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Transformer of the Day for April 19, 2009

LANDQUAKE

-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Armada-Energon-Cybertron (2002-2006)
-Function: Arctic Construction*
-Motto: “Behind my Sensitive Exterior Lives a Hardened Fist”
-Notable Toy: Voyager (Hasbro, 2004)

Notes: Landquake is one of those oddity of the Armada-Energon-Cybertron era where the repaint can be seen both as a new character (in the toyverse) and an overcharged version of the original (in this case Landmine as in the cartoon). I image Landquake as part of an arctic expedition with a mission to establish a perimeter there against Decepticon incursions. Maybe they’ll send Snowcat out to attack him.

(Apologies and thanks to shmax.com and bbts.com for the toy images.)

Transformer of the Day for April 18, 2009

SUNSTORM

-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Animated (2008-Present)
-Function: Warrior*
-Motto: “It’s a Honour To Do Battle With One as Worthy as Yourself”
-Notable Toy: Target Exclusive (Hasbro, 2009)

Notes: It’s fitting to end our Stormformer week with an important name as Sunstorm. Since his introduction as an eHobby exclusive repaint of Generation One Starscream, I’ve had a thing for Sunstorm and the many reiterations that have followed, be they statues (Palisades) or toys (Universe, Titanium). So I was overjoyed to see him as one of Starscream’s clones in Transformers: Animated. And his sycophantic personality is a nice contrast to his Dreamwave portrayal as a delusional prophet.

Transformer of the Day for April 17, 2009

STORM JET

-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Robots in Disguise / Car Robots (2000-2001)
-Function: Aerial Reconnaissons
-Motto: “Keep Your Eyes on the Enemy To Stay Ahead of Him”
-Notable Toy: Deluxe (Hasbro, 2001)

Notes: Like Bruticus, Storm Jet is an example of Beast Machines creeping into the RiD line. But in this case, Storm Jet was a repaint of the deluxe Jetstorm (and sonic attack jet drone), for which his name is a clever play on words. Meanwhile, the non-cartoon appearing toy sent fanboys crazy with its Jetfire-esque paint scheme, even if the head didn’t seem quite right.

Transformer of the Day for April 16, 2009

STORM SURGE

-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Movie (2007, 2009, 2011)
-Function: Aquatic Assault
-Motto: “You Will Not Survive My Surge”
-Notable Toy: Target-Exclusive (Hasbro, 2008)

Notes: Storm Surge is basically an excuse to reuse the Short Round mould in a movie-exclusive format. And yet, as moulds go, it’s nice to add to the aquatic nature of the Transformers universe, particularly given that some storylines hold that water is a substance “so rare its very existence is suspect” on Cybertron.

(Apologies and thanks to tfu.info for the toy images.)

Transformer of the Day for April 15, 2009

ROTORSTORM

-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Generation One Plus (1991-1992)
-Function: Guide and Strategician
-Motto: “Get Into Your Enemy’s Mind and Then Beat Him at his Own Evil Game”
-Notable Toy: Deluxe (Hasbro, 1991)

Notes: Rotorstorm was part of a dozen post-Action Master transformers that made up the first wave of Gen 1.5, a wave that made its way onto Canadian toy shelves. As a result it was not particular uncommon to find a well-loved Rotorstorm on offer at a yard sale. But good luck finding those pieces removed from subsequent reissues as Machine Wars Sandstorm and Universe Whirl.

(Apologies and thanks to shmax.com for the toy image.)

Transformer of the Day for April 14, 2009

ACID STORM

-Faction: Decepticons
-Era: “Generation One”(1984-1992)
-Function: Rainmaker
-Motto: “Heed the Screams from Above and Cries from Below”
-Notable Toy: Universe (Hasbro, 2008)

Notes: The perfect money maker in jet mode, there were six coneheads that would make excellent toys for retail. Except Hasbro only made two - for Starscream and Ramjet (mass produced for retail). Skywarp was a Target Exclusive, and the rest (Thundercracker, Dirge and Thrust) made their way into the infamous Botcon 2007 exclusive set. But stock footage is your friend, and thus Acid RainStorm is born. Necessity… the mother of inventory.

Transformer of the Day for April 13, 2009

STORM JET

-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Armada-Energon-Cybertron (2002-2006)
-Function: Air Team Leader*
-Motto: “A Weapon is Wasted When Used Only for Defense.“
-Notable Toy: Deluxe (Hasbro, 2005)

Notes: Storm Jet is the second Autobot to bear this name. Known as Afterburner in Japan, Storm Jet is the central part (torso and head) of the combiner form of Superion Maximus. Unlike his component parts, whose weapons form their “arms” and “legs”, Storm Jet is unarmed in toy form. Which makes his motto all the more ironic.

Transformer of the Day for April 12, 2009

SANDSTORM

-Faction: Predacon
-Era: Beast Wars (1996-1998)
-Function: Covert Ops Commander
-Motto:“To Deny Destiny is to Deny Oneself”
-Notable Toy: Botcon Exclusive (Hasbro, 1999)

Preface: Some prefixes and suffixes are continually popular in the Transformers multiverse. This week, we begin our review of characters who make use of the gathering clouds and make use of the coming Storm.

Notes: Having covered Stormcloud in an unrelated post, we’ll start our Storm review with the Botcon 1999 exclusive Predacon Sandstorm. A redeco of Beast Wars Scorponok, Sandstorm’s origins are shrouded in dense backstory. Like his cousin, Double Punch (a Botcon Japan exclusive), his colouring proves to bring life to a pretty dull toy mould. And the packaging is very cool!

Transformer of the Day for April 11, 2009

LANDMINE

-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Armada-Energon-Cyberton (2002-2006)
-Function: Combat Training*
-Motto: “My Fists are Deadlier Than Your Guns“
-Notable Toy: Voyager (Hasbro 2004)

Notes: Landmine is simply a great mould. I love it when part of the vehicular form becomes a form of armour. That said, of the three versions available of this mould to date - Landmine, Landquake and the upcoming Landshark - I like Landquake’s colours the best. So Landmine is mostly here because he was first. Or because his Attacktix form is cool! Or maybe because I actually meant to use G1 Landmine and got confused. Who knows?

Transformer of the Day for April 10, 2009

DEVASTATOR (1.0)

-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Movie (2007, 2009, 2011)
-Function: Destruction
-Motto: “The Trouble with Autobots - Not Enough of Them to Blow Up” *
-Notable Toy: Statue (HardHero, 2003)

Notes: Like Rumble and Frenzy, here’s a Transformer who can’t quite get his name right. Oh Hasbro calls him Brawl alright, as if he is a testament to the Combaticons of Generation One vintage. And yet, his name is clearly written on-screen as Devastator. Disagree with Mr. Bay all you want, but Brawl has as much right to the name as Frenzy does to his brothers. Drives you just a little crazy, particularly with Devastator 2.0 scheduled for Revenge of the Fall.