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.