Underrated Transformers Toys Thread

[klystron]

G1 Ultra Magnus = most overrated toy and character ever!
Even as a kid I disliked this toy (a friend had it so I did get some hands-on experience with it) and never desired to own. Which still stands today. Its only redeeming feature was that Autobot cars could go in the trailer. But then you could do that with OP too.
My dislike for the toy was amplified by my dislike of the character, another aspect that remains to this day. I never, never liked this character at all. And tbh, I'm not 100% sure why, but he still remains one of my most disliked characters in the whole TF universe. (Maybe because as a kid I was a card carrying member of the Galavtron fan club).
I was also a little offended by "Target 2006", when the writers implied that UM is so freaking fantastic, that three triple changers are only barely enough to compensate for his absence. Pah! I'd put $5 on Springer in a toe-to-toe with UM anyday. And an extra $5 if he's got Sandstorm and Broadside with him.

Anyways, thats my humble 2cents on UM.

Note: perhaps this post should be in the Overrated thread, but hey, the UM conversation was here...

[GoktimusPrime]

At least Ultra Magnus contributed to continuity... unlike say Wheelie whose entire canonical presence is fairly insignificant (arguably even more canonically insignificant than Jar Jar Binks' role in Star Wars The Phantom Menace).

Its only redeeming feature was that Autobot cars could go in the trailer. But then you could do that with OP too.

Prime's trailer basically holds one Autobot car. Maybe two if you squeeze in a mini-bot. Ultra Magnus' trailer, as a car carrier, can hold multiple Autobots. Having said that, Prime's trailer is also a mobile battle platform, but Magnus' trailer becomes a suit of armour -- both pretty cool in their own right IMO.

My dislike for the toy was amplified by my dislike of the character, another aspect that remains to this day. I never, never liked this character at all. And tbh, I'm not 100% sure why, but he still remains one of my most disliked characters in the whole TF universe. (Maybe because as a kid I was a card carrying member of the Galavtron fan club).
I was also a little offended by "Target 2006", when the writers implied that UM is so freaking fantastic, that three triple changers are only barely enough to compensate for his absence. Pah! I'd put $5 on Springer in a toe-to-toe with UM anyday. And an extra $5 if he's got Sandstorm and Broadside with him.

Okay, but Ultra Magnus was a big ticket item for Hasbro to push in 1986, so it made sense for writers to make him cool to try to elicit more kids to buy him. Also, being such a big toy, it kinda made sense that he would be powerful (though nothing wrong with small toys being strong - that's something I liked about Brawn ). Also, they were preparing to have Ultra Magnus become an arch-nemesis for Galvatron -- and Galvatron is insanely powerful in the comics... so while Magnus did repeatedly get nine colours of snot beaten out of him by Galvatron, just the fact that he was even able to go up against Galvatron meant that he had to be pretty powerful.

To me, it felt intuitive for Ultra Magnus to be the powerful Autobot leader in Optimus Prime's absence. He seemed a worthy heir... a lot more worthy than the incredibly underwhelmingly disappointing Rodimus Prime. And regardless of what you think about Ultra Magnus, he didn't get that much canonical exposure, thanks to the fact that:
1) Rodimus Prime was the real "flagship" Autobot hero and thus was 'prioritised' over Ultra Magnus; especially in the cartoon
2) In the G1 comics Ultra Magnus only existed in the "future" and not in the "mainstream" universe of the 'present day'.

Who else would you rather see promoted as the Autobot hero from the 1986 line? Would you prefer Rodimus Prime over Ultra Magnus or someone else entirely?

[Verno]

Underrated?

Transmetal Terrorsaur.

Playing with him today, he's everything someone could want in a toy.

So often Transformers toys stop being action figures. Terrorsaur is still an action figure. He's very 'human' in form and proportion, plus he can fly. There is just something about him.

[Skullcruncher]

At least Ultra Magnus contributed to continuity... unlike say Wheelie whose entire canonical presence is fairly insignificant (arguably even more canonically insignificant than Jar Jar Binks' role in Star Wars The Phantom Menace).

Maybe but someone had to fill the space bumblebee had in series 1 and 2. To 'fanboys' now he may be annoying and insignificant but back in 1986 Wheelie played that bumblebee role perfectly.

Okay, but Ultra Magnus was a big ticket item for Hasbro to push in 1986, so it made sense for writers to make him cool to try to elicit more kids to buy him. Also, being such a big toy, it kinda made sense that he would be powerful (though nothing wrong with small toys being strong - that's something I liked about Brawn ). Also, they were preparing to have Ultra Magnus become an arch-nemesis for Galvatron -- and Galvatron is insanely powerful in the comics... so while Magnus did repeatedly get nine colours of snot beaten out of him by Galvatron, just the fact that he was even able to go up against Galvatron meant that he had to be pretty powerful.

To me, it felt intuitive for Ultra Magnus to be the powerful Autobot leader in Optimus Prime's absence. He seemed a worthy heir... a lot more worthy than the incredibly underwhelmingly disappointing Rodimus Prime. And regardless of what you think about Ultra Magnus, he didn't get that much canonical exposure, thanks to the fact that:
1) Rodimus Prime was the real "flagship" Autobot hero and thus was 'prioritised' over Ultra Magnus; especially in the cartoon
2) In the G1 comics Ultra Magnus only existed in the "future" and not in the "mainstream" universe of the 'present day'.

Who else would you rather see promoted as the Autobot hero from the 1986 line? Would you prefer Rodimus Prime over Ultra Magnus or someone else entirely?

But the thing is what did Ulta Magnus really do or contribute to the cartoon? I can't recall anything significant about him. IMO someone like Springer was much more heroic than him. Not sure if you recall Transformers The Movie? UM got slaughtered and the autobots needed someone to standup and be the hero to save the day. Rodimus may have had some poorly written episodes(not fitting an heroic autobot leader) but at least fans can remember them!

[GoktimusPrime]

Maybe but someone had to fill the space bumblebee had in series 1 and 2. To 'fanboys' now he may be annoying and insignificant but back in 1986 Wheelie played that bumblebee role perfectly.

Yeah but I'd say Bumblebee isn't quite as annoying or useless as Wheelie. Bumblebee never went off and took Spike on a dangerous mission to find out Omega Supreme's birthday or some stupid crap like that. And Bumblebee did serve as the Autobot's spy/scout. Also, Bumblebee contributed more to continuity - for example, he found the Decepticon Space Bridge at the dried up river bed. He was also instrumental in "Attack of the Autobots." What did Wheelie ever do? I think the single greatest contribution that Wheelie made to cartoon continuity was to lead the Dinobots to where Kup and Hot Rod were... that's pretty much it. Helped Hot Rod and Kup to find a ship? Not really... all Hot Rod had to do was look behind him and he would've seen that Quintesson ship sitting there like a sore thumb. And if Hot Rod hadn't noticed it, Kup or one of the Dinobots would have -- the Dinobots may not be Rhodes scholars, but they're not blind!

But the thing is what did Ulta Magnus really do or contribute to the cartoon? I can't recall anything significant about him. IMO someone like Springer was much more heroic than him.

"I've never seen anything this beautiful in the entire galaxy.... All right, give me the bomb."
- Ultra Magnus (Fight or Flee)

Ultra Magnus may not have been the primary "hero" in the cartoon, but he wasn't entirely useless/pointless either. What did he contribute to the cartoon, you ask? In Transformers The Movie he directed the counter-offensive when Megatron attacked Autobot City, including issuing the order for Blaster to radio Optimus Prime for reinforcements. If not for this, Megatron's plan to destroy Autobot City may have succeeded. Ultra Magnus also gave orders to set down on Junk for repairs, which led to the Autobots' alliance with the Junkions.

During the remainder of the cartoon, Ultra Magnus continued to contribute - albeit usually as directed by Rodimus Prime and later Optimus Prime. The cartoon portrayed Ultra Magnus as being a soldier rather than a leader, even though his actions at Autobot City showed that he was a capable commander... that was one of the few moments that Magnus showed charisma in the cartoon. (-_-) I'm not saying he's the most awesome character in the cartoon, it's not secret that I much prefer the G1 comics over the cartoon - and it's in the comics that Ultra Magnus shines.

Not sure if you recall Transformers The Movie? UM got slaughtered and the autobots needed someone to standup and be the hero to save the day.

Yeah, he got slaughtered because it was a plot device to get the Matrix into Galvatron's hand -- and it would only be the "chosen one" who gets it off him and becomes the next Prime. And Magnus copped it even worse in the Marvel comic adaptation of Transformers the Movie -- in the action film, they Sweeps combine fire and Magnus blows up. In the comic adaptation, the Sweeps attach energy bonds to his limbs, then fly in opposing directions, effectively draw and quartering Ultra Magnus! Ouch!!

Rodimus may have had some poorly written episodes(not fitting an heroic autobot leader) but at least fans can remember them!

Yeah, that's because Rodimus Prime was given a lot more limelight than Ultra Magnus. It doesn't necessarily make him a better character because of it - it just means he got more character development. But sometimes there are characters with a lot of potential that don't get developed... look at Thundercracker! He has a fascinating persona with a lot of potential -- a potential that was NEVER exploited by any G1 writers. Ouch.

[Paulbot]

Transmetal Terrorsaur.

I agree. Probably my favorite Transmetal deluxe (with Tarantulas second).

I want to throw a shout out to Beast Machines Night Viper. Loved that toy from the moment I got it. Best snake TF ever. Lanky, snake like warrior with flip out sword. And the legs through the hip to becomes the tail was such a clever idea.

[GoktimusPrime]

+1 on Night Viper. Very impressive given the challenging alt mode! Works out a lot better than Corahda.

[klystron]

Who else would you rather see promoted as the Autobot hero from the 1986 line? Would you prefer Rodimus Prime over Ultra Magnus or someone else entirely?

You're probably right - there really isn't anyone else. But I don't wish for a storyline change or that things were different. I just really dislike UM.
I can't love all the TF characters.

[SkyWarp91]

Machine Wars Starscream.

Though he's like a brick and has VERY VERY limited articulation, the sheer size of him is what makes him a great intimidating figure. The thickness of his limbs and the Shredder-like helmet with the trident horns combined with his size in robot mode makes him appear as a truly superior warrior of the air!

[GoktimusPrime]

...plus no gold plastic! Shame they omitted the hand gun/launchers.

I reckon G1 Thunder Clash is also underrated. Yes, the colours are awful (typical early 90s fad) -- but the mega missile gimmick is really fun.