Black body (technology)

This article is about the coating that makes you super strong. For the prose story explaining its origins, see Black Body (prose).

Once you go... well, okay, apparently you do go back.

In physics, a black body is an object that absorbs any and all electromagnetic radiation directed against it, neither reflecting any or allowing any to pass through it. Its name is derived from the fact that it absorbs even light itself, and thus appears purely black. Paltry human science considers perfect black bodies to be theoretical, but wouldn't you know, those dang Transformers had to come along and prove 'em wrong!

Fiction

Robotmasters

In 2004, the Autobots developed a coating that granted a Transformer a "black body", abbreviated as "BB", as an experimental way to efficiently absorb solitarium—it could also drain the energies of nearby machinery, including other Transformers. Optimus Prime, despite protests from his comrades, volunteered to be the test subject. Unbeknownst to them, Buzzsaw had switched out the pertinent data chip for a fake data chip created by Starscream, giving Optimus a deadly "infection". Keeping the data for himself, Starscream gave another fake data chip to Megatron, but his Predacon systems took to the data better and Megatron used his newfound abilities to attack the Autobots.

Befuddled by Megatron's positive reaction to the data, Starscream used a chip with the real data on himself and set out to attack Optimus Prime, only to fail. Optimus Primal used the fake data on himself after realizing its effects on Beast Warriors. Primal cured Prime's condition with his own black body and the two ended Megatron's threat. The Predacon soon was at Starscream's base, destroying the BB data and the traitor mistakenly inserted a fake data chip, giving himself the infection. Black Body

The Transformers Collection

Ricochet is equipped with black body armor, which gathers energy during peacetime that would power Nebulon's Flame Cannon mode during combat, allowing him to shoot bursts of fire up to 5000 °C.

e-Hobby storyline

When Galvatron II appeared to threaten the universe with his fleet of Warworlds, Optimus Prime used his Reconfiguration Matrix to take on a new form with the power to give Galvatron a run for his money. This new body, resembling his original one, was armed with a huge pair of missile launchers which were so energy-consumptive that Prime had to transform his armor into a black body to absorb enough energy to power them. Prime put his new form to use rescuing Ultra Magnus from Galvatron's clutches. Hybrid Style Convoy Black Version

Wheeljack and Ga'mede later studied Prime's new form and duplicated it to create a small army of mass-produced drones known as Eldedroids.

Toys

The Transformers Collection

Former FORMER holy grail.

• Stepper (2004)

• ID number: 15
• Accessories: "Nebulon" Targetmaster partner, gun mount backpack, Laser Rifle, Missile Launcher backpack, 3 missiles

A retool and redeco of the original Jazz toy, Targetmaster Stepper was reissued as part of Takara's Transformers Collection series, and almost simultaneously by Hasbro in their Commemorative Series. This version of the figure features a bolstered arsenal that now includes golden-chromed versions of Jazz's weapons; additionally, Nebulon was retooled with a slender peg extension to allow Stepper to actually hold him in his hand.

• Transformers Collection Stepper at TFU.info

Robotmasters

Perhaps not the BB Starscream you were thinking of.

• Starscream Limited Black Version (Deluxe, 2004)

• ID number: RM-12
• Accessories: 2 null rays, 2 missile pods, "Jamming Trident"

Available only via mail-order through Figure Ō No. 80, the "Limited Black Version" of Starscream is just that: a straight redeco of the Starscream toy, replacing the original toy's blue, red and the grey of his wings with black. He comes with all his original accessories, as well as a gold-chromed version of the "Jamming Trident" solitarium weapon that came with Wingstun.

• More information on Starscream Limited Black Version at TFU.info

• G1 Convoy Limited Black Version (2005)

• ID number: RM-01
• Accessories: "Convoy Gun", missile launcher, missile, energon-axe, 4 fists (2 left, 2 right), Calamity Defenser

Available only via mail-order through Dengeki Hobby magazine, the "Limited Black Version" of G1 Convoy is just that: a straight redeco of the G1 Convoy toy. He comes with all his original accessories, appropriately redecoed (including a silver version of his axe), as well as a gold-chromed version of the "Calamity Defenser" solitarium weapon that came with Psycho-Orb.

• More information on G1 Convoy Limited Black Version at TFU.info

• Beast Megatron Limited Black Version (2005)

• ID number: RM-02
• Accessories: Claw/tail, missile launcher, missile, Sacred-Cut Sword "Gazan" blade

Available only via mail-order through Hyper Hobby magazine, the "Limited Black Version" of Beast Megatron is just that: a straight redeco of the Beast Megatron toy. He comes with all his original accessories, appropriately redecoed, as well as a gold-chromed version of the "Sacred-Cut Sword 'Gazan'" solitarium weapon that came with Air Hunter.

• More information on Beast Megatron Limited Black Version at TFU.info

• Beast Convoy Limited Black Version (2005)

• Accessories: Two swords, sword connector, missile launcher, missile, Boost Hammer

Available only via mail order through Hobby Japan magazine, the "Limited Black Version" of Beast Convoy is just that: a straight redeco of the Beast Convoy toy. He comes with all his original accessories, appropriately redecoed, as well as a gold-chromed version of the "Boost Hammer" solitarium weapon that came with Wrecker Hook.

• More information on Beast Convoy Limited Black Version at TFU.info

Hybrid Style

Yanigerlicious!

• Convoy Black Version (2006)

• ID number: T.H.S.-02B
• Accessories: Trailer/Combat Deck, Roller, ion blaster, gas pump, energon-axe, Matrix of Leadership, rocket pack, 8 fists (4 left, 4 right), Autobot insignia stand, 2 missile launchers, 2 heads

Available exclusively through e-Hobby, this black and teal repaint of Hybrid Style Optimus Prime features the traditional "Nemesis Prime" color scheme, but represents a version of Optimus Prime himself. Created under the supervision of Shōji Kawamori, Hybrid Style Prime stands only three and three-quarter inches tall, and yet features one of the most complex transformation sequences ever seen on a Transformers figure of its size. It is loaded with detail and articulation, is partially constructed of die-cast metal, and comes with numerous interchangeable fists, weapons and other accessories. Exclusive to this repaint are two new large guns patterned after the new weapons wielded by the Generation 2 Optimus Prime toy, and two additional (blue) Prime heads that can be swapped with the figure's regular noggin, sculpted explicitly in the style of Generation 2 comic artist Derek Yaniger. When combined with the black trailer of Convoy Black Version, these parts can be used to modify the original, red Hybrid Style Optimus Prime into a comic-accurate Generation 2 version, complete with a black trailer, trailer-mounted guns and your choice of Yaniger-style heads.

This figure came in a unique box, packaged with a mini-comic, both illustrated by Hidetsugu Yoshioka.

Masterpiece

Whoa, Black Body! (Bam-ba-lam!)

• Convoy Black Ver. (2010)

• ID number: MP-1B
• Accessories: Ion blaster, Autobot Matrix of Leadership, gun mode Megatron, Megatron's scope, stock and silencer, energon-axe, cardboard trailer

A redeco of 20th Anniversary/Masterpiece Optimus Prime, "Convoy Black Version" sports the traditional black, grey, teal and red "Nemesis Prime" color scheme, despite not actually being an evil character. The toy is exceptionally poseable, partially constructed from die-cast metal, features rubber tires and vacuum-metalized plastic, and is heavily detailed, with sliding pistons in its joints and working, spring-loaded suspension in vehicle mode. The figure also contains multiple non-intrusive gimmicks, such as a moving mouthplate, flip-up communications panels on the forearms, and an opening Matrix chamber in the chest that lights up with a red LED and contains a removable, purple vacuum-metalized Matrix of Leadership, which can also be pulled open to reveal the red crystal at its center.

Other accessories are his traditional ion blaster, a transparent red energon-axe that plugs into either wrist when the toy's fist is retracted, a non-transforming gun mode Megatron weapon with removable stock, silencer and scope accessories, and a fold-up cardboard trailer to "complete" the figure's vehicle mode.

Like all the Japanese versions of this mold, Convoy Black features different images on his communicators than all other releases. In his case he features Optimus Prime and Rodimus Prime.

The version of this figure released through e-HOBBY included an exclusive comic by Naoto Sakai and Hidetsugu Yoshioka, while non-e-Hobby releases came with a metal nameplate inside a black velvet pouch.

External links

• Black body at Wikipedia