Summary
Soundwave is one of the most iconic Decepticons in the franchise, making his debut in theTransformerstoy line back in 1984. He then went on to be a prominent figure throughout the many iterations of the franchise, including a couple of live-action appearances.
Soundwave’s design has largely stayed the same, but a few examples differ for better or worse. Generally, the character has a blue coloring with a red visor, which is fitting for the Decepticons communication officer and has become a very iconic look. There have been a few different takes on this throughout the years of different toys, TV shows, comics and movies.
7Revenge of The Fallen/Dark of The Moon
The Live-Action Version Was Different
The Decepticon lieutenant and communications officer made his live-action debut in the second entry of Michael Bay’s franchise,Revenge of the Fallen, which featured a very different look for Soundwave that fans weren’t used to.
For better or worse, the live-action movies had a much less blocky look for theTransformers, making them appear more alien-like, but many fans criticized there wasn’t much uniqueness.Especially when concerning the Decepticons, who were all given a basic color scheme. This was also the case with Soundwave, whose appearance is very bland. His iconic blue is gone and replaced with gray. Although the design is still great, it just doesn’t feel like Soundwave.
6War For Cybertron
A Faithful Design But A Little Boxy
TheTransformersgameWar for Cybertronwas well-received amongst fans, which is why this game is really expensive to pick up in 2025. Soundwave returns to the franchise as part of the Decepticons and is a playable character during the campaign.
His design takes a lot of inspiration from the original G1 look, using the blue color scheme and iconic red visor along with the shoulder cannon. However, this appearance is a little too boxy with the chest looking a little too large. Nonetheless, it is still a solid design and faithful to the original.
5Transformers EarthSpark
A Menacing Design
One of the latest versions of the character, Soundwave’sEarthSparkiteration goes away with the boxy aesthetic and has sharper edges featuring huge shoulders, which is different. Soundwave looks a lot like a Gundam in this design, which works as it is something a little more unique.
The color scheme isfaithful to the characterand massive props to the red visor that installs Soundwave with the menacing look that the Decepticon deserves to have. It even keeps the shoulder cannon that has been Soundwave’s primary weapon since the 80s.
4Transformers One
A Faithful Design But Nothing Too Out There
Transformers Onewas somewhat of a reboot for the series, going back to the Generation 1 designs. Soundwave’s appearance was very faithful to that, although he does not transform into a cassette player, which makes more sense in the lore of the franchise.
There isn’t a lot of change in this one, it is a very safe design for the character, which isn’t a bad thing considering this was the whole concept for the design of all the characters in the movie. He did gain a few different powers, such as sonic abilities that can scan the electrical impulses of other Cybertronians' brains.
3Transformers: Cybertron
A Little Different But It Works
Soundwave made his long-awaited debut in the continuity that started withTransformers: Armadain 2002, in the third series,Transformers: Cybertron. He was given a completely new backstory, not hailing from Cybertronbut the mysterious Planet X.
This came with a different design, and it was the first time that Soundwave had a vehicle transformation, becoming a Planet X Stealth Bomber. This meant that he gained wings and massive gauntlets, which were different, but it worked. The iconic red visor and blue body paint remained, but this design gives away with the shoulder cannon.
2Generation 1
The Original Design
There needed to be massive props for the original Soundwave design, which was originally featured in the first-everTransformerstoy line in 1984. He then went on to make his on-screen appearance along with fellow Decepticons in the originalTransformerscartoon.
It featured many of the tropes that have stayed with Soundwave: the blue coloring, red single visor and shoulder cannon. Soundwave was unique for not transforming into a vehicle, but a microcassette recorder with its cassette min-cons to go alongside it. It doesn’t make too much sense for the lore ofTransformers, but it made for an awesome toy back in the 80s.
1Bumblebee
A Perfect Iteration Of The Classic
Bumblebeefixed a lot of wrongs in the live-action franchise. One of the big ones was the designs of certain characters. Soundwave is no exception to this and the 2018 movie gave a much more accurate version of the Decepticon with a design very reminiscent of the G1 design.
It managed to blend the iconic look with live-action effects really well. It is a shame that this iconic design was reduced to a short cameo during the movie’s opening scene on Cybertron. The franchise’s future is still up in the air, so it is unclear whether fans will see this version of Soundwave again.
