Transformer of the Day for June 23, 2009
BLACK SHADOW
-Faction: Decepticon (Crossformer)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Space Gangster
-Motto: “There is Profit in War and War in Profit”
-Notable Toy: Crossformer (Takara, 1988)
Don’t you wish that your function read as “Space Gangster”? That’s how Black Shadow, a remold of Thunderwing, is described in the translations from his Japanese-only tech spec. This particular Japanese exclusive somehow manages to retain all the coolness of Thunderwing, but come off as more together and in control due to a remolded pretender head sculpt. Amazing what humanoid features can do for a guy. If he’d been released in North America, I imagine he would have played Cyclonus to Overlord’s more sane Galvatron and Blue Bacchus’s Scourge.
(Apologies and thanks to the futuristgroup for the toy image.)
Transformer of the Day for June 22, 2009
HOT SHOT
-Faction: Autobot (Spy Changer)
-Era: Robots in Disguise / Car Robots (2000-2001)
-Function: Squadron Leader
-Motto: “I Can Take the Heat”
-Notable Toy: Blind Box Super Spy Changer (Takara, 2003)
Notes: As is often the case, Artfire goes by a complete different moniker in North America, Hot Shot. Like his Spy Changer brethren, he is useable with standard 1/64 scale playsets and his toy mold has been recoloured many, many times, both as himself and including as a silver Megatron and a purple Frenzy. I still like the white Super Spy Changer version myself.
(Apologies and thanks to tfwiki.net and plasticcrack.net for the toy pics.)
Transformer of the Day for June 21, 2009
SKYFALL
-Faction: Autobot (Action Master)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Weapons Engineer
-Motto: “Flying is the Ultimate Freedom”
-Notable Toy: Action Master (Hasbro, 1990)
Notes: Although other toys have notably tried to wear the proud name of the original animated Skyfire, notably Cybertron Skyblast, Skyfall may be the closest thing to the real thing. Putting aside the face plate, there is a passing similarity with respect to the Skyfall toy and the animated Skyfire, notably in the legs. And someone was certainly thinking of the legendary jet when they worked out his name and certain points in his tech spec.
(Apologies and thanks to tfu.info for the toy image.)
Transformer of the Day for June 20, 2009
SKYWARP
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Warrior
-Motto: “Strike When the Enemy Isn’t Looking”
-Notable Toy: Target Exclusive (Hasbro, 2006)
Notes: Even with his cool warping abilities, I always manage to confuse Skywarp with his seeker colleague, Thundercracker. That said, there are any number of great toy examples of Skywarp, but I opted to go with the Target exclusive two-pack (with shell-less Ultra Magnus). Even though the Henkei is more faithful to the cartoon, you can’t go wrong with a two figure pack. Particulary one that, although selling for as low as US$15 in 2006, can now fetch upwards of US$65.
(Apologies and thanks to shmax.com and bbts.com for the toy pic.)
Transformer of the Day for June 19, 2009
SKYHAMMER
-Faction: Autobot (Pretender)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Ground and Air Assault
-Motto: “There is No Disgrace in Not Succeeding, Only in Not Trying”
-Notable Toy: Ultra Pretender (Hasbro, 1989)
Notes: You have to give it up to Hasbro and Takara - they really did try a number of variations on a theme to keep the line going. 1988 Pretenders gave way to combiner Pretenders (the Monstercons), Classic Pretenders and Mega Pretenders (where the shell also transformed). Is it any surprise then that the two Ultra Pretenders, Skyhammer and Roadblock, featured not only a transforming shell for the inner transforming robot, but a secondary external vehicular shell? Nope. But pretty good bank for one’s buck!
(Apologies and thanks to shmax.com and bbts.com for the toy pic.)
Transformer of the Day for June 18, 2009
SKYSTALKER 
-Faction: Decepticon (Micromaster)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Interstellar Assault
-Motto: “Terror Reigns from the Skies, the Hapless Rule on the Ground”
-Notable Toy: Micromaster Vehicle (Hasbro, 1989)
Notes: Why Skystalker? Well, three reasons really. One, the animated part of his Micromaster cartoon meant there was an easily retreavable picture of him, courtesy of tfwiki.net. Two, I love the idea of a giant drab space cruiser being piloted by a brightly coloured orange sportscar. And three, he fit the theme of the week. So go Skystalker!
(Apologies and thanks to tfu.info for the toy image.)
Transformer of the Day for June 17, 2009
SKY HIGH
-Faction: Autobot (Pretender)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Scout
-Motto: “Imagination is the Key that Unlocks the Chains of Reality”
-Notable Toy: Deluxe Pretender (Hasbro, 1988)
Notes: Sky High was the first Pretender I had the fortune to play with. Although the inner robot is impossibly thin and limited in his transformation complexity, the concept of a protective shell that could act at the behest of the inner robot fascinated me. Also, he has a great gun. A later release, Sky High is more rare and definitely a keeper.
(Apologies and thanks to botchthecrab.com for the character pic.)
Transformer of the Day for June 16, 2009
SKYQUAKE
-Faction: Decepticon (Predator)
-Era: Generation One Plus (1991-1992)
-Function: Air Commandant
-Motto: “Break Them, Crush Them - Grind Them to Dust”
-Notable Toy: European Exclusive (Hasbro, 1992)
Notes: Recently back in the spotlight thanks to his exclusive Botcon pairing with Banzai-Tron, Skyquake is another European and Canadian-release, which I’ve dubbed Generation One Plus. Although his main robot form would eventually be used for Machine Wars Starscream and new character, King Atlas, these releases wouldn’t carry all the features of the original. Like a rocket-firing pistol. The ability to drop bombs on your toys is also a pretty neat effect.
(Apologies and thanks to shmax.com for the toy pic.)
Transformer of the Day for June 15, 2009
SKY LYNX
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Lieutenant Commander
-Motto: “The best achievements are worth repeating”
-Notable Toy: Encore Edition (Takara-Tomy, 2008)
Preface: Similar to our focus on characters using the prefix and suffix, storm, this week we are focused on those heroes and villains that are literally lost in the sky.
Notes: Sky Lynx is a great toy and one of the more entertaining aspects of the third season. An egocentric talking dinosaur hybrid - really, what could be better? But as Sky Lynx never originated from Takara, but rather from Toy Box, a rival toy company, he therefore never officially set foot in Japan, until the Takara-Tomy merger unveiled he was actually built for Toy Box by Tomy. Thus he was free at last to roam the land of Godzilla. And now you know the rest of the story…
I’m spending a chunk of the weekend working through upcoming TF of the Day postings. As always, this has led to new ideas on how to make the exercise more interesting, notably the inclusion of new sub-category headers. These headers are interesting to me, at least, because they’ll give me a better sense of which era I’ve been leaning on (or rather, just how much I’ve been leaning on Generation One).
In any event, it means going back through six months worth of listings to make the appropriate updates. Bear with me. In the meantime, I offer this custom pic for Puppylove-SewingStars and this one for Nala-PlasticCrack. Right up your respective alleys I think. And proof positive that I am not the only one who thinks of this stuff. And, Teresa, as you can see, Towline has much Ratchetability.
