'''プリテンダー'''（Pretenders）は、『トランスフォーマーシリーズ』に登場する架空のキャラクター。

== 概要 ==
トランスフォーマーを、人型あるいは動物や乗り物の形をした外殻（日本では'''プリテンダースーツ'''、アメリカでは'''アウターシェル'''）に収納するという、シリーズの中でも特異なギミックを有するキャラクターである。ハズブロの「人間からロボットに変形させたい」という要請に対してタカラ（現タカラトミー）側が苦肉の策として打ち出したものであり、他のトランスフォーマーに比べデザインや変形機構などが大味なものとなっている。

日本では『トランスフォーマー 超神マスターフォース』に、アメリカ版ではマーベルコミック版にそれぞれ登場。アメリカ版では、玩具同様トランスフォーマーが外殻を装着しているという設定で、アウターシェルが独立して活動する事も可能。日本版では、人間（デストロン側は魔人）への変身能力を有するトランスフォーマーで、人間の姿からプリテンダースーツを装着したスーツモードに、さらに巨大化してロボットモードに「変身」する。

アメリカでは好評を博し、1988年度から1989年度の主力商品として展開された。シリーズ後期の「トランスフォーマー＋ビークル」という要素は、後のアクションマスターやマイクロトランスフォーマーにも継承されている。しかし日本ではあまり人気が出ず、『超神マスターフォース』の放送が開始してからしばらくして商品の販売を終了してしまった。ただし、翌年の『V』でも、プリテンダーの名は冠していないもののアメリカ版プリテンダーの仕様変更品が発売されている。

アメリカではこの後、アクションフィギュアシリーズの『アクションマスター』を展開したのに対し、日本では合体ロボットを中心とした展開となっており、日米で展開するトランスフォーマーシリーズにおいて、双方の趣向の違いが顕著に現われたキャラクターであった。

== 一覧 ==
;ランダー／Landmine
;ダイバー／Waverider
;フェニックス／Cloudburst
;メタルホーク
:日本版オリジナルキャラクター。
;グラウンドブレーカー／Groundbreaker
;スカイハイ／SkyHigh
;スプラッシュダウン／Splashdown
;ピンチャー／Pincher
;ダブルヘッダー／DoubleHeader
;ロングトゥース／LongTooth

;ダウロス／Skullgrin
;ギルマー／Submarauder
;ブラッド／Bomb-Burst
;イグアナス／Iganus
;バグリィ／Bugly
;フィンバック／Finback
;オクトパンチ／OctoPunch
;ストラングルホールド／StrangleHold
:アウターシェルのモデルはストラングルホールドを決め技とするプロレスラーの佐々木健介
;ブラジオン／Bludgeon

=== プリテンダービースト ===
四脚動物型のアウターシェルを装着するプリテンダー。
;チェーンクロー／ChainClaw
;キャティラ／Catilla
;カーニバック／Carnivac
;スナーラー／Snarler

'''Pretenders''' is a subline within the Transformers toy line, introduced in 1988. The gimmick was that the Transformers were supposedly capable of disguising their robotic forms through the use of synthetic organic outer shells.

==Pretender toys==
===Standard Pretenders (1988)===
====Autobots====
*Landmine ''(mining vehicle)''
*Cloudburst'' ''(jet)''
*Waverider ''(submersible)''
*America)''
*Splashdown ''(speedboat; exclusive to America)''
*Sky High ''(helicopter; exclusive to America)
*Metalhawk ''(jet; exclusive to Japan)''
====Decepticons====
*Bomb-Burst ''(VTOL jet)''
*Skullgrin ''(tank)''
*Submarauder ''(submersible)''
*Iguanus ''(motorcycle; exclusive to America)''
*Bugly ''(jet; exclusive to America)''
*Finback ''(hovercraft; exclusive to America)''

While the Autobots' outer shells all resemble human beings clad in armor, the Decepticons' shells are all in the form on monstrous animalistic creatures. The robot figure is contained entirely within the shell, invisible to the outsider observer, and after the shell splits apart to release it, the shell can be recombined for a second figure. Although the first set of Pretenders was released early in 1988, a second set of 6, exclusive to America, was also sold. Metalhawk, named so because his inner robot was constructed partially of die-cast metal (a rarity in 1988), was only sold in Japan.

===Pretender beasts (1988)===
====Autobots====
*Chainclaw ''(bear)''
*Catilla ''(sabre-toothed tiger)''
====Decepticons====
*Carnivac ''(wolf)''
*Snarler ''(boar)''

The exterior shells of these figures were organic representations of the mechanised animals the interior robots transformed into, also equipped with armor and mounted weapons.

===Pretender vehicles===
====Autobot====
*Gunrunner ''(jet)''
====Decepticon====
*Roadgrabber ''(jet)''

The interior robots of the Pretender vehicles were contained within large armored-vehicle style shells. When the interior robot was removed, the shell could be reconfigured into a battle vehicle for them to pilot. The Pretender vehicles were exclusive to the American market.

===Standard Pretenders (1989)===
====Autobots====
*Pincher ''(scorpion)''
*Longtooth ''(amphibious combat vehicle)''
*Doubleheader ''(jet)''
====Decepticons====
*Bludgeon ''(tank)''
*Octopunch ''(crab)''
*Stranglehold ''(rhino)''

Notably smaller than the previous year's standard Pretender size, this year also saw the shells break convention, with a monstrous Autobot in Longtooth, and a humanoid Decepticon in Strangehold. The shells each wield, as a weapon or accessory, a piece of the interior robot integral to their transformation, e.g. Bludgeon's tank turret became a shield for the shell.

===Pretender Classics (1989)===
<!--  Commented out because image was deleted: right|thumb|The Autobot Classic Pretenders Jazz, Bumblebee and Grimlock attack Megatron. -->
====Autobots====
*Grimlock ''(Tyrannosaurus Rex)''
*Bumblebee ''(Volkswagen Beetle)''
*Jazz ''(Porsche 935)''
====Decepticon====
*Starscream ''(F-15 "Eagle")''

Four classic characters, re-imagined as Pretenders. All four have humanoid shells.

===Mega Pretenders (1989)===
====Autobots====
*Vroom ''(car, motorbike w/sidecar)''
*Crossblades ''(jet/dragster, helicopter)''
====Decepticon====
*Thunderwing ''(small jet, large jet/spacecraft)''

The Mega Pretenders kicked the Pretender concept up a notch, giving both the interior robot ''and'' the shell the ability to transform and combine to form a larger vehicle.

===Ultra Pretenders (1989)===
====Autobot====
*Skyhammer ''(VTOL jet/jet/funny car)''
====Decepticon====
*Roadblock ''(tank/jet/car)''

Taking the Pretender concept to the extreme, the Ultra Pretenders featured two shells — a large exterior vehicle shell, which then contained a secondary humanoid shell (which could also transform), and within that, finally, the diminutive interior robot. Roadblock is a notable sufferer of "gold plastic syndrome" — gold plastic is known for deteriorating faster than other colors, and the inner robot is made mostly of this material, making it is hard to find an intact Roadblock.

===Decepticon Monster Pretenders (1989)===
*Icepick
*Bristleback
*Slog
*Scowl
*Wildfly
*Birdbrain

These six figures were unique among the Pretenders — small robots with monster alternate modes, housed within shells made from soft rubber. Together, the six interior robots could combine into '''Monstructor'''.

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics===
With the American ''Transformers'' cartoon having come to a conclusion the previous year, it fell to Marvel Comics to provide the supporting fiction for Pretenders in the West.

Attempting to maximize his warriors' power of disguise and surprise, the Decepticon commander Scorponok conceived a method of merging "sythoplasm" — a synthetic organic substitute — with six of his warriors, creating the Decepticon Pretenders. A computerized version of Optimus Prime had spied on the process, however, allowing the Autobots to duplicate it in time to meet the Decepticon attack with their own Pretenders. But while the Autobots were well aware of the true nature of their opponents, the dim-witted Decepticons at first thought they were merely fighting particularly tall humans, giving the Autobots the element of surprise when they split from their shells and forced the Decepticons back. Both factions used their shells and inner forms simultaneously and separately in combat, splitting their concentration to double their effective fighting force. This tactic was seen again and again in subsequent stories involving the Pretenders.

Later, the Decepticon Circuit Breaker.

When Bludgeon, Strangehold and Octopunch — and attacked the "survivors" in a battle that saw Bludgeon kill Catilla.

Not long after, Landmine and Cloudburst were sent on a mission to acquire new parts to repair the fallen Autobots, only to run afoul of the dealers of said parts, the robot-eating Dreadwind and Darkwing had been responsible for the Mecannibals discovering their true nature, and were able to escape the monsters' clutches while they set off to make their robot-spotters the Mecannibals next meal.

Escaping the Mecannibals for a brief time, Dreadwind and Darkwing were sent on a mission by Ratchet, teleporting him — and, accidentally, the deactivated bodies of Jazz and Bumblebee — to Cybertron, where he forced him to rebuild Starscream as a Pretender, who he then unleashed on the Autobots and Decepticons on Earth. Ratchet was able to use the discard prototype Pretender shells to revive Grimlock, Jazz and Bumbleebee, and defeated Megatron's plan. While Starscream got to grips with his new situation — feeling that the Decepticons considered him a walking joke, when in actuality, they were terrified of him — the Mayhem Attack Squad Pretenders were sent to attack Grimlock and co. on the orders of the Decepticons' new Cybertronian commander, Megadeath '''before''' the ''Ark'' crashed on Earth.