Transformer of the Day for August 21, 2009
LANDMINE
-Faction: Autobot (Pretender)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Asteroid Miner
-Motto: “The Greatest Treasures are Found in Dark Places”
-Notable Toy: Deluxe (Hasbro, 1988)
Notes: I wonder how Sunbro would have portrayed the Pretenders in North America. Aside from the Japanese cartoons, we only have the comic interpretations to go on, and their weirdly accurate portrayal of the actual toy’s reveal of the character inside. Nonetheless, I have a soft spot for the trials of Landmine in his battles with the Mechabots. And colourful robots. Can’t forget those.
(Apologies and thanks to shmax.com for the toy pic.)
Transformer of the Day for August 15, 2009
GROUNDBREAKER
-Faction: Autobot (Pretender)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Ground Trooper
-Motto: “The First One In Is the First One to Win“
-Notable Toy: Deluxe (Hasbro, 1988)
Notes: One of the second wave of three Autobot Pretenders, Groundbreaker’s shell features an animalistic-styled chest piece that nonetheless leaves his face unobscured. While the head sculpt on the Pretender shell is reminiscent of the original G.I.Joe Infantry Officer, Grunt, Groundbreaker has more in common with the 1988 Joe figure, Spearhead, if Spearhead were to wear a uniform reflective of his cat, Max.
(Apologies and thanks to botchthecrab.com for the pic.)
Transformer of the Day for August 12, 2009
STARSCREAM
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Air Commander
-Motto: “Conquest is Made from the Ashes of One’s Enemies”
-Notable Toy: Masterpiece Exclusive (Hasbro, 2007)
Notes: It was only a matter of time before Starscream was added to the list. And while there can be no doubt that the figure reference would be the store exclusive, recoloured Masterpiece version of the toy, it’s important to remember all the wonderful alternatives that could have been selected. While I’m partial to the 1989 Classic Pretender myself, both the Robot Masters and Classics / Henkei versions are strong representations of a great character.
Transformer of the Day for August 11, 2009
FIRST AID
-Faction: Autobot (Protectobot)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Doctor
-Motto: “An Ounce of Maintenance is Worth a Pound of Cure”
-Notable Toy: Basic (Hasbro, 1986)
Notes: The four original “Scramble City” combiner teams (Stunticons, Aerialbots, Protectobots and Combaticons) were mostly cannon-fodder in the cartoon. Only the leader and one of the regular “soldiers” from each set got any real cartoon face time. First Aid, voiced by Michael Bell in the original cartoon, was the exception for the Protectobots. Of course, while the approved Generation One Hasbro release is included, my favourite reiteration of the character is still the “two-up” bootleg I found in Italy in 2005.
(Apologies and thanks to shmax.com for the actual Hasbro toy pic.)
Transformer of the Day for August 10, 2009
HUN-GURR
-Faction: Decepticon (Terrorcon)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Terrorcon Leader
-Motto: “Eat Only What You Need - Destroy the Rest”
-Notable Toy: Legends Five Pack Exclusive (Hasbro, 2009)
Notes: “Special Teams” was a term that came out of the Marvel UK comics and used to indicate the five-transformers Gestalts referenced in the Japanese cartoon, Scramble City. Interestingly enough, Hasbro adopted the brand name for use in its neo-Classics 2.0 line, for a special five pack of redecoed Legend class figures. It’s a truly nice set, even if the molds have been used a few too many times.
Transformer of the Day for August 7, 2009
STAR SABER
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Supreme Commander
-Motto: “Let’s Say ‘Go’“
-Notable Toy: Exclusive Box Set (Takara, 1989)
Notes: While we covered his Victory Saber combined form back on March 24, how could we not take a moment to look at the individual robot himself. Star Saber is a brainmaster, a Japanese-only line of toys where a second robot forms the inner part of the robot’s head. Serving as the fifth Cybertronian leader in Japan, it’s a shame North America never got a toy like this on its store shelves.
Transformer of the Day for August 6, 2009
ICEPICK
-Faction: Decepticon (Pretender Monster)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Demolitions
-Motto: “From Today’s Rubble-Strewn Fields Shall Emerge a New Decepticon World”
-Notable Toy: Basic (Takara, 1996)
Notes: Icepick is the North American counterpart to Goryu. Unlike his Japanese dinoforce brethren, Hasbro monster pretenders sport bright colours and colourful rubber pretender shells that are often dramatically affected by age. Though Icepick only lead hisDemolition monsters into battle in an alternate timeline during the Marvel comics run, he’s still a fun figure to own. And, as seen above, believes in the importance of a shirt and tie.
(Apologies and thanks to shmax.com for the toy pic.)
Transformer of the Day for August 4, 2009
TRYPTICON
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Assault Base
-Motto: “Total Victory Requires Total Destruction”
-Notable Toy: Standard (Hasbro, 1986)
Notes: Five facts about Trypticon. One, he is motorized, able to walk in dinosaur mode and roll in battle platform mould. Two, he was modified and reissued in 1998 as part of the Beast Wars II line as Gigastorm. Three, he is remarkably intelligent in his Marvel Comics’ appearance. Four, it is never made clear what happens to the people who inhabit the earth city from which Trypticon is birthed by the Constructions. Five, it’s rumoured that he likes pie.
(Apologies and thanks to Chi @ BigBot for the incredible artwork.)
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.
