Transformer of the Day for August 3, 2009
DOWNSHIFT
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Armada-Energon-Cyberton (2002-2006)
-Function: Evacuation
-Motto: “If I Can’t Beat Ya’ in Battle, I’ll Beat Ya’ on the Road“
-Notable Toy: Deluxe Two-Pack (Hasbro, 1997)
Notes: While Energon Downshift is clearly a homage to G1 Wheeljack, his name becomes more appropriate when he is transformed for his Cybertron appearance as a 1970s muscle car. Possibly the most original and flat out fun original Transformer of the decade, Hasbro really made use of the mold with a Big Daddy repaint exclusive.
(Apologies and thanks to shmax.com for the toy pic.)
Transformer of the Day for August 2, 2009
RUNABOUT
-Faction: Decepticon (Battle Charger)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Shock Trooper
-Motto: “A Pretty Car is an Even Prettier Wreck”
-Notable Toy: Battle Charger (Hasbro, 1986)
Notes: You don’t need to look any further than the Battle Chargers to see the evolution of Transformers. Gone are the days of inarticulate, boxy figures that featured automatic transformations. And yet, I’d love to see a modernized version of Runabout. A very minor cartoon and comic character, he’d be an easy repaint of Universe Sideswipe. Let’s go!
Transformer of the Day for August 1, 2009
IRONHIDE
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Security
-Motto: ““High Tech Circuitry is No Replacement for Guts”
-Notable Toy: Botcon Exclusive (Hasbro, 2005)
Notes: Before Kup, Ironhide was the gruff old warrior on the Autobot team. Like Ratchet, his original toy was a holdover from the Diaclone days and looked nothing like his animated appearance. And yet the neo-classics version manages to lose the nostalgia feel provided by the original toy’s disappearing battle platform. Really, it’s the 2005 Botcon retool that gets the character right - a robot that looks like the cartoon, a trailer that reminds us of the toy, and a van that matches our memories.
Some things are best left unanimated.
Transformer of the Day for July 31, 2009
SOUNDBLASTER
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Intelligence Officer
-Motto: “Death Only Amplifies The Sound of Your Cries”
-Notable Toy: Reissue (Takara, 1989)
Notes: Soundblaster was one of those Japanese Transformers that I had to have as soon as I learned of him. Admittedly the cost factor was prohibited until the 2005 reissue. Still, it amuses me how full circle he’s become. A reconfigured repaint of Soundwave with space for two tapes, it’s ironic that Soundwave’s 2007 Toys ‘R Us exclusive reissue was in fact a repaint of Soundblaster.
Transformer of the Day for July 30, 2009
DOWNSHIFT
-Faction: Autobot (Omnibot)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Security Agent
-Motto: “The Best Security is a Good Offense”
-Notable Toy: Diaclone (Takara, 1983)
Notes: How I miss finding an offer or two included with your newly-purchased toy, for a figure not available at retail (a boon for those whom a trip to a toy store was a rare occurance). Imagine! Toys in the mail! Is there a greater concept? While Downshift was a diaclone before he was an Autobot, he never made it into stores as a Transformer. His unique size and hyrid, alternate transformation makes him an outstanding find.
Transformer of the Day for July 29, 2009
VENOM
-Faction: Decepticon (Deluxe Insecticon)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Psychological Warfare
-Motto: “Friends are More Dangerous than Enemies”
-Notable Toy: Deluxe (Takara, 1985)
Notes: I love the Deluxe Insecticons and never understood why they didn’t get their due in the cartoon. It was only later that I learned their origins were from Bandai and not Takara, eliminating the motivation for advertising what would have been a rival line in Japan. Still, Venom is a great addition to the collection, with flair to spare!
Transformer of the Day for July 28, 2009
FREEWAY
-Faction: Autobot (Throttlebot)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Saboteur
-Motto: “Words Can Cut Deeper than Steel”
-Notable Toy: European Classics (Hasbro, 1991)
Like the other Throttlebots, Freeway’s engineering seems to come directly from the Decepticon Battle Chargers of the previous year, albeit without the automated transformation feature. That said, there is something to be said for the pull-back motors that work in both vehicle and robot mode. Freeway, however, has the unique distinction of becoming my very first Internet-purchased Transformer way back in 1994. It’s been all downhill since then.
(Apologies and thanks to shmax.com for the toy pic.)
Transformer of the Day for July 27, 2009
THUNDERCRACKER
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Armada-Energon-Cyberton (2002-2006)
-Function: Surveillance
-Motto: “To Hide is to Have the Element of Surprise”
-Notable Toy: Bonus Edition (Takara, 1989)
Notes: What was interesting with Cybertron Thundercracker Starscream was not the use of the name but the form his toy took. For one shining moment, he was more than simply a repaint of . He was his own toy, even if his toy version came with a gun for a hand. Of course his brother Skywarp was not so lucky. If you are going to grab him, might as well get the boxed version with Downshift minicon.
Transformer of the Day for July 26, 2009
R.E.V.
-Faction: Autobot (Spy Changer)
-Era: Robots in Disguise / Car Robots (2000-2001)
-Function: Race Exertion Vehicle
-Motto: “Plan Well, Win Easy”
-Notable Toy: Spy Changer Giftset (Takara, 2001)
Notes: Now here’s a curious thing. While Hasbro certainly make frequent use of the Spy Changers as part of their Generation Two, Robots in Disguise and Universe lines, it seems it also made use of their paint applications as well. Case in point, Robots in Disguise R.E.V. (known as Eagle Killer in Japanese) uses artwork eerily similar to G2 Gearhead, while his companion W.A.R.S. (a redeco of the very same Gearhead) nonetheless updates the colour scheme of G2 Firecracker (see below).
(Apologies and thanks to plasticcrack.net and tfu.info for the toy pics.)
Transformer of the Day for July 25, 2009
GORYU
-Faction: Decepticon (Dinoforce)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Commander
-Motto: “Crush Them Before they Even Rise”
-Notable Toy: Standard Issue (Takara, 1989)
Notes: Like his North American counterpart, Icepick, Goryu is the leader of his respective gestalt team, Dinoforce. Like his team, he’s impossible to find for reasonable prices. He’s exclusive to the Japanese market, you see, where they figured dinosaurs beat monsters for the attention of young kids. He’s a little drab in colour but the dinosaur shells are awesome.
(Apologies and thanks to Prime Sabre for the toy pic.)
