Transformer of the Day for March 19, 2009
LUGNUT
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Transformers: Animated (2008-Present)
-Function: Thug
-Motto: “All Hail Mighty Megatron”
-Notable Toy: Voyager (Hasbro, 2008)
Notes: You have to wonder about Megatron’s preference for warriors. Does he prefer independent thinkers, like Starscream, who end up trying to stab him in the back in a forced powerplay, or does he prefer those like Lugnut, fiercely loyal, tremendously strong and dumb as a post? In a series that has given nods to practically every Transformers era, Lugnut is one of the new recruits. Dumb or not, we’re happy to have him.
Transformer of the Day for March 18, 2009
TORCA
-Faction: Maximal
-Era: Beast Wars (1996-98)
-Function: Infantry General
-Motto: “I Lead From the Back“
-Notable Toy: Deluxe (Hasbro, 1988)
Notes: Fuzors. They’re misshapen triple changers after a fashion. And yet some of them were the most memorable moulds of the Beast Wars line. It’s a shame they didn’t choose to spotlight others, like favourite Airhammer or Torca. Who can beat an elephant and a killer whale combination. Torca is mighty! And totally scary in robot form.
Transformer of the Day for March 17, 2009
BLUE BACCHUS
-Faction: Decepticon (Crossformer)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Space Gunman
-Motto: “Piracy is About My Means… And Your Ends”
-Notable Toy: Standard (Takara, 1989)
Notes: Blue Bacchus is the Destron recast of the North American Ultra Pretender, Crossblades, a toy where both the inner robot and protective shell could both transform and merge into a super vehicle. Partnered with Black Shadow, the Destron recast of Decepticon Thunderwing, they make excellent additions to any collection. Notably, the face of the Destron version is remoulded into a more robotic appearance.
(Apologies and thanks to Fredsworkshop and BotchtheCrab.com for the images.)
Transformer of the Day for March 16, 2009
OVERRIDE (G1)
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Scout
-Motto: “Let Your Actions Do The Talking and No One Will Misunderstand You“
-Notable Toy: Basic (Hasbro, 1988)
Notes: The original Override was one of six spring-loaded Triggerbots/Triggercons. I loved that both hero and villain subgroups used the same prefix. Override was particularly cool because his sidegun function meant his guns dropped into his hands, which also meant he was one of the few basic figures that had hand-held weapons of any kind. Plus they didn’t get lost, always a plus when designed for kids!
Transformer of the Day for March 15, 2009
AQUABLAST
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: “Generation Two (1993-1995)
-Function: Engineer
-Motto: “Listen! That’s the Music of One of My Super-Tuned, Ultra-Hot Engines! And Think what Terror it Must Strike In the Hearts of Those Autobot Cowards…”
-Notable Toy: Stormtrooper (Hasbro, 1993)
Notes: Aquablast was the first Transformer which I acquired through an exchange (in his case, for a Beast Wars figure the specifics of which now allude me). He was also one of the first I ever contemplated leaving mint on card. But he is simply too lovely a figure to remain in packaging forever.
Transformer of the Day for March 14, 2009
OVERRIDE
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Armada-Energon-Cybertron (2002-2006)
-Function: Leader
-Motto: “I’ll Leave Any Bot in My Dust“
-Notable Toy: Exclusive Mini-Con Pack (Hasbro, 2006)
Notes: Although male and known as Nitro Convoy in Japan, Cybertron Override turned out to be the leader of the planet Velocitron and female. And to think we actually found a fembot who did not need to be built with high heels. Astonishing really! Although the boxed toy is identical to the carded version, the inclusion of a mini-con upsized the packaging. And free stuff = good.
Transformer of the Day for March 13, 2009
SCORPONOK
-Faction: Decepticon (Headmaster)
-Era: “Generation One”(1984-1992)
-Function: Headmaster Commander
-Motto: “Kindness is No Virtue… and Cruelty is No Vice”
-Notable Toy: Leader (Hasbro, 1987)
Notes: Given that the headmaster concept of atonomous robot and head was hard to grasp, Scorponok’s personality varied wildly depending on who was writing him. Unlike the other headmasters in the North American cartoon, he is little more than a vessel for the meglomania of Lord Zarak, similar to his position in Japan which saw the robots as exo-suits for original cybertronians. In the comics he went from envious evil to noble nemesis. Regardless, the toy rocks!
Transformer of the Day for March 12, 2009
OMEGA SENTINEL
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Armada-Energon-Cybertron (2002-2006)
-Function: Guardian
-Motto: “When in battle, a superior tactician employs logic and reason to achieve victory
-Notable Toy: Powerlink Battles (Hasbro, 2004)
Notes: Long before eHobby blessed us with a Generation One-style Guardian, Omega Sentinel arrived to offer us both an expensive repaint of the Unicron Trilogy-era Omega Supreme and the possibility of staging a mock Defense of Cybertron diarama. Provided of course you wanted to buy a handful of Sentinels at that particular price point. Interestingly, his head is actually a head master, useful for making space for a oddly conceived combiner mode with Energon Optimus Prime.
Transformer of the Day for March 11, 2009
TAKE-OFF
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Aerial Reconnaissance
-Motto: “There’s Nothing like Divebombing Autobots from 60,000 Feet”
-Notable Toy: Action Master (Hasbro, 1991)
Notes: Mainframe aside, we’re probably a long time away from every seeing non-screen Action Masters on the screen anytime soon. Further away when it comes to European-only Action Masters, the non-transforming Transformers that never made it to North America. It’s a shame because there is a lot of potential for a lot of these characters, like Take-Off, to find their way back into the mainstream universe. Now there’s an idea for a convention exclusive!
Transformer of the Day for March 10, 2009
ROADBUSTER
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Ground Assault Commander
-Motto: “War is a Dirty Business… and I’m as Dirty as they Come“
-Notable Toy: Universe Two-Pack (Hasbro, 2008)
Notes: Roadbuster has non-Takara origins, specifically the Japanese Dorvack toyline. And until 2008, other than a few notable turns in Transformers U.K. as a member of the Wreckers, that original release was all we saw of him. But Hasbro saw virtue in Cybertron Defence Hot Shot mould and partnered the resulting repaint with a super rendering of Dirge. Still, to really get him right, you need to get the fan-produced hardware available through natobot.com.
