Transformer of the Day for October 4, 2009
DIRT BOSS
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Armada-Energon-Cybertron (2002-2006)
-Function: Scientist / Special Projects
-Motto: “My Size is My Deception”
-Notable Toy: Exclusive (Hasbro, 2006)
Notes: Ordinarily, Dirt Boss should be one of any number of nameless Decepticon cannon fodder filling out television screens everywhere. And he might be (admittedly I don’t know - the Unicron Saga is so unwatchable that I’ve only gotten into the first disc of Energon and that is by force of will of alone) except for the monocle. Looking more Dr. Mindbender than he should, Dirt Boss is in one masterstroke elevated to possible evil genius. An evil genius that looks like he might float with those wheels? Whatever gets him to the show, I suppose…
(Apologies and thanks to shmax.com or the toy image.)
Transformer of the Day for October 2, 2009
WHEELJACK
-Faction: Autobot Decepticon
-Era: Armada-Energon-Cybertron (2002-2006)
-Function: Warrior
-Motto: “Betrayal is in the Eye of My Targeting System”
-Notable Toy:Deluxe with Mini-Cons (Takara, 2003)
Notes: One of the terrific, albeit mould limited, features of Armada was the introduction of moulded insignias. In the case of Wheeljack, the ill-named, wayward Autobot now siding with the Decepticons, it makes for a wonderful gimmick of a scratched out logo. One that really plays nicely with the introduction of the Botcon exclusive Shattered Glass Sideswipe, but which works for little else. But the real downside of this character is the name. Not that G1 is sacrosanct, but that it means that the very Wheeljack-esque Autobot coming forward in Energon is forced to take the name of Downshift to avoid confusion.
(Apologies and thanks to shmax.com and bbts.com for the toy image.)
Transformer of the Day for September 27, 2009
CROSSWISE
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Armada-Energon-Cybertron (2002-2006)
-Function: Bounty Hunter
-Motto: “Peace Enforcement is the Name of the Game”
-Notable Toy: Cybertron Two-Pack (Hasbro, 2005)
Notes: Crosswise is an interesting fellow, primarily because his mould was repurposed for so many homages. Shattered Glass Jazz and Ricochet, Smokescreen and Jolt, they all originate from Crosswise. Even his name isn’t original, having been repurposed from a Spychanger. But he’s a great mould, nevertheless, and there have been far worse figures that could have fallen victim to the repaint.
Transformer of the Day for September 11, 2009
CHECKPOINT
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Armada-Energon-Cyberton (2002-2006)
-Function: Security
-Motto: “There is No Room for Error, No Possibility of Mistake”
-Notable Toy: Exclusive Two-Pack (Hasbro, 2004)
Notes: Although Checkpoint may technically be part of the Unicron Battles, he and the redecoed Energon Prowl seem more appropriate to the Universe line of toys. Otherwise he is a great use of a relatively underused Energon toy, Rodimus, and ironically looks closer to being Prowl than his traveling companion. Which is kind of ironic, when you think about it.
Transformer of the Day for September 10, 2009
CYCLONUS / SNOWCAT
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Armada-Energon-Cyberton (2002-2006)
-Function: Warrior
-Motto: “”There is No Terrain, or Opponent, that I Cannot Conquer.”
-Notable Toy: Deluxe (Hasbro, 2005)
Notes: Oh I could go on about Cyclonus, the halfwit Decepticon from Armada. But I am so intrigued by his “upgraded” self, Snowcat. Here is a vehicle that bears eerie resemblance to a GIJoe vehicle of the same name, right down to the wiper blade and name! Even weirder is the Transformers Universe repaint, which you could almost see as part of GIJoe’s Night Force line.
Transformer of the Day for September 8, 2009
SCORPONOK
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Armada-Energon-Cyberton (2002-2006)
-Function: Warrior
-Motto: “If I Do Not Crush You with my Claws, I Will Finish You with my Sting!”
-Notable Toy: Built-To-Rule (Hasbro, 2005)
Notes: While Scorponok is clearly inspired by his Generation One counterpart, it’s his comic book characterization that wins me over to his side. It’s a shame that Dreamwaves’ implosion prevented us from learning his ultimate fate. While the Cybertron Dark Scorponok repaint was a contender for the toy, I have to go with the rare Built to Rule Scorponok from the ill-fated second series. Such a shame that the line had to die just as a lot of the bugs had been worked out.
Transformer of the Day for August 20, 2009
SLUGSLINGER
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Armada-Energon-Cyberton (2002-2006)
-Function: Aerial Combat
-Motto: “I Rule The Skies”
-Notable Toy: Deluxe (Takara, 2004)
Notes: The Doctor Mindbender of the Unicron Battles, Slugslinger is possibly the first transformer to arrive with a monocle. He’s also a pretty fun homage to his G1 predecessor. He kind of makes you wonder what kind of targetmaster an Energon toy would have used. Although his body was used for the exclusive Airazor (and proposed as the body for Devcon), he has not been subsequently reissued. And that is a shame.
Transformer of the Day for August 3, 2009
DOWNSHIFT
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Armada-Energon-Cyberton (2002-2006)
-Function: Evacuation
-Motto: “If I Can’t Beat Ya’ in Battle, I’ll Beat Ya’ on the Road“
-Notable Toy: Deluxe Two-Pack (Hasbro, 1997)
Notes: While Energon Downshift is clearly a homage to G1 Wheeljack, his name becomes more appropriate when he is transformed for his Cybertron appearance as a 1970s muscle car. Possibly the most original and flat out fun original Transformer of the decade, Hasbro really made use of the mold with a Big Daddy repaint exclusive.
(Apologies and thanks to shmax.com for the toy pic.)
Transformer of the Day for July 27, 2009
THUNDERCRACKER
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Armada-Energon-Cyberton (2002-2006)
-Function: Surveillance
-Motto: “To Hide is to Have the Element of Surprise”
-Notable Toy: Bonus Edition (Takara, 1989)
Notes: What was interesting with Cybertron Thundercracker Starscream was not the use of the name but the form his toy took. For one shining moment, he was more than simply a repaint of . He was his own toy, even if his toy version came with a gun for a hand. Of course his brother Skywarp was not so lucky. If you are going to grab him, might as well get the boxed version with Downshift minicon.
Transformer of the Day for July 24, 2009
HOT SHOT
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Armada-Energon-Cyberton (2002-2006)
-Function: Warrior
-Motto:“Well Let’s Go!”
-Notable Toy: Exclusive Cybertron Two-Pack (Hasbro, 2006)
Notes: In Armada, he became Optimus Prime’s choice for successor. In Japan’s Micron Legend line, he was actually named Hot Rod, who paint application was the basis for his Powerlink mode. Colour-changes, even vehicle changes, Hot Shot was a bot on the move. And while the yellow version is his most consistent (as best seen in Takara-Tomy’s Henkei issue), my pick here is the boxed Cybertron form with the mini-con tin.
(Apologies and thanks to shmax.com for the toy pic.)
