Action figure with basic articulation points.
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Old Buzzard
Action figure with basic articulation points.
Hungry Hog
Action figure with basic articulation points.
Otho the Obnoxious
Action figure with basic articulation points.
Harry the Haunted
Action figure with basic articulation points.
Beetlejuice (Shipwreck)
Action figure with basic articulation points. “Here’s a ghost who’s spent a little too much time at sea! Shipwreck Beetlejuice knows how to scare obnoxious humans! Watch his arms fly up as scary tentacles leap from his head!”
Beetlejuice (Exploding)
Action figure with basic articulation points. “Wanna see something really scary? How about a guy who can change into a flying beetle! His top body parts fly off, revealing a hilarious flying bug body underneath!”
Beetlejuice (Spinhead)
Action figure with basic articulation points.
Beetlejuice (Showtime)
Action figure with basic articulation points.
Beetlejuice (Shish Kebab)
Action figure with basic articulation points.
Adam Maitlan
Action figure with basic articulation points.
Odin Robe (Mail Premium)
Skyhammer (Pretender)
As an Ultra Pretender, Skyhammer’s toy includes a transforming inner robot, a transforming humanoid inner shell, and a non-transforming “flying fortress” outer shell. The inner robot transforms into a Cybertronic car. Like most Pretender robots, it is fairly simplistic. The car’s top-mounted gun becomes the robot’s hand-held weapon. The humanoid inner shell transforms to a hoverjet/landspeeder. In human mode, the shell can enclose the inner robot; in vehicle form, the robot can sit in its open cockpit to act as a pilot. In human form, the shell has a flip-down visor. Both robot and inner shell fit inside the second shell, a large Cybertronic flying fortress. The inner robot can man the turret emplacement on the dorsal area of the flying fortress, while the large double cannons on the bow can pivot in a wide arc.
Catalogs showed Skyhammer as being colored blue-and-red instead of gold-and-red. This presumed change between prototype and actual toy has led to Skyhammer being known to suffer from Gold Plastic Syndrome.
Interestingly, Skyhammer is lying on his back when he is stored in his humanoid shell, and the shell is also lying on its back when it is stored inside the flying fortress shell.
Roadblock (Pretender)
Roadblock’s toy includes a transformable inner robot, a transformable humanoid inner shell, and a non-transforming outer vehicular shell.
The inner robot is fairly diminutive, about the same height as the original Mini-bots but less massive. It follows a similar aesthetic to the larger Pretenders, with thin limbs and a simple transformation into a half-track tank that is still rather obviously a folded-up robot; the transformation scheme is virtually identical to that of Groundbreaker. His hand-held weapon mounts on top of him in this form. The robot can fit inside the humanoid shell, sit in the cockpit of the shell’s wind cruiser form, or man the guns of the outer shell. The inner robot’s arms, head and torso are composed of a gold plastic that is notorious for breaking even under minimal stresses, such as placing Roadblock’s gun in his fist.
The inner shell is an armored humanoid demon creature. Like Thunderwing’s, it is not clear if it is meant to be organic or mechanical. The shell is articulated at the shoulders and elbows. Roadblock’s robot form fits into its back, though it remains visible from behind. The shell has a simple transformation scheme to a “wind cruiser” mode, with an open cockpit that Roadblock’s robot form can sit in to act as a pilot. The shell is equipped with two guns which it can carry in either mode.
Both robot and inner shell fit inside the second shell, a large, non-transforming siege tank and battering ram. The tank includes mounting points for all of Roadblock’s weapons, and a large cannon that extends on a mount. Two pegs allow Roadblock’s robot form to stand atop the tank and man the guns.
Skyhopper (Micromaster)
A redeco of Storm Cloud, Skyhopper transforms into a gray and green Dassault Rafale fighter jet. He was sold with a military helicopter, which could transform into a battle base, and connect with other Micromaster stations via modular ramps.
This mold was also used to make Star Cloud. His helicopter’s mold was later used to make Sky Hyper.
Groundshaker (Micromaster)
A green redeco of Whisper, Groundshaker transforms into a fighter jet of made up origin, possibly loosely based on the apocryphal F-19 stealth fighter and the Advanced Tactical Fighter concept design. As one of the higher price point Micromasters, Groundshaker has stickers on his wings, making him one of the few Micromasters to personally sport a faction symbol (Autobot in this case, obviously).
Groundshaker comes with an armoured military vehicle, which is huge compared to himself. Groundshaker can stand in the cockpit, though because of the vehicle’s comparatively huge size, he can barely see over the edge of the cabin’s armor. The ATV transforms into a large battle station, with a launch pad for Groundshaker.
Groundshaker’s mold was also used to make the Japanese Autobot Whisper. His ATV mold was used in Japan as the Landshaker vehicle.
Vroom (Mega Pretender)
As a Mega Pretender, Vroom comes with a fair amount of stuff. Opening up his armored-human Pretender shell reveals the stored core robot, who turns into a Cybertronic dragster. The humanoid shell can also be transformed into a Cybertronic motorcycle. Both vehicle modes can then be combined (repositioning a few of the accessories), giving the larger shell-cycle a dragster sidecar.
The inner robot was repurposed as the IDW Generation 1 continuity character Fireball.
Thunderwing (Pretender)
Thunderwing’s inner robot transforms into a rather simple Cybertronic shuttlecraft. His Pretender shell also transforms into a starship mode of its own. The inner vehicle can be attached underneath the nose of the larger vehicle to create a combined starship mode. The inner robot is relatively generic in appearance (as with most Pretenders) while his outer Pretender shell resembles an alien warrior with Japanese oni influences. The inner robot carries a small “cyclone cannon” laser, while the shell is armed with two large laser blasters. All three of his guns can be mounted on his shell’s vehicle mode. The large laser blasters can be mounted on the jet two different ways, either perpendicular or parallel to the wing undersides.
Unlike fellow Mega Pretenders Crossblades or Vroom, parts do not need to be removed and rearranged in order for Thunderwing to achieve any of his modes.
This mold was retooled to make Black Shadow.
Crossblades (Mega Pretender)
Crossblades transforms into what is allegedly a Cybertronic “dragster”. His outer Pretender Shell resembles a large armored human, and can transform into a badly-propotioned helicopter. Crossblades can be stored inside his Shell in either of his modes, and his vehicle mode can combine with the shell to form a helicopter with a Cybertronic “dragster” sticking out of its front.
This mold was retooled to make Blue Bacchus.
Starscream (Pretender)
The first new Starscream toy since the original brought the treacherous Air Commander back as a Classic Pretender. He still transforms into a grey, red and blue F-15 fighter jet, though his vehicle mode now borders on the super deformed. He is armed with a pair of blue lasers, which become his tail fins in jet mode.
Starscream’s two-piece Pretender shell resembles a human in a teal, grey and brown space armored suit with a removable helmet. The shell is armed with a large blue rifle. When Starscream is inside the shell, his removable grey wings store in holes on the shell’s back, while the blue lasers get plugged into the sides of the large rifle.
Jazz (Classic Pretender)
The first new toy since the original, Classic Pretender Jazz is a highly simplified version of his original toy, still transforming into a Porsche 935 Turbo. He is armed with a black gun (named only a “laser” in his instructions, but given the dramatic identifier of a “semi-automatic ion pulse gun” in his Tech Specs), which can mount on his roof in vehicle mode.
Jazz’s two-piece Pretender shell resembles a human in a blue and white armored space suit with a removable helmet. The shell is armed with a large black rifle (a “photon rifle”, to be precise, according to his Tech Specs), and when Jazz is stored inside, it can also hold the smaller robot’s laser, thanks to the weapon’s multi-width peg.
And yes, there’s certainly something odd about a white-skinned Jazz. Cultural appropriation or just a designer who didn’t know his source material? You decide.
Grimlock (Classic Pretender)
The Classic Pretender version of Grimlock is much smaller, simplified and slightly modified, but still transforms into a robotic T. rex. His dino tail becomes a rocket-launcher-gauntlet thing that can be held by either the inner robot or outer shell, but either way has got to be a bear to aim properly. He came with a large human Pretender shell with a rather knight-like armor theme, with a helmet and large cannon with a blade on the barrel, giving him a pseudo-sword.
His shell’s head looks a lot like a younger Ed Asner.
Bumblebee (Classic Pretender)
As part of the sixth year of Generation 1, Bumblebee was released as a “Classic Pretender”, expanding the range of Pretenders toys. This version of Bumblebee is still a Volkswagen Beetle, but now has what look like off-road tires. His vehicle mode has a realistically-proportioned front end, but the cab area is more relatively compact than on the Goldbug toy (though not quite as deformed as the original Bumblebee). He came with a gun for his robot mode that could be mounted on his roof and another gun for his human shell. Oddly, the robot’s head is modeled after Cliffjumper’s toy head.
Stranglehold (Pretender)
Stranglehold’s inner robot transforms into a robotic rhino. His shell resembles an intergalactic sci-fi wrestler/circus strongman with a removable helmet. Like the other smaller humanoid 1989 Pretenders, Stranglehold’s shell includes an accessory that is an integral part of his inner robot: the combined back and tail of his rhino alt mode (in a delightful shade of lavender), which attaches to the upper left arm of his outer shell as a small shield. Stranglehold also includes a small orange gun for his inner-robot to hold or plug into his alt mode backpiece, and a large white rifle and helmet for his shell.
Stranglehold’s shell is not Burt Reynolds. He also does not come with the spiked-ball-and-chain weapon he consistently carried in the Marvel comics.
Pincher (Pretender)
Pincher’s inner robot transforms into the body of a scorpion, attaching to a legs-and-tail piece to complete the alt mode. His humanoid shell has a removable helmet, and can wear the scorpion tail and legs as a backpack. His small “laser torch” inner robot weapon can plug onto his back in scorpion mode.
Octopunch (Pretender)
Octopunch’s inner robot transforms into a crab, though you need the two sets of legs which attach to his sides to complete it. By attaching the small “acetyene torch gun” to his robot mode arm, an “Attack Robot” is formed. Octopunch’s Pretender shell is a bipedal octopus creature in a scuba outfit, with four octopus-like tentacles extending from his shoulders. While the robot is inside, the crab legs can attach to the back of the shell, and there’s a place for the small gun to attach inside the shell. The helmet can be removed revealing a monstrous face. The shell’s arms, head and helmet are all made from a softer plastic than the rest of the shell. Though Octopunch’s Marvel Comics appearances give him a trident weapon, the toy does not come with one; instead, he has this harpoon gun thing.
Longtooth (Pretender)
Longtooth’s inner robot transforms into an amphibious transport vehicle of fictional design, although most of the vehicle mode’s mass is composed of a removable “backpack” part. His shell represents a humanoid walrus with an electronic eye. Longtooth is an oddity amongst the standard Autobot Pretenders as his shell is not in the form of a human. The Pretender shell uses the Ionic Field Generator while the inner robot uses the plasma cannon.
Doubleheader (Pretender)
Doubleheader’s inner robot transforms into a Cybertronic twin-cockpit jet. When folded up into his Pretender shell, the red wing-section of the jet forms a jetpack for the shell. Even though he has two heads on his shell, the helmets for said heads are a single piece.
Bludgeon (Pretender)
Bludgeon’s inner robot transforms into a green and lilac quad-tread tank of undetermined, possibly-made-up model. Oddly, unlike most Transformers tanks, he has no wheels inside the static tank tracks for any sort of rolling movement. The removable main gun mounts in a hole in his robot-mode wrist (rather than his hand).
Bludgeon’s Pretender shell, continuing the Decepticon trend of monstrous or war-like shells, is an orange and maroon humanoid samurai with a human skull for a head. Removing the helmet reveals great attention to detail on the skull, with cranium fusion seams and well-defined teeth, among other sculpting. The shell is armed with a white rifle and the inner robot’s tank turret mounted on his shoulder armor as a sort of shield. The tank barrel stores inside the shell’s right leg, mostly via friction.
Ironworks (Micromaster)
A redeco of the Off Road Patrol member Powertrain, Ironworks transforms into a longnosed semi truck cab of undetermined model. He came with a “communications bay”, a construction station that unfolds into a communications tower with a (non-firing) missile launcher.