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Ever have one of those moments?


Devilbat

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Did you ever make a Transformers purchase, and you wondered why it took you so long in getting around to actually buying a given figure that you really liked, like it just jumped-out at you all of a sudden, and you finally realized how cool something was after virtually ignoring it all your life?

 

That's what I did; I just bought a MISB Encore Soundblaster, wondering why on earth it took me so long to realize just how cool this figure is. The reasons for both dismissing it and then suddenly wanting it are varied and somewhat interesting I guess. I had recently experienced the same phenomenon with the Marvel Select Red Hulk figure; I had virtually and inexplicably ignored the figure for so long, all the while loving the concept behind the character and really getting into the Hulk altogether in the past few years. I owned the awesome green Hulk that this figure's sculpt shared, but it just hadn't clicked in my brain that they shared the same awesome sculpt. As a matter of fact, I may even like this figure a little more than his green counterpart.

 

I'm experiencing a similar feeling with Soundblaster. The character is one of those G1 "Japanese-Only" releases that I wasn't familiar with as a kid. I tend to be one of those G1 purists, as it were, only preferring Transformers from that era, or perhaps figures inspired by it. And I have recently started appreciating the Japanese figures somewhat since they were considered G1 as well, and definitely had a G1 feel and origin to them.

 

I have known of Soundblaster for many years now. The character just always seemed like a very interesting oddity to me, a character that I wasn't familiar with in the least, but it was instantly recognizable because of its American counterpart. I had bought a Takara Transformers Collection Ricochet several years ago, loving the character because, well basically, he was a variation of the original Jazz mold, my first G1 figure I owned all those years ago and loved dearly, and...he was clearly a G1 character as well and had that distinct appeal and feel, even though he was a complete mystery to me...

 

But for some reason, I had never been drawn to Soundblaster, and I really don't know why. Soundwave was seared into my brain from a very early age to be one of the most awesome if not the most awesome Decepticon and, perhaps, Transformer in general, to emerge from the '80s and my childhood. It's both painfully dated for the technology it represents and equally awesome for those of us that remember what it was like to listen to cassette tapes on a tape deck. It's truly an icon for the time period, and it embodies a lot of what that wonderful decade meant to my generation.

 

Well, I guess I just could never accept an imitation of ol' Soundwave for some reason. He was the original and best, and no other character could ever compare. But something strange yet exciting happened to me. For one thing, for reasons that are most assuredly buried in my past somewhere, around this time of year, I think of Transformers more than usual. Perhaps I had bought some in the Springtime as a child and equated the time of year with new and exciting characters. I don't know what it is, but my interest always peaks around this time of year, and on into early summer. Also, I've been watching this new mini-series on the National Geographic Channel about the '80s, and Transformers just embodies the decade for me. It's just what I immediately think of.

 

And...there's just something exciting about the package art of the late '80s that had that cool digital pixelation effect behind each character. It just stirs something deep inside me whenever I see it. So I guess all of these feelings added up to an insatiable need to seek out a G1 Transformer, and I settled on Soundblaster after realizing he was such a cool variation of an old favorite. And actually...the more I study him, the more I think I may actually prefer his look over Soundwave's; he just seems to have more of a darker, more evil look about him than even Soundwave does, and I find that terribly appealing.

 

But I have to admit to allowing my child-like imagination run wild with this character...knowing nothing about him, like I do. I've entertained the notion that he's of course simply a "twin" character, like so many repaints have been explained away as in the past. I mean, it would stand to reason that Megatron might make use of several saboteurs/communication experts in his ranks as opposed to the lone Soundwave. it makes perfect sense to me. But why couldn't he also be perhaps an updated version of Soundwave himself, as if Soundwave had been badly damaged in battle, to the point of termination, when he's repaired and upgraded, not unlike so many Decepticons were by Unicron in the 1986 animated film, and his new name could be Soundblaster, to reflect his former identity?

 

Anyway, I'm terribly excited about this figure, I just wanted to share my excitement with you guys. I just got an e-mail saying he's been shipped, by the way. Can't wait to get 'im!

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I have alot of "why didn't I buy that when it was affordable and readily available" moments.

 

Cybertron Primus

Cybertron Optimus Prime

Galaxy Force Starscream

Henkei Skyfire

Takara Star Convoy reissue

 

The list goes on.

 

As for Soundblaster, he's of those Japanese exclusive characters that I never knew existed until I was older and got on the internet. Kinda floored me the first time I first saw it, and I loved the color scheme right away. I've got the TF Collection book style reissue. The mail person actually delivered it to the wrong house, and that person opened up the (shipping) box, but thankfully decided to return it to me.

 

Cool post, btw.

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Thank you Crow! You sound like me...I wasn't aware of him either until the internet age. I'll admit to being initially intrigued, and I was for a short time tempted to get the Transformers Collection edition several years ago, because like you I liked his colors, but I guess I was always focused on getting Soundwave first.

 

I also really like the red tape-deck door. I wasn't always crazy about the double-tape capacity though, but it has grown on me. I think it looks pretty good actually.

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I just like him in the darker colors. I think he looks cool. Besides, there are alot of Transformers figures that share molds that I like. For example, just because Smokescreen has the same mold as Prowl, it doesn't mean if I have one I don't want the other.

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...why couldn't he also be perhaps an updated version of Soundwave himself, as if Soundwave had been badly damaged in battle, to the point of termination, when he's repaired and upgraded, not unlike so many Decepticons were by Unicron in the 1986 animated film, and his new name could be Soundblaster, to reflect his former identity?

 

I just found this on Youtube. What are the odds... (lol)

 

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Soundblaster is just a black repaint of Soundwave..Why is that so cool? Especially if you have Soundwave?

You kind of answered your own question.

 

Soundblaster is just a black repaint of Soundwave.

:P

 

- Japan exclusive

- Iconic character

- Cool color scheme (long before black repaints became the norm)

 

Prior to being reissued, Soundblaster had alot of mystique surrounding it. It was very sought after, and used to command big prices on the secondary market. It was a holy grail type item for alot of collectors.

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I just started watching Headmasters, and it's just a straight-up continuation of G1.

There are more differences between pre-movie G1 and post-movie G1 than there are between post-movie G1 and Headmasters.

 

So somehow both Soundwave and Blaster died in a huge climactic battle, so they both get reborn. And Soundblaster is born.

 

And there's all his cassette warriors, the same 5 we got Masterpieces of...

Plus Ratbat.

 

Man, I want a Ratbat Masterpiece now. He was all over post-movie G1 and he's still there for Soundblaster.

 

But to stay on topic, I held off on the Classics Kup for a long time, but I really like that sucker.

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StrangePlanet, except for the Headmasters comment, I feel as if I just read one of my own posts. (lol) Seriously, it's creepy how our heads are in the same place right now. I have recently considered getting the Headmasters series. Is it in subtitles, or has it been dubbed in English?

 

Also, since I've "discovered" Soundblaster and Twincast, I've been researching a little, and I've come up with a few Youtube clips which I assume are from the Headmasters series. Fascinating stuff. It feels like the "Lost G1" episodes when I watch them...

 

And like you, I always loved Ratbat for some reason, especially in the comics...he kinda reminded me of what Starscream could have been, an evil genius that was always working and scheming in the sidelines, waiting for his time to strike and emerge as a major Decepticon player. But I digress...

 

Speaking of transforming sound devices and cassettes, I'm really wanting to see a Masterpiece Blaster with mini-sets of all of his cassette warriors. I think it's just a matter of time before we see them.

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i've had similar thoughts throughout the years. like last Christmas i saw a MP Prime w/trailer set at TRU for $100. i really really liked it, but just never went and actually baught it. now they arent as easy to find and they run at least $20 more :( i guess for me, its more of a "i can better use this money on ...." kind of a thing.

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i've had similar thoughts throughout the years. like last Christmas i saw a MP Prime w/trailer set at TRU for $100. i really really liked it, but just never went and actually baught it. now they arent as easy to find and they run at least $20 more :( i guess for me, its more of a "i can better use this money on ...." kind of a thing.

 

My advice... Buy it cause you can always return it later if you change your mind...

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For me its more like "I wish I had the cash to buy that when it was released & cheap" moments

 

Amen to that. When the Encore Omega Supreme was released, I did not have the money to buy it. When I did get the cash, I had to pay $40.00 more for it.

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I had recently sold some stuff and had almost saved enough for a Fort Max...but I blew it on a bunch of other stuff. *sigh* Some twenty-five-plus years of wanting a Transformer, and when I actually have the opportunity to get one, I squander it. I'm afraid I'm really going to pay the price, literally, for such a stupid mistake... *sob*

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