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Transformer of the Day for August 28, 2009

MEGASTORM

-Faction: Predacon
-Era: Beast Wars II (1998)
-Function: Duke of Destruction
-Motto: “Loyalty Comes with a Price”
-Notable Toy: Leader-class (Takara, 1998)

Notes:  While Hasbro first used the mould as a suitable replacement for Megatron as part of Generation II, Takara reused the figure in the late 1990s for its anime Beast Wars II. Brother to that universe’s Galvatron, Megastorm would be reimagined as Gigastorm, a remoulded version of Trypticon, later in the series. But it’s the original tank that’s the ranking toy in this case. Because can you really go wrong with a giant green tank in a land full of animals?

Transformer of the Day for August 26, 2009

CARNIVAC

-Faction: Decepticon (Pretender Beast)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Hunter / Tracker
-Motto: “A cunning smile is more devastating than the fiercest weapon”
-Notable Toy: Deluxe (Hasbro, 1988)

Notes: Never underestimate Hasbro’s willingness to exploit a new concept. Combiners? Hello aerial/ protecto/ techno bots and your decepticon counterparts. Add a robot partner? Here comes target/ head/ powermasters. Pretenders were no different, and thus pretender beasts joined their humanoid pretender counterparts. The shells, like those of Carnivac, were blocks, and would have been really nice with some leg articulation. But still, somehow a rabid wolf seemed a little more appropriate for Earthen combat than scaly monsters.

Transformer of the Day for August 25, 2009

FIRE CONVOY / OPTIMUS PRIME

-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Robots in Disguise / Car Robots (2000-2001)
-Function: Autobot Commander
-Motto: “We Will Put out the Fires of Evil“
-Notable Toy: Exclusive God Fire Convoy Set (Takara, 2000)

Notes: I think Fire Convoy’s motto and battle cry should have been “no more MONKEY,” as he marks the return of Optimus to vehicle mode. Yes, the Fox-Kids dub of the cartoon was silly, but the toy was something to behold. Even better, Fire Convoy brought combiner technology with him, bringing even more fun to the toy.

(Apologies and thanks to bbts.com and shmax.com for the toy pic.)

Transformer of the Day for August 24, 2009

SCOWL

-Faction: Decepticon (Monster Pretender)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Sonic Saboteur
-Motto: “Control Sound, and the Faintest Whisper can be the Fiercest Weapon”
-Notable Toy: Basic (Hasbro, 1990)

Notes: Scowl is the Soundwave to Icepick’s Megatron. And yet I’ll always remember him from the Transformer sale at the Stedman’s in Weymouth that was a sign of its implosion in the face of the retail blitzkreig undertaken by the Weymouth Variety Store. It might not be Wal-Mart versus K-Mart or Target, but in a wee Atlantic Canadian town, it was just as epic. And blue monsters are cool!

Transformer of the Day for August 23, 2009

HOUND

-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Scout
-Motto: “Observe Everything, Remember Even More”
-Notable Toy: Henkei (Takara, 2009)

Notes: Although the original Hound toy was probably among the closest first year toy in resemblance to his on-screen appearance in the original cartoon, you got to give it up to Takara-Tomy / Hasbro for bringing an even better version to toy shelves. And with Ravage to boot! How about that for a nod to the original “More than Meets the Eye” episodes!

(Apologies and thanks to tf-1.com for the character pic.)

Transformer of the Day for August 22, 2009

YOKURYU

-Faction: Decepticon (Dinoforce)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Lightspeed Soldier
-Motto: “On High I Shall Savour Your Demise”
-Notable Toy: Basic (Takara, 1989)

Notes: A member of Dinoforce, Yokuryu is part of the terror known as Dinoking.  And while it may just be vain wishes on my part, I really hope that Takara-Tomy reissue Yokuryu and his friends and soon! I love the shells and I love Dinoforce!

Transformer of the Day for August 21, 2009

LANDMINE

-Faction: Autobot (Pretender)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Asteroid Miner
-Motto: “The Greatest Treasures are Found in Dark Places”
-Notable Toy: Deluxe (Hasbro, 1988)

Notes: I wonder how Sunbro would have portrayed the Pretenders in North America. Aside from the Japanese cartoons, we only have the comic interpretations to go on, and their weirdly accurate portrayal of the actual toy’s reveal of the character inside. Nonetheless, I have a soft spot for the trials of Landmine in his battles with the Mechabots. And colourful robots. Can’t forget those.

(Apologies and thanks to shmax.com for the toy pic.)

Transformer of the Day for August 20, 2009

SLUGSLINGER

-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Armada-Energon-Cyberton (2002-2006)
-Function: Aerial Combat
-Motto: “I Rule The Skies”
-Notable Toy: Deluxe (Takara, 2004)

Notes: The Doctor Mindbender of the Unicron Battles, Slugslinger is possibly the first transformer to arrive with a monocle. He’s also a pretty fun homage to his G1 predecessor. He kind of makes you wonder what kind of targetmaster an Energon toy would have used. Although his body was used for the exclusive Airazor (and proposed as the body for Devcon), he has not been subsequently reissued. And that is a shame.