Decepticons

Soundwave

Unquestioningly loyal to Megatron. Carries "cassettes" in his chest — smaller spy helpers such as Laserbeak and Ravage.

Where he comes from

Cybertron. A communications and intelligence specialist and, in many versions, one of Megatron's first followers.

Story

Soundwave says little — almost nothing in Transformers: Prime — yet knows everything. He intercepts signals, hacks systems and watches everyone, enemies and allies alike.

His loyalty to Megatron is absolute. Where Starscream betrays, Soundwave serves to the end. In his chest he carries "cassettes" — smaller spy helpers such as Laserbeak and Ravage.

Classifier: traits & abilities

Faction
Decepticons
Role
Communications and intelligence officer
Alt-modes
Cassette deck (G1), satellite and SUV (films), recon jet (Prime)
Weapons
Shoulder cannon, sonic waves, manipulator tentacles (Prime)
Abilities
Signal interception, hacking, mind reading in G1; commanding cassette minions
Strengths
Loyalty, information, composure
Weaknesses
Total dependence on Megatron's will
Personality
Silent, logical, devoted
Key relationships
Megatron, Laserbeak, Ravage, Rumble and Frenzy
First appearance
1984
Voice (G1)
Frank Welker

Filmography

YearTitle
1984–1987The Transformers (G1)
1986The Transformers: The Movie
2007–2009Transformers: Animated
2009Revenge of the Fallen
2010–2013Transformers: Prime
2011Dark of the Moon
2018–2021Cyberverse
2024Transformers One

Main screen appearances; not an exhaustive list.

Fan prequel: «Radio Silence»

An original story by this site. Not part of the official canon.

Long before the war, Soundwave worked as an operator at Cybertron's central communications station. He heard everything: Senate orders, workers' complaints, nobles' plots they believed were secret.

Nobody asked his opinion. An operator had no right to speak — only to relay. For years Soundwave listened in silence as those at the top lied to those below.

When the voice of a miner from Kaon first rang out, Soundwave did not relay the signal according to protocol. He amplified it so the whole planet could hear. It was his first decision of his own. And the last he made for himself: from then on, he would listen to only one voice.