Backstreet is a supporting character in the Transformers franchise, especially Generation One. He is based on a figure from the 1988 toyline.
Marvel Comics[]
Backstreet made his first appearance in Issue #46 of the Marvel US comic, as one of a group of Autobots being held prisoner by the Decepticons on Cybertron. He, Fizzle and Sizzle were sent to Earth to act as a test for the new jammer technology Scorponok had devised and given to a group of human bounty hunters, the Roadjammers, to hunt Transformers. The three Autobots, reluctant to harm humans, were quickly disabled but managed to pique the hunters' curiosity enough for them to realise they were being manipulated by the Decepticons and turn a group of Decepticon Headmasters against Scorponok. This forced Scorponok to reverse the process and free both the Autobots and his own troops. Backstreet and the others made sure to get the Roadjammers to safety before departing.
A flashback in Issue #48 revealed Backstreet and fellow Triggerbots Dogfight and Override accompanied Optimus Prime on a mission early in the war to try and obtain the wisdom of Boltax. His next present-day appearance was in the UK-exclusive story "Race with the Devil", by which time he had been reunited with the other Triggerbots without explanation. The trio pursued Dreadwind and Darkwing to Earth and found them attempting to retrieve the remains of Starscream, which had been animated by the Underbase. Befriending Susan Hoffman, a human archeologist who had encountered the Autobots before, Backstreet charged Override with protecting her while he focused on helping the Underbase gain dominance over Starscream's personality. He succeeded in both aims, but failed to prevent Dreadwind and Darkwing leaving with what they came for.
Backstreet and the others next appeared in Marvel US Issue #63, where they formed one of the teams searching for the Creation Matrix. They intervened on seeing a group of ruffians hassling an alien child and were taken in by the boy's family, becoming increasingly docile and forgetful. Dogfight came to his senses first and realised the aliens were keeping them under control while slowly draining them of their energy. Backstreet and Override were forced to kill their attackers in self-defence, lamenting missing out on a chance of peace. Backstreet last appeared in Issue #74 among the Transformers gathered to fight Unicron.
He was the focus character of the UK annual text story "Trigger-Happy" which depicted him serving under Optimus Prime on Earth. He acted as lookout in an attempt to ambush Quake and Ruckus, told to maintain radio silence and give a pre-arranged signal when they passed, and to not engage so close to a human settlement. However, he panicked when he saw they were escorted by Spinister, Needlenose and Windsweeper: Having no way to warn the other Autobots, he opened fire, ruining the ambush and endangering humans. Told by a furious Override that he would be court-martialled and executed, he fled, firing on human tanks thinking they were Combaticons and finally taking refuge at a funfair. He was attacked by Spinister and Scoop before Megatron tried to get him to join the Decepticons. He refused and was saved by Optimus Prime, with Backstreet helping drive Megatron off. Optimus Prime changed protocols as a result of the incident so no Autobot would act as lookout alone.
