Transformer of the Day for March 8, 2009
STRONG-BOT
-Faction: Go-Bot
-Era: Playskool Gobots (2002-2005)
-Function: Construction
-Motto: “Change Me, Change the World”
-Notable Toy: Rescue Heroes Gobots (Takara, 2003)
Notes: Like so many of the Go-Bot figures, Strong-Bot appeared in a number of forms, while his toy mould was recoloured as Scrap-Bot. While Takara released Strong-Bot as Beck for the Japanes market, they opted to remold his redeco as the steamroller Randy. While numerous North American versions did not make it to Japan, Randy is the only one that did not make it to our shores.
(Apologies and thanks to GobotsArePureLove.com for the toy image.)
Transformer of the Day for March 7, 2009
COLOSSUS / CLENCH
-Faction: Decepticon (Obliterator)
-Era: Generation One Plus (1991-1992)
-Function: Leader
-Motto: “I Will Not Rest Until the Last Autobot is Crushed and the Decepticons Rule”
-Notable Toy: European Exclusive (Hasbro, 1993)
Notes:Like Pyro, I don’t think it is fair to label Colossus as either Generation 1 or Generation 2. He transforms and therefore has no Action Master links, yet he doesn’t resemble the G1 repaints that constituted so much of the first year of G2. He is clearly a transitional toy, a member of a two year collection of which all or parts limited release in Europe, Australia and even in Canada. A pleasure for any collection.*
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* Personal note: I am particularly fond of the Gen one-and-a-halfs, as I call them. Granted, we only received the first wave of toys - Thunderclash, Skyquake, Rotorstorm, Stalker, and the smaller Predators and Turbomasters that hit Canadian shelves - but it still a thrill to find the body of a Rotorstorm at a yard sale, knowing full well that this is a transformer not released in the United States. The second wave, that includes the likes of Pyro and Colossus, are harder to find, which makes me particularly proud to have managed to acquire G2 MIB versions of both characters from the Hartmans in 2006. Unlike so many Transformers, they both sit proudly on shelves, though I must occasionally resist the urge to free them from their cardboard homes.
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Transformer of the Day for March 6, 2009
THE GUARDIANS
-Faction: Cybertronian
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Planetary Defense
-Motto: “Protect. Defend”
-Notable Toy: eHobby Exclusive (Takara, 2008)
Notes: Cybertron’s final defense in Season Two, they were later revealed to have served as defenders of Quintesson order on ancient Cybertron. Lacking individualism save their sole survivor, Omega Supreme, the Guardian Robots were seemingly unstoppable protectors of the golden age. The repainted Energon character, Omega Sentinel, was seen as the closest they would ever come to a toy shelf, until eHobby took it upon themselves to commission one for the Encore line. So worth the import charges!
(Apologies and thanks to plasticcrack.net for the toy images.)
Transformer of the Day for March 5, 2009
TANKOR
-Faction: Vehicon
-Era: Beast Machines (1999-2000)
-Function: Vehicon General
-Motto: “Tankor SMASH”
-Notable Toy: McDonald’s Happy Meal (McDonald’s, 2000)
Notes: Rhinox/Tankor is my first excuse to reflect on a changed character. And clearly the absence of a decent figure is a measure of his villainy. God-awful plastic renderings must serve a higher purpose beyond my comprehension for a beloved character best represented by a McFormer! Even Takara couldn’t quite get him right (though they finally tried). At least they’ve worked to keep the name! 25th Anniversary him for Primus sake!
(Okay, I admit it. Given my ethical arguments and longstanding boycott of the restaurant, it hurts to promote a McDonald’s toy through my website. And yet, some things are just true. And it is easier to find a packaged McFormer than a Red Rooster version from Australia. Anyway, to mitigate my sins, an extra image of the duel nature of Rhinox/Tankor.)
Transformer of the Day for March 4, 2009
RHINOX
-Faction: Maximal
-Era: Beast Wars (1996-98)
-Function: Defence
-Motto:“Power in Defense of Freedom will Always Triumph over Power Used for Evil“
-Notable Toy: Statue (Hard Hero, 2004)
Notes: Rhinox. Mentor. Muse. Friend. And his end was so much more tragic for it. But while reissues may get better in terms of paint applications, the best rendering of Rhinox was the first and only Beast statue by HardHero. Sadly he would lacks for both his cannons and his co-patriots.
Transformer of the Day for March 3, 2009
STARSCREAM
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Armada-Energon-Cybertron (2002-2006)
-Function: Founders / Arms Dealers
-Motto: “My Destiny Is Leadership”
-Notable Toy: Armada (Takara, 2002)
Notes: While the Unicron Trilogy provided some very cool toys, it is a painful experience to watch. Starscream was one of the few characters with any real depth, but even that could save him from contradictory posturing. Any real portrayal of the character came with the Prelude to Energon video game. And though it is nice to see a tetrajet version in Cybertron, my toy pick is still the Japanese version from Armada.
Transformer of the Day for March 2, 2009
BUMBLEBEE
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Transformers: Animated (2008 - Present)
-Function: Speedster
-Motto: “Enough Talk! It’s Time for Action”
-Notable Toy: Activators (Hasbro, 2008)
Notes: I said from the beginning that this was not going to be simply a hack version of Transformers, with repeated characters every couple of weeks. But while TF:A Bumblebee shares characteristics with his many namesakes, he is remarkably different at the same time. For starters, he is obnoxious in his need to prove himself. And while it seems we won’t be fortunate enough to see the Hydrodive version of the character, our toy pick makes for a nice variation.
Transformer of the Day for March 1, 2009
QUINTESSON
-Faction: Quintessons
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Founders / Arms Dealers
-Motto: “How Do You Plead”
-Notable Toy: Quint #1 (Impossible Toys, 2006)
Notes: The Quintessons were great adversaries. Physically weak, they relied on cunning and manipulation to survive and thrive. Maybe that’s how they were featured in more appearances than a number of characters with toys to sell. And so many variations! Still, it took an independent company to finally bring them and their minions to plastic life. With a light-up base, the Quint is a welcome edition to the universe.
Transformer of the Day for February 28, 2009
REWIND
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Archivist
-Motto: “Too Much Information Is Never Enough”
-Notable Toy: Cassette Two-Pack (Hasbro, 1986)
Notes: Although never rivalling the size and diversity of Soundwave’s army, Blaster started to even the odds with his own cassette warriors. Rewind, packaged with Steeljaw, first appeared in the animated story and received limited television time compared to his Decepticon counterparts. Still, you can’t have too many cassette warriors, particularly when they come in pairs. Soon to be re-released, Rewind is at his best in his original package.
(As a special bonus, here is Rewind sharing screen time with his faithful companion, Steeljaw.)
***
It is appropriate that the archivist brings an end to the month of February, spotlighting the North American Generation One releases. We now return to a more random selection of the heroes and villains that inhabit the Transformers multiverse.
Transformer of the Day for February 27, 2009
DEVASTATOR
-Faction: Decepticon (Constructicon)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992), Generation Two (1993-95)
-Function: Warrior
-Motto: “Thinking and Winning Do Not Mix
-Notable Toy: Giftset (Hasbro, 1985)
Notes: Devastator. Although his animated origins are in doubt, there is no mistaking the coolness of a combining robot that could destroy everything in its path. While we wait to see how he is pulled off in “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen”, there is no doubt he retains a place here. In Constructicon green, of course!
(For more information on Devastator, check out the Generation One Transformer Bible here, here and here.)
