Transformer of the Day for September 13, 2009
OPTIMUS PRIME
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Animated (2008-2009)
-Function: Earth-bound Commander
-Motto: “Earth is Under My Protection”
-Notable Toy: Voyager (Hasbro, TBD)
Notes: It wouldn’t be a modern-era Transformers line without multiple reiterations of Optimus Prime. Cybertronian deluxe class. Battle-damaged deluxe class. Voyager class. And Roll-Out Command supreme class. To say nothing of Activators and Bumper Battlers. While these main figures have their advantages, they have their disadvantages too. The scale is wrong for all the figures except for the voyager, whose weapons are way off. So it’s very exciting to see Hasbro releasing an upgraded deluxe version called Wingblade Prime (at the voyager price point). Fortunately, the weapons can be added to our voyager-class Primes. So we’ll get to the perfect figure one way or another!
(Apologies and thanks to tformers.com for the source toy material.)
Transformer of the Day for September 18, 2009
THUNDERCRACKER
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Animated (2008-2009)
-Function: Aerial Assault
-Motto: “My Glorious Reign is About to Begin”
-Notable Toy: Voyager (Hasbro, TBD)
Notes: While Skywarp and Sunstorm originally got the Voyager treatment, Thundercracker (the bold) was relegated to Activator status. That is until the powers-that-be decided to upgrade him as a repaint for an end-of-line release. While I for one remain incredible frustrated and disappointed to the dismal replies made in request of a voyager-scale Susan, I am nonetheless pleased to at least round out the original seeker trio for Animated.
Transformer of the Day for September 13, 2009
GRIMLOCK
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Animated (2008-2009)
-Function: Dinobot Commander
-Motto: “Me Grimlock Getting Hungry”
-Notable Toy: Voyager (Hasbro, TBD)
Notes: This is one of those odd cases in the Transformers-of-the-Day list where the toy listed is not the preferred version. Truth be told, Hasbro really got the toy right with the original voyager class Grimlock. Nonetheless, when faced with a toy that almost-didn’t-make-it-but-for-a-change-of-heart-at-the-last-minute, one cannot leave such a nod unacknowledged. Besides, Grimlock looks good in gold. Maybe it’s the nucleon…
Transformer of the Day for September 16, 2009
WASP
-Faction: Autobot Decepticon
-Era: Animated (2008-2009)
-Function: Fugitive / Saboteur
-Motto: “Wasp Never Go Back to Stockade… Never”
-Notable Toy: Deluxe (Hasbro, TBD)
Notes: It’s such an easy idea. Take Deluxe Bumblebee, produce him in green plastic, stick on card and ship to shelves as Wasp. Certainly, there are enough kitbashers who tried their hand at such a thing, like the poor sod who put together the customized version below, to indicate interest. While a new face would have been a nice touch, I’m happy to add Wasp, a better Wasp in my view, to our collection. Now get going with Cliffjumper why don’t you!?!
(Apologies and thanks to tformers.com for the source toy material.)
Transformer of the Day for September 15, 2009
ARCEE
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Animated (2008-2009)
-Function: Teacher
-Motto: “There is Strength in Knowledge”
-Notable Toy: Deluxe (Hasbro, TBD)
Notes: I won’t say we finally have an Arcee until we actually have it in our hands, but we are certainly getting close. And she looks really good too, a great complement to the new figures like Rodimus and Blackout that constitute the tail end of Animated. But the big question mark is whether she will sell or not. Will there be enough interest to generate sales of a pink sports car, or will she turn out to be a peg warmer? Time will tell.
(Apologies and thanks to tformers.com for the source toy material.)
Transformer of the Day for September 14, 2009
BLACKOUT
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Animated (2008-2009)
-Function: Shock and Awe
-Motto: “Lights Out”
-Notable Toy: Voyager (Hasbro, TBD)
Notes: One of the great strengths of Transformers: Animated is its efforts to bring all realms of Transformers into the show. So we have the ever-so-brief, yet nonetheless destructive, appearance of Blackout. And while the upcoming toy will showcase an Earth mode, it’s exciting to have a toy of this size and originally released after the line is effective over. Unless it isn’t. And isn’t that we all want after all?
(Apologies and thanks to tformers.com for the source toy material.)
Transformer of the Day for September 13, 2009
RODIMUS
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Animated (2008-2009)
-Function: Assault Team Leader
-Motto: “My Actions Speak Louder Than Words”
-Notable Toy: Deluxe (Hasbro, TBD)
Notes: A bit of a change of pace. For the next seven days, we’ll be looking ahead to the tail end of the much-loved Animated line. Consequently, the pictures used are lifted from various promotional shots, meaning the figures themselves are not yet mint in box. It gives those of us less enamoured with the latest movie something to anticipate, starting with the chosen one himself, Rodimus. And how wonderful is it that Judd Nelson reprised the role in the cartoon. I simply cannot wait for this wonderful toy.
(Apologies and thanks to dcjoshp of deviantart.com for the wonderful artwork.)
Transformer of the Day for September 12, 2009
SUBMARAUDER
-Faction: Decepticon (Pretender)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Undersea Warfare
-Motto: “Conquer the Seas and the Rest will Fall”
-Notable Toy: Deluxe (Hasbro, 1988)
Notes: Like his Decepticon Pretender brethren, Submarauder seems to be an excuse to bring life to a monster. The toy inside may not look like much more than something small enough to actually fit inside the shell, but the outside is a thing of beauty. Can you imagine if there had been the technology to give him articulation?
Transformer of the Day for September 11, 2009
CHECKPOINT
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Armada-Energon-Cyberton (2002-2006)
-Function: Security
-Motto: “There is No Room for Error, No Possibility of Mistake”
-Notable Toy: Exclusive Two-Pack (Hasbro, 2004)
Notes: Although Checkpoint may technically be part of the Unicron Battles, he and the redecoed Energon Prowl seem more appropriate to the Universe line of toys. Otherwise he is a great use of a relatively underused Energon toy, Rodimus, and ironically looks closer to being Prowl than his traveling companion. Which is kind of ironic, when you think about it.
Transformer of the Day for September 10, 2009
CYCLONUS / SNOWCAT
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Armada-Energon-Cyberton (2002-2006)
-Function: Warrior
-Motto: “”There is No Terrain, or Opponent, that I Cannot Conquer.”
-Notable Toy: Deluxe (Hasbro, 2005)
Notes: Oh I could go on about Cyclonus, the halfwit Decepticon from Armada. But I am so intrigued by his “upgraded” self, Snowcat. Here is a vehicle that bears eerie resemblance to a GIJoe vehicle of the same name, right down to the wiper blade and name! Even weirder is the Transformers Universe repaint, which you could almost see as part of GIJoe’s Night Force line.
