The Energon Pub

[Emerje]

I finally found Shockwave! I like to imagine that all the extra Shockwave-y bits were constructed from another universe’s Shockwave, like maybe after Time Wars, when Shockwave snaps, he goes on a murderous rampage through time-space against other Shockwaves for...reasons.

Sort of like when Armada Grand Scourge started jumping dimensions killing all of the Matrix holders (and anyone else that got in his way).

Emerje

[Nemesis Maximo]

I finally found Shockwave! I like to imagine that all the extra Shockwave-y bits were constructed from another universe’s Shockwave, like maybe after Time Wars, when Shockwave snaps, he goes on a murderous rampage through time-space against other Shockwaves for...reasons.

Sort of like when Armada Grand Scourge started jumping dimensions killing all of the Matrix holders (and anyone else that got in his way).

Emerje

Bingo!

You know what else I really like about Shockwave? His alt mode “head.” That really surprised me and I love that he still has his eye in space destroyer mode.

[TF-fan kev777]

I finally found Shockwave! I like to imagine that all the extra Shockwave-y bits were constructed from another universe’s Shockwave, like maybe after Time Wars, when Shockwave snaps, he goes on a murderous rampage through time-space against other Shockwaves for...reasons.

Sort of like when Armada Grand Scourge started jumping dimensions killing all of the Matrix holders (and anyone else that got in his way).

Emerje

Bingo!

You know what else I really like about Shockwave? His alt mode “head.” That really surprised me and I love that he still has his eye in space destroyer mode.

I 100% agree, and the best part about that? Both the bot head and altmode head have light piping!!!

[AllNewSuperRobot]

It reminded me of the Scourge/Sweep "head bob" in their altmode. Personally I've always liked the idea myself. From a design perspective, when they are not slavishly depicting Earth-Based vehicles, a little quirkiness only adds to the overall aesthetic.

[Sabrblade]

And yet, people complained about the exposed-in-altmode heads of the Movie 1, ROTF, and Prime Megatrons.

[Hellscream9999]

And yet, people complained about the exposed-in-altmode heads of the Movie 1, ROTF, and Prime Megatrons.

Well this one looks like G1 shockwave, so that makes it okay

[william-james88]

And yet, people complained about the exposed-in-altmode heads of the Movie 1, ROTF, and Prime Megatrons.

I still dislike those designs.

[AllNewSuperRobot]

I think it worked for the Sweeps because there isn't really a real life comparison to be made. Yet by the same token, Their faces/heads aren't always visible unless you manually adjust it.

[william-james88]

I think it worked for the Sweeps because there isn't really a real life comparison to be made. Yet by the same token, Their faces/heads aren't always visible unless you manually adjust it.

Thats the big difference here. That big lazer on top of their heads can be thought up as visible alt moe kibble seen in robot mode rather than visible robot mode kibble in vehicle mode.

[AllNewSuperRobot]

I think it worked for the Sweeps because there isn't really a real life comparison to be made. Yet by the same token, Their faces/heads aren't always visible unless you manually adjust it.

Thats the big difference here. That big lazer on top of their heads can be thought up as visible alt mode kibble seen in robot mode rather than visible robot mode kibble in vehicle mode.

Absolutely. Further demonstrated by the blaster that Scourge came with by default.


..They really need to make MP Scourge. I'd love to see a return to that sleek original look.

[Nemesis Maximo]

I think it worked for the Sweeps because there isn't really a real life comparison to be made. Yet by the same token, Their faces/heads aren't always visible unless you manually adjust it.

Thats the big difference here. That big lazer on top of their heads can be thought up as visible alt moe kibble seen in robot mode rather than visible robot mode kibble in vehicle mode.

See I still don’t care for visible head syndrome, but I like it here on Shackwave because it’s not actually his robot mode head, but a “transformed” alt mode head. And it just looks so monolithic, a large destroyer with an eye, kind of like the prisoner transport vehicle things from Terminatr: Salvation.

[william-james88]

I think it worked for the Sweeps because there isn't really a real life comparison to be made. Yet by the same token, Their faces/heads aren't always visible unless you manually adjust it.

Thats the big difference here. That big lazer on top of their heads can be thought up as visible alt moe kibble seen in robot mode rather than visible robot mode kibble in vehicle mode.

See I still don’t care for visible head syndrome, but I like it here on Shackwave because it’s not actually his robot mode head, but a “transformed” alt mode head. And it just looks so monolithic, a large destroyer with an eye, kind of like the prisoner transport vehicle things from Terminatr: Salvation.

I agree, I was just trying to explain why some designs worked for people and others (like movie megatron) don't.

[TF-fan kev777]

All this talk on Shockwave made me want to share something I put together for the Awesome Pictures and Poses thread. Check out that thread for more of my perpendicular brand of silliness.

Its,
A,
One-Eyed, Ten-Armed, Flying Purple People Eater...

I'll update this once I can get my hands on 3 Brunts for a better color match.

[Jelze Bunnycat]

I think it worked for the Sweeps because there isn't really a real life comparison to be made. Yet by the same token, Their faces/heads aren't always visible unless you manually adjust it.

Thats the big difference here. That big lazer on top of their heads can be thought up as visible alt moe kibble seen in robot mode rather than visible robot mode kibble in vehicle mode.

See I still don’t care for visible head syndrome, but I like it here on Shackwave because it’s not actually his robot mode head, but a “transformed” alt mode head. And it just looks so monolithic, a large destroyer with an eye, kind of like the prisoner transport vehicle things from Terminatr: Salvation.

I agree, I was just trying to explain why some designs worked for people and others (like movie megatron) don't.

The "vehicle with a head" concept can work, depending on the design of the "head" and how it ends up looking on the vehicle. The Megatrons mentioned just reuse the robot mode head in a bit of a random place, with "coverings". That screams laziness mostly, but I will freely admit it adds to the alien nature of the vehicles, especially with RotF Megatron where it's much less a covering and more of a protective cage like you see on American Football helmets (imagine a tank like that tackling you).
Shockwave really works, because it's not the real robot head, but a facsimile of it. Also consider the fact that Shockwave's head is by design standards very simple, being a hexagon with a single eye, and "ears"; that helps it "melt" as it were into the vehicle mode better.

[ZeroWolf]

I always thought megs head being visible was a show of arrogance in him, showing that he didn't really care that his head was visible as you weren't going to get a chance to take advantage of it.

[Sentinel_Primal]

I always look at the visible heads on Cybertronian modes as more of a "We don't need to disguise ourselves anyway, so why hide our heads?"

[Wolfman Jake]

I always thought megs head being visible was a show of arrogance in him, showing that he didn't really care that his head was visible as you weren't going to get a chance to take advantage of it.

Yeah, it would have to be arrogance, because having your "head" exposed in a combat vehicle is just giving your opponents a big target to concentrate their fire upon. The live action movies have made it abundantly clear that disabling a Transformer's head is tantamount to death. Why would you let yourself be so exposed when not in robot mode?

[ZeroWolf]

Because you'd need to be able to hit the target first and as par for movies, everyone can't seem to hit the broadside of a barn, let alone a head that's barely distinguishable in a fast moving object

[Sabrblade]

And let's not forget the ones who brought the visible head in altmode practice to the forefront:

[D-Maximal_Primal]

I'm still not sure if I'll get Prowl. He's a case where I will have to see him in stores to decide, and also see how Barricade turns out

[Nemesis Maximo]

And let's not forget the ones who bring the visible head in altmode practice to the forefront:

Hahaha, Sabr wins an internet!

This reminds me of how much I like the Vehicon toys, regardless of how much I dislike Beast Machines.

[Hellscream9999]

And let's not forget the ones who bring the visible head in altmode practice to the forefront:

Hahaha, Sabr wins an internet!

This reminds me of how much I like the Vehicon toys, regardless of how much I dislike Beast Machines.

Everyone (including me) always champions the victory stuff for the encore line, I'd love if the 'drone' versions of the tank and motorcycle vehicons got released as part of the encore line, they were so (and remain to this day) great

[Skritz]

I always thought megs head being visible was a show of arrogance in him, showing that he didn't really care that his head was visible as you weren't going to get a chance to take advantage of it.

Yeah, it would have to be arrogance, because having your "head" exposed in a combat vehicle is just giving your opponents a big target to concentrate their fire upon. The live action movies have made it abundantly clear that disabling a Transformer's head is tantamount to death. Why would you let yourself be so exposed when not in robot mode?

You could make a case that in pre-war Cybertron they probably didn't care. It was a peaceful time, after all.

[Wolfman Jake]

I always thought megs head being visible was a show of arrogance in him, showing that he didn't really care that his head was visible as you weren't going to get a chance to take advantage of it.

Yeah, it would have to be arrogance, because having your "head" exposed in a combat vehicle is just giving your opponents a big target to concentrate their fire upon. The live action movies have made it abundantly clear that disabling a Transformer's head is tantamount to death. Why would you let yourself be so exposed when not in robot mode?

You could make a case that in pre-war Cybertron they probably didn't care. It was a peaceful time, after all.

True. Pre-war, it wouldn't really matter, but the designs we're talking about are contemporaneous to war time Cybertron, so you would think they would change their alternate modes to better protect their weak points and vital spots once combat became their way of life.

Back on topic, I had some Target gift cards to spend recently and so picked up SIEGE Ultra Magnus for relatively cheap. Earlier this evening, I finally opened him up. I've got to say, I really like him. I was prepared to keep my Autobot Heroes version of the Combiner Wars Ultra Magnus mold on my display shelf as my Classics G1 Ultra Magnus, but having the SIEGE version in hand had completely changed my mind. I may give a fuller review later on, but suffice it to say, I've got SIEGE Ultra Magnus posed with my The Transformers: The Movie Autobots right now, and he looks fantastic, even though he is now only about a head taller than my Transformers Legends Voyager Springer.

[SF-Prime]

Look what I found today at Walmart!! What do you guys think?