Transformers questions by newbies, and not-so-newbies

[roller]

Does anybody have any of the old Machine Men comic books that were given out free at toy shops? The third and fourth issues are up on this site: http://counter-x.net/gobots/comic/ma...men/index.html (For some reason, the guy still calls them the first and second issues even though I've corrected him on it.)

The first issue was black and white (well, black and yellow) and had a competition for a silver Crasher. I think Zod was the cliffhanger. The second issue dealt with the battle with Zod and had a competition for a gold Baron Von Joy (one of which I won, though I no longer have it.)

I thought if anyone would have these comics it would be someone here so... anyone?

are they those toys that were retconned into the TF universe?

[Sky Shadow]

are they those toys that were retconned into the TF universe?

Yeah - Fracture/Crasher, Bug Bite, Bad Boy, Pathfinder, Road Ranger, Small Foot, Treads and Cy-Kill have been in one way or another. And it's where they got names like Leader-1 and (your friend) Staxx.

[The Scream Man]

I always kinda liked Machine men. They were basic, but fun

[Paulbot]

Does anybody have any of the old Machine Men comic books that were given out free at toy shops? The third and fourth issues are up on this site: http://counter-x.net/gobots/comic/ma...men/index.html (For some reason, the guy still calls them the first and second issues even though I've corrected him on it.)

The first issue was black and white (well, black and yellow) and had a competition for a silver Crasher. I think Zod was the cliffhanger. The second issue dealt with the battle with Zod and had a competition for a gold Baron Von Joy (one of which I won, though I no longer have it.)

I thought if anyone would have these comics it would be someone here so... anyone?

I have the third one (that the other site calls first). I got it from my cousin back in the 80s and use the center page spread as my main guide to Machine Men toys (despite the odd mistakes such as Cop-tur facing the wrong way).

[GoktimusPrime]

From the January Hasbro Qs thread:

Umm.... breast masters? Am I the only one who laughed hysterically reading that? I know I'm going to feel silly, but what is a breast master? It sounds way dirtier than head master!

Breastmasters are a Decepticon sub-group whose breastplates can detach and transform into their guns and small robotic animals. They came out in 1989. The Decepticon commander Death Zaras (aka Death Saurus) is a Breastmaster with two breastplate partners. The other Breastmasters form a team known as Breast Force who are able to merge into Lio Kaiser.

Lio Kaiser is a milestone in terms of Transformers toy design as he represented the first gestalt where all the gestalt robot components except for the head (e.g.: fists, feet, thighs) were self-contained in the member robots, instead of being detachable accessories. Later G1 and G2 gestalts failed to pick up on this revolutionary trait, but we did see this concept improved upon in 1997 with the Beast Wars gestalts. Car Robot's JRX and Build King (RiD Rail Racer & Landfill; 2000) also feature fully self-contained gestalt parts. The Super Link/Energon (2004) gestalts were a bit of a regression as they had detachable fists and feet.

[STL]

I really must get me a Deszaras this year. And a Liokaiser too. They're tops on the vintage lists for me. But jsut having the reality that the gestalt team is called "Breast Force" is making me a tad queasy.

[GoktimusPrime]

Only if you're going to remain in the 3rd Grader's mindset of "breast = boobs." (*teehee* I said boobs! ) In the terms of what these toys do, they're using the word "breast" in a perfectly appropriate context. Sure, it's not a terribly marketable term of the Anglophone market, but these toys weren't intended for the Anglophone market! In fact, the Hasbro versions of these toys (Autobot Rescue Force) were devoid of their breast partners... they were also devoid of individual names... Hasbro's version of Leozak could've been called "Paul" for all we know.

L-R: John, George, Ringo and Paul

Hasbro's Autobot Rescue Force... despite the repainted Breastmaster box art, these toys did not come with knockersbreastplates.

...then there's how some Transfans abbreviate "Titanium (Series)" as "Tit" (e.g.: "Tit Jetfire")... that was really silly, especially considering that the official scientific abbreviation is "Ti" - which is shorter and less silly sounding!!

"You TIT! I soiled my armour I was so scared!" - Sir Robin The Brave (Monty Python and the Holy Grail)

[autobreadticon]

hi guys is there a reference i can use to compare hasbro MP Starscream and Takara MP Starscream, i am not fussed about getting Thundercracker or Skywarp ,which 1 reigns supreme?

[GoktimusPrime]

See post #6 on the Photo Comparisons thread.

dirge's MP Starscream review also states, "Hasbro produced a later toy in Starscream's _actual_ colours, using a sturdier plastic. Masterpiece Thundercracker and Skywarp are repaints of Starscream."

[blackie]

which comic has the group picture of all the sunstreaker clones in it?