Blackout

Status: Released

Release Date: June 2007 (June 2007)

Wave: Movie Voyager Wave 1

MSRP: $19.99

Size Class: Voyager

Suggested Age: 5+

Assortment Number: 81060

Product Number: 81118

Recolors/Reuses: Premium Series Blackout , Movie Evac , Revenge of the Fallen Whirl , Revenge of the Fallen Grindor

Blackout is somewhat similar to Dropshot in that it is most likely this Decepticon soldier also plays an instrumental part in providing the Decepticon’s base of fire. Further, in the movie he seems to plant his feet and make minimal movement while laying out a considerable amount of ordinance in the form of missiles, machine guns, and the occasional electromagnetic pulse (EMP) waves. If this is a correct assessment, Blackout is an incredibly dangerous warrior in that he can rapidly deploy onto the battle field at key areas of interest (such as hills) to provide a base of fire for a Decepticon maneuvering element to envelop an objective.

Blackout is aiding in his endeavors through his partner Scorponok. In the joint “Desert Attack Scene” set that comes with both of these models, the bio suggests that Scorponok’s function is to herd stray victims away from cover and back into Blackout’s killing zone.

The bio goes on to also say that this frenzied littler robot is not any more a partner to Blackout than a depraved dog would be to a sadistic human. Both this combined bio and Scorponok’s individual bio seem to suggest this robot is little more than an instinct-driven animal than anything else. While not stated, I like to think of this variation of Scorponok as a heavily armored and larger version of the Energon Terrorcons. I could easily see how two or more of these Scorponoks (some clone variation and/or tribute to Energon Scorponok?) could be on one battle force together against the Autobots and their human allies. Scorponok has a robot mode, but much like the Battle Ravages I find that mode when compared to the alt/beast mode kind of redundant

Due to Scorponok’s personal armaments featured in his claws and stinger, I like to think of him as a hand-to-hand combat specialist, or “assaultman” if you will, who augments a maneuvering element in overcoming an enemy’s defensive position through close quarters fighting. Together they form quite a team with Blackout shooting enemies to oblivion while Scorponok annihilates them up close and personal. While not pictured, a full-sized Scorponok (along with a smaller rubber representation) can be stuck to the underside of Blackout when he is in his alt/vehicle mode.

Blackout has the following Tech Specs:

Strength: 8/Exceptional
Intelligence: 6/Good
Speed : 8/Exceptional
Endurance: 7/Exceptional
Rank: 7/Exceptional
Courage: 5/Good
Fireblast: 9/Superb
Skill: 5/Good

Some of Blackouts abilities are fairly obvious. He is extremely strong and his ranged weapon systems can pack quite a punch! Overall his ability to destroy enemies is unprecedented, however his middle of the road Skill Stat begs the question of “can he connect his fists and munitions to his targets?” Low to moderate Skill Stats seem to be an Achilles’ heel of the Decepticon forces.

He is natural quite tough and can take lots of damage, which of course puts into question whether a single 40mm grenade launcher (even with armor piercing/high explosive shells) could take him out. Maybe as a cumulative effect, but probably not alone as that is a good weapon system to take out a Jeep or Humvee. While he has a high Rank Stat (hints at being Starscream’s second in command), he has the usual Decepticon problem of a low Courage Stat.

Scorponok has the following Tech Specs:

Strength: 5/Good
Intelligence: 2/Average
Speed : 6/Good
Endurance: 8/Exceptional
Rank: 3/Average
Courage: 6/Good
Fireblast: 5/Good
Skill: 3/Average

While these Stats are low as a whole, when the size of the unit and its role are considered this makes sense. Bayformer Scorponok is an animal, so he (it?) does score low in a number of areas. He/it is tough, so Scorponok has a high Endurance Stat which reflects his/its heavy armor and rugged chassis. Scorponok is a middle of the road/mediocre unit that backs up his/its partner (or master) and, as he/it can hitch a ride with Blackout, can be quite helpful.

In a tactical scenario, Scorponok could provide a reinforcement or screening function for Blackout by delaying attacks against the larger robot so the he can deliver a base of fire to the last before having to bailout of a tough situation. Remember, Blackout took on an airbase with military police and not a proper reinforced infantry unit augmented with M1A2 Abrams or Challenger II tanks. That could have led to a much different end game than an all out route.

I have both the “regular” Blackout as well as the premium version as well. I liked the later so much, I went back and got another! Premium versions, a retailer demand on Hasbro as I understand it, are worth their weight in gold for both display purposes as well as photography if you have a good camera as the extra details really come out. While “regular” Blackout is a great figure, the premium version makes him look boring.

While these two Bayformers have been properly killed off in the movie series, they do make a nice addition to your collection or inclusion (if you can) in some wargame where they can be a team together. My only real critique is the rubber Scorponok included with Blackout. While this is corrected in Evac (and it looks like also in the new Whirl?) as a life boat/ranged weapon system, it’s pretty silly looking for Blackout (especially when Scorponok is so easy to find).

Blackout and Scorponok are also unusual as Transformer toys go when it comes to their unique gimmicks. With Bayformers, “automorph technology” was the gimmick de jure but neither of them have that characteristic. Instead they have other “interesting” side bar powers.

To begin with, while my Scorponok shoot is far off I thought a comparison was in order between the Energon/Cybertron Scorponok mold and Bayformer one. You can see the Scorponoks in both robot and alt/beastie mode below:

While people like a 1-10 or thumb-ups/thumbs-down, I am not so much a fan of this method. I will, however, clearly state this is the first time morphing Bayformer Scorponok into robot mode and my impression was this, “Why bother?” I stick with my earlier judgment, he’s the latest in a long line of Terrorcon clones that simply stay in beast mode.

Bayformer Scorponok has a gimmick where his claws twirl if you roll him on the ground. He also can shoot his stinger forward about 1.5 inches/4cm, though it never can come out of the mechanism.


Moving into Blackout’s gimmicks, it is best to do this by segueing through how the two connect. The Deluxe Class Scorponok can “hitch a ride” with Voyager Blackout through the use of two pegs underneath Blackout that go into two female sockets on top of Scorponok. However in order to do this, you have to swivel Scorponok’s tail around so he can attach.

Well, I’d rather stick with the little rubber Scorponok to be honest as that fits better in the carriage it is meant for…

Moving into more firmly Blackout gimmickry, this figure can take off his back propeller “backpack” (???) and put it on his shoulder to use in hand-to-hand combat. While the instructions are quite unclear and I initially thought it involved the model/toy bending over at the waist, it is not hard to do but easier shown than stated.

1. First, take off the back pack.

2. Then spread out the rotors again as they were all sloped down while he’s in robot mode.

3. Bend the rotor area at a 90 degree angle.

4. Position the rotor-weapon horizontal and attach to shoulder peg.

Sadly, it will overlap quite a bit over his shoulder as you can’t move it in closer to use the other hole and then you push this lever directly into the tail-rotor boom assembly to make it spin. This also works when he’s in alt/vehicle mode so it looks like he’s flying.

I cannot, for the life of me, think of any Autobot or human who would stand by and let this guy “Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark” them with such an obvious weapon system! “Yes, just stand there please while I use my vertical lawn mower blader on you. No cheating by dodging out of the way!”

This does work, however, for Movie spin-off Incinerator as his prop-hands are much smaller and maneuverable, but a big stretch with Blackout unless this is more of a combat engineering tool. It also makes the model/toy very lopsided and as I like to use their knees (I’m still giddy about this after growing up with Frankenstein-legs G1 figures) he would almost collapse/topple over under the weight of this thing. I think you can tell I don’t like this gimmick too much either.

Lastly, let me quickly show you the difference between a standard & premium figure with Blackout in alt/vehicle mode. I think the choice of which one is better is obvious, even down to the little rubber Scorponok!

I do like these figures, but then again I have a different focus then the average collector as I like to make action dioramas and am actively seeking to come up with a game system to re-enact Transformer battles. If I was more of a simple collector, I am not sure what priority I would lay on getting these figures. Some of my figures I have bought “sight unseen” merely based on their bios, Tech Specs, and alt mode vehicle-types so I guess it comes down to what you really want in a figure.

Cartoon Overview
Blackout was the first line of the Decepticon forces to attack humanity in the first movie. In the opening scenes of the film, he attacked the US Air Force's Soccent operations base, going after file servers in an attempt to hack into the intelligence network. Base personnel cut off the connection to the intelligence network, denying Blackout the files he sought, although this was not enough to save them - Blackout razed the entire base, and released Scorponok to hunt down Lennox and his team, who managed to escape with evidence of the enemy.

Blackout remained in hiding after this mission until Frenzy reported the location of Megatron and the Allspark. On hearing the news, Blackout immediately mobilized to join the battle in Mission City, adding "All hail Megatron!" to his speech. At Mission City, Blackout caused chaos in the city streets, until Lennox grabbed and bike and skidded between blackout's legs, blasting Blackout at point blank range where the armor had been observed to be at its weakest, which brought down the Decepticon giant.


Another robot sharing design details to Blackout, named Grindor, was among the Decepticon troops who appeared in Revenge of the Fallen.

Appearances

Contributors: Tony_Bacala, Tim Formas, aksmth,StarscreamKills

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