Transformer of the Day for May 31, 2009
BOTANICA
-Faction: Maximal
-Era: Beast Machines (1999-2000)
-Function: Deep Space Explorer
-Motto: “External Growth Comes from Within”
-Proposed Toy: Night Viper (Hasbro, 1999)
Notes: After 10 years of missed opportunities, it’s time for Botanica to stand tall beside her fellow Maximals in the battle for Cybertron. The problem of course is what possible figure could one change into Botanica that would even come close to her appearance in the show? Or do you overlook the obvious and give her a pre-exploratory mode? My vote is for a modified Beast Machines Night Viper, but with work done on the snake head transformation.
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 29, 2009
DIRGE
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Shattered Verse (2008 - Present)
-Function: Squadron Leader
-Motto: “The More Things Change The More They Stay The Same”
-Notable Toy: Transformers Club Exclusive (Hasbro, 2007)
Notes: While I would have preferred a golden conehead with blue wings, the heroic Dirge oddly harkins back to the Beast Wars II Thrust. Regardless, as one of my favourite, he had to make the list in this reiteration as well. And though it would be terrific if he were to come to life use using the Henkei Dirge mold, I’d be more than happy to see him as a recoloured Ramjet.
(Apologies and thanks to seibertron.com for the toy image.)
Transformer of the Day for May 28, 2009
DOWNSHIFT
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Shattered Verse (2008 - Present)
-Function: Scout
-Motto: “Never Lose the Element of Surprise”
-Proposed Toy: Cybertron Crosswise (Hasbro, 2005)
Notes: Chalk it up to a surprise red shirt in the Transformers’ Collectors Club comic book, but Downshift has won me over. I love the blue and silver patterning of the character based on the classic Reflector component, Spyglass, even if he lasts mere seconds before becoming so much slag. And though the Transformers Collectors’ Club has made use of the Crosswise mold before, notably for Shattered Verse Jazz and Richochet, he could be easily recommissioned for Downshift.
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 26, 2009
JHIAXUS
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Generation Two (1993-1995)
-Function: Leader
-Motto: “The Past is a Roadblock to the Future”
-Proposed Toy: Crossformer Ironman (Hasbro, 2008)
Notes: The villain behind the curtain in the short-lived Marvel Generation Two comic book, Jihaxus was raised as a possible exclusive in the form of Gobot Aerobot. Although he actually appears on the shelves as a recoloured deluxe Jetstorm, he still needs something. Given his recent reappearance in the IDWverse under the command of Nova Prime, it’s time that Jihaxus got some respect. And wouldn’t a refitted Marvel Crossover Ironman made a good mould? Yes…
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 23, 2009
AIRAZOR
-Faction: Maximal
-Era: Beast Wars (1996-1998)
-Function: Squadron Leader
-Motto: “The More Things Change The More They Stay The Same”
-Notable Toy: Transformers Club Exclusive (Hasbro, 2007)
Notes: Referenced in the Botcon 2006 comic book detailing the pre-Beast Wars battles, Airazor finally appeared through the Transformers Collector Club in 2007. She’s a nice use of Energon Slugslinger with a nice head. The only “flaw” is that she stands head and shoulders over Cheetor and Tigatron. But when does scale matter to the Transformers collector?
Transformer of the Day for May 22, 2009
GOLDBUG
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Shattered Verse (2008 - Present)
-Function: Espionage
-Motto: ““The least likely is always the most dangerous”
-Notable Toy: Botcon Exclusive (Hasbro, 2008)
Notes: Originally the mature version of G1 Bumblebee, Goldbug has never looked better. For many fans, this black repaint of Cybertron Hot Shot with a revised head sculpt was the highlight of the Shattered Glass box set, cleverly mirroring the black repaint of Bumblebee’s movie counterpart. Clearly, it’s good to be evil.
