Ironhide used to be a construction engineer in Cybertron during the golden age of Cybertron.* When civil war broke out, Ironhide signed up with the Autobots in defense against the growing Decepticon threat. His commitment eventually earned him the trust and respect of his fellow Autobot warriors. This also gave him a spot among Optimus Prime’s elite crew of the Ark which eventually crash-landed on Earth.
As his name implies, Ironhide’s skin is made of trithyllium-steel alloy lined irradiated carbon dampers making him virtually immune to most forms of physical and radiation-based attacks. Though he is the most invulnerable of all the Autobots, this alloy is mostly heavily concentrated in the front section of his body making his back is more susceptible to damage. Considering his age he still possesses great physical strength and above-average intelligence.
Ironhide carries a rifle (his “water gun,” as he playfully calls it) that can shoot a number of liquid chemicals of up to 1,000 feet; with supercooled liquid nitrogen, superheated liquid lead, and a self-igniting petrochemical fluid as his top favourites. His experience as an engineer during the peaceful days in Cybertron has surely served him well as an Autobot warrior. He also keeps cartridges of these and other chemicals with him. He also carries sonar, radar and radiowave detectors.
In addition to his water gun, Ironhide also possesses an imbedded system that allows him to fire a variety of chemical sprays of up to 500 feet from his arms. Similar to the rifle, he can shoot liquid nitrogen, superheated liquid metal, petrochemical spray and more. The liquids are generated within Ironhide in a tiny but powerful reactor (his “internal chemistry set”), although the previously mentioned cartridges may also be used to replenish his supply much faster. This provides Ironhide a backup weapon in case his rifle gets busted; as well as provide non-stop firepower for the Autobot warrior in between reloading ammo in his rifle.
As his motto implies, Ironhide would rather fight mano a mano instead of using some of the newest weapons or gadgets in his disposal. His old age, however, has taken its toll on him physically. He may have an “iron hide,” a number of useful weapons and equipment, and the skills of a seasoned veteran, but it is not enough to bring back the vigor of his younger days. He has become the slowest and is the most fragile of the Autobots; and has broke down more frequently than the others. He has been in and out of Ratchet’s repair bay more often than the rest. Some of the younger, less compassionate Autobot warriors – Sunstreaker, for example – see him more as a liability rather than as an asset on the battlefield. They scorn him for his weaknesses rather than what he has achieved and contributed to the cause. For them, Ironhide is heading straight to the junkyard very soon.

Though this may be the case, Ironhide is not one to back down from a challenge. He may be old, but he still has that feisty character within him. Always letting his actions do the talking, never the sort who likes to be told what to do, and always ready to prove himself still worthy of a battle or two, he’ll get it on with any Decepticon – or even an Autobot – who will dismiss him as an old heap. His lengthy experience in battle has made him the toughest, most battle-tested and most determined Autobot. His superior defensive capabilities have placed him in charge of overall Autobot security, ensuring the safety of anything and anyone – mechanical, organic or otherwise – threatened by Decepticon violence. Additionally, he also acts as a personal bodyguard to Optimus Prime who sees more in and of Ironhide other than the tough-talking old gruff others only see him as most of the time. Indeed, Ironhide possesses one tough spark on the outside, but this spark also has a kind, softer side that holds a deep concern and desire to safeguard and protect all life. Ironhide takes this responsibility very seriously, even to the point of sacrificing his own life.

GENERATION ONE ANIMATED SERIES
Ironhide’s memorable character can be seen in the Generation 1 episodes such as in “More Than Meets The Eye (Part 3),” “The Immobilizer,” and, most especially, in his final scenes in Transformers: The Movie (animated). It showcased Ironhide’s hardiness, dedication and kindness – traits that fans old and new have come to love of him.
In the third part of the Generation 1 cartoon “More Than Meets The Eye” storyline, after the Decepticons managed to escape from the cave-in caused by the explosion of a bomb planted by the Autobots, Ironhide went on his own – against the orders of Optimus Prime – to follow the Decepticons and fight them up in the sky where they were more efficient fighters compared to him. His challenge shot back at him when the Decepticon Skywarp managed to hit him. Ironhide may have given up at that point while being loaded inside Ratchet (transformed into his ambulance mode), but he vowed to go at it with the ‘Cons once he’s up and running again.
Ironhide’s shining moment in the television series was perhaps seen in the episode “The Immobilizer.” In it, Ironhide was distracted by the female human Carly while he was on guard duty. This inadvertantly allowed the Decepticons to steal Wheeljack’s latest invention – a weapon that could freeze anything it fired at, including Transformers. Guilt-ridden and believing himself to be too old to be of any further use, Ironhide resigned from active service against the wishes of Optimus Prime. However, when Carly was captured by the Decepticons for trying to make up for what had happened to Ironhide, the veteran Autobot went to her rescue and saved her from the Decepticon base. After being frozen and unfrozen by the Immobilizer, Ironhide personally destroyed the device and returned to active duty.
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Further glimpses of Ironhide’s personality can be seen in many Generation 1 episodes. In “Divide and Conquer,” Ironhide lead a team of Autobots who went on a special mission to Cybertron to retrieve the gasket needed to save Optimus Prime’s life. Their mission was hindered when the Decepticons produced acid rain, but it wasn’t enough to stop Ironhide and his team. They eventully managed to return to Earth and save the Autobot leader and claim victory.
In “The Search for Alpha Trion,” Ironhide held a strong bond with the female Autobot Chromia. This bond made him lead a number of Autobots to follow Optimus Prime to Cybertron and help the female Autobots in their fight against the Decepticons (although technically, it was the opposite as it was the females who, in the words of Starscream, “came to save their boyfriends.”). All throughout this episode, Ironhide’s compassion and leadership skills were pretty evident.

GENERATION ONE COMICBOOKS
Ironhide also had his share of exposure in the Transformers comicbooks. In the Marvel comic series, he was among the last line of defenders of the Autobot ship, the Ark, against the Decepticons in the series’ first story arc.
In the Marvel UK story arc Target: 2006, it was Ironhide who made the decision to dig up and reactivate Megatron and have him assume command against the newcomer Galvatron.
He also appeared in the Marvel Generation 2 comic series in his Generation 1 form; and seemingly died alongside Smokescreen. He was mostly in the background in this series, but fans recognized their favourite security ‘bot instantly.
The Dreamwave comic had another take on the Generation One story, but, as mentioned above,it was here that Ironhide was revealed to be an engineer. He was also a part of Grimlock’s Lightning Strike Coalition when the Autobots broke up into multiple factions. How he became one of Optimus Prime’s lieutenants was never shown (since Dreamwave closed down), but it can be inferred that Ironhide gained such recognition from the Autobot leader due to his dedication to the Autobot cause. His presence was also felt in Dreamwave’s two Generation One mini-series and in the ongoing series, as readers saw that the Ironhide they knew from the animated series was still very much the same in the comics. His trademark valor, dedication, compassion and hardiness were still there until the series came to an abrupt end.
In the current IDW Generation One comicbooks, Ironhide is part of an Autobot infiltration unit led by Prowl. The story is still developing, but it is worth taking note that this is pretty much the same ol’ Ironhide fans have come to love.

IRONHIDE’S LAST STAND
Ironhide’s valour was last seen The Transformers: The Movie. When the Decepticons attempted to take control of the Autobot shuttle Ironhide was under order to take to Earth by Optimus Prime, he fought valiantly to prevent their enemies from getting the ship. Despite his heavily concentrated armoured front section, he fell mortally wounded as a result of several shots to the chest from a shower of Decepticon fire as well as from Decepticon leader Megatron (in gun mode held by starscream). A wounded Ironhide made one last attempt to prevent the Decepticons from succeeding in their plan to capture Autobot City on Earth. As he crawled towards Megatron and futilely clutched the Decepticon leader’s leg. Megatron mocks his “heroic nonsense” and kills him off-screen with a point-blank blast of his fusion cannon to Ironhide’s head. For the Decepticons, Ironhide’s last gasp was ultimately futile, but Autobots and humans alike will never forget his final heroic actions.

* As shown in the Dreamwave Transformers: War Within series.