Starscream is a Decepticon with the role of Aerospace Commander who transforms between his robot mode and his fighter jet mode. He belongs to the group called Pretenders because he (as well as the other Decepticon Pretenders) disguises his robot form inside a shell resembling a non-robot creature, in this case an armored human.

He is ruthless in battle and hopes to one day rule the universe. "Arrogance is Starscream's only weakness" (according to his Tech Spec).

The Generation 1 Starscream was released in 1988.