Transformer of the Day for February 27, 2009
DEVASTATOR
-Faction: Decepticon (Constructicon)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992), Generation Two (1993-95)
-Function: Warrior
-Motto: “Thinking and Winning Do Not Mix
-Notable Toy: Giftset (Hasbro, 1985)
Notes: Devastator. Although his animated origins are in doubt, there is no mistaking the coolness of a combining robot that could destroy everything in its path. While we wait to see how he is pulled off in “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen”, there is no doubt he retains a place here. In Constructicon green, of course!
(For more information on Devastator, check out the Generation One Transformer Bible here, here and here.)
Transformer of the Day for February 26, 2009
RATCHET
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Medic
-Motto: “You Break It, I’ll Remake It”
-Notable Toy: Japanese Mail-In Edition (Takara, 1986)
Notes: You’d scarcely recognize the cartoon Ratchet next to his toy. Despite this, there is just something to the old diaclone repaint. Certainly it shines through in Botcon’s impressive reproduction. And the doc strangely looks better in his Japanese mail-away box, particularly if you grabbed a proper head for him.
(For more information on Ratchet, check out the Generation One Transformer Bible.)
(Apologies and thanks to the toyarchives.com for the toy images.)
Transformer of the Day for February 25, 2009
SCOURGE
-Faction: Decepticon (Constructicon)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992), Generation Two (1993-95)
-Function: Warrior
-Motto: “Thinking and Winning Do Not Mix”
-Notable Toy: 6″ Titanium (Hasbro, 2006)
Notes: Is it from the ashes of Thundercracker, he comes? No longer the discarded warrior of past battles, now he leads his own armada (of varying size), claims the matrix and takes a targetmaster pet. Now if only he could get some Universe love. In the meantime, we’ll make due with his transformable Titanium, just expensive enough to prohibit an army of Sweeps from joining him. Which, like the good insecticons from which they come, travel in packs.
Transformer of the Day for February 24, 2009
COSMOS
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Reconnaissance and Communications
-Motto: “Reach for the Stars but Never Leave Your Friends”
-Notable Toy: Mini-Spy (Hasbro, 1985)
Notes: Could there be a cuter Transformer than Cosmos? I always thought he seemed particularly lonely for some reason. He also seems to be one of those characters who gets left on the drawing board, as was the case with the Titanium line and the first reiteration of the Classics line. Our loss. Even with the Legends-scale Cosmos, I have to go with the original here.
(For more information on Cosmos, check out the Generation One Transformer Bible.)
Transformer of the Day for February 23, 2009
DEAD END
-Faction: Decepticon (Stunticon)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Warrior
-Motto: “We Are All Just Food For Rust”
-Notable Toy: Alternator (Hasbro, 2005)
Notes: Dead End is the fatalist in the room. One of his shining animated moments was testing Energon gifts for toxins. His garish Generation Two mould nixed by Hasbro, he somehow returned to shelves miscoloured as an Alternator. In fact, he came into being appropriately by accident: as a means of rounding out the Decepticon ranks. It probably makes him the first repaint in the world to actually precede his original. How strangely appropriate!
Transformer of the Day for February 22, 2009
TRACKS
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Warrior
-Motto: “Looking Good is What Life is All About”
-Notable Toy: Binaltech (Takara, 2005)
Notes: Who can beat a flying corvette? With Tracks, it really was a choice figuring out which toy to spotlight. The original that transferred so perfectly to the silver screen, or the European Action Master that so nailed the character? In the end, I had to go with the Binaltech version, with the essential Autobot flame front and center.
(For more information on Tracks, check out the Generation One Transformer Bible.)
Transformer of the Day for February 21, 2009
LASERBEAK
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Interrogation
-Motto: “The Only Point I Like In Autobots: Melting Points”
-Notable Toy: Japanese Release (Takara, 1984)
Notes: Laserbeak, along with Ravage and Rumble (cartoon), got the most show time of the cassettes. He can even be seen in the opening sequence on Cybertron in a more unusual condor form. Clearly, tape technology remains important there. Rather than share the spotlight with Frenzy (toy), we admire the simplicity of his individual Japanese release.
(For more information on Laserbeak, check out the Generation One Transformer Bible.)
Transformer of the Day for February 20, 2009
SMOKESCREEN
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Diversionary Tactician
-Motto: “A Look Can Be Deceiving; A Touch Can Be Lethal’”
-Notable Toy: Fast Action Battler (Hasbro, 2008)
Notes: While Smokescreen’s name has ended up on unrelated characters from Armada to Generation 2 Decepticons, his original likeness has certainly received a good toy treatment - the toyrocket statue, the Cybertron homage and certainly the original. That said, I don’t expect many opportunities to use the Fast Action Battlers line, and this redeco is a great way to spotlight the best part of the movie line of toys.
(For more information on Smokescreen, check out the Generation One Transformer Bible.)
(Apologies and thanks to botchthecrab.com for the character image.)
Transformer of the Day for February 19, 2009
BOMBSHELL
-Faction: Decepticon (Insecticon)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Psychological Warfare
-Motto: “The Mind is My Playpen”
-Notable Toy: Action Master (Hasbro, 1991)
Notes: I always thought the Insecticons functioned as an efficient collective, with none of the egotism that followed the main Decepticon group. So it is hard to determine exactly which one, when jettisoned from Astrotrain in the Movie, exactly became Cyclonus and which became his Armada. In any event, the European Action Master is a great rendering of the character.
(For more information on Bombshell, check out the Generation One Transformer Bible.)
(Apologies and thanks to toyarchives.com for the toy images.)
Transformer of the Day for February 18, 2009
INFERNO
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Search and Rescue
-Motto: “Where There’s Smoke, There’s Me”
-Notable Toy: Universe (Hasbro, 2009)
Notes: I like Inferno well enough but I never understood how he got called up to join Jazz and Sideswipe as part of the G2 assortment of Autobots. Maybe it had something to do with his Japanese recolour, Artfire, or maybe Hasbro was planning ahead to the 25th Anniversary release. Speaking of Artfire, I wonder if we’ll see a redeco?
(For more information on Inferno, check out the Generation One Transformer Bible.)
