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Transformer of the Day for November 15, 2009

SOUNDWAVE

-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Armada-Energon-Cyberton (2002-2006)
-Function: Communications
-Motto: “Leave No Trace but Your Reputation“
-Notable Toy: Voyager (Hasbro, 2006)

Notes: The hardest thing to do with a revision of Soundwave is to turn him into something other than a cassette player. Since his Generation One days, he’s been a Gobot (G2), a missile truck (Machine Wars) a mutant bat/crocodile fusion (Beast Wars), a satellite (movie) and an SUV (animated). Turning him into a space ship is just par for the course. Where Hasbro showed a little love and care is to give him his own mini-con, in the form of a depth charge-changing Laserbeak. This one touch made the rest worthwhile.

Transformer of the Day for December 6, 2009

WING SABER

-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Armada-Energon-Cyberton (2002-2006)
-Function: Transport
-Motto: “Courage and Fortitude are the Foundations of a True warrior”
-Notable Toy: Two-Pack Exclusive (Hasbro, 2006)

Notes: Wing Saber is somewhat notable for having been introduced in Energon and then continuing to have a role in Cybertron. In both cases, he is capable of merging with Optimus Prime to do battle, and you wonder if this transformation wasn’t the basis for the Movie’s partnering of Optimus Prime and Jetfire. While the Energon toy is somewhat unique in that it was not subsequently redecoed for sale, you really can’t go wrong with a two-pack of this calibre, which originally offered a hundred dollars of action for less than $40 at Costco.

Transformer of the Day for November 18, 2009

JOLT

-Faction: Minicon
-Era: Armada-Energon-Cyberton (2002-2006)
-Function: Flight
-Motto: “I’ll Help You to Soar”
-Notable Toy: Deluxe PVC (Takara, 2002) 

Notes: The last Jolt in our mini spotlight is actually the smallest, and the first time a minicon has made the list on its own. While it is probably technically wrong to put a minicon on the side of right or wrong, I figure it’s okay given that he is paired with Hot Shot. It also gives me an occasion to spotlight Takara’s deluxe PVC line that featured G1 and Armada characters. Articulate, with special weapons (or minicons), it really was a fun line!

(Apologies and thanks to bbts.com and shmax.com for the toy image.)

Transformer of the Day for November 7, 2009

BRUSHGUARD

-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Armada-Energon-Cyberton (2002-2006)
-Function: Scientist
-Motto: “Toxins are the Weapons I Wield“
-Notable Toy: Basic (Hasbro, 2005)

Notes: Resembling an evil Brawn, with Wolverine-style claws, Brushguard is a pretty sturdy toy given the era from which he originates. I really had to go with the Universe carded figure that was available through discount store Dollar General, just because it really highlights the pale blue in a way that the original packaging does not.

Apologies and thanks to shmax.com for the toy image.)

Transformer of the Day for October 23, 2009

QUICKSTRIKE

-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Armada-Energon-Cyberton (2002-2006)
-Function: Search and Rescue
-Motto: “A Solid Plan of Attack is More Powerful than the Cannon or Sword“
-Notable Toy: Ultra (Hasbro, 2005)

Notes: Unlike his Predacon namesake, Quickstrike is no cowboy. But I’ve always thought that his face bore a particular resemblance to a young Alpha Trion. In Prime colours no less. In fact, there were originally plans to use this mold to recreate Alpha Trion prior to the Botcon exclusive in 2007, the face was just right enough. Fortunately I was spared that exercise, and Quickstrike can live out his time as his own bot.

Transformer of the Day for October 16, 2009

CRUMPLEZONE

-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Armada-Energon-Cybertron (2002-2006)
-Function: Warrior
-Motto: “There is No Fear I Cannot Outrun”
-Notable Toy: Voyager (Hasbro, 2006)

Notes: For some reason, I like Crumplezone. I think it might be that his head reminds me a bit of Tankor. I certainly love the shoulder missiles that come into view at the push of a button. But there is something particularly juicy about his “dark” version. The repaints makes a superior toy even better.

(Apologies and thanks to shmax.com for the toy picture.)

Transformer of the Day for October 15, 2009

OVERCAST

-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Armada-Energon-Cyberton (2002-2006)
-Function: Evacuation
-Motto: “We Must Fight Alongside Our Enemy Against a Common Threat“
-Notable Toy: Ultra (Hasbro, 2005)

Notes: Each part of the Unicron triology offered something for fans. Armada offered up mini-cons and Unicron. Cybertron gave us a massive tetrajet Starscream and a fresh Soundwave. For Energon, though, it was not the gimmicky spark of combination, but repaints that had new identities, rather than serving as reincarnation of the original figure. In this case, it was nice to bring home a new addition of Overcast, even if he and Jetfire were brothers.

(Apologies and thanks to tfu.info for the toy picture.)

Transformer of the Day for October 7, 2009

SKYBLAST

-Faction: Autobot (Omnibot)
-Era: Armada-Energon-Cybertron (2002-2006)
-Function: Tactician
-Motto: “My Greatest Ally is the Sky Itself”
-Notable Toy: Built-to-Rule (Hasbro, 2004)

Notes: It is reported that Skyblast is a homage to Skyfire, the problematic Generation One jet based on the Macross Valkyrie that left him in limbo as far as the show was concerned. And certainly you can see that in his face. The original Skyblast mould has seen a few repaints for the movie line, but we’re running with the hard-to-find Built-to-Rule version here. This lost second series got a lot of the bugs out of the concept and might have offered more to fans had Hasbro not dumped the line and run away.