Transformers Universe: Cyclonus

[Unicron]

I was out running errands today, and I decided to stop in this K-Mart store that I've pretty much never gone in. Just to take a peek. And I managed to find something really cool in the toy section: the new Cyclonus figure. It's a pretty nice homage to the G1 character, and I'm very pleased with it so far. Much like the great Hot Rod/Rodimus figure. It's interesting to note that the picture on the left might be a prototype figure, as its color scheme differs signficantly from the one I have (second from left). I've seen this version on several online stores that have the figure in stock, so I'm not sure if it's a prototype used for test shots or the Japanese version, which often has slight color differences to better match the animated ones.

Cyclonus is styled very much like his G1 cartoon version, and even includes his Targetmaster partner Nightstick. Many elements from the original toy's transformation were included, albeit being much better without being overly complicated. Nightstick also has pretty good articulation for a small figure, far more than the original Master sidekicks could have. He's always been one of my favorite Decepticons, so I'd recommend this one to any fans.

 

[Captain Craig]

This guy is on my list.
I've already gotten the Hound/Ravage set and I really like it.

 

[Bird of Prey]

I'm still waiting for these guys to show up in Canada.

 

[Holdfast]

Cyclonus was one of my fave G1 characters too and also one of the best toys from that era too. This new version looks good, but the spaceship/jet mode isn't quite there for me.

 

[Ethros]

"Cyclonus... the warrior. And his armada... the Sweeps"

I love that line in the movie, the way Welles delivers it is awesome

 

[Holdfast]

"Cyclonus... the warrior. And his armada... the Sweeps"

I love that line in the movie, the way Welles delivers it is awesome

You got the line wrong.

"And, these shall be your minions: Scourge, the tracker, and his huntsmen, the Sweeps; Cyclonus, the warrior, and his armada...."

I agree though, Welles' inflection on the word "armada" is awesome.

 

[Unicron]

Well, I've confirmed that the odd-colored version is not the Japanese variant, which has the cartoon accurate colors and some chrome on Nightstick. It would seem to be a test version used for the packing images. Seibertron has a nice gallery of images up, along with those of Hound and Ravage. I wasn't aware that the two come together, but Hound is definitely on my list.

The jet mode is pretty good. Naturally it's not quite the same looking only at pictures. One nice change to the mechanics is that the nosecone folds completely away in robot mode, whereas it just flipped onto the back of the G1 toy. This allows his cockpit to stay fully visible on his back, as it was in the animated series. It is interesting to note that Cyclonus seems to be one of the few distinctly right-handed toys. His left hand doesn't have a hole in it to hold Nightstick, but instead is filled in. I kind of wish they'd done that, even though it's a tiny nitpick. It is however possible to attach Nightstick directly to Cyclonus's arm, as was done with the Targetmasters in the Japanese cartoon. You can do it both ways.

I think one thing I liked about Cyclonus is he's more about the mission than about personal greed and selfishness. He's a believer in the Decepticons being better than everyone else and having the inherent right to rule, and he's professional. A nice contrast from someone like Starscream, who's the opposite.

 

[Holdfast]

I think one thing I liked about Cyclonus is he's more about the mission than about personal greed and selfishness. He's a believer in the Decepticons being better than everyone else and having the inherent right to rule, and he's professional.

Yep. He's like the archetypal ruthless, fixed-belief, professional but honourable Nazi officer from a WWII movie. Great character. Really epitomises a Decepticon who could actually WIN the war, if they let him just do the job right.

 

[USS Triumphant]

Who was he before he was Cyclonus?

Unicron took the other screwed up Decepticons that got jettisoned and used them to make the new ones, as I'm sure most of you know. Did anyone catch who became who? I've looked, but never made it out, beyond some of them looking vaguely Insecticon.

And do you think they were still themselves at all?

 

[Unicron]

Originally, Cyclonus was to have the ability to spawn clones the way Scourge did with the Sweeps, but apparently that idea was dropped at the last minute. The animation for that had already been done, which is why Bombshell and Skywarp are both shown becoming Cycloni in the animated film. The extra Cycloni also showed up briefly in "Five Faces of Darkness." Personally, I think one of the simpler solutions is that Unicron might have just combined the two to make Cyclonus, explaining why they both get altered. But it's an imperfect solution, as the real answer is editing problems.

Only Galvatron was ever shown to remember being Megatron, mainly in the comics where he was treated as sort of an alternate Megs anyway. If Scourge and Cyclonus retained any memory of their previous incarnations, it never seems to surface. The new Universe version of Cyclonus implies that, like the comic version of Galvatron, he's pretty powerful. He can decimate a planet's surface on his own, but won't take such an action unless Galvatron orders it. And some of that power comes from his link to Unicron.

 

[Aquehonga]

Interesting thread.

I still have my G1 non-TM Cyclonus & he's in perfect condition. Have him about 22.5 years now.

Didn't Thundercracker become Cyclonus & Bombshell Scourge?

I remembered seeing that when I saw TF:TM in the theater. Unless my memory was clogged or confused about who Unicron remade who as who.

The Megatron-into-Galvatron scene on the movie screen was an experience & light-show/FX extravaganza I'll never forget.

 

[Unicron]

Thundercracker became Scourge, and the other Insecticons were shown becoming Sweeps.

 

[Aquehonga]

Thanks for clearing that up for me Unicron.

Fracas was Scourge's Nebulan TM partner. Then there was Slugslinger w/ tm Caliburst, Misfire w/ tm Aimless & Triggerhappy w/ tm Blowpipe.

Its cool Hasbro re-released TM Cyclonus w/Nightstick.

 

[Unicron]

You're welcome. I'm glad they modeled the scuplt on his animated model, which always looked far better to me than how blocky the G1 toy design tends to look, but they also kept most of that design's nice mechanics. Cyclonus isn't nearly as complex to transform as some of the other Universe figures I have, and that's a plus. This seemed for mine to make his joints less prone to the stiffness that Universe toys often have when they're first opened, and which tend to make their first transforms more awkward. The new colors are interesting too.

 

[God Magnus]

One of the best deluxe class figures Hasbro has ever produced, hands down. I love this guy enough that I plan on getting the Henkei! version as well.

 

[Ethros]

"Cyclonus... the warrior. And his armada... the Sweeps"

I love that line in the movie, the way Welles delivers it is awesome

You got the line wrong.

"And, these shall be your minions: Scourge, the tracker, and his huntsmen, the Sweeps; Cyclonus, the warrior, and his armada...."

I agree though, Welles' inflection on the word "armada" is awesome.

I know! I put the DVD in last night after I made that post and realised I'd got it mixed up, oh well
Yes, the greatest film ever made does indeed star Orsen Welles- but it ain't no Citizen Kane!

 

[Aquehonga]

TF:TM 1986 had Orson Welles, Leonard Nimoy, Robert Stack, Eric Idle & Max from “Heart to Heart”, plus cool visual FX & ideas.

TF 2007 has some kid named Chia Pet L'Goof playing a bad knock-off of the Witwicky Son(s) from G1. That & hideous incarnations of TFs.

Give me Citizen Kane & Mr. Spock's TF:TM anytime over Bay & L'Goof's.

 

[Unicron]

Here's a separate link showing the Japanese (Henkei) version, which has a much different paint scheme based on the colors used in the animated series; the scheme used for the American version is more closely based on that used for the G1 toy, and for how Cyclonus appeared in the movie. His color was a bit deeper. It's been interesting to read that many fans seem to prefer the American version to some extent over the Henkei version.