Action Masters

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Action Masters was a sub-line of the Transformers toy line. The Action Masters were first made available in 1990. Unlike traditional Transformers, the Action Masters did not actually convert from one form to another. Instead, they were 3 3/4 inch action figures designed to represent classic and new Transformers characters. The Action Masters' body construction was based on G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, Hasbro's other successful action figure line, whose figures were also 3 3/4" tall. The text of the back of the Action Masters packaging indicated that, in a desperate effort to find a new energy source, the Transformers found a supply of Nucleon, an immensely potent form of energy. While it had the desired effect of making the Transformers "more ALIVE than ever before," it had the side-effect of eliminating all conversion processes. To compensate for this loss, all Action Masters toys came with transformable weapons or vehicles.

The Action Masters were part of the very last year of the original Transformers line as produced by Hasbro in United States. However, there were additional Action Masters figures created for the European/Australian and Japanese market in 1991, including Action Masters with Exo-Suits and Motorized Exo-Suits, as well as Action Master Elites who could transform.

[edit] European exclusives

Several new figures in the Action Masters subline were released exclusively to Europe in 1991. Some were entirely new figures while others were repaints of existing characters. However, four "Action Master Elite" figures were released, three of them inspired by pre-exisitng characters. These figures, (Doublepunch (a homage to Black Zarak), which could transform into a scorpion, Omega Spreem (an homage to Omega Supreme) which transformed into a tank, Turbo Master (a homage to Bruticus) which transformed into a helicopter and Windmill, which transformed into a helicopter) could transform into vehicles. While all the European figures are rare due to their original locality, the Action Master Elites are particularly hard to find since they were released at the very end of the line.

[edit] Marvel Comics

The Marvel Transformers comic would take a very different approach to the concept of Action Masters. When Grimlock set out on a quest to reanimate his fellow Dinobots (deactivated in the battle with the Underbase powered Starscream), he heard of a new super fuel called Nucleon on Hydrus 4 that he could use. Battling zombie monsters on the planet's surface and disregarding the warnings of its keeper, Grimlock tested the fuel on himself to make sure there were no adverse effects. Pleased with the results, he then went on to revive the Dinobots and many other fallen Autobots besides.

However, unbeknownst to Grimlock there were drawbacks. His body began to seize up completely, climaxing in a battle with demons below Cybertron where he froze completely, with his body forming a chrysalis around itself. Hi-Q, Optimus Prime's Powermaster partner, was able to accelerate the process. Grimlock gained enhanced speed, strength and durability, but at a price: he could no longer transform. While many other Transformers were exposed to Nucleon, Grimlock was the only Transformer who displayed this problem before the comic was cancelled at issue #80. When Grimlock reappeared in the Transformers: Generation 2 comic, he could transform as normal.

An explanation would be found in the 1991 Transformers annual text story "Another Time and Place". Here it was revealed that the Nucleon had caused most of the Transformers Grimlock revived to lose their Transformation abilities. Feeling guilty, Grimlock took the Dinobots on a quest to locate a rumoured second batch of Nucleon that would restore their transformation abilities. However, it was a trap set by Bludgeon, who wanted to use the new Nucleon to revive Megatron. The scheme was defeated by Grimlock and Prime, and the new Nucleon restored the transforming abilities of those who took it. Whether this is in continuity with the other Marvel stories is unclear.