Transformers questions by newbies, and not-so-newbies

[Trent]

i can understand plugs or caps on toys that could pass as replica firearms, but Hasbro have even gone as far as putting orange on their RTS Megatron. Go figure

This is why.

[Sinnertwin]

This is why.

If we use the RTS Megatron & his Japanese EZ version as an example, I find it odd that the laws are relaxed when it comes to certain imports

[DELTAprime]

Just watched the episodes of G1 that introduce the Dinobots so I'm kinda shaking my head at how stupid Hasbro made them.

Which leads to a question for Gok or someone that has read the Marvel comics.

20 year old spoilers ahead!

I read the IDW republication of the last couple of Marvel comics a while ago. Why would Optimus want Grimlock to be the new leader of the Autobots when he is such a stupid individual? Surly Rodimus Prime or Prowl would be a better choice.

[Paulbot]

Firstly, comic Grimlock was not as stupid as cartoon Grimlock by any means, but he had a speech impediment. He wasnt built on Earth either in the comics. The toy Grimlock has an intelligence tech spec of 7 too btw. It was the cartoon writers not Hasbro that made him dumb.

The first time: Optimus didn't name a successor, and the higher ranking Autobots chose Grimlock based on the traits he displayed fighting Trypticon.

The second time: Grimlock was the highest ranking Autobot on Cybertron and had proven he would take extreme measures for those he commanded, and that he wasn't going to be one who'd trust the surviving Decepticons and their talk of peaceful cooperation. (And he was right after all)

Also: Rodimus Prime didn't exist. There was a kid named Hot Rod who Prime was grooming to be a leader (based in part on meeting the time travelling Rodimus Prime if you include UK continuity) but wasn't ready yet.

[DELTAprime]

Also: Rodimus Prime didn't exist. There was a kid named Hot Rod who Prime was grooming to be a leader (based in part on meeting the time travelling Rodimus Prime if you include UK continuity) but wasn't ready yet.

No Rodimus? Wow, the Marvel universe is nothing like the G1 I know. Good to know that Grimlock wasn't so stupid in the comics.

[Sky Shadow]

No Rodimus? Wow, the Marvel universe is nothing like the G1 I know. Good to know that Grimlock wasn't so stupid in the comics.

Hot Rod and Rodimus Prime didn't exist as toys or characters until 1986, and Hot Rod didn't even meet Optimus until around 1988-89 in the comics. So he wasn't poised for any sort of leadership position then. But neither of them (Hot or Rodimus) existed in animated chronology until '2005,' so it was still a lot earlier than that.

[GoktimusPrime]

Rodimus Prime exists in the G1 comics in alternative future timelines, but not in the "proper" timeline (wibbly-wobbly ). In the "proper" timeline, Hot Rod doesn't become Rodimus Prime and instead becomes Targetmaster Hot Rod -- whereas in the cartoon, Rodimus Prime reverts back to becoming Hot Rod again before becoming Targetmaster Hot Rod. At least, he didn't become Rodimus Prime during the original 1980s-90s run of the G1 Marvel comics. The ReGeneration One comics from IDW (which continues the G1 Marvel (Earth-91274) continuity) on the other hand...

But yeah, Grimlock (and the Dinobots in general) are WAY cooler characters (IMHO) in the G1 comics than the cartoons. Actually, most of the G1 Transformers were better in the comics. As Paulbot rightly said, Grimlock (and the other Dinobots too) were smarter in the comics than their cartoon counterparts (although the cartoon Dinobots were more physically powerful). Also, Grimlock is the only Dinobot in the comics who has a grammar impairment. The other Dinobots all speak normally.

[Sinnertwin]

I believe Dr. Smoov has the answers you are looking for

[kurdt_the_goat]

Picked up a Hasbro reissue Astrotrain (this one) recently and noticed the packaging has red/blue stickers on the inside of his tailfin (only visible in robot mode) ... but such stickers don't exist on the sheet! Were they excluded on everyone's or supposed to be tampo'd or something?

Quoting myself cause i stumbled across the answer today!
Apparently the most recent release of Commemorative Astrotrain doesn't have the red/blue sticker nor a tampo'd one.
Found out through an Optibotimus video and his link to BBTS' product page.

[Autocon]

Which tf figure does light piping the best??

I reckon its powerpinch