Editing Soundwave (Transformers) (section)

====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.