In July, Hasbro kicked off the Activate Your Alt Mode campaign, in which Transformers fans voted for a classic character to get a new alternate mode. The votes are in, and the fans made the most logical choice: Shockwave, Decepticon military operations commander, will get an all-new alt-mode, separate from his traditional laser gun and spaceship modes. Collider has an exclusive look at a concept sketch of Shockwave’s new aquatic beast mode, and a special message from longtime Transformers voice actor Frank Welker.

Welker, who has voiced a number of Transformers characters, including Megatron, Skywarp, and Soundwave, recaps the fan vote, which saw Shockwave conquer other characters, like Mirage and Grimlock. He also reveals the brand-new concept art of the winning Shockwave figure. In the new sketch, Shockwave takes on a unique alt-mode: a massive purple and silver whale. No Transformers toy has ever had a whale alternate mode, although the Decepticon Tidal Wave, who is traditionally an aircraft carrier, took on that mode in IDW’s Transformers comics. The mechanical whale’s toothy maw opens up to reveal the traditionally octagonal barrel of Shockwave’s gun mode, and also has a yellow sensor atop its blowhole, hearkening back to Shockwave’s iconic cyclopean visage. The robot mode retains many of his traditional features, including his one-eyed face; and while he still has a blaster in place of one hand, that arm is formed from the whale’s tail fin.

Who Is Shockwave?

Concept art of a new Transformers Shockwave figure, depicting his robot and whale modes.

Concept art of a new Transformers Shockwave figure, depicting his robot and whale modes.
Image via Hasbro.

First hitting toy shelves in 1985, Shockwave is one of the highest-ranking and most-powerful of the evil Decepticons. Driven by cold, calculating logic, Shockwave was depicted as being sufficiently loyal to Megatron to rule Cybertron in his absence for millions of years in the original cartoon series; on that TV show, he was voiced by Corey Burton, who patterned his performance on David Warner‘s role as the Master Control Program in Tron. However, in the contemporary Marvel Comics Transformers series, he battled and overthrew Megatron, believing himself to be a superior leader. He has become a mainstay character of the franchise, appearing in the live-action films Dark of the Moon and Bumblebee, and in the animated feature Transformers One.

After celebrating its fortieth anniversary last year, the Transformers franchise is still more than meets the eye. The new YouTube-original series Transformers: Cyberworld is debuting new episodes every week, showcasing a familiar cast of Transformers characters plunged into a bizarre virtual world full of danger.

A new Transformers Shockwave figure with a sea creature alternate mode is in the works. Stay tuned to Collider for future updates.