Transformer of the Day for July 4, 2009
GREAT SHOT
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Covert Combat
-Motto: “To Win Peace I Will Fight War Itself”
-Notable Toy: Standard (Takara, 1989)
Notes: Great Shot is a Japanese exclusive reconstruction of the original Decepticon Six Changer, Sixshot. As Takara did with Sixknight (another recovered six changer, this time based on Autobot Quickswitch), Takara remolded the head of the robot as well as the head of the animal transformation. And somehow this piece of red, white and blue never got mass produced in the U.S. Pity!
(Apologies and thanks to shmax.com and bbts.com for the toy pic.)
Transformer of the Day for July 3, 2009
THE FALLEN
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Movie (2007, 2009, 2011)
-Function: Harvenger
-Motto: “I Shall Be Avenged”
-Notable Toy: Voyager (Hasbro, 2009)
Notes: When they announced the name of the second live-action Transformers film, I figured “the Fallen” was simply a reference to Megatron. But then started the talk around the community about a character called The Fallen, with links back to the original thirteen character created by Simon Furman. Then the toy images began to appear. Throughout I believed the character was an elaborate red herring to keep the plot of the movie in doubt. It was only when he appeared in the comic adaptation that I so briefly skimmed that I realized he was to be. While the Fallen is certainly an interesting character, it is sooo disappointing that he turns the great Megatron into little more than a toady. Makes you wonder why he was such a bad villain in the first film…
Transformer of the Day for July 2, 2009
ELITA ONE
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Squadron Leader
-Motto: “Caution is a Mark of Valour”
-Notable Toy: Garage Kit (MC Axis, 1996)
Notes: Elita-One has been lurking around in the background of the multiverse since 1985, when she and the female Autobots first appeared in the Search for Alpha Trion. She’s appeared in the neo-Classics comics for Botcon 2007 (from which a very pink figure was derived for Botcon 2009) and had a movie-inspired repaint produced. She’s even appeared in Transformers: Animated as a pre-organic Blackarachnia. And she’s been given a bust by Diamond Direct. Still, the hard-to-find garage kit is the best representation out there.
Transformer of the Day for July 1, 2009
NIGHTRACER
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Gunner
-Motto: ““A Good Shot is Worth More than a Big Mouth”
-Only Toy: Botcon Exclusive (Hasbro, 1995)
Notes: Nightracer is a lot of first. The first North American female transformer. The first female Decepticon transformer. The first original exclusive convention character. And likely the first Transformer characterization not entirely owned by Hasbro. Never replicated, a true Nightracer features the personal touch of creater Raksha, the organizer of Botcon 1995, to bring to plastic life the stuff of her imagination. She’s a beaut and a treasure in any collection, and the perfect way to start the second half of 2009.
(Thanks to Raksha for permission to use Nightracer, and appreciation to Markatron for the artwork.)
Transformer of the Day for June 30, 2009
DINOBOT
-Faction: Maximal
-Era: Beast Wars (1996-1998)
-Function: Front-Line Combat
-Motto: “For Glory, For Honour, For Victory”
-Notable: 10th Anniversary Deluxe (Hasbro, 2006)
Notes: A glory-seeking warrior who nonetheless finds himself on the wrong side of conflict, Dinobot is possibly the most interesting character of the series. Given this, you can imagine the disappointment in the garish colour choices in Hasbro’s Universe release. Ugh! But despite a better paint application on the Henkei version, our toy choice here is actually the Hasbro 10th anniversary reissue, which has (a) a great rendition of the classic toy, (b) superb colouring in beast mode, (c) a piece of the build-a-figure, Transmutate, and (d) a DVD episode of the Season Two episode, Code of Hero that is one of the most poignant episodes in all Transformerdom.
Transformer of the Day for June 29, 2009
DINOKING
-Faction: Decepticon (Pretender)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Dinosaur Gestalt Warrior
-Motto: “There is No Peace, Only Terror”
-Notable Toy: Gift Set (Takara, 1989)
Notes: The release of Dinoking in Japan (and Monstructor in North America) really shows the differences between the North American and Japanese markets (or at least their respective companies). Unlike the rubbery pretender monsters shells that came with Icepick et. al., the Dinoforce figures came with rubbery shells in the form of dinosaurs. The colours of the robots were more sombre and less garish than their North American cousins. And only Dinoking could be caught all at once.
(Apologies and thanks to botchthecrab.com and tfarchives.com for the image.)
Transformer of the Day for June 28, 2009
CLIFFJUMPER
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Warrior
-Motto:“Strike First, Strike Fast, Strike Hard”
-Notable Toy: Classics Deluxe (Hasbro, 2007) + Accessories (FansProject, 2008)
Notes: Cliffjumper is best when portrayed as having a chip on his shoulder. He was fortunate to punch above his weight in terms of screen time. That said, it was disappointing that Hasbro’s repaint of Classics Bumblebee was somewhat disappointing due to the absence of a new head sculpt. Takara-Tomy’s Henkei line opted for the Legends mold for his portrayal, so fans everywhere are left to rely on FansProject’s accessory set to do old CJ justice.
Transformer of the Day for June 27, 2009
MEGATRON
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Movie (2007, 2009)
-Function: Leader
-Motto: “I Am Megatron”
-Notable Toy:Best-Buy Voyager Exclusive (Hasbro, 2007)
Notes: How can I not do a Bayformer for the release of Revenge of the Fallen? So here is that which is not your father’s Megatron. First, despite the hue and cry to the contrary, it’s Hugo Weaving and not the great Frank Welker voicing the villainous leader. Then there is the back story, of a severed alliance between Megatron and Optimus that led to the Great War. And, you know, there is no P-38 Walther revolver in sight. Instead, we have your choice of alien spaceship or alien tank-thing. But for my dollar, I’m going with the first screen-accurate paint application available that was exclusive to Best Buy of all places.
Transformer of the Day for June 26, 2009
GRAPPLE
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Architect
-Motto: “Beauty is in Everything Except War”
-Notable Toy: Attacktix (Hasbro, Unreleased)
Notes: Grapple is an interesting Autobot. Originating with the Diaclone line, his is a slight variation of the Inferno mold. Like Inferno’s pairing with Red Alert, Grapple is frequently tied to Hoist for adventures. Strangely, an artistic rendering of his vehicle form shows up in the first episode as “Hauler“, which subsequently led to an eHobby reissue. And yet for all of this, a natural repaint of Universe 2.0 Inferno has yet to arrive, even by Takara, leaving the best plastic rendition still the unreleased Attacktix version. Oh Hasbro, why do you taunt us so?
(Apologies and thanks to jediinsider.com for the toy pic.)
Transformer of the Day for June 25, 2009
TREADSHOT
-Faction: Decepticon (Action Master)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Gunslinger
-Motto: “A Gun is Only as Good as the One Who Holds It”
-Notable Toy: Action Master (Hasbro, 1990)
Notes: One of the biggest challenges for Transformers has always been the prominent use of gun transformations. Forget the logistics of someone else having to drive Megatron, it’s really hard to be faithful to your primary villain who transforms into a toy that is no longer legal to sell. So don’t expect a proper transforming Treadshot anytime soon. For his fans, it’s looks like we’ll have to hold on to his Action Master form and dream.
