Nightstalker, Stripes, Blackcat and Playback
Meet the newest members of the Autobot Cassette team. Released as repaints as part of TakaraTomy's Encore 22 along with Twincast, very little is known about Nightstalker and Stripes since for one, they're based off of very obscure characters, and for two, they're also new to the "Cassette-verse".
Much of Nightstalker's story comes from a single issue of the Marvel UK G1 comics while others say he was meant to be the Shattered Glass version of Steeljaw. Stripes was originally supposed to be in the 1986 Transformers Movie in place of Ramhorn and is a repaint of Ravage.
Meanwhile, though toys were never made for Blackcat and Playback, they nonetheless get mentions here since they are still a part of the G1 Autobots. All we know of them is that like Nightstalker, they too had only a one-shot comics. Alas, whereas Blackcat still has some personality we can glean from the single issue, Playback's only appearance was as a corpse.
Nightstalker
Once a bodyguard to an Autobot Overlord, Nightstalker was partnered with none other than Ravage to protect the ailing mech. When war broke out between Vos and Tarn, Ravage betrayed them by joining Megatron and the old mech died soon after.
Nightstalker possesses a self-destruct mechanism that is powerful enough to wipe out a small army should he choose to activate it. He is also extremely loyal... though questions arise as to whether that loyalty is to the Autobots or to his ex-partner, Ravage.
He is a black lion, with golden eyes, not too unlike Steeljaw. He carries two small blasters similar to Ravage's that are mounted near his hind legs. It is not known if he has Steeljaw's susceptibility to rust.
Image Here
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Stripes
Probably the most obscure of all the Autobot cassettes in that all we know of him is that his primary mode is that of a tiger and that he may have a possible rivalry with the Decepticon cassette Ratbat.
Given that he is a tiger, we can assume that his main function is stealth, possibly within jungle, swamps and other humid or moisture-filled environments into which Steeljaw cannot go. Therefore he may work, at times, in tandem with Steeljaw.
His primary color is orange with black stripes, and he carries two finned guns similar to Steeljaw's - further evidence that their functions may also be similar.
Image Here
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Blackcat
No one knows why Blackcat was given said name when he is instead a dark forest green. As one of the youngest cassettes, possibly even younger than Eject, he usually hangs around in the Ark, tasked mainly with sentry duty.
One of his favorite hobbies is making puzzle games on Teletran or whatever other computer he can get his paws on. There have been times where he's been more focused on a new puzzle instead of keeping his sensors on his surroundings. He has a certain love for comic books, and one of his favorite characters is The Riddler.
Blackcat's forepaws have reddish-purple shading on them for reasons unknown (though some say its a homage to his favorite Batman character). Not much is known about his past or how he got to Blaster and Earth. His primary mode is a panther, similar to that of Ravage. It's not known if he carries any weapons.
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Playback
Sadly not much is known about this poor little mech except that he was found deactivated by Nightbeat in his only canon appearance. We do know that he had a mechanoid primary form so it can be assumed he was similar to Eject and Rewind.
We also know that he was a Decepticon prisoner of war, hunted and shot by Thunderwing before being found by the Autobot detective.
What his function was in life, and how he was captured by the Decepticons remains unknown.
Much of Nightstalker's story comes from a single issue of the Marvel UK G1 comics while others say he was meant to be the Shattered Glass version of Steeljaw. Stripes was originally supposed to be in the 1986 Transformers Movie in place of Ramhorn and is a repaint of Ravage.
Meanwhile, though toys were never made for Blackcat and Playback, they nonetheless get mentions here since they are still a part of the G1 Autobots. All we know of them is that like Nightstalker, they too had only a one-shot comics. Alas, whereas Blackcat still has some personality we can glean from the single issue, Playback's only appearance was as a corpse.
Nightstalker
Once a bodyguard to an Autobot Overlord, Nightstalker was partnered with none other than Ravage to protect the ailing mech. When war broke out between Vos and Tarn, Ravage betrayed them by joining Megatron and the old mech died soon after.
Nightstalker possesses a self-destruct mechanism that is powerful enough to wipe out a small army should he choose to activate it. He is also extremely loyal... though questions arise as to whether that loyalty is to the Autobots or to his ex-partner, Ravage.
He is a black lion, with golden eyes, not too unlike Steeljaw. He carries two small blasters similar to Ravage's that are mounted near his hind legs. It is not known if he has Steeljaw's susceptibility to rust.
Image Here
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Stripes
Probably the most obscure of all the Autobot cassettes in that all we know of him is that his primary mode is that of a tiger and that he may have a possible rivalry with the Decepticon cassette Ratbat.
Given that he is a tiger, we can assume that his main function is stealth, possibly within jungle, swamps and other humid or moisture-filled environments into which Steeljaw cannot go. Therefore he may work, at times, in tandem with Steeljaw.
His primary color is orange with black stripes, and he carries two finned guns similar to Steeljaw's - further evidence that their functions may also be similar.
Image Here
+++++
Blackcat
No one knows why Blackcat was given said name when he is instead a dark forest green. As one of the youngest cassettes, possibly even younger than Eject, he usually hangs around in the Ark, tasked mainly with sentry duty.
One of his favorite hobbies is making puzzle games on Teletran or whatever other computer he can get his paws on. There have been times where he's been more focused on a new puzzle instead of keeping his sensors on his surroundings. He has a certain love for comic books, and one of his favorite characters is The Riddler.
Blackcat's forepaws have reddish-purple shading on them for reasons unknown (though some say its a homage to his favorite Batman character). Not much is known about his past or how he got to Blaster and Earth. His primary mode is a panther, similar to that of Ravage. It's not known if he carries any weapons.
+++++
Playback
Sadly not much is known about this poor little mech except that he was found deactivated by Nightbeat in his only canon appearance. We do know that he had a mechanoid primary form so it can be assumed he was similar to Eject and Rewind.
We also know that he was a Decepticon prisoner of war, hunted and shot by Thunderwing before being found by the Autobot detective.
What his function was in life, and how he was captured by the Decepticons remains unknown.