Transformer of the Day for March 9, 2009
SUNDOR
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Kiss Players (2006-07)
-Function: Destron Spy
-Motto: “The Universe Revolves Around Me Because I am the Sun”
-Notable Toy: eHobby Release (Takara, 2006)
Notes: There is no stranger line of Transformers than Kiss Players, a radio drama linked to Takara’s Binaltech line with its own seperate toys. Apparently the voice actors for the radio play got together to create their own Transformers, including Destron spy Sundor, one part of a musical trio in the Kiss Player line. Since there is no window box available for Sundor, take a closer look at him here.
Transformer of the Day for March 8, 2009
STRONG-BOT
-Faction: Go-Bot
-Era: Playskool Gobots (2002-2005)
-Function: Construction
-Motto: “Change Me, Change the World”
-Notable Toy: Rescue Heroes Gobots (Takara, 2003)
Notes: Like so many of the Go-Bot figures, Strong-Bot appeared in a number of forms, while his toy mould was recoloured as Scrap-Bot. While Takara released Strong-Bot as Beck for the Japanes market, they opted to remold his redeco as the steamroller Randy. While numerous North American versions did not make it to Japan, Randy is the only one that did not make it to our shores.
(Apologies and thanks to GobotsArePureLove.com for the toy image.)
Transformer of the Day for March 7, 2009
COLOSSUS / CLENCH
-Faction: Decepticon (Obliterator)
-Era: Generation One Plus (1991-1992)
-Function: Leader
-Motto: “I Will Not Rest Until the Last Autobot is Crushed and the Decepticons Rule”
-Notable Toy: European Exclusive (Hasbro, 1993)
Notes:Like Pyro, I don’t think it is fair to label Colossus as either Generation 1 or Generation 2. He transforms and therefore has no Action Master links, yet he doesn’t resemble the G1 repaints that constituted so much of the first year of G2. He is clearly a transitional toy, a member of a two year collection of which all or parts limited release in Europe, Australia and even in Canada. A pleasure for any collection.*
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* Personal note: I am particularly fond of the Gen one-and-a-halfs, as I call them. Granted, we only received the first wave of toys - Thunderclash, Skyquake, Rotorstorm, Stalker, and the smaller Predators and Turbomasters that hit Canadian shelves - but it still a thrill to find the body of a Rotorstorm at a yard sale, knowing full well that this is a transformer not released in the United States. The second wave, that includes the likes of Pyro and Colossus, are harder to find, which makes me particularly proud to have managed to acquire G2 MIB versions of both characters from the Hartmans in 2006. Unlike so many Transformers, they both sit proudly on shelves, though I must occasionally resist the urge to free them from their cardboard homes.
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Transformer of the Day for March 6, 2009
THE GUARDIANS
-Faction: Cybertronian
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Planetary Defense
-Motto: “Protect. Defend”
-Notable Toy: eHobby Exclusive (Takara, 2008)
Notes: Cybertron’s final defense in Season Two, they were later revealed to have served as defenders of Quintesson order on ancient Cybertron. Lacking individualism save their sole survivor, Omega Supreme, the Guardian Robots were seemingly unstoppable protectors of the golden age. The repainted Energon character, Omega Sentinel, was seen as the closest they would ever come to a toy shelf, until eHobby took it upon themselves to commission one for the Encore line. So worth the import charges!
(Apologies and thanks to plasticcrack.net for the toy images.)
Transformer of the Day for March 5, 2009
TANKOR
-Faction: Vehicon
-Era: Beast Machines (1999-2000)
-Function: Vehicon General
-Motto: “Tankor SMASH”
-Notable Toy: McDonald’s Happy Meal (McDonald’s, 2000)
Notes: Rhinox/Tankor is my first excuse to reflect on a changed character. And clearly the absence of a decent figure is a measure of his villainy. God-awful plastic renderings must serve a higher purpose beyond my comprehension for a beloved character best represented by a McFormer! Even Takara couldn’t quite get him right (though they finally tried). At least they’ve worked to keep the name! 25th Anniversary him for Primus sake!
(Okay, I admit it. Given my ethical arguments and longstanding boycott of the restaurant, it hurts to promote a McDonald’s toy through my website. And yet, some things are just true. And it is easier to find a packaged McFormer than a Red Rooster version from Australia. Anyway, to mitigate my sins, an extra image of the duel nature of Rhinox/Tankor.)
Wanted to introduce a project I’ve been working on for some time, Kid Terrific!
A little back story. Being into cutesy toys, I have a fondness for the Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends and Superfriends line of toys. Being a big fan of Mr. Terrific, I thought it would be really cool to make a kiddie version using the Friends line.
Originally, I envisioned him cut from the base Captain America figure that came with the 2002 Rescue Motorcycle, because that Cap had a cool motorcycle jacket that seemed particularly moulded for Terry Sloan. And unlike the standard version, Cop Cap didn’t have big gloves to worry about. He seemed so right that I bought the set on closeout at Winners around 2005 and have kept it mint in package on my work table ever since.
Being a fan of flag-bearing heroes, I had the original version of Cap too, buried in a box and similiarly MOC. But last fall I stumbled upon a loose one at Value Village and realized how good he was. The boots! The cowl! With minor alterations like a collar and filling in the stars and stripes (and ditching the wings of course!) he could work well.
Honestly, the gloves drove me nuts for awhile because they were just too big to cut back. Too late I saw a pic of Terry from Sensational Comics #1 with gloves, albeit yellow. In hindsight I’m glad I didn’t go with yellow, but if I’d seen the picture before I painted the gloves red, I totally would have followed that interpretation. And because the gloves are painted (and not flesh tone) I can leave the original skin pigment under the cowl untouched.
In any case, the gloves have grown on me. And yes, the logo is etched into his chest. Once again, one more unofficial Mr. Terrific to fill the void left by DC. Terry forsaken.
(And don’t think I’m not thinking about getting Michael in on the action… Just looking for the right figure…)
Transformer of the Day for March 4, 2009
RHINOX
-Faction: Maximal
-Era: Beast Wars (1996-98)
-Function: Defence
-Motto:“Power in Defense of Freedom will Always Triumph over Power Used for Evil“
-Notable Toy: Statue (Hard Hero, 2004)
Notes: Rhinox. Mentor. Muse. Friend. And his end was so much more tragic for it. But while reissues may get better in terms of paint applications, the best rendering of Rhinox was the first and only Beast statue by HardHero. Sadly he would lacks for both his cannons and his co-patriots.
Transformer of the Day for March 3, 2009
STARSCREAM
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Armada-Energon-Cybertron (2002-2006)
-Function: Founders / Arms Dealers
-Motto: “My Destiny Is Leadership”
-Notable Toy: Armada (Takara, 2002)
Notes: While the Unicron Trilogy provided some very cool toys, it is a painful experience to watch. Starscream was one of the few characters with any real depth, but even that could save him from contradictory posturing. Any real portrayal of the character came with the Prelude to Energon video game. And though it is nice to see a tetrajet version in Cybertron, my toy pick is still the Japanese version from Armada.
Transformer of the Day for March 2, 2009
BUMBLEBEE
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Transformers: Animated (2008 - Present)
-Function: Speedster
-Motto: “Enough Talk! It’s Time for Action”
-Notable Toy: Activators (Hasbro, 2008)
Notes: I said from the beginning that this was not going to be simply a hack version of Transformers, with repeated characters every couple of weeks. But while TF:A Bumblebee shares characteristics with his many namesakes, he is remarkably different at the same time. For starters, he is obnoxious in his need to prove himself. And while it seems we won’t be fortunate enough to see the Hydrodive version of the character, our toy pick makes for a nice variation.
Transformer of the Day for March 1, 2009
QUINTESSON
-Faction: Quintessons
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Founders / Arms Dealers
-Motto: “How Do You Plead”
-Notable Toy: Quint #1 (Impossible Toys, 2006)
Notes: The Quintessons were great adversaries. Physically weak, they relied on cunning and manipulation to survive and thrive. Maybe that’s how they were featured in more appearances than a number of characters with toys to sell. And so many variations! Still, it took an independent company to finally bring them and their minions to plastic life. With a light-up base, the Quint is a welcome edition to the universe.
