Transformer of the Day for December 11, 2009
SWINDLE
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Animated (2008-2009)
-Function: Weapons Specialist
-Motto: “Hey, Man, Wanna Buy A Plasma Cannon Cheap?”
-Notable Toy: Deluxe (Hasbro, 1989)
Notes: The original Swindle was the sole Combaticon besides Onslaught to get decent face time in the cartoon. Somehow Animated Swindle gets even more, and a better transformation to boot. Given his personality, he seems much more appropriate operating on his own, with his own ghost zone for supplies. He certainly makes for a terrific toy.
Transformer of the Day for November 13, 2009
RATBAT
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Animated (2008-2009)
-Function: Audio Assault
-Motto: “Awwww“
-Notable Toy: Deluxe (Hasbro, 2009)
Notes: Although a smart Ratbat, a la the Marvel Comics depiction of the great Generation One villain, would have been grand, it was nonetheless fantastic to see this Ratbat arrive on the scene. And as a keytar no less! Though I won’t quite believe it until I see it with my own eyes, Ratbat makes one repaint that needs to be bought the moment he arrives in stores.
(Apologies and thanks to the-arker.com for the toy pic.)
Transformer of the Day for October 26, 2009
SOUNDWAVE
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Animated (2008-2009)
-Function: Sonic Warrior
-Motto: “You Ain’t Heard Nothing Yet“
-Notable Toy: Activator (Hasbro, 2009)
Notes: Soundwave, like Megatron, has always suffered the challenge of being a popular character with a next-to-impossible-to-reproduce alternative mode. With the days of cassettes a memory for G1 fans and (unbelievably!) unknown to new fans, Soundwave has morphed over the years into a sports car, a missile trailer, a space ship and a satellite. Somehow though the Animated folks found a nice balance in the form of, irony of ironies, a truck. Getting him in Activator size is just icing on the cake.
Transformer of the Day for September 13, 2009
OPTIMUS PRIME
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Animated (2008-2009)
-Function: Earth-bound Commander
-Motto: “Earth is Under My Protection”
-Notable Toy: Voyager (Hasbro, TBD)
Notes: It wouldn’t be a modern-era Transformers line without multiple reiterations of Optimus Prime. Cybertronian deluxe class. Battle-damaged deluxe class. Voyager class. And Roll-Out Command supreme class. To say nothing of Activators and Bumper Battlers. While these main figures have their advantages, they have their disadvantages too. The scale is wrong for all the figures except for the voyager, whose weapons are way off. So it’s very exciting to see Hasbro releasing an upgraded deluxe version called Wingblade Prime (at the voyager price point). Fortunately, the weapons can be added to our voyager-class Primes. So we’ll get to the perfect figure one way or another!
(Apologies and thanks to tformers.com for the source toy material.)
Transformer of the Day for September 18, 2009
THUNDERCRACKER
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Animated (2008-2009)
-Function: Aerial Assault
-Motto: “My Glorious Reign is About to Begin”
-Notable Toy: Voyager (Hasbro, TBD)
Notes: While Skywarp and Sunstorm originally got the Voyager treatment, Thundercracker (the bold) was relegated to Activator status. That is until the powers-that-be decided to upgrade him as a repaint for an end-of-line release. While I for one remain incredible frustrated and disappointed to the dismal replies made in request of a voyager-scale Susan, I am nonetheless pleased to at least round out the original seeker trio for Animated.
Transformer of the Day for September 13, 2009
GRIMLOCK
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Animated (2008-2009)
-Function: Dinobot Commander
-Motto: “Me Grimlock Getting Hungry”
-Notable Toy: Voyager (Hasbro, TBD)
Notes: This is one of those odd cases in the Transformers-of-the-Day list where the toy listed is not the preferred version. Truth be told, Hasbro really got the toy right with the original voyager class Grimlock. Nonetheless, when faced with a toy that almost-didn’t-make-it-but-for-a-change-of-heart-at-the-last-minute, one cannot leave such a nod unacknowledged. Besides, Grimlock looks good in gold. Maybe it’s the nucleon…
Transformer of the Day for September 16, 2009
WASP
-Faction: Autobot Decepticon
-Era: Animated (2008-2009)
-Function: Fugitive / Saboteur
-Motto: “Wasp Never Go Back to Stockade… Never”
-Notable Toy: Deluxe (Hasbro, TBD)
Notes: It’s such an easy idea. Take Deluxe Bumblebee, produce him in green plastic, stick on card and ship to shelves as Wasp. Certainly, there are enough kitbashers who tried their hand at such a thing, like the poor sod who put together the customized version below, to indicate interest. While a new face would have been a nice touch, I’m happy to add Wasp, a better Wasp in my view, to our collection. Now get going with Cliffjumper why don’t you!?!
(Apologies and thanks to tformers.com for the source toy material.)
Transformer of the Day for September 15, 2009
ARCEE
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Animated (2008-2009)
-Function: Teacher
-Motto: “There is Strength in Knowledge”
-Notable Toy: Deluxe (Hasbro, TBD)
Notes: I won’t say we finally have an Arcee until we actually have it in our hands, but we are certainly getting close. And she looks really good too, a great complement to the new figures like Rodimus and Blackout that constitute the tail end of Animated. But the big question mark is whether she will sell or not. Will there be enough interest to generate sales of a pink sports car, or will she turn out to be a peg warmer? Time will tell.
(Apologies and thanks to tformers.com for the source toy material.)
Transformer of the Day for September 14, 2009
BLACKOUT
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Animated (2008-2009)
-Function: Shock and Awe
-Motto: “Lights Out”
-Notable Toy: Voyager (Hasbro, TBD)
Notes: One of the great strengths of Transformers: Animated is its efforts to bring all realms of Transformers into the show. So we have the ever-so-brief, yet nonetheless destructive, appearance of Blackout. And while the upcoming toy will showcase an Earth mode, it’s exciting to have a toy of this size and originally released after the line is effective over. Unless it isn’t. And isn’t that we all want after all?
(Apologies and thanks to tformers.com for the source toy material.)
Transformer of the Day for September 13, 2009
RODIMUS
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Animated (2008-2009)
-Function: Assault Team Leader
-Motto: “My Actions Speak Louder Than Words”
-Notable Toy: Deluxe (Hasbro, TBD)
Notes: A bit of a change of pace. For the next seven days, we’ll be looking ahead to the tail end of the much-loved Animated line. Consequently, the pictures used are lifted from various promotional shots, meaning the figures themselves are not yet mint in box. It gives those of us less enamoured with the latest movie something to anticipate, starting with the chosen one himself, Rodimus. And how wonderful is it that Judd Nelson reprised the role in the cartoon. I simply cannot wait for this wonderful toy.
(Apologies and thanks to dcjoshp of deviantart.com for the wonderful artwork.)
