BIOS: Joyride

"Enjoy each moment like it's your last."

Function: Warrior 

A reckless road-racing robot. Always drives faster than he should. Enjoys the thrill of racing at high speeds. Fights for the fun of it, which annoys many of his more serious-minded Autobots. Titanium-belted wheels secrete adhesives for pinpoint maneuverability on the road. Binary-bonded to the Nebulan, Hotwire, a reformed car theif and ace mechanic. Also armed with photon blaster that freezes internal mechanisms on impact.

Strength: 8 Intelligence: 6 Speed: 5 Endurance: 8
Rank: 6 Courage: 9 Firepower: 5 Skill: 2

Pretty Mayhem 4 -The Spark Master

 

Summer fireworks season is still going on and with it our look at monster sparking Transformers. This week, we're taking a look at some monsters who aren't here to hurt you... unless you're a Decepticon. The Monsterbots! The Monsterbots are Autobots who turn into big scary fire breathing monsters. Released in 1987, these are some seriously cool toys. In Headmasters, they're mainly stationed on Planet Beast helping the Beastformers.

In more recent times they got new updated toys. Now with with the Titanmaster and Primemaster gimmicks that are modern updates of Headmasters and Powermasters, they fit more into the timeline that they were introduced in. Some of the Titanmasters are Beastformers even! Repugnus seemingly gets the most new toys over the years (it's impossible to ignore his excellent Cyberverse figure). However Doublecross/Twinferno has been getting some extra attention in more recent years. 

Summer is a fun time that can also be pretty scary sometimes. We've got one more look at sparking Transformers until the fireworks season is over. But don't worry, Spooky Summer won't be over for a while and we've got some more scary themed Transformers to help with the creepiness of the season. After all, we're getting into ghost story time.

Run toward the victory Soldier Boy

 

I've spoken of my love of Masterforce here before and dammit I'm going to again. Recently I've been re-watching it, mostly by myself, though the other day while my wife was napping on the couch. She woke up and asked me what I was watching. I just told her robots. We often just say robots in regards to Transformers. She then said 'no, really, what even is this', and I said 'it's my Transformers cartoons'. She still did not believe me and probably still doesn't now. Masterforce is just that different of a Transformers series that it takes people completely by surprise.

Why is it so different? During development, it was decided the ongoing story had reached a natural conclusion and a fresh start was needed. The show is still in continuity with the previous shows and following shows despite of that. It's a little out of place though as it went from the then future, to obviously the late 80's. Sometimes it's best not to dwell on that sort of thing as the show was great regardless. Initially focusing on Pretenders, the show later works in Headmasters and Godmasters/Powermasters into the mix. 

The overall vibe of the show is different too. It's clearly taking inspiration from traditional super robot shows as well as tokusatsu like Super Sentai and Ultraman. MetalHawk and Shuta Go remind me a lot of older Ultraman shows where the Ultra of the series would often serve as a mentor to a local child. The kids before becoming Headmaster Jr's make me think of the team from Hard Gumi. The Pretenders go from standard human disguises to armored mode in battle. Then release their inner robot mode as things get complicated when fighting the monstrous Decepticon Pretenders and Seacons. Which follows the standard fighting sequence of a Super Sentai/Power Rangers series. Godmasters/Powermasters are handled similarly as well.

Aside from the stark differences, the show is just fun. From the all out brutality of the Decepticons to moments like Shuta playing soccer at school. The show is a roller coaster ride, and that's just the first few minutes! Clearly as someone who likes monsters, spooky stuff, Pretenders and loves Powermaster Optimus Prime like I do would favor this show. Not just that, but Transformers every once and awhile needs a refreshing and this was the first major one. Not just a change of scenery or new characters, they practically reinvented the wheel while still staying true to it's roots. It's a real treat to watch the first time and again for the millionth.

Bios: Slapdash

Function: Interceptor

"Sometimes, if you wait long enough, problems solve themselves."

Disorganized, neglectful, sloppy; Often goes to war without his weapon, or grinds to a halt for lack of fuel. Relies on others to pay the consequences for his mistakes. Often locked in vehicle Mode because he's left behind his partner, the Nebulan, Lube, without whom he can't transform. Lube is meticulous, short-tempered, and usually at odds with Slapdash. Armed with a powerful electro magnetizer That drains Decepticon power sources.

Double The Deal, Double The Clouds

Earthrise Doubledealer here was a Chriatmas gift from my wife. I super like him. I've always liked Doubledealer, but I really like this one. Like most War For Cybertron figures, they nailed it. I've got an odd relationship with Doubledealer. He's one of those characters that's been a constant in my Transformers fandom.

When I was a kid, the double Powermaster gimmick blew my mind. If you weren't aware, Doubledealer isn't your average Transformer. He's a double agent! Either posing as the Decepticon Dealer or the Autobot Double depending on the situation. Whichever side he's on at the moment dictates his Powermaster partner and alt mode. With Skar, a Decepticon. However bonding with Knok makes him an Autobot. What dictates who he is? Money. Doubledealer is a Mercenary.

He's that guy who works at McDonald's and Burger King at the same time without one knowing about he other.

I didn't get a Doubledealer in G1. It wasn't until I was an adult that I finally did. Though, it can be hard to get a complete Powermaster. After a lot of searching I ended up with an amazingly good Chinese knock off that was a perfect copy. All features, Powermaster partners, stickers... literally an identical copy. So that's my G1 Doubledealer. He's a little weird, but so am I.

There was another Doubledealer finally released in the Generations Thrilling 30 series. Unfortunately it was just a repaint of Blitzwing. At least the toy looked really good in those colors. Luckily Doubledealer was made in toy form again for Earthrise.

It's great. His chest works like Soundwave's cassette compartment which allows his Powermaster buddies to return. They were released in a Selects gift set much earlier in 2020. I've got them... but not sure what box they're in. I'm still a little unorganized from the move. Dude, this is a really good toy. A really good toy of a guy I've always really liked. Life is rad.

Powermaster Transformers commercial (1988)

TTHHHEEEEYYYYY'VVVEEEE GOT THE POWER TO SURPRISE!

Poor Scorponok

Thanks to this commercial I was convinced nothing could stop Micromasters for awhile. I mean, they just hand Scorponok his butt there. Thing is, I was right. Nothing can stop Micromasters, they keep reusing elements of their gimmicks to this day. Which I love. Might I add, I love the animation they used in these old commercials.