Transformer of the Day for October 16, 2009
CRUMPLEZONE
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Armada-Energon-Cybertron (2002-2006)
-Function: Warrior
-Motto: “There is No Fear I Cannot Outrun”
-Notable Toy: Voyager (Hasbro, 2006)
Notes: For some reason, I like Crumplezone. I think it might be that his head reminds me a bit of Tankor. I certainly love the shoulder missiles that come into view at the push of a button. But there is something particularly juicy about his “dark” version. The repaints makes a superior toy even better.
(Apologies and thanks to shmax.com for the toy picture.)
Transformer of the Day for October 15, 2009
OVERCAST
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Armada-Energon-Cyberton (2002-2006)
-Function: Evacuation
-Motto: “We Must Fight Alongside Our Enemy Against a Common Threat“
-Notable Toy: Ultra (Hasbro, 2005)
Notes: Each part of the Unicron triology offered something for fans. Armada offered up mini-cons and Unicron. Cybertron gave us a massive tetrajet Starscream and a fresh Soundwave. For Energon, though, it was not the gimmicky spark of combination, but repaints that had new identities, rather than serving as reincarnation of the original figure. In this case, it was nice to bring home a new addition of Overcast, even if he and Jetfire were brothers.
(Apologies and thanks to tfu.info for the toy picture.)
Transformer of the Day for October 14, 2009
DIRGE
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Movie (2007, 2009, 2011)
-Function: Infiltration
-Motto: “You Cannot Catch What You Cannot Find”
-Notable Toy: Deluxe (Hasbro, 2009)
Notes: Friends of fairplaythings.com are aware of my repudiation of the 2009 movie. But while there were few on-screen characters that peaked my plastic fetish, a fact not aided by the fact that returning characters so closely resembled their 2007 counterparts, the same cannot be said for a number of the non-screen follow-up toys. Given my love of all things Dirge, it’s little surprise that this little wonderful rendition of a Harrier jet would be on my must-have list, right down to his little gold-tipped wings and coned-head.
Transformer of the Day for October 13, 2009
AIR HAMMER
-Faction: Maximal (Fuzor)
-Era: Beast Wars (1996-1998)
-Function: Aerial Reconnaissance
-Motto: “From the Sky, I See; From the Sky, I Strike”
-Notable Toy: Basic (Hasbro, 1998)
Notes: Air Hammer almost makes you wonder why a hammerhead shark and a hawk evolution never came about. Everything from the choice of animals to paint applications seems so natural and smooth. It’s enough to make you wish she had made it onto the silver screen.
(Apologies and thanks to shmax.com and bbts.com for the toy image.)
Transformer of the Day for October 12, 2009
AIRWAVE
-Faction: Decepticon (Micromaster)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Aerial Defense
-Motto: “My Price is Too High and You’re Going to Pay”
-Notable Toy: Deluxe (Hasbro, 1989)
Notes: Given their size, Micromasters introduced us to the concept of bases and platforms that had not been previously available to the Transformers. Of course the basis transformered themselves, but what was really fun was their ability to link up to form a kind of Transformers City in their “disguised” form. Airwave’s little airport seemed to work particularly well with him, providing him a massive gun battery as well as a natural hiding place to land.
(Apologies and thanks to shmax.com and bbts.com for the toy image.)
Transformer of the Day for October 11, 2009
FORTRESS MAXIMUS
-Faction: Autobot (Headmaster)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Headmaster Leader
-Motto: “Prepare for War but Strive for Peace”
-Notable Toy: Supreme (Takara, 1987)
Notes: Adjusted for inflation, Fortress Maximus was a behometh of a purchase. Costing over $100 back in the day, and sitting at more than two feet tall, he comes with his own crew, namely Cerebros, Cog and Spike. He’s a must buy, particularly if you can get your hands on the Japanese version that comes with a master sword. Because nothing says victory like a giant sword!
Transformer of the Day for October 10, 2009
THUNDERWING
-Faction: Decepticon (Pretender)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Aerial Espionage
-Motto: “Cover Yourself With Lies and No One Will Find You”
-Notable Toy: Mega (Hasbro, 1989)
Notes: Joining the animated Scourge, Thunderwing was also corrupted by the power of the Matrix, which made for an interesting storyline in the U.S. comics. As a result, he has emerged as one of the most memorable of the pretenders. It’s a nice touch that his pretender shell itself is a transformer, of which he can become a part. And of course, he is the basis for the brilliant redesign known as Black Shadow that was available in Japan.
(Apologies and thanks to shmax.com and bbts.com for the toy image.)
Transformer of the Day for October 9, 2009
OPTIMUS PRIMAL
-Faction: Maximal
-Era: Beast Wars (1996-1998), Beast Machines (1999-2000)
-Function: Commander / Spirit Guide
-Motto: “The Seeds of the Future Lie Buried in the Past”
-Notable Toy: Supreme (Hasbro, 2002)
Notes: Before Transformers: Animated retroduced a neophyte Optimus Prime, Beast Wars brought us Optimus Primal, a commander who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, taking an undisciplined crew into a war and coming out a leader. Though his metamorphosis into a Transformers shaman was not the transformation fans had hoped for, the delayed release of the Supreme toy under the Robots in Disguise banner was most welcome. The boss monkey fits in perfectly in scale with Takara’s Masterpiece line, as well as Supreme Cheetor, Ultra Nightscream and Mega Rattrap.
(Apologies and thanks to shmax.com and bbts.com for the toy image.)
Transformer of the Day for October 8, 2009
SLOG
-Faction: Decepticon (Monster Pretender)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Combat Artist
-Motto: “Destruction is the Highest Form of Art”
-Notable Toy: Basic Pretender (Hasbro, 1989)
Notes: True confession here for a moment. While I love saving tech specs and file cards, and bemoan their absence in their purest sense from more recent issues (or their inclusion as foldout scraps of paper in trilingual packaging in order to avoid the costs of individualized packaging), I very seldom read them on their own. And even when I do, I only skim. So nine months (and counting) of TFs of the Day has been an education at least with respect to mottos and functions. What’s this got to do with Slog, you ask? Two words. Combat Artist. Who came up with that one? Was warrior taken? Still, best job description ever! It alone warrants his inclusion into this list!
Transformer of the Day for October 7, 2009
SKYBLAST
-Faction: Autobot (Omnibot)
-Era: Armada-Energon-Cybertron (2002-2006)
-Function: Tactician
-Motto: “My Greatest Ally is the Sky Itself”
-Notable Toy: Built-to-Rule (Hasbro, 2004)
Notes: It is reported that Skyblast is a homage to Skyfire, the problematic Generation One jet based on the Macross Valkyrie that left him in limbo as far as the show was concerned. And certainly you can see that in his face. The original Skyblast mould has seen a few repaints for the movie line, but we’re running with the hard-to-find Built-to-Rule version here. This lost second series got a lot of the bugs out of the concept and might have offered more to fans had Hasbro not dumped the line and run away.
