Transformers Artwork #8 (Happy Holidays)

This piece comes from a comic book cover released in the United Kingdom during the original Marvel Comics run in the 1980's. There really isn't much to say about it. It's Optimus Prime dressed as Santa Claus. I will be away for a while, so this will be my last post for a few weeks, maybe the year. I pray that you all have a joyous holiday season and God bless.

Beachcomber

Here is one of the classic mini-bots from back in 1985, Beachcomber. This Autobot was sort of a hippie among his comrades. Beachcomber was always concerned about nature, peace, and harmony. This is to be expected however due to him being a geologist. His toy was an excellent figure. He was painted in blues and greys. To transform him from his slick dune buggy mode to robot, flip the hood down to form the legs, and pull out the arms. Super simple transformation as to be expected with the mini-bots, but he was an excellent figure from back in the day.

Transport to Oblivion

It's been a long time since I have taken a look at the classic animated series. I left off with More Than Meets the Eye (Part 3), so I will pick up with Transport to Oblivion. This was the fourth episode of the original series, and technically the first episode of season one's true syndicated run. The first three episodes were a pilot to promote the toys and possibly give rise to the animated series. This episode would be the first official episode of the planned series.

Transport to Oblivion picks up shortly after the defeat of the Decepticons. While the Autobots are confident that the Decepticons are gone, Optimus Prime is still cautious. His caution is accurate as the Decepticons' space cruiser survived its crash into the ocean. The Decepticons have now rebuilt it into a new headquarters, which remained as their permanent base of operations throughout the first and second seasons. Shockwave manages to contact Megatron on Earth, which confirms that Cybertron still exists since the two forces left four million years prior. Shockwave then informs Megatron of their new Space Bridge technology. The Decepticons then attack a solar power station to acquire energon cubes to send to Cybertron. The Autobots repel them although Ironhide is injured.

The Decepticons complete their new Space Bridge on Earth in a river bed in the desert. Bumblebee and Spike had been spying on the Decepticons, and they are captured. Megatron then alters Bumblebee's memory circuits in order to lure the Autobots into a trap. Spike is held prisoner and will be the one forced to test the Space Bridge. Bumblebee returns to the Ark to inform his comrades that Spike was captured. The alterations to his memory circuits leads Bumblebee to believe that Spike and the Space Bridge are inside of a cave. The Autobots arrive at the cave only to be ambushed by the Decepticons. After a battle, Megatron seals the Autobots inside and then returns to the river bed to test the Space Bridge. Ratchet restores Bumblebee's memory, and after the Autobots escape, they head to the river bed.

They arrive to find that Spike is trapped inside a small shuttle to travel over bridge. Optimus Prime and Bumblebee save Spike, and Megatron attempts to get the energon cubes into the Space Bridge. The Autobots open fire, driving Megatron into the bridge where he disappears. Starscream declares that Megatron is dead and he is the new leader. While the Autobots celebrate, Megatron arrives on Cybertron. When Shockwave asks what happened, Megatron says that he will be avenged and will defeat the Autobots.

Outside of the pilot, Heavy Metal War, The Ultimate Doom saga, and Roll For It, this is one of my favorite episodes from season one. The animation is top notch (it dropped in quality after Roll For It for the rest of season one). The story line is also fun as we see the return of Shockwave and first tests of the Space Bridge. Over all, I don't have really any thing negative to say about this episode. There were next to no errors minus some miscoloring on Prime's arm at the power station. The only big error was that at the end of More Than Meets the Eye, the Autobots were provided energy from the world's governments to revitalize Cybertron, and they had apparently repaired the Ark. As this episode opens, all of this is discarded as if it had never happened. This was a great episode to officially start off the series' syndicated run. Be sure to check out the version from Shout Factory! as all of the dumb stock sound effects added by Rhino have been removed. It is available on DVD for a cheap price at Amazon, and the entire first season can be downloaded from the iTunes Store.

Rebirth of a Hobby

In my previous blog, I noted that Transformers: Generation 2 was the line that took my childhood memories of Transformers and turned me into a full on fan. I remained a strong fan through Generation 2, Beast Wars, and Machine Wars.

Around the time of Beast Machines, I started to lose interest as I hated (and still do) the awful looking designs of the Beast Machines characters. My interest peaked again around the time of Robots in Disguise and it carried through into Armada. The Energon toy line with all of its combination gimmicks started to lose me, and Cybertron would have been the end had it not been for the "legends" figures. Then, Hasbro gave this fan a massive shot in the arm with Transformers: Classics!

The Classics line of late 2006 was designed to be a "filler" line for Hasbro while they waited for the Transformers live action movie to be released. The line consisted of all new, modernized molds of Optimus Prime, Megatron, Starscream, Grimlock, and more! The molds had more articulation, great transformations, but they still had the simple charm of Generation One and the figures actually looked like robots (movie lines, I'm talking about you). I can say that if it were not for the Classics line and the rebirth of Classics in the Universe line, my hobby and interest might have been shelved in the realm of fond memories.

Thanks to this line and the later Animated toy line, I can see that Transformers are still alive and kicking. I understand that it will continue to evolve and change. There is no problem with that, and I have no problem with that. I personally feel though that I have been and always will be a fan of the classic Generation One/ 2 figures and stories. This is one fan who can't wait for the next round of Classics.

Transformers #62

After the events of previous issue (Primal Scream) and the revelation that Unicron was now heading for Cybertron to destroy it and all of the Transformers, the mission to find the one thing that can defeat Unicron is on. The Matrix Quest has begun! Well...it has but it isn't that exciting. I'll be totally honest.

Part one of the five part Matrix Quest story line begins with the Autobot Headmasters (Nightbest, Hosehead, and Siren) searching on a mysterious planet called Pz-Zazz filled with gangsters and thugs but also shrouded in darkness. After a drive by shooting, one of the planet's inhabitants provides Siren with a statue that looks like a falcon. Meanwhile, aboard the Ark, Optimus Prime and Emirate Xaaron discuss the quest to find the Matrix. Optimus Prime reveals that the Creation Matrix was a tangible object and not just a computer program (as early readers of the Marvel Comic were led to believe). When Optimus Prime was killed in a battle with Megatron, the Autobots attempted to revive him but could not. The Earth bound Autobots then had a funeral for him, and jettisoned his body into space.

Back on the planet Pz-Zazz, the Autobots continue to search for the Matrix and also learn the importance of the statue. They run into a mysterious ally who desires the falcon. However, she agrees to help the Autobots rather than take it. She takes them to a mountain where the statue should be returned to. On their track up the mountain, they are attacked by a mob boss named Gutt who believes they are part of a group called the Robot Mob. The Autobots are able to get by him, and make it to the top. Their ally tells the Autobots that the falcon possesses great power. After a moment of considering keeping the falcon as it could be a clue to the location of the Matrix, Nightbeat decides to return it to its shrine to place it out of the reach of the mobsters. The statue's power returns light to Pz-Zazz and shrouds of shadow are replaced with pure light. As the Autobots and their ally celebrate, the Autobots are attacked. Their attackers are the Robot Mob, who turn out to be Thunderwing and a team of Decepticons (Spinister, Needlenose, Ruckus, and Windsweeper).

After the amazing run of Simon Furman since coming on board with the U.S. Marvel comic, I will admit this is the issue where he lost some steam. This issue attempted to emulate elements from classic cinema to create a good story, but I don't believe it did. The first four issues of the Matrix Quest emulate this issues style of borrowing elements from movies, but only one comes close to working and another really succeeds. That's just my opinion, but I really feel that this was not a good story from Furman. In fact, the first three parts of the Matrix Quest story line are pretty bad. This issue, Bird of Prey, had a lot of momentum coming into the story from the rest of Furman's works, but it derailed very quickly. I have read the issue once through, and every time I try to read again, I just skip to the end. The only part that feels like a part of the Transformers story is the recap told through Xaaron and Optimus as well as the appearance of Thunderwing at the end. If you wish to read about the quest for the Creation Matrix, do yourself a favor and skip to part three or even part four if you want some good story telling. This issue doesn't change my opinion of Simon Furman being the best writer ever for Transformers, but this sure wasn't his best work.

Action Master Optimus Prime

Wow...too bad you can't find this figure mint in box for $14.99 any more. This is the crown jewel of the Action Master toy line, Optimus Prime. The central gimmick of the Action Master line was that the Autobots and Decepticons were "highly" articulated action figure renditions of the original characters and the line included some new characters. Each figure came with a transformable weapon or battle droid to make up for the fact that the figures themselves couldn't transform. Other figures came with transformable vehicles like ol' Optimus.

Optimus Prime, Megatron, and Gutcruncher probably had the best vehicles of the line. Optimus now took command of large armored convoy which could transform into a jet and battle station. The cab of the truck transformed into the jet which one Action Master could pilot. The trailer transformed into the battle station complete with guard walls, missile tower, and more. The actual Optimus Prime figure was really neat. He resembled his animated counterpart in his look, but his color scheme was based more on his Power Master body. The body I am referring to was his standard robot mode and not the combined mode. Action Master Optimus Prime actually made one official media appearance (outside of the animated Action Master commercial spots) in the final issue of the original comics.

Overall, this toy isn't bad. I think I like the Action Master figure the best out of the set as I could really care less for the giant truck. However, it is a cool piece to have in any collection. If you have read my previous Action Master entries, you should know that these figures will always hold a special place in this fan boy's heart as it was the first time I was able to get my hands on many of the original characters from the cartoon. That made the Action Master line worth it, even if the figures themselves couldn't transform. I haven't forgotten about the Elites, but those four were only released in Europe.

Transformers #61

The biggest story arc of the original Marvel Comics run of the Transformers has officially begun! Well, technically it started in the last issue, but the most powerful antagonist in the Transformers Generation One story makes his comic book debut. The Classic Pretenders, one of the Micromaster Patrols (forgot they were with the Pretenders last issue), and the Mayhem Attack Squad have all been transported to the center of Cybertron and are now face to face with god of the Transformers, Primus!

The Classic Pretenders are standing before the Keeper of Primus, and Grimlock is in disbelief that they have really discovered Primus. Grimlock challenges the Keeper to explain where the Transformers came from if Primus is in fact their creator. The Keeper then explains that Primus was the god of light and the protector of existence. His counterpart, Unicron, was the god of chaos. They battled in the astral plain until Primus realized he could not defeat Unicron there after the creation of the universe. Primus tricked Unicron into leaving the astral plain, and both Primus and Unicron's psychic forms were trapped in barren asteroids. Primus reshaped his asteroid into the planet Cybertron, and he created the Transformers to be a last line of defense against Unicron. Unicron eventually awakened, and he reshaped his asteroid into a planet which could transform into a likeness of his old form. Primus and Unicron shared a mental link, and so in order to protect his creations until they were ready to battle Unicron, Primus put himself into a deep slumber. However, the Transformers' civil war has brought things to a standstill in the preparations to defeat Unicron. The Keeper also reveals the only item powerful enough to destroy Unicron entirely is the Creation Matrix. At this point, the Keeper is assassinated by the Mayhem Attack Squad. With his dying words, the Keeper tells Bumblebee that Primus must stay in slumber.

Meanwhile, Emirate Xaaron is attempting to repair the transporter to locate the missing Pretenders. Elsewhere, on Earth, Skorponok is having to deal with his Decepticons seeking to rebel against him for allowing Starscream back into their ranks. At this point, Starscream had tried to destroy them twice first using the power of the Underbase and then his new Pretender form. Skorponok tries to reassure them that Starscream is under a watchful eye, but Starscream listens in from the shadows already planning a new takeover. Back on Cybertron, the Classic Pretenders and the Micromasters attempt to repel Bludgeon, Octopunch, and Stranglehold. Bumblebee leads the charge, and within minutes, the Mayhem Attack Squad is down. However, Octopunch emerges from his Pretender shell and blasts Grimlock. The shot bounces off of Grimlock's re-enforced Dinobot body, and the blast hits Primus. Primus awakens with a thunderous scream that shakes the whole of Cybertron. Xaaron completes the repairs on the transporter, and the forces within Cybertron's center are sent to Earth. Meanwhile, across the universe, Unicron hears the scream of Primus. He changes his course and is now heading towards Cybertron.

Simon Furman is hands down the best writer for the Transformers mythos. Unicron's origin in the original animated series was pretty lame. Furman takes Unicron and makes him a powerful being beyond measure, and completely rewrites the established origins of the Transformers. This story arc has had a lasting effect on the franchise as a whole in that it established Unicron as a god of chaos and Primus as the creator of all Transformers. These story elements have time and again resurfaced in multiple Transformers storylines. The story and artwork for this issue is great, and this really is a must read for any Transformers fan. The only question I had from this issue is why gods would make transforming robots. That one is totally beyond me.

25 Years of Optimus Prime

I found this image recently when looking at tfwiki.net. This image captures 25 years worth of Optimus Prime figures. It doesn't feature the recent Transformers: Animated versions of Optimus Prime or the version from Revenge of the Fallen. Either way, this image shows that there are sure a whole lot of Optimus Primes. Be sure to click on the image to see it in all its glory. The only figure in the image that is not an Optimus Prime (or Primal) is Primus, the creator and god of the Transformers who actually transforms into the planet Cybertron itself. It is hard to believe the Transformers franchise has now been around for 25 years. Even after all this time, the line is still alive and kicking, and it is still one of the most beloved toy lines in the world.

Transformers Artwork #7

This piece showcases the most sinister Decepticon to ever come on line. This classic Dreamwave art piece is of the traitorous Starscream! I have always like this piece because of Starscream standing alone in the shadows. He also has his trademark cocky attitude when you look at the smirk on his face plate, and the almost arrogant hand gesture. It just feels like it reflects the character well as he was always secretly (and not so secretly) plotting his take over of the Decepticons, and how he always felt that he was best choice. Across the various Transformers universes, his treachery has always remained the constant. The only time this was breached was when they made him a more heroic and tragic character in Transformers: Armada. Overall, this is one great piece.

Terminator: Salvation

I normally don't post non-related Transformers posts on this blog, but after watching this movie I had to say something. Terminator: Salvation is easily the best film in the series. My family got me some free movie tickets for my birthday, and I originally wanted to use them for this movie. However, it wasn't released the weekend I was in town, so I decided to wait and cashed them in for Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Where ROTF broken my heart as an ultimately terrible film, Terminator: Salvation was everything I hoped it would be and so much more.

Christian Bale did an awesome job as the future John Conner, and the new plot point with the death row inmate from before Judgment Day (Marcus Wright) added a great deal to the story. This film felt like it connected all the dots of the franchise, and although it follows the same plot line as Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, it does nothing to emulate that film. The director took an almost Batman Begins style with this film as it was a sequel, prequel, and reboot all at the same time. It had a more realistic style this time around with no slap stick comedic pieces (Terminator 3). The story itself focuses on the future war, and it also focuses on a possible attempt to kill Kyle Reese (the hero of the first film and father of John Conner) when he was a teenager and still in the future. However this time, it is the whole Machine army in the mix and not just a single time traveling Terminator. This helped the film from seeming like it was beating a dead horse.

What I really enjoyed about this film was the fact that the directors did an excellent job of tying the old with the new. Some critics have criticized some of these things, but for fans of the series waiting for a good sequel to the first two films, it almost feels like respect being paid to the old. Where the third film was part of the series, it just didn't feel like it really connected. This film did was Terminator 2 did, and had those little pieces to tie the films together. Examples included the faded and torn picture of Sarah Conner, the Conner tapes, similar camera angles and settings to previous Terminator encounters, and even adding the 1984 version of Arnold's face to the attacking T-800 in the factory. It was computer generated, but you would never know from watching it.

Overall, despite the critics, I do believe that this film is my favorite of the series. If it had any rival, it would be the amazing Terminator 2: Judgment Day. After Rise of the Machines, I had lost all hope for this series. This film does bring some hope back. Plus, with its PG-13 rating, it felt like the focus was on the plot and the action rather than deaths and other items (although the first two films had an excellent balance, where 3 really ... well... didn't). If I could step back in time, this would be the film I wish I would have seen on the big screen versus the highly disappointing Revenge of the Fallen. Hopefully film three will get everything back on track.

Transformers Universe Jazz

Since they were first released during the run of Transformers: Cybertron, I have enjoyed the "legends" figures. They have always been pretty good toys at a great price point. Although I have strongly disliked the two previous movie lines (this includes the legends), I have loved the legends figures released for the Cybertron and Universe lines. One of my favorite figures was the Universe version of Jazz.

Jazz was designed with his original Generation One self in mind. He transforms from a Porsche to one slick looking Autobot. To transform him from car to robot, you flip back the rear of the car to form the legs, flip the top of the back roof to form the feet, slide down the car side panels and rear tires to form the arms, and flip down the hood to reveal the head and form the chest. Over all, he is an excellent looking smaller figure with great articulation. They even paid homage to the original toy with having his car doors (or windows) sticking out from his shoulders.

Jazz has always been one of my favorite characters. I hope when the Universe line returns that they will do an all new mold of Jazz. An interesting note is that the mold for Universe Jazz was retooled and used for Revenge of the Fallen legends Bumblebee.

Transformers #60

It really has been a while since I continued my look at the original Transformers comics from Marvel. I am going to pick up where I left off with my previous blog with Transformers #60. Somewhere down the line, I may revisit issues 56-59, but we'll save that for another day. This issue is titled Yesterday's Heroes. This issue picks up immediately after the deaths of Megatron and Ratchet in #59. The reader is also treated to the debut of several characters who will remain key players throughout the rest of the Marvel comic's run and characters who will have lasting impressions on the Transformers' mythology. Those characters include Thunderwing, Bludgeon, Emirate Xaaron, Stranglehold, Octopunch, and the god/creator of all of the Transformers...Primus!

Optimus Prime has finally fallen to despair over the Autobot/ Decepticon war with his dear friend Ratchet sacrificing himself to destroy Megatron. Prime loses the desire to continue the battle and leaves the Autobots. Meanwhile back on Cybertron, the Classic Pretenders (Bumblebee, Jazz, and Grimlock)(sidenote: the Classic Pretenders are not referred to by the name Classic Pretenders in the comics) have lead a faction of Autobots to victory over the Decepticons. Apparently, the Cybertronian Autobots had suffered many defeats and the tide was starting to turn with the help of Bumblebee, Jazz, and Grimlock. Elsewhere, the Decepticon leader of Cybertron watches. His name is Thunderwing, and he dispatches his Mayhem Attack Squad to crush the Classic Pretenders. The squad consists of Pretenders Bludgeon, Stranglehold, and Octopunch. Back at the Autobase, Hot Rod devises a plan to snap Optimus Prime out of his despair by unleashing a robot that Hot Rod controls, but it looks like it will destroy their forces. Unfortunately, Hot Rod loses control, but Optimus does come back to save the day.

Back on Cybertron, the Classic Pretenders are about to warp back to Earth. Emirate Xaaron bids them farewell and wishes that Primus be with them. Bumblebee then remarks that he had forgotten the Transformers had a god. The Mayhem Attack Squad attacks them as they are about to warp out. There is a disruption in the warp, and the Classic Pretenders and the Mayhem Attack Squad warp to somewhere deep within Cybertron. The Classic Pretenders then make their way through a sewer system and find themselves in Cybertron's center. What they discover is the slumbering form of the god of all Transformers...Primus!

This issue was another great issue by Simon Furman. Although it wasn't as good as the previous issues since he took over the book, it was still excellent. In my opinion, I think it could be expected that this issue wouldn't be as good. After all, this book was really the transition from the return of Megatron saga into the largest story arc the book had seen up this point. However, the issue did introduce a great deal of new characters, and this includes one of the most beloved Decepticons by the fans and Simon Furman in Bludgeon. Bludgeon's story plays out in a big way throughout the rest of this series and even into the follow up Generation 2 book. This issue also introduces the readers to Primus, and now it permanently separates itself from the preconceived animated series origins forever. Speaking of origins, the next issue features the origin of the Transformers for the first time in the comics. I'll say this, there are no Quintessons this time around. If you were/are a big fan of the animated series, it was a big change. Issue #60 was a great issue overall, and it is worth a read.

Sonic Bomber

This figure is one of those ultra rare figures for collectors to get their hands on. This is the character of Sonic Bomber, an Autobot from one of the final Transformers Generation One series in Japan, Transformers: Zone. I will be totally honest, I have never owned nor do I know a great deal about this figure. He was only released in Japan in 1990.

Sonic Bomber appeared to the closest ally to the Autobot Dai Atlus. He and Atlus rescued Victory Saber from the destruction of an alien planet, and they then went to protect Earth from the Decepticons. Sonic Bomber can transform from a robot to a jet resembling a blackbird. He also has a third mode where he transforms into a Micromaster base. He can combine in the base mode with Dai Atlus (in base mode) to form a super base, and then combine with Road Fire to form the super Micromaster base, Big Powered. Confused yet...it's okay. I actually like the design of Sonic Bomber more than that of Dai Atlus. Sonic Bomber just looks a lot better in robot and vehicle mode. The base mode is okay, but not as well designed as Dai Atlus'. Sonic Bomber also came with a Micromaster partner, Sonic.

Transformers: Zone was intended to be the final animated series for Generation One in Japan, but due to the declining popularity of Transformers in 1990, only the first of episode of the series was ever animated while the rest of the series was told through the pages of TV Magazine. To date, this single episode (as with other three Transformers animated series from Japan) has never been released in the United States. They have all been released in the U.K. and in Australia, but no full release in the States....yet.

Transformers Artwork #6

This piece comes from the box art from the Australian release of the complete series of Transformers: The Headmasters. The art is done by veteran Transformers Don Figueroua, and it features a battle between the Autobot and Decepticon Headmasters. Dead center is the new Autobot commander Fortress Maximus battling the new Decepticon Emperor of Destruction, Skorponok! The Headmasters animated series ran exclusively in Japan in 1987, and it brought all of the plot points and stories begun in 1984 to an end. The Headmasters joined the war in 2011, and eventually after a great deal of hardship and pivotal battles (i.e. the death of Optimus Prime, the destruction of Cybertron, the death of Galvatron, etc.), the Decepticons would be driven from Earth forever...until Super-God Masterforce.

Abominus

This is part six of my six part Terrorcon spotlight. This is the moment you all have been waiting for; this is the combined mode of the five Terrorcon beasts...Abominus! Although he does look a little different from his original animated form, this figure is simply awesome.

Transforming the Terrorcons to Abominus is virtually the same as any other Scramble City style combiner. You basically transform the bots to their limb modes and the limbs' heads are the super robot connectors. Plug the four bots into Hun-Gurrr, plug in the foot plates and the hands, attach the chest plate, flip Hun-Gurrr's robot legs to the super mode position, and attach Abominus' head.

What makes this figure one of the best combined Transformers from Generation One is the added articulation from Hun-Gurrr. Abominus is capable of more movement than that of his super robot brethren. My only gripe about the figure is the pinkish look of the chest plate and his white helmet. I much preferred the animated color scheme to this because it added to the ferocity of the character. This color scheme makes him look not so tough. Oh well, that's what custom paint apps are for right? This figure was also the only special team to never be released in the United States as a gift set. He was released as a gift set, but only in Japan.

Hun-Gurrr

This is part five of my six part Terrorcon spotlight. Today I will be taking a quick look at one of the best designed figures from the Generation One toy line, Hun-Gurrr! He is the leader of the Terrorcons and transforms into a two headed dragon.

Hun-Gurrr is hands down, the best looking Terrorcon released and is also one of the best designed Generation One Transformers in terms of robot mode articulation. To transform him from dragon mode to robot mode, you flip the dragon heads up to form the feet, align the legs to their original position, flip up the dragon feet on the hind legs, flip out the hands, flip the tail back, rotate the head, and fold the front dragon legs to the robot's back. Hun-Gurrr is simply an excellent looking figure. He has about 15 points of articulation. While that seems really common today, back then this was unheard of for a Generation One toy.

Hun-Gurrr also transforms into the torso of Abominus, the Terrorcons' super mode. Abominus' chest plate can be attached to Hun-Gurrr's arm to create a shield. The figure was the only Scramble City torso figure to not feature a base mode. The underside of Hun-Gurrr suggests that there was one intended for the figure, but it was aborted so no additional pieces were added to flesh it out. Even without the pieces, with all of the leg articulation, you could create your own base mode. I know I certainly did when I was a kid.

Cutthroat

This is part four of my six part spotlight on the ferocious Terrorcons! Today's spotlight features the last of the "limb" figures, Cutthroat. This figure was pretty unique as he was the only Terrorcon with an alternate mode capable of flight, but he was also the only "limb" with added articulation. He typically transforms into one of the legs of Abominus.

Cutthroat's tech specs call him the most destructive of the Terrorcons. He is a Decepticon who attacks life forms without even a shred of mercy. His alternate mode is of a winged creature. The color scheme of the figure is pretty good with the hues of green, yellow, and purple. To transform him, you simply flip down his bird head, unfold his robot arms from his sides, fold up the wings on his back, push the waist in place, pull down the robot legs, and rotate the bird legs. His robot mode is the best designed of the four Terrorcon "limbs". His arms have a full range of motion, his waist can move up and down, and every part of him seems in proportion. He truly is a well designed figure, and the best one to pick up outside of the Terrorcon leader.

As I have mentioned before, it's too bad the Terrorcons didn't get much airtime in the original animated series. Another interesting note is they didn't get much love in the comics either. They were briefly introduced the Headmasters four issue-limited series, and about five issues after debuting in the regular on-going Marvel comic, they were killed by the Underbase powered Starscream. Unlike many of the Autobots and Decepticons who would be reactivated through the use of Nucleon or other means, the Terrorcons were never brought back on line in either the Generation One or Generation 2 Marvel Comics series.

Transformers Artwork #5

This will be a first for my artwork pages. The piece featured this time is not an original drawing or work by a comic book artist or free lance artist. This is actually a screen capture from the opening of the fourth season of the original Transformers series. This piece features one of the last Scramble City style combiners (and the last American G1 Autobot combiner), Computron.

I love this shot because it is just a really sweet looking rendition of the character. It almost looks like it could belong in a second animated Transformers movie. This frame was also seen in the commercial for Skorponok who was seen fighting with Computron. Computron is the combined form of the Technobots, and he is quite possibly the most intelligent Transformer ever created. He is constantly calculating odds, and Computron rarely makes any mistakes with those computations.

What made me think about doing an artwork piece on Computron was really thanks to the spotlights on the Terrorcons. The Technobots and Terrorcons were rivals and enemies in the toy line and animated series. Abominus is a machine of mindless destruction while Computron is an intelligent strategist.

Rippersnapper

This is part three of my six part spotlight on the Terrorcons. Today, I will take a look a Rippersnapper. His alternate mode is of a shark like monster with arms and legs. He transforms into usually the left arm of Abominus.

Rippersnapper is an interesting looking Terrorcon. Like Blot, this figure's alternate mode is an original design and not really based on a pre-existing monster. The mode looks good with its white plastic and blue legs. The only real problem is that with most toys cast in white plastic, it is prone to yellowing over time if not cared for. The robot mode is about the same as Blot and Sinnertwin. You flip back the monster head, slip up the arms, pull down the robot legs, and rotate the monster legs and arms. Pretty standard by this point with really no variety.

It is unfortunate the original animated series didn't last longer. The Terrorcons were introduced towards the very end, and they seemed like they would be great characters in the long run. Rippersnapper definitely showed his aggressive side in their few appearances. The Terrorcons did continue to fight on in the Japanese exclusive Transformers: The Headmasters animated series which ran from 1987 to early 1988. The next spotlight will be on the winged terror, Cutthroat!

Blot

This is part two of the six part Terrorcon spotlight. Say hello to the most disgusting Transformer ever assembled...Blot. He transforms into some kind of monster, and he typically forms the right arm of Abominus.

Blot has a fairly articulate alternate mode (for 1987). His monster head can look up, his monster arms have joints in the shoulders and elbows, and his monster legs move at the hips. His robot mode however suffers from the same problems as Sinnertwin. Blot's arms simply flip out and the legs are locked into position. His transformation is pretty simple. You flip back the shoulders of the monster arms, rotate the monster legs, pull down the robot legs, flip up the robot arms, and carefully flip the robot head up from the back.

Blot is called the most disgusting because his tech specs state that he oozes chemicals with foul odors from his joints. Both the Autobots and Decepticons find this bot gross, and the Terrorcons typically don't like to merge with him to form Abominus because they will smell for some time after. The next spotlight will be on Rippersnapper!

Preview of Transformers #1 (IDW Publishing)

Don't worry readers, I will be continuing my series on the Terrorcons soon. I have been viewing the recent preview spreads for the new Transformers ongoing series from IDW Publishing. After checking out probably more than half of the comic in preview images, I have a few thoughts on it and this different direction that IDW is taking with the series.

1. Story wise, the aftermath of the All Hail Megatron saga seems to have left a bad taste in the mouths of the humans. This story line seems to add a new flavor to the series as the Autobots and Decepticons are fugitives on an Earth that seeks the destruction of both sides. Although there have been a lot of complaints on the forums, I think this could be an interesting take on the franchise.

2. Art wise, I agree with most everyone on the forums that this is not the direction to take. I really think that Hasbro is starting to have too much of a hand in the design of the comic book's style. I never read All Hail Megatron, but I saw enough images of the Seekers, Sideswipe, and Sunstreaker to realize that Hasbro had shifted the designs of the IDW-verse to match up with recent toy releases. The -tion series created modern updates to the original characters that were original, well thought out designs, but also kept the feel of the original characters. That was one of the awesome aspects of the -tion story lines in that it was a fresh new take on the classic Transformers Generation One universe, and it seemed like there was minimal Hasbro involvement. This new art style blends the G1 designs with new movie designs, and it look awful. I was thinking about getting into this series, but the art direction may be too much for me to overlook. Then again, I did say that about Transformers: Animated, and that was the BEST Transformers series in almost a decade.

3. If this series progresses, Simon Furman needs to write again. I was literally through the preview pages in two minutes, if that. Furman had this way of fleshing out the stories to novel-like proportions. He took the art, the story, and the characters and made them feel rich and detailed through his writing. This new guy did what he was supposed to, and he told the story. However, that was all he did. Nothing more, nothing less.

I am not sure if I am going to invest in this series or not. I may just wait for the prices on the rest of -tion series to come down and finish that instead. However, IDW is releasing a new 32-page comic called Continuum, which is like a highlight comic covering the entire IDW series to this point. That might be a great, quick read.

Sinnertwin

This is entry number one for a six part spotlight on a group of the most sinister Decepticons, the Terrorcons! The first figure in this line up was actually the first Terrorcon I ever owned, Sinnertwin.

The central theme of the Generation One Terrorcons is that they each transformed into monsters. Sinnertwin transforms into a two-headed dog like creature. In Greek mythology, this creature is called an Orthus. The color scheme for the figure is pretty sweet. The legs are a greenish color, and the rest of the body is cast in a yellowish plastic. Also, the tails are in a purple color. The beast mode pulls off the goal of the toy looking menacing. The transformation is really simple. You flip the dog heads back, flip back the four legs, pull down the robot mode legs, and flip up the arms.

However, there are two gripes with this figure. The first gripe (as with three out of the four Terrorcon limb bots) is the robot mode. There is no articulation at all with the figure. It looks great to display, but that is it. The arms don't move from their stationary position, and the legs are locked in place. It is not a big deal for a kid with an imagination, but looking at this toy through the lenses of 2009 versus 1987, this might not go over so well now. The other gripe is the robot head. For all of the Scramble City style combiner limbs, the heads are attached to a post which flips down as a connector to the torso robot. On Sinnertwin, the groove in the chest is too narrow, which leads to the head being broken off easily. So was the fate of my figure in the 80's.

The Terrorcons are great toys, but they weren't designed as well for the robot modes on some of the figures compared to the older combiner teams. They are still worth picking up though. The next spotlight will be on the digusting Blot!

Fortress Maximus: The Gem of G1

I have been wanting to write something about this figure for a long time. This is the figure that collectors and fans have called the holy grail of the Generation One toy line. This is the Headmaster Autobot City and Headmaster leader, Fortress Maximus!!! The character didn't see much air time as he only appeared in the final minutes of the last U.S. Transformers episode in 1987. He played a HUGE role in the Japanese exclusive series Transformers: The Headmasters. He also played a large role in the U.S. comic books.

This toy is absolutely huge, and even 23 years later, still the largest Transformer toy ever produced. Fortress Maximus stands at a little over two feet tall. He is also one of the more complicated, but well designed, figures of the era. His Headmaster component is the regular sized Autobot known as Cerebros. He transforms into a communication station when Fortress Maximus is in city mode. Cerebros is also a Headmaster in that his head transforms into Spike, the long time human ally of the Autobots.

Maximus himself transforms into a large city. This city is complete with bays in his body for mini-bots to enter, a helipad for flying Autobots, a prison for Decepticon Headmasters and Target Masters, a control tower for Spike, and ramps which can launch cars. The city mode can also transform into a massive battle station. The station features a huge amount of artillery and a giant cannon in the main tower. This mode in Japan was also featured as a starship called Battleship Maximus. The city has two vehicles to help protect it which can combine to form another smaller robot. In battle station mode, Cerebros is also separated and can attack with his fellow Headmasters in robot mode.

When the battle station is not enough to battle the might of the Decepticons, the city of Fortress Maximus can transform into the towering Autobot I mentioned earlier. Cerebros then transforms into his head and combines. In robot mode, Fortress Maximus is also heavily armed with gun emplacements in his legs, sides, arms, hands, and feet. He is truly the Autobots' last line of defense. To give an idea of his size, you could place your combined Scramble City style super robot right next to Fortress Maximus, and they would only come up to a little above his knee. No Transformer since has ever matched his size.

This figure commands high prices on eBay. Samples are getting harder to find as collectors have been snatching him up for the last decade. Boxed samples sold for well over $1,000.00. Loose and complete samples still run around $700.00. This toy has been re-released twice in Japan. The first time was part of the Super-God Masterforce series as Grand Maximus. The toy was recolored, and Cerebros had a Pretender shell. The second time was in 2000 as Brave Maximus as part of the Car-Robots line (better known to the United States as Transformers: Robots in Disguise). The reason this figure has never seen a United States re-release is because the toy can no longer pass the U.S. toy safety laws. In 1987, the laws weren't as strict for the design for the figure, but now it can't pass due to its inability to pass the drop testing.

It's sad that we may never see this figure re-released in any form here in the United States. However, if it was, it would probably be well over $200.00 to purchase. The movie version of Devastator is already $100.00 and it is not even half the size of Fortress Maximus. If you have this figure, don't ever give it up. If you have the money to invest in it, its a great piece of Transformers history to hold on to.

Rock Lords? Another Lame GoBot Idea

If you read my previous blog, you should know that I am not a fan (only enough to know what they are) of the GoBots. Although they beat Transformers to market in the 1980's, they were a vastly inferior product to the Transformers. Around 1986 when the GoBots toy line was winding down, they hit a new low (even for them). They released a theatrical film called GoBots: Battle of the Rock Lords. Needless to say, although Transformers: The Movie was a box office flop in 1986, this film was out of theatres even faster. Also, which film has been remembered fondly for 20 plus years and received a 20th anniversary re-release from Sony BMG? I'll give you a hint, it wasn't a movie about transforming rocks.

The Rock Lords were supposed to be a new sub line to the GoBots. The concept...machines which transformed into...rocks. Yup...rocks. I will admit that I owned two of them. However, at the tender age of five years old, I didn't care how bad it was as long as it seemed like a Transformer. Now in my mid twenties, I can say that they had little to no play value, they looked awful, and they deserve to be left in rock mode in a real rock quarry never to be discovered again by innocent children or collectors.

On a side note, I mentioned a moment ago the feature film that came out in 1986. Don't see it...ever. Multiple people have put it on YouTube. If you are curious, then feel free, but it will be 70+ minutes of your lives you will never get back.

Star Saber: Mega SCF PVC

Around the time that the Japanese equivalent to Transformers: Heroes of Cybertron was being released, a sub-line of PVC figures was also being released by Takara. In addition to the 3 inch tall PVC figures, there was a line of 5-6 inch PVC figures dubbed the Mega SCF collection. The figure in this post is Star Saber, the leader of the Autobots during the events of Transformers: Victory. Victory was the animated series which ran in Japan in 1989.

The Mega SCF figures were well designed, and they looked exactly like their animated counterparts. Like the standard PVC figures, these toys could not transform. However, they were far more articulated than the standard PVC figures. They also came with a number of accessories like extra hands, heads, weapons, or other character specific gear. Star Saber was an interesting addition to this line as the other Mega SCF figures (until the Armada figures) were all American known Generation One characters rather than a Japanese exclusive Generation One character. Star Saber was also the first to feature some type of transformation, although this was not found in this figure alone. Another SCF figure of Victory Leo was released who, although he couldn't transform to lion mode (I think), could disassemble and combine with Star Saber to form Victory Saber.

There are so many figures released in Japan that I wish would have seen the light of day in the United States. The Mega SCF figures are one such line. You can get your hands on them through on-line retailers like Big Bad Toy Store or by checking your local comic and collectors shops. I actually found one Mega SCF figure of the Armada Megatron at a local comic book store here complete with the original Japanese box. These figures are out of production since they were released around 2001 or 2002, but their prices aren't too high. Great display pieces if you can find them.

Target Master Ricochet

In 1987, new gimmicks began to infiltrate the Transformers toy line. These gimmicks included the Headmasters and Target Masters. The idea was that the Transformers' head or weapon could transform into another smaller robot partner. In Japan, two additional Autobot Target Masters were released. The first was a white repaint of Inferno called Artfire, and the second was a slick repaint of Jazz as Stepper, who in the United States around 2004 became known as Ricochet. Those two figures weren't originally released in the United States, and to date, only Stepper (Ricochet) has been released.

This toy was released stateside for the first time as part of the Toys R' Us exclusive Commemorative Series which ran from 2002 until 2005 with random figures being relased as part of other classics lines after. The figure was a remold of Jazz, but he now featured a black and gold paint job. He also had flame stickers on his hood and down the sides. His Target Master partner was Nightstick. Long time fans and collectors may remember that Nightstick was originally Cyclonus' Target Master in the United States. In Japan, Cyclonus and Scourge never became Target Masters, so their weapons were given to Artfire and Stepper.

This figure was available in huge supply by the conclusion of the Commemorative Series line. The only thing that kept me from purchasing him was the price. All of the figures in the line retailed at a minimum of $35.00. I was a casual collector about that time, but it just didn't make sense to me to blow that much cash on a smaller figure. The reason for the high price for Ricochet and the other Commemorative Series figures is because of the die-cast metal pieces in each figure. They are great nostalgia pieces, but get them if you can find them at a good price.

Transformers Artwork #4

He was Galvatron's most loyal soldier in the days of Generation One. He is the warrior known as Cyclonus! Even when all of the Decepticons had begun to turn against the insane Galvatron, Cyclonus stood by his leader. He fought with a sense of honor and purpose. There were many times that he would make remarks about his Autobot opponents who fought with honor or were worthy of him. He transformed into a futuristic jet. I love this piece because if really captures the excellent design of this awesome character!

Although fans may never figure out if Cyclonus was created from the remains of Skywarp or Bombshell, I will go out on a limb and say he was created from the remains of Skywarp. Scourge was created from Thundercracker's remains, so this only makes logical sense. The two Seekers reborn as the sub-commanders of the new Decepticon army? Two of Megatron's most loyal followers and then Galvatron's most loyal followers (barring one dumb move from Scourge.)? That's my vote.

Transformers: The Movie (Rhino DVD)

In 2006, Sony BMG re-released Transformers: The Movie in literally the greatest edition any fan could ask for. Before that awesome release, Rhino released the movie for the first time on DVD in the United States around 2001. This was actually the first DVD I ever owned, even before I got my first DVD player. The release was awesome because the video quality was far superior to the original VHS releases (even Rhino’s VHS release of the movie). Also, the stereo soundtrack was excellent. However, the edition contained next to no bonus features. No trailers, no artwork, no commentary, nothing. The only feature it had was a really cool interview with Vince DiCola who wrote the score for the movie. The interview was a great edition, but like most of Rhino’s Transformers bonus features, it felt like a quick job to produce and include. If you have a choice between this version and the 20^th Anniversary Edition of the movie from Sony BMG, get the Sony version if you can get it cheap (it is now out production). However, if the other version is too expensive, the Rhino version isn’t a bad purchase. You are getting the original movie, unedited, and with excellent sound and video quality. I think the only Rhino Transformers release to not purchase at all costs is the Rhino release of the first season of Transformers on DVD.

There were a couple of interesting notes about the packaging. It used the original poster from 1986, which was a really neat touch. The back of the package used a poster from the United Kingdom which showed Megatron battling Optimus Prime. The text for the back of the packaging totally butchered the story though. It claimed that there were three factions battling for control of Cybertron: Autobots, Decepticons, and Unicrons. The writer got some of the elements of the movie written into the description, but then it seemed like he/she fell asleep and just made things up.

Ginrai

Ginrai was a character from the Japanese exclusive series called Transformers: Super-God Masterforce (the use of god in the title refers to power in Japanese). He was a human being from Japan who would soon become the new leader of the Earth based Autobots, taking command from the Pretender Metal Hawk. Ginrai is also a God-Master (Powermaster in America). The God-Masters are human beings given the Masterforce Braces (bracelets) that can enable them to become Transformers themselves. By crossing the braces together, the wearers are given an exo-suit which enables them to transform into the engines or heads of lifeless Transformer bodies called Transtectors. Ginrai transforms into the engine of an Optimus Prime styled Transtector. His transtector was designed to be a new body for Optimus Prime who died in the Headmasters series. However, his Transtector was stolen by Devil Z and was among the Transtectors sent to Earth.

Ginrai was a brave warrior. Over the course of the series, he learned to rely on his teammates, and rose to be a leader of courage and sound strategy. His Transtector received two power ups. The first was a trailer which could combine with his robot form to form Super Ginrai. In North America, this was the powered up form of Powermaster Optimus Prime. His second power up was a robot drone called God Bomber. The drone could transform into an extra trailer, and then it could separate and transform into additional armor for Super Ginrai, transforming him into God Ginrai.

In 2002, Powermaster Optimus Prime was re-issued in the United States, but the Japanese version of the toy was released for the re-issue. This version featured a die-cast metal truck cab, retractable fists for the super robot mode, vacuum metalized parts, and the God Bomber power up (now Apex Bomber) to transform Powermaster Optimus Prime into Powermaster Optimus Prime with Apex Armor.

Transformers #7

On my previous blog, I was in the process of reviewing the original Transformers comic book series starting with issue #56 when Simon Furman took over the book and improved it tremendously. Before I jump back in to where I left off, I want to take a look at one of the most beloved stories of the original series. That story was called Warrior School , which took place in issue #7.

This events of this issue occured after the initial story arc which placed the Autobots and Decepticons on Earth. Shockwave has defeated Megatron, and is now the Decepticon commander. Also, all of the Autobots have been captured, deactivated, and imprisoned inside the Autobot base, the Ark. Also, Optimus Prime’s head was detached from his body and is held captive as Shockwave is attempting to extract the Creation Matrix, a program inside Optimus which can create new Cybertronian life.

The story picks up with Ratchet traveling back to the Ark with Buster Witwicky. In issue #4, Buster’s father was critically injured, and Ratchet transported him to a hospital. Once Sparkplug was stable, Buster and Ratchet decided to return to the Ark. However, upon arriving, Ratchet discovers the Autobots were captured and deactivated. To his horror, he learns that while he was away, Shockwave had returned and defeated the energy depleted Autobots. Ratchet then discovers the head Optimus Prime. Ratchet deals with feelings of defeat, and Prime tells Ratchet that he must be strong and be a warrior in order to combat the Decepticons. Ratchet begins to despair as he feels that he is unable to fight the Decepticons alone as he is only a medic. At this moment, Megatron appears and confronts Ratchet. Ratchet attempts to fight Megatron, but is unable to even scratch him. Megatron threatens to end the Autobot’s life, when Ratchet proposes a bargain. Ratchet will locate the lost Dinobots who had once defeated Shockwave millions of years ago, and after Shockwave is defeated, Megatron will release the Autobots. Megatron agrees to the terms, although he is not confident of Ratchet’s success.

This issue demonstrated the excellent writing of Bob Budinsky. This story really dove deep into the character of Ratchet, showing the readers his fears and shortcomings. This issue was also the start of the long conflict between Ratchet and Megatron. This story was revisited in issue #56 when Simon Furman took over the series, and their relationship would carry on to the end of the original comic’s run. Awesome issue, if you can find the original comic, the Generations reprint, or any other trade paperbacks with the issue, get it. This issue is a great read.

Action Master Grimlock

Wow, this is my second Action Master spotlight, maybe I should do a whole series on selected figures. Maybe... Like most of the Action Masters, I have fond memories of Grimlock. He was the leader of the Dinobots, and this was the first version I ever owned of the character. He was also the first Action Master I ever owned. He had a really slick design for robot mode, and his tank/ gun was a cool accessory. However, unlike Bumblebee, this version of Grimlock did seem more limited without the ability to transform. He was missing his "wings" in robot mode, and he also couldn't become the large t-rex we all know and love.

Lack of transformation aside, this was a great representation of the character. He looked very close to his cartoon counterpart minus the parts I stated earlier. Also, it wasn't hard to imagine Grimlock as an Action Master due to his transformation into one during the final issues of the original Marvel comic books. Grimlock discovered Nucleon on the planet of Hydrus 4, and he used it to revive the Dinobots and the other fallen Autobots. Before he used it on them, he tested it on himself. The chemical began causing parts of his body to lock, and then finally he became encased in a crystal like cocoon. He broke free with more power than ever as an Action Master, but his transforming abilities were lost. After Optimus Prime's death caused by Prime's plunging the Matrix into Unicron, Grimlock became the new Autobot leader, until Prime himself was reborn as an Action Master. Maybe Grimlock was a trend setter for the Action Masters...or perhaps not.

Monstructor

Even rarer than a complete set of the Seacons, this Decepticon combiner is a little known classic and totally worth finding complete. This figure is called Monstructor, and he is the combined form of the Decepticon Monster Pretenders. He was released in 1989. He never appeared in the original cartoon or in the commercials in combined form, but he has been featured in recent years in the latest comic book adaptation of Transformers: Generation One from IDW Publishing and in the last Transformers/ G.I. Joe crossover from Devil's Due Publishing.

The Pretender concept was visited briefly in the new Revenge of the Fallen film, but there is so much more to it than meets the eye. Pretenders were Autobots and Decepticons who possessed organic shells for infiltration purposes and the shells could be operated by remote control by their wearer for an extra hand in combat. The first wave of Pretenders were released in 1988 and a final wave was released in 1989.

The Monster Pretenders were six smaller robots with rubbery shells resembling different monsters and alien life forms. Inside each Pretender was a small robot that transformed into a monster themselves. The individual team members were Icepick, Birdbrain, Bristleback, Scowl, Slog, and Wildfly. All six robots could then combine to form the super robot Monstructor.

Monstructor was very similar in design to the original Constructicons in that each figure had a specific role to play in forming the super robot. Unlike the "Scramble City" style combiners, the robots which formed the legs and arms were not interchangeable. Each robot had their specific place. There was also a bit of kibble for the figure in that there were two hand attachments, two foot plates, the groin/ waist connector, and the robot head. The Monster Pretenders and Monstructor are difficult to find in mint condition, complete, and with their original packaging. The Pretender shells each had the shell, the back plate, the inner robot, the inner robot weapons, and the super robot parts. Monstructor may be the smallest Generation One combiner, but he is among the rarest and most expensive. He is also a great looking figure for display.

Even though the Monster Pretenders weren't featured, if you would like to see the Pretenders in action, check out the Japanese exclusive 1988 series Transformers: Super-God Masterforce. The original Pretenders and Powermasters played a huge role in the series.

Action Master Bumblebee

Action Master Transformers will always hold a special place in this fan's heart. I was too young to get my hands on the early waves of Transformers (considering I was born a few years before the line launched). In fact, the earliest figures back in the day I got my hands were the Protectobots. Because of the whole I was way too young to get a job thing, I missed out on classic characters like Bumblebee. This is why although the Action Masters couldn't transform, I loved the figures. It was my chance to get a hold of the classic characters from the cartoon and they looked like the cartoon characters!

Bumblebee was an excellent mold. Although he was the same size as his team mates, that was okay. He looked almost dead on with his animated counterpart. His weapon was pretty sweet too. He had a helipack which could transform and combine with his rifle to form a super weapon. This figure was a classic, and so were the other animated based Action Masters.

Although they were hated at the time, their popularity continues to rise (and are now more expensive to obtain). I am one fan who hopes that at least the Action Master figures based on the cartoon characters get a reissue treatment someday. Don't worry about the big vehices or weapons, just give me the figures.

Long Lost VHS

Every once in a while I stumble across Generation One items that I had no idea existed. This is one of those items. Sometime back when Rhino Home Video owned the rights to the Transformers, they apparently released a VHS copy of the three part Transformers pilot More Than Meets The Eye. Although the Rhino logo isn't on the box, this is the same style of art they used for later releases as well as the original font and logo.

I honestly couldn't tell you anything else about it as I don't own it, but I would imagine that this VHS is similar to the Heroes & Villains VHS releases which used the individual episodes with no bumpers and no 5.1 soundtrack. Rhino released twelve two episode VHS volumes of the Transformers cartoon from the 1980's from 1999 to 2001 which pulled episodes from all 98 episodes of the series run. They also released two special edition VHS/ DVD releases of The Ultimate Doom (Villains) and The Rebirth (Heroes). There was also another VHS which featured the two part episodes with the Dinobots. Finally, they also released VHS box sets of the complete first season and the first half of season two before they ceased production of VHS releases. However, this e-Bay auction was the first time I ever ran across this VHS. Nothing special, but a pretty neat piece.

Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers: Phoenix

I am a huge fan of classic 1980's animation. From time to time, I would like to post info on cartoons that may not be Transformers related. This is one such cartoon. This is a single disc DVD I just purchased called The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers: Phoenix. This show ran from 1986-1987, and it ran for 65 episodes.

This DVD in particular contains the first two episodes of the series (Phoenix & New Frontier), one of the best episodes of the series (Psychocrypt), and another okay episode (Rain Maker). This series is a classic of 1980's animation, but it also not a well known series. The plot revolved around a team of four rangers who have special implants that increase their current abilities. The team protects Earth as part of BETA and battles the forces of the Crown Empire. The leader of the team, Zachary Foxx, has a personal stake in the series as his wife was kidnapped by the Queen of the Crown, and his wife's mind was imprisoned in a Psychocrystal. The rangers recovered her body, but her mind is trapped by the Queen and she is now a Slaverlord. If you pick up this DVD, you can see all of these events happen! As the series progressed, it dove deeper into the characters as well as fleshed out the severity of the situations the Galaxy Rangers faced. The Queen in her attempt to find the perfect beings to create Slaverlords nearly exterminated an entire alien race.

The animation was top notch as it was animated in Japan, but it was produced in the United States. Also, the show featured excellent writing as it was one of the few action cartoons not supporting any toy lines and having no obligation to get new toys featured. It was a very mature show for its time. The series is currently available in four DVD's with four episodes each, or you can own the complete series in two DVD box sets. I was a HUGE fan of this show when I was a kid, and it was fun to revisit the series through this release. The first three episodes are awesome, and the final episode is pretty good although not up to the caliber of the other three episodes. I don't think I will purchase the entire series (Transformers is the only show to earn that honor), but I will probably pick up the other single discs since they are only $2.00 a piece on Amazon.com. Great show and it certainly was one of the best of the 1980's.

Pepsi Prime

Hasbro and Pepsi have released this figure in the past, but the most recent release was as a prize and as a Hasbro Toy Shop exclusive in 2007 to coincide with the release of Michael Bay's first Transformers film. The figure is the Autobot commander Optimus Prime, but it comes with a free bottle of Pepsi.

The mold is 100% Generation One Optimus Prime. The cab looks and transforms exactly the same. However, the figure has some different stickers and paint applications with the Pepsi logo on it. The trailer is the biggest difference as it was an entirely new mold. Rather than have the classic trailer from 1984 or 1992, this trailer was a flatbed with side clamps. The clamps could hold the bottle of Pepsi that Optimus came with or another bottle.

Overall, this is really sweet figure that is more of a collector's item. If you love Pepsi or Optimus Prime or both, this would be worth picking up if you can find it. E-bay is option number one, or option number two is seeing if it still available through the Hasbro Toy Shop.

Goldbug

Bumblebee has always been an iconic character in the multiple Transformers universes. In virtually every series, he has either appeared or has been paid homage to. In the original Generation One toy line, there was a time when Bumblebee was heavily damaged and thought to have been destroyed. He was rebuilt into a new bot named Goldbug, a Throttlebot.

The Throttlebots were 1987's version of the mini-bots from previous years. They each transformed exactly the same, although the molds were all different. On Goldbug, you simply flip out the arms, flip the body up, and flip back the rear section. The transformation and general look of Goldbug was very similar to his Bumblebee form except that he now had a mouth plate. Although the toy featured no articulation, I loved it because it was still Bumblebee. One of the cool features of Goldbug and the Throttlebots was that they had a pull back motor. You could pull the vehicle or robot modes back on the tires, and release them to let them speed away.

Eventually in the Generation One toy line, Goldbug was restored to his form of Bumblebee. In the comics, he was destroyed once more after being one of the many Transformers fought the Underbase powered Starscream. Ratchet would later rebuild Goldbug into Bumblebee, but also give him a Pretender shell.

Transformers Artwork #3

The universe trembles before the might of the evil Decepticon leader, Megatron! This piece is from the Dreamwave comic book series from the early 2000's. Megatron is one of the most sinister leaders of the Decepticons' vast history; after all, he is the one who began the Great Wars and formed the Decepticon faction. Before Galvatron, Overlord, Devil Z, Skorponok, Deszarus, Dark Nova, Violenjiger, or the Megatron of the Beast Wars era; the original Megatron will always be the most feared and renowned leader of the forces of evil. He is seen standing over rubble, and also over the injured Bumblebee. There are times I do wish the original Dreamwave comic book series was still in publication because of artwork like this.

The Lost Fifth Season

I was just thinking about the Transformers: Matrix of Leadership Edition box set of the original animated series. It claims to be the complete series as it features all 98 episodes which ran from 1984 to 1987. There are complete series box sets in other countries which also claim to have every episode. However, did you know there was in fact a fifth season of the Transformers? I am not talking about the Japanese exclusive Transformers: The Headmasters, which it technically was as it continued and concluded the original story. There really was one more season of the Transformers in the United States which ran during 1988. In the U.S., there was a fifth season which ran on the weekends for twenty episodes. There were no newly animated episodes, but this was a sort of "best of" collection of the series. The episodes included:

1. More Than Meets the Eye (Part 1)

2. More Than Meets the Eye (Part 2)

3. More Than Meets the Eye (Part 3)

4. Transformers: The Movie: Day One

5. Transformers: The Movie: Day Two

6. Transformers: The Movie: Day Three

7. Transformers: The Movie: Day Four

8. Transformers: The Movie: Day Five

9. Five Faces of Darkness (Part 1)

10. Five Faces of Darkness (Part 2)

11. Five Faces of Darkness (Part 3)

12. Five Faces of Darkness (Part 4)

13. Five Faces of Darkness (Part 5)

14. Surprise Party

15. Dark Awakening

16. The Return of Optimus Prime (Part 1)

17. The Return of Optimus Prime (Part 2)

18. The Rebirth (Part 1)

19. The Rebirth (Part 2)

20. The Rebirth (Part 3)

This season saw Transformers: The Movie broadcast on television for the first time ever, and part five included the music video for Stan Bush's "The Touch". The episodes also featured new narration during the episodes from Optimus Prime, basically showing that these episodes had already happened and he was simply remembering. There was some new animation for these episodes. The beginnings and endings featured live action segments with a young boy named Tommy Kennedy and his friend, Powermaster Optimus Prime. Prime was an animatronic puppet and the toy also featured some stop motion animation. These segments were cheesy, but it did add something special to these older stories. Also, the intro for the show was new. It retained the season 3 theme song, but featured new animation from the commercials of 1988 with the Pretenders and such.

To date, these twenty episodes have never been released on DVD or VHS. In fact, these episodes are extremely difficult to come by. I actually have never seen them, but I have read about them and seen pictures. Seibertron.com also uploaded one of the "Puppet"master Prime segments to the Internet about four years ago, so I have seen a little bit of the cheesy Tommy Kennedy and Powermaster Optimus Prime. Even though the original episodes have all been released, it would be a neat piece of Transformers history to see these episodes collected into some kind of box set. Given the fact that they haven't already been collected probably means that Hasbro doesn't have the master tapes, they are in super poor condition, or they just really want to forget they ever tried this. Either way, it was a fun attempt to squeeze one more season out of the original Transformers cartoon.