Bios: Mirage

Function - Race Car

Mirage is the fastest of the Spy Changers and an excellent marksman. His speed makes him great at spying out enemy plans - he's in and out before anyone's the wiser. His distinguished services include bodyguard and spy. He uses a sniper rifle.

 "You can't hit a speeding target!"

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Bios: Camshaft

Function: Scout

A daring rogue, his joints have been specially designed to allow him to commit acrobatioc feats impossible for other TRANSFORMERS. He specializes in sneaking undetected into the most heavily guarded enemy strongholds. Using thermoptic and nightvision optical settings and a variety of unconventional hand-to-hand tactics, he is a grim shadow-warrior for OPTIMUS PRIME.

"A sense of isolation inspires me."

 

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Bios: Jazz

Function -Special Operations Expert / Special Ops. Agent

Clever, cool, and adaptable, Autobot Jazz takes on the riskiest missions with trademark flair, dazzling emenies with spectacular sound and light displays. His vast knowledge of Earth culture makes his especially valuable in Earth operations. Equipped with photon rifle, flame-thrower, full-spectrum beacon and 180db stereo speakers.

"Do it with style or don't bother doing it."

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Bios: Optimus Prime

Function- Leader

Dedicated to protecting all life, Optimus Prime leads the Autobots in unceasing battle against the evil Decepticons. His courage and wisdom know no bounds, and he is respected throughout the universe as a powerful champion of peace. Carries a blaster rifle as well as the ancient Autobot Matrix of Leadership.

"Freedom is the right of all sentient beings"

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Bios: Hoist

Function - Maintenance

Hoist is first on the scenewhenever an Autobot is injured in the line of duty. His personal mission is to make sure that each of his comrades operates at peak efficiency levels at all times. Though his primary function is maintenance and repair, he'll gladly convert to robot mode to take on a Decepticon adversary.

 "You have to be rolling before you can be fighting"

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Bios: Wheeljack

Function - Mechanical Engineer

Wheeljack is a genius at combining throw-away objects into incredibly effective weapons. He is also a spectacular driver who never passes up a chance to show off his high-speed prowess. Arsenal includes a magnetic inducer sheel, gyro inhibitor and an ever-changing array of new gadgets.

 "Never do what your enemy expects you to do."

 

 

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Bios: Prowl

Function - Military Strategist

Prowl is a strategic genius. His logic center is the most sophisticated in the Autobot army, capable of analyzing complex combat situations and making strategic decisions almost instantaneously. Unexpected events, however, have been known to scramble his circuit. Launches powerful wire-guided missiles and high corrosive-acid pellets.

"Logic is the ultimate weapon"

 

 

 

 

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Bios- Silverstreak

 Function - Gunner

Always on overdrive, Silverstreak is an incessant talker whose sharp humor can lighten tense situations. Formidable weapons and incendiary speed make him an impressive adversary, although the memory of his home-city's destruction has left him with a lasting distaste for war. Equipped with long-range bombing capability and 80,000 volt attack beam.

"I never met a Decepticon I didn't dislike."

 

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Bios- Double Clutch

Catch me if you can!

Whether on an abandoned dirt track in the desert, or tearing up the tar at Indy, this Autobot defines the word speed. He's also incredibly versatile. Rear spoiler acts as laser deflection shield - converts to energy absorption panel when fuel is depleted. Nose is not only aerodynamic, but radiates electron disrupters to disengage Decepticon tracking sensors.

Bios- Sideswipe

I don't break rules, I bend them - a lot.

Loves a good fight, and will do anything to win. Dirty tricks still part of his anything-to-win arsenal, but he's no longer the selfish playboy he was on Cybertron. On Earth, he's become a brilliant warrior. Fights with a new-found intensity for the Autobot's goal of universal peace. Not afraid of being injured. Enjoys the challenge of a risky mission, or hazardous firefight.

Bios- Megatron

Peace through tyranny!

A criminal combination of brute strength, military cunning, ruthlessness and terror. Copied Optimus Prime's ingenious example of radically re-configuring his external structure to current design parameters. Now travels virtually unnoticed in race car mode while undertaking clandestine espionage purposes, but never passes up an opportunity for battle. Megatron has no known weaknesses.

Little Black Truck

 
It's said that dynamite comes in small packages, and I don't know if that's true but... that was a horrible start. Whatever. Robots in Disguise (2001) was the Transformers line that brought Autobots and Decepticons back into the fray and ended the beast era. Some like to argue that RID was part of the beast era due to the Predacon characters. I've also seen people argue with the cashier at Arby's that they sold cheeseburgers, sssssooooo....

Any who, RID was a unique line in the history of Transformers. Transtech was intended to follow Beast Machines as a hybrid beast/vehicle series. For whatever reason is given today plans were changed and the decision to go a new route was made. That new route ended up being Armada and needed a little more time to develop. In Japan Takara had already experimented with a more traditional TF show called Car Robots. Hasbro fast tracked Car Robots into Robots in Disguise to have a Transformers series on shelves and on TV to fill the time needed. Car Robots was a relatively short anime with a small toy line mostly consisting of repainted toy molds and a few new toys. Hasbro took that and added more repaints to fill out the line. One of the new Decepticons was a evil clone of Fire Convoy/Optimus Prime named Black Convoy/Scourge whom was a black and teal repaint of the G2 Laser Optimus Prime toy.

Hasbro expanded the Spy Changer by releasing same sized versions of the shows main characters. This was probably the most direct beginning of the Legends/Legion style of toys offering lower priced figures of the main characters. It was in this assortment that we got the really neat Spy Changer version of Scourge. Spy Changers were originally made from the G2 Gobots toy molds and were really great little toys. Basically you had a Hot Wheels size car that was even compatible with a Hot Wheels car track! They'd transform into simple robots full of charm. It's not hard for readers to guess I loved them.

For a short time it looked like this was the only toy of the character getting made and the Spy Changer versions were flying off the shelves! Unlike other Spy Changers, Scourge didn't come with a weapon, nor did he have his trailer. During this time there was a ton of people creating their own custom weapons and trailers for the toy. It was pretty fun to take in and watch.

In what has to be the only time it happened, a toy based on a repaint of another character got repainted into the original toys colors. Later a Spy Changers version of Optimus Prime was made from the Scourge toy as part of a line of Spy Changers based on the classic G1 characters. That was a mess of words that barley formed a coherent sentence and I'm not sorry for it. This little line was available as a discount line at Family Dollar type stores, though a year prior were exclusive to Kay Bee Toy stores in different packaging. Laser Optimus Prime was a good looking toy, Scourge was a good looking toy, so it goes without saying this was a good looking toy.

This little series was fun to collect, easy and cheap, you couldn't help but to acquire multiples without thinking or worrying about it. At a small local sci fi con, I had ran a Transformers panel and had them on hand as raffle prizes. I don't think I know anyone who hated them and if anyone did hate them... how? This great little mold got another use just a short while later in a really fun way.

I don't have to tell you the 2007 Transformers movie was a big hit. It's just a fact and there's no arguing that. Unless you're stupid and well, you're on your own there dummy. A movie meant to sell toys is going to have a ton of merchandise, it's why they made it. One such thing was a the pictured above pre-order exclusive for the DVD in Japan.

That pre-order exclusive was the last version of the great little mold, but what a way to go out! Now as the movie version of Optimus Prime the toy looks awesome. I distinctly remember the summer before the movies release (which is an awkward was of saying 2006) pictures of the movie characters first started hitting the internet and everyone was talking. Optimus's truck was shown before his robot mode and while some were hung up on G1, several thought they looked cool (money walks and bullshit talks). I saw the long nose truck and hoped for a repeat of the Laser Optimus toy as it was excellent and man those flames looked cool. While the actual toy was pretty different, I clearly wasn't the only one who had that idea.

Micromasters at Maximum value

With a site named Zone Base, it's not much of stretch to explain that I kinda like Micromasters. In fact, as readers probably have noted, I kinda have a thing for smaller Transformers and maybe even smaller toys in general. I don't have a greater explanation for why I do, I just do. So obviously with Micromasters in stores again in the Siege toy line, I'm one happy camper. Though, I've been having a good time at camp the past few years with a multitude of smaller TF toys at retail on a steady basis. Legend/Legion/Speed/whatever, Titanmasters, Primemaster, Botbots are just a few examples of smaller Transformers on shelves in the past few years.

So,  Saturday I had to make a run to the Family Dollar. While I was there, I took notice of some Primemasters hanging on the hooks next to the odd Legion and Authentics figures they normally have on the shelves at such stores. That's then I took note of things. Most toy lines feature a discount store version. There was Marvel, TMNT, Star Wars, and a few others with lower end toys to sell at these lower end type stores. It's nothing new and in fact something I enjoy keeping up with. It occurred to me while I was standing there that since the Authentics figures seemed to land with a dull thud for the most part as a discount line, what if the lower priced 'Masters' figures of late would/could replace them as the discount line? I mean, realistically the price of a small Authentics figure is very close to the Primemasters hanging right next to them on the shelf.

The Legion molds that have been in use for years now have probably seen the end of their molds viability and while the Authentics were an attempt to replace them, they clearly didn't. I mean, I admit to enjoying them, but that's because I like oddball things. They were cheap toys, especially compared to the Legion figures they were right next too. That was probably a pretty hard sell. Or if you look at the other discount toys, hell... those are still pretty good quality looking toys. So I wonder, just like in the past with discount versions of TF being smaller inexpensive molds reused to death, what if they used the well received recent smaller toys. Titanmasters, Primemasters, Battlemasters, Micromasters, even the newer Speed Series all generally sell for around $5 at most stores. Ok, Micromasters are $10, but that's a two pack. Like the former discount store versions of Spy Changers, Mini-Cons, and Legions I could really see these priced similarly in reuse for years. Wacky repaints and odd name uses up the wazoo as well!

I'd wholeheartedly welcome that. In fact, I'd love that. That's just the precises kind of thing I'd go nuts over.

Cyberfire Cogman (turbo changer)

Cogman was introduced in The Last Knight and makes for a great looking Transformers toy. In vehicle mode Cogman is a silver sports car that's very sleek and fast looking. It makes me think of Nightbeat, even though they are different cars. I'm very pleased with this car. I made it drive all over my home while making 'vroom vroom' noises. As a Turbo Changer he transforms in just a few simple steps into a clockwork looking robot.

Cogman is a very solid and pleasant robot. If I had any complaints it's that his bronze colors blend into the light silver too easily. Despite that, he's an ideal simple robot toy. From his proportions to his silhouette, Cogman is a great Transformer. Honestly, he makes me think a lot of G2 Gobots or Spychangers. Aside from his transformation, he's very similar to those. He might be my favorite One Step/Turbo Changer figure to date.

R.E.V.

Plan well, win easy.

R.E.V. is the tactical officer of the Spy Changers and an advisor to Hot Shot. As smart as he is fast, R.E.V. never misses a detail. He can leap from one building to another with such ease that he looks as if he's flying. His main weapon is a shotgun.