A journey through the JP Gen1 cartoon.

[griffin]

Ep 25 - The Emperor of Destruction Vanishes on an Iceberg

Galvatron has returned to Earth to prepare his final plan for all the Energon he has captured - the creation of a giant powerful body that looks like a cross between him and Unicron. The Autobot Headmasters are alerted of his plan, and attack him while he is on Earth. The battle ends in the Arctic, and Galvatron disappears under the ice. While that is happening, Zarak has the Autobots distracted by destroying their outposts, so that his Headmasters can instigate their own secret plan.


Another wacky title, that also gives away the point of the episode.

It was good to finally see Scourge and Cyclonus again, but they didn't do much other than talk to each other in the Decepticon base.

When Twincast is shot and assumed dead (again), Steeljaw is shown to be crying.

So many (generic) Autobots are dying but no Decepticons seem to be killed. They should have at least had generic Decepticons included, so that it didn't look so one-sided as if the Decepticons are indestructible. If they were that powerful, the war wouldn't have lasted millions of years.

The Headmasters are fighting Galvatron in the desert, but suddenly they are in the Arctic.

Sooooo, somehow ice can stop Galvatron, when everything else failed (including an explosion that killed Optimus, and an explosion that destroyed Cybertron). And does this mean Galvatron is gone for good? I hope not. I don't like the character, but that would be a pretty lame way of permanently removing a character.

Punch has his cover blown in this episode.

The super-powerful, mystical combining of the Autobot Headmasters still hasn't been explained, but is able to generate massive amounts of power.


Ep 26 - I Risk My Life for Earth

Under the new leadership of Zarak (again), the Decepticons begin attacking areas of the Earth that are near Volcanoes. During an attack, Spike is critically injured and Chromedome feels responsible.


Counterpunch is back with the Decepticons, despite having his cover blown last episode.

Even the Decepticons think Galvatron was killed (by mere ice).

Zarak is the same size as his 3 Headmaster warriors, instead of being the same size as their heads.

Wheelie is really becoming very obnoxious. He stays out of the conflict because he can't fight, yet he's criticising the efforts of others, even when it isn't their fault. If you can't do any better yourself, don't complain. At the very least, offer advice.

Everyone seem to be invulnerable to volcanic lava, but Scorponok thinks its a good place to throw in Fortress Maximus in an attempt to kill him.

Highbrow has been working on finding Scorponok's weak-spot for 5 episodes, and for some reason, leaves a possible answer on a note in his lab just in case Chromedome decides to go in there... instead of telling others who are currently in the battle against Scorponok. It isn't the right answer, but might have been useful to test it out while they had the chance in battle.
And somehow, Chromedome is able to work it out in minutes, after Highbrow (the more intelligent one) couldn't work it out after many weeks/months. But instead of radioing the weak-spot to the Autobots straight away, he decides to fly to Earth (from Athenia) which could have meant the end of the Autobots in that time.

The weak spot is the middle of the chest... that's not a good place to have a weak spot, as it's out in the open and where most get shot at anyway. Can't be much of a weak-spot, as it didn't do any extra damage than the last time Fortress Maximus cut Scorponok up with his sword (a couple episodes back).

(I think the revelation that the weak-spot was in Scorponok's Decepticon Symbol in episode 21 was a mistake by the sub-titlers, as there have been a couple episodes that had subtitles in scenes when no one was talking. In this instance, the words were exactly the same, which ended up being a plot spoiler by the sub-titler)


Hedon! Hedomasuta...

[GoktimusPrime]

I think they could've made Sixshot appear to be a powerful character if they'd maybe just employed some robot dismemberment and a good old Spark: Rip 'n' Crush, that would've made him truly something to be feared - instead we got piss poor laser shots that didn't even leave scorch marks, mind you it was quite amusing to watch UM get placed into a casket and get shot into a body of water like he was literally being flushed and forgotten about.

If you wanna see Ultra Magnus being ripped apart, go read the G1 Marvel Comic adaptation of Transformers: The Movie. In the actual movie Cyclonus, Scourge and the Sweeps combine fire to blow Ultra Magnus up, but in the comic adaptation, they attach energy cables to his limbs and fly in opposing directions -- literally draw and quartering him!

My only gripe with Sixshot in Headmasters is that he keeps being referred to as a Ninja when he is probably one of the least covert characters of the show, that and I agree with Griffin in that his supposed 7th mode is just pointless.

Sixshot is ninja-like in terms of being a mercenary and assassin who uses unconventional means of warfare. He's a lot more of a ninja than Animated Prowl, Jazz or Yoketron ever were (who were really more like Samurai, what with their codes of honour blah blah blah -- ironically it's Lockdown, the "ex-Cyber-ninja" who's the most ninja-like what with his stealth and backstabbing etc., and of course, being a mercenary too ). I don't particularly like or dislike the Wingwolf mode. It's no more or less superfluous than most of his other modes at most times really.

It is indeed unfortunate though that Daniel didn't use Wheelie as target practice with Highbrow's offering, this incarnation of Wheelie is far and beyond way more annoying than the US version, I know he is supposed to be young but damn!

Really? US Wheelie is just as freakin' useless and stupid AND wastes a lot of screen time in Season 3. That's why a lot of Western fans have long hated Daniel and Wheelie, even without having seen the Japanese G1 series (and the reason why many fans cheered with joy when Daniel and Wheelie were finally horrifically killed ). Yeah his voice is annoying, but so is his English language voice too. In the Japanese version Wheelie's voiced by a woman pretending to be a boy, which is quite common in animation (look at the Simpsons - Bart, Milhouse, Nelson etc. are all played by women), whereas in the US version Wheelie is voiced by a man pretending to be a munchkin. They're both pretty horrid IMO.

US Wheelie is just as bad, wasting screen time just a tad;
He and Daniel we all hate, but all rejoiced at their final fate;
Both high-pitched voices make me grit, they both equally sound just as (crap);
But one good thing with Wheelie Jap, he's not a try hard rhyming chap!

The most disappointing part I've found with this series is the weird 'Quick, throw in a character!' but then 'Let's never use them again!' attitude.
The writer/s hold onto really friggin' annoying characters but give 2 seconds to others whilst the majority of the main cast are quite boring.

What about The Rebirth?!? Here's Sixshot's ENTIRE dialogue in the US cartoon... ready?

"Five up, five down! It's like shooting cyber-ducks in a barrel!"

...that's it!

Ep 25 - The Emperor of Destruction Vanishes on an Iceberg

Another wacky title, that also gives away the point of the episode.

Heh... it's just as well Kaneda wasn't in charge of making titles for Star Wars...

Episode I: The Death of Qui-Gon Jinn
Episode II: Clones Are Stormtroopers
Episode III: Betrayal of the Clones
Episode IV: Destroy the Death Star!
Episode V: Darth Vader is Luke's Father
Episode VI: Anakin's Redemption Shortly Before His Death

So many (generic) Autobots are dying but no Decepticons seem to be killed. They should have at least had generic Decepticons included, so that it didn't look so one-sided as if the Decepticons are indestructible. If they were that powerful, the war wouldn't have lasted millions of years.

It's just like WWII!! (as seen through the eyes of Saving Private Ryan )

Sooooo, somehow ice can stop Galvatron, when everything else failed

Hey, the same thing pretty much happened in the G1 Marvel Comics. And ice froze Moofie Megatron for centuries. Man... why isn't Animated Jetstorm like the most powerful Autobot ever??

And does this mean Galvatron is gone for good? I hope not. I don't like the character, but that would be a pretty lame way of permanently removing a character.

Yeah, he's gone. IMO the lamest way of removing characters would have to be Terrorsaur and Scorponok accidentally falling into lava.

I also find Zarak's gigantic size laughable. I know they did it to make him Fortress' counterpart, and Zarak doesn't have an intermediate Headmaster robot to connect to (ie: Cerebros) and thus make him the same size as other Headmasters -- but for anyone who's even seen photos of the toy you can't help seeing it as being utterly strange. I preferred the way Zarak was portrayed in Anglophone continuity (especially in the Marvel Comics) where Zarak was able to command the Decepticons despite being human-sized.

[griffin]

Ep 27 - The Miracle Warriors - The Targetmasters, part one
Ep 28 - The Miracle Warriors - The Targetmasters, part two

The Autobots seem to think that the Decepticons have left Earth for go. They find and dispose of bombs placed around the Earth by the Decepticons, as more arrivals from Planet Master arrive, which pair up with the six new Autobots and Decepticons to form the Targetmasters. The Autobots go back to Planet Master to chase off Zarak and his Decepticons. They capture a friend of Chromedome, finds out the secret of the Master Sword, and turns him into a timebomb, that the Autobots have to kill to save Battleship Maximus.


The opening scene is interesting as it shows quite a few random Autobots in the shot including Jetfire/Skyfire and Ironhide.

Hardhead falls down a shaft, but needs saving as if he has forgotten that he can fly. And then 2 minutes later, he's flying out of a cavern.

Wheelie has other superiors (the Targetmasters), but not sure what that means.

The Autobot Targetmasters seem a bit arrogant, but quite sensible when it comes to pointing out the stupidity of the others when it comes to liabilities like Daniel and Wheelie.
Again, Daniel begs to go on a dangerous mission to a distant planet, and against better judgement, Fortress agrees.

Hardhead and Chromedome have weaponry, but vainly bang at a pile of rocks with their fists. And when they get out, they are suddenly in a snowy area.

The Autobots recklessly destroy an abandoned Decepticon base, instead of dismantling it and/or recycling the parts.

The refugees from Planet Master are not recognised by anyone else from Planet Master, which is possible. They speak a different language but understand everyone else.

When Chromedome's friend Jack is being repaired, Chromedome is standing in front of himself, as an animation error.

Autobots working out in a gym... this is bad comedy (as Galvatron would say).

For some reason the Targetmaster weapons are supposed to be friends, but don't seem to hesitate at firing on each other now that they are attached to Autobots and Decepticons.



Ep 29 - The Master Sword is in Danger

Still on Planet Master, Zarak starts collecting materials to build a shield that can repel the Master Sword, and only Planet Master has the material necessary to build it. Wheelie wants to become a Headmaster, but is captured by Zarak, and ransomed off for the secret of the Master Sword (which they already got from Jack in the previous episode).


Introduction of the Duocons. I loved these toys as a kid, and was sad to not see them in the Western Gen1 cartoon before it ended. At least we get to see them in action for a few episodes I guess.


G-metal is the name of the super strong metal. Not sure if that stands for anything, or a letter was just picked at random.

Pointblank seems to be the only one rational enough to point out that the Autobots are wanting to risk themselves and the Universe for the the biggest liability to the Autobots in the whole series. And Daniel should learn consequences, and that the Autobots aren't there just to keep getting him and Wheelie out of trouble all the time.
Wheelie wouldn't even be a casualty of war, as he's never battled the Decepticons, and keeps risking everyone else's lives and the mission with his antics.

Somehow Chromedome drives right into Scorponok, knocking out 2 guards, without setting off any alarms. Even Zarak has no idea he has an Autobot inside his Transtector.

Daniel walks through a laser barrier... which is supposed to fry a robot (and you'd think organic material as well).

Fortress has the information on a massive floppy disk. I know it's the storage medium of the time, but gee it looks funny seeing a floppy disk that's 4 times the size of Daniel.
And you'd think Fortress (or someone) would just shoot or destroy the disk when they realise Wheelie is safe, to prevent the Decepticons from getting it... but no, we have a big battle, with the disk being passed around like a football.

Pointblank apologises to Fortress for losing the information to the Decepticons, but it was the fault of Fortress for agreeing to trade it for (an insignificant) Wheelie, and then not destroying it when it was no longer needed.

Highbrow to Chromedome - 'Without you, Wheelie would be dead.' (is that supposed to make him feel better???)

[griffin]

Ep 30 - The Zarak Shield Turns the Tide

As Zarak builds his new shield, the Autobots try to track their location to stop it, but fail to get there in time.


Zarak has Scorponok fly out to space, only to fly straight back again minutes later as if it is meant to be a diversion, but the Autobots know that the Decepticons have to be on Planet Master to get the metal they need.

Not sure if it was intended to be animated previously, but Scorponok already had a shield. I guess he's just building a stronger version.
Scorponok swallows his shield in scorpion mode, like a snake swallowing a rat. It just looked bizarre.

The Decepticons quickly think that the Autobot Targetmasters are dead by a flood of water, as if they could drown.

The Targetmasters radio Cerebros with a video call, but for some reason the Autobot Headmasters have to resort to attempting Telepathy and make it a big deal that they can do it.

An energy detector is built inside Maximus, and Highbrow also builds a hand-held device to locate the Decepticon base, but the Targetmasters found it anyway.

Daniel and Wheelie have to be rescued again, this time from Weirdwolf.



Ep 31 - Operation: Destroy the Decepticons

The Autobots think that the Decepticons are heading back to Earth soon, so attempt to destroy them before they leave Planet Master. With the new Zarak Shield, the Autobots are defeated, and many of the other inhabitants on the planet are killed. Scorponok leaves, sparing the defeated Fortess Maximus instead of destroying him while he has the chance.


Again the Targetmasters are stating the obvious, in that the Decepticons should be destroyed - something the Headmasters continually fail to achieve.

A pretty intense battle, but still ends up the same, with one side sparing the lives of the other.

We get to see a 'Kirk', but it doesn't look like the toy. Considering this was a JP-exclusive Cartoon, with other JP toys (Trainbots, Twincast, Soundblaster), I was surprised we didn't get to see the six JP Headmasters at all during the many episodes on Planet Master. The regular Headmasters swapped heads often enough, so why not have the other six step in for a bit to use the Transtectors.

And what happened to that single-episode plot device of Scorponok's weakspot?


Ep 32 - My Friend Sixshot!

On the way to Earth, Sixshot and Daniel are transported to a strange planet, and end up becoming friends. Zarak abandons Sixshot, feeling that he's a threat.


It's Transformers Vs Rock Lords...

The Decepticons go through the Asteroids because it is faster, while the Autobots go around because it is faster... huh?

Okay... they've saved the weirdest things for the end of the series. Yes, I'm talking about the tornadoes in space, that suck Daniel and Sixshot off to a strange planet. AND, the Autobots can use a freeze ray on the storm, turning it into ice.

And if you think that's bad, how weird is it for a ruthless Decepticon that has more kills than Galvatron, has feelings for the most annoying human ever. It should have been in character for him to either abandon the brat, or just squish him and walk off. Not save him from the Rock people, or ask him if he is okay.
If Sixshot was destined to become a nice guy, even if it was only decided a few episodes ago, there should have been some sort of character trait in previous episodes to reflect it. But right up to this episode, he's been completely cold and ruthless to everyone.
Besides, Daniel is just young and easy to impress, so a Decepticon doesn't have to change for that brat to try to be their friend. But I feel that the character of Sixshot is intentionally being converted to a good guy in these final few episodes, so that he could end up fulfilling an important role in the final climactic story.

Zarak rejects Sixshot because he sees him as a threat to his leadership, but he's always been loyal to the cause and to Zarak. If Zarak had actually seen how nice Sixshot was to Daniel, that'd be a more believable reason to abandon him.

[Autocon]

how many eps left to go

[Skullcruncher]

I only could bring myself to watch upto the first episode where the monster bots turned up - so im finding these reviews quite interesting to see what else actually happens........ But im not sure I can be convinced to go and watch the rest

[griffin]

how many eps left to go

Just 3 episodes left to go, which I should hope to be posting up tonight.

Then it's Super God Masterforce!

[griffin]

Ep 33 - Duel on the Asteroid

As the Decepticons are passing through the Asteroid belt on the way to Earth, the Autobots catch them and start battling. Sixshot shows up and demands a duel with Chromedome, allowing both sides to withdraw. Chromedome accepts, to get his revenge for all the friends Sixshot has killed, but is told that he will be banished from the Autobots if he does. The duel takes place on one of the Asteroids, but to make sure both combatants are destroyed, Zarak has a bomb planted on the Asteroid. It explodes, but both survive thanks to Daniel interfering. Chromedome is allowed back into the Autobot ranks. Sixshot heads off towards Earth, knowing for sure now that Zarak wants him dead.


At least someone did their homework by using actual Asteroid names... but in this instance, they could have called them anything and no one would have cared. Besides, would the Decepticons call Asteroids by names given by Humans or would they even bother to do research to find out?
Pity the writer didn't do their homework on the events in the Headmasters Cartoon, as the Narrator refer to Mars as if it wasn't destroyed earlier in the series.

Daniel gets into trouble again, and the Autobots have to abandon their duty (again) to go rescue him. If they hadn't brought him along, the Decepticons probably would have been destroyed ages ago.

Daniel's Exo/Excel suit transforms the same as in the 1986 Movie, but flies this time instead of driving. But then when he falls into a crevice, he doesn't fly out to save himself.

Daniel to Sixshot - 'Shoot me if you have to shoot'. If only I could reach into the TV and pull the trigger for him... then it'd be problem solved.



Ep 34 - The Final Showdown on Earth, part one
Ep 35 - The Final Showdown on Earth, part two

The Decepticons erect several 'Death Towers' around the Earth that draw energy from the planet, and send it to a satellite they placed in orbit. To prevent the Earth from being totally drained, the Autobots have to destroy the indestructible towers by combining their powers in the same way the Headmasters combine their powers, and channelling it through the Master Sword. The battle ends with Scorponok being sliced in two (and blowing up) by Fortess Maximus, and the Decepticons just suddenly leave Earth. The Autobots leave as well to restore peace to the Universe. After all their time on Earth, all Transformers have now suddenly decided to vacate the planet as if it is worthless to both sides.


The Decepticons sink a cruise ship called 'Queen World', but later it is being used to transport injured people.

Metroplex reports that the Decepticons on Earth are remnants left behind by Zarak while he went to Planet Master... but, the Duocons on Earth were in the previous Episode on board Scorponok in the Asteroid Belt.

Oooooo, apparently everyone in Canberra speaks Japanese. Actually, it's pretty nifty to see Australia featured in Gen1 somewhere, even if it is in the JP series.

Aaaand once again, Daniel begs to go on a mission, and again they let him go, against better judgement.
Daniel has to help rescue his unconscious mother from the ravine, but the gap looked to be big enough for the Headmasters' heads to fly down and fly her up.

Punch talks in a plural tense, referring to himself as 'we' instead of 'I'.

Sixshot appears to have killed the Decepticon Clones, as their heads are hanging off their necks, but they appear later unharmed.

Gliss is the substance the towers are made from. Apparently it comes from the remnants of an ancient civilisation, and doesn't sound like anything real.

Soundblaster is in the Alps (think Switzerland and Austria), and he sees Maximus flying through the mountains and somehow assumes that they are heading for Egypt.




Well, that's the end of the first of the three extra Japanese Generation One cartoons, and as much as I'm glad I've now watched it, I'm a little disappointed in the way it played out and ended (so many loose ends). It's like there was no bible or series outline, as the stories and mini-arcs seemed to go in all sorts of directions without much sense. The middle arc with the Decepticons out in space plundering planets would have made more sense if it was the arc of the entire series. But just as it started getting into it, the story suddenly changed direction and they were back on Earth for a few episodes... then Planet Master for a few episodes... then Earth again... And what about the changes in leaders on both sides, with some departures not making much sense or becoming loose ends that were never tied up before the end. Rodimus and Galvatron are still out there, somewhere, and so are the rest of the Decepticons, as they were chased from Earth, not destroyed. If there is any continuity, maybe they will return in Masterforce (but I doubt it, judging by the way the next series is written up).
Headmasters used characters from earlier seasons of Generation One (the 'Western' seasons), as if it were just Season 4, so it would be odd not to see any carried over to the next series/season (Masterforce).


Well, the adventure continues...
Next up, Super-God Masterforce!