Transformer of the Day for August 5, 2009
THUNDERCLASH
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Generation One Plus (1991-1992)
-Function: Commander-in-Chief
-Motto: “We’re Ready and More Than Able; Let Them Throw All They Want at Us; We Stand As One.
-Notable Toy: Leader-Class (Hasbro, 1992)
Notes: Although Thunderclash appeared as an exclusive at Botcon 2009, in an appropriate paint application, he somehow seems naked without his trailer. And where the position of Commander-in-Chief fits into the Autobot hierarchy of command is as yet unknown.
(Apologies and thanks to bbts.com and shmax.com for the toy pic.)
Transformer of the Day for August 4, 2009
TRYPTICON
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Assault Base
-Motto: “Total Victory Requires Total Destruction”
-Notable Toy: Standard (Hasbro, 1986)
Notes: Five facts about Trypticon. One, he is motorized, able to walk in dinosaur mode and roll in battle platform mould. Two, he was modified and reissued in 1998 as part of the Beast Wars II line as Gigastorm. Three, he is remarkably intelligent in his Marvel Comics’ appearance. Four, it is never made clear what happens to the people who inhabit the earth city from which Trypticon is birthed by the Constructions. Five, it’s rumoured that he likes pie.
(Apologies and thanks to Chi @ BigBot for the incredible artwork.)
Transformer of the Day for August 3, 2009
DOWNSHIFT
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Armada-Energon-Cyberton (2002-2006)
-Function: Evacuation
-Motto: “If I Can’t Beat Ya’ in Battle, I’ll Beat Ya’ on the Road“
-Notable Toy: Deluxe Two-Pack (Hasbro, 1997)
Notes: While Energon Downshift is clearly a homage to G1 Wheeljack, his name becomes more appropriate when he is transformed for his Cybertron appearance as a 1970s muscle car. Possibly the most original and flat out fun original Transformer of the decade, Hasbro really made use of the mold with a Big Daddy repaint exclusive.
(Apologies and thanks to shmax.com for the toy pic.)
Transformer of the Day for August 2, 2009
RUNABOUT
-Faction: Decepticon (Battle Charger)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Shock Trooper
-Motto: “A Pretty Car is an Even Prettier Wreck”
-Notable Toy: Battle Charger (Hasbro, 1986)
Notes: You don’t need to look any further than the Battle Chargers to see the evolution of Transformers. Gone are the days of inarticulate, boxy figures that featured automatic transformations. And yet, I’d love to see a modernized version of Runabout. A very minor cartoon and comic character, he’d be an easy repaint of Universe Sideswipe. Let’s go!
Transformer of the Day for August 1, 2009
IRONHIDE
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Security
-Motto: ““High Tech Circuitry is No Replacement for Guts”
-Notable Toy: Botcon Exclusive (Hasbro, 2005)
Notes: Before Kup, Ironhide was the gruff old warrior on the Autobot team. Like Ratchet, his original toy was a holdover from the Diaclone days and looked nothing like his animated appearance. And yet the neo-classics version manages to lose the nostalgia feel provided by the original toy’s disappearing battle platform. Really, it’s the 2005 Botcon retool that gets the character right - a robot that looks like the cartoon, a trailer that reminds us of the toy, and a van that matches our memories.
Some things are best left unanimated.
