European Classics Octane

Here is another one of the "Classics" figures released in 1991 overseas in Europe. This is a rerelease of the classic Generation One Triple-Changer Octane. The toy was originally released in 1986. I have never owned Octane, so I won't be able to go into detail about his transformation. However, as a figure he is pretty solid. He transforms from tanker truck to jumbo jet to robot. As one of the first original molds from Hasbro (especially a triple-changer), the designers did the best job they could with available design technology. The truck mode looks great with a nice chromed trailer, and the jet mode looks awesome with the chromed wings. The robot mode is pretty good, but I think it could have been better. There are large indents in the front of both of his legs due to the transformation, and his arms don't have much (not that any G1 figure did) articulation. Overall, Octane is worth picking up if you have the chance, especially if it is the rare European Classics version. However, I would definitely recommend Blitzwing or Astrotrain before Octane.

Octane played a small role in the third season of the animated series. He was seen in multiple episodes as a background character, but Octane got starring roles in the episodes Thief in the Night and Starscream's Ghost. Thief in the Night saw Octane try to take control of the Decepticons by stealing Trypticon and learning how to create Super-Energon. In Starscream's Ghost, it was hard to tell if the writers mixed up Octane with Blitzwing (Blitzwing was expelled from the Decepticons in Five Faces of Darkness: Part Five), but it would be safe to assume that Octane was also on the run after stealing Trypticon. In this episode, Octane enters into a partnership with ghost of the traitorous Starscream.