Transformer of the Day for July 29, 2009
VENOM
-Faction: Decepticon (Deluxe Insecticon)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Psychological Warfare
-Motto: “Friends are More Dangerous than Enemies”
-Notable Toy: Deluxe (Takara, 1985)
Notes: I love the Deluxe Insecticons and never understood why they didn’t get their due in the cartoon. It was only later that I learned their origins were from Bandai and not Takara, eliminating the motivation for advertising what would have been a rival line in Japan. Still, Venom is a great addition to the collection, with flair to spare!
Transformer of the Day for July 28, 2009
FREEWAY
-Faction: Autobot (Throttlebot)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Saboteur
-Motto: “Words Can Cut Deeper than Steel”
-Notable Toy: European Classics (Hasbro, 1991)
Like the other Throttlebots, Freeway’s engineering seems to come directly from the Decepticon Battle Chargers of the previous year, albeit without the automated transformation feature. That said, there is something to be said for the pull-back motors that work in both vehicle and robot mode. Freeway, however, has the unique distinction of becoming my very first Internet-purchased Transformer way back in 1994. It’s been all downhill since then.
(Apologies and thanks to shmax.com for the toy pic.)
Transformer of the Day for July 27, 2009
THUNDERCRACKER
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Armada-Energon-Cyberton (2002-2006)
-Function: Surveillance
-Motto: “To Hide is to Have the Element of Surprise”
-Notable Toy: Bonus Edition (Takara, 1989)
Notes: What was interesting with Cybertron Thundercracker Starscream was not the use of the name but the form his toy took. For one shining moment, he was more than simply a repaint of . He was his own toy, even if his toy version came with a gun for a hand. Of course his brother Skywarp was not so lucky. If you are going to grab him, might as well get the boxed version with Downshift minicon.
Transformer of the Day for July 26, 2009
R.E.V.
-Faction: Autobot (Spy Changer)
-Era: Robots in Disguise / Car Robots (2000-2001)
-Function: Race Exertion Vehicle
-Motto: “Plan Well, Win Easy”
-Notable Toy: Spy Changer Giftset (Takara, 2001)
Notes: Now here’s a curious thing. While Hasbro certainly make frequent use of the Spy Changers as part of their Generation Two, Robots in Disguise and Universe lines, it seems it also made use of their paint applications as well. Case in point, Robots in Disguise R.E.V. (known as Eagle Killer in Japanese) uses artwork eerily similar to G2 Gearhead, while his companion W.A.R.S. (a redeco of the very same Gearhead) nonetheless updates the colour scheme of G2 Firecracker (see below).
(Apologies and thanks to plasticcrack.net and tfu.info for the toy pics.)
Transformer of the Day for July 25, 2009
GORYU
-Faction: Decepticon (Dinoforce)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Commander
-Motto: “Crush Them Before they Even Rise”
-Notable Toy: Standard Issue (Takara, 1989)
Notes: Like his North American counterpart, Icepick, Goryu is the leader of his respective gestalt team, Dinoforce. Like his team, he’s impossible to find for reasonable prices. He’s exclusive to the Japanese market, you see, where they figured dinosaurs beat monsters for the attention of young kids. He’s a little drab in colour but the dinosaur shells are awesome.
(Apologies and thanks to Prime Sabre for the toy pic.)
Transformer of the Day for July 24, 2009
HOT SHOT
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Armada-Energon-Cyberton (2002-2006)
-Function: Warrior
-Motto:“Well Let’s Go!”
-Notable Toy: Exclusive Cybertron Two-Pack (Hasbro, 2006)
Notes: In Armada, he became Optimus Prime’s choice for successor. In Japan’s Micron Legend line, he was actually named Hot Rod, who paint application was the basis for his Powerlink mode. Colour-changes, even vehicle changes, Hot Shot was a bot on the move. And while the yellow version is his most consistent (as best seen in Takara-Tomy’s Henkei issue), my pick here is the boxed Cybertron form with the mini-con tin.
(Apologies and thanks to shmax.com for the toy pic.)
Transformer of the Day for July 23, 2009
SUNSTORM
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Aerospace Warrior
-Motto: “The Glories of Victory are Defined by My Will”
-Notable Toy: eHobby Exclusive (Takara, 2003)
Notes: Like Acid Storm, Sunstorm’s origins are found in an animation error in the old Sunbrow production cells. Unlike his rainmaker friend, however, Sunstorm was given life in the Dreamwave comic book as a powerful deranged clone of Starscream. And he’s been oft-repeated, most notably in Transformers: Animated. Still, there is something about his repainted G1 seeker form, particularly given its wider available due to a subsequent reissue in 2009.
Transformer of the Day for July 22, 2009
MIRAGE
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Spy
-Motto:“Who and What I Am I Hide From the Enemy“
-Notable Toy: eHobby Exclusive (Takara, 2007)
Notes: I imagine that no one was more happy with the arrival of Jetfire than Mirage, because it meant he was not the only Autobot to be considered a traitor. But for a group of alleged peace loving mechanoids, there seemed to be a lot of occasion to point fingers at the aristocrat in the group.
(Apologies and thanks to plasticcrack.net for the main image, and tf-1.com for the bonus and wonderful diaclone originals.)
Transformer of the Day for July 21, 2009
HOWLBACK
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Diaclone Years (1982-1984)
-Function: Enforcer
-Motto: “Dissent will be Supressed”
-Notable Toy: eHobby Exclusive (Takara, 2005)
Notes: Packaged with Garboil, a blue repaint of Laserbeak, Howlback is a blue repaint of Ravage, reminiscent of early Diaclone colours. A female panther this time around, Howlback is unfortunately so close to Ravage in colour that it’s hard to tell them apart. Nevertheless, it’s still good to have a few more clever cats on your team.
Transformer of the Day for July 19, 2009
TRIGGERHAPPY
-Faction: Decepticon (Targetmaster)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Gunner
-Motto: “Have Gun, Have Fun”
-Notable Toy: Deluxe (Hasbro, 1987)
Notes: In Generation One, Hasbro seemed to enjoy releasing trios of toys. For the Decepticon targetmasters, that meant Slugslinger, Misfire and Triggerhappy. Partnered with Blowpipe, Triggerhappy was also my favourite of the group simply because of the sheer number of cannons at his disposal. He looked futuristic and cool and someone you didn’t want to run up against him in a dark alley.
