COUNTDOWN: 10 G1 Transformers characters that still only have the one toy!

Given that recent iterations of the Generations line have been plunging into just about every past nook and cranny of Transformers history for inspiration when deciding which characters will be given the toy treatment next, it’s surprising to ponder how there are still plenty of Generation 1 bots yet to be done.

We’re talking your real second-stringers here, your absolute no-names and Z-listers who, despite often having some good looks and quirky appeal, still possess just the one toy design to their name since the 1980s (or at least ones based on their classic G1 identities).

For this list, we’re only considering the brand’s classic domestic USA run from 1984 to 1990 (although plenty of Euro-exclusive ‘bots are also waiting for a second shot!). Additionally, we’re discounting Micromasters and Action Masters because, well, there are just so many of them!

All that said, let’s see who’s left!

#10: Throttlebots

The 1987 Throttlebots are often much maligned in the minds of collectors, but real ones know the classic toys possess an innate charm that still appeals. However, they’re thin on meaningful updates, with three of the roster remaining as one-and-done entries in Transformers toy history: Searchlight, Freeway, and Wide Load. The others have, in some capacity, had an update of sorts, even if it was something a little tenuous, such as Alternators Rollbar!

#9: Triggerbots

Legacy finally brought us updated takes on the Triggercons, Ruckus, Crankcase and Windsweeper, so it may soon be the turn of their Autobot alternatives. After all, none of these three have been seen in toy form since first debuting in 1988 (save for Override and Dogfight, who kinda had a comeback for TakaraTomy’s Transformers Adventure, if you count it!), and even if it’s doubtful their classic spring-loaded flip-out gun gimmick will remain, they’d still be fun to see. Perhaps then we can finally claim that Backstreet really is back.

#8: Junior Targetmasters

As in the above entry, here’s another example where the Decepticon team has recently been realised, with so-called ‘Junior’ Targetmasters Needlenose, Spinister and Quake all having fairly memorable toys of late. However, the Autobot equivalents largely remain on the shelf, given that Quickmix and Landfill have been nowhere to be seen since 1988. That’s especially surprising considering Scoop had a very popular new toy as far back as Thrilling 30 in 2014!

#7: Sparklers

Another set of 1988 names here, the Sparkabots and Firecons were real oddities of the time and certainly don’t feel like toys which would get released now. Their primary feature, after all, was a wheel-activated spark gimmick that always felt a bit like it might set fire to your curtains. Both Autobots and Decepticons in this case have been all but ignored since their heyday, with no new toys for Fizzle, Sizzle, Guzzle, Sparkstalker and Flamefeather (well, Guzzle had a Dark of the Mooon figure based primarily off his IDW appearance at least). Meanwhile, Cindersaur has weirdly had several new realisations in plastic over the years, including a Botcon effort and a Power of the Primes toy! How’s that fair?

#6: Cassettes

Most of the classic G1 cassettes have been re-made in some kind of modern form over the last however many decades, but there remains at least a couple of names ripe for the treatment. Chief amongst those is surely the epic 1988 double act of Squawktalk and Beastbox, who combine to make the ludicrously named Squawkbox! However, there’s also 1987’s Slugfest to consider, especially as he’s been left in the dust despite a couple of updates for his pack-in pal Overkill.

#5: Omnibots

Everyone and their nan wants an updated set of Omnibots nowadays, and that’s not hard to understand. After all, they’re some of the coolest early-80s Transformers, despite only existing as ‘mailaways’ in the West. Now, technically, both Overdrive and Camshaft did receive updates as part of Binaltech and Alternators, respectively. However, strangely, neither identity was carried over to the other lineup. That leaves Downshift as the only member who truly remains as a single entry, despite coming close with a teased Generations toy back in 2014, before a fan poll decided it was sadly not to be. As a Japanese prospect, however, it would have been made under his roster-swapped name, Camshaft (it’s a whole thing!). Still, either way, it was never to be.

#4: Junior Headmasters

Everyone knows (and loves) Nightbeat. The 1988 detective has become a fan favourite thanks to surprising star turns in the classic Marvel comics and, latterly, IDW, too, which probably explains why he has had more than a few toys along the way since then. However, spare a thought for his ‘Junior’ Headmaster buddies, Siren and Hosehead, who have never been given equal consideration. Sure, there are more well-known police cars and fire engines in Transformers, but these guys still deserve some love!

#3: Powermasters

Like Nightbeat, Getaway is the breakout member of this next roster (even when known under the name Breakaway), which is largely down to his idiosyncratic turn in the IDW comics. However, there were more Powermasters in 1988, including both Joyride (or his Japanese repainted counterpart, Ranger) and the frankly amazing Slapdash, neither of whom has been brought back in new toy form ever since. Perhaps it’s about time!

#2: Pretenders

Where to start with Pretenders, eh? After all, the core concept itself remains mostly on the shelf since its initial 1988-9 debut, these days replaced by a myriad of alternative solutions, all a world away from a simple robot in a shell. Yet despite many of the original characters introduced when the gimmick was still new having since been brought back in other forms, plenty of others remain, not least names like Sky High, Splashdown, Groundbreaker, Bugly, Finback, Gunrunner, Roadgrabber, Snarler, Carnivac, Catilla, Crossblades, Vroom, Doubleheader, Pincher, Longtooth, Stranglehold, Skyhammer or Roadblock. There’s a whole well of inspiration here just waiting to be tapped!

#1: Pretender Monsters

By extension of the above, let’s consider one of the more obvious suggestions on this list – the 1989 Pretender Monsters! These pint-sized horrors and their combined Monstructor form seem like a shoo-in as a potential Legacy Dinoking repaint down the line, even if it means their vintage shells will likely fall by the wayside. For now, though, they remain as a truly memorable part of late-80s G1!

So that’s our list! Which of these would you most like to see as new toys?

TTFN