The Big Move (part 03) - shelves zoom in!

Previous chapter: Their new home

At the new place, I could do what I did not use to- I can display my Transformers.

Those identified as display worthy are wrapped using heavy duty clear plastic sheets called talc. Now, they can be proudly displayed without fear of moisture or dust. How wonderful!

These are pictures of the display shelves in my Singapore Transformers' room.

Display shelves near window - highlights are the newly acquired D-93 Mega Zarak and D-307 Overlord... and also Metalhawk which I bought from HK some years ago at a ridiculously low price.


Close up of top section


Upper display shelves near window - highlights are a Jap box and Korean box Brave Maximus and a gem that's close to heart- BT-18 Clear Mirage

Close up on middle section - includes all Takara Masterpieces from MP-01 to MP-05; all Binaltechs plus variants from BT-01 to BT-16 (though I don't think I put all out there)

Bottom section featuring the MISB Victory Saber giftset and a spare Victory Saber loose. For more, see The Road to Victory (part 03) .


Upper display shelves second section


Close up of middle section - highlights are my childhood Jap box Predacons

Close up bottom section - eHobby exclusives. Hard to believe as it sounds I actually got TigerTracks (Figure King Magazine exclusive), Deepcover and Clampdown, all MISB, for SGD$120 net when 'nobody wanted these'.

I was over the moon when all these were up. It is such a joyous thing to be greeted by that many Transformers on entering this space. It was great. But, there was something nagging at the back of my head... something that would lead me on yet another... quest.

Next: Epilogue

***
Read all The Big Move chapters:
Chapter 01: The Big Move
Chapter 02: Their New Home
Chapter 03: Shelves zoom in!
Chapter 04: Epilogue
Chapter 05: The New Quest

Megatron Origin - the mini series

I've been catching up on reading the recent Transformers comics lately. Yesterday, I read Megatron Origin. It blew my socks off.

It rocked my world.

It's awesome. (So much so it was in my dreams last night)

Eric Holmes weaved an origin that is every bit as convincing and intricate as Furman is doing for the IDW TF-verse. More importantly, through the use of themes and designs from Dreamwave's War Within (vol.1), Megatron Origin confirms the former's validity as Optimus Prime's origin story. If nothing from the Dreamwave TF-verse survives the IDW transition, we know at the very least that War Within (vol.1) did, for now.

When Holmes indicated that he was writing this series because Megatron is his favourite Transformer, I was skeptical about how good a series he could pen. As it turned out, all the details and G1-ness that he put into the story has proven, to me at least, beyond doubt that he certainly knows Megatron and may only so know if that is indeed his favourite Transformer.

*Spoilers from this point forward*

So why was it awesome? In short, the series revealed Megatron's motivations and visions, the origin of his ruthlessness, how he acquired his arsenal and very importantly- how, when and why were the Decepticons formed.

While reading, I continually went 'oh yes', 'so that is how it came about', 'nice point', or just screaming 'woowwwww!'. Below at some of the instances.

Issue #01:

• Megatron began as a miner. Which may go a little to explaining his immense strength and endurance;
• He meets Rumble and Frenzy on a prison transport ship. Rumble and Frenzy were miners too, which could explain why one had pile drivers and the other has sonic powers- it was for mining purposes; and
• Megatron showed tactical brilliance toward the end of the first issue and this could have developed into his powress at military strategy later on.

Issue #02:

• Megatron versus Cy-Kill for real! The future leader of the Decepticons versus the leader of the Renegade Go-Bots. Megatron killed him just as surely as Transformers killed the Go-Bot toyline;
• Sunstreaker is always present in the gladiatorial battles (panel 5, page 5; panel 6, page 10);
• assorted Transformers and lots of Go-Bots cheering for Megatron (page 7);
• Ratbat is shown with a body and as a very calculative Senator (pages 8, 9);
• Blaster's friend, Scrounge, from Marvel Transformers #17 appears! (panel 1, page 15);
• Soundwave offers Megatron his arsenal including the Flail (Morningstar) that he used when battling Prime in G1 More than Meets the Eye part 2; and
• Bumper dies (hooray!).

Issue #03:

• Soundwave uses a rub symbol to show his allegiance! (panel 4 & 5, page 1);
• Megatron meets the 3 original seekers for the first time. Flying Transformers are a rare new thing- kudos to the G1 episode War Dawn;
• Megatron 'officially' gets his energon flail when Hook installs it (page 6);
• Elita-One, Orion Pax (because he does not have a mouth guard; alternatively this could be Optronix), Alpha Trion, Prowl, Wheeljack and Ironhide appear (panel 5, page 8);
• Sunstreaker and Sideswipe answers Megatron's call to arms. The Stunticons, Predacons and Dynobots (Dinobots) answer as well;
• Rumble and Frenzy are shown after their mode conversion to cassettes to 'work better with Soundwave' (page 14);
• Sixshot appears during Megatron's speech (extreme left, page 15); and
• Starscream's first betrayal of Megatron.

Issue #04:

• Starscream gifts Megatron his fusion cannon!;
• the Insecticon Kickback appears (panel 4, page 7);
• Sentinel Prime 'goes Apex' perhaps implying that all Primes have this ability. After all, what was the Godbomber armour in Japanese continuity is, after the Hasbro TRU exclusive reissue, now officially Apex amour Optimus Prime in terms of US continuity;
• the origin of Ratbat's cassette mode;
• Megatron kills Sentinel Prime and presumably, it is shortly after this point that Dreamwave's War Within (vol.1) picks up; and
• Megatron coins the term 'Decepticons'.

There is so much more in the four issues. So much, that words cannot fully describe. So I'll use pictures.

Next: Issue #02 easter eggs

***
Read all Megatron Origin chapters!
Chapter 01: The Mini Series
Chapter 02: Issue #02 easter eggs
Chapter 03: Issue #03 easter eggs
Chapter 04: Issue #04 easter eggs (part 1)
Chapter 05: Issue #04 easter eggs (part 2)
Chapter 06: Quotes from Megatron Origin

Predaking vs Autobots

I just finished re-reading Transformers UK #96 and #97 (and #98, #99 & #100). Man was it awesome. I can almost remember how I felt when I read it so many years ago.

Why was it awesome? Answer: Optimus Prime vs the Predacons (and Predaking!).

Got me thinking about Predaking and how there's this particular picture of the guy I've been fascinated with since the 80s. It was an illustration from a Japanese pocket book which was a gift from my classmate. I have no idea as to the picture's origin- the book is the one and only place I've seen it.

In that picture, Predaking appeared to be trying to get snuff out Blurr, Arcee and Wheelie in order to get to an objective they were trying to prevent him from reaching.

This is the picture:

To me, this is such a great picture because:

[1] the action is so dynamically drawn, it becomes quite alive in my mind every time I view it- Predaking stomps down using the foot that is Tantrum, the ground quakes, rocks fly, the 3 Autobots are thrown off balance while still trying to keep their aim, Predaking now 'fires up' his ahem light saber... The action does not stop with the picture, the mind finishes each characters' movement, connects it to the next, they continue to lose balance, Predaking advances... ;

[2] Predaking and all the other characters in the picture were drawn in their exact G1 representations- just as Floro Dery had designed for the Marvel Universe profile books. I do love the way artists are drawing Transformers now, but they generally tend to be too blockish, too chunky and overly sophisticated and less anthropometric than desired- in short, they lack the simple grace and 'human-like' qualities that so characterizes Floro Dery's G1 Transformer designs; and

[3] Predaking was not using Razorclaw's sword but something that appears like a light sabre! And it appears to be just shooting out at the exact moment Tantrum comes into contact with the rocky ground. I've always managed to hear the distant light saber hum whenever I look at this picture.

Now, look at the picture again.

The Big Move (part 02) - their new home

Previous chapter: The Big Move (part 01)

28 January 2008. It was a grueling day.

I started moving things from 8am till 4pm, non-stop. The Transformers were the last things to be moved to the new place- they were too precious to be manhandled by rough movers. I had to personally move them, all 35 storage units and 15 to 20 carton boxes worth of them.

It was trying to say the least, but at least I got peace of mind (or was it piss off mind). Yeah, I know, I've been known to be obsessive compulsive, at times.

By early February, it was all ready. I had them all properly stored and sorted into the new storage system.

Here they are...

Store room



The Transformers room - complete with little bonsai courtesy of daddy


The Transformers room - display shelves near window


Display shelves (part 01)


Display shelves (part 02)

Next: Zoom in of displays

***
Read all The Big Move chapters:
Chapter 01: The Big Move
Chapter 02: Their New Home
Chapter 03: Shelves zoom in!
Chapter 04: Epilogue
Chapter 05: The New Quest

The Big Move

During my trip back home to Singapore, I moved.

I relocated to another place, and so did my Transformers.

It was a decision that was a long time coming because my place used to be 90 minutes from the city. In tiny Singapore, that is outrageously unacceptable. It's been decided that relocation to a place 5 minutes from the city is ideal. And that is what happened on 28 Jan 2008.

Since I'm overseas for most of the year, my Transformers were always stored away with no chance to display them.

Transformers storage at previous place

These all, including my loose and boxed Transformers scattered around my room, had to be packed up and moved to the new place. Even with my girlfriend's help, it took me 3 days to pack them up and confidently say that they will be safe during transport.

Well, this is how they looked during transit.


All packed up

... and now, they are ready to be moved here...

The new place

Next: Their new home

***
Read all The Big Move chapters:
Chapter 01: The Big Move
Chapter 02: Their New Home
Chapter 03: Shelves zoom in!
Chapter 04: Epilogue
Chapter 05: The New Quest

Site update - March '08

[1] My recent trip back home has given me the opportunity to snap better pictures of some toys, particularly those Transformers from my childhood.

The Origin Story Chapter 1: Fantasies & Inflections have been updated with higher resolution pictures of my childhood Optimus Prime MIB and Grimlock MIB. A picture of my brother's Japanese box Cyclonus has also been added to the chapter.

See the chapter here.

[2] I have created a want list of Transformers that I want a double of, or simply in a better condition. If you have something on the list, especially an item marked with an asterisk, please drop me an email.

I will pay good money for such items and depending on how enamoured I am with the it, I will even pay a premium.

The list is here. A link to it is also available on the sidebar on the right.

***

Gratuitous pic of my brother's MIB D-70 Cyclonus, which is now properly appropriated by me. heh.

I like to call him Skyfire

‘His name is Skyfire. We were scientists before the great war….’ Starscream to Megatron in Fire in the Sky.

That was episode #07 of Transformers. It was the seventh week in a row I was blown away- this time by a huge white and blue giant that towers more than 2 heads above Optimus Prime and transforms into a jet.

His name is Skyfire.

A little me was quite disappointed when I discovered the Skyfire toy representation is actually a red and white repaint of a VF-1S Super Valkyrie, which looked nothing like he did in Fire in the Sky. What’s worse, it was called Jetfire. Yes, the Roy Fokker VF-1S Skull Squadron Super Valkyrie is very cool and more than a little desirable, but that is still insufficient for it to be called Skyfire, surely.

Sadly, as history would reveal, Jetfire is the name that won out over Skyfire in terms of who would be the large white scientist jet that also functions as the Autobot Air Guardian. I still cringe a little when I come across the name Jetfire and much as possible would read it as ‘Skyfire’ in my mind.

For me at least, Skyfire, of the design in the G1 cartoons, would remain the Autobot Air Guardian; and Jetfire would ever remain a red and white Macross Super Valkyrie with an Autobot symbol.

Once again, another instance where I’m treating the cartoons rather than comics as canon and it seems the advent of history, like for RIBFIR, makes me appear like a person in constant denial. It’s certainly a questionable outlook, but that’s where I will stand at the moment.

This is not Skyfire. This is Jetfire, a different Autobot.

This is Skyfire.