Happy Optimus Prime Day

30 years ago today.

So, it's Optimus Prime Day. A Transformers fandom holiday dating back to the days of Transmasters fanzines. What makes today so significant? Well, on February 24 1987, The Return of Optimus Prime part 1 was first aired. Marking the return (it's in the name) of Optimus to lead the Autobots in the cartoon (which was in it's third season, post the 1986 movie).

Now, obviously Optimus first returned from the dead in the episode 'Dark Awakening', however in that episode he was basically a reanimated corpse thanks to the Quintessons. His consciousness gained control over his evil zombie ways and saved the day, but ending as the episode drove in that he was still super dead. Somehow astronauts recued him from that ending at the beginning of TROOP (it's a reach) and Optimus Prime was officially brought back to life as he lit another darkest hour.

At some point during the more early fandom years the date got turned into a holiday of sorts, more as a day of remembrance. It's mostly forgotten in todays fandom aside from the few of us who still get that email reminder from the Transmasters list. The relevance isn't lost on me. Tomorrow I've got a planning meeting for Botlanta (the Transformers programming track at Joelanta). I guess it's the little things sometimes that make you smile.

Blaming it on Throwback Thursday

It's kinda a big deal to me.

Real talk: Wanting to talk about McDonald's Beast Wars is a contributing factor for me finally start making Zone Base. Like, I knew what I wanted and all. But the desire to write all sorts of posts on my beloved McDonald's Beast Wars basically made me 100% decide on this site. And then I didn't write anything about it after. I'm not going to lie, there's a reason Under 3/Unit 3 has been all over the site in one way or another.

So, I decided as I inch towards the 1 year anniversary of the first post (can't even remember when I first started sitting on the space) I've decided to spend more time on not just McDonald's Beast Wars, but my admittedly strange association with McDonald's and Transformers. So, since Throwback Thursday is a thing, let's take a minute to appreciate the McDonald's Beast Wars Transmetals commercial. It takes a second to get past Ronald's malarkey, but woo boy it gets better.

Weekly Spotlight: OTFCC 2004 Megazarak

Functioning is a privilege, not a right.

The sudden appearance of Megazarak on Cybertron's political and military landscape shifted the planet's balance of power forever. This new warlord had a thirst for destruction and chaos unlike any other Decepticon leader before him. With no tolerance for weaker species, Megazarak went on a genocidal rampage throughout Cybertron, beginning with the Destruction of his reality's Matrix-bearer. The remains of the Autobot army were soon dispatched with ruthless efficiency and in a short period of time, Megazarak became the most feared despot throughout the galaxy. In both modes, Megazarak fires a wide variety of lethal electromagnetic attacks from his side-mounted cannon. His Micromaster partner, Caliburn, doubles as a lightning blaster - discharging 60 kilovolt bursts at his opponents, Although immensely powerful, Megazarak does have a weakness - his preoccupation for hunting down the remaining Autobot who had eluded his wrath - Defensor.

Weekly Spotlight: Stalker

Hate till it hurts and then hate some more.

The only land-based Predator. A truly twisted mind that's capable of the purest evil. The master of the double bluff. Uses supertech 'Garble' system to protect Predator signals from Turbomaster spies. Then slyly scrambles their communications to wreak the havoc and confusion he loves. As vehicle, stands solid as a four tracked armored satellite station and rocket launcher with five missiles. As robot, towers above the battle wielding impressive hand held fighting power.