1987 Autobot Movie Targetmasters - Gallery

This week I finally got around to another lovely Generation 1 article. I am spacing these out because they are so tremendously enjoyable for me to do, and so finite, that I want to extract every last bit of enjoyment from my recent acquisition of many 1987/88 figures as I can. It's an era that I neglected a lot in my earlier collecting days, and am now discovering and enjoying with great enthusiasm. I did have a few Headmasters and Targetmasters from my childhood, but nowhere near the level of now. Sadly, they are not cheap and finding G1 from 87 and 88 in the condition I desire for these articles is very difficult. Anyway, thanks to my feature on Autobot Targetmasters from the TF Movie (Hot Rod, Kup, Blurr), I can now share the full hi-res gallery of the photos used in that article.

Hasbro G1 Targetmaster Misfire

1987 Hasbro Targetmaster Misfire and Nebulon partner Aimless, what a pairing. This hot pink beauty from the golden age of immediately post-movie Generation 1 Transformers has been granted a new lease of life as one of the Scavengers thanks to James Roberts, IDW and the ongoing More Than Meets The Eye comic title. Just like Triggerhappy, Misfire was available in Japan sans rubsign (some actually did have it) as D-89 Misfire with styro inner packaging, there was a bilingual Canadian release and I wouldn't be surprised to see a bilingual Hasbro Europe version either. I've seen the Autobot Targetmasters in Hasbro Europe packaging so there's every chance it'll turn up one day. Today, we'll be looking at a UK-bought Hasbro version of G1 Misfire and Aimless.

Hasbro G1 Targetmaster Triggerhappy

1987 saw the release of the 'Masters, Transformers with heads and weapons that turned into miniature robots of their own. First introduced in "Rebirth" after a number of random new characters interspersed with old ones crashed on planet Nebulos, the Targetmasters consisted of Autobots and Decepticons who bonded with native Nebulons that turned into their weapons. Triggerhappy (and Targetmaster Blowpipe) is one of those Decpticons. Triggerhappy was also available in Japan as D-88 Triggerhappy, packaged in styrofoam and missing his rubsign. There is a bilingual Canadian G1 package and I suspect bilingual European version too.

For The Love Of Arms Micron

I'll be the first to admit I don't know anywhere near as much about modern day Transformers as I should, historically being more interested in vintage stuff. I make discoveries these days that are approximately 3 to 10 years behind everyone else! I have been told that Arms Micron toys from Takara Tomy were not met with as much positivity as someone such as myself, walking into it years after launch, are feeling towards it upon discovery and experience. The Japanese TF Prime figures were not more show accurate than the Hasbro versions, and did not feature extra or accurate paint application. In fact, they went completely the other way, and that is the crux of what I find attractive and special about them.