Generations Black Shadow revealed!

Don't know much about the character but I'm sure I'll buy him.

Wow -- I can't believe they're doing this. It's incredibly awesome, but I'm baffled nonetheless. Off the top of my head, this is only the second time that we've ever had an homage to a Japanese exclusive character show up in the main US/Hasbro line. The first being Longrack who popped up as an homage in the Cybertron line. I'd consider Black Shadow pretty obscure though to most U.S. casual fans. Not only is this a great choice for an homage, it's the 100% perfectly logical choice.

Are these the only two? Can anyone think of any other Japanese exclusive character that got its first appearance in the US/Hasbro line as an homage?

It'll be interesting to see what his name is.

I wanted to say something witty about this, but all I can come up with is "Effin Hellz Yeah" proceeded by a *happy dance*

If they don't do Black Shadow, I wonder if they would use "Sky Shadow" instead since that's a name they've used a few times over the years.

Seibertron wrote:If they don't do Black Shadow, I wonder if they would use "Sky Shadow" instead since that's a name they've used a few times over the years.

While I see that as a not-surprisingly likely name for him, I really hope they go for Black Shadow.

I saw these pics a while ago. I was under the assumption that it'd be repainted into Energon Galvatron/Megatron. I've never heard of Black Shadow, but I'm all for this repaint!

WolfDawg wrote:I saw these pics a while ago. I was under the assumption that it'd be repainted into Energon Galvatron/Megatron. I've never heard of Black Shadow, but I'm all for this repaint!

I think that would be a great repaint opportunity as well for later down the road, maybe in Classics 4.0.

Seibertron wrote:Are these the only two? Can anyone think of any other Japanese exclusive character that got its first appearance in the US/Hasbro line as an homage?

Welllll...

This might be a stretch, but Armada Optimus Prime, Minicon Sparkplug, Overload, and Jetfire are practically Generations toys of Star Convoy, Micromaster Hotrod, Grandus, and Sky Garry.

And of course, the US received a black redeco of Energon Scorponok that was an unambiguous homage to a Japan-only retool of G1 Scorponok.

Seeing the pics of Black Shadow kinda make me wish the small drone was longer. I wonder if Black Shadow was an homage to that black Diaclone combiner X-7.

Caelus wrote:

Seibertron wrote:Are these the only two? Can anyone think of any other Japanese exclusive character that got its first appearance in the US/Hasbro line as an homage?

Welllll...

This might be a stretch, but Armada Optimus Prime, Minicon Sparkplug, Overload, and Jetfire are practically Generations toys of Star Convoy, Micromaster Hotrod, Grandus, and Sky Garry.

And of course, the US received a black redeco of Energon Scorponok that was an unambiguous homage to a Japan-only retool of G1 Scorponok.

What about commemorative series Ricochet?

chuckdawg1999 wrote:

Caelus wrote:

Seibertron wrote:Are these the only two? Can anyone think of any other Japanese exclusive character that got its first appearance in the US/Hasbro line as an homage?

Welllll...

This might be a stretch, but Armada Optimus Prime, Minicon Sparkplug, Overload, and Jetfire are practically Generations toys of Star Convoy, Micromaster Hotrod, Grandus, and Sky Garry.

And of course, the US received a black redeco of Energon Scorponok that was an unambiguous homage to a Japan-only retool of G1 Scorponok.

What about commemorative series Ricochet?

Does Ricochet really qualify as an homage to Stepper, though? Or is he an almost straight up re-release. If he's an homage I'd think we'd have to call all of the first run of G1 homages to Japanese exclusive Diaclone, Microman, etc. toys.

cool a new head and a new chest piece. must find a job or else my wallet will go on life support!!! go 2011!!!

the ricochet/stepper discussion blows my suggestion of PVC Arcee out of the water, although the first official Hasbro toy of the G1 character was taken from a Japanese line.
I think there could be a few others from that line too, but I can't remember if they brought all the characters across or just the ones from the American series. Also, I might be missing the specific point of the question.

Re: the matter at hand, that being the repainting of Thunderwing...remember, even though you can see the remoulded head, that's not a definite indication that it will be a Black Shadow repaint. There's always the possibility that this new head will adorn some green, gold, blue, purple and neon orange monstrosity. Which I actually typed out thinking about the "Rave Skeletor" repaint from the 2000's MOTU line, but looking back, those colours could make Banzaitron too, or even some kind of Energon Megatron/Galvatron inspired repaint.

I know and you know that it should be Black Shadow, but until we see pics or at least official documentation (or computer sales entries or what have you) there's still the possibility that it could be a completely made up colour-scheme.

Back in the Original Universe line, Hasbro got Machine Wars Starscream / European Skyquake and repainted him into somewhat of a homage to Dai Atlas, calling him King Atlas.

Seibertron wrote:If they don't do Black Shadow, I wonder if they would use "Sky Shadow" instead since that's a name they've used a few times over the years.

I was thinking the same thing. I would have thought we'd have heard about a trademark application for something like "Black Shadow". Sky Shadow seems pretty logical and acceptable to me.

I honestly pegged Blue Bacchus as the repaint for Thunderwing but I guess calling out Black Shadow as a Phase Sixer kinda locked him into the spot.

Can't wait to see what Botcon does with him! (I'm hoping for a Needlenose remould. Jet & Guns work perfectly.)

Blue Bacchus was helicopter, not a jet. Black Shadow was a remold of G1 Thunderwing, while Blue Bacchus was a remold of G1 Crossblades.

For those not in the know, Blue Bacchus and Black Shadow were so-called Crossformers, the Japanese versions of Mega Pretenders who had a transforming outer shell, except they were portrayed more like robotic exo-suits. In the Victory anime they were both mobsters, working for anyone for the right price.

And talking about imported characters:

- Sunstorm
- Stepper (under Ricochet)
- Deszaras (under Deathsaurus, and Dessaras for the canceled Robot Hero)
- Leozack
- Victory Saber (canceled Robot Hero)

And as homages:
- Black Zarak (C-Dark Scorponok)
- Star Saber (E-Wing Saber)

There are several more that are fiction-only, look at Animated alone!

Looking really nice. I can't wait to see how the colours on this guy look.

Caelus wrote:

chuckdawg1999 wrote:

Caelus wrote:

Seibertron wrote:Are these the only two? Can anyone think of any other Japanese exclusive character that got its first appearance in the US/Hasbro line as an homage?

Welllll...

This might be a stretch, but Armada Optimus Prime, Minicon Sparkplug, Overload, and Jetfire are practically Generations toys of Star Convoy, Micromaster Hotrod, Grandus, and Sky Garry.

And of course, the US received a black redeco of Energon Scorponok that was an unambiguous homage to a Japan-only retool of G1 Scorponok.

What about commemorative series Ricochet?

Does Ricochet really qualify as an homage to Stepper, though? Or is he an almost straight up re-release. If he's an homage I'd think we'd have to call all of the first run of G1 homages to Japanese exclusive Diaclone, Microman, etc. toys.

Unless you count the Alternators Ricochet.

A Great, if not obvious, idea.

But you know the TT one is going to be as awesome as GOLD, and oil together.

Blurrz wrote:There are no guarantees here when it comes to instructions. Nothing is revealed here. Sure, we might be getting a remold with that head, but we might not.

There is a whopping amount of evidence for the New Head Theory. WFC Bumblebee had Cliffjumper's head, Darkmount's had Skullgrin's, Tomahawk and Terradive have different heads, Lockdown had Axor's...

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:And as homages:
- Black Zarak (C-Dark Scorponok)

Don't forget the Action Master Elite Double Punch who homaged Black Zarak!
That was a main-line Hasbro release, just not in the US.

I can't believe I didn't see this sooner. It's not an homage to black shadow. It's an homage to the king; of Braves,

Gao
Gai
GARRRRRRRRRR! Hell and Heaven will combine!

I was really hoping they'd do this one, I think I posed the question of whether or not they would in one of the "Pics of Thunderwing!" threads, either that or I planned on it but never did. Either way I'm really happy to see this one in the works.

Black Shadow's a space gangster.
Way to go, Hasbro. Teaching kids how to be in gangs. Bravo. Joking. Anyway, this is really awesome. For some reason, when I saw the article's title, I expected it to be a repainted remold of Scourge. I was wrong. Like I said a buhjillian times, the Generations/Reveal the Shield/United line is gonna make Hasbro so rich, their capitol building will be flooded with cash.

Dai_Ceefax wrote:

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:And as homages:
- Black Zarak (C-Dark Scorponok)

Don't forget the Action Master Elite Double Punch who homaged Black Zarak!
That was a main-line Hasbro release, just not in the US.

Actually, Double Punch was released in Europe, Australia and Canada only, like all Action Master Elites.

Hopefully this is a sign of new figures for some of the LSOTW characters like Overlord.

chuckdawg1999 wrote:I can't believe I didn't see this sooner. It's not an homage to black shadow. It's an homage to the king; of Braves,

Gao
Gai
GARRRRRRRRRR! Hell and Heaven will combine!

Please elaborate. I don't see any connection.

I dont really like the paint scheme of thunderwing but this promises to be awesome.

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

chuckdawg1999 wrote:I can't believe I didn't see this sooner. It's not an homage to black shadow. It's an homage to the king; of Braves,

Gao
Gai
GARRRRRRRRRR! Hell and Heaven will combine!

Please elaborate. I don't see any connection.

I'm just going by the instruction pics. The wings look like the tips of stealth gao and the horns on the head are close. Obviously if you stare at it for longer than 30 seconds you see it's not GGG but it's close enough to be funny.

Pass. Stick with Thunderwing. Black Shadow's head design always looked far too cheesy for my tastes.

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

Dai_Ceefax wrote:

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:And as homages:
- Black Zarak (C-Dark Scorponok)

Don't forget the Action Master Elite Double Punch who homaged Black Zarak!
That was a main-line Hasbro release, just not in the US.

Actually, Double Punch was released in Europe, Australia and Canada only, like all Action Master Elites.

lol, I know, that's why I said 'not in the US', fella!

Dai_Ceefax wrote:

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

Dai_Ceefax wrote:

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:And as homages:
- Black Zarak (C-Dark Scorponok)

Don't forget the Action Master Elite Double Punch who homaged Black Zarak!
That was a main-line Hasbro release, just not in the US.

Actually, Double Punch was released in Europe, Australia and Canada only, like all Action Master Elites.

lol, I know, that's why I said 'not in the US', fella!

And I read that as "not just".

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:And I read that as "not just".

No worries fella, you were just trying to be helpful!

On the subject of the Black Shadow repaint, hopefully, we can take this as an indication that Hasbro aren't ignoring Japanese-exclusive characters in their choices for the Generations line. I'm not holding out for a Dai Atlas/Star Saber/Metalhawk anytime soon, but I reckon any charcters that were originally repainted/remoulded from a Hasbro toy (or share enough similarities with one at least) aren't out of the question. Fingers crossed. eh?

Looks potentially cool! I have no knowledge of the character, but it looks interestng.

Caelus wrote:
And of course, the US received a black redeco of Energon Scorponok that was an unambiguous homage to a Japan-only retool of G1 Scorponok.

BLEARGH. That just made me want both of those figures, really bad. Of course, I probably don't want to know the price of Black Zarak.

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:
And talking about imported characters:

- Sunstorm

Sunstorm was a Japanese character first?

The Legend wrote:

Caelus wrote:

chuckdawg1999 wrote:
Does Ricochet really qualify as an homage to Stepper, though? Or is he an almost straight up re-release. If he's an homage I'd think we'd have to call all of the first run of G1 homages to Japanese exclusive Diaclone, Microman, etc. toys.

Unless you count the Alternators Ricochet.

Ah, yes! I'd count that.

Any difference between it and the Universe Sunstreaker and Sideswipe?
Amazing gallery~

kirbenvost wrote:

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:
And talking about imported characters:

- Sunstorm

Sunstorm was a Japanese character first?

He was a Japanese eHobby invented character, then imported via the Universe 2003 line, as a Walmart exclusive repaint of A-Thrust. The colors were based on a generic in the "More than meets the eye" pilot episodes.

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

kirbenvost wrote:

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:
And talking about imported characters:

- Sunstorm

Sunstorm was a Japanese character first?

He was a Japanese eHobby invented character, then imported via the Universe 2003 line, as a Walmart exclusive repaint of A-Thrust. The colors were based on a generic in the "More than meets the eye" pilot episodes.

Wow, you learn something new (or rather, you teach someone something) every day. I always thought Dreamwave cooked him up, for some reason.

I liked this repaint of thunderwing, iam gone buy also this repaint nice