Transformer of the Day for July 8, 2009
JETFIRE
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Armada-Energon-Cybertron (2002-2006)
-Function: Tactician
-Motto: “You Can Fall Alone or You Can Fall Together”
-Notable Toy: Ultra Powerlinx (Hasbro, 2003)
Notes: Jetfire is an odd character in that his transformation mode seems to devolve over the course of the Unicron trilogy, going from immense space shuttle with mini-con, to smaller star hopper, to earth-inspired military transport. That said, it is still a hard choice to determine his best toy. The Cybertronian bomber is such a perfect vehicle, particularly when dudded up in his Sky Shadow spy colours, but there is something that draws me to his space shuttle mode from Armada, particularly in his Powerlinx colours. Either way, he’s a win!
Transformer of the Day for July 7, 2009
OIL SLICK
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Animated (2008-2009)
-Function: Anarchist Road Warrior, Chemical Warfare
-Motto:“Fear is My Ally”
-Notable Toy: Deluxe (Hasbro, 2008)
Notes: Oil Slick wasn’t intended to show up on Transformers: Animated, and only made a brief appearance as part of Team Charr in Transwarp. But what an appearance! As a peg warmer in the Animated Line, you have to think that his television appearance will help move the upcoming repaint, which will be more show accurate. In the meantime, let us bask in the glory of peg-warmer Oil Slick.
Transformer of the Day for July 5, 2009
BANZAI-TRON
-Faction: Decepticon (Action Master)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Mercenary / Martial Arts Warrior
-Motto: “To the Victor Go The Profits”
-Notable Toy: Botcon Exclusive (Hasbro, 2009)
Notes: Banzai-Tron is possibly the most interesting original character produced for the Action Masters line. At Botcon 2009, he finally found issue as an actual transformer. Packaged with Skyquake, he’s a repaint of the battle boat known as Energon Mirage. He’s arguably the best exclusive made available at Botcon 2009, and the mold seems to fit him like a glove.
Transformer of the Day for July 4, 2009
GREAT SHOT
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Covert Combat
-Motto: “To Win Peace I Will Fight War Itself”
-Notable Toy: Standard (Takara, 1989)
Notes: Great Shot is a Japanese exclusive reconstruction of the original Decepticon Six Changer, Sixshot. As Takara did with Sixknight (another recovered six changer, this time based on Autobot Quickswitch), Takara remolded the head of the robot as well as the head of the animal transformation. And somehow this piece of red, white and blue never got mass produced in the U.S. Pity!
(Apologies and thanks to shmax.com and bbts.com for the toy pic.)
Transformer of the Day for July 3, 2009
THE FALLEN
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Movie (2007, 2009, 2011)
-Function: Harvenger
-Motto: “I Shall Be Avenged”
-Notable Toy: Voyager (Hasbro, 2009)
Notes: When they announced the name of the second live-action Transformers film, I figured “the Fallen” was simply a reference to Megatron. But then started the talk around the community about a character called The Fallen, with links back to the original thirteen character created by Simon Furman. Then the toy images began to appear. Throughout I believed the character was an elaborate red herring to keep the plot of the movie in doubt. It was only when he appeared in the comic adaptation that I so briefly skimmed that I realized he was to be. While the Fallen is certainly an interesting character, it is sooo disappointing that he turns the great Megatron into little more than a toady. Makes you wonder why he was such a bad villain in the first film…
Transformer of the Day for July 2, 2009
ELITA ONE
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Squadron Leader
-Motto: “Caution is a Mark of Valour”
-Notable Toy: Garage Kit (MC Axis, 1996)
Notes: Elita-One has been lurking around in the background of the multiverse since 1985, when she and the female Autobots first appeared in the Search for Alpha Trion. She’s appeared in the neo-Classics comics for Botcon 2007 (from which a very pink figure was derived for Botcon 2009) and had a movie-inspired repaint produced. She’s even appeared in Transformers: Animated as a pre-organic Blackarachnia. And she’s been given a bust by Diamond Direct. Still, the hard-to-find garage kit is the best representation out there.
Transformer of the Day for July 1, 2009
NIGHTRACER
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Gunner
-Motto: ““A Good Shot is Worth More than a Big Mouth”
-Only Toy: Botcon Exclusive (Hasbro, 1995)
Notes: Nightracer is a lot of first. The first North American female transformer. The first female Decepticon transformer. The first original exclusive convention character. And likely the first Transformer characterization not entirely owned by Hasbro. Never replicated, a true Nightracer features the personal touch of creater Raksha, the organizer of Botcon 1995, to bring to plastic life the stuff of her imagination. She’s a beaut and a treasure in any collection, and the perfect way to start the second half of 2009.
(Thanks to Raksha for permission to use Nightracer, and appreciation to Markatron for the artwork.)
Transformer of the Day for June 30, 2009
DINOBOT
-Faction: Maximal
-Era: Beast Wars (1996-1998)
-Function: Front-Line Combat
-Motto: “For Glory, For Honour, For Victory”
-Notable: 10th Anniversary Deluxe (Hasbro, 2006)
Notes: A glory-seeking warrior who nonetheless finds himself on the wrong side of conflict, Dinobot is possibly the most interesting character of the series. Given this, you can imagine the disappointment in the garish colour choices in Hasbro’s Universe release. Ugh! But despite a better paint application on the Henkei version, our toy choice here is actually the Hasbro 10th anniversary reissue, which has (a) a great rendition of the classic toy, (b) superb colouring in beast mode, (c) a piece of the build-a-figure, Transmutate, and (d) a DVD episode of the Season Two episode, Code of Hero that is one of the most poignant episodes in all Transformerdom.
Transformer of the Day for June 29, 2009
DINOKING
-Faction: Decepticon (Pretender)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Dinosaur Gestalt Warrior
-Motto: “There is No Peace, Only Terror”
-Notable Toy: Gift Set (Takara, 1989)
Notes: The release of Dinoking in Japan (and Monstructor in North America) really shows the differences between the North American and Japanese markets (or at least their respective companies). Unlike the rubbery pretender monsters shells that came with Icepick et. al., the Dinoforce figures came with rubbery shells in the form of dinosaurs. The colours of the robots were more sombre and less garish than their North American cousins. And only Dinoking could be caught all at once.
(Apologies and thanks to botchthecrab.com and tfarchives.com for the image.)
Transformer of the Day for June 28, 2009
CLIFFJUMPER
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Warrior
-Motto:“Strike First, Strike Fast, Strike Hard”
-Notable Toy: Classics Deluxe (Hasbro, 2007) + Accessories (FansProject, 2008)
Notes: Cliffjumper is best when portrayed as having a chip on his shoulder. He was fortunate to punch above his weight in terms of screen time. That said, it was disappointing that Hasbro’s repaint of Classics Bumblebee was somewhat disappointing due to the absence of a new head sculpt. Takara-Tomy’s Henkei line opted for the Legends mold for his portrayal, so fans everywhere are left to rely on FansProject’s accessory set to do old CJ justice.
