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!