Convoy! Convoy! Convoy!

If you haven’t learned by now, I am a sucker for anything and everything Japanese related. Make them about the Transformers and I’m about sure to cry.

After the death of Prime, kids and adults alike cried their collective Autobot loving eyes out as they watched the beloved leader of the peace loving protectors of good die.

A real world problem solved with a real world emotion.

Daniel’s reaction was the reaction of us all.

In Japan, the Transformers animated film wouldn’t be released until 1990. It was almost certain that Prime would receive the same reaction.

When season 3 of transformers was about to debut on Japanese television, they needed to explain why good old Optimus Prime was dead.

So they started airing this commercial.

CONVOY, CONVOY, CONVOY!

I just love that this commercial has such a high level of detail given to the fallen Prime.

Hit up the pop culture network forum and let me know what you think and thanks for reading

“Till all are one”

Skyfire and Jetfire

In the beginning, the war was divided into two sides, the villainous Decepticons and the heroic Autobots.

And what was an understanding was that Decepticons could fly while the Autobots could not and never the two shall meet. That is in the cartoon medium and in the toy form as the Autobots were primarily cars while the Decepticons were mostly planes.

In season 1 of Transformers, we are introduced to Skyfire.

Skyfire was one of Starscream’s closest and dearest friends. They manage to become lost from each other while on prehistoric Earth eons before the arc. Millions of years later, the Decepticons found Skyfire, encased in a block of ice, and revived him. Later on, he ends up siding with the Autobots.

As for the toy, he was named Jetfire and was a repaint of a Macross VF-1S Super Valkyrie plane. This is why the cartoon is different from the toy release. Takara was none too pleased with a cartoon that had 99% of their action figures promoting a non-Takara toy. So the animators changed him up and his name was changed to Skyfire (I am guessing since he no longer looked like Jetfire to just change the name anyway).

Personally, I think Jetfire was a better name and a much cooler looking figure. In addition this marks the start of Hasbro making an aggressive integration of non-Takara Transforming Robotic figures into the realm of the Transformers. We will, in future episodes, go over the others.

Starting with the second wave of G1 figures, there would now be equal opportunity robots in disguise.

That’s it for this week. Hit up the Pop Culture Network forums and thanks for reading.

 

‘Till all are one!”

Megatron’s Sweet Ride

Once again, I go back to a Marvel Big Looker book: The Great Car Rally.

I really don’t wish to spoil details of any part of the story, but roughly the Autobots are in an auto race and the evil leader, Megatron, wants to stop or kill them or even win the race himself. The truth is that I really don’t know! The story is pretty silly but it’s a Big Looker book, don’t expect Shakespeare. Yet without the absurdity of the tale, we would never get this image.

Yes, good old Megatron has his own car and the roof opens so he can shoot at Cliffjumper. First thought that comes to mind is how is he even driving that and/or fitting inside the car?

I guess the car’s suspension runs on disbelief as well?  Needless to say, one day I will meet and speak with good old Earl Norem. I have a lot to ask him.

Let me know what you think by hitting up the Pop Culture Network forums and thanks for reading!

 

“Till all are one!”