Transformer of the Day for November 3, 2009
PREDITRON
-Faction: Go-Bots
-Era: Playskool Gobots (2002-2005)
-Function: Aerialbot Leader
-Motto: “There is Freedom in My Loss of Control”
-Notable Toy: Go-Bots (Playskool, 2004)
Notes: Preditron is a Go-Bot gone bad. He is a transformed Beast Bot who makes mischief across the universe. Released at the tail-end of the Go-Bot’s line as a modified Cheetor, he has clear plastic limbs that make him stand out in the crowd. Plus, evil. In a Go-Bot kind of way of course.
(Apologies and thanks to tfu.info for the toy image.)
Transformer of the Day for November 2, 2009
RAV
-Faction: Maximal (Deployer)
-Era: Beast Machine (1999-2000)
-Function: Evacuation
-Motto: “Keep To Yourself, Protect From Enemies“
-Notable Toy: Basic Repaint (Hasbro, 2000)
Notes: If minicons can get love, then why not Deployers. Particularly when they represent that rare occasions when Transformer accessories were sold without being packaged with Transformers. It’s a shame that no one opted to take advantage of the moulds to do some kind of exclusive, in the vein of the odd partnership frequently implied between Rav (Chro) and Cryoteck. Although Rav will always be a hero in my books.
(Apologies and thanks to shmax.com for the toy image.)
Transformer of the Day for November 1, 2009
MEGATRON
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Armada-Energon-Cyberton (2002-2006)
-Function: Leader
-Motto: “Join Me and I Will Send You to Battle. Defy Me, and I Will Send You to Oblivion.“
-Notable Toy: Voyager (Hasbro, 2002)
Notes: The Unicron Trilogy Megatron/Galvatron is an exercise in hits and misses. While Armada Megatron is a great tank rendering with decent colouring, the Galvatron power mode seems unconvincing. For Energon, the situation is reversed, with a lackluster paint application on the Megatron but a dynamic rendering of G1 Galvatron for the second release, making the switch to spaceship mould almost worthwhile. Similarly, the quixotic choice of a sports car mode for Megatron (harking back to what, his gobot days?) fails with its original colours, but is almost win with the G1-style Megatron colours as (inexplicibly) Galvatron. Really, they just couldn’t figure out what to do with the great leader.
(Apologies and thanks to shmax.com for the toy image.)
Transformer of the Day for October 31, 2009
BUMBLEBEE
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Espionage
-Motto: “The Least Likely Can Be the Most Dangerous”
-Notable Toy: Statue (HardHero, 2004)
Notes: It seems like such an oversight that Bumblebee has only appeared after 10 months of the TF of the Day feature. Of course, we’ve already seen the likes of MovieBee and AnimatedBee and even Earth3Bee Goldbug, to say nothing of Munny Bee, so it was only really a matter of time. And although I was really fond of the Action Master and PretenderBee (who would make a great cosplay costume - inner robot duds with an external humanoid body suit), how can you not go with the classic animated statue. Of course, the box really should read first and only in the line of minibots…
Transformer of the Day for October 30, 2009
BLUDGEON
-Faction: Decepticon (Pretender)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Electric Warrior
-Motto: “To Know Your Own Limits, You Must First Know Your Foes Limits“
-Notable Toy: Voyager (Hasbro, 2009)
Notes: Bludgeon, like Thunderwing, should have been another forgettable transformers, end line transformer. Reliant on gimmicks, and released late in the original run, he is saved by memorable characterization by Simon Furman who infused the master of metallo with character and drive and a sense of honour. So it’s nice to see him done right, if even if that means being included as part of the Revenge of the Fallen line. Bludgeon, you never looked so good.
(Apologies and thanks to tf-08.net for the toy image.)
Transformer of the Day for October 29, 2009
SILVERBOLT
-Faction: Autobot -Era: Beast Wars (1996-1998)
-Function: Tracker
-Motto: “Even in the Face of the Darkest Nights, Justice will Ultimately Prevail”
-Notable Toy: Deluxe (Takara, 1998)
Notes: I always like the concept of blended animals that came out of the Fuzor line and was happy that at least two of them appeared on the show. And what a loveable character Silverbolt was, making his evolution in Beast Machines (first as Jetstorm and then his brooding return to the Maximal fold) that much striking. I really wanted to showcase the Beast Machines toy, but even with the colour corrected Takara release, the sizing issues alone (a basic toy when Nightscream and Jetstorm both warrant ultras?) prevent me. So “classic” Silverbolt it is.
Transformer of the Day for October 28, 2009
SIXSHOT
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Solo Transformer Assault Group
-Motto: “Life is Worth Living Only as Long as There Are Enemies Worth Destroying”
-Notable Toy: Reissue (Takara, 2002)
Notes: Given that ToysRUs has begun to issue reissued transformers again, in the form of Perceptor and the Insecticons, wouldn’t it be nice if Hasbro used the opportunity to once again bring the six changing Sixshot back to North American shores for an encore run? Yes, the price point would be large but if there is a classic less-articulated transformer that kids might really go for, it’s Sixshot.
Transformer of the Day for October 27, 2009
FLAK
-Faction: Autobot (Micromaster)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Rapid Deployment Strike Force
-Motto: “Good Luck is the Residue of Good Planning”
-Notable Toy: Voyager (Hasbro, 2009)
Notes: It’s nice to see Hasbro using Universe 2.0/Classics 2.0 as a means of re-introducing Micromasters like Countdown and Stormcloud. While Flak does not get a formal entry into Classics 2.0, it’s hard not to imagine either Dropshop (with a misplaced Decepticon logo) or Overload as his modern day equivalent. A little ironic though given the existence of the arctic-coloured Flak reissue of the same mould.
Transformer of the Day for October 26, 2009
SOUNDWAVE
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Animated (2008-2009)
-Function: Sonic Warrior
-Motto: “You Ain’t Heard Nothing Yet“
-Notable Toy: Activator (Hasbro, 2009)
Notes: Soundwave, like Megatron, has always suffered the challenge of being a popular character with a next-to-impossible-to-reproduce alternative mode. With the days of cassettes a memory for G1 fans and (unbelievably!) unknown to new fans, Soundwave has morphed over the years into a sports car, a missile trailer, a space ship and a satellite. Somehow though the Animated folks found a nice balance in the form of, irony of ironies, a truck. Getting him in Activator size is just icing on the cake.
Transformer of the Day for October 25, 2009
DOUBLEHEADER
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Surveillance
-Motto: “Burn, Baby, Burn“
-Notable Toy: Deluxe (Hasbro, 1989)
Notes: When Hasbro shrunk its “deluxe” pretenders in 1989, it also sought to make the Autobot pretenders more alien. Although Pincher could have been done in scale with his 1988 or Classic Pretender brethren, Longtooth could be a sympathetic addition to the Decepticon forces. Doubleheader on the other hand is a merger of the two - still humanoid but, inexplicably, here is a single-headed robot (presumably with a single mind) with two heads. What a backstory he must / should have.
(Apologies and thanks to bbts.com and shmax.com for the toy image.)
