Transformer of the Day for August 18, 2009
AQUABLAST
-Faction: Decepticon (Stormtrooper)
-Era: Generation Two (1993-1995)
-Function: Engineer
-Motto: “Listen! That’s the Music of One of my Super-Tuned, Ultra-Hot Engines… And Think What Terror it Must Strike in the Hearts of Those Autobot Cowards…”
-Notable Toy: Deluxe (Hasbro, 1993)
Notes: Aquablast was the first time I acquired a foreign-based Transformer, and he came into my possession during the resurgence of Beast Wars. And of course he was removed from his card backing. Although he was quickly followed by the G2 European Powermasters and Tarantulas, he continues to hold a special place on the toy shelf.
(Apologies and thanks to bbts.com and shmax.com for the actual Hasbro toy pic.)
Transformer of the Day for August 17, 2009
GRIZZLY-ONE
-Faction: Maximal
-Era: Beast Wars (1996-2000)
-Function: Bezerker
-Motto: “Sometimes Crazy Also Works”
-Notable Toy: Botcon Exclusive (Takara, 1998)
Notes: Before Polar Claw was, Grizzly-One was. You see Hasbro had originally planned to solicit Polar Claw in shades of brown and yellow. While I’ve no information as to what pre-empted the change, hats off to Takara for bringing the original beauty to life as an exclusive for the second (and last!) Botcon Japan, to say nothing of including the similarly painted Survive in Beast Wars Neo.
(Apologies and thanks to shmax.com for the toy pic. Check out the full pre-Toyfair picture at obscuretf.com)
Transformer of the Day for August 16, 2009
RICOCHET
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Shattered Verse (2008-Present)
-Function: Bodyguard
-Motto: “Shoot First, Why Bother With Questions”
-Notable Toy: Botcon Exclusive (Hasbro, 2008)
Notes: Ricochet has the distinction of being the first repeat character in the current line of Botcon exclusives. He also makes good use of the new Shattered Verse Jazz head sculpt. Curious though, he is not an inverse of what has become his tradition, Stepper-esque, colours. While I like the inevitable colour choice, I think it would have been cool to see a gold version with black flames as well.
(Apologies and thanks to shmax.com for the toy pic.)
Transformer of the Day for August 15, 2009
GROUNDBREAKER
-Faction: Autobot (Pretender)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Ground Trooper
-Motto: “The First One In Is the First One to Win“
-Notable Toy: Deluxe (Hasbro, 1988)
Notes: One of the second wave of three Autobot Pretenders, Groundbreaker’s shell features an animalistic-styled chest piece that nonetheless leaves his face unobscured. While the head sculpt on the Pretender shell is reminiscent of the original G.I.Joe Infantry Officer, Grunt, Groundbreaker has more in common with the 1988 Joe figure, Spearhead, if Spearhead were to wear a uniform reflective of his cat, Max.
(Apologies and thanks to botchthecrab.com for the pic.)
Transformer of the Day for August 14, 2009
TALON
-Faction: Decepticon (Predator)
-Era: Generation One Plus (1991-1992)
-Function: Advance Fighter
-Motto: “Don’t Get Me Mad - When I Get Mad I Get Even”
-Notable Toy: Basic (Hasbro, 1992)
Notes: Like his leader, Skyquake, Talon was an exclusive to Europe, Australian and Canadian markets. Like his brethren, he seems to be more than a tailender, particularly given that the last breath of the Generation One line was the Action Masters (for which tailenders like Tracks and Bombshell appeared in Europe in 1991). The reason why Hasbro decided to create brand new transforming toys that featured none of the gimmicks of the later years of the Generation One line, and then relegate them to “foreign” markets, is as yet unknown.
Transformer of the Day for August 11, 2009
CLAMPDOWN
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Diaclone Years (1982-1984)
-Function: Police Officer
-Motto: “Crime Is a Distraction from Liberty“
-Notable Toy: eHobby Exclusive (Takara, 2003)
Notes: One of the many diaclone recolours available before Transformers, Clamp Down’s paint scheme influenced the release of Red Alert. In 2003, he was finally released in an Autobot version more closely in synch with the original diaclone through eHobby.
Transformer of the Day for August 12, 2009
STARSCREAM
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Air Commander
-Motto: “Conquest is Made from the Ashes of One’s Enemies”
-Notable Toy: Masterpiece Exclusive (Hasbro, 2007)
Notes: It was only a matter of time before Starscream was added to the list. And while there can be no doubt that the figure reference would be the store exclusive, recoloured Masterpiece version of the toy, it’s important to remember all the wonderful alternatives that could have been selected. While I’m partial to the 1989 Classic Pretender myself, both the Robot Masters and Classics / Henkei versions are strong representations of a great character.
Transformer of the Day for August 11, 2009
FIRST AID
-Faction: Autobot (Protectobot)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Doctor
-Motto: “An Ounce of Maintenance is Worth a Pound of Cure”
-Notable Toy: Basic (Hasbro, 1986)
Notes: The four original “Scramble City” combiner teams (Stunticons, Aerialbots, Protectobots and Combaticons) were mostly cannon-fodder in the cartoon. Only the leader and one of the regular “soldiers” from each set got any real cartoon face time. First Aid, voiced by Michael Bell in the original cartoon, was the exception for the Protectobots. Of course, while the approved Generation One Hasbro release is included, my favourite reiteration of the character is still the “two-up” bootleg I found in Italy in 2005.
(Apologies and thanks to shmax.com for the actual Hasbro toy pic.)
Transformer of the Day for August 10, 2009
HUN-GURR
-Faction: Decepticon (Terrorcon)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Terrorcon Leader
-Motto: “Eat Only What You Need - Destroy the Rest”
-Notable Toy: Legends Five Pack Exclusive (Hasbro, 2009)
Notes: “Special Teams” was a term that came out of the Marvel UK comics and used to indicate the five-transformers Gestalts referenced in the Japanese cartoon, Scramble City. Interestingly enough, Hasbro adopted the brand name for use in its neo-Classics 2.0 line, for a special five pack of redecoed Legend class figures. It’s a truly nice set, even if the molds have been used a few too many times.
Transformer of the Day for August 9, 2009
SENTINEL MAXIMUS
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Universe (2003-2004)
-Function: Matrix Guardian / Armoured Transport
-Motto: “‘Til All Are One“
-Notable Toy: Exclusive (Hasbro, 2004)
Notes: Sentinel Maximus is truly a toy with a history. Originally solicited to serve as one of two toy exclusives to the then-Official Transformers Collectors’ Convention (OTFCC), a controversial successor to Botcon that folded in 2004, he was for whatever reason not ready for the convention itself. Later, when OTFCC declared bankruptcy, Hasbro itself undertook to distribute the toy to pre-paid convention goers as best as possible. A great example of how a truly nice toy can almost get lost in the bureaucracy of an event.
(Apologies and thanks to shmax.com for the toy pic.)
