Transformer of the Day for June 15, 2009
SKY LYNX
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Lieutenant Commander
-Motto: “The best achievements are worth repeating”
-Notable Toy: Encore Edition (Takara-Tomy, 2008)
Preface: Similar to our focus on characters using the prefix and suffix, storm, this week we are focused on those heroes and villains that are literally lost in the sky.
Notes: Sky Lynx is a great toy and one of the more entertaining aspects of the third season. An egocentric talking dinosaur hybrid - really, what could be better? But as Sky Lynx never originated from Takara, but rather from Toy Box, a rival toy company, he therefore never officially set foot in Japan, until the Takara-Tomy merger unveiled he was actually built for Toy Box by Tomy. Thus he was free at last to roam the land of Godzilla. And now you know the rest of the story…
Transformer of the Day for July 14, 2009
SLAMDANCE
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Architect
-Motto: “Beauty is in Everything Except War”
-Notable Toy: Attacktix (Hasbro, Unreleased)
toy - shmax/bbts
Transformer of the Day for May 30, 2009
STRAXUS
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992) -Function: Overlord
-Motto: “*There is No Room for Mercy, Only Death”
-Proposed Toy: Crossformer Hulk (Hasbro, 2008)
Notes: Straxus was an example of the early promise offered by the Marvel Generation One run of comics. Debuting as a throwaway antagonist in #17, Jihaxus would later be described by Jihaxus as a petty warlord. And though he meets a swift end in the North American run (lingering a bit longer in the UK run), and would return in the IDWverse, Stratux never made it to toy shelves. Which is a shame when the Marvel Crossover Hulk tank is such an obvious candidate for a retrofit into this classic space tank.
Transformer of the Day for May 27, 2009
DEVCON
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Bounty Hunter
-Motto: “You Can Run But You Will Not Hide”
-Proposed Toy: Energon Slugslinger (Hasbro, 2004)
Notes: From the missed opportunities file, Devcon is, after Alpha Trion, probably the best example of a classic Autobot who screams to be brought to life as an exclusive toy. And really, while there are a number of figures that could probably adequately serve as a base figure, can you really go wrong with the original proposal put forward in 2004 to make use of Energon Slugslinger?
Transformer of the Day for May 27, 2009
KRANIX
-Faction: Non-Aligned
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Scientist
-Motto: “The Way Forward is to the Stars”
-Proposed Toy: Spy Streak (Hasbro, 2001)
Notes: Following the best of the FunPublication Exclusives, it seems right to take the lead-up into Botcon 2009 to pine for more toys. Included here are some possible suggestions and, more importantly, recent molds that could work with a little love and a lot of luck.
If for no other reason than to give Crazy Steve over at Roboplastic Apocalypse a toy stand-in for Evil King Microcranios, it’s time to bring poor Kranix back to life. The sole survivor of Unicron at the beginning of the animated Transformers, Kranix lasts just long enough to reveal the Quintessons to Kup and Hot Rod. It’s time to bring him back to our shelves and, if you squint (which frankly is really how we get the repaints we do nine-tenths of the time) you can see something of Kranix in Beast Machines’ Spy Streak.
Transformer of the Day for May 24, 2009
PIRANACON
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Naval Assault
-Motto: ““Once More…the Hunt is On!”
-Notable Toy: Transformers Collectors’ Club (Hasbro, 2009)
Notes: The vibrant reissue of Piranacon was originally set to be a store exclusive during the days of Universe, but was ultimately shelved. You wouldn’t think that the blinding repaint would have received the level of support it did, and yet fans continued to pine for this rendition for many years. FunPublications certainly showed they were listening with the ultimate release of this set, in a G1-style box to boot. It really is amazing how quickly he sold out.
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 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 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 27, 2009
SUNSTREAKER
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Movie Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Warrior
-Motto: “They Can’t Beat the Best”
-Notable Toy: Universe (Hasbro, 2008)
Notes: Despite his vanity, Sunstreaker is so connected to Sideswipe that, since his introduction, he is either overshadowed by his more popular brother (see absence of an official Action Master (unofficial however is a different story), G2 or Shatteredverse version), or forced to be shown as a repaint (OTFCC, 2003). At least with Universe, he can regain a bit of his pride with a unique transformation that sets him apart. It’s okay Sunny; Teresa would never dream of making you a clone.
