The Energon Pub

[Zeedust]

Is the "I'm-okay-with-Blast-Off-as-a-jet" niche so small that it's just me?

Tough crowd. It's okay, Blast Off: I like you just the way you are, even if you're using the wrong head. C'mere, you twat!

I like Blast Off the way he is because it pisses off whiny Geewunners with entitlement complexes.

[steals_your_goats]

Is the "I'm-okay-with-Blast-Off-as-a-jet" niche so small that it's just me?

Tough crowd. It's okay, Blast Off: I like you just the way you are, even if you're using the wrong head. C'mere, you twat!

I like Blast Off the way he is because it pisses off whiny Geewunners with entitlement complexes.

You. I like you.

[Evil Eye]

Personally I like Blast Off a lot more as a jet than as a space shuttle.

What I don't like is that he's a straight up repaint of Quickslinger.

I'll be getting the Takara version in any case, A: to get original molds where possible, and B: in the vain hope Takara will fix Brawl's waist.

[Evil Eye]

And that blast off bio is a disgrace.

Actually, the bio is the best bit about the figure. It justifies his new form AND annoys GEEWUNers!

[Rated X]

And that blast off bio is a disgrace.

Actually, the bio is the best bit about the figure. It justifies his new form AND annoys GEEWUNers!

The only thing the bio justifies is hasbros level of cheapness. It doesnt take talent to write these bios. They basically just take tibits from the G1 cartoon and add water until properly diluted.

[D-Maximal_Primal]

Is the "I'm-okay-with-Blast-Off-as-a-jet" niche so small that it's just me?

Tough crowd. It's okay, Blast Off: I like you just the way you are, even if you're using the wrong head. C'mere, you twat!

I'm onboard that bus with you. I'm perfectly good with this. Works better as a jet anyway

[fenrir72]

And that blast off bio is a disgrace.

Actually, the bio is the best bit about the figure. It justifies his new form AND annoys GEEWUNers!

The only thing the bio justifies is hasbros level of cheapness. It doesnt take talent to write these bios. They basically just take tibits from the G1 cartoon and add water until properly diluted.

Get a room you two!

I'd like to also add a bit of my frustration which I agree with Rated X. D@mn Hb! If you're going the lazy path with Blastoff, maybe you could have change the name to "Jump"off? He's now a Harrier VTOL. And at least change this face? Is that so hard to do?

They retooled Hotspot into Onslaught, heck, same with Brawl and Swindle (Vortex, seems like nobody cares). At least gave the Blastoff mold the Alpha Bravo head.

LAZY!!!!!

[william-james88]

The only thing the bio justifies is hasbros level of cheapness. It doesnt take talent to write these bios. They basically just take tibits from the G1 cartoon and add water until properly diluted.

[DeathReviews]

Not to strain at gnats - but I don't see Onslaught's bio there. Until that comes to pass, it's not all of the Combaticons, just the deluxes....

[D-Maximal_Primal]

Not to strain at gnats - but I don't see Onslaught's bio there. Until that comes to pass, it's not all of the Combaticons, just the deluxes....

Well only the deluxes come with the extended bios

[Hellscream9999]

Is the "I'm-okay-with-Blast-Off-as-a-jet" niche so small that it's just me?

Tough crowd. It's okay, Blast Off: I like you just the way you are, even if you're using the wrong head. C'mere, you twat!

I wanted a jet for blast-off, but I wanted some re-molding done, like new wings - that's all, really. If it had missiles or vtol fans, or anything like that, I would have liked it more.

[Sabrblade]

The way I see it, the bio makes this toy of Blast Off no different from any toy of G1 Galvatron, G1 Rodimus Prime, G1 Goldbug/Goldfire, G1 Powermaster Optimus Prime, the G1 Classic Pretenders, most of the Beast Wars Transmetals and Transmetal 2s, the non-new-character Beast Machines Maximals and Megatron, the Cybertron Cybertron Defense Team, etc. etc.

It's an upgraded, second-body form of Blast Off representing him at a point in time following his time in his former space shuttle body. So any space shuttle-bodied Blast Off would represent his past form, while this would be his present or future form.

[william-james88]

Not to strain at gnats - but I don't see Onslaught's bio there. Until that comes to pass, it's not all of the Combaticons, just the deluxes....

Did you read the news post? It states:
every combiner limb for the Combaticon / Bruticus wave

Onslaught is not a limb and since he doesnt come with s comic there will be no extended bio.

And sabr, there is a difference. The toys you mention convey something seen in the fiction. This new body for blastoff doesnt.

[Sabrblade]

And sabr, there is a difference. The toys you mention convey something seen in the fiction. This new body for blastoff doesnt.

Bios aren't their own fiction? History would beg to differ.

[Hellscream9999]

Not to strain at gnats - but I don't see Onslaught's bio there. Until that comes to pass, it's not all of the Combaticons, just the deluxes....

Did you read the news post? It states:
every combiner limb for the Combaticon / Bruticus wave

Onslaught is not a limb and since he doesnt come with s comic there will be no extended bio.

And sabr, there is a difference. The toys you mention convey something seen in the fiction. This new body for blastoff doesnt.

But isn't there a show coming based on these toys? So - if it is - this is the case for the toys, and they will also be appearing in the comics too, right?

[D-Maximal_Primal]

Way I see it, the toys bios provide a story, so they have their own fiction. You could get the regular Blastoff from takara to represent his original form, but the bio is making it legit fiction that this is an upgrade

[Burn]

Way I see it, the toys bios provide a story, so they have their own fiction. You could get the regular Blastoff from takara to represent his original form, but the bio is making it legit fiction that this is an upgrade

Exactly.

Do I like him as a jet? Nope. But the bio explains it so that's enough for me.

[albnok]

I wonder if I should've jumped early on to collecting TakaraTomy Unite Warriors instead.

I have all the non-TFCC limbs, torsos, and Legends class Combiner Wars figures. Standard CW Devastator, too. In Malaysia, Hasbro is easy to come by, with TakaraTomy coming in later, with only Quickslinger, Brake-Neck, Huffer and Blackjack being strangely undistributed here despite being made in a country just a bit up north.

The way it's going, TakaraTomy is easier to complete, if you accept Transformers Adventure TAV Legends-class figures as a substitute for missing parts, and TAV-26 Override clawing onto Guardia/Defensor.

[Evil Eye]

And that blast off bio is a disgrace.

Actually, the bio is the best bit about the figure. It justifies his new form AND annoys GEEWUNers!

The only thing the bio justifies is hasbros level of cheapness. It doesnt take talent to write these bios. They basically just take tibits from the G1 cartoon and add water until properly diluted.

Well it doesn't get much more diluted than the G1 cartoon- it's practically distilled water as it is.

The funny thing is, whilst I much prefer Blast Off as a jet, I do agree that just repainting Quickslinger was absurdly lazy (though I'm more annoyed they didn't bother to retool Vortex from Alpha Bravo at all). But this level of butthurt over it makes it all worth it.

[MemphisR56]

Blast-off is a weird issue for me.

It's like, I honestly really don't mind the fact he's now a jet. It makes a logical sense, in terms of scale, in terms of function (as a military vehicle). To the point that I think people who can't concede the point that it does make sense, even if it doesn't completely mitigate the issue, is just being stubborn and pedantic.

But at the same time, I'm still going to be waiting for the takara offering here. That's mainly because of nostalgia. I had Blast-off as a kid (euro G1 goldbox "classic" version).

What I think really is the part of it that is compounding the issue for people is the decco.

Hear me out here.

If the blast-off jet actually looked a lot more like G1 blast-off in robot mode, I don't think people would be as against it as they are.

His headsculpt is all wrong, the amount of yellow paint used on it is *way* over the top. The original had only light detailing in yellow. This new paint layout has 3 big blocks of yellow liberally lathered on there, and a serious under-use of black. I mean, just look at those shin-guards and even legs.

What should be brown thighs with solid black shinguards is now purple thighs, unpainted brown shin-guards and bright lemon yellow kneepads. It really doesn't work for me.

Now if the slingshot repaint figure had the firefly head, minimal yellow, and a hell of a lot more black on there, I'd be really quite happy to pick up the hasbro version of the figure. And I think maybe a lot more fans would be willing to say "Yes, okay, that is definitely Blast-off I'm looking at, altmode aside" and maybe accept that.

Thoughts?

[King Kuuga]

Blast-off is a weird issue for me.

It's like, I honestly really don't mind the fact he's now a jet. It makes a logical sense, in terms of scale, in terms of function (as a military vehicle). To the point that I think people who can't concede the point that it does make sense, even if it doesn't completely mitigate the issue, is just being stubborn and pedantic.

But at the same time, I'm still going to be waiting for the takara offering here. That's mainly because of nostalgia. I had Blast-off as a kid (euro G1 goldbox "classic" version).

What I think really is the part of it that is compounding the issue for people is the decco.

Hear me out here.

If the blast-off jet actually looked a lot more like G1 blast-off in robot mode, I don't think people would be as against it as they are.

His headsculpt is all wrong, the amount of yellow paint used on it is *way* over the top. The original had only light detailing in yellow. This new paint layout has 3 big blocks of yellow liberally lathered on there, and a serious under-use of black. I mean, just look at those shin-guards and even legs.

What should be brown thighs with solid black shinguards is now purple thighs, unpainted brown shin-guards and bright lemon yellow kneepads. It really doesn't work for me.

Now if the slingshot repaint figure had the firefly head, minimal yellow, and a hell of a lot more black on there, I'd be really quite happy to pick up the hasbro version of the figure. And I think maybe a lot more fans would be willing to say "Yes, okay, that is definitely Blast-off I'm looking at, altmode aside" and maybe accept that.

Thoughts?

I agree with this analysis. I'm okay with this Blast Off, I just wish he had a different head.

[william-james88]

But isn't there a show coming based on these toys? So - if it is - this is the case for the toys, and they will also be appearing in the comics too, right?

The inclusion of these new characters in the comics is laughable. Rook in the comics is the pure definition of afterthought. In the end the short answer is the following: the comics do not contribute to these character's fiction aside from aknoledging that they exist. Unlike Drift, these are toys first and inserted in comics just for the sake of it. I don't find anything wrong with that since that is the main formula Transformers has always had but I did want people to get their facts straight.

And sabr, there is a difference. The toys you mention convey something seen in the fiction. This new body for blastoff doesnt.

Bios aren't their own fiction? History would beg to differ.

The big difference here is that we are now mixing two types of flows between toys and fiction.

In G1, the fiction was made to sell the toy which already existed. Combiner Wars though is a toyline that is all about bringing back these toys. So their existence is based on the pre-existing toys and fiction and thus the toys are being sold based on their previous incarnations in the fiction, along with some new characters that are toy first (ala G1).

With this Bruticus though, you have 5 characters that are all pre-existing with pre-existing notions and fictions. 4 of which have a look based on the past but 1 is geting fiction to justify his look (ala G1). And that is what I find odd about Blastoff compared to the rest, the fiction to toy cycle is not alligned like the rest.

[Rated X]

And that blast off bio is a disgrace.

Actually, the bio is the best bit about the figure. It justifies his new form AND annoys GEEWUNers!

The only thing the bio justifies is hasbros level of cheapness. It doesnt take talent to write these bios. They basically just take tibits from the G1 cartoon and add water until properly diluted.

Well it doesn't get much more diluted than the G1 cartoon- it's practically distilled water as it is.

The funny thing is, whilst I much prefer Blast Off as a jet, I do agree that just repainting Quickslinger was absurdly lazy (though I'm more annoyed they didn't bother to retool Vortex from Alpha Bravo at all). But this level of butthurt over it makes it all worth it.

How can you say the G1 cartoon is diluted when it is the original basis for the character? What I mean by "diluting" the characters G1 bio is by changing parts of his story to accomodate their laziness.

I get it. Blast Off should have been a jet since its a group of combat vehicles. But that should have happened 30 years ago. When I was 10 years old all I knew is that the space shuttle was the most iconic aircraft of the time and it made sense to make a military version from a kids perspective. Especially after Astrotrain had already been in existance in the storyline for some time. There were plenty of jets already. And since scramble city toys were practically the last true diaclone molds, they were shooting for something different because they already did a team of jets. Remember hasbro/sunbow incorporated the existing diaclone line right into the cartoon. So I wipe my ass with all that taunting "Gee-Wun" hipster garbage. Im 39 years old and passionate about what I grew up with. If your going to do a homage, do it right. If not, just stick to creating brand new characters and forget homaging altogether.

On a side note, I am shocked some people still dont get that the "alpha bravo" mold was always intended to be Vortex. That is why alpha bravos head is a dead ringer for Vortex, faceplate and all. The generic coptor mode is a hybrid meant to share the best of both words between an attack helicopter and a rescue helicopter so that hasbro could continue their repaint strategy and give you Blades from the same mold. The whole "alpha bravo" concept was just a novelty to paint vortex in a slingshot deco and justify another repaint in hasbros stupid bios. Alpha Bravo never had a mold. Timing just allowed his deco to be produced from the vortex mold first because hasbro was basing the waves on rivalries. Superion and menasor first, Defensor and Bruticus next. Alpha Bravo and Offroad were just an experiment to see how far the can push the G1 fandom into buying into new characters for easy repaint profits. The release of slingshot and wildrider proves the experiment was deemed a failure. This is further supported by hasbros choice to name the jet "Blast Off" rather than create a new character that sports blast offs deco. But also keep in mind the slingshot mold more closely resembles a Harrier than an F-4 Phantom so most likely fireflight (firefly) is the actual repaint even though he was released first. My logic refers to a "repaint" as a character other than who the plastic mold was first intended to be. (Not necessarily the order they were released in retail)

But anyways, a slingshot repaint just doesnt cut it for me. Takara already confirmed that hardcore G1 fans dont have to settle for hasbros BS. We will be getting groove and blast off. I wouldnt be suprised if they do a real computron as well. If they are willing to entertain a concept as stupid as "Galvatronus" im fairly certain they will entertain a real Computron.

On a side note, Buzzaw/Lazerbeak looks like crap. (Gotta love thread merging) Ill buy him out of curiousity, but will continue to MP buzzaw/lazerbeak on my classics shelf since they are the same size.

[Sabrblade]

How can you say the G1 cartoon is diluted when it is the original basis for the character? What I mean by "diluting" the characters G1 bio is by changing parts of his story to accomodate their laziness.

Technically-speaking, the cartoon itself did water down Blast Off's personality from how it was described in the original extended bio that Bob Budiansky wrote for the character:

Profile: Removed from the type of close-quarters combat his fellow Combaticons engage in, Blast Off soars through the vast vacuum of outer space feeling literally and figuratively above the other Transformers. He exudes an aristocratic air, believing that the problems of others are too petty and foolish for him to be concerned with. He appears quite happy in his role, orbiting hundreds of miles away from his comrades. But his happiness is an act, a disguise he uses to hide his long-distance loneliness. His aloof and superior manner is a front that prevents the other Decepticons from knowing his true feelings. None of this interferes with his performance - From his perch high above, he is cruelly efficient at raining destruction down on the world below. Perhaps because of the remoteness of his targets, perhaps because that's just the way he is, Blast Off feels not the least trace of remorse about his actions.

While shades of Blast Off's posh nature did mildly surface in the cartoon, the depth of his personality being rooted in loneliness that he hides under a facade of superiority and aloofness never really came about in the show. Most of the time, Blast Off was depicted as just an ordinary Decepticon with little personality beside "generic bad guy".

And unfortunately, such personality dilution was commonplace in the cartoon for a lot of the characters who weren't the regular main focal characters.

[Rated X]

How can you say the G1 cartoon is diluted when it is the original basis for the character? What I mean by "diluting" the characters G1 bio is by changing parts of his story to accomodate their laziness.

Technically-speaking, the cartoon itself did water down Blast Off's personality from how it was described in the original extended bio that Bob Budiansky wrote for the character:

Profile: Removed from the type of close-quarters combat his fellow Combaticons engage in, Blast Off soars through the vast vacuum of outer space feeling literally and figuratively above the other Transformers. He exudes an aristocratic air, believing that the problems of others are too petty and foolish for him to be concerned with. He appears quite happy in his role, orbiting hundreds of miles away from his comrades. But his happiness is an act, a disguise he uses to hide his long-distance loneliness. His aloof and superior manner is a front that prevents the other Decepticons from knowing his true feelings. None of this interferes with his performance - From his perch high above, he is cruelly efficient at raining destruction down on the world below. Perhaps because of the remoteness of his targets, perhaps because that's just the way he is, Blast Off feels not the least trace of remorse about his actions.

While shades of Blast Off's posh nature did mildly surface in the cartoon, the depth of his personality being rooted in loneliness that he hides under a facade of superiority and aloofness never really came about in the show. Most of the time, Blast Off was depicted as just an ordinary Decepticon with little personality beside "generic bad guy".

And unfortunately, such personality dilution was commonplace in the cartoon for a lot of the characters who weren't the regular main focal characters.

I remember that bio. It is true many characters were given generic personalities in the G1 cartoon. But in reality, the whole "loner lost in outer space" concept doesnt work well for the idea of a combiner team that needs to be ready to form Bruticus at any given moment. Mabye Bud was smoking some good "Bud" when he wrote the original toy bios.