Power Master Optimus Prime in Box

I could have easily put this in with the other entry, but I decided to give this image an entry of its own. This is the U.S. 1988 release of Power Master Optimus Prime, but he is in his original packaging. If you read my other entry, you'll know this was my favorite toy as a child. This figure is an absolute classic behind the original 1984 release of Optimus Prime.

Power Master Optimus Prime!!!

Out of all of the Transformers figures across the 25 years of the franchise's history, there is no other toy of which I have such fond childhood memories. I got him for Christmas when I was six years old, and the adventure really began (although when I was a "too cool" teenager, I got rid of him). I am actually in the process of restoring a beat up toy with no accessories I found at a local comic book store for $5.00. This to me is the grand daddy of them all, Power Master Optimus Prime! The version in this pic is the re-issued version released in 2001 which was basically an imported Japanese variant with chrome parts and slider fists.

Power Master Optimus Prime was the first new Prime figure since his original release in 1984. This toy came out in 1988 to "celebrate" the character's return. Although the animated series had ended its run of original episodes in 1987 and Optimus had returned in late 1986 or early 1987, this was still super fun to see! The vehicle mode is excellent, and Prime is armed to teeth! He has a lot of guns on his trailer, and the trailer itself can transform into a battle station.

The Power Master gimmick involves a small Nebulon character transforming into an engine for Optimus and unlocking the toy's ability to transform. To transform the cab to robot mode, you simply plug the engine into the grill (or push the white tab if you don't have the engine), flip down the legs, flip the feet out, unfold the arms, and flip out the head. The figure has next to no articulation, but it still looks awesome! The big surprise was the super robot mode. You simply transform Optimus back to truck mode, and fold the rear section up. Prime now looks like a cube. From trailer mode, remove the guns, flip down the side panels to reveal the legs, flip down and rotate the arms, plug the truck cab into the top section, plug in the gray dual guns for the smoke stacks, and plug in the head. The only articulation is in the robot's arms and legs, so he really is kind of a brick. However, this brick looks great!

There are three Transformers that above all others, I can say are my favorites. One is Overlord (although I have never had one), the next is Cyclonus from the Classics line (I love the mold), and finally is the powerful Power Master Optimus Prime. He sells for a decent price on eBay. His parts are also widely available on eBay, so if you are restoring one (like me, but I doubt anyone is ;) ), you can easily find the parts. Great figure and a true classic!

Wheelie...Worst G1 Transformer Ever!

Other than the hideous Firecons, there is no other figure from the Generation One toy line that deserves more hate than the terrible Wheelie! The character was only semi-annoying in the animated series (I don't think he was as bad as the fandom always says), but his figure was just flat out ugly.

His vehicle mode does look pretty slick. Other than orange paint job, Wheelie does come off as good looking futuristic car. However, once transformed to robot mode, it all falls apart for this toy. The transformation is super easy (as with all mini-bots). You pull the front of car forward to extend the legs, flip the feet up, lift up the visor to reveal the face, and finally flip the arms forward. The result is a poor excuse for a figure. His legs are super thin with tissue box feet. His arms are overly long with the hands just stamped to the inside of the frame. Finally, the face looks just... creepy. It looks like a floating orange .... thing. While most of the toys resembled the animated characters to a degree, this thing in robot mode looks like a nightmare rather than the child like character from the series.

As I mentioned, the animated version of Wheelie actually didn't bother me that much. Although the powers that be at Hasbro did fail in creating a new Bumblebee/ Spike dynamic in season three, they did create a decent character. The toy however is the most disgusting design I have seen for any Generation One figure.

Japanese Transformers DVD's in the U.S. (When?)

This was just a random thought I had this afternoon. In various parts of the world (Japan, the United Kingdom, Australia, China), the multiple exclusive Japanese Generation One Transformers animated series have been released on DVD. These series were released in Japan following the conclusion of the U.S. animated series in 1987. These series included The Headmasters, Super-God Masterforce, Victory, and the single episode of Zone. Each of these series have been released in various parts of the world, and with the Transformers property as popular as it is now, the question is "when will these hit the U.S.?". Hopefully with the conclusion of the Transformers reissue DVD's, Shout Factory! could somehow get their hands on these. Probably not, but one can hope.

Machine Wars Megatron/ Megaplex

These are the final two basics figures from the Machine Wars toy line. This final mold was made into Megatron and his clone, Megaplex. These figures transform from F-22 Raptor jets into robots. The design is the same as the other two jets and the rest of the basics figures. You simply pull up on the rear tail fin and the jet instantly transforms to a robot. All that is required is that you un-peg the gun attachments and combine them into the rifle for the robots modes. The head sculpt looks great and it was interesting to see Megatron as a jet. However, the big problem with Megatron in this body is that he is the Decepticon leader and he is the smallest Decepticon of his forces. As a fan, it just goes without saying that this is Megatron's weakest incarnation. The Starscream figure in this toy line is about four times the size of Megatron, and the Soundwave figure is a little over double Megatron's size.

Despite the size issue, I do feel like the concept was a good idea. Megatron finally joins his ranks in the skies, and Megaplex was a great idea as a character. It's only too bad they didn't develop him at all as a character. Him being an exact clone of Megatron with some fail safe devices to prevent him from trying to usurp Megatron could have made for some interesting stories. Also, Megaplex's color scheme is leagues better than Megatron as Megaplex has more of the traditional colors (minus the green) while Megatron is painted in this really weak looking teal and white. Good figures, but definitely the most forgettable Megatron ever produced.

Transformers Artwork #9

This piece is from the retailer incentive cover for Transformers: Infiltraion #2. This is an image of Starscream in his classic Generation One design, however it is a hybrid of his animated look and his toy's design. I like images of Starscream, and this one feels like it brings in the design elements of his original toy, but upgrades them with the build of his animated counterpart. You'll notice the toy designs in his leg designs, arms with the extra blue of the toy in the upper arms, and the nosecone as part of his head. Great image, and all around great character!

Classic Generation One Retcon

One of the my favorite story lines from the original Generation One series was the Return of Optimus Prime story which began in Dark Awakening and continued in The Return of Optimus Prime (Part 1 and 2). Prime's return was only slated to be a one shot comeback in Dark Awakening, but due to the backlash of his death in the movie, Hasbro ordered his return to the animated series. Thus, one of the largest retcons in the original series took place.

In Dark Awakening, Optimus Prime was found in an orbital space mausoleum where his shattered body had been placed to rest forever following his final battle with Megatron. Rodimus Prime and his team sought refuge there after being chased by Galvatron and the Decepticons in deep space. Rodimus learns that Optimus is indeed alive and saves them from Galvatron. Optimus was still heavily damaged and didn't know how he came back online. Prime unexpectedly betrays the Autobots, and leaves them to die as the mausoleum is sent on a collision course with that system's sun. Optimus then returns to Cybertron to lead the Autobots into a trap set by the Quintessons to destroy them all and retake Cybertron. Rodimus Prime and his team are able to intercept Optimus Prime and the Autobot fleet. Rodimus Prime learns that Optimus' body was taken by the Quintessons and brought back on line to do their bidding. Rodimus battles Optimus to the finish, and as Optimus prepares to destroy Rodimus, his old personality resurfaces. Optimus Prime returns the Matrix to Rodimus Prime, and then Optimus sacrifices himself in order to save the Autobots and defeat the Quintessons. This was supposed to be the true, heroic end of Optimus Prime. Ultra Magnus declared that the nova from the explosion would be his memorial, and Rodimus closed the episode saying, "I may never be the leader that you were, but for sure, I'm gonna try. So long...Prime."

Optimus returns in the season three finale called The Return of Optimus Prime (Part 1 and 2). This is where the largest retcon occurs in order to bring him back. Optimus Prime had lost an arm, half of his face, and his body was heavily damaged at the end of Dark Awakening. In The Return of Optimus Prime: Part 1, his body is intact and brand new. In this episode, there were also no signs of the Quintessons, no Autobots, and Optimus Prime was dead...again. Prime was still alive in Dark Awakening until the ship was destroyed. Also, Prime's ship was different than the one he was piloting in the last episode. Also, none of the Autobots seemed to remember the Quintessons plot, except that Rodimus remarks that they had revived Optimus Prime once before. Overall, it was a blatant attempt to force Optimus Prime back into the Generation One universe (and the start of a series tradition in each series as the Prime always dies and returns). After this, Optimus Prime would take command once again and lead the Autobots until the end of the series. In the Japanese exclusive Transformers: Headmasters, he would in fact die again to save Cybertron.

Don't get me wrong, I loved The Return of Optimus Prime (Part 1 and 2). The animation was top notch, great music, and it had a pretty good story. However looking back on this episode over twenty plus years since it aired, it was filled with continuity errors and issues. Plus, the concept was kind of random. Dark Awakening is definitely the better episode, although I wish it could have been produced later to take advantage of the better animation and music. Had the writers of The Return of Optimus Prime taken better care, this "trilogy" could have been even greater.