Seems strange if you only know him from the G1 cartoon or think that all cassettes are nothing more than robotic animals. However, in all other media Ratbat was far more independent.

This started with the Marvel comics. The g1 toy described him as a very intelligent fuel scout and very business oriented. The Marvel comics took this and made him the fuel editor on Cybertron (thus not associated with Soundwave who was on Earth) renowned for his efficiency. A position that enabled him to decide who would get how much fuel, which made him a Decepticon with great influence. When he came to Earth the Earth based Decepticons had no choice but to accept his authority, since without him they would have no help from Cybertron. Help they needed to get new troops, parts to repair themselves (in the Marvel comics TF really got injured) or resources to build new bases (Earth was a bad place to be for the TF's). Thus, when Decepticon commander Shockwave was lost, Ratbat was accepted as Earth commander, even though more powerful Decepticons were present. They just could not afford to get on his bad side or they would be without help from Cybertron or never be able to get back someday.

The Dreamwave comics written by Simon Furman (who also wrote part of the above) then continued this power position for Ratbat, making him one faction commander after Megatron was gone.

In IDW Ratbat was a politician, a senator, who funded the illegal gladiator fights in which Megatron participated. Senator Ratbat did so for his own financial gain and through his aid, Soundwave. Soundwave, however, became convinced of Megatron's ideals (not conquest, but ideals of equality and freedom to choose your own fate) and betrayed the greedy Ratbat, seriously damaging him and putting his spark in a new body, the familiar Ratbat cassette body.

That makes this MMC figure a pre-war version of Ratbat.

 

Really liked his depiction in the Marvel G1 comics. It always stuck with me and then seeing him as a Senator in pre war Cybertron wasn't a suprise. In the cartoon he wasn't shown that often and never surpassed Laserbeak or Ravage in performance or usefullness for me.

And being a bat the association with a fuel vampire comes to mind.

 

I remember an issue of Marvel G1 in which Shockwave offered a stol—I mean, newly acquired fuel tanker for Ratbat to sample the contents. Ratbat sank his teeth into it...and pronounced it dry (with one or two creative insults thrown in).

One would think that with about 23 story pages a month, and loads of characters to include, there wouldn’t be much room for characterization, but there was some great stuff for not only Ratbat, but also Ratchet (as the only functioning Autobot for a few issues), Shockwave and Megatron (the former taking leadership from the latter by combat, and the latter taking it back by using logic), and Grimlock (who first thought he should lead the Autobots, and then realized that he would make a bad leader because he was putting the weak in danger by his actions, then was offered and accepted leadership, then proved over several issues that his analysis was correct).

 

He would look bad ass flanked by two Nineball Seraph Noirs:
https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B001TDLN2Q/

 

Listed under things you don't want.

Finally bought mine, after about two weeks I removed him from his package (last one of an order containing multiple figures), and upon first transformation...



The other wing rotated smoothly, but his left wing broke at the merest attempt at rotation. I didn't use strength, I didn't moved it in the wrong way….just snap. After removing the screw the broken peg just remains stuck in its hole. Guess it was too tight. Also, the short screw might not have helped. (Have to say, Ultio's joints seems scary tight in several spots -- guess for the first time since the Predacons I will be lubing a MMC figure.)

Now to find out how good MMC's customer support is, something I could do without learning first hand  

 

I appreciate that you took the time to explain all of this despite the comment you're responding to appearing to amount to little more than a current events political dig.

 

I always try (emphasis on try) to approach a post from the positive side. Thus I skipped the possible political tinted part and just reasoned that the poster was someone who only knew TF through the cartoon. Amazing as that may be, I do know that there are indeed fans who have ignored basically everything save the G1 cartoon. And for someone like that, it can be a big shock to see Ratbat (or any other cassette) as anything but a robotic animal/pet.


(Meanwhile, still hoping MMC gets back to me soon about my broken Ultio wing.)

 

Interesting preproduction photos for cancelled Hasbro Ratbat:
Pete's RoboCon



The tape detail tampo would've been a neat idea to put on Ultio's shoulders (assuming those circles aren't POM.)

 

...not too far off takara's release; i like the chaar shuttle/fuel expedition conceit...

 

Wow, it's been more than a month since I bought it, it broke imediately and I sent MMC a first mail to ask for a replacement part. A week later I sent another. Then I contacted the seller, Kapow Toys, who also claim to have sent MMC a mail about this.

And still I have heard nothing. Very disappointed. Guess their customer service is pretty crappy. Time to sent another mail and contact Kapow again.


EDIT (oct): tried it again, this time using another mail account (I have several) and this time bingo. And it was the first MMC heard of it (so nothing from my previous attempts nor the seller). They sent me replacement parts which arrived recently. Haven't had time to install them yet.

 

I got a request to do this in Dark Knight colors, and this was my favorite photo of the toy. I hope you don't mind.

 

Ratbatman!

 

Ouch...he got pricey...

 

It always goes this way. I find a figure of decent size below 150 dollars, and the last page of the thread has a QC nightmare on it.

 

I take it you're referring to my post about the broken wing?

I think I'm one of the very few who experienced this and based on the break, it was a factory error. It should be pretty rare, although I admit that seeing people handle this figure (or the Batman repaint) in reviews scares me. However, since theirs don't break makes clear that I really was just unlucky.

I've been in contact with MMC since and received replacement parts.