The Energon Pub

[Kurona]

Scorponok and Omega Supreme were the two other choices on the Titan Class poll, so yup, he's getting a Titan Class Toy. Which is a shame, because like you I prefer him to be Leader-sized.

Yeah. Damn. I'd certainly buy a Leader class version to pose next to Takara's upcoming version of Powermaster Prime and would be a lot more affordable and practical than a Titan class figure.


Metro and Trypticon I almost let slide cos they're never usually portrayed as more than simple minded behemoths but still this Titan size is just too large for my collecting. It might have suited Unicron though.

Personally speaking, of the Titan Class guys we know (Metroplex, Devastator, Fort Max, Trypticon, Scorponok, Omega Supreme), I'd only want to get Trypticon and Devastator at that size class. Fort Max and Scorponok are more endeared to me as Leader-sized and I can't say I really care about Metroplex. And Omega Supreme as a titan... come on, what.
I love Trypticon so much because it's a Decepticon T-rex that turns into a city, and Devastator I'm cool with because on his own, separate from the other CW guys he sort of kind of represents the mass-shifting often seen with Combiners in many continuities. I'd display him with Voyager Megatron and a ton of other Season 1/2 dudes and some other random guys. Plus, as shown from the Twitter picture; he's not quite as big as the other titans so it makes display space easier.

[Me Grimlock King]

Fortress Maximus is the father Metroplex the mother and Devastator their son LOL

[Emerje]

As for Jinrai isn't it simply a Japanese guys name like Tomoaki or Shigaru or this list

Actually, Ginrai's name was made up - in a way that, in Japanese, if you remove every second syllable it spells Godzilla.
As an aspiring writer this sort of **** is what inspires me. There's no real reason for it. It doesn't really link into the theming of Masterforce as far as I'm aware. They just did it because Godzilla.

No. Ginrai, properly romanized as Jinrai and spelled exactly the same way, is a real common Japanese word meaning "thunderclap" and has long been used as a character name in other places. The thing you're talking about is for the full name God Ginrai and is based on Gojira, not Godzilla. God Jinrai

Emerje

[Jelze Bunnycat]

As for Jinrai isn't it simply a Japanese guys name like Tomoaki or Shigaru or this list

Actually, Ginrai's name was made up - in a way that, in Japanese, if you remove every second syllable it spells Godzilla.
As an aspiring writer this sort of **** is what inspires me. There's no real reason for it. It doesn't really link into the theming of Masterforce as far as I'm aware. They just did it because Godzilla.

No. Ginrai, properly romanized as Jinrai and spelled exactly the same way, is a real common Japanese word meaning "thunderclap" and has long been used as a character name in other places. The thing you're talking about is for the full name God Ginrai and is based on Gojira, not Godzilla. God Jinrai

Emerje

Even then, with the ginormous amount of homophones in Japanese, names in katakana are usually treated as proper nouns (meaning they don't get translated), and the fact no kanji are associated with the name, we can't really deduce any kind of meaning from it. Etymology, maybe.

[Emerje]

As for Jinrai isn't it simply a Japanese guys name like Tomoaki or Shigaru or this list

Actually, Ginrai's name was made up - in a way that, in Japanese, if you remove every second syllable it spells Godzilla.
As an aspiring writer this sort of **** is what inspires me. There's no real reason for it. It doesn't really link into the theming of Masterforce as far as I'm aware. They just did it because Godzilla.

No. Ginrai, properly romanized as Jinrai and spelled exactly the same way, is a real common Japanese word meaning "thunderclap" and has long been used as a character name in other places. The thing you're talking about is for the full name God Ginrai and is based on Gojira, not Godzilla. God Jinrai

Emerje

Even then, with the ginormous amount of homophones in Japanese, names in katakana are usually treated as proper nouns (meaning they don't get translated), and the fact no kanji are associated with the name, we can't really deduce any kind of meaning from it. Etymology, maybe.

Right, I'm not trying to imply that we should start calling the character Thunderclap or anything. Just clearing up that this isn't a made up word just for the sake of the whole Gojira joke, a word already exists with the same spelling as does a proper name.

Emerje

[Cyberpath]

I Futured Skruncher's floppy legs yesterday, now they are tight! (Maybe a little too tight, didn't realise it took that amount of time to take effect.) So proud!

btw, anyone notice that the three Decepticon Headmasters have open hands while the four Autobot ones have closed hands?

[o.supreme]

Fort Max & Metroplex look great, always preferred Fort Max and Scorponok as a giants as opposed to their tiny portrayal in the comics. (Fort Max *technically* should be bigger than Metroplex, but having them the same size is fine.) Too bad The Constructicons weren't Deluxe, instead of Voyager size, then he would have been about the same size as the other CW Combiners, and would have made Metroplex & FM stand out more. Dev should be the same size as the other combiners, not larger.

[King Kuuga]

A fortress should be smaller than an entire city, if you ask me. It can be a miniature city, sure, but not a "Metroplex". So I really feel like Metroplex and Trypticon should be the HUGEST transformers (aside from the planetbots), followed by Fort Max and Scorponok, who are regular headmasters after all, followed by Omega Supreme and the combiners, and then big but still reasonably sized guys like Jetfire and Magnus, and then everybody else.

[o.supreme]

But Metroplex was never intended to be the whole of Autobot City (I know the toy commercial was poorly worded...) but merely a battle station within it.

https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSd-JyokO4Fj0Q7SutGlDtTtZR390pE4ELaZBPwR5OJsfl5fSedHw

[Kurona]

But Metroplex was never intended to be the whole of Autobot City (I know the toy commercial was poorly worded...) but merely a battle station within it.

https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSd-JyokO4Fj0Q7SutGlDtTtZR390pE4ELaZBPwR5OJsfl5fSedHw

Depends on the continuity.
... and episode, let's be honest.

[King Kuuga]

I haven't seen much of G1 that involved Metroplex, I'm basing my preference more on the names and functions and depictions in other fiction. "Metroplex" sounds bigger than "Fortress Maximus", but "Fortress Maximus" sounds more intimidating, so he could be the better-armed of the two (in a sad irony, his newer toy is rather unarmed compared to Metroplex).

[Cyberpath]

Decided to scan the manga from LG21 & LG22 in case anyone went Hasbro with these, or just skipped it. Click to enlarge. Feel free to translate.

[o.supreme]

Depends on the continuity.
... and episode, let's be honest.

Of course. I was just stating my preference, as many had above, and provided proof why, since someone questioned (not argued, but asked a legitimate question) about why I felt the way I did.

You can spin it several different ways, and none would be wrong. As a kid I was just way more into the animated series than the comics, this still holds true today. Obviously toy size & scale, while it has improved slightly, is still far from perfect (G1 Blaster, Jetfire, & Omega Supreme toys nearly the same size...).

But logically...in 1986 when Metroplex came out it was marketed as "Autobot City", but even in season 3 you could see it was never the whole city. Fortress Maximus came out in 1987, was a much BIGGER toy, so it must have been BIGGER than Metroplex right? (the next big thing so to speak...)

The only episode Fortress Maximus appeared in was a short scene battling Scorponok on Cybertron. With no real reference other than they were both "big". In the Japanese series Headmasters however, there are a few scenes of them together which clearly show Fortress Maximus as the larger.

Now...for fans that feel different, for various reasons (comics, video games, more recent toys etc...) I totally get that, and they are not wrong. I just think one advantage of having TR Fort Max being an extensive retool of 2013 Generations Metroplex is that now they are the same size, (Titans) and the argument can be put to rest.

[fenrir72]

A fortress should be smaller than an entire city, if you ask me. It can be a miniature city, sure, but not a "Metroplex". So I really feel like Metroplex and Trypticon should be the HUGEST transformers (aside from the planetbots), followed by Fort Max and Scorponok, who are regular headmasters after all, followed by Omega Supreme and the combiners, and then big but still reasonably sized guys like Jetfire and Magnus, and then everybody else.

But in the JP continuity, 'plex more or less reached Fortress' knees. That and the tech that inspired him was kind of supernatural technology.

[fenrir72]

Decided to scan the manga from LG21 & LG22 in case anyone went Hasbro with these, or just skipped it. Click to enlarge. Feel free to translate.

Also, what's the beef with Leader tank Megatron turning into Galvatron's head manga? The story images looks wacky nutz!

[Cyberpath]

I like how the vulture/dino thing was used to trap Chromedome. At least I think that's what happened.

[King Kuuga]

A fortress should be smaller than an entire city, if you ask me. It can be a miniature city, sure, but not a "Metroplex". So I really feel like Metroplex and Trypticon should be the HUGEST transformers (aside from the planetbots), followed by Fort Max and Scorponok, who are regular headmasters after all, followed by Omega Supreme and the combiners, and then big but still reasonably sized guys like Jetfire and Magnus, and then everybody else.

But in the JP continuity, 'plex more or less reached Fortress' knees. That and the tech that inspired him was kind of supernatural technology.

I've seen half of Masterforce, that's the extent of my exposure to JG1. Look, I was born in 1990, G1 in general is before my time. I look back at it differently than people who lived through it, and it is my opinion (which you are welcome to disagree with) that Metroplex should be bigger than Fort Max.


As for that manga, why is Airazor a secretary? Do I want to know? More Japanese sexism?

[Sabrblade]

As for that manga, why is Airazor a secretary? Do I want to know? More Japanese sexism?

He is an office lady, a Japanese female office worker (even though he's really a male). The Maximals all work in a corporate office building of the Axalon Trading Company. Optimus Primal is the company president, Rhinox is a section manager, Rattrap is a rookie salaryman, Cheetor is another salaryman, Dinobot is another employee, Nightscream is another office lady, Silverbolt is a teenaged part-timer, and Tigatron is another employee.

[william-james88]

Fellow Seibertronian Cyberpath scanned the comic images that come with Takara LG21 Hardhead and LG22 Skull (aka Skullcruncher). These are to be read from right to left and are part of the Japanese G1 cannon. Enjoy!

Decided to scan the manga from LG21 & LG22 in case anyone went Hasbro with these, or just skipped it. Click to enlarge. Feel free to translate.

[Sabrblade]

English summaries of what's going on in each, from the Wiki:

Hardhead's comic:

Rattrap and his friends are surprised to see numerous giant heads descend from a portal in the sky and transform into robots. Their leader, Fortress, explains that they're Headmasters from the "G1 World" who have lost their larger bodies and seek assistance in using the Legends Universe's energy to build new ones. Rattrap and Optimus Primal respond that they don't work for free, so Fortress strikes a deal with Primal to share Headmaster technology with the Axalon Trading Company, and the two groups start working together at a newly constructed office building.

During an after-work karaoke session, Hardhead sings about how nice and peaceful Legends Universe is and how he'd like to stay there forever, annoying Chromedome, who is bored of this world and reminds him that they're soldiers with duties in their homeworld. They're interrupted by a message from Fortress that a body is finished, and return to find it to be a new transtector for Hardhead. A jealous Chromedome demands one too, and is instead told to ride into battle on Tankette, Hardhead's energetic new drone partner. Hardhead immediately has a chance to try out the transtector when he's sent out to stop a meteor from impacting with the city, accepting the fact that no matter how much he enjoys being a salaryman, he must return to being a soldier for the sake of protecting his comrades. He combines with his new body and, with his friends manning his guns, opens fire on the meteor, only for their blasts to have no effect. Determined to defend the peaceful world he's come to love, Hardhead shows how he got his name by headbutting the meteor, successfully destroying it. But since his head is his real body, this heroic act ends up landing him in the hospital.

Skullcruncher's comic:

Jealous that his Axalon Trading Company rivals are collaborating with the Autobot Headmasters, President Megatron organizes his own partnership between Tera-Kura Co. and the Decepticon Headmasters. Using information gathered from the Autobots by Laserbeak's espionage, Tarantulas of Tera-Kura first creates a new transtector and partner drone named Batora for Skullcruncher. When presenting his creations to Skullcruncher, he finds the Decepticon fast asleep, and Weirdwolf explains that his comrade has been narcoleptic ever since being hit by Mindwipe's hypnotic rays. Once he's woken up, Tarantulas sends Skullcruncher out to rampage in streets, hoping to lure out and destroy the Autobots in order to remove his competition on the robotics market.

Though Skullcruncher soon dozes off again, the plan proves successful when Hardhead and Chromedome break off their usual karaoke session to stop him. Weirdwolf then swoops in on Batora, captures Chromedome inside the drone by forcing him to form part of its dinosaur mode, and uses this mode to violently wake Skullcruncher. With Chromedome as their hostage, the Decepticons then prepare to take on Hardhead, only for Hardhead to work with Twincast to sing a lullaby that sends Skullcruncher into a deep slumber. Weirdwolf and Tarantulas make their escape with the sleeping crocodile, leaving Chromedome still stuck in Batora's body as he tries to continue life as normal.

[Randomhero]

I love these so much. I just wish the damn Takara figures weren't so expensive because 1. They look great and 2. Having these comics are such a fun bonus

[King Kuuga]

As for that manga, why is Airazor a secretary? Do I want to know? More Japanese sexism?

He is an office lady, a Japanese female office worker (even though he's really a male). The Maximals all work in a corporate office building of the Axalon Trading Company. Optimus Primal is the company president, Rhinox is a section manager, Rattrap is a rookie salaryman, Cheetor is another salaryman, Dinobot is another employee, Nightscream is another office lady, Silverbolt is a teenaged part-timer, and Tigatron is another employee.

Oh right, I forgot they made Airazor male in Japan. That makes the whole thing.... maybe 5% less sexist.

[fenrir72]

A fortress should be smaller than an entire city, if you ask me. It can be a miniature city, sure, but not a "Metroplex". So I really feel like Metroplex and Trypticon should be the HUGEST transformers (aside from the planetbots), followed by Fort Max and Scorponok, who are regular headmasters after all, followed by Omega Supreme and the combiners, and then big but still reasonably sized guys like Jetfire and Magnus, and then everybody else.

But in the JP continuity, 'plex more or less reached Fortress' knees. That and the tech that inspired him was kind of supernatural technology.

I've seen half of Masterforce, that's the extent of my exposure to JG1. Look, I was born in 1990, G1 in general is before my time. I look back at it differently than people who lived through it, and it is my opinion (which you are welcome to disagree with) that Metroplex should be bigger than Fort Max.


As for that manga, why is Airazor a secretary? Do I want to know? More Japanese sexism?

No need to disagree as I am only presenting the backstory of the JP universe which the Legends is based on.

[King Kuuga]

Right but I'm speaking not just to the Legends continuity but to my general feelings on citybots and titans and whoever.

In the Legends thread.

I can see how this might be confusing.

[DedicatedGhostArt]

I'm really curious to see what the Takara Legends Astrotrain will look like. From the way the outline looks, it seems like his train mode is going to have a more earth-like look.



I wonder if the back of the train will look different from the front also. That would be an interesting thing indeed. It would make sense because the only spots they'd show up in the robot mode would be on the backs of the legs as a bit of kibble. Kibble doesn't have to be symmetrical.