Susp's Review: GENERATION 1 SKIDS
2009 marks the 25th anniversary of Transformers, and to mark this great occasion, I am going to be reviewing one toy from every major line right up to the 2007 movie.
We begin with Generation 1. In 1984, American toy company Hasbro reached a deal with Japanese counterpart Takara to import a series of the latter's Diaclone toys. Recoloured and repackaged with character biographies, they were now the Transformers. Among them, Skids. A member of the heroic Autobots, the easily distracted Skids is prone to bumping into things while pondering Earth life instead of the next Decepticon attack. He also enjoys being handwashed by buxom blonde human females.
Vehicle Mode: Skids is a Honda City Turbo. One of the smaller Autobot cars, he measures a diminutive 9 cm(3.5") long. He's midnight blue with translucent blue windows, black bumpers, chrome headlights and hubcaps, and thin red stripes running along his sides. He also comes with plenty of colourful decals, including metallic silver and red Autobot symbols for his hood and rear window. And he has a rub symbol on his roof.
Skids rolls along on four rubber tires. His hatchback and doors open, but doing so decreases his stability. His front section is made of diecast. All Autobot cars forged from Diaclone toys included some diecast in their superstructures.
Transformation: Fold in Skids's rear wheels, open his doors, and swing down his lower torso and legs. Expands his hips and legs out to the sides. Finally, open up his hood and flip out his head.
Robot Mode: Skids stands about 11 cm(4.3") tall at the head, with his windshield adding an extra centimetre or so. In this mode, he's mainly blue with red fists, waist, and feet, and black thighs. His head is blue with metallic silver face and crest and yellow eyes.
G1 toys were not known for their poseability, and Skids is no exception. His head can look up a little, his shoulders and wrists rotate, and his arms can raise to the sides. Somewhat surprisingly for someone whose function is Theoretician, he comes with three chrome weapons: a liquid nitrogen rifle, a twin electron blaster, and a rocket launcher with a red barrel and blue trigger. The launcher that came with the original 1985 release was spring-loaded, but the 2004 reissue's was gutted for safety reasons. Unlike other Autobot cars, Skids's weapons clip onto his forearms instead of pegging into his fists.
Overall, Susp Sez: It would be unfair to directly compare Skids to the TFs of today, especially in terms of poseability and durability. Back in 1985, however, he positively shined. Both car and robot modes look nice, and the fact that he comes with so many guns is a big plus. 8/10
For years, TFs utterly dominated toy aisles and Saturday morning television. Dozens of memorable characters were introduced, new and sometimes bizarre gimmicks arose, a movie was released, and parents everywhere spent countless sums of money appeasing their children. But all great things must come to an end, and TF toys vanished from North American stores at the end of 1990. It was over.
Or was it?
"Mmmmm . . . Charlene, after finishing my roof, would you polish my hubcaps again?"
We begin with Generation 1. In 1984, American toy company Hasbro reached a deal with Japanese counterpart Takara to import a series of the latter's Diaclone toys. Recoloured and repackaged with character biographies, they were now the Transformers. Among them, Skids. A member of the heroic Autobots, the easily distracted Skids is prone to bumping into things while pondering Earth life instead of the next Decepticon attack. He also enjoys being handwashed by buxom blonde human females.
Vehicle Mode: Skids is a Honda City Turbo. One of the smaller Autobot cars, he measures a diminutive 9 cm(3.5") long. He's midnight blue with translucent blue windows, black bumpers, chrome headlights and hubcaps, and thin red stripes running along his sides. He also comes with plenty of colourful decals, including metallic silver and red Autobot symbols for his hood and rear window. And he has a rub symbol on his roof.
Skids rolls along on four rubber tires. His hatchback and doors open, but doing so decreases his stability. His front section is made of diecast. All Autobot cars forged from Diaclone toys included some diecast in their superstructures.
Transformation: Fold in Skids's rear wheels, open his doors, and swing down his lower torso and legs. Expands his hips and legs out to the sides. Finally, open up his hood and flip out his head.
Robot Mode: Skids stands about 11 cm(4.3") tall at the head, with his windshield adding an extra centimetre or so. In this mode, he's mainly blue with red fists, waist, and feet, and black thighs. His head is blue with metallic silver face and crest and yellow eyes.
G1 toys were not known for their poseability, and Skids is no exception. His head can look up a little, his shoulders and wrists rotate, and his arms can raise to the sides. Somewhat surprisingly for someone whose function is Theoretician, he comes with three chrome weapons: a liquid nitrogen rifle, a twin electron blaster, and a rocket launcher with a red barrel and blue trigger. The launcher that came with the original 1985 release was spring-loaded, but the 2004 reissue's was gutted for safety reasons. Unlike other Autobot cars, Skids's weapons clip onto his forearms instead of pegging into his fists.
Overall, Susp Sez: It would be unfair to directly compare Skids to the TFs of today, especially in terms of poseability and durability. Back in 1985, however, he positively shined. Both car and robot modes look nice, and the fact that he comes with so many guns is a big plus. 8/10
For years, TFs utterly dominated toy aisles and Saturday morning television. Dozens of memorable characters were introduced, new and sometimes bizarre gimmicks arose, a movie was released, and parents everywhere spent countless sums of money appeasing their children. But all great things must come to an end, and TF toys vanished from North American stores at the end of 1990. It was over.
Or was it?
"Mmmmm . . . Charlene, after finishing my roof, would you polish my hubcaps again?"