Trap
Jaw had many arm attachments that he used against the heroes
of Eternia, and even Etheria.
Trap
Jaw had to be the most visually interesting of Skeletor's
villains. Debuting in "Diamond Ray of Disappearance"
along with all the other characters, Trap Jaw came across
as a serious villain in the first episode. This may be due
to the fact that most of the characters had very little
character development in the first episode, because so many
were being introduced. Trap Jaw soon became a comedic villain,
as did most of Skeletor's gang, but with his vibrant colors,
gruff voice and unique gimmick of interchanging his arm,
he managed to make it all the way until the end. Like his
boss Skeletor, he appeared in the first He-Man
episode, "Diamond Ray of Disappearance," and the
last He-Man crossover episode She-Ra's
"Assault On The Hive." Here we list all of Trap
Jaw's different arm attachments.
MU4
- "Diamond Ray of Disappearance"
Hook
This weapon was one of the three that came with Trap Jaw
action figure. Filmation appeared to use this attachment
the most; it could be used as a hand and it was easy to
have his hook hold something. His hook appeared 36 times;
34 times in He-Man, and twice in She-Ra.
Lasertron
Probably Trap Jaw's most recognized attachment was the Lasertron.
This weapon was one of the three that came with Trap Jaw
action figure. Filmation used this attachment in various
ways; it was used as a freeze ray in "Evilseed"
and even a shrink ray in "Day of the Machines."
In most scripts it was just used as a device for firing
a laser at He-Man. It was used 16 times in the series; 15
times in He-Man and once in She-Ra.
Energy
bow
The Energy bow like most other weapons was just a one off.
However, it was a visually interesting alternative to the
Lasertron. When the device was fired, the two ends would
light up, and the beam would fire out of the slit in the
middle.
MU7
- "The Curse of the Spellstone"
Use of existing weapons (Lasertron and Hook) Sword blade
The Sword blade was seen in just a few shots near the end
of the episode. It served no purpose at all and just remained
with Trap Jaw as he stood in his model sheet pose.
MU9
- "The Dragon Invasion"
Use of existing weapons (Hook and Lasertron)
MU13
- "Like Father, Like Daughter"
Use of existing weapons (Hook and Lasertron)
MU19
- "Quest for He-man"
Use of existing weapons (Hook and Lasertron)
MU22
- "Song of Celice"
Use of existing weapons (Lasertron and Hook) Pile-driver
This weapon appeared as soon as we first saw Trap Jaw in
Snake Mountain. From that first second we knew that he was
going to use the weapon at some point during the episode.
The Pile driver is used to knock Lizard Man off-balance
as he stands heroically on top of a rock structure.
MU25
- "Evilseed"
Use of existing weapon (Lasertron)
MU29
- "Prince Adam No More"
Use of existing weapon (Hook)
MU40
- "House of Shokoti" Part 1
Use of existing weapons (Hook and Lasertron)
MU42
- "Double Edged Sword"
Use of existing weapon (Hook) Dropper
The device was one of the most amusing of Trap Jaw's attachments.
In the episode it is used to lower Mer-Man off of a cliff,
so that he can pinch the Eternium from the good guys. Sadly
Mer-Man's weight is too much, and the cable snaps causing
Mer-Man to fall from a great height into a nearby lake.
"No wonder it's called a dropper," states Trap
Jaw.
Grabber
The grabber is a strange device because it is the closest
Trap Jaw actually gets to possessing two hands. The grabber's
claws even acts like fingers as they reach down and grab
the Eternium. Trap Jaw then goes on to use this attachment
as he battles He-Man with the power of Eternium. "At
last, one of my devices works," states Trap Jaw, and
he was right.
MU44
- "The Region of Ice"
Use of existing weapon (Hook)
MU47
- "Keeper of the Ancient Ruins"
Use of existing weapons (Hook and Lasertron)
MU49
- "Return of the Gryphon"
Use of existing weapons (Hook and Lasertron)
MU52
- "Teela's Trial"
Use of existing weapon (Hook)
MU53
- "Dree Elle's Return"
Use of existing weapon (Hook) Swatter
This device is seen for literally a few seconds. He attaches
it, trying out his device for the first time, and immediately
Yuckers electrocutes him. Thus we never get to see Trap
Jaw use his swatter. And maybe that is a good thing.
MU62
- "Golden Disks of Knowledge"
Use of existing weapon (Lasertron) Claw
This is one of the strangest appearances of an attachment.
Throughout a battle in Snake Mountain, Trap Jaw uses his
Lasertron to attack He-Man and Battle Cat. The battle turns
and Skeletor accidentally imprisons his own villains in
a force field. In this one shot we see Trap Jaw with his
claw attachment; one of the three weapons that came with
Trap Jaw action figure. This is the only time we ever see
it in the series, and what a strange moment it is.
MU68
- Day of the Machines
Use of existing weapons (Hook and Lasertron)
MU72
- The Great Books Mystery
Use of existing weapon (Hook)
MU75
- To Save Skeletor
Use of existing weapons (Hook and Lasertron)
MU78
- Betrayal of Stratos
Use of existing weapon (Hook)
MU80
- The Shadow of Skeletor
Use of existing weapon (Hook)
MU82
- Attack from Below
Use of existing weapon (Hook)
MU85
- The Rainbow Warrior
Use of existing weapon (Hook)
MU86
- A Trip to Morainia
Use of existing weapon (Hook) Miniature Laser
The animator and director must have felt lazy on this occasion.
Trap Jaw's miniature laser is just a hook attachment, without
the actual hook, leaving a tiny nozzle. This scene is originally
shot back to front so Trap Jaw's attachment arm is on the
wrong side.
MU88
- Three on a Dare
Use of existing weapon (Hook)
MU91
- Jacob and the Widgets
Use of existing weapon (Hook)
MU95
- A Bird in the Hand
Use of existing weapon (Hook) Flamethrower
Trap Jaw manages to use the Flamethrower in the Cave of
Winds. But his plan backfires when he burns the cage that
imprisons Melaktha and Teela, and Melaktha fakes fear of
fire.
Fire
extinguisher
As the fire on the cage rages, Trap Jaw changes his Flame-throwing
attachment to a fire extinguisher. The force of the blast
causes Trap Jaw to fall over enabling Teela and Melaktha
to escape the cage.
MU99
- Hunt for He Man
Use of existing weapon (Hook)
MU104
- The Secret of Grayskull
Use of existing weapon (Hook)
MU106
- "The Bitter Rose"
Use of existing weapon (Hook)
MU108
- "Teela's Triumph"
Use of existing weapon (Hook)
MU110
- "The Problem With Power"
Use of existing weapons (Hook and Lasertron)
MU118
- "Orko's Return"
Use of existing weapons (Lasertron and Hook)
MU121
- "The Magic Falls"
Use of existing weapon (Hook)
MU124
- "The Toy Maker"
Use of existing weapon (Hook)
MU127
- "The Ancient Mirror of Avathar"
Use of existing weapon (Hook)
PP5
- Battle For Bright Moon
Use of existing weapon (Hook) Elongated Laser
Although he fires this weapon at She-Ra, it takes place
out of shot. So the only chance we get to see the actual
attachment is as She-Ra knocks Skeletor, Tri-Klops and himself
out of the room.
PP91
- Assault On The Hive
Use of existing weapons (Hook and Lasertron) Freeze ray
As She-Ra frees Sweet Bee from a force field, Skeletor orders
Trap Jaw to use his freeze ray on her. Instead of the familiar
Lasertron being doubled as a freeze ray, we see a giant
cannon arm appear. It should be noted that the freeze ray
looks a lot like the rocket in design, which is used later
in the episode.
Rocket
After the impending defeat of the evil warriors, Trap Jaw
suddenly shows us in his final appearance that he has the
ability to fly. His rocket attachment enables him to take
to the skies evading He-Man and She-Ra. However Sweet Bee
soon catches him in her ship. It should be noted that the
rocket looks a lot like the freeze ray in design, which
is used earlier in the episode.
"These
things never fit right!"
What could have been possibly a good running gag occurred
in the first episode "Diamond Ray of Disappearance"
where we see Trap Jaw changing his arm attachment. He comically
complains, "These things never fit right!," as
he attempts to screw the Energy bow in place. If this had
been used on more that just this one occasion we could have
seen some more comical moments in the series as Trap Jaw
attempts to get ready for battle.
Where
do they come from?
One of the series' mysteries was where on earth did Trap
Jaw keep all his attachments? In "Assault On The Hive"
he uses 4 different arm attachments and yet they just suddenly
appear. The action figure showed us that the attachments
locked onto his belt, but in the cartoon it is obvious that
no weapons hang from his belt. Like other cartoon mysteries
this is just one of those things that the audience have
to take for granted. In his final appearance we do get to
see a mistake in directing, because for the first time we
see an object just appear in Trap Jaw's hand. We have seen
the animation before as he replaces his hook with his Lasertron,
but on this occasion the camera is trucked out too far and
we can see him magically make the hook vanish, and magically
make the Lasertron appear!