A Pretender Shell For Whom?

[morg176]

pretenders were a relatively short lived line. And with the poor to no existent articulation in the shells its not surprising. How would you revitalise the pretender concept, and which transformers/type of transformers would you include in this line.

Cassettes could have pretender shells....
ravage as a sabertooth?

: )

[kup]

G1 Pretender shells actually had about as much articulation as the averag G1 toy

Pretender Dinobots would be interesting as we saw in the IDW Shockwave Spotlight - However those were more akin to a Beast Wars style 'organic shell' that transforms with the robot mode rather than an actual 'clam' shell completely independent of the transformer inside.

[Aqua Prime]

It wouldn't be that hard. If you made the shell decent, then you'd have to compromise on the quality and articulation of the inner robot. The problem with the G1 Pretender humans is they're all built like a brick s**t house (as the saying goes). I'm not even talking about the articulation. I mean, I don't recall ever seeing anyone with a physique like that, well except crazy muscle men body builders.

[GoktimusPrime]

With the exception of Stranglehold (yeah I know he's a Decepticon, but he still has a 'human' shell), we can't see what their physique is like. Most of the Autobot Pretenders' shells are wearing uber chunky Space Marine armour... much like say the Marines in Starcraft or Warhammer etc. It doesn't mean the people underneath those armours are chunky too. In the Anglophone continuity we did once see Cloudburst without his armour, and he just looked like a regular dude in a jumpsuit. In the Japanese continuity the Autobot Pretenders frequently walked around wearing civilian clothes and just looked like regular people (except Phoenix who looks like Wolverine ).

I reckon they could make more articulated Pretender shells, but the robots would probably be small - just housed inside the hollow torso, that could flip open to reveal the robot (much like a Mega Pretender shell) then the arms, legs and head could be fully articulated; unrestricted by having to store the robot. The robots themselves could be Legends/Legion Class size... possibly even Scout Class size.

[liegeprime]

Well the G1 Pretenders were erm, coffins, so to speak.

The concept that Hastak took now is making the shell THE transforming robot mode itself - e.g. Thunderwing, Bludgeon. Taking a cue from that, and making it so that it's a shell but there's a innerbot (transforming) inside that transforms - this will end up in the same concept as that of G1 Mega pretenders- both shell and innerbot transforms and combines. With today technology it would be indeed awesome and doable to give the Shell articulation. Albeit, costs wise I don't believe HAstak will approve .

If I wanted figures to be given a newer version articulated shells and revive the Pretender line it would be ( and Budget is not a constraint)

A) The Decepticon Pretender monsters (Monstructor) - these little buggers would have interesting monstershells which if did have articulation and prolly of larger size class would be awesome . I admit a bit of nostalgia in my decision with these ones - plus I wanted a better articulated version of the innerbots themselves - even if they end up Legion class - Im sure they can make it with better articulation since they were able to make so with minicons. Added bonus would be if the innerbots still combines to Monstructor - but yeah that's reaching for the stars.

B) Those old G1 original Actionmaster characters only - e.g. Rad, RolloutMainframe, Take-Off, Powerflash, Jackpot.

Same as the G1 explanation would be that they lost their ability to transform - or mebbe their "T-Cog" got damaged beyond repair, hence they got suited up instead in "Transforming Armour" that doubles as their transport weapons vehicle altmode. But this time the suits are articulated, and transforms. Kinda like the late Actionmasters - e.g. Rumbler, Circuit, but instead of that limited armour and car transformation of their Vehicles. It's their pretender shell. A bonus is that they come still with Targetmaster partners (minicons if you will )

C) Throttlebots - these bumperbattlers need an extra "bonus" to make em more appealing really. Not that I dont find the original appealing as I have two sets of em, but yeah an articulated, transforming outershell coupled with a Fast transforming freewheeling innerbot ( give them articulation too). I'd buy that. It would interesting to see what kind of theme they would come with for the shells too - as with the G1, the shells came in themes for their look.

D) If there was one Pretender that I wanted to also get a newer , modern treatment - it would be Bomb-Burst - That hoverplane innerbot altmode is baaad IMO. If they can make a more sleek looking version and couple it with a great mean-looking Bat monster shell that has articulation and transforms, whoa!!!

[GoktimusPrime]

The Pretender Vehicles are coffins! Especially Gunrunner!

[liegeprime]

The Pretender Vehicles are coffins! Especially Gunrunner!

So are the humanoid upright ones... think Tutankhamuns coffin - it's a got a face and hands and feet etched to it but it's not helping the shell at all - it's just a hollow brick coffin, LOL and the most UBer coffin of all are SkyHammer and Roadblock - talk about double burial there

[morg176]

having well sculpted pretender shells would also keep the dust iff your fave tf's

[Slag]

It wouldn't be that hard. If you made the shell decent, then you'd have to compromise on the quality and articulation of the inner robot. The problem with the G1 Pretender humans is they're all built like a brick s**t house (as the saying goes). I'm not even talking about the articulation. I mean, I don't recall ever seeing anyone with a physique like that, well except crazy muscle men body builders.

King Kong Bundy , Andre the giant and Earthquake..

[GoktimusPrime]

So are the humanoid upright ones... think Tutankhamuns coffin - it's a got a face and hands and feet etched to it but it's not helping the shell at all - it's just a hollow brick coffin, LOL

Mmm... sarcophagus fresh...

and the most UBer coffin of all are SkyHammer and Roadblock - talk about double burial there

Mmm... sarcophagus-coffin combination fresh...

having well sculpted pretender shells would also keep the dust iff your fave tf's

Unless you're like me and display the robots outside the shells.


Mmm... zombie fresh...