The Energon Pub

Many of you may not have given it that much thought: all new characters that debuted in a certain new Transformers line along with G1-inspired ones, reappearing in a later series or different universe. What are your feelings on them? Do you think they enrich the already gigantic character roster or are nothing more than a nuisance that should stay within the series they debuted in?

To give you an idea of what I'm talking about, a couple of examples:

Bulkhead: debuted in Animated, reappeared in Prime and cameo in IDW G1.
Barricade: debuted in the 2007 movie, reappeared in WFC and the TFSS.
Side Burn: debuted in Car Robots/Robots in Disguise, reappeared in Wings Universe.

I have mixed feelings on them, really. As I said, those all new character add a little bit of spice to what would otherwise seem as "yet another Generation 1 rehash", giving it a little of uniqueness that stands out among the rest.
I do appreciate the effort of making new character arch-types, even if it means reusing a G1 original name, like the bad cop Barricade. They add another personality to the roster, but over time they will start to feel old when they're reused, know what I mean?

Lockdown made his debut in Animated but has showed up in the IDW comics as a G1 version of his Animated self.

And Lugnut got his movieverse toy after being originated in Animated.

craggy wrote:And Lugnut got his movieverse toy after being originated in Animated.

Also, his IDW appearance and the Battle in Space comic.

Let's not forget Sky-Byte who made the jump into G1 from RiD.

I like anything that expands the G1 universe. I liked seeing Energon Landmine on the Lost Light but I hate seeing Rattrap in Robots in Disguise. He just doesn't fit the G1 aesthetic and he's as annoying as ever.

We happily accept G1 characters reappearing in every new universe without a second thought, I don't see why we shouldn't do the same for the non-G1 characters, especially since many of the newer bots are a thousand times more interesting than many of the "classic" ones.

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:Barricade: debuted in the 2007 movie, reappeared in WFC and the TFSS.

Actually Barricade has a counterpart in G1, which he appears to be more based on than movie Barricade http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Barricade_(G1)

A better example would've been Demolishor; debuted in Armada, showed up in both WFC and Shattered Glass, both heavily G1 influenced. And on the topic I don't think characters introduced later than G1 appearing in G1 inspired works are negative as long as they fit into the tone and aesthetics of the series. Armada was already more G1-esque than most of the other series that had preceded it.

Windsweeper wrote:I like anything that expands the G1 universe. I liked seeing Energon Landmine on the Lost Light but I hate seeing Rattrap in Robots in Disguise. He just doesn't fit the G1 aesthetic and he's as annoying as ever.

I think it really depends on the character, and Rattrap is a fine example. He's sooo out of place in RiD/DC/whatever that it just screams 'new toy product placement.'
I know the "point" is to sell toys, and that so tragically many people cannot see Transformers as anything but a means to sell toys whenever it's convenient to use that as some answer, but there's a way to do it that isn't so blatant, and I think that bringing existent characters over generational lines so to speak can be done in a way that doesn't draw attention to it, if you know what I mean.
With Rattrap it just isn't working that way, and it draws attention to the idea that he's not 'from' the time he's being used in.

As far as new readers are concerned then they won't notice. In my opinion Rattrap didn't feel out of place, sure he got added for sake of new toy. That doesn't bother me.

Dagon wrote:

Windsweeper wrote:I like anything that expands the G1 universe. I liked seeing Energon Landmine on the Lost Light but I hate seeing Rattrap in Robots in Disguise. He just doesn't fit the G1 aesthetic and he's as annoying as ever.

I think it really depends on the character, and Rattrap is a fine example. He's sooo out of place in RiD/DC/whatever that it just screams 'new toy product placement.'
I know the "point" is to sell toys, and that so tragically many people cannot see Transformers as anything but a means to sell toys whenever it's convenient to use that as some answer, but there's a way to do it that isn't so blatant, and I think that bringing existent characters over generational lines so to speak can be done in a way that doesn't draw attention to it, if you know what I mean.
With Rattrap it just isn't working that way, and it draws attention to the idea that he's not 'from' the time he's being used in.

I think the problem is made worse by him being so out of character. BW Rattrap complained a lot, but was ultimately a good guy. Seeing him as Starscream's treacherous lackey is just kind of... Jarring to me.

I like seeing new characters, but seeing new incarnations of G1 characters is cool too. I still wanna see more new characters like Dreadwing.

hehe wrote:I like seeing new characters, but seeing new incarnations of G1 characters is cool too. I still wanna see more new characters like Dreadwing.

DreadwiDreadwing is actually a character from G2 so not technically new

ZeroWolf wrote:

hehe wrote:I like seeing new characters, but seeing new incarnations of G1 characters is cool too. I still wanna see more new characters like Dreadwing.

DreadwiDreadwing is actually a character from G2 so not technically new

Dreadwind and Darkwing were the Powermaster duo, Dreadwing is the blue stealth bomber who was repurposed as Darkwing in the Marvel comics

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

ZeroWolf wrote:

hehe wrote:I like seeing new characters, but seeing new incarnations of G1 characters is cool too. I still wanna see more new characters like Dreadwing.

DreadwiDreadwing is actually a character from G2 so not technically new

Dreadwind and Darkwing were the Powermaster duo, Dreadwing is the blue stealth bomber who was repurposed as Darkwing in the Marvel comics

I was thinking more the stealth bomber, forgot he even appeared in the comics, well even if he did get a name change.

I can't see any of the Beast Wars characters showing up in anywhere but G1 and in Beast Wars.. It just wouldn't make sense.And I LOVE Beast Wars.

Black Aracniha (why can't I spell!), also appeared in animated, as did Waspinator, plus several BW Transmetals toys turned up in the Armada toyline with mold retooling to allow for minicon powerlinx.

ZeroWolf wrote:Black Aracniha (why can't I spell!), also appeared in animated, as did Waspinator, plus several BW Transmetals toys turned up in the Armada toyline with mold retooling to allow for minicon powerlinx.

And of them, Rhinox made it into the cartoon. He rocks!

I know they did.I never liked it.
I,however,think the Beast Wars could go well with the movieverse...you may yell now.lol

RSDADDIMUS2 wrote:I know they did.I never liked it.
I,however,think the Beast Wars could go well with the movieverse...you may yell now.lol

Interesting, care to explain?

Well,in ROTF,the girl who was after Sam at the college had a human shell,(Eve?) so,I can see,with a little bit of messing with the origin,they can probably create beast modes.they had Dinobots in the new films,and Ravage,Scorponok and Laserbeak,so the Movieverse is familiar with animal versions.and I think the STEELJAWS in the 4th film are Cybertronian/Organic hybrids,so the tech is there.

I'm amazed people actually agree with me about Rattrap. I was sure he was popular and I was leaving myself open for condemnation. Not that I was looking for trouble but I just can't stand him. He was a well written character in Beast Wars I grant you but I just hated his voice and appearance.

When I saw this topic, his appearance in RID was the first thing that came to mind and I had to get it off my chest.

I do agree that the Beast wars characters could fit with the Movie aesthetic. I've long felt the Autobot Brothers from Car Robots could fit the movie aesthetic as well and they were released with Beast Wars toys in that line.

That said, I don't mind Skybite appearing in RID but I always liked him so it really does come down to personal taste.

RSDADDIMUS2 wrote:Well,in ROTF,the girl who was after Sam at the college had a human shell,(Eve?) so,I can see,with a little bit of messing with the origin,they can probably create beast modes.they had Dinobots in the new films,and Ravage,Scorponok and Laserbeak,so the Movieverse is familiar with animal versions.and I think the STEELJAWS in the 4th film are Cybertronian/Organic hybrids,so the tech is there.

Cool idea I really love Beast Wars. I would love a live action movie…… In fact I'm in the middle of writing a long treatment and I want to see what people think of it. Im trying to see if I can get it to the companies involved in transformers but would characters like Que/Wheeljack and Mirage/Dino answer the question? I loved both of them but I wanted to see wheeljack shoot someone just once, and Dino isn't in AOE because he's presumed dead I liked Bulkhead but I feel he is kind of a forced character. The newest kids shows all have him in it. Animated debuted bulkhead than he's in prime. And he even helped influence the creation of movie verse Hound.