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3 comments — live from bluesky

DiaBrave Sid · 1 · 1d ago
Yeah, this is a matter of public record, Go-Bots came to market first. But, pendants corner here, Diaclone Car Robots (Transformers parent) came to market with Super Tuning Countach (Sunstreaker) in early 1983, ahead of Machine Robo and Macross Valkyrie by mere weeks
DiaBrave Sid · 0 · 1d ago
Transformers #1 (cover dated September) actually went on sale in May, 3 days after TMNT #1 shipped from Mirage Studios. First public mention of Transformers as a brand was in Marvel Age #17 a month earlier, but Gig had been selling Takara product in Italy as Trasformer since early 1984
DiaBrave Sid · 0 · 1d ago
The first animation we ever saw for Transformers was an advert for the comic before the cartoon hit, which saw early versions of black-head Megatron using an early character model, and Skywarp with red stripes on wings.
DiaBrave Sid · 0 · 1d ago
People get confused by datestamps on Megatron and Soundwave marked 1974, but this date marks the start of the Takara Microman* toyline, Micro Change (the other parent) started early 80s. *A downscaled 3.75" spin-off of Henshin Cyborg, itself licensed from Hasbro's GI Joe
Jer · 1 · 1d ago
I am aware. This is me: tfsource.com/blog/2018/09...
DiaBrave Sid · 1 · 1d ago
Cool collection. I remember reading that one at the time, this is me tfsource.com/blog/2014/01... I only commented as it was presented as new information.
Mike Toole · 1 · 1d ago
I did not know this was controversial. Anyone who was a kid back then should remember that the gobots came first…!
Jer · 2 · 1d ago
Yeah, I remember it, but TF dorks like to argue with me and refuse to believe it. I'm glad to finally have the receipts.
Mike Toole · 1 · 17h ago
I’m surprised Wikipedia didn’t have concrete details already 
Jer · 2 · 1d ago
Also in the papers before Transformers? ROBO FORCE. Valentine's Day 1984.
Jer · 2 · 1d ago
Voltron followed a couple days later, 2/17/84. Followed by a May article talking about Ted Koplar and I did not realize he worked at Sandy Frank prior to his Voltron shit at WEP! Interesting. Another in June. They keep referring Voltron Trilogies.
Jer · 1 · 1d ago
I've got TV listings showing Voltron airing 8/19/84 in Vermont. Jacksonville 8/21/84 says Voltron will be a strong competitor to He-Man. 8/22/84 Phoenix. 8/23/84 Kalamazoo Voltron Trilogy again. Dayton 8/26/84.
James · 0 · 1d ago
Boxing: Mike Landini vs. Wilbert Vampire
Jer · 0 · 1d ago
Mike Linguini versus Vilbert Vampire!!!
Jer · 3 · 1d ago
In the same exact timeslot as Voltron what is it? FORCE FIVE. Somehow Grendizer, Getter Robo G, Starzinger, Danguard Ace, or Gaiking was airing the same time as Voltron in Nineteen Fucking Eighty Four. I never saw Force Five until the Spaced Out Japanimation VHS tapes circa 1999 when I was a teen.
Jer · 0 · 1d ago
Also there LOTS AND LOTS of news articles about electrical transformers leaking, exploding, causing power outages, and just generally killing people.
Jer · 1 · 1d ago
9/1/84 articles on robots being the toy fad of 1984. Second article has STARRIORS.
Jer · 1 · 1d ago
9/1/84 is also the first TV listing I can find for Transformers, 12 days after the first Voltron airing I can find. Guess what else is airing this day? Mighty Orbots! Huh. Well what's the first reference period I can find to Mighty Orbots? 7/11/84. First Orbots airdate I can find is 8/19/84.
Jer · 1 · 1d ago
On 7/28/84, Tonka reports they've sold 2 million GoBots in 5 months, which suggests GoBots came out in the beginning of the year but maybe they don't have sales receipts from June or July... It really seems like they jammed them out for Christmas '83 based on that kid asking for ten gobots.
Jer · 1 · 1d ago
Here's a 10/3/84 article from Canada that says, "Tonka Corp. Canada Ltd.'s GoBots were first off the mark last January."
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