' as he was only seen giving the latest piece of information gathered by Ratbat that two scientists had discovered Optimus Prime's body, a fact which made Galvatron eager to destroy it once and for all. Although Soundwave only appeared as a background character in the American cartoon series finale, the three-part ''The Rebirth'', he returned to the forefront in the new Japanese-exclusive series, ''[[Transformers: The Headmasters]]'', which was created to replace ''The Rebirth''. Reborn as '''Soundblaster''' ('''New Soundwave''' in the [[English language|English]] version and '''Vizar''' in Italy) Soundwave's new toy incarnation was, like the series, available only in [[Japan]].

In the 1987 anime robot superhero TV series ''[[Transformers: The Headmasters]]'', Soundwave and Blaster's rivalry had increased dramatically. In the opening cut and thrust of ''Headmasters'', Soundwave and Blaster engaged in their final clash in the [[Arctic Circle]] as the Autobots and Decepticons were in the process of searching for the missing [[Matrix of Leadership|Autobot Matrix of Leadership]]. The two opponents inflicted fatal damage to each other, and Soundwave's body exploded even as Blaster collapsed. Soundwave's fragments were recovered by his cassettes. Using reconstructive technology from the planet Master, the leader of the Decepticon Headmasters, Zarak, successfully rebuilt and resurrected Soundwave and renamed him Soundblaster—essentially identical to his former self, except for his predominantly black color scheme. As Soundblaster, he served the same role as he had as Soundwave under the leadership of Galvatron and later Scorponok, frequently embarking on spying missions with Ratbat. In ''Headmasters'', his character was somewhat changed to have more of a father-son relationship with the cassettes, as it was hinted on his resurrection as Soundblaster.

Soundwave was performed by [[Frank Welker]], whose voice was heavily modulated by a [[vocoder]] to achieve Soundwave's distinctive, metallic [[Pitch (music)|monotone]]. However, Welker's voice was left unmodulated at certain points during the episodes "Roll for It" and "Webworld" due to production errors. This left him sounding like Dr. Claw, another role Welker performed, from ''[[Inspector Gadget (1983 TV series)|Inspector Gadget]]''.

===Books===
Soundwave appeared in the following books:
* The 1984 sticker and story book ''[[Return to Cybertron]]'' written by [[Suzanne Weyn]] and published by [[Marvel Books]]. However, he was mistakenly depicted as an Autobot.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.physics.ohio-state.edu/~sstoneb/tf/books/sticker/return/return.html |title=Marvel Books- Transformers Sticker Book: Return to Cybertron |publisher=Physics.ohio-state.edu |access-date=2010-04-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100722103816/http://www.physics.ohio-state.edu/~sstoneb/tf/books/sticker/return/return.html |archive-date=2010-07-22 }}</ref>
* The 1985 [[Find Your Fate]] Junior book called ''[[Dinobots Strike Back]]'' by Casey Todd.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamebooks.org/show_item.php?id=1144&PHPSESSID=4d7776a874ecb72d37230c8f12a49c24 |title=Dinobots Strike Back |publisher=Gamebooks.org |access-date=2010-04-27}}</ref>
* The 1985 [[Find Your Fate]] Junior book called ''[[Battle Drive]]'' by [[Barbara Siegel]] and [[Scott Siegel]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamebooks.org/fyf_tran.htm |title=Find Your Fate Junior - The Transformers |publisher=Gamebooks.org |access-date=2010-04-27}}</ref>
* The 1985 Transformers audio books ''[[List of Transformers books#Autobots' Lightning Strike|Autobots' Lightning Strike]]'', ''[[Megatron's Fight For Power]]'', ''[[Autobots Fight Back]]'', ''[[Laserbeak's Fury]]'' and ''[[List of Transformers books#Satellite of Doom|Satellite of Doom]]'', as well as ''[[Galvatron's Air Attack]]'' from the 1986 series.
* The 1985 audio story ''[[Sun Raid]]''.
* The 1986 story and coloring book ''[[List of Transformers books#The Lost Treasure of Cybertron|The Lost Treasure of Cybertron]]'' by Marvel Books.<ref>{{cite book| isbn=978-0-87135-103-6|last=Woods|first=Sonya|title=The Lost Treasure of Cybertron|publisher=Marvel Books| year=1986}}</ref>

===Comics===

====3H Enterprises====
Soundwave also appeared in the Furman written ''Reaching the Omega Point'', as one of the Transformers legends (alongside [[Optimus Prime]], Megatron and [[Grimlock]]) who came to the aid of the forces of [[Optimus Primal]] against the [[Predacon (Transformers)|Predacon]]/[[Unicron]] hybrid Shokaract, distracting him long enough for Primus to deal the fatal blow.

====Devil's Due Publishing====
In Devil's Due's run of ''[[G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers]]'' comic book miniseries, Soundwave was among the Transformers captured by the ruthless terrorist [[Cobra Organization]], when they discovered the Ark. Refitted by [[Destro]], Soundwave was intended to become a battlefield communications station, but when he and the other Decepticons eventually broke free of their control he was damaged in a battle with the Autobots and his parts were captured by the US Government for study. From his data banks, the [[android (robot)|android]] [[Serpentor|SerpentO.R.]] downloaded information on the history of Cybertron, using it to further investigate the Decepticon goal of conquest. It is indicated that his pre-Earth form was similar to his [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]]'s War Within form.

====Dreamwave Productions====
In [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]]'s 21st century re-imagining of the Generation 1 continuity, Soundwave was recruited to the Decepticons 9 million years ago through Megatron's underground gladiatorial games, and made head of communications. When a new Autobot leader, [[Optimus Prime]], was chosen, Soundwave was sent along with Ravage and the [[Insecticons]], to attempt to kill him and recover the [[Matrix of Leadership|Autobot Matrix of Leadership]] for Megatron, but they failed, forcing Megatron to confront Optimus personally.

Even in the face of failures such as this, and later the loss of Megatron in an early space bridge experiment, Soundwave's loyalty to the Decepticon cause never wavered, as he remained true to the faction under [[Shockwave (Transformers)|Shockwave]]'s leadership.

As in most other continuities, the story continues in the traditional manner, with Soundwave a member of the ''[[Nemesis (Transformers)|Nemesis]]'' crew who attacked the ''[[Ark (Transformers)|Ark]]'' and was sent into stasis when the craft crashed on Earth, awakening again in 1984. After years of fighting on Earth, eventually the combined forces of the Autobots and their human allies were able to defeat and capture the Decepticons. The intent was for the Autobots to take their enemies back to Cybertron aboard a new craft named the ''Ark II'', but just as the ship cleared the atmosphere, it exploded, the victim of machinations by Shockwave, who did not want Prime and Megatron to return to Cybertron yet.

Soundwave's body crashed back to Earth in the [[Arctic]], where he remained inactive for several years, until rogue military scientist Adam Rook, calling himself "Lazarus", recovered and reactivated him, putting him under his control with a program he had developed while studying the Transformers before their explosive departure. Several other Autobots and Decepticons fell to the same fate, and were to be sold on the black market. Soundwave himself was put on display by being sent to attack the Smitco Oil Refinery alongside several other Transformers — but when Megatron liberated himself, Soundwave was soon freed by his leader and assumed his position at his side.

When Shockwave arranged for the capture and extradition of Prime and Megatron's forces as [[war crime|war criminal]]s, Soundwave was among the captives, but when Starscream jettisoned Megatron into space on the return trip to Cybertron, Soundwave made the best of a bad lot and teamed with Starscream to return to Earth and conquer it, being reunited with [[Ratbat]] in the process. Heading back to Earth in a kidnapped Sky Lynx and with the [[Combaticons]] now added to their ranks, the Decepticons attacked the ''Ark'' in hopes of acquiring parts to make the ''Nemesis'' spaceworthy again, however Soundwave, [[Skywarp]] and [[Thundercracker]] were defeated and thrown in the ''Ark'''s brig. When the Combaticons, combined as [[Bruticus]], laid into the vessel, they were freed.

It was not much later that the surviving Megatron made contact with Soundwave from space, and Soundwave was all too willing to return to his service, setting up Starscream to fall before Megatron when he returned. And return, Megatron did— but the bankruptcy and subsequent closure of [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]]' left the rest of the story untold.

Soundwave also appeared in the [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]]' Transformers/G.I. Joe series as one of the Decepticons uncovered by [[Cobra Command|Cobra]] at the start of [[World War II]]. Transforming into a radio, he was deactivated at the series' end by [[Grimlock]]. Although Dreamwave's collapse precluded the completion of the second series, released art and information revealed that Soundwave would have been involved in the conclusion of that series.<ref>{{cite web|author=Seibertron.com |url=http://www.seibertron.com/comics/view.php?comic_id=774 |title=Transformers/GI Joe Vol 2: Divided Front #5: "Transformers/GI Joe Vol 2: Divided Front" |publisher=Seibertron.com |date=2005-02-01 |access-date=2010-04-27}}</ref>

====Fun Publications====
Based on the Transformers Classics toy line, the Timelines 2007 story is set 15 years after the end of the Marvel Comics story (ignoring all events of the Marvel UK and Generation 2 comics). [[Megatron (Transformers)|Megatron]] survived the crash of the [[Ark (Transformers)|Ark]] on Earth, reformatted himself into a new form and now leads [[Astrotrain]], Laserbeak, Ramjet, Ravage, [[Skywarp]], Soundwave, [[Starscream]] and the [[Constructicons]]. [[Optimus Prime]] has also returned to Earth commanding [[Bumblebee (Transformers)|Bumblebee]], [[Cliffjumper]], [[Grimlock]], [[Jetfire]], [[Mirage (Transformers)|Mirage]] and [[Rodimus]] (formerly [[Hot Rod (Transformers)|Hot Rod]]). When the Cybertronians [[Skyfall (Transformers)|Skyfall]] and Landquake arrive on Earth unexpectedly, Megatron attempts to destroy them, but Optimus Prime and his Autobots are able to drive Megatron away.

Soundwave was among Megatron's troops when Megatron defeated Deathsaurus in combat for leadership of the Decepticons and when Megatron attacked Iacon with his new weapon, Devastator.<ref>{{Cite journal | author= Pete Sinclair & Jesse Wittenrich | title = Battle Lines Part 5 | journal = Transformers Collectors Club Magazine| volume = 1 | issue = 41 | page= 3 |date = October–November 2011}}</ref>

====IDW Publishing====
Soundwave's first chronological appearance in the rebooted [[IDW Publishing]] Generation One universe was in the prequel miniseries, ''[[The Transformers: Megatron Origin]]''. In the story, Soundwave works for Senator [[Ratbat]], who takes an interest in the rising gladiator, [[Megatron (Transformers)|Megatron]]. Ratbat sends Soundwave to offer weaponry to Megatron and his followers. Soundwave also assists Megatron with the interrogation of Autobot soldier [[Bumper (Transformers)|Bumper]]. Soundwave is later jailed along with Megatron and others when Sentinel Prime's forces capture them, but is released by Ratbat. When Megatron's plan is sprung, Soundwave helps Starscream massacre the Autobot Senate. He later confronts Ratbat and forcibly extracts his Spark for implantation in one of his Cassette bodies. Soundwave's alternate mode appears to be a communication vehicle with tank treads.

Sometime later, Soundwave was part of the conference of scientists called by Thunderwing in ''[[The Transformers: Stormbringer]]'', where he refused to accept Thunderwing's findings that Cybertron was dying. During around the same time period he had [[Beachcomber (Transformers)|Beachcomber]] captured and implanted with a cerebro-shell, having the unwilling traitor eject his opposite number [[Blaster (Transformers)|Blaster]] into space (in ''[[The Transformers: Spotlight|Spotlight Blaster]]'') in order to demoralize the Autobots prior to a Decepticon offensive.

Soundwave's story was later continued in his own ''[[The Transformers: Spotlight|Spotlight]]'' one-shot, where he was a self-serving and duplicitous Decepticon [[internal affairs (law enforcement)|internal affairs]] agent. Soundwave was dispatched by Megatron to keep an eye on Bludgeon's investigation of [[Shockwave (Transformers)|Shockwave]]'s lab. However, he kept quiet about Bludgeon's obsession with the Regenesis project, thinking he could turn it to his advantage. Following him to Earth in 1984, Soundwave monitored Bludgeon's attempts to harvest Ultra Energon and confronted him after he'd acquired it. Horrified to discover they were not planning to use it in a power-play but instead to reanimate Thunderwing (who previously devastated Cybertron), Soundwave attempted to stop them but was trapped in stasis-lock in cassette player mode. It was revealed in the epilogue that two young humans considered buying him at a pawn shop in 2007.

In ''[[The Transformers: Escalation]]'' #1, Optimus stated that there was evidence that Soundwave had been present in Earth's history. Despite this, he did not reappear until issue #4 of ''[[The Transformers: Devastation]]'' where, still trapped in cassette player mode, he interfered with Skywatch's control of Laserbeak and Ravage.

Soundwave also appeared as one of the Decepticon forces serving under [[Starscream]] in the out-of-continuity ''[[The Transformers: Evolutions]]'' tale "Hearts of Steel". He appeared as one of Starscream's lieutenants. He was presumably destroyed when [[John Henry (folklore)|John Henry]] and [[Bumblebee (Transformers)|Bumblebee]] diverted the Decepticon train convoy into a [[rift|chasm]].

====Marvel Comics====
Like much of the original 1984 cast of Decepticons, Soundwave played a much smaller role in the [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]] book series than he did in the cartoon. He quietly and efficiently served loyally, first under Megatron (even sending Ravage and the [[Insecticons]] to derail talks between the Autobots and [[Ronald Reagan]] at one point in the 1985 Transformers UK annual), then under Shockwave, attacking an aerospace construction plant whose facilities were used to build the [[Constructicons]], who then built a massive radio dish that Soundwave used to beam a message back to Cybertron.

Continuing to operate under Shockwave, Soundwave then moved to serving Ratbat, and co-led the defense of [[Buenos Aires]] against the [[Underbase]]-empowered Starscream alongside Fortress Maximus, only to wind up being deactivated by the villain.

Unlike many of the others deactivated by Starscream, Soundwave would appear again under Scorponok's command. Throughout the [[United States|U.S.]] comic, Soundwave was colored purple instead of his more trademark blue, and additionally was frequently drawn with a visible mouth.

Meanwhile, across the [[Atlantic]] in the UK, a sister title to the American series was also in production. It reprinted the American stories, but as it was released on a weekly (as opposed to monthly) schedule, it soon began to run out of material to reprint. It opted to create its own original stories at that point, which deftly weaved in and out of the ongoing American storyline. Under writer [[Simon Furman]], Soundwave - coloured blue - was a fairly major player, portrayed in a manner much more consistent with his profile - that of a manipulator and blackmailer, reading others' minds and using their secrets to his own ends, always working towards his own goals.

When Megatron and Shockwave were both briefly believed deceased, he assumed leadership of the Decepticons during [[Optimus Prime]]'s ''Crisis of Command'' and then the ''Dinobot Hunt'' story arcs, manipulating events to weaken the Autobot leadership and cause maximum casualties. When the two commanders returned and vied for leadership of the Decepticons, he turned the situation to his own advantage by working both sides of the field. He also enjoyed a rare victory in this period when he, Dirge and Kickback took over a [[NASA]] complex in an attempt to contact Cybertron with the facility's deep space radio equipment. The Autobots arrived, but a series of miscommunications between [[Prowl (Transformers)|Prowl]] and [[Jetfire]] resulted in the transmission being sent, allowing the Decepticons to claim victory.

Towards the end of the UK series, a storyline began which separated from the regular ongoing American continuity, covering the exploits of the proactive Autobot ''Earthforce''. In these stories, Soundwave sold Decepticon secrets to both the Autobots and Shockwave's group of Decepticons. Wildrider was blamed for this intelligence leak, and Soundwave silently allowed him to be killed rather than be discovered. After Starscream successfully removed Megatron and Shockwave from power, he and Soundwave entered into joined leadership of the Decepticons.

Issue #279 of the Marvel UK Transformers comic featured a story called "Divide and Conquer!" where Soundwave lead the bulk of the Decepticon forces on Earth against the Autobot Earthforce headquarters while Starscream attacked an oil tanker. Sent into battle by Prowl, the Dinobots routed the main Decepticon forces while Springer lead the Autobot survivors, Broadside, Inferno, Skids, and Carnivac to defeat Starscream.

Soundwave attained leadership of the Decepticons in the future world of 2008, following the death of Shockwave (who had seized power when Galvatron traveled back in time). Soundwave led his era's Decepticons back to 1989 to participate in the Time Wars when the fabric of reality began to crumble, but as the conflict came to a head they fled back to their own time. Since it was later established that the damage done to the time stream may have resulted in their future being erased from the timeline, the final fate of the future Soundwave is unknown.

Soundwave returned to the pages of the US ''Transformers'' comic books for the relaunch of the series as ''[[Transformers: Generation 2]]''. He participated in the Decepticon attack on Earth, and oversaw the reconstruction of the damaged [[Dreadwing|Darkwing]] into a new, more powerful form.

Like many of the other Generation 1 Decepticons, Soundwave seemed to return to a command position on Megatron's return (killing Bludgeon in the process).

Soundwave made an appearance in the Decepticon forces under the command of Megatron in issue #7 of the Marvel ''Generation 2'' comic series, in a story called "New Dawn." Megatron lead his Decepticons against [[Jhiaxus]]' second generation Cybertronians near the moon of Tykos. The Decepticons were defeated and Megatron left injured, presumed dead, but swearing revenge.<ref>{{cite web|author=Seibertron.com |url=http://www.seibertron.com/comics/view.php?comic_id=113 |title=Transformers: Generation 2 #7: "New Dawn" |publisher=Seibertron.com |date=1994-05-01 |access-date=2010-04-27}}</ref>

He was aboard the [[Warworld (Transformers)|Warworld]] when [[Jhiaxus]]' forces attacked, but managed to evacuate. His fate within the Generation 2 comic series beyond this point is unknown.

Soundwave would also play a brief but important role in the text-only novel ''Alignment'', writer [[Simon Furman]]'s take on what happened after the ''[[Transformers: Generation 2]]'' comic series ended. He was the one who recovered Megatron's broken body after his duel with [[Galvatron]]. Subsequently, he was the ringleader of the conspirators (along with Ravage, Ramjet and Direwolf) who gave some of their spark energy to resurrect Megatron in a more powerful body, allowing him to defeat the forces of the Liege Maximo. After Megatron executes the Decepticon High Council save Shrapnel, Soundwave once again acted as Megatron's second in command and coordinated the strike against the Maximo with [[Ultra Magnus (Transformers)|Ultra Magnus]]. His fate beyond this point is unknown, save for a brief cameo in ''[[Beast Machines]]''.

Soundwave as depicted in the [[Marvel Universe]] tends to be the most intellectual and philosophical of the Decepticons. He is appalled by the barbarity of Megatron and Shockwave battling in hand-to-hand combat for leadership of the Decepticons, especially as the entire spectacle is being broadcast on live television for human entertainment by Robo-Master. When the future Autobots and Decepticons join forces and repel an alien invasion of Cybertron he begins to propose a lasting truce to Ultra Magnus but stops himself, observing that too much has occurred between the 2 factions and their differences are irreconcilable.

====TFcon comics====
Soundwave appeared in the TFcon 2009 voice actor play ''Bee for, Bee now''.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/OBTlU6PT9LA Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20200317155256/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBTlU6PT9LA&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBTlU6PT9LA&feature=relmfu| title = Part 1 - TFCon 2009 Voice Actor Script Reading | website=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

===Other appearances===
A parody of the ''Generation 1'' Transformers was aired in the December 23, 2008 episode of ''[[Frank TV]]'', called "Frank the Halls". In the story, Optimus Prime and his Autobots ([[Bumblebee (Transformers)|Bumblebee]], [[Jazz (Transformers)|Jazz]] and Wheeljack) battle Megatron and his Decepticons (Soundwave and Starscream) when Optimus runs out of gas. Optimus becomes enraged at the price of gas, steals the fuel from the annoying hybrid Autobot [[Prius]] Maximus, then joins the Decepticons in destroying the city.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://doinkamation.blogspot.com/2008/12/transformers-satire-for-franktv.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708033321/http://doinkamation.blogspot.com/2008/12/transformers-satire-for-franktv.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2011-07-08 |title=Animation Corner: Transformers Satire For FrankTV |publisher=Doinkamation.blogspot.com |date=2008-12-03 |access-date=2010-04-27 }}</ref>

Soundwave appears in the ''[[Robot Chicken]]'' episode "Toy Meets Girl", voiced by [[Seth Green]]. He is portrayed as having retired from the Decepticon army and obtained honest employment as a transformable [[portable toilet]]. [[Frank Welker]] reprises his role of Soundwave (as well as Megatron but not Rumble) when he appears again in another ''Robot Chicken'' episode "Werewolf vs. Unicorn" where in the current years it's revealed that because the [[audio cassette tape]] and [[cassette player]]s have long become obsolete and therefore no longer widely used, his spy tactics now do not work (the people who discovered him in the skit were laughing at his [[mixtape]] which was Rumble being killed by them puling his tape out). He is later found by [[Megatron (Transformers)|Megatron]] and [[Shockwave (Transformers)|Shockwave]] to be on sale on [[eBay]] with options to place a bid for 500 dollars or "Buy it now" for 1000 dollars, whereupon Shockwave exclaims "''Request permission to buy it now!''" The Commemorative Soundwave figure was used in "Werewolf vs. Unicorn".

Soundwave made a cameo appearance in the ''[[Family Guy]]'' episode "[[The Courtship of Stewie's Father]]" as [[Peter Griffin|Peter's]] new supervisor. In it, Soundwave releases a framed photograph from his cassette deck cavity, of himself and a human woman named Denise, who Soundwave proclaims is his wife, whom he met in a [[Christianity|Christian]] [[chat room]].<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927174616/http://www.tfw2005.com/news/data/upimages/1132547698.jpg|archive-date=September 27, 2007|url=http://www.tfw2005.com/news/data/upimages/1132547698.jpg|title=Soundwave cameo on Family Guy|publisher=www.tfw2005.com|access-date=November 16, 2015}}</ref> Soundwave also appears in the ''[[Sealab 2021]]'' episode "[[List of Sealab 2021 episodes|Hail, Squishface]]" as a toy on an Asian girl's cart, who sells Capt. Murphy Gloop, from the show ''[[The Herculoids]]''.

A music video featuring Soundwave and a robot similar to Rumble and Frenzy named Lazer (though purely white in colour) breakdancing has surfaced throughout the Internet since 2000. The video contains audio clips from both the animated series and ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' alongside music.

In 2007, shortly before the release of the live-action [[Transformers (film)|''Transformers'' film]], Soundwave appeared in the viral comedy short "Soundwave: The Touch."

===Toys===
* '''''Generation 1'' Soundwave''' (1984)
:The original Soundwave toy (and his cassettes) began as part of [[Takara]]'s [[Micro Change]] line, designed by Satoshi Koizumi, featuring household objects that transformed into accurately-scaled robots. Incorporated into the ''Transformers'' toy line by Hasbro, the figure was packaged with Buzzsaw in the US, and with Rumble in Japan (also including a set of non-functional headphones). The tapes could fit into Soundwave's opening chest door (released by a push of his shoulder-mounted "eject" button), while the interaction level was maintained by his two guns, which turned into AA-sized batteries that could be stored in a compartment on his back. Cassette tapes that could interact with Soundwave were released regularly until 1988. The Soundwave toy was reissued in Japan in 2004, and in the U.S. in 2006 using the Soundblaster mold.<ref>{{Cite book | title=The Unofficial Guide to Transformers 1980s Through 1990s Revised & Expanded 2nd Edition | last=Alvarez | first=J.E. | year=2001 | publisher=Schiffer Publishing Ltd.| isbn=978-0-7643-1364-6 | page= 32}}</ref>
* '''''Generation 1'' Soundblaster''' (1987)
:A re-mold of the Soundwave toy exclusive to Japan, Soundblaster is cast in black plastic where Soundwave was blue, with a retooled chest door, now made of translucent red plastic and able to hold two cassettes at once. Soundblaster came with a variant edition of Buzzsaw, who had a special sticker on his body that, when viewed through Soundblaster's door, would reveal the weak spots of Fortress Maximus. Soundblaster was reissued in Japan in 2005.
* '''''Generation 1'' Action Master Soundwave''' (1990)
:The non-transforming Action Master incarnation of Soundwave came packaged with a transforming partner named [[Wingthing]], who could become a gun for Soundwave to wield.
* '''''Generation 2'' Go-Bot Soundwave''' (1995)
:The Marvel Comics ''Generation 2'' series concluded before it could feature the Generation 2 toy line's new, distinctly different version of Soundwave from 1995 - a fluorescent yellow, blue and pink [[Ford Thunderbird]] stock car [[Gobots (Transformers)#Transformers: Generation 2 (Team)|Go-Bot]], a re-deco of an earlier figure named Gearhead. The figure was later recolored into W.A.R.S. for ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 TV series)|Transformers: Robots in Disguise]]''.
* '''''Generation 2'' Laser Cycle Soundwave''' (unreleased)
:Plans existed to repaint the Laser Cycle, Road Pig, into a version of Soundwave featuring his classic color scheme, but the figure was never released.<ref>{{cite web|title=Laser Cycle Road Pig|url=http://www.transformersaction.com/action-figures/transformers-generation-2-decepticon-laser-cycles-road-pig/|date=April 2010|access-date=2014-12-03|archive-date=2021-12-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211231043928/http://www.transformersaction.com/action-figures/transformers-generation-2-decepticon-laser-cycles-road-pig/|url-status=usurped}}</ref>
:
* '''''Machine Wars'' Soundwave''' (1997)
:1997's Machine Wars toy line, released exclusively in KB Toy stores, featured Soundwave as a repaint of the 1992 European- and Canadian-exclusive figure Stalker. The toy transforms into a missile tank and, colored in shades of black, gray and maroon, resembles Soundwave only through a similar head sculpt, and a shoulder-mounted weapon, in this case, an electron rocket. His tech spec, however, was clearly based on that of the original Soundwave toy's, with an additional mention of a new nickname for this version of the character: "The Terror Tank."
* '''''Transtech'' Soundwave''' (unreleased)
:With the conclusion of the ''[[Beast Machines]]'' toy line, the initial plan for a follow-up was through the futuristic ''Transtech'' series. Although the idea was scrapped in favor of ''[[Transformers: Armada]]'', [[Toronto]]-based design studio Draxhall Jump produced several designs for characters, including Soundwave.
* '''''Smallest Transformers'' Soundwave with Jaguar''' (2003)
:Part of the first wave of the Japan-only ''Smallest Transformers'' toy line. Despite the small size (roughly 2 inches in robot height), the toy is virtually faithful to the original G1 toy in design and transformation. Soundwave also comes with a micro cassette that transforms into Ravage.<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/resources/takara-wst-destrons-358/soundwave-with-jaguar-2550/ TFW2005.com - WST Soundwave with Jaguar]</ref>
:In 2006, this toy was to be released with a redeco of ''Energon'' Megatron as a [[Target Corporation|Target]] exclusive in the U.S., but plans to release the toy were canceled.<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/resources/energon-decepticons-167/megatron-with-mini-soundwave-unreleased-4080/ TFW2005.com - Megatron with Mini Soundwave (Unreleased)]</ref>
* '''''Universe'' Soundwave with Space Case''' (2004)
:A redeco of Soundwave's ''Machine Wars'' figure, this toy was rendered in shades of blue and yellow, and packaged with fellow Decepticon [[Space Case (Transformers)|Space Case]].
* '''''Classics'' Commemorative Soundwave''' (2007)
:A [[Toys "R" Us]] exclusive is said to be near identical to the original toy. This, however, has one difference from that of the 1984 figure, being that the chest compartment (tape deck door) has been re-molded to hold two cassette Transformers as opposed to one. This version of Soundwave is actually a 'reverse repaint' of the Japanese-exclusive Soundblaster, himself a retooling of the original Soundwave. Commemorative Soundwave includes both Ravage and Laserbeak, two cassettes seen prominently in the original series.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2475393&cp#prod_prodinfo |title=Toys"R"Us/Babies"R"Us |publisher=Toysrus.com |access-date=2010-04-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205131952/http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2475393&cp#prod_prodinfo |archive-date=2008-12-05 }}</ref>
* ''Titanium'' '''6-inch Soundwave with Laserbeak''' (2007)
:Two versions of Generation 1 Soundwave were released in the Transformers: Titanium toy line. One was a 3-inch non-transforming version in robot mode. The other is a transformable 6-inch version that transforms into a cassette deck. Both Soundwave's feature die cast metal and plastic parts, and the 6-inch version also includes a transformable Laserbeak. It is also rumored that the larger version would be repainted and released as Soundblaster along with Ravage.
* '''''Attacktix'' Soundwave''' (2007)
:Series 2 of the [[Transformers Attacktix]] figures included a Generation 1 Soundwave figure.
* '''''Music Label'' Soundwave''' (2007)
:An MP3 player designed to look like the Generation 1 Soundwave figure. [[Secure Digital|MiniSD]] cards fit inside his chest compartment, and it comes with the shoulder gun, blaster, and alternate hands for holding the gun, making fists, and his "eject" finger. Uses 1 AAA battery. Despite the claim on the box, it can use at least up to a 2&nbsp;GB memory card and play songs over 128&nbsp;kbit/s. In robot mode, he is the same size as Titanium Soundwave, though in "Cassette" mode he is longer and slightly taller. There are also headphones that are sold separately designed to look like Soundwave's minions Rumble and Frenzy.
:Soundwave is available in three colors: Sonic White, Spark Blue (which closely resembles his original G1 incarnation) and Blaster Black (an homage to Soundblaster).
:This figure was voted the 43rd top toy released in the last 10 years by ''ToyFare'' Magazine.<ref>ToyFare Magazine issue #122</ref>
* '''''Transformers'' Encore Reissue Soundwave''' (2007)
:A release by Takara Tomy in Japan that is nearly identical to the original 1984 toy. Unlike the original 1984 release that was packaged with Buzzsaw, the Encore figure was packaged with Laserbeak.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jrstoyworld.com/product_info.php?cPath=95_32&products_id=1307 |title=JRS Toyworld |publisher=JRS Toyworld |date=2004-06-11 |access-date=2010-04-27}}</ref>
* '''''Mighty Muggs'' Soundwave''' (2008)
:A [[Mighty Muggs]] doll of Soundwave with gun.
* '''''Universe'' 25th Anniversary Soundwave''' (2009)
:A [[San Diego Comic-Con]] exclusive reissue of the original G1 Soundwave figure that comes with Buzzsaw, Laserbeak, Ravage and Ratbat.<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/resources/universe-classics-20-reissues-266/soundwave-3600/ TFW2005.com - 25th Anniversary Soundwave]</ref>
* '''''Classics'' Deluxe Soundwave''' (unreleased)
:Although no new mold was released for ''Classics'' Soundwave (they instead reused the Takara Soundblaster mold), a design for a new Soundwave toy that turned into a SUV was considered. This design seems to have inspired ''Animated'' Soundwave.<ref>{{cite web|author=Seibertron.com |url=http://www.seibertron.com/news/view.php?id=13219 |title=Unused Classics Soundwave Concept Art |publisher=Seibertron.com |date=2008-06-03 |access-date=2010-04-27}}</ref>
* '''''Masterpiece'' MP-13 Soundwave''' (2012)
:An all-new mold of Soundwave in Takara Tomy's ''Masterpiece'' line. Comes packaged with Condor/Laserbeak, collapsible weapons that transform into batteries, a clear Energon cube that can be attached to his chest, a detachable display grid, a forearm scanner attachment, a translucent pink cassette case and a new version of the Megatron gun originally offered in MP-01 Convoy/Optimus Prime. Aside from holding up to three newer Masterpiece cassette robots, Soundwave's chest can also accommodate the original G1 cassettes. Laserbeak in bird mode can peg on Soundwave's left shoulder or forearm.