360 Swag Review: G1 Transformers Powermaster Optimus Prime (1988) + Takara God Ginrai Reissue
Michael Mercy・16 minutes read
The 1986 Transformers movie led to backlash with Optimus Prime's death, but his resurrection in the animated series felt underwhelming until the release of Power Master Optimus Prime in 1988, offering a larger, more powerful version with unique transformation features and the ability to combine with its trailer. The Japanese version of Power Master Optimus Prime included significant upgrades and enhancements, while Takara reissues featured improvements like diecast parts, chrome details, and exclusive disappearing figures with additional armor upgrades and potential hints at upgrades for other G1 reissues.
Insights
- Power Master Optimus Prime, released in 1988, marked the completion of his resurrection after his death in the 1986 Transformers movie, offering a larger, more powerful version with a new transformation process involving a Nebulon engine, which was a unique feature at the time.
- The Japanese version of Power Master Optimus Prime, with significant upgrades like diecast parts and chrome details, showcased exclusive features such as the ability for figures to disappear and reappear, along with the introduction of God Bomber, who could combine with Super Optimus Prime to create an even larger figure, indicating a trend towards enhanced reissues of classic Transformers toys.
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Summary
00:00
Optimus Prime's Resurrection and Evolution in 1980s Transformers
- Transformers movie in 1986 led to Optimus Prime's death, causing backlash
- Optimus Prime brought back in the animated series, but his return felt lacking
- Power Master Optimus Prime released in 1988, completing his resurrection
- Power Master Optimus Prime was a larger, more powerful version of the original
- Power Master Optimus Prime featured a new transformation process with a Nebulon engine
- The toy required the engine to transform, a unique feature for Transformers at the time
- Power Master Optimus Prime's robot mode was larger and had less articulation than the original
- The toy could combine with its trailer to create a super-sized Optimus Prime
- Japanese version of Power Master Optimus Prime had significant upgrades and improvements
- Takara reissue of Power Master Optimus Prime included enhancements like diecast parts and chrome details
17:40
Japanese Black Blasters Toy with Exclusive Features
- The Japanese version of the black blasters toy includes an exclusive feature where the figures can disappear and reappear, requiring four D batteries. God Bomber, a transformer himself, can combine with Super Optimus Prime to create Super Godkin rye, a massive figure with additional armor upgrades, making him even larger than Omega Supreme.
- Two repaints of Power Master Optimus were released in Japan, one black and one orange, with the latter not appealing to the speaker who prefers the classic red and blue colors. The upgraded Takara version of the toy, featuring chrome and diecast elements, enhances the original nostalgic favorite, hinting at potential upgrades for other G1 reissues.
