OK, the G1 cartoon apologists/comic fans always point to Grimlock's much different portrayal in the comics, epecially with regard to his intelligence and leadership aspirations.  However, since its been so long since I've read them (and I'm too lazy to dig them out of the attic), what were Rodimus and Magnus like in the comics?

Don't know. never saw them.

Nonexistent, actually. Hot Rod only appeared as Targetmaster, and only appeared as Rodimus Prime in a "Future Flashback" where Galvatron conquered Earth, where Rodimus hung between 2 half-destroyed buildings, almost dead. Magnus had more time in the limelight, when he arrived from Cybertron to Earth when he had learened of Prime's location there. He had more of a leader-role, in regard to his place within the Wreckers, but he never really showed a lot of leadership-capabilities in the comic, atleast not what I remember.

Well, look at it this way.  Grimlock was the only one that aspired to be Autobot leader.  No one else wanted the job, including Optimus Prime, but, when given command Optimus as well as Rodimus performed exceptionally well.  Magnus is an excellent leader, as long as there's at least one 'bot above him telling him what to do.  Fortress Maximus is also an excellent yet reluctant leader, but when there was no one above him, he couldn't take the pressures anymore and left to find peace elsewhere.  None of the 'good' Autobot leaders aspired to be leader(s), the roles were just granted or assigned to them, but this is also what makes them excellent leaders, their concern was for the battles & the soldiers under their command, not their own personal aspirations, which is why (comic) Grimlock, although a capable leader in his own right, was not fit to take on larger leadership roles until he began focusing on the war and those under him, rather than what he wanted to do at any given point & time.

 

So, in point, any Autobot who would WANT to be leader, is pretty much unfit to be leader.  But, to try and make a little sense of things, the command structure would pretty much be as follows:

 

Commanders: Optimus/Rodimus

Lt. Commanders: Ultra Magnus/Fortress Maximus/Countdown/Sky Lynx/Grimlock(post-pretender)

Team Leaders/Command Staff/advisors: Grimlock(pre-pretender)/Prowl/Jazz/Jetfire/Silverbolt/Hot Spot/Scattershot/Goldbug/Groundshaker/Blaster/Perceptor

Squad Leaders:  Kup/Ironhide/Ratchet/Wreck-Gar/Inferno/Roadbuster/Springer

Patrol Leaders:  Big Daddy/Roadhandler/Fixit/ etc...

I don't agree with Fortress Maximus. First of all, he's just too friggin big to do anything worthwhile. Second, the only reason he became a "leader", was because of the absense of all the others. He was given leadership, but wasn't really good at it. He is the kind of person who rather keeps distant, and let others take charge. More of an administrator, taking care of the normal things of life, than a leader for his people, directing them in battle, inspiring them.

 

Sky Lynx as a leader I have to disagree with as well. Though his rank in his bio may indicate to him being a leader, he's far too arrogant, egocentric to really be useful. He sees others as nothing more then a nuisanse, and sees himself as being elevated above that.

 

The same with Countdown. he is no leader, rather someone who works alone. Not someone who should lead half a planet against the other half.

Well I think Skylynx could pull it off. Let's analyze this situation:

 

Givens:

- Skylynx is smart

- Skylynx is observant of the other autobots even if he never analyzes them in a positive light.

- Skylynx spends enough tme with the troops to know a little about all of them.

- Skylynx's alt mode is useful enough that the others want him around.

- Skylynx can fight and draw plans on the fly.

 

My estimation is that Skylynx, being the smart anoying guy he is, wold inmediately choose a second in command who would be both willing to follow his orders with discipline and also be well liked by the other autobots. Skylynx would send this second in command to lead the troops in the front line but he would always leave the most crucial part of his plan to himself (because he honestly believes only he can fully comprehend  and accomplish his plans).

 

Thus Skylynx would look good because he would limit his involvement to what he does best. He knows he's not a people person and he wouldn't try to be. His troops woldn't like him any more than they do now, but they would respect him because of his plans and his flying and fighting abilities.

 

The cool thing is that he might choose someone who we've never thought of as second in command, to prevent confusion in his troops. But the perfect guy would be magnus, so he might take a chance with him.

- Skylynx is smart

- Skylynx is observant of the other autobots even if he never analyzes them in a positive light.

- Skylynx spends enough tme with the troops to know a little about all of them.

- Skylynx's alt mode is useful enough that the others want him around.

- Skylynx can fight and draw plans on the fly.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Wow....except for the alt-mode remark, that sounds like a discription of me. Guess I'm more of an Autobot than I thought. X_X