The Energon Pub

[fenrir72]

Interestingly, Armada Overload was initially conceived as Ultra Magnus. It's not known why they changed it.

I've often suspected it was because at the time, Hasbro were trying to crack down on early reveals and they did it out of spite.

I like to think of Armada Ultra Magnus as a bit of an inspiration for CW Ultra Magnus, little bot combining with his trailer to become a bigger bot.

In Japan, Armada Overload is indeed called Ultra Magnus. Maybe Hasbro didn't get the memo?

It was Hasbro who conceived the Armada characters and their designs.

Then why was the Japanese Overload called Ultra Magnus and the domestic one Overload?

Because they decided to stick with the initial intention of the design for their own release.

Hasbro also designed Hotshot as bumblebee at first but also changed it. Takara could have called it bumblebee but didnt. It wouldnt have meant that they came up with him.

I didn't say they came up with it. Micron Legend/Armada is more or less a Hasbro baby despite being Japan animated.

[MrBlack]

Sorry to join in on the conversation so late, but I am so glad to see such love for Magnus. I think he is a great addition to the mythos and brings out the more military side to the autobot forces, reminding you that there is a war and die hard soldiers involved in it.

I never understood why this author chose to have Magnus be the worst character of all time on his list: http://www.x-entertainment.com/messages/547.html

While I would never do a Worst G1 character article (how could I), I sure wouldn't put Magnus first.

Magnus really is a cool character. The movie really did not do him enough justice. His main role that I recognize him for is the IDW More Than Meets The Eye comic, Prime and Animated. When given proper writers and setting, he really is a badass, and I love him for that

The movie didn't really give him a fair shake, but I really loved him in the post-movie episodes for whatever reason. I don't think he got a fair shake in Prime. He was supposed to be a badass, but he got Worf'd in every major fight.

IDW Magnus has been my favorite iteration of the character so far, which is why I was so excited to see that the Leader figure was based on his design.

[D-Maximal_Primal]

Sorry to join in on the conversation so late, but I am so glad to see such love for Magnus. I think he is a great addition to the mythos and brings out the more military side to the autobot forces, reminding you that there is a war and die hard soldiers involved in it.

I never understood why this author chose to have Magnus be the worst character of all time on his list: http://www.x-entertainment.com/messages/547.html

While I would never do a Worst G1 character article (how could I), I sure wouldn't put Magnus first.

Magnus really is a cool character. The movie really did not do him enough justice. His main role that I recognize him for is the IDW More Than Meets The Eye comic, Prime and Animated. When given proper writers and setting, he really is a badass, and I love him for that

The movie didn't really give him a fair shake, but I really loved him in the post-movie episodes for whatever reason. I don't think he got a fair shake in Prime. He was supposed to be a badass, but he got Worf'd in every major fight.

IDW Magnus has been my favorite iteration of the character so far, which is why I was so excited to see that the Leader figure was based on his design.

Agreed. IDW has given Magnus some good and proper well-deserved notoriety. I really like that the toy is made after this incarnation. It fits my Lost Light crew so well

[Ebonsaber]

Recently acquired IDW UM as well, and here's a couple of pics comparing him with a few car carrier UM's, for those asking about RiD and Titanium UM...

[shajaki]

Huh... I remember RID UM being big... but that's pretty big

Nice pic

[william-james88]

Huh... I remember RID UM being big... but that's pretty big

Nice pic

what impresses me about him is that he is looooooooooooooooooong

[chuckdawg1999]

I've always believed that UM was meant to be one robot, not a smaller bot in larger armor. We got a figure like that in G1 because that's what was available in terms of molds. I also don't think they had the technology back then to make a transformable one-piece armored car carrier.

[william-james88]

I've always believed that UM was meant to be one robot, not a smaller bot in larger armor. We got a figure like that in G1 because that's what was available in terms of molds. I also don't think they had the technology back then to make a transformable one-piece armored car carrier.

We got that figure because it was already available. The figure existed before the character did.

[Agamemnon]

I've always believed that UM was meant to be one robot, not a smaller bot in larger armor. We got a figure like that in G1 because that's what was available in terms of molds. I also don't think they had the technology back then to make a transformable one-piece armored car carrier.

We got that figure because it was already available. The figure existed before the character did.

As a Diaclone figure, right? That's how I remember it, anyway...

[Burn]

I've always believed that UM was meant to be one robot, not a smaller bot in larger armor. We got a figure like that in G1 because that's what was available in terms of molds. I also don't think they had the technology back then to make a transformable one-piece armored car carrier.

We got that figure because it was already available. The figure existed before the character did.

As a Diaclone figure, right? That's how I remember it, anyway...

Powered Convoy, Optimus Prime cab and matching trailer.

[william-james88]

I've always believed that UM was meant to be one robot, not a smaller bot in larger armor. We got a figure like that in G1 because that's what was available in terms of molds. I also don't think they had the technology back then to make a transformable one-piece armored car carrier.

We got that figure because it was already available. The figure existed before the character did.

As a Diaclone figure, right? That's how I remember it, anyway...

Powered Convoy, Optimus Prime cab and matching trailer.

Yup Yup

[Jelze Bunnycat]

I've always believed that UM was meant to be one robot, not a smaller bot in larger armor. We got a figure like that in G1 because that's what was available in terms of molds. I also don't think they had the technology back then to make a transformable one-piece armored car carrier.

We got that figure because it was already available. The figure existed before the character did.

As a Diaclone figure, right? That's how I remember it, anyway...

Powered Convoy, Optimus Prime cab and matching trailer.

Ultra Magnus appeared in those colors in the first 1986 Movie promotion, as such Takara reissued the G1 toy in those colors as a "Movie Preview" in 2000. Expect them to pull the same thing with either the CW Leader, or the Masterpiece.

[chuckdawg1999]

I've always believed that UM was meant to be one robot, not a smaller bot in larger armor. We got a figure like that in G1 because that's what was available in terms of molds. I also don't think they had the technology back then to make a transformable one-piece armored car carrier.

We got that figure because it was already available. The figure existed before the character did.

Yeah, that's what I said. Don't forget it also came in a bunch of colors too.

[Agamemnon]

I've always believed that UM was meant to be one robot, not a smaller bot in larger armor. We got a figure like that in G1 because that's what was available in terms of molds. I also don't think they had the technology back then to make a transformable one-piece armored car carrier.

We got that figure because it was already available. The figure existed before the character did.

Yeah, that's what I said. Don't forget it also came in a bunch of colors too.

But, I think I was confused if others were too, the toy came before the cartoon used him. How does that explain the bot in armor versus one big bot? Or are you saying that it just was what you though back then and not something that was established.

I wonder if semantics and the nature of written communication is at play here. I think I get it now.

It has been my experience that those who saw the movie (or cartoon) Ultra Magnus first tended to think of him as one robot. Others (including myself) may have seen or played with the toy before seeing the movie and assumed that UM was a white Prime in armor.

I think this is more of a comment on personal belief/recollection than on which came first, right, Chuckdawg?

[chuckdawg1999]

I've always believed that UM was meant to be one robot, not a smaller bot in larger armor. We got a figure like that in G1 because that's what was available in terms of molds. I also don't think they had the technology back then to make a transformable one-piece armored car carrier.

We got that figure because it was already available. The figure existed before the character did.

Yeah, that's what I said. Don't forget it also came in a bunch of colors too.

But, I think I was confused if others were too, the toy came before the cartoon used him. How does that explain the bot in armor versus one big bot? Or are you saying that it just was what you though back then and not something that was established.

I wonder if semantics and the nature of written communication is at play here. I think I get it now.

In the animated form Ultra Magnus was one bot so that's how I always thought it was meant to be. The toy was different due to Hasbro/Takara using a preexisting mold. If they made a brand new, never before used, mold for G1 Ultra Magnus there is no doubt in my mind it would've been one robot, probably more of a brick than it was, but one robot.

It has been my experience that those who saw the movie (or cartoon) Ultra Magnus first tended to think of him as one robot. Others (including myself) may have seen or played with the toy before seeing the movie and assumed that UM was a white Prime in armor.

I think this is more of a comment on personal belief/recollection than on which came first, right, Chuckdawg?

[phantom1592]

It has been my experience that those who saw the movie (or cartoon) Ultra Magnus first tended to think of him as one robot. Others (including myself) may have seen or played with the toy before seeing the movie and assumed that UM was a white Prime in armor.

It's kind of funny, I never really put that much thought into Ultra Magnus back in the day. I mean... we already saw with Prime that 'Truck Cab = Robot' so even in the cartoon I assumed that Ultra Magnus was 'Truck Cab = robot' The models were the same-ish, so why wouldn't they be?? Add in that the toy was a robot + Power armor and I never really thought twice about it.

Personally, I like the idea of the power armor. I'm also kind of a fan that Magnus is never seen without it. Kind of leads into that whole self-esteem thing that he had in the movie. "I'm just a soldier not leader' or whatever he said. He knows he's not as awesome as Prime... so he armors up all the time. Adds a little something to the character.

Honestly, the IDW comics mean little to me, but I did pick up the TPB of the 'spotlight' issues... and of all the reimagining, I do think I like UM the best. He has this bounty hunter/US Marshall cowboy feel to him that REALLY appeals to me.

[Zeedust]

It's kind of funny, I never really put that much thought into Ultra Magnus back in the day. I mean... we already saw with Prime that 'Truck Cab = Robot' so even in the cartoon I assumed that Ultra Magnus was 'Truck Cab = robot'

Did that line of thought apply to Motormaster or Octane?

[phantom1592]

I'm unfamiliar with octane. I always hated the scale of G1 Motormaster. That whole bit in his techspecs about how he "King of the Road". Can survive a collision with anyone, except Optimus Prime.... then his toy was tiny compared to him...

So yeah, I always considered him to be bigger then the toy showed. Never saw him in the cartoon or anything so didn't really think much about him.

The whole 'cab = feet' thing was a weird transformation though, so I guess I never saw him as a 'black Prime' in armor.

[Burn]

'cause the News Crew are about as useful as the RPG crew ...











I loved Thundercracker in that mold, but I suspected, and have now had my suspicions confirmed, that Skywarp just makes it incredibly sexier.

Starscream however is like the ugly step-sister.

[shajaki]

'cause the News Crew are about as useful as the RPG crew ...

Where's the emote flipping the bird?

[Burn]

'cause the News Crew are about as useful as the RPG crew ...

Where's the emote flipping the bird?

[-Kanrabat-]

Skywarp IS great looking. I bet Thew will be all over it!

As for me, I'm faithful to Starscream.

ALL HAIL STARSCREAM, GREATEST LEADER OF THE DECEPTICONS!

[fenrir72]

Skywarp IS great looking. I bet Thew will be all over it!

As for me, I'm faithful to Starscream.

ALL HAIL STARSCREAM, GREATEST LEADER OF THE DECEPTICONS!

Have a question for those who have TT, do the wings swing back like Jetfire or static?

[Wolfman Jake]

I swear, every photograph of Combiner Wars Ultra Magnus makes it look like he's got a different shade of blue. One minute, it looks like it matches the G1 toy, the next the cartoon, and the next something completely different. Same goes for the white plastic, seemingly perseverating between true white and off white. What magical plastic did Hasbro use to make this figure!?

[Sabrblade]

I swear, every photograph of Combiner Wars Ultra Magnus makes it look like he's got a different shade of blue. One minute, it looks like it matches the G1 toy, the next the cartoon, and the next something completely different. Same goes for the white plastic, seemingly perseverating between true white and off white. What magical plastic did Hasbro use to make this figure!?