Could It Be? U.S. Japanese Releases?

I find it ironic that I had just posted on this less than two weeks ago. I dropped by www.seibertron.com (best source for Transformers info), and they posted some info from the Shout! Factory blog. Apparently, there are thoughts being tossed around about trying to get their hands on the Japanese exclusive Generation One animated seasons and trying to bring them to DVD in the U.S. (That's right, legit Region 1 releases and no bootlegs!). No production, confirmation, or work has begun on this project. However, if you are interested in seeing these episodes come to the U.S., you can head over to Shout! Factory's website and post your comments on their blog. They are trying to gauge the interest for the series now, so voice your opinion!

Season 2, Volume 2 on DVD

Shout! Factory is getting closer to completing their individual season box set releases on DVD! This collection was released in mid-January of 2010 and features the remaining episodes from season two of the original animated series. Unlike volume one, this collection features both episodes and bonus features. The new bonus features include more toy commercials, PSA's, and a new documentary about the animated series. I haven't purchased the collection just yet, but if it is like the previous two releases from Shout! Factory, it won't be long until I do.

The final half of season two is kind of a mixed bag for me in terms of episode quality. Nearly every episode of the first volume of season two are classics. The first part of the second volume struggles with forgettable episodes like The Girl Who Loved Powerglide (this is the one episode that I struggle to no end to sit through), Sea Change, and Child's Play. However, the second half is where the back story of the series begins to form with episodes like The Search for Alpha Trion, The Secret of Omega Supreme, and the two part The Key To Vector Sigma. The final episodes after The Key To Vector Sigma focus heavily on the new special teams like Arielbots, Stunticons, Protectobots, and Combaticons. It was a great end to season two, and if you don't have the previously released Rhino box set, you will need to get your hands on this one. Also, keep some money in your pockets for April of 2010. Shout! Factory will be releasing the complete third and fourth seasons in a single box set! Take that Amazon.com seller price gougers!

Machine Wars Sandstorm

The first of the two larger Autobots for the Machine Wars toy line is Sandstorm. In the original Generation One toy line, Sandstorm was a triple changer, transforming for dune buggy to helicopter to robot. He also sported an orange and yellow color scheme (I admit, it looked okay but it weakened the look of the character). His Machine Wars figure retains only three elements of the original character: a robot mode, a helicopter mode, and his allegiance.

Over all, he is a good looking figure in both modes. The helicopter mode and robot mode share a military color scheme. His articulation is again limited (just like the Soundwave figure and like the final two figures I'll be reviewing next). I never owned the figure, but I can again imagine that his transformation is not overly complicated. I think it was interesting decision to choose Sandstorm for the Machine Wars toy line as his character was never a huge name in the old toy line. I think the redesigned look worked really well with character and the colors really made him stand out.

The mold for this figure is again from the exclusive European Transformers toy lines from the early 1990's after it ended the U.S. An interesting note is that while the other three large Machine Wars figures have been re-released in other lines (or planned), this mold has not been reused in any U.S. toy line since this one.

Machine Wars Soundwave

This is the first spotlight of the four larger figures from the Machine Wars toy line. Here is the evil Decepticon Soundwave! He has been rebuilt in that he now transforms into a missile transport rather than his classic cassette deck mode, but in robot mode it really did feel like the Soundwave fans grew up with.

I have never owned this figure, so I couldn't tell you how the transformation actually works. However, since the mold is originally from the European extension of Generation One, it is probably fairly simple. The toy looks great in both modes. The robot mode definitely bears a strong resemblance to Soundwave. The only thing I would have changed on the figure would have been the color scheme. With a different color palette, this figure could have been even more believable as a rebuilt Soundwave. However, it still looks great. The articulation is definitely limited to the knees and shoulders.

One feature which would have been great to add if this was a retooled version would have been a chest compartment with the old cassette spies but with new modes. They eventually did this with Soundwave and Laserbeak from the Transformers: Cybertron toy line, but it would have been really cool to see here. Oh well, you can imagine what it would have been like by checking out the previous entry into my blog's art gallery.

Transformers Artwork #11

I plan on concluding my series on the Machine Wars toy line. However, I found this really cool looking art piece of Machine Wars Soundwave (the next toy spotlight). I thought this was neat because it blended the old character of Soundwave with his new body and made it seem like it made sense. There is even a Machine Wars version of Laserbeak, although this is really the Cybertronian version from the first episode of the animated series in 1984. The next toy spotlight will be the Machine Wars Soundwave!

Transformers #63

It has been a while since I looked at the old Marvel Transformers comics, so I thought I would discuss another issue before I wrap up my series on the Machine Wars toy line. This is issue #63 of the original Transformers comics and it is part two of the Matrix Quest story line. Similar to the previous issue, I am not too impressed with the direction of this issue.

This story takes place on an alien planet called Cheyne, and it borrows elements from the old western movies for its story. The Autobot Triggerbots (Dogfight, Backstreet, and Override) save a young child, and they are invited back to the family's farm to recharge themselves. Meanwhile, Thunderwing has hooked up the Autobot Headmasters he kidnapped back in issue #62 to a machine, and he learns of the Matrix Quest. At this point, Thunderwing desires to capture the Creation Matrix for himself in order to gain more power than ever before. Far away, Optimus Prime has a vision of Unicron and of the Matrix being tainted by evil.

Back on the planet, the Triggerbots have succumb to mind control by an psychic vampire. Eventually Thunderwing shows up attempting to learn about the location of the Matrix. However, he learns that the Triggerbots have no idea where it is. The Triggerbots eventually break free of the control of the psychic vampire and escape.

I know this is not the most in depth retelling of the story, but believe me, you aren't missing much. The first two issues of the Matrix Quest story line were pretty poor in my opinion except for the foreshadowing and story building elements. The artwork was nothing spectacular, and this just seemed like an attempt to incorporate a different element into the series. However... I really don't feel like it worked. Fortunately, the Matrix Quest starts to pick up steam in the next issue, and it gets really awesome in the final two parts of the story. Stay tuned to this blog for those spotlights.

Transformers Artwork #10

In 2001, a new Generation One Transformers character made his debut, Sunstorm! This character was an e-Hobby exclusive repaint of the original Starscream mold based on an extra Seeker seen in More Than Meets the Eye (Part 1). The character was given true back story in the Dreamwave comics before they bit the dust in 2004. In the comics, Sunstorm was a clone of Starscream created by Shockwave and fitted with an internal fusion reactor. In order to protect his body from the excessive power surges, the clone was coated with Electrum, which made him near invincible. However, the process drove Sunstorm insane, and he began to think of himself as a god. He is a really great character, and I hope that we will continue to see more of this character in the future. He has appeared in multiple toy lines in the U.S. over the last nine years, and he has always been a repaint of the seeker molds. If you want to read about him and his battles with Starscream, Omega Supreme, and Jetfire, check out the first five or so issues of the Ongoing Generation One Transformers comics from Dreamwave. They are becoming harder to acquire, but you can still get them at a decent price at comic book stores which sell back issues of comics or there is always e-Bay.