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Post by Kingoji on Nov 14, 2013 18:35:15 GMT
Wasn't sure what section to put this in, so feel free to move it if need be.
With next year marking the 30th anniversary of the Transformers brand, I was just wondering; which 30 characters from the history of the franchise would you say were the most 'important', historically. As a bit of a ground rule, try not to use multiple incarnations of one character unless there are exceptional circumstances for it. I'll come back and add my own thoughts after thinking about it somewhat.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Nov 14, 2013 18:56:48 GMT
A quick go off the top of my head. I'm voting on the strength of character that made a big impact/kept coming back.
1) Optimus Prime
2) Megatron
3) Bumblebee
4) Starscream
5) Grimlock
6) Soundwave
7) Devastator
8) Shockwave
9) Ultra Magnus
10) Metroplex
11) Fortress Maximus
12) Scorponok
13) Optimus Primal
14) BW Megatron
15) Dinobot
16) Cheetor
17) Rattrap
18) Rhinox/Tankor
19) BW Silverbolt
20) Blackarachnia
21) Waspinator
22) Tarantulas
23) Unicron
24) Hot Rod/Rodimus
25) Ratchet
26) Blaster
27) Prowl
28) Wheeljack
29) Kup
30) Bulkhead
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Post by Toph on Nov 14, 2013 20:42:57 GMT
A quick go off the top of my head. I'm voting on the strength of character that made a big impact/kept coming back. 1) Optimus Prime 2) Megatron 3) Bumblebee 4) Starscream 5) Grimlock 6) Soundwave 7) Devastator 8) Shockwave 9) Ultra Magnus 10) Metroplex 11) Fortress Maximus 12) Scorponok 13) Optimus Primal 14) BW Megatron 15) Dinobot 16) Cheetor 17) Rattrap 18) Rhinox/Tankor 19) BW Silverbolt 20) Blackarachnia 21) Waspinator 22) Tarantulas 23) Unicron 24) Hot Rod/Rodimus 25) Ratchet 26) Blaster 27) Prowl 28) Wheeljack 29) Kup 30) Bulkhead I largely agree with this list, save for the inclusion of wheeljack, blaster, bulkhead, kup, bw silverbolt, and tarantulas. Aside from a mostly forgotten marvel G1 arc, and his two lines in the movie, blaster is memorable only for being soundwave's counterpart. I'd replace those with Bludgeon, Arcee, Hotshot, Jhiaxus (he symbolizes G2), jazz, and Devestator. Doing it this way because its easier than making an identical list with only six changes. |
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Post by Benn on Nov 14, 2013 21:49:44 GMT
01. Optimus Prime
02. Megatron
03. Jazz
04. Starscream
05. Bumblebee
06. Nightbeat (representing the comics, as are 07 & 08.)
07. Thunderwing
08. Shockwave
09. Rattrap
10. Tarantulus
11. BW Megatron
12. Optimus Primal
13. Dinobot
14. Grimlock
15. Galvatron
16. Ultra Magnus
17. Hot Rod
18. Hot Shot (Armada)
19. Sentinel Prime (Animated)
20. Arcee (Prime)
21. Skybite (RID)
22. Street Action Mini-Con Team (Armada)
23. Metalhawk (Super-God Masterforce)
24. OVERLORD (Super-God Masterforce)
25. Star Saber (Victory)
26. Prowl (Animated)
27. Swindle (Animated)
28. Lockdown (Animated)
29. Knock Out (Prime)
30. Ratchet (Mostly comic, works for Marvel and IDW)
Red Alert from Armada might be in there too. Bulkhead, too.
Quick edit to specify which Ratchet I was thinking of.
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Post by Shockprowl on Nov 14, 2013 23:23:17 GMT
Great thread. I'll give it some thought. Standby.
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Post by Grand Moff Muffin on Nov 15, 2013 7:47:32 GMT
Megatron/Galvatron
Soundwave
Ravage
Starscream
Optimus Prime
Prowl
Bumblebee/Goldbug
Ratchet
Buster Witwicky
Sparkplug Witwicky
Shockwave
G.B. Blackrock
Circuit-Breaker
Grimlock
Professor Morris
Emirate Xaaron
Blaster
Ultra Magnus
Hot Rod / Rodimus Prime
Death's Head
Ethan Zachary
Scorponok
Fortress Maximus
Lord Zarak
Spike Witwicky
Thunderwing
Bludgeon
Metalhawk (Masterforce)
Cancer (Masterforce)
Ginrai (Masterforce)
Martin
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Post by The Doctor on Nov 15, 2013 13:22:44 GMT
Scrounge (times 30).
-Ralph
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Post by Grand Moff Muffin on Nov 15, 2013 17:58:38 GMT
I should say that except for the last three, my list refers to characters in the original Marvel comics. The other lists aren't clear as to which characters they mean. For example, "Galvatron" isn't a character, it's the name of various characters. I would assume it refers to Simon Furman's Galvatron rather than the Sunbow, Beast era or IDW Galvatron. Many of the other list entries are similarly ambiguous - I suggest folks edit their lists to say which character they mean. (And please not put "G1" because that's also too vague for picky Martin. I mean, Marvel Shockwave is a different character from Sunbow Shockwave.  ) Martin |
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Post by Toph on Nov 15, 2013 19:57:50 GMT
That doesnt matter as far as hasbro is concerned. G1 bumblebee is the same as animated and prime.
I am ambiguous in my list on purpose. Names and characters who have had lasting impact on the entire brand.
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Post by Grand Moff Muffin on Nov 16, 2013 7:47:11 GMT
That doesnt matter as far as hasbro is concerned. I don't care about Hasbro's character branding, I only care about characters in stories. *notices that this thread is under "Toys and Merchandise"* Oh, I see. Never mind. Martin |
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Post by Benn on Nov 16, 2013 9:07:00 GMT
Assume mine are for the G1 toys/cartoon unless otherwise stated, then.
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Post by The Doctor on Nov 16, 2013 12:17:42 GMT
That doesnt matter as far as hasbro is concerned. G1 bumblebee is the same as animated and prime. I am ambiguous in my list on purpose. Names and characters who have had lasting impact on the entire brand. But which version of, for example, Bumbleebee is the one that is the most Bumblebee-ish to you? Movie Bumblebee bears no relation personality wise to Sunbow Bumblebee, for example. All they share is a name and the colour yellow. -Ralph |
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Post by Kingoji on Nov 16, 2013 16:07:02 GMT
That's a good example of the exceptional circumstances I mentioned. G1 Bumblebee deserves to be on such a list because he was the audiences' "in" to events, but it's only post-Bay that Hasbro chose to push him as an attraction, so movie 'Bee would be takes on a whole new level of importance...
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Post by Toph on Nov 16, 2013 20:35:52 GMT
Even in G1, Bumblebee had preferential treatment from hasbro. He's the only transformer to have a toy on shelves every single year of G1's run. Even Optimus didnt get that.
The original minibot was available the first three years, Goldbug the next two, the pretender the next two, and the actionmaster until the line ended.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Nov 16, 2013 21:01:52 GMT
The AM wasn't on the shelf here during 92 and 93
And I'm not 100% sure if the Throttlebots and Classic Pretenders got a second year of distribution
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Post by Toph on Nov 17, 2013 0:32:11 GMT
The AM wasn't on the shelf here during 92 and 93 And I'm not 100% sure if the Throttlebots and Classic Pretenders got a second year of distribution They did. Virtually every figure got at least a two year distribution. At least in the US. With some of the major characters recieving three year, like Starscream outlasted his life in the show. And im not positive on this, but i think some like the early combiners got released in 85, though they didnt appear in the pamplets until 86, giving them a two and a half, to three real run |
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