Transformer of the Day for January 8, 2009
TIDAL WAVE
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Armada-Energon-Cyberton (2002-2006)
-Function: Ocean/Space Transport
-Motto: “Tidal Wave”
-Notable Toy: Energon Repaint (Hasbro, 2004)
Notes: Despite his size, he is a minor character in the cartoon. Despite his size, he somehow combines with Megatron/Galvatron to form a super weapon. Despite his size, he can be overlooked… until you seem him transform in the Activision Game “Prelude to Energon”. It’s only then that you get it. Somehow he just seems right in “arctic” colours.
Transformer of the Day for January 7, 2009
MINERVA
-Faction: Autobot Headmaster Junior
-Era: Generation One (Super-God Masterforce) (1984-1992)
-Function: First Aid
-Motto: “Masterforce! Head On!”
-Notable Toy: Takara Release (Takara, 1988)
Notes: Though not the first animated, Minerva is the first female Transformer to get her own toy. Only available in Japan, Minerva would be repainted in North America as Nightbeat. Sadly, It would not be until Beast Wars that another girlbot would find wide release. Takara-Tomy! Time for a re-issue!
Transformer of the Day for January 6, 2009
JETSTORM
-Faction: Vehicon
-Era: Beast Machines (1999-2000)
-Function: Aerodrone General
-Motto: “Cruelty is, perhaps, the most enjoyable sin.”
-Notable Toy: Ultra Class Beast Machines (Hasbro, 2000)
Notes: Jetstorm, afterburn! Beast Machines surely didn’t lack for flair, and the stylized vehicon general had a tendency to steal every scene he was in. To find that his boastful spark was once the noblist of Maximals was the height of irony indeed. His Ultra Class toy suitably reveals his inner elegance.
Transformer of the Day for January 5, 2009
BUMBLEBEE
-Faction: Autobots
-Era: Movie (2007, 2009, 2011)
-Function: Deep Cover Agent
-Motto: “Actions Speak Louder than Words”
-Notable Toy: Beatmix Bumblebee (Hasbro, 2007)
Notes: Who knew a mute robot could be so expressive? He’s not the Bumblebee of yore but boy does he want me to buy a GM. And while the Evolution of a Hero two-pack is right up there, I gotta go with a dancing and blinking MP3 player here. Too cool for school!
Transformer of the Day for January 4, 2009
SKY-BYTE
-Faction: Predacon
-Era: Robots in Disguise / Car Robots (2000-2001)
-Function: Warrior
-Motto: “I’ll Tear My Enemies to Shreds”
-Notable Toy: K-T Figure (Takara, 2000)
Notes: What’s crazier than a bad poetry-spouting flying shark that just wants to prove himself to his leader? Probably that the best toy version of Sky-Byte is actually the eerie AI bathtub diarama. Still, he seems in his element at least.
Transformer of the Day for January 3, 2009
RATTRAP
-Faction: Maximal
-Era: Beast Wars / Beast Machines (1996-2000)
-Function: Spy
-Motto: “We’re All Gonna Die”
-Notable Toy: Mega Beast Machines (Hasbro, 2001)
Notes: What better character to start off the Beastformers era than our favourite vermin. Rattrap’s strong characterization from Beast Wars certainly took a beating in Beast Machines, but I still love a toy that puts his knievel mode front and center in robot mode.
Transformer of the Day for January 2, 2009
MEGATRON
-Faction: Decepticon (Destron)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Leader
-Motto: “Peace Through Tyranny”
-Notable Toy: Masterpiece Edition (Takara, 2007)
Notes: Day Two has to be G1 Megatron. You have to admire a leader who is so supremely confident he forgoes a showy alternate form in favour of a handheld pistol. Even if the feet do tend to rust, it’s so awesome that Takara got him right.
(Apologies and thanks to collectiondx.com for the boxed Masterpiece Megatron pic.)
Transformer of the Day for January 1, 2009
OPTIMUS PRIME
-Faction: Autobot (Cybertronian)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Leader
-Motto: “Freedom is the Right of All Sentient Beings”
-Notable Toy: God Ginrai Reissue (Takara, 2002)
Notes: Could Day One be anyone but Optimus? Surprise here is the toy pic, but I loved my Powermaster Optimus Prime. Even more than Masterpiece, the Takara reissue of GodGinrai PM Prime with Apex Armour hold a place of pride on my shelf.
