Increasingly more, Hasbro’s Transformers franchise is rolling out into nostalgia, although not fairly in the best way that some would possibly count on. The collection’ newest toyline is pulling from varied incarnations of the franchise, giving new motion figures to Autobots and Decepticons which are mainstream or obscure. One in all these was a forgotten Autobot chief that was as soon as unique to Japan.
Transformers: Masterforce was one of many Japanese-exclusive Technology 1 reveals that aired within the late Nineteen Eighties. Autobot Pretender Metalhawk was launched as a central character within the collection, showcasing simply how completely different it was from what got here earlier than. Now accessible as a part of the Transformers: Legacy toyline, Metalhawk lastly has the prospect to soar increased than even Optimus Prime himself.
Masterforce initially had what gave the impression to be a tenuous at finest connection to the predecessor collection Transformers: The Headmasters, with its solid being fully completely different. Humanity appeared to lack public data of the Transformers, one thing that was furthered by the collection’ central theme. This was achieved to emphasise how the earlier present had already concluded lots of the plot threads launched in The Transformers: The Film, permitting Takara to go in a a lot completely different route than Hasbro did within the West.
Enjoying with the concept that people may additionally change into Transformers, Masterforce launched its personal model of the Pretender idea. This resulted in “robots in disguise… in disguise,” with the Autobot Pretenders truly shrinking down and hiding their true types in fake human our bodies. Main their facet was Metalhawk who, alongside along with his crew, had been stranded on Earth in historical instances.
Taking over the human guise of Hawk, he was compelled to disclose himself and his workforce when the monstrous Decepticon Pretenders started attacking mankind as soon as extra. Metalhawk continued the divergences that the Japanese incarnations of Transformers would make in comparison with its American counterpart. Although his crimson, blue and yellow coloration scheme was considerably just like former Autobot commander Optimus Prime, his aerial alternate mode and basic design most positively weren’t.
The aesthetic was considerably faraway from the earlier seems of the Transformers, which resulted within the “Tremendous Robotic” designs seen within the follow-up collection Transformers: Victory. Even with these components, the Pretender had a powerful sense of compassion, particularly when it got here to the human race that he swore to guard. Sadly, this would not engender Metalhawk any form of mainstream success, with the flying Autobot as a substitute changing into an obscure oddity.
Transformers: Masterforce would steadily take the highlight away from Metalhawk and his forces, as a substitute placing it on the Headmaster Juniors and Godmasters. One of many latter, Ginrai, even piloted a Transtector that was based mostly on Optimus Prime, really turning Metalhawk right into a second-string former chief. His authentic toy was additionally unique to Japan, making him a extremely sought-after gem from the “traditional” period of the franchise. All through the years, he would have sporadic appearances in Western Transformers media corresponding to comedian books, however this by no means transitioned him into being a fan-favorite Cybertronian.
The primary new Metalhawk determine was unique to the 2012 Botcon, and it was merely a retool of the Transformers: Generations Thunderwing determine. Titans Return Triggerhappy could be retooled into one other Metalhawk toy, although this was unique to the net retailer BigBadToyStore. The Energy of the Primes line had a diminutive Prime Grasp determine clearly based mostly on Metalhawk’s Pretender shell design, although it was unusually named Vector Prime. Transformers: Legacy lastly breaks this development by bringing a toy named Metalhawk (based mostly on the unique design, as nicely) to mainstream American retailers.
Although the toy is just a retool of Transformers: Warfare for Cybertron: Kingdom Cyclonus, it is the primary time {that a} recognizable Metalhawk determine has been broadly accessible exterior Japan, at the least below the character’s title. It is also extremely correct to his “internal robotic” look from Transformers: Masterforce, with the car mode resembling the anime greater than the unique toy. This may hopefully assist to lift Metalhawk’s profile within the franchise, seeing new variations of the character proceed to seem in non-Japanese tasks. The unique variation from Masterforce could have hidden himself amongst humanity, however the Autobot’s newest toy is now accessible for all to see.