|
Post by Grand Moff Muffin on Jun 17, 2024 18:21:33 GMT
Agree with all of that except the statement that Prowl was underused until the classics era. He was underused in the middle years, but had pretty good coverage in 1984-5. Bob Budiansky, who wrote the US comics as well as the tech-specs, made him Prime's second-in-command from the start. Prowl was the only Autobot named besides Prime before the Ark crashed, and he led the first mission on Earth in US TF #1. He was in command when Prime was Shockwave's prisoner, in US TF #9-12. And he got the most screen time in the first UK annual, starring in both 'Plague of the Insecticons' and the text story 'Hunted'.
He wasn't badly done by compared to many others.
Martin
|
|
|
Post by Pinwig on Jun 17, 2024 21:29:35 GMT
Prowl was my fave as a child. Still is probably. I still have my original, bought in the large newsagent in the middle of town by borrowing the milk money from Mum against my pocket money. I was so thrilled to see one.
|
|
|
Post by Bogatan on Jun 17, 2024 22:32:24 GMT
Im really glad I didn't get Prowl till the Classic release. By that point I was 8 or 9 and was old enough to appriciate it. If I'd have got it at 4 or 5 Im sure I would have broken it or at least not realised just how good it was. But after years of big plastic toys with less and less realistic alt modes opening Prowl really was mind blowing. Even compared against the other classic Autobot cars he stood out.
Hes always been an interesting character too, but I didn't really notice that till IDW got their hands on him.
|
|
|
Post by Shockprowl on Jun 17, 2024 22:43:34 GMT
1984's Transformers Are Forty: Week 12 - ProwlFunction: Autobot Military Strategist Japan: 9 tfwiki.net/wiki/Prowl_(G1)/toyswww.tfu.info/1984/Autobot/Prowl/prowl.htm"Logic is the ultimate weapon." Prowl will keep at a task for as long as it takes. Strives to find reason and logic in everything. A listener, not a talker. Has most sophisticated logic center of all Autobots. Able to analyze and advise on complex combat situations almost instantaneously. Fires wire-guided missiles and high-corrosive acid pellets. The unexpected can often scramble his circuits. Strength 7 Intelligence 9 Speed 7 Endurance 9 Rank 9 Courage 9 Firepower 4 Skill 9 At last!As a child, before I got Prowl, I was just attracted to the police car transformer. He just seemed to stand out. My brother and I would speculate about his numbers. When I got him, I was blown away by his rank of 9! HE WAS SECOND IN COMMAND! I wish that had been explored more in the cartoon, but he had some decent action the the comic. I loved his relationship with Grimlock in the last stories. Not read much modern stuff, but... he flips tables apparently, so, he's doing ok? The mold is so iconic! The classical Autobot car-design. Numbers-wise, very interesting. Strong, clever, fast, endurant, brave, only his firepower lets him down- I always felt 4 didn't reflect "high corrosive acid pellets and wire-guided incendiary missiles". The Autobots needed another leader in their midst, a confidant for Prime, an equal. The chess master of the Autobots.
|
|
|
Post by Philip Ayres on Jun 17, 2024 23:00:03 GMT
But we're not yet halfway through, he's appeared before most of the 84 TFs. Have some pity for poor Matt D who's still waiting his favourite!
|
|
|
Post by Shockprowl on Jun 17, 2024 23:02:30 GMT
But we're not yet halfway through, he's appeared before most of the 84 TFs. Have some pity for poor Matt D who's still waiting his favourite! I was being Galvatron (who Prowl defeated that time), in Time Wars. Was it Galvatron? Or Megatron...
|
|
|
Post by Philip Ayres on Jun 23, 2024 23:04:35 GMT
1984's Transformers Are Forty: Week 13 - MegatronFunction: Decepticon Leader Japan: 16, VSX tfwiki.net/wiki/Megatron_(G1)/toyswww.tfu.info/1984/Decepticon/Megatron/megatron.htm"Peace through tyranny." Megatron combines brute strength, military cunning, ruthlessness and terror. Aches to return to Cybertron to conquest after destroying all Autobots on earth. Plans to possess all Earth resources. Incredibly powerful and intelligent. Fires nuclear- charged fusion cannon. Can link up interdimensionally to a black hole and draw antimatter from it for use as a weapon. No known weakness. Strength 10 Intelligence 10 Speed 4 Endurance 8 Rank 10 Courage 9 Firepower 10 Skill 9
|
|
|
Post by pulsar on Jun 24, 2024 5:18:02 GMT
In 1984, the TF-crazy kids at my school liked to bring in our new acquisitions to show off. I thought that they’d be impressed with Soundwave, but he was completely blown away by the toy that one my friends had managed to find: Megatron. The box didn't actually *say* Megatron (or Transformers) and he didn't actually have a Decepticon symbol, but it looked just like him. And the toy was awesome: We.ran around the playground shooting each other with plastic pellets, wondering why Hasbro had denied us what seemed to be the best figure in the range.
Six months later, the genuine Megatron finally showed up on shelves. It was... not the same. Were there Two Megatrons? After Target: 2006 came out, I figured out that my friend's knockoff must be Megatron's not-evil twin, the Autobot resistance leader. I was convinced that America had a Xaaron toy right up until I joined TMUK and learned the mysterious Decepticon's real identity.
I thought that Browning made a better Megatron than Megatron. The real Megs wasn't bad as such --- it had the fusion cannon and a slightly weightier feel that I imagined was more like a real gun --- but its transformation was less intuitive and it didn’t fire anything. Even sticking with actual ‘84 TFs, Megatron lost out in the inevitable comparison to Optimus Prime). The toy just didn't look as much like the character and the particle beam cannon reminded me more of a Star Wars mini-rig than Prime’s trailer. It's notably absent from the tech specs, adding to the sense that it's unnecessary.
The bio itself has, you might say, no known weakness: the fusion cannon fits his name, a black hole sounds suitably threatening, and his motto is my favorite of all the TFs’. It gives him a more complex motivation than generic evil. But the character still suffered in another comparison, with Shockwave becoming leader in TFUK just as the toy was released.
|
|
|
Post by Philip Ayres on Jun 24, 2024 6:23:12 GMT
My first encounter with Megatron was my first issue of the UK comic, issue 5. And my first thoughts were "Who is this made up non toy interloper?" I saw one pretty early in 85: a friend bought one from the old Argos in Castle St in Kingston. Was US stock too with the US 84 and Reinforcements from Cybertron leaflet. The western version of the toy is OK, but it's no Optimus or Soundwave I've since owned the original box reissue and Transfomers Collection releases, with their reinstated launchers (plural), and learned of how he interacts with Micorman figures. Those bump the toy up the scale somewhat. In Japan the original #16 release lacks chrome, the silencer, stock and scope but gains launcher, bullets and sword plus swaps his red plastic for blue. IIRC VSX is the same The Goodbye Megatron release swaps the blue for red and restores the Fusion Cannon The original box reissue (c2001) has all the accesories & launchers of both Japanese and Western versions with red plastic and Chrome. It gains a ball & chain for TFC6 and retains it for Encore
|
|
|
Post by Philip Ayres on Jun 24, 2024 7:32:10 GMT
My first encounter with Megatron was my first issue of the UK comic, issue 5. And my first thoughts were "Who is this made up non toy interloper?" I have been reminded that TFUK 5 contains a Megatron profile, and also appearances by a couple of other non UK characters - wiki says Prowl, Ironhide, Sunstreaker & Trailbreaker are in these two issues sourced from US#3 tfwiki.net/wiki/Prisoner_of_War! - so this is probably my first hint that there are Transformers toys we didn't get in the UK in 1984. This is a concept I was already used to thanks to Star Wars toys and the lack of a Dewback in the UK line which I'd seen advertised on US backing cards.
|
|
|
Post by pulsar on Jun 24, 2024 16:30:49 GMT
Because there were so many TFs not available in the UK and the comic existed in part to promote the toys, my working assumption was that *every* new robot was a toy we just couldn't buy. This actually made the stories better because it wasn't obvious when someone was just a throwaway character destined to be killed off. Scrounge? Obviously the sixth 1985 minibot (he even looks like Bumblebee crossed with Wheelie). Straxus? Must be the 1986 Decepticon leader. Impactor? Just as real as Roadbuster.
|
|
|
Post by Shockprowl on Jun 24, 2024 16:44:21 GMT
TOY GUNS! Ahhhh, those were the days. Don't get them anymore, do we? Which is probably a good thing.
And the age-old issue of the baddie leader needing to be held by another to shoot stuff didn't occured to us back then.
Megatron was... ohhhh... my fourth Transformer...? I got him very early on. And he was amazing. AMAZING! Of course, by the time I got Optimus Prime (in French packaging (from a UK shop)) even little me could see the Autobot leader had advantages over his counterpart.
But he was so good back in the day! And of course he is a brilliant character. I agree with Pulsar, his Moto is fascinatingly complex yet so simple. Almost witty.
Numbers-wise, well he looses a couple in Endurance, interesting, and one in Courage. But naturally has 10s in Strength, Intelligence (which I didn't expect as a child and was intrigued by), and Firepower.
|
|
|
Post by The Doctor on Jun 24, 2024 17:17:20 GMT
Thought Megs was a rubbish toy as a child but I have come to appreciate it as an adult. Glad I kept the TFC reissue during The Great Purges. No chance of that being reissued again.
-Ralph
|
|
|
Post by Pinwig on Jun 24, 2024 20:26:50 GMT
ILLEGAL TRANSFORMER!
|
|
|
Post by Llama God on Jun 25, 2024 7:09:15 GMT
As the Scraplet often says: "guns are not good!" Which is probably the point. Thought Megs was a rubbish toy as a child but I have come to appreciate it as an adult. Likewise. I got him for Christmas '85/'86 (I think), and was inwardly disappointed because what I actually wanted was Jetfire. Which just goes to show you how much of a little shit I was. But I did warm to it, because it really is a lovely toy, and I also already had Optimus Prime, so having the bad guy to face off against made for a better playtime. I've never really considered Megatron as being any sort of interloper. My first experience with Transformers media was with issue 7 of the UK comic, which features all the characters, and since I wasn't aware of which characters were available in the shop, I just assumed that they all somehow were. Or weren't. Star Wars figures had already taught me to not expect to get every on-screen character. At least, not all at once...
|
|
|
Post by The Doctor on Jun 25, 2024 7:49:09 GMT
Toy guns bad! Real guns good! -Ralph
|
|
|
Post by Benn on Jun 25, 2024 7:53:35 GMT
Getting dangerously close to calling forth Zardoz, there
|
|
chrisl
Empty
I still think its the 1990s - when I joined TMUK
Posts: 1,092
|
Post by chrisl on Jun 25, 2024 8:14:35 GMT
Megatron was my first ever Transformers toy, bought from Argos in Southport in 1985.
|
|
|
Post by The Doctor on Jun 25, 2024 10:58:20 GMT
Getting dangerously close to calling forth Zardoz, there The gun is good! The penis is bad! ZARDOZ! ZARDOZ! -Ralph
|
|
|
Post by Philip Ayres on Jun 25, 2024 13:21:38 GMT
Evil Ralph, Evil!
Hand in your fan club card!
|
|
|
Post by that_bluestreak on Jun 25, 2024 18:38:03 GMT
Oh Megatron! The antagonist of the first ever issue of TFUK I got, number 26, he was clearly a baddy. I never saw a real Megatron toy as a kid, but I don't think I ever doubted its existance. I think I saw adverts for it in Transformers comic, or maybe somewhere else, which confirmed it for me. Maybe I just assumed every Transformer in the comic had a toy. I am not sure my parents would have gotten me a realistic gun anyway.
Megs characterisation is the comics was a bit bland, generic baddy bwa ha ha, though I liked that he went a bit nuts for a while. As an adult with mental health problems I don't find this particularly bothersome, because he's clearly under a lot of pressure and has a lot of unresolved trauma. His IDW portrayal was of course fantastic, all the way through.
The toy, well, its a cracker despite being a bit weird. I never saw in real life until the TFC version which I was wise enough to hold on to despite selling most of the other TFCs during a time of no money. I've since added an original boxed Megs, which is also lovely. I've got the eHobby release waiting to be sold but I am not ready to let it go yet. Obviously I like this toy very much. The G1 box is full of promise, you slide the tray out and its all james bondy, like its in a gun case ready to be assembled. I would have loved that as a kid.
Definitely in my top ten TFs.
|
|
|
Post by Philip Ayres on Jun 30, 2024 13:15:08 GMT
Tomorrow's subject should make at least one person happy
|
|
|
Post by Shockprowl on Jun 30, 2024 17:04:37 GMT
Is it Prowl again?
|
|
|
Post by The Doctor on Jun 30, 2024 17:16:55 GMT
Tomorrow's subject should make at least one person happy Huffer? -Ralph
|
|
The Huff
Thunderjet
Hufferlover
Posts: 4,215
|
Post by The Huff on Jun 30, 2024 20:07:16 GMT
Been meaning to comment on Megatron all week but not stopped, so will get it in at the last minute. I absolutely loved this toy when I was young - got it for my birthday in 1985 and remember playing with it outside in gun mode all the time. It was a proper two toys in one and always fooled people when I revealed it was a robot too! Also, the idea of the 'ultimate evil' turning into a gun has never been bettered. Its also the best disguise as he can shrink down and be undetected, which is quite a dangerous ability to have. The 'Shooting Star' Marvel comics story is one of my favourites and would make a brilliant R-rated Megatron solo film if they decided to make one. It's just a shame that all anyone remembers of this clever altmode is from the cartoon that ruined it by having his minions weld it, which I think is ubsurd. I wish they'd played up the disguise idea of bit more - I think there was only one episode where this was done. Another wonderful thing about the toy is that...wait - its Huffer tomorrow!!??
Never mind.
|
|
|
Post by Shockprowl on Jun 30, 2024 20:16:28 GMT
No, sorry. Phil sent me a fax earlier, tomorrow it's Reflector.
|
|
|
Post by Philip Ayres on Jun 30, 2024 21:37:45 GMT
Another wonderful thing about the toy is that...wait - its Huffer tomorrow!!?? I didn't say that. I said someone will be happy, but I'd also lay money on someone else being rather grumpy.....
|
|
|
Post by Philip Ayres on Jun 30, 2024 21:43:46 GMT
|
|
|
Post by legios on Jun 30, 2024 22:42:22 GMT
c, all the way through. The toy, well, its a cracker despite being a bit weird. I never saw in real life until the TFC version which I was wise enough to hold on to despite selling most of the other TFCs during a time of no money. I've since added an original boxed Megs, which is also lovely. I've got the eHobby release waiting to be sold but I am not ready to let it go yet. Obviously I like this toy very much. The G1 box is full of promise, you slide the tray out and its all james bondy, like its in a gun case ready to be assembled. I would have loved that as a kid. Or...Ilya Kuriankiny... That was always my immediate thought with the Megatron toy - perhaps because when Transformers came out overlapped with the The Man From U.N.C.L.E series being very in my brain, so the fact that Megs was clearly an U.N.C.L.E agents gun was so very obvious. It did have a certain tactile thing to it, with all the parts clicking together in gun mode step-by-step. Never really encountered anything like that until modern Nerf blasters with their modular design. Didn't own one until the "book box" reissues mind you, but I did play with other kids Meg's when I was a youngster and I remember them being a lot of fun. Mind you, I did find it hard to argue with a relative's assessment of his humanoid mode:- "Do you not think that is a little bit rubbish?" Fair to say that he isn't the best of the Microchange Gun Robos. (That is probably Browning, judging by my experience of the KO of the latter). Karl
|
|
|
Post by Philip Ayres on Jun 30, 2024 23:02:50 GMT
1984's Transformers Are Forty: Week 14 - HufferFunction: Autobot Construction Engineer Japan: 14 Drag tfwiki.net/wiki/Huffer_(G1)www.tfu.info/1984/Autobot/Huffer/huffer.htm"Molecular structure is the key to success." Huffer is cynical, hard-boiled, and pessimistic. "He looks at the world through sludge-colored wind-shields." Will complain it can't be built, then builds it anyway. Not too sociable, but absolutely reliable. Arm sensors can test materials for strength, heat, resistance, elasticity, etc. Extremely strong. Superior mathematical and geometrical abilities. Often unhappy and homesick for Cybertron. Strength 7 Intelligence 8 Speed 5 Endurance 7 Rank 6 Courage 8 Firepower 1 Skill 9
|
|