Transformer of the Day for July 4, 2009
GREAT SHOT
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Covert Combat
-Motto: “To Win Peace I Will Fight War Itself”
-Notable Toy: Standard (Takara, 1989)
Notes: Great Shot is a Japanese exclusive reconstruction of the original Decepticon Six Changer, Sixshot. As Takara did with Sixknight (another recovered six changer, this time based on Autobot Quickswitch), Takara remolded the head of the robot as well as the head of the animal transformation. And somehow this piece of red, white and blue never got mass produced in the U.S. Pity!
(Apologies and thanks to shmax.com and bbts.com for the toy pic.)
Transformer of the Day for July 3, 2009
THE FALLEN
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Movie (2007, 2009, 2011)
-Function: Harvenger
-Motto: “I Shall Be Avenged”
-Notable Toy: Voyager (Hasbro, 2009)
Notes: When they announced the name of the second live-action Transformers film, I figured “the Fallen” was simply a reference to Megatron. But then started the talk around the community about a character called The Fallen, with links back to the original thirteen character created by Simon Furman. Then the toy images began to appear. Throughout I believed the character was an elaborate red herring to keep the plot of the movie in doubt. It was only when he appeared in the comic adaptation that I so briefly skimmed that I realized he was to be. While the Fallen is certainly an interesting character, it is sooo disappointing that he turns the great Megatron into little more than a toady. Makes you wonder why he was such a bad villain in the first film…
Transformer of the Day for July 2, 2009
ELITA ONE
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Squadron Leader
-Motto: “Caution is a Mark of Valour”
-Notable Toy: Garage Kit (MC Axis, 1996)
Notes: Elita-One has been lurking around in the background of the multiverse since 1985, when she and the female Autobots first appeared in the Search for Alpha Trion. She’s appeared in the neo-Classics comics for Botcon 2007 (from which a very pink figure was derived for Botcon 2009) and had a movie-inspired repaint produced. She’s even appeared in Transformers: Animated as a pre-organic Blackarachnia. And she’s been given a bust by Diamond Direct. Still, the hard-to-find garage kit is the best representation out there.
Transformer of the Day for July 1, 2009
NIGHTRACER
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Gunner
-Motto: ““A Good Shot is Worth More than a Big Mouth”
-Only Toy: Botcon Exclusive (Hasbro, 1995)
Notes: Nightracer is a lot of first. The first North American female transformer. The first female Decepticon transformer. The first original exclusive convention character. And likely the first Transformer characterization not entirely owned by Hasbro. Never replicated, a true Nightracer features the personal touch of creater Raksha, the organizer of Botcon 1995, to bring to plastic life the stuff of her imagination. She’s a beaut and a treasure in any collection, and the perfect way to start the second half of 2009.
(Thanks to Raksha for permission to use Nightracer, and appreciation to Markatron for the artwork.)
