Top 5 Best Transformers Holomatter Avatars
Saturday, September 19th, 2015 12:37PM CDT
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Top 5 Best Transformers Holomatter Avatars
Throughout history, the Autobots have a habit of taking on a holomatter avatar as a vehicle mode stand-in driver. Some Decepticons are also known to use this trick. The reason for the avatar is to give the impersonation of an actual vehicle with an actual driver. Sometimes though, they are used for other purposes, such as going places where transformers cannot go or on occasion just for fun. What this list does is rank how well an avatar relates to the transformer that generates it as well as how important it is to the character using the avatar. So without further ado, let us get rolling….
5. IDW G1 Megatron
To almost every reader of Transformers fiction, Megatron is the big bad, the ultimate villain. He has no need for an avatar since he does not worry about disguise. But in the G1 IDW-verse, he has become an Autobot, and has stayed that way for almost a year and a half. He has been an Autobot long enough to have generated his own avatar, which in this case is a scarred old man with bad-guy styled clothes and a cane (for a brief moment with a Decepticon symbol). This is the first time we have got to see Megatron with an avatar, and it shows how unused to it he is: He cuts himself on glass within pages of generating the avatar. While the avatars appearance is important—considering it shows just how old and tired he feels—it is more how he interacts with it that is important. He remarks about how fragile the frame is, and he realizes that sometimes strength can come from not very durable sources. That, and it is yet another historical moment in his historical Autobot run.
4. IDW G1 Ultra Magnus
For anyone that has read the IDW comics, we have come to know Ultra Magnus as a no-nonsense, very straight by-the-book law enforcer. He has only smiled twice in his current incarnation. He does not appear as the type to develop a likeness for anyone or anything, yet we have seen one person who made a big impact: Verity Carlo. She stayed on his ship for a while, becoming like a family member to him. Heck, she gave him the nickname “Uncle Magnus.” We often wondered what effect she had on him, so when we first saw Magnus use an avatar in More Than Meets The Eye, we finally got proof of how much she meant to him too. His avatar was created in her likeness, even though he had the option to auto generate, he made one himself in her image. This shows to all of us just how close the two came in their time, and how they both wish they could reunite again.
3. IDW G1 Sunstreaker
When headmaster technology was introduced in IDW, it was Sunstreaker who fell victim first. Unlike previous incarnations, this version of headmaster technology was grotesque and horrifying, the results of terrible experiments initiated by Scorponok. To make matters worse, when he was kidnapped and experimented upon, a human he was escorting, Hunter O’Nion, was also taken and turned into a headmaster. To defeat this organization, known as the Machination, and Scorponok, the 2 teamed up, forming an interesting pair. They constantly argued, and Sunstreaker’s attitude and vanity did nothing to help them. When in vehicle mode, Hunter was a part of the car and so was a generated avatar. While this makes complete sense, it is worth noting and also worth being on the list since Sunstreaker’s avatar changed with his conversion to a headmaster, and it became a human he did not really like yet was stuck with. This avatar also makes the list since this is so far the one and only Autobot headmaster and it shows just how far the victims were willing to go to save themselves and many others. Plus there were several interesting “talking to themselves” moments.
2. IDW G1 Swerve
This is an interesting deal. Swerve’s main avatar is a short, rotund male surfer dude, but in More Than Meets the Eye 43, a glitch caused Swerve to develop 3 avatars at once. This makes the list since these 3 avatars did such a good job of showing off Swerves different personality traits and just how much he fought within his own mind. On one hand, he was a scientist/doctor, on another religious and another a prankster. These 3 avatars capture those 3 perfectly, and their constant arguing shows just how much Swerve doubted himself and wished he was better. In the end, they merged into his regular avatar and he was brought back from the brink, but this rare case of triple avatar generation so wonderfully shows what each character is made of and much they wish they could be a better person.
1. IDW Movie Optimus Prime
Thought all the members of this list would be IDW G1 huh? Well, the number 1 seed is as far away from G1 as possible, yet it is the best and most representative avatar ever. In the Alliance comic, as the Autobots are evacuating the Mission city area, Optimus requires an avatar to remove suspicion on the road. Who does he choose? The person who has brought life to Optimus Prime for 31 years: Peter Cullen. While this was only used for this single comic, it has to be the best use of an avatar ever. It is essentially Optimus Prime driving Optimus Prime! Nothing can ever beat this (unless IDW G1 Optimus uses an avatar like this). So it is with pride that I say Movie Prime’s Peter Cullen avatar is the best transformers avatar.
Honorable mentions go to IDW G1 Skids, who’s avatar as several versions of the doctor from Doctor Who greatly fit his character and IDW MTMTE Rodimus, who’s avatar is ungodly 1980’s and combines Judd Nelson (the original voice of Hot Rod) from Breakfast Club and Marty McFly makes for a great looking avatar and an awesome take on the character. Here it is:
Here is Skids as the 9th (and least obvious) Doctor
And here he is as the 11th (and far more obvious) Doctor
And here is one that really should be mentioned before this article is over: Cyclonus as an old school headmistress.
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Posted by AutobotAlvaron on September 19th, 2015 @ 1:03pm CDT
A comprehensive profile gallery of avatars or "Only Human" type representations of many of our favorite Transformers would be awesome, and would make an interesting "Special Issue" one-off comic. Human versions of TF characters seem to be a favorite topic of custom fan-art on DeviantArt.com.
The whole concept is intriguing to consider.
Posted by Carnivius_Prime on September 19th, 2015 @ 1:26pm CDT
That Megatron and Cyclonus just seem to be trying way too hard. I would say Hot Rod's is too but it's appealing in that cheesy 80's way (and as a kid I wished I had a Hot Rod flame chest t-shirt like that).
I know nothing about IDW Skids so not sure why he's the Doctor. My only memories of Skids are from the Marvel comics where he was hiding out with that human woman while Ravage hunted him and then later in the UK comics where he got sent to Limbo and returned with a faceplate.
Posted by william-james88 on September 19th, 2015 @ 1:59pm CDT
Carnivius_Prime wrote:Haha. Awesome number 1. It's exactly what I was thinking before I read the article. The 2007 Voyager toy has a lil driver molded into the seat too which I think is meant to be him.
That's awesome, I didnt know that since I never got that toy:
Transformers (2007) Optimus Prime Gallery
Posted by Randomhero on September 19th, 2015 @ 2:33pm CDT
Posted by BATTLEMASTER IIC on September 19th, 2015 @ 3:13pm CDT
Posted by Evil Eye on September 19th, 2015 @ 3:49pm CDT
I also think it's a crying shame that you managed to have a whole list of holomatter avatars and not include Whirl on the list.
Posted by Syn_13 on September 19th, 2015 @ 4:10pm CDT
Whirl's avatar is awesome too and should've been an honourable mention. It's my wife's cosplay of choice.
Posted by Burn on September 19th, 2015 @ 4:16pm CDT
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on September 19th, 2015 @ 4:34pm CDT
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on September 19th, 2015 @ 4:37pm CDT
Randomhero wrote:The Decepticons have used avatars too. Rumble and Frenzy used them in Johns book a while back and the movies used them as well. We've seen the G1 Optimus avatar in the -ation series and it was in fact Ulysses S Grant.
I have looked into those and am aware of their existence. I made sure I stated in the opener that some cons have used avatars before. And while the Grant avatar was cool for IDW G1 Prime, it would be cool to see Optimus use Peter Cullen considering these are new artists and new eras and attitudes in the current comics
Posted by Shadowstream on September 19th, 2015 @ 6:01pm CDT
Posted by Noideaforaname on September 19th, 2015 @ 6:02pm CDT
It's odd how some of them really look like their robot selves, and others really don't. Like I don't need to be told that's Nautica next to Rodimus, but human-Cyclonus doesn't read as Cyclonus.
And then there's Doctor Who because Roberts is a Doctor Who fan, I guess.
Posted by william-james88 on September 19th, 2015 @ 6:55pm CDT
Noideaforaname wrote:This list sure in convenient for those that skipped MTMTE #43 but wanted to know what the characters' avatars looked like.
Yeah, but to be fair, only 1 avatar in the top 5 has its first appearance in that comic (Megatron).
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on September 19th, 2015 @ 7:22pm CDT
Noideaforaname wrote:This list sure in convenient for those that skipped MTMTE #43 but wanted to know what the characters' avatars looked like.
It's odd how some of them really look like their robot selves, and others really don't. Like I don't need to be told that's Nautica next to Rodimus, but human-Cyclonus doesn't read as Cyclonus.
And then there's Doctor Who because Roberts is a Doctor Who fan, I guess.
I honestly thought Cyclonus was one of the avatars that looked more like his robot mode self. And as for MTMTE 43, that comic was the modern avatar spotlight, though they have been used several times in the current run and a good bit back in the ations era.
My thinking for the Skids looking like the Doctor is because he essentially was a secret service that traveled through space and was a mysterious character the few knew anything about. And Roberts probably does like Doctor who.
Shadowstream wrote:You had me right up until you put the fanboy glasses on...
I fail to see what you mean here
Posted by Shadowstream on September 19th, 2015 @ 7:36pm CDT
D-Maximus_Prime wrote:Shadowstream wrote:You had me right up until you put the fanboy glasses on...
I fail to see what you mean here
That's unfortunate.
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on September 19th, 2015 @ 7:38pm CDT
Shadowstream wrote:D-Maximus_Prime wrote:Shadowstream wrote:You had me right up until you put the fanboy glasses on...
I fail to see what you mean here
That's unfortunate.
if you think the list was biased or something that is because it was 1 persons opinion. feel free to express yours
Posted by Ultra Markus on September 19th, 2015 @ 7:43pm CDT
Posted by william-james88 on September 19th, 2015 @ 7:56pm CDT
Shadowstream wrote:D-Maximus_Prime wrote:Shadowstream wrote:You had me right up until you put the fanboy glasses on...
I fail to see what you mean here
That's unfortunate.
I dont get it either. I dont think anyone here gets it. It's an odd comment to say in a place that is made especially for fans. If there are no fanboys, then what is the point of a Transformers fan site? You can feel free to express yourself clearer or to give us your thoughts on the subject matter and tell us which 5 you like best
Posted by -Kanrabat- on September 19th, 2015 @ 9:19pm CDT
So, Will, this might interest you. You might consider getting the Movie 2007 voyager Optimus Prime. Watch this video review closely. The toy have a nice little gimmick that will impress you for sure.
(It will be shown in the first 3 minutes)
Posted by OptimalOptimus2 on September 19th, 2015 @ 10:00pm CDT
All the holomatter avatars in the Transformers (2007) movie have mustaches! (They're probably the same actor.)
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on September 19th, 2015 @ 10:07pm CDT
OptimalOptimus2 wrote:Here's a little trivia:
All the holomatter avatars in the Transformers (2007) movie have mustaches! (They're probably the same actor.)
I believe all of the movie 1 cons had the same avatar guy (I think he's credited as Mustache man)
Posted by william-james88 on September 19th, 2015 @ 10:40pm CDT
-Kanrabat- wrote:I never read any Tf comics so this "avatar" thing is new to me.
So, Will, this might interest you. You might consider getting the Movie 2007 voyager Optimus Prime. Watch this video review closely. The toy have a nice little gimmick that will impress you for sure.
(It will be shown in the first 3 minutes)
It does impress me. I will keep an eye out for it if ever it shows up at St Michel
Also, while Avatars may be new to you at least now you have an idea of what was going on with Blackout in the beginning of the film.
Posted by Convoy on September 19th, 2015 @ 11:20pm CDT
Side note:
I've never seen that Megs avatar! It's a brilliant way for G1 Megatron to shoot himself! (Not in the way described above!)
Posted by Shadowstream on September 19th, 2015 @ 11:51pm CDT
D-Maximus_Prime wrote:if you think the list was biased or something that is because it was 1 persons opinion. feel free to express yours
william-james88 wrote:I dont get it either. I dont think anyone here gets it. It's an odd comment to say in a place that is made especially for fans. If there are no fanboys, then what is the point of a Transformers fan site? You can feel free to express yourself clearer or to give us your thoughts on the subject matter and tell us which 5 you like best
In short, remove Prime/Cullen from the list altogether and replace him with almost anyone else and I wouldn't mind.
Posted by william-james88 on September 20th, 2015 @ 12:03am CDT
Shadowstream wrote:In short, remove Prime/Cullen from the list altogether and replace him with almost anyone else and I wouldn't mind.
Ah, I get it now, thanks for clarifying.
Posted by Windsweeper on September 20th, 2015 @ 6:11am CDT
I do agree That Cullen as Primes avatar should be number 1. It's a well deserved tribute to very talented gentleman.
I met a lovely girl from Taiwan at Auto Assembly who was dressed as Cyclonus' avatar. Her costume was amazing. She really looked the part.
Posted by -Kanrabat- on September 20th, 2015 @ 6:58am CDT
william-james88 wrote:It does impress me. I will keep an eye out for it if ever it shows up at St Michel
Oh, it's not rare at all and is pretty cheap. You may find it about everywhere, alone or as part of a lot. Keep an eye open!
Posted by DarkEnergon on September 24th, 2015 @ 8:14am CDT
Prowl is great because his avatar is sooo not what you might expect him to look like, but is who you might expect to see on a police motorcycle - if you remember, his was the only actual avatar - the others were just human representations in this episode.