Hasbro’s Transformers toys are 30 this year.
Ryan looks back at their strange origins, including Jetfire’s complicated history…
In 1984, Hasbro launched theTransformerson an unsuspecting public, resulting in a multimedia phenomenon which still thrives today.
Its unlikely Hasbro could have predicted the magnitude of its propertys success, much less its longevity.
For one thing, the Transformers owe their existence, at least in part, to Ronald Reagan.
Government is the problem.
Hasbro launched a new line ofG.I.
Something kids hadnt seen before.
That search ended in 1982, when executives from Hasbro attended the Tokyo Toy Fair.
Joeaction figures to sell as Combat Joe in Japan.
Struck by these designs, Hasbro hatched a deal with Takara to sell them in America.
As they had withG.I.
Joein 1982, Hasbro turned to Marvel to help flesh out theTransformers back story.
It was Budiansky who came up with such names as Optimus Prime, Hound and Jazz.
The saga doesnt end there, however.
Here are a few of those stories, which together create a snapshot of the Transformers formative years.
He could be charitably described as ungainly.
And why didnt he look like the far cooler-looking robot in the TV series?
And why didnt he have a proper head?
Ratchet became the Autobots chief medical officer, while Ironhide was written as the factions military captain.
Both Ratchet and Ironhides designs were completely overhauled for the TV series and comics.
Its a Transformer, the man protested.
It turns into a Luger [Sic].
Its an 80s-style Transformer… Hes had a really bad day.
People are treating him like crap.
Even in real life, Megatron has something of a villainous reputation.
This figure was also released in a UK store called Tandy, which was part of RadioShack.
Shockwave was, Budiansky once said, my attempt to take Spock fromStar Trekand make him into a Decepticon.
There was something slightly strange about Ultra Magnus, though.
Finally, we come to the Transformer with the strangest history of all.
(Interestingly, theres another link betweenTransformersandSuper Dimensional Fortress Macross.
Problems arose when Takatoku went out of business in 1984.
Do not use this character unless necessary.
The story behind the Transformers formative years, then, is an unusually complex one.
