I really think Hasbro was trying with the Action Master elites. I mean really trying. I've talked about this before, but I feel I need to reiterate. If it weren't for the failures of Action Masters, there is no telling what we would have today, if anything. Sometimes failure is a much stronger motivator than success. I really believe the four Elites were the precursors to the ball-jointed figures that would follow soon after in the late G2 era and Beast Wars. Even if Spreem doesn't really transform (he more or less just bends over) he is a very interesting first step that would continue with the Laser Rods and eventually morph into the highly pose-able figures that what we have today.
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So all you Action Master haters out there (*coughBotchcough*) should thank Mr. Spreem and his colleages here for paving the way for all the action you currently enjoy in your modern Transformers.
When did you pick up this little guy? Still going Euro crazy I see. I actually liked the original idea of Action Masters. I obviously don't own many of the figures released outside the U.S., but I've always thought they looked really cool. The Euro AMs hardly get much love so thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI got him a few weeks ago, I wanted to get the most expensive one out of the way first, lol.
DeleteThey could just as easily have introduced ball joints onto transforming robots... which, now that I think of it, is exactly what they did with Beast Wars a couple years later!
ReplyDeleteI've always been more curious about the "Spreem" thing. What the hell was up with that?
Yes, but my point was this was before ball joints were created for action figures. It was the first step to what would become ball joints. Remember when if you wanted articulation you had to use a rubber band and hope it didn't dry and crack?
DeleteThe AM elites werevacstep in the right direction, they transform, at least. The rest of the AM line, I just can't take seriously or get excited about - transformers that can't transform is like the weapons manufacturer who does not make weapons....
ReplyDeleteI love the Action Masters, but I'm glad we never got the European exclusives. It's a shame that the line was cut short in the U.S.
ReplyDeleteHow come you're glad we never got the European ones? Personally I would have been more likely to pick a few up off shelves if I had seen Sideswipe, Tracks and Bombshell.
DeleteThe gimmicks for the European ones are odd to me. And the ones I've seen (on TFWiki) just looked horrid to me. Sideswipe, Tracks, and Bombshell looked good, but the gimmicks did nothing for me. The helmets just look funny.
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