TFtember: Seaspray

Seaspray 

Now this guy was a barrel of laughs. 

Only one toy for Generation 1, Seaspray was a robot that turned into a Winchester class SRN6 hovercraft (had to look that up). I know scale is mott point to argue, but Seaspray is either an absolute giant or a tiny, tiny little ship. 

Only one toy but it is a basic one. Mini robot, so the transformations are simple but basic enough to be enjoyable. International versions had slightly different colored plastic but that's about it. File card paints an interesting picture. He's the Autobot's navel defense and absolutely nuts about the water. Hates coming onto land or even transforming into a robot. 

The comic had him being a member of Perceptor's rebel cell. That was about it, as he was first used for comedy when they arrived on Earth (trying to chat with Earth vehicles) or being target practice (getting his head mounted on RAAT's HQ wall). He got better but mostly stayed in the background until he was killed off camera.

The cartoon did him a bit better. Voiced with distinction by Alan Oppenheimer, Seaspray even got an episode to himself ("Sea Change" in the 2nd season) which inspired some fanfic that I shan't go into here. 

Overall, a decent little fella. 

TFtember: Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5

"Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5", the Transformers, Sept. 19, 1986

Overall, a pretty basic plot. 

The Decepticons have our heroes on the ropes. Nearly every encounter ends with the Decepticons utterly beating the Autobots. The Quintessons are most pleased but they voice their real plans out loud. Blitzwing overhears and tries to warn Galvatron but the mad robot rejects what he says. 

Despite Blitzwing switching sides, Galvatron manages to win and thus all Transformers are powered down across the universe. Spike manages to snag Rodimus' gun and destroys the McGuffin that shut everyone down. 

The Quintessons flee with an angry Galvatron in pursuit but Rodimus points out they have just met their greatest foes yet...

Yeah, mostly fight scenes going from one scene to the next. Lot of toy shilling for the new stuff coming out, but not a lot of character development. Blitzwing gets the most set up but it never comes up again. 

Basic plot and a lackluster build. 

TFtember: Transformers#71

"Surrender!" the Transformers#71 (October 1990) with credits to Simon Furman (script), Andy Wildman (pencils), Stephan Baskerville (inks), Nelson Yomtov (colors), Rick Parker (letters), and Rob Tokar (editor)

We open with a flashback. Optimus Prime and his troops are in danger of being overrun. Prime asks for a white flag. Not for surrender, but to bind his wounds before he leads a charge against superior numbers. 

Present day, Optimus is in a similar position but this time Optimus opts to surrender to the Decepticons. 

Scorponok is happy, but he realizes his position is precarious. He's right too, as Shockwave has been building his army under the larger 'con's nose. With Optimus captured, he might have move his time table up...

Meanwhile, Galvatron and Unicron are moving closer to Cybertron and the unrest is growing...

Nearing the end of the series and everything is moving along at a brisk pace. 

TFtember: Scrapper

Scrapper 

Kicking this off with another Construction. This month we look at Scrapper, the right leg of Devastator.

The toy, formerly a Diaclone Construction Vehicle No. 3, might have the most basic transforming action of the subset. Basically, just flip his legs out and lift up his scoop and you're ready.  Like the others, he was reissued in yellow over in Europe and that's about it. 

He did come with a giant wing that doubled as a breastplate, so there's that. 

His file card paints him in a grim light. He's modest and would rather focus on his main love, building. Of course, he prefers to use vanquished Autobots as the building material in his work so yeah, a bit morbid. His official job is demolition.

The comic, however, and much like the rest of his Constructicon brethren, he was part of the crowd and but really didn't do much on an individual basis.  

The cartoon, where he was voiced by Michael Bell, had the same issues as his other green bros. He just has different origins. Played a large part in the early episodes but after the movie just slowly drifted into a background character.

Overall, an important part for Devestator but in grand tapestry of things a minor character. 

Re-writting the Book: Xanta Claus

 Woof

Ok, so 1995. In Your House 5: Season's Beatings saw the debut of Xanta Claus. Hailing from the South Pole, Xanta made a point to steal presents from all the good boys and girls. With the Million Dollar Man as his manager, Xanta officially racked up one win on a jobber.

The problems are a bit obvious. A Santa themed wrestler might do well in December, but Feb.? Oct.?

I supposed I would make it clear that Xanta can only work in the month of December. Might even make an angle about it. Like he's unstoppable December 1st through the 25th, but on December 31st he loses to Barry Horowitz. 

Pure comedy but that isn't awful. If you timed him right and with the right scenario, I bet the audience would tolerate him. 

Re-Writing the Book: The Run-In Man

 WWF, 1991

Ed Leslie had finally hit a good gimmick as Brutus "the Barber" Beefcake but a freak parasailing accident almost killed him. 

Sufficient to say, the man was in no condition to wrestle. When your face is held together with wire, it would be a bad idea to get in a position where you might get hit. 

So, officially Brutus was home. Unofficially, you don't wrestle you don't get paid. 

So, the Run-In Man (Man with No Face and also the Mariner for some reason) started running after matches and attacking the heels after they won the match. How would I handle it?

More or less the same at the start. The Man runs in, beats up Earthquake, Rick Martel, etc. Fans support him, the heels are freaked out. Jimmy Hart goes on Prime Time Wrestling and offers a bounty. Bobby Heenan, however, just starts calling out Brutus Beefcake. 

Naturally there is pushback to this. "Brutus is hurt, he couldn't"

Then the Man starts attacking before the matches. Oh, he's helping the faces still but now he beats them with a steel chair during the match; thus giving them a DQ win.

This builds throughout the summer. Jack Tunney, sick of the rule breaking, hires a new enforcer, Sid Justice.

When the Ultimate Warrior is attacked, he listens to the Brain. Is Brutus behind these attacks? Brutus comes back to the ring, but a blackout happens. When the lights come on, Warrior is busted up pretty bad. 

Hulk Hogan confronts his best friend, who swears his innocence. Sid Justice decides to put Brutus in the main event at SummerSlam with Hogan and Warrior ve the Triangle of Terror. 

The Run In Man attacks during the match, but it turns out it's really Mr. Perfect!

Attacking Hogan directly? Could lose, but making him think his best friend had turned on him? Perfect. 

Updates and such

2025-sucking just as much as 2024 did.

Not the best way to open, but here's a slight view of upcoming works.

TFtember (in April): A lookback at the Transformers 

May: Superstars the comic.

June Bugs: Bugs Bunny Rides Again

July: UWF Returns + Shark Week

August: Aroma of Troma 

September: TFtember (more Transformers)

October: Horror hosts and horror reviews 

December: Art jam, but it may lesser than in previous years.