The Energon Pub

A little foresight and they might not have shot themselves in the foot as they have, with the 80's line.

Not only that, the bigger you are, the bigger the Red Tape.

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:A little foresight and they might not have shot themselves in the foot as they have, with the 80's line.

No one in the 80s expected Transformers to still be around after it died in the U.S. in 1990, let alone three decades later in the 2020s.

And it's not like they even really used the Deluxe Insecticons that much in fiction, possibly because of the ownership bureaucracy in the first place.

You say that, but they have been almost obsessed with retaining name trademarks, where ever possible, for many years now. So for them not to have that level of diligence in the 80's, at the height of Transformers popularity, seems incredibly short-sighted in comparison.

I imagine that to be the case with the Deluxe Insecticons. Much like how Skyfire Jetfire That Guy, saw only limited appearances in the original series. No one asked where he was in The Movie, for example.

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:You say that, but they have been almost obsessed with retaining name trademarks, where ever possible, for many years now. So for them not to have that level of diligence in the 80's, at the height of Transformers popularity, seems incredibly short-sighted in comparison.

Different people were in charge back then. The Trademark security obsession didn't really kick in until around the Unicron Trilogy, by which point Hasbro was led by very different people.

Yeah, I bet the people in charge now sigh, thinking of their predecessors. Every time a fan poll or request for one of those bots with licensing issues IE MP Jazz, comes up.

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:Skyfire Jetfire That Guy, saw only limited appearances in the original series. No one asked where he was in The Movie, for example.

Um.... EVERYONE on the playground in 1986 asked not only where was Skyfire during TF:TM, but pretty much EVERY season 1 and 2 character that wasn't in TF:TM. Why was Grapple only in 1 background shot? Where was Inferno, Tracks and the rest? Omega Supreme? Buzzsaw? Beachcomber, Warpath, Cosmos, Menasor, Bruticus, Superion etc... There was some *speculation* that Sparkplug had died, but realistically, he would only be in his late 50's by 2005? Where was Carly (we assumed he was Daniel's mom, confirmed later in S3) and Chip?(we were kids and didn't understand the logistics of the film and TV series being worked on at the same time). We had long discussions about it for years.

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:You say that, but they have been almost obsessed with retaining name trademarks, where ever possible, for many years now. So for them not to have that level of diligence in the 80's, at the height of Transformers popularity, seems incredibly short-sighted in comparison.

Even in the '90s they weren't that diligent, they let many names laps after G2. The biggest one was Shockwave, a name also being used by G.I.Joe, believed to have been lost to Lanard Toys who used the name on a few toys leading Hasbro to come up with the name Shockblast.

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:Yeah, I bet the people in charge now sigh, thinking of their predecessors. Every time a fan poll or request for one of those bots with licensing issues IE MP Jazz, comes up.

If they're sighing it's in envying for the Wild West nature of vehicle toys back then. Racecar covered in real sponsor logos? No problem!

o.supreme wrote:There was some *speculation* that Sparkplug had died, but realistically, he would only be in his late 50's by 2005?

50s? I assumed he was in his 40s in the 80s based on looks alone, but also if he had a son old enough to do the work they were doing putting him in his 60s in 2005. Still not *that* old, but certainly old enough to retire.

Emerje

Emerje wrote:

o.supreme wrote:There was some *speculation* that Sparkplug had died, but realistically, he would only be in his late 50's by 2005?

50s? I assumed he was in his 40s in the 80s based on looks alone, but also if he had a son old enough to do the work they were doing putting him in his 60s in 2005. Still not *that* old, but certainly old enough to retire.

Emerje

Just getting a little OT sorry....

Sparkplug's character design certainly looked like he was in his 40's. . But back then we knew nothing about Scramble City (his last canonical appearance in cartoon continuity). However for the sake of argument if we say Spike was 16 years old in the fictional year of 1984, that means he was born in 1968. (At age 16 he could work with his father on that job, as long as he had a work permit). If Sparkplug was in his early 20's when Spike was born, he would be late 50's/early 60's by 2005. At the other end however if we also say Sparkplug was 30 when Spike was born (I was 30 when my son was born so...) in 1984 that makes Sparkplug 46. By 2005 he would be 67. Certainly old enough to retire. However, it is possible his experiences with the Transformers would have shortened his lifespan if nothing else due to shock/ PTSD etc... It is one reason why I really like how DW comics explained Sparkplug's fate. It was sad, but was a very feasible explanation.

Sorry it was not my intention to derail this thread, but it's hard to talk about toys we know very little about coming next year. I guess I'm just in the minority not wanting the same characters ad nauseum. I just want classic characters that haven't been revisited yet to get a shot at a new toy. There are many of them.

o.supreme wrote:Just getting a little OT sorry....

Sparkplug's character design certainly looked like he was in his 40's. . But back then we knew nothing about Scramble City (his last canonical appearance in cartoon continuity).

Which isn't that far distant from when the G1 cartoon took place. Scramble City is set in the late 80s.

Sparkplug's actual fate is "Dropped behind the scenes during preproduction of Season 3 because he was voiced by Chris Latta and he's a toyless human so unlike they didn't bother writing an explanation in."

Is anyone with me in petitioning Hasbro to shelve all 2022 "new toy" plans (except maybe for Commander-class stuff) for whatever the Generations/its replacement thing is in favor of a line made of reissues?

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:Sparkplug's actual fate is "Dropped behind the scenes during preproduction of Season 3 because he was voiced by Chris Latta and he's a toyless human so unlike they didn't bother writing an explanation in."

Latta was still voicing characters in Season 3 and 4. He didn't die until '94.

Sabrblade wrote:

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:Sparkplug's actual fate is "Dropped behind the scenes during preproduction of Season 3 because he was voiced by Chris Latta and he's a toyless human so unlike they didn't bother writing an explanation in."

Latta was still voicing characters in Season 3 and 4. He didn't die until '94.

I know he was. But he was no longer doing so on a regular basis, only an occasional one - he seems to have been dropped from the regular voice cast in 1986. It's notable that Wheeljack, his biggest robot role besides Starscream, was made a very late addition to the list of the dead in the movie. And Sparkplug was scripted to be in FFOD Part 1 but dropped.

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:Sparkplug's actual fate is "Dropped behind the scenes during preproduction of Season 3 because he was voiced by Chris Latta and he's a toyless human so unlike they didn't bother writing an explanation in."

Latta was still voicing characters in Season 3 and 4. He didn't die until '94.

I know he was. But he was no longer doing so on a regular basis, only an occasional one - he seems to have been dropped from the regular voice cast in 1986. It's notable that Wheeljack, his biggest robot role besides Starscream, was made a very late addition to the list of the dead in the movie. And Sparkplug was scripted to be in FFOD Part 1 but dropped.

Pretty sure the lack of Sparkplug had nothing to do with Latta being unwilling or unable to work in the TF series, nor was Wheeljack's death because of Latta (Not sure where the Wheeljack "late death" TF:TM rumor, and Sparkplug in FFOD script came from, never heard either of these).

Similar to Pete Cullen, most of the TF season 3 cast didn't include characters voiced by Latta (nor did he apparently try out for very many, but several of their contemporary VA's did voice new characters in S3). Latta was still Full time on GI Joe season 2, and even did all of DiC GIJoe from 1989-1991. Cullen and Latta had guest roles in S3, but because Rebirth had so many characters to cast in just 3 episodes, Cullen and Latta did add their voice talent to a few new characters that got only a couple of lines. It had nothing to do with them not wanting to, or not being able to. They probably just had other jobs at the time.

o.supreme wrote:I really like how DW comics explained Sparkplug's fate.

I remember the 1st issue had a news article printed in it explaining the situation, and it was never finished. That always annoyed me a bit.

Very disappointed that at long last SS gets the $10 pricepoint, and it seems like it's just for Bee movie Ravage.

come on, give me a Mohawk already!

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:Very disappointed that at long last SS gets the $10 pricepoint, and it seems like it's just for Bee movie Ravage.

come on, give me a Mohawk already!

Obviously, Ravage and consequently, Lazerbeak will be the firsts.
I do want a Mohawk too, but that "nobody" will have to come way after the popular boys.

Motto: "Have you ever heard the tale of Megatronus the Fallen? I thought not... It's not a story a Prime would tell you."
Weapon: Dual-shoulder mounted rust artillery

I've been and always has been interested to see the Fallen to finally have his SS figure. I didn't liked the original rotf Fallen figure, so I will hold on to the SS version to come.

But let's not also forget Jolt for SS line. Despite being a last minute added, underrated character, he does have a unique design, I will admit. Hopefully he will include his electro whips if he were to finally have his SS figure.

-Kanrabat- wrote:

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:Very disappointed that at long last SS gets the $10 pricepoint, and it seems like it's just for Bee movie Ravage.

come on, give me a Mohawk already!

Obviously, Ravage and consequently, Lazerbeak will be the firsts.
I do want a Mohawk too, but that "nobody" will have to come way after the popular boys.

Dude had more screen time than Bee movie Ravage, he should get one quickly

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:Dude had more screen time than Bee movie Ravage, he should get one quickly

Still a "nobody". Plus that Ravage may be able to fold onto itself and enter Soundwave's chest.

I repeat: AoE Galvatron (I'd love a leader, but realistically he'll be a voyager) and RoTF Fallen (either size) should be an immediate project.

Does SS 69 Devastator count as a Titan Class figure unofficially? I know he's more expensive, but does he have more mass? I remember asking this before, but don't remember the answer.

Since the Ark is on the way, I'd love a Titan sized version of Lockdown's ship.

Rodimus Prime wrote:I repeat: AoE Galvatron (I'd love a leader, but realistically he'll be a voyager) and RoTF Fallen (either size) should be an immediate project.

Does SS 69 Devastator count as a Titan Class figure? I know he's more expensive, but does he have more mass? I remember asking thus before, but don't remember the answer.

Since the Ark is on the way, I'd love a Titan sized version of Lockdown's ship.

SS69 Devastator is beyond titan. He's 100$US more than the average titan so he's "unclassified".

BTW, for AoE Galvatron to be better than the original voyager, he should be a leader. He'll have to be around the same size and mass as his brethren. Then there's the parts counts to consider. Especially if the truck shell have to disappear inside the bot's body.

-Kanrabat- wrote:

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:Dude had more screen time than Bee movie Ravage, he should get one quickly

Still a "nobody". Plus that Ravage may be able to fold onto itself and enter Soundwave's chest.

Those discussions of who is important enough to get a toy kinda bother me,because I don't feel other lines have to justify their characters choices as much.

TulioDude wrote:

-Kanrabat- wrote:

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:Dude had more screen time than Bee movie Ravage, he should get one quickly

Still a "nobody". Plus that Ravage may be able to fold onto itself and enter Soundwave's chest.

Those discussions of who is important enough to get a toy kinda bother me,because I don't feel other lines have to justify their characters choices as much.

It is an age old problem for the franchise as a whole. Lines being flooded with multiple Prime/Megs/BB. Most of the time with little variation. "Because they are the popular ones" is normally the excuse given, which in itself is confirmation bias. If only two in six characters are ever promoted through media and advertising, of course those two will in turn out sell the others.

The fact that Devastator Dawg has been released in his entirety in the SS line. Yet, The Fallen, the main antagonist of that film (and a single one-off figure) hasn't, is bizarre.

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:
The fact that Devastator Dawg has been released in his entirety in the SS line. Yet, The Fallen, the main antagonist of that film (and a single one-off figure) hasn't, is bizarre.

Not bizarre at all. Devastator is still Devastator. A HUGE name in the franchise. Plus the best and most memorable scenes in that movie where his parts. Plus he's a Combiner.

The Fallen, aside for the hardcore fans, is yet another "nobody" that no one care about. Especially for a "main villain" with minimal screen time with no recognizable features and no altmode at all.

I remember his "Target Exclusive" orange version shelfwarming at my local Zellers until the store chain declared bankruptcy.