Transformer of the Day for July 14, 2009
SLAMDANCE
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Journalist
-Motto: “The True Victor Will Be Correlated from History”
-Notable Toy: Two-Pack (Hasbro, 1988)
Notes: Slamdance is a odd toy. One of the smallest gestalts, his individual forms of Grandslam and Raindance take the shapes of vehicles rather than sentient animals or humanoids. And the best description of his function is as journalist, an odd calling for a race where everyone is immediately branded as part of one faction or another. And though he has little poseability, he’s a fun toy, although it is curious why Hasbro didn’t release any other gestalt tape pairing outside of his nemesis, Squawkbox.
(Apologies and thanks to botchthecrab.com for the image.)
Transformer of the Day for July 13, 2009
DEMOLISHER
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Warrior
-Motto: “As You Command”
-Notable Toy: KB-Toys Exclusive (Hasbro, 2004)
Notes: Whatever the era, Megatron needs a toadie. In G1, it seemed as though Shockwave and Soundwave fought over the title. In Robots in Disguise, Sky-Byte wanted to be in his leader’s good graces, while in Beast Wars, Scorponok wanted to be his main man. And who can forget Animated’s Lugnut? In Armada, Demolisher seemed to want to earn the title. Of course, the best rendering of him was in his green, Autobot phase, before he was transformed into a constucticon in Energon.
Transformer of the Day for July 12, 2009
QUICKMIX
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Armada-Energon-Cybertron (2002-2006)
-Function: Builder
-Motto: “For a Society to Stand Tall, You Gotta Build the Foundation Sound”
-Notable Toy: Cybertron (Hasbro, 2006)
Notes: Quickmix has more than a passing resemblance his Generation One Targetmaster namesake. Same transformation, similar headsculpt and colours, and even his minicon, Stripmine, resembles one of G1 Quickmix’s targetmaster partners, Boomer. That said, the notable difference is the placement of the cement mixer, which, for Cybertron Quickmix, serves as his right hand. Still, you cannot go too wrong with a mixer for a hand. Or a club if need be…
(Apologies and thanks to tfu.info for the images.)
Transformer of the Day for July 7, 2009
HYDRA 
-Faction: Decepticon (Godmaster)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Space Aviation Officer
-Motto: “Friends are More Dangerous than Enemies”
-Notable Toy: Godmaster (Takara, 1988)
Notes: Hydra is the Japanese version of Darkwing. Similar to his North American counterpart, Hydra can form a gestalt jet form with his partner, Buster (Dreadwind in North America). The whole concept of a combined jet mode is strange enough without the garish colours either brother sports. However, as Hasbro has recently seen fit to recolour Universe Superion as Dreadwind, and the Transformers Collectors’ Club has blessed us with a recoloured Classics Jetfire as Darkwing, can a non-combining Hydra and Buster be far behind?
(Apologies and thanks to botchthecrab.com for the character image.)
Transformer of the Day for July 10, 2009
CROSSBLADES
-Faction: Autobot (Mega Pretender)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Ground Reinforcements
-Motto:“A Warrior Is Only as Good as His Weapons”
-Notable Toy: Mega Pretender (Hasbro, 1989)
Notes: Ah, Pretenders. Following the head, target and powermasters, Pretenders represented Hasbro next effort to revitalize the toy line. And the standard Pretender shells quickly gave way to shells that could transform. Though Crossblades was only briefly mentioned in the U.S. comic book, his mold would be reconditioned to form the Decepticon Blue Bacchus in Japan. Both are fine toys and great additions to the collection.
(Apologies and thanks to botchthecrab.com, shmax.com and bbts.com ffor the image.)
Transformer of the Day for July 9, 2009
SCOURGE
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Robots in Disguise / Car Robots (2000-2001)
-Function: Tanker, Decepticon Commander
-Motto: “Vengeance is an Excuse for Failure. I Do Not Seek Vengeance”
-Notable Toy: Ultra (Takara, 2000)
Notes: Robots in Disguise is not a favoured series for me, and yet its portrayal of Scourge, the corrupted protoform dupleganger of Optimus Prime (or Fire Convoy if you prefer), is terrific. In fact, in some ways, he’s more interesting than Optimus himself. Doesn’t hurt one bit that the first and best toy used for Scourge just happened to be a repaint of one of the best Generation Two toys to be released.
Transformer of the Day for July 8, 2009
JETFIRE
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Armada-Energon-Cybertron (2002-2006)
-Function: Tactician
-Motto: “You Can Fall Alone or You Can Fall Together”
-Notable Toy: Ultra Powerlinx (Hasbro, 2003)
Notes: Jetfire is an odd character in that his transformation mode seems to devolve over the course of the Unicron trilogy, going from immense space shuttle with mini-con, to smaller star hopper, to earth-inspired military transport. That said, it is still a hard choice to determine his best toy. The Cybertronian bomber is such a perfect vehicle, particularly when dudded up in his Sky Shadow spy colours, but there is something that draws me to his space shuttle mode from Armada, particularly in his Powerlinx colours. Either way, he’s a win!
Transformer of the Day for July 7, 2009
OIL SLICK
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Animated (2008-2009)
-Function: Anarchist Road Warrior, Chemical Warfare
-Motto:“Fear is My Ally”
-Notable Toy: Deluxe (Hasbro, 2008)
Notes: Oil Slick wasn’t intended to show up on Transformers: Animated, and only made a brief appearance as part of Team Charr in Transwarp. But what an appearance! As a peg warmer in the Animated Line, you have to think that his television appearance will help move the upcoming repaint, which will be more show accurate. In the meantime, let us bask in the glory of peg-warmer Oil Slick.
Transformer of the Day for July 6, 2009
RED ALERT
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Armada-Energon-Cybertron (2002-2006)
-Function: Medic
-Motto:“All Life Is Precious“
-Notable Toy: Deluxe (Hasbro, 2005)
Notes: While the cartoons were and remain dreadful to watch, what attracts me to the Unicron Trilogy remains the incredible Playstation video game subtitled “Prelude to Energon”. The graphics and the characterization in the video game was vastly superior to what was on the screen. And I always enjoy playing as Red Alert. That said, it’s the original Cybertron release that takes the cake for me. Somehow, it just works much better than the earlier Armada effort.
(Apologies and thanks to ign.com, shmax.com and bbts.com for the images.)
Transformer of the Day for July 5, 2009
BANZAI-TRON
-Faction: Decepticon (Action Master)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Mercenary / Martial Arts Warrior
-Motto: “To the Victor Go The Profits”
-Notable Toy: Botcon Exclusive (Hasbro, 2009)
Notes: Banzai-Tron is possibly the most interesting original character produced for the Action Masters line. At Botcon 2009, he finally found issue as an actual transformer. Packaged with Skyquake, he’s a repaint of the battle boat known as Energon Mirage. He’s arguably the best exclusive made available at Botcon 2009, and the mold seems to fit him like a glove.
