Ratbat

Ratbat is a Decepticon who transforms into a mechanical bat and serves as one of Soundwave's cassette warriors, capable of being launched from his commander's chest compartment to spy on and attack enemies of the Decepticon cause.

Ratbat made a sinister splash in 1987 when Jim Salicrup introduced him to the Marvel Universe in Transformers Universe, a reference series that helped define the Copper Age's appetite for world-building and lore. Over nearly four decades, this Decepticon has haunted the pages of The Transformers and even crossed into the wild crossover territory of G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers, keeping dangerous company alongside titans like Soundwave, Starscream, and Optimus Prime himself. Though his catalog footprint is compact, Ratbat carries the weight of a character who has genuinely endured — still appearing in Transformers comics as recently as 2025 — proof that even a villain who lurks in the shadows can leave a lasting mark on the mythology.