European Constructicons

This is one of the oddities of the Generation One Transformers toy line. After the line ended in the United States and Europe continued to receive their own exclusive figures, they rereleased the six Constructicons. They were in their new paint schemes (which would be the colors for their Generation 2 debut in 1992 in the U.S.), but what was strange was that they came with none of the parts to form Devastator. In addition, each card had a generic looking robot that looked like Scrapper, but no individual character art (although they did have a shot of the entire team, but the large image was generic). Also, none of the figures had individual names. They were all labeled Decepticon. This sort of reminds of the European exclusive Earth Defense Force which were four remolds/ recolors of four out of the six Decepticon Breast Force members from Japan. They could combine to form their super robot form, but without the remaining members, the robot had no arms or head. You have to love random items.

Transformers Artwork #15

This is toy artwork from the Japanese Generation One toy line. Here is one of the few Decepticons released for Transformers: Zone. This is Metrotitan, a repaint of the Autobot known as Metroplex. In Transformers: Zone, there were nine Decepticon Demon Generals (not including Metrotitan) who served Violenjiger. However, those generals were never released (or rereleased rather as the generals were Devastator, Menasor, Bruticus, Abominus, Trypticon, Overlord, King Poseidon, Predaking, and Black Zarak) as stand alone figures. Only Metrotitan and the Micro Master Race Track Patrol were released as figures to fill out the Decepticon ranks for the line. I'd say even with the massive Metrotitan, the Decepticon forces in toy form were heavily outnumbered against the likes of Dai Atlas, Sonic Bomber, Road Fire, and all of the Autobot Micro Masters.

Generation 2 Returns!

If you read my 100th blog post, you will know that I have a soft spot for Transformers: Generation 2. You can also imagine that I was a happy camper to hear that theme of this year's BotCon will be Transformers: Generation 2! What this means is that the figures for the convention's exclusives will all be homages to the original characters from the Generation 2 years. Right now, only one has been announced, but get ready for more of the crazy neon color schemes. It's going to be a great convention.

Thanks for the Memories HBK

I know, I know. This post will have nothing to do at all with Transformers. However, out of respect for one of my favorite atheletes since my childhood, I had to do this post today. I haven't actively watched wrestling since probably 2004, but I got hooked in January of 2010 when I learned of the return of Bret Hart to the WWE and possibly a final match against Vince McMahon. At the same time, I learned of another story which was going on. As the wrestling world knows by now, last night at Wrestlemania XXVI, The Heartbreak Kid Shawn Michaels wrestled the final match of his career against The Undertaker. From all reports, their rematch from Wrestlemania XXV seems to have been as good as their match of the year from 2009. The stipulation was that it was Undertaker's undefeated Wrestlemania streak versus the twenty-six year career of Shawn Michaels. The only way to win the match was by pin fall or submission. The Undertaker pinned Michaels, extended his streak to 18-0, and ended the career of HBK.

I first started watching Shawn when he tagged with Marty Janetty as part of the Rockers back in the late 1980's. At the time, I saw Shawn Michaels as a Rocker, not a future hall of famer. Like many kids of the day, I enjoyed his matches but I was a huge fan of the immortal Hulk Hogan. Around 1991, I stopped caring altogether for wrestling. In 1998, a friend of mine told me about WCW, and that Hogan and Randy Savage were still wrestling as part of a group called nWo. I tuned into WCW Monday Nitro every week to check it out, and I was hooked. However, over time my enthusiasm dissipated. I got bored with seeing Hogan in the main event every night, the botched return of the Ultimate Warrior left a lot to be desired, and the infamous Finger-poke of Doom really annoyed me. In May 1999, I tuned into Monday Night Raw to give the ol' WWF a try for the first time in about eight years. I saw Shawn Michaels as the commisioner out causing trouble and having a good time. There was definitely something different about this former Rocker.

I learned that he had been a former WWF champion and was actually one of the most decorated champions in the history of the organization. I started renting old tapes of pay-per-views and getting old Wrestlemania videos, and it didn't take long to realize I was watching the wrong wrestler (Hogan) all along. HBK was different as he had untouchable in-ring ability, great mic skills, and was a great entertainer. I must have watched his 60-minute Iron Man match with Bret Hart from Wrestlemania XII several times over. It was unbelievable to me to actually see what real wrestling was all about. In retrospect, Hulk Hogan had a few moves and a strong in-ring presence. He was the super hero, but not a true professional wrestler. HBK and Bret Hart were the guys leading the charge in the 1990's, but HBK was in a league of his own.

Sadly, I learned that Shawn had suffered a career ending back injury at the 1998 Royal Rumble when he was back dropped out of the ring on to a wooden casket (casket match with the Undertaker), and he herniated several discs in his spine and crushed one completely. He was forced into retirement following his Wrestlemania XIV WWF Championship match against Stone Cold Steve Austin. Months after the match, he had a spinal fusion surgery. I thought that I would never have the chance to see HBK in a match. However, after learning about the outlandish antics in his DX days, I wasn't sure if I really wanted to. I wanted to watch wrestling, not smut.

After seeing the results of his drug problems, an ended career when he was at the top of his game, marrying his second wife, and having a young son, Shawn finally realized that something in his life was not right. After an incident where he was pilled up and forgot memories of spending time with his son, he swore off alcohol and drugs. His wife Rebecca had also gotten him involved with church, where Shawn realized that he needed Jesus Christ and the undeserved gift of the sovereign Lord's grace for the forgiveness of sins. Michaels accepted Christ and became a Christian. Unlike a lot celebrities who have claimed to find Christ, Shawn Hickenbottom (Shawn Michaels' real name) seemed to be one who really got it. His life, his attitude, his devotion, it was all different. Long time fans could see Christ in his life. He made an unexpected return to the WWE (formerly WWF) in 2002 as part of the new nWo. When that angle folded, he entered into program with real life best friend Triple H. This was the start of an unexpected in ring return after a four year absence. HBK returned at Summerslam 2002 in a classic Non-sanctioned Street Fight with Triple H. HBK then returned at the 2002 Survivor Series to become the World Heavyweight Champion. Michaels competed on a limited basis until his classic match with Chris Jericho at Wrestlemania XIX. After that, Michaels finally returned full time to professional wrestling.

Since 2002, Shawn Michaels has competed in some of the best matches the WWE has ever seen (most at Wrestlemania). The second half of his career was arguably as good, if not better, than the first. Shawn had matured as a man and as a performer to a level which many wrestlers never achieve. Although I am saddened to see Shawn Michaels hang up the boots for good and I will be a fan who will always want to see just one more match, I am thankful for having so many great memories of Shawn throughout my life time. His final match against one of the all time greats in the Undertaker was a great way to end his career. You also have to respect the man for knowing when his time had come. Many wrestlers like Hogan and Flair are still going when they should have called it quits eight years ago. HBK went out while he was still at the top of his game. In this fan's mind, there is only one showstopper, one icon, and one main event in professional wrestling. He will always be The Heartbreak Kid Shawn Michaels. Thanks HBK for 26 years of wrestling memories.

Career Highlights:

-5 time Tag Team Champion

-3 time Intercontinental Champion

-1 time European Champion

-2 time winner of the Royal Rumble

-first ever Grand Slam Champion

-4 time World Champion

-10 time winner of Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Match of the Year award (this covers all promotions world wide)

Transformers Artwork #14

It has been a super long time since I posted any artwork from the Transformers. Here is an image from the Dreamwave Comics era. This features the powerful Decepticon army in the new art style by artist Pat Lee. This was a great image because it featured all of the legendary characters from the pre-movie era from the early 1980's. It was also the first time the characters had been seen in print form for over six years. Great piece.

2009 Soundwave Reissue

I met with a friend of mine this morning who had some memories of the classic Transformers from when he was a kid. I decided to dedicate this post to that conversation. At the 2009 San Diego Comic Con, Hasbro released an exclusive figure as part of the Transformers: Universe series. They rereleased the original Soundwave from 1984 with four of his cassette warriors (Ravage, Laserbeak, Buzzsaw, and Ratbat). If you are a fan of classic G1 figures, this was the reissue to get. He came in a slick package sporting the 25th Anniversary logo, and Soundwave was proudly displayed in robot mode. He also sported the same dye-cast metal pieces. Although Soundwave definitely couldn't be in disguise in today's modern world (unless he transformed to cassette-deck mode in an antique store), he is still to this day one of the most beloved characters of the original series. I think Hasbro sold this version for a brief period in their online store after Comic Con, but wherever it is or was sold, I highly recommend picking up Soundwave if you can get your hands on him. He is truly one of the all time classics of the Transformers franchise.

Seasons 3 & 4 To Be Released In April

The final DVD box set of the original Generation One adventures of the Transformers is due out in April of 2010. This is exciting because all 98 episodes of the original series have been remastered with corrected animation and fixes to the sound that was butchered in the Kid Rhino releases. Also, this set will be available at a much cheaper price (until the announcement of this release, the season 3 part 2 set was running close to $90.00 on Amazon at the cheapest), and fans will be able to get the entire third season and the three episode fourth season/ U.S. series finale in one box set with a host of new bonus features. Kid Rhino had broken the season up into two parts. Shout! Factory has done an excellent job with their re-issues of the original series, and if you are a fan, you shouldn't miss out on this last box set.

It was drastically different from the first two seasons and it picked up directly after the 1986 movie. Optimus Prime is dead and Megatron has been recreated by Unicron as the mighty Galvatron. Rodimus Prime is the new leader of the Autobots, and he is uncertain of his own role or leadership abilities. Also, the series was thrown twenty years into the future in the far off year of 2005 (we still don't have hover cars or an Earth Defense Force, and it's 2010). It threw off a lot of fans as most of the characters that fans had grown to love (Prime, Ironhide, Brawn, Starscream, etc.) had been killed off in the movie, and the adventures of the Transformers were now on different planets and Cybertron with a host of new characters. However, there were so many new elements in season three that added to the overall story (i.e. the real origin of the Transformers, the Quintessons, Starscream's ghost, the Headmasters, etc.), it was hard to not like this season/ series. Also, Optimus Prime would return by the end of the series, which made a lot of parents happy. If you can get past the big changes and the terrible animation for the first half of the season, you are bound to find the last great Transformers series until 2008's Transformers: Animated. I have always found it best to think of season three as an entirely different series because, let's be honest, it sure felt like one. In fact, in Japan it was treated as a separate series.