Transformer of the Day for July 18, 2009
ORION PAX
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Freight Handler
-Motto: “Freedom for All”
-Notable Toy: eHobby Exclusive (Takara, 2005)
Notes: One of the best episodes of Generation One was “War Dawn”, where the aerialbots learn the secret origin of Optimus Prime. While other timelines have spoken of Optimus as a washed-out cadet or a data collection specialist, here the great leader comes from humble beginnings. And even if it is simply a repaint of the reissued G1 Kup, somehow his single toy appearance just works right. It doesn’t hurt that Dion comes along for the ride.
Transformer of the Day for July 17, 2009
AUTOJETTER
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Beast Wars II (1998)
-Function: Aerial Guard
-Motto: “War is a Sport and I Play to Win”
-Notable Toy: Korean Release (Takara, 1998)
Like Autolauncher, Autojetter was intended to be rolled out as part of Hasbro’s Generation Two line. But like the second wave of Gobots (of which four of the six molds survived to become in Robots in Disguise), these two figures never even merited a mention in Hasbro’s 1995 toyfair catalogue. What’s peculiar about this fact is repaints of Dirtbag and Roadblock, titled Sgt. Hound and General Optimus, somehow did. Why they didn’t take advantage of these great molds is beyond me.
Transformer of the Day for July 16, 2009
GALAXY SHUTTLE
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Interstellar Transport Warrior
-Motto: “Let’s Wing It”
-Notable Toy: Standard (Takara, 1989)
Notes: Like Godbomber to Powermaster Optimus Prime, Galaxy Shuttle is one of those Takara-issued figures that would have greatly enhanced its companion toy (in this case, Countdown). Because, really, isn’t it more practical to have a sentient robot carrying your crew into deep space as opposed to an empty rocket? Galaxy Shuttle may not have the best of names, but he certainly looks good on Countdown’s platform.
(Apologies and thanks to tfarchives.com for the pic.)
Transformer of the Day for July 15, 2009
OVERLORD
-Faction: Decepticon (Powermaster / Godmaster)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Self Contained Nomadic Assault Machine
-Motto: “I Stand My Ground… I Accept any Challenge… I am Hungry for Conflict”
-Notable Toy: European Powermaster (Hasbro, 1992)
Notes: The only problem with the release of Powermaster Optimus Prime in North America is the absence of a great nemesis. Toywise, Megatron had been shelved right up until Action Masters, and Darkwing and Dreadwind just weren’t the same. Now just consider the possibility if the double powermaster Overlord, with forms of a jet and tank, had been allowed to balance the hero. That’s exactly what I think…
(Apologies and thanks to botchthecrab.com for the image.)
Transformer of the Day for July 14, 2009
SLAMDANCE
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Journalist
-Motto: “The True Victor Will Be Correlated from History”
-Notable Toy: Two-Pack (Hasbro, 1988)
Notes: Slamdance is a odd toy. One of the smallest gestalts, his individual forms of Grandslam and Raindance take the shapes of vehicles rather than sentient animals or humanoids. And the best description of his function is as journalist, an odd calling for a race where everyone is immediately branded as part of one faction or another. And though he has little poseability, he’s a fun toy, although it is curious why Hasbro didn’t release any other gestalt tape pairing outside of his nemesis, Squawkbox.
(Apologies and thanks to botchthecrab.com for the image.)
Transformer of the Day for July 13, 2009
DEMOLISHER
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Warrior
-Motto: “As You Command”
-Notable Toy: KB-Toys Exclusive (Hasbro, 2004)
Notes: Whatever the era, Megatron needs a toadie. In G1, it seemed as though Shockwave and Soundwave fought over the title. In Robots in Disguise, Sky-Byte wanted to be in his leader’s good graces, while in Beast Wars, Scorponok wanted to be his main man. And who can forget Animated’s Lugnut? In Armada, Demolisher seemed to want to earn the title. Of course, the best rendering of him was in his green, Autobot phase, before he was transformed into a constucticon in Energon.
Transformer of the Day for July 12, 2009
QUICKMIX
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Armada-Energon-Cybertron (2002-2006)
-Function: Builder
-Motto: “For a Society to Stand Tall, You Gotta Build the Foundation Sound”
-Notable Toy: Cybertron (Hasbro, 2006)
Notes: Quickmix has more than a passing resemblance his Generation One Targetmaster namesake. Same transformation, similar headsculpt and colours, and even his minicon, Stripmine, resembles one of G1 Quickmix’s targetmaster partners, Boomer. That said, the notable difference is the placement of the cement mixer, which, for Cybertron Quickmix, serves as his right hand. Still, you cannot go too wrong with a mixer for a hand. Or a club if need be…
(Apologies and thanks to tfu.info for the images.)
Transformer of the Day for July 7, 2009
HYDRA 
-Faction: Decepticon (Godmaster)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Space Aviation Officer
-Motto: “Friends are More Dangerous than Enemies”
-Notable Toy: Godmaster (Takara, 1988)
Notes: Hydra is the Japanese version of Darkwing. Similar to his North American counterpart, Hydra can form a gestalt jet form with his partner, Buster (Dreadwind in North America). The whole concept of a combined jet mode is strange enough without the garish colours either brother sports. However, as Hasbro has recently seen fit to recolour Universe Superion as Dreadwind, and the Transformers Collectors’ Club has blessed us with a recoloured Classics Jetfire as Darkwing, can a non-combining Hydra and Buster be far behind?
(Apologies and thanks to botchthecrab.com for the character image.)
Transformer of the Day for July 10, 2009
CROSSBLADES
-Faction: Autobot (Mega Pretender)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Ground Reinforcements
-Motto:“A Warrior Is Only as Good as His Weapons”
-Notable Toy: Mega Pretender (Hasbro, 1989)
Notes: Ah, Pretenders. Following the head, target and powermasters, Pretenders represented Hasbro next effort to revitalize the toy line. And the standard Pretender shells quickly gave way to shells that could transform. Though Crossblades was only briefly mentioned in the U.S. comic book, his mold would be reconditioned to form the Decepticon Blue Bacchus in Japan. Both are fine toys and great additions to the collection.
(Apologies and thanks to botchthecrab.com, shmax.com and bbts.com ffor the image.)
Transformer of the Day for July 9, 2009
SCOURGE
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Robots in Disguise / Car Robots (2000-2001)
-Function: Tanker, Decepticon Commander
-Motto: “Vengeance is an Excuse for Failure. I Do Not Seek Vengeance”
-Notable Toy: Ultra (Takara, 2000)
Notes: Robots in Disguise is not a favoured series for me, and yet its portrayal of Scourge, the corrupted protoform dupleganger of Optimus Prime (or Fire Convoy if you prefer), is terrific. In fact, in some ways, he’s more interesting than Optimus himself. Doesn’t hurt one bit that the first and best toy used for Scourge just happened to be a repaint of one of the best Generation Two toys to be released.
