mirageandjazz1197 wrote:Would explain Whirl's non-human nature compared to other Autobots.
Kinda. Whirl (as the Ovalon Gazette) originally came from the (now Bandai owned) Dorvack anime and toy line along side wave mate Roadbuster (called the Mugen Calibur there). Roadbuster basically looks like any other Transformer so Whirl was just an aesthetic choice of the designer's and not something common among Dorvack designs. The backwards legs is something I think IDW started to make him look even more tortured as the original Ovalon Gazette had normal knees (as did the G1 figure box art). The claws and optic face are explained heavily as part of the IDW comics (
empurata). Incidentally the third changeable bot from Dorvack, the Bonaparte Tulcas, appeared in
Convertors as Tanker along side Whirl and Roadbuster as Chopper and Wheels respectively. Bonaparte/Tanker is very non-human looking and has a bit in common with Tankor.
Dead Metal wrote:If you do, include that ToyCo the original creators of Shockwave wouldn't resurrecting him since they're kinda proud that one of their only robot toys (they specialized in toy cars at the time) had such a huge impact and actually helped shape such a major franchise. But they've licensed the thing out so many times, that they're not even sure if they even own the rights anymore, or who actually does today. Could be Hasbro, could be Takara, could be Bandai, could be Radioshack etc..
Apparently the rights to Shockwave have been making the rounds like a cheap hooker.
Isn't it also believed that ToyCo didn't even make the original Astro Magnum themselves, but did it on commission just like everything else they do and couldn't even begin to figure out who really owns the rights to the design? Safe to say it isn't Hasbro or Takara Tomy that own the rights and there's no reason for Bandai to. RadioShack licensed their Galactic Man figure which even has a ToyCo stamp on the inner left leg.
I think the theory that ToyCo lost track of who really owns the rights therefore nobody can remake the figure legally is the most likely correct one.
On topic: I would love Voyager priced Reflector set, but somehow I feel like Hasbro would rather give us a Deluxe Mini-Con three pack of the trio instead.
Emerje