Transformer of the Day for November 18, 2009
JOLT
-Faction: Minicon
-Era: Armada-Energon-Cyberton (2002-2006)
-Function: Flight
-Motto: “I’ll Help You to Soar”
-Notable Toy: Deluxe PVC (Takara, 2002)
Notes: The last Jolt in our mini spotlight is actually the smallest, and the first time a minicon has made the list on its own. While it is probably technically wrong to put a minicon on the side of right or wrong, I figure it’s okay given that he is paired with Hot Shot. It also gives me an occasion to spotlight Takara’s deluxe PVC line that featured G1 and Armada characters. Articulate, with special weapons (or minicons), it really was a fun line!
(Apologies and thanks to bbts.com and shmax.com for the toy image.)
Transformer of the Day for November 17, 2009
JOLT
-Faction: Decepticon (Laser Rod)
-Era: Generation Two (1983-1995)
-Function: Sneak Attack Specialist
-Motto: “Live Fast, Ride Hard, and Leave a Great Looking Chassis“
-Notable Toy: Deluxe (Hasbro, 1994)
Notes: To think that the basis of GM’s fuel efficient dreams was once a villainous dragster, given almost as minimal facetime in the medium available to him (Marvel comics) as his heroic namesake in Revenge of the Fallen. But Jolt is noteable for the poseability that he brought to the Generation Two line, and he served as a harbinger of new characters. The difference of course is we actually liked these ones…
(Apologies and thanks to bbts.com and shmax.com for the toy image.)
Transformer of the Day for November 16, 2009
JOLT
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Movie (2007, 2009, 2011)
-Function: Strategist
-Motto: “War is No Place for Seriousness“
-Notable Toy: Deluxe Two-Pack (Hasbro, 199
Notes: I know what I said about the movie and the toy line. So why on earth am I spotlighting Revenge of the Fallen toys in my TF of the Day, particularly given that I’ve already done the Fallen (before I knew what a rotten tomato the movie was going to be), to say nothing of Sideswipe just last week? Maybe I just feel bad for the fellow, and for GM. I mean here he is, GM’s new Volt, off to save the planet and the corporate pocket book, and he gets like two seconds of screen time using a name that was already loosely affiliated with the movie as a Decepticon. Seriously, this is marketing? When the clearest picture of the guy you can get is the one above? Jeez!
Transformer of the Day for November 15, 2009
JOLT
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Movie (2007, 2009, 2011)
-Function: Aerial Assault
-Motto: “Respect Your Foes Abilities As You Would Your Own“
-Notable Toy: Exclusive (Hasbro, 200
Notes: If we are going to start a mini-profile with Jolt, we should start here. Because, really, have I mentioned lately how much I love this particular Transformer toy? I know it appeared as Crosswise and Smokescreen in Cybertron, and then was used as both Jazz and Ricochet for Shattered Glass, it hardly matters. There is just something about it that I really like. And in these mean colours? Well, right along with Big Daddy and Fracture, I couldn’t wait to catch this one. He kind of reminds me of a evil Smokescreen.
Transformer of the Day for November 14, 2009
SPEEDBOT
-Faction: Go-Bots
-Era: Playskool Gobots (2002-2005)
-Function: Earth Defense
-Motto: “Catch Me If You Can”
-Notable Toy: Transformers Go-Bots (Playskool, 2004)
Notes: Back when the first four pre-school Transformers hit the market, the 1-2-3 Transformers that would become the Go-Go-Gobots, they all had cutesy Autobot logos. And while this eventually changed in North America to a single capital G, it was also so classy to see the original logo. Speedbot may have evolved along the way, and the metallic late reissue of the original is too much fun, but for no other reason than showing off the classic package, let’s go with the original.
Transformer of the Day for November 13, 2009
RATBAT
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Animated (2008-2009)
-Function: Audio Assault
-Motto: “Awwww“
-Notable Toy: Deluxe (Hasbro, 2009)
Notes: Although a smart Ratbat, a la the Marvel Comics depiction of the great Generation One villain, would have been grand, it was nonetheless fantastic to see this Ratbat arrive on the scene. And as a keytar no less! Though I won’t quite believe it until I see it with my own eyes, Ratbat makes one repaint that needs to be bought the moment he arrives in stores.
(Apologies and thanks to the-arker.com for the toy pic.)
Transformer of the Day for November 12, 2009
SIDESWIPE
-Faction: Autobot (or at least what passes as an Autobot in the movie sequel)
-Era: Movie (2007, 2009, 2011)
-Function: Warrior
-Motto: “Speed is a Weapon that’s All Mine“
-Notable Toy: Human Alliance (Hasbro, 2009)
Notes: No, he’s no Sideswipe we’ve seen before, even if he is coming soon to toy shelves in a familiar reddish hue.. Putting aside the appalling badness of Revenge of the Fallen (and it was appalling bad!), I could almost get to like this Sideswipe. Except he’s silver, he bears too close a resemblance to Jazz (which really shows the care and concern that a certain director shows for these characters that he brings in a replacement that is indiscernible from his fallen predecessor). Was black not an option? Anyway, the Human Alliance version does bring Sgt. Epp to toy shelves and there is some good in that.
Transformer of the Day for November 11, 2009
FLAMEFEATHER
-Faction: Decepticon (Firecon)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Raid Planner
-Motto: “There is Always a Twist I Can Give to a Plan to Really Confuse the Opposition“
-Notable Toy: Deluxe (Hasbro, 1994)
Notes: Can they even make Sparkabot and Firecon-like toys anymore? I mean here is a toy that you pulled back and the little engine clicked in such a way to flick little sparks at the kids carrying around the toy. Brilliant! And like so many Generation Two toys, Flamefeather was redone in garish colours, albeit only for the European market. Pity.
Transformer of the Day for November 10, 2009
DEPTH CHARGE
-Faction: Maximal
-Era: Beast Wars (1996-1998)
-Function: Aquatic Forces Commander
-Motto: “Follow My Orders or Get Out of My Face“
-Notable Toy: Ultra (Hasbro, 1998)
Notes: Other than saying I am not going to make any Dark Knight comments, I am not going to make any Dark Knight comments. Instead I want to talk about the name. Because Depth Charge was only the second Maximal whose name did not instantly tell you his transformation. Oh, it’s pretty easy to figure out that he’s a water-based mammal, but nonetheless, it is not automatic. A nice change I think.
Transformer of the Day for November 9, 2009
SPINISTER
-Faction: Decepticon (Targetmaster)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Aerial Assault
-Motto: “Respect Your Foes Abilities As You Would Your Own“
-Notable Toy: Deluxe (Hasbro, 1988)
Notes: Early on in Generation One, Hasbro fell into a pattern with its Decepticon forces. Each year, it would release a series of three deluxe jets to round out the battle force. Starscream, Thundercracker and Skywarp arrived in 1984. Dirge, Ramjet and Thrust arrived in 1985. For the 1986 movie, there were only two fighters in Cyclonus and Scourge, and very space-based in terms of vehicle modes, but they were quickly followed in 1987 by Triggerhappy, Misfire and Slugslinger. But 1988 saw the break in this pattern. Oh there was still a trio of reinforcements, just this time only one was a jet (Needlenose), while Quake was forced to ground and Spinister took advantage of his helicopter mode. Still, it is nice to do things in threes.
