NYCC 2011: Hasbro Transformers Prime toys
optimus prime
NYCC 2011: Hasbro Transformers
Make a path for war!
Over the years, war machines have been a vital source of firepower during any war or conflict.
No truer words were ever said. Just like man, the Cybertronians are also war minded. Hence when G2 happened, Megatron became a tank. (Also due to very strict gun laws)
During G1, very few transformers formed into battle tanks and more than half where Decepticons.
Enter Warpath: the Autobots’ military force. For a good long time Warpath was the sole Autobot tank.
He charged into battle as a GM Sheridan tank. In toy form, he was little more than a minibot colored red and grey.
Where he lacked in size he made up in durability, as being one of the only transformers from the 80’s that has the unique advantage of survival. Where most kids can destroy a transformer in mere minutes, Warpath is as sturdy as a tank (pun intended). He has survived almost three decades. Look on any auction site and you will find Warpath in a solid grade of 8 or 9.
The reasons aren’t really known why he survives so well. Could it be his simple transformation or his compact size? In the end, all that really matters is for collectors looking to boost up their Autobot ranks, adding Warpath to the front lines is a perfect purchase.
Side-note: For all you Masters of the Universe fans, Alan Oppenheimer voiced Warpath on the cartoon series.
Hit up the pop culture network and thanks for reading.
“Till all are one”
Images courtesy of TFWiki, Robot Japan and Seibertron.com
Transformers:Scramble City
With the release of the Transformers animated movie being held until 1990, The Japanese market needed a filler show to bridge the gap between season two and season three of the Transformers cartoon series.
This show would introduce characters that only debut in the animated film. Ultra Magnus and many of the films co-stars needed to be seen as soon as possible as well as add them into the mythos of the Universe of the Transformers.
The show starts off with a recap of the Transformers coming to Earth. It quickly covers the story of Devastator as well, and then gets right into the action.
The Autobots are shown in the middle of constructing the powerful “Scramble City,” Metroplex for the G1 purist. Its construction is being held by Ultra Magnus. The Decepticons send out Soundwave’s minions Laserbeak, ravage and ratbat to see what the autobots are doing and soon learn of the build. Megatron sends out his mighty Combiners or if you prefer Gestalts and soon all hell breaks loose!
A battle between them and their Autobot counterparts turns into an old ECW match. This animated one off wanted to focus on their “Scramble abilities “which is their interchangeability of their outer extremities.
(Get it? Cause you can scramble the limbs up!)
So much so that at one point, Breakdown of the Stunticons connects into Superion’s leg to damage him (it looks a bit weird but I assume Cybertron doesn’t have a good sexual assault law). As the show comes to a close, Scramble City himself is activated and Transforms its super cool robot mode Metroplex!
The Decepticons however, have an ace in the hole and from the deep dark part of the ocean comes Godzilla ….wait no sorry about that, it’s the Decepticons’ very own base, Trypticon.
Scramble City is one of those amazing animated shorts that we wished was in our collection but due to a whole bunch of copy right legal mumbo jumbo its only a part of the Japanese continuity.
Hit up the Pop Culture Network forums and thanks for reading
“Till all are one!”
Shout! Factory: the complete Japanese Transformers
In the Grand scheme of life, you wait and you wait. Sometimes, waiting isn’t good enough. You can only wait but for so long!
Shout! Factory announced that they would be releasing a complete box set of the entire Japanese Transformers cartoon series. This box set would include Headmasters,Victory, and Master force.
Checking Shout’s website as of late has been showing dead links and error messages. The only possible ray of hope was this product lithograph image for the complete box set.
They do have the complete headmasters available but We demand the complete series. Come on shout! hook us Transfans up
Hit up the Pop Culture Network forums and thanks for reading.
“Till all are one”
MP-10 Masterpiece Convoy / Optimus Prime with Trailer & Pilot – New Mold
The MP-10 has been confirmed in Japan as a new mold Convoy / Optimus Prime with a new mold Trailer and also a small Pilot figure.
Pre-order here
Headrobots: Butcher
Butcher is an evil Headrobot trained in the ancient art of Kali and well-versed in British Armed Forces lore. Because of this he is most deadly in close-range combat with his Plasma Knives which are able to slice easily through the thickest armor. Extremely tactical and analytical in nature, Butcher rose quickly as a leader. However, dark and violent tendencies has isolated him from the rest of the evil headrobots and he has left to defeat Hothead on his own.
-Remolded face with clear red visor
-Two Plasma knives
-Compatible with Universe or Henkei base toy
-Has all accessories that came with Hothead
-Compatible with vintage 5mm robots
-New artwork and card
NOTE – Silver gun pictured with Butcher in robot mode does not come with the figure.
Pre-Order here
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!”