The Energon Pub

[Duke of Luns]

Which character was thought up first, or rather, which alt. mode was thought up first? Both cannon modes are very similar(but not exact in any way), and I just remembered I never asked this before.

Comparison pics:





I think chronologicly(both real and fictional) that Straxus came first, but is it just a coincidence that both appeared in such a short time of each other, maybe only about six months apart?

[i_amtrunks]

It is a tough question to answer, as Galvatron was a planned Hasbro toy for their animated series, and thus had to have been in the planning stages for some time (did he have a Japanese toy before Transformers?)
Whereas Straxus was a comic only character who would never evem get close to having his own toy, and was an invention of Budiansky, and who knows when the idea for Lord Straxus first appeared in his mind?
(my guess would be about the time he was told that he needed to introduce Blaster)

I'd say that if Galvatron had a toy pre-transformers that he was conceived of first, but overall, the designs of both Straxus and Galvatron are purely co-incidental.

[Loki120]

I believe Straxus came first.

(did he have a Japanese toy before Transformers?)

No. He didn't exist before Hasbro. Galvatron was a third year TF, by then Hasbro was making most of their own molds, hence the drastic difference in style and scale between the first and second years and the third. The exception being Ultra Magnus.

[ThunderThruster]

maybe they're secretly twin brothers!

[i_amtrunks]

I believe Straxus came first.

(did he have a Japanese toy before Transformers?)

No. He didn't exist before Hasbro. Galvatron was a third year TF, by then Hasbro was making most of their own molds, hence the drastic difference in style and scale between the first and second years and the third. The exception being Ultra Magnus.

Thanks for the info, I wasn't 100% sure on whether Galvatron was an entirely new figure (like Cyclonus) or based off a Diaclone (like Magnus).

Depending on the process that Hasbro would have used to create/design Galvatron, there is a good chance that he was thought of, and thus "created" first, seeing as he had to have a toy made, as well as be put into all the animatics and storyboards for the movie.

Straxus could have only been created a few weeks before his appearance.

This is going to bug me...

[Duke of Luns]

I believe Straxus came first.

(did he have a Japanese toy before Transformers?)

No. He didn't exist before Hasbro. Galvatron was a third year TF, by then Hasbro was making most of their own molds, hence the drastic difference in style and scale between the first and second years and the third. The exception being Ultra Magnus.

Thanks for the info, I wasn't 100% sure on whether Galvatron was an entirely new figure (like Cyclonus) or based off a Diaclone (like Magnus).

Depending on the process that Hasbro would have used to create/design Galvatron, there is a good chance that he was thought of, and thus "created" first, seeing as he had to have a toy made, as well as be put into all the animatics and storyboards for the movie.

Straxus could have only been created a few weeks before his appearance.

This is going to bug me...

Actually, I was thinking of something like that yesterday, after I made the thread. Budinsky wrote the original movie adaptation, right? Well, maybe since he was writing the Transformers comics he got a sneak peak at the designs for the movie, and really took a liking to the flying cannon mode. Maybe Straxus was in his head all along, but needed an alt., and so the flying cannon sufficed.

But I realize now the only real way to know for sure is to ask Budinsky.