Transformer of the Day for May 8, 2009
RAZORCLAW
-Faction: Decepticon (Predacon)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Predacon Leader
-Motto: “All Good Things Succumb to Those Who Wait”
-Notable Toy: Standard Release (Hasbro, 1986)
Notes: Razorclaw. Leader of the Predacons and counterpart to Grimlock and his Dinobots. The difference of course is that Razorclaw can also form the torso and head of Predaking, the largest multi-character combiner in the Generation One universe. And though Predaking often fails in his battles against Sky Lynx, it is great to see a combiner that, size-wise at least, lives up to his promise.
Transformer of the Day for May 7, 2009
OPTIMUS PRIME
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Movie (2007, 2009, 2011)
-Function: Leader
-Motto: “Freedom is the Right of All Sentient Beings”
-Notable Toy: Nightwatch Leader Class (Hasbro, 2008)
Notes: Optimus Prime makes another appearance, this time in his movie guise. While it was unfortunate that the original North American release lacked some of the movie paint applications and the inclusion of a battle blade, Hasbro later took advantage of the film’s popularity to reissue a prestige edition. Nonetheless, it is the unrelated Nightwatch version, with its cool blues and silvers, that makes the grade for this entry.
Transformer of the Day for May 6, 2009
BARRICADE
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Movie (2007, 2009, 2011)
-Function: Deep Cover Agent
-Motto: “For Now We Must Remain in Disguise”
-Notable Toy: Battle in a Box (Hasbro 2008)
Notes: Unlike the Autobots which featured memorable monikers from the first year of Generation One, the Movie Decepticons focused on a variety of lesser known or new Decepticons (Megatron and Starscream aside). Barricade fits this description. A sadistic Prowl, he even looks like an evil version of the legendary Autobot strategist, right down to the “punish and enslave” tag line on his side panel. Partnered with Frenzy, he makes for a more interesting Bayformer.
Transformer of the Day for May 4, 2009
RAMHORN
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Movie Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Warrior
-Motto: “Flee before Me or Else Fall Before Me”
-Notable Toy: Single Cassette Release (Takara, 1986)
Notes: Like Steeljaw, Ramhorn is a partial Autobot answer to the likes of the Decepticon animalistic cassettes. Unlike their Decepticon counterparts, however, these tapes can be found to talk on the cartoon, which leads to all kinds of questions. Paired with Eject in North America, the single issue card was common in the Japanese market.
(Apologies and thanks to shmax.com and bbts.com for the toy images.)
Transformer of the Day for May 4, 2009
BB
-Faction: Predacon
-Era: Beast Wars II
-Function: Bombadier
-Motto: “The Greatest Enemy Will Fall to an Unyielding Spirit”
-Notable Toy: Taiwan Issue (Unknown, 1998)
Notes: A vehicular Predacon from Japan’s anime Beast Wars II, BB began life as G2 Dreadwing. Curiously, Hasbro had planned to use the mould and colouring as another G2 Megatron in 1995, but eventually cancelled their plans. And BB himself found controversy in the IDW Sourcebook entry, when he was miscoloured in Fire Gut colours, colours which I must say really look cool on him. The toy image above is from Taiwan and a legitimate issue of the toy.
Transformer of the Day for May 3, 2009
OVERDRIVE
-Faction: Autobot (Omnibot)
-Era: Generation One (1984-92)
-Function: Strategist
-Motto: “The Key to Victory is in the Mind’s Eye”
-Notable Toy: Diaclone (Takara, 1983)
Notes: Billed as Reinforcements from Cybertron, the Omnibots were a trio of Autobots exclusives available as a direct mail order. Reissues of original Diaclone figures, the Omnibots were smaller than their deluxe Autobot brethren and didn’t get airtime. That they were unavailable in stores added to their appeal. Overdrive, the lamborghini, came with three guns and, best of all, a front cannon and wings. Tracks was not the only flying car in these days!
(Apologies and thanks to tf-1.com for the images.)
Transformer of the Day for April 24, 2009
BLACK ZARAK
-Faction: Decepticon (Headmaster)
-Era: Generation One (1984-92)
-Function: Dark Emperor
-Motto: “You Shall Not Survive”*
-Notable Toy: Regular (Takara, 1989)
Notes: Black Zarak is a modified Scorponok, featuring a giant spear and a modified head piece. Released as part of the Japanese Masterforce cartoon, Black Zarak is the counterpart to the Grand Maximus and menacing in black, gold and red. The Energon repaint, Dark Scorponok, are a tribute to the original and as close as Black Zarak has come to invading North American toy shelves.
Transformer of the Day for May 1, 2009
RATCHET
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Animated (2008 - Present)
-Function: Medic
-Motto: “Hold Still - This Won’t Hurt a Bit
-Notable Toy: Crystal Prime (Takara, 2003)
Notes: Ratchet never got his due in Generation One cartoon, where he was always left to fix the bots. Now, in the early days of the comic, that was a different story. Taking on Megatron alone, or even the Mechanic, before being passed over for the latest and greatest. Animated Ratchet is a medic too, but he’s one with a past, and he’s probably my favourite character on the show for it. Plus the Activator toy is a pretty nice piece.
Transformer of the Day for April 30, 2009
GALVATRON
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Generation One (1984-92)
-Function: City Commander
-Motto: “My Power Is Everything; Defeat is Absurd”
-Notable Toy: Reissue (Takara, 2005)
Notes: While I don’t quite agree with how every Megatron in the multiverse must at some point become Galvatron (and in the case of the Unicron trilogy, become him again and again and again), I love the original character. I love the figure and the transformation, the skilled warrior (in the movie) and the lunatic leader (in the cartoon). And it was more than gratifying to have him finally reproduced in proper colours in 2005.
***
Can you believe we’re a third of the way through the year already? I can scarely believe that we’ve gone through four months of transformers, a total of 120 ‘formers in all, and there are still so many good characters and toys ahead.
And away we go!
Transformer of the Day for April 29, 2009
OPTIMUS PRIME
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Armada-Energon-Cybertron (2002-2006)
-Function: Leader
-Motto: “Freedom is the Right of All Sentient Beings”
-Notable Toy: Crystal Prime (Takara, 2003)
Notes: It’s high time we had another crack at Optimus Prime and I can think of no better example than “Bendy Prime”, brought to us during the Armada years. Truth be told, Armada is a terrible cartoon for which I do not care. However, some of the toys are really nice and Optimus Prime is lucky enough to be one of them. Be it the deluxe version (or his many repaints, like the crystal version shown above), or the Leader class edition that comes with an automatically transforming trailer, Prime rules!
(Apologies and thanks to shmax.com and bbts.com for the toy images.)
