So Toyfair 2010 is winding down and Hasbro has shown their cards and it's a royal flush....... but now it's time to speculate on an overlooked matter. The names that were registered. People always wonder sometimes why we get stuff like Nightbeat 7 or an RID Bludgeon. Hasbro does it to get the name in their possession for one day, to use it for a GREAT toy or proper homage. With that said, this year's Toy Fair brought back some old unlicensed names. Who knows what the future will bring for: - Sandstorm (who we have not had since 1999 for the Botcon toy) What does it mean: Possible Universe 3.0 Triplechanger one day? - Hubcap (Not used since Machine Wars of 1996) What does it mean: Maybe we will get a G1 nod toy in the future. - Huffer (Not registered since 1984, Botcon actually didn't register his name for his 2007 toy) What does it mean: Hopefully a new mold for the minibot in Universe 3.0 form. - Searchlight (Not used and registered since 1987) What does it mean: Don't get your hopes up for a Throttlebot homage, this will be a name drop for years to come. - Icepick (Monster Pretender last used in 1989) What does it mean: No doubt will be used for Arctic alt modes to come, I don't see a Pretender homage anytime soon. - Chainclaw (Animal Pretender not used since 1988) What does it mean: Well like I said with Icepick... a pretender homage.... doubt it. - Leadfoot (F1 racer not used since G2 of 1994) What does it mean: Props to you Hasbro for making this toy an F1 racer again, I am super happy, let's hope it's a nod to the G2 toy. - Bombshock (Micromaster green tank from 1990) What does it mean: Don't get your Onslaught hate on, do you research, he was a green tank, so this is a nice homage to the Micromaster of yesteryear. Also some of his drone (albeit color) bare a similar resemblance to Growl and Dropshot, his Micromaster 4-pack brothers. - Sledge (Micromaster 2-combiner toy from back in 1991) What does it mean: Doubt we will get a Micromaster homage, it's also a shame his Minicon is not "Hammer" like his Micromaster partner back in 1991. But he is a construction vehicle. - Double Clutch (Originally F1 Gobot from G2 circa 1995) What does it mean: Eh......... maybe they will attach it to a F1 toy in the future, but that's what Mirage is for..... he will be a name drop for TF cars to come. - Mudslinger (Originally an Autobot Micromaster Bigfoot from 1989) What does it mean: Well Hasbro gave us the Bigfoot look back, just now he is green and a Decepticon. Props for trying anyhow ^_^ So what do you think?
Clearly, Hasbro also cross registers (like Sideswipe and Roadblock), but who knows... here is hoping for something TF related...
But should that count? I thought registered names for toys and registered names for comic book characters were considered different catergories. I could be wrong though.
Dr. Who had the license for Lord Straxus for many years. Currently there is no license for Straxus in the US Patent and trademark office but it's still strong in the UK....... perhaps it's in processing and still under ownership of the BBC (Who are really anal with their properties, they took down a ton of stuff on youtube) Also for those wondering how they landed on Darkmount. It was the name of Straxus base of operations for a time during the Great War of the UK Marvel books.
Marvel owning Straxus wouldn't be an issue; that used to prevent from getting Onslaught with his own name, but then Hasbro and Marvel teamed up to make Legends and TF Crossovers, so now we can use it. But, I was unaware of Dr. Who having a Straxus. Also, out of all the names on this list, Sandstorm is the only one I'd be particularly excited about as a Generations figure. Huffer, I think, already fits "himself" pretty well (he's an orange truck with dark blue highlights, what exactly is missing from the equation?)
Can't... read... post... eyes... drawn... downwards! Anyways, Sandstorm is a decent fit for one of his alt modes already though, even if the robot mode is a bit off (and you could paint the head around the face black for the G1 look I'm sure). It's a very nice homage. Also ironic that another pacifist ends up with a prominent gun emplacement. And I agree on Huffer, all he is really short is the stuff behind the head, and he looks great either way. Also I agree about Searchlight and Icepick, I'd imagine they'll be "stock names" for the immediate future. But hey, it's nice to see these older names back in circulation. Gives the line some more variety than "just" the usual run of names that get used most frequently.
I hope several of those are used down the road in Generations for G1-updates. In particular: Sandstorm, Hffer and Hubcap. Though I'd even go for a Classics BUmbelbee repaint for Hubcap. Orange to go with the G2 color scheme.
Also to note, for the G1 SDCC Reissue Blaster, they will be using Autobot Blaster (same registered name for the Universe Voyager toy) and his tapes are unlicensed names (So Hasbro ain't re-registering Ramhorn, Steeljaw and company)
Good call on these. Some other g1 names recently put back to use were Spinister and Slapdash. Don't forget them
