Rubsign: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 23:31, 3 February 2026

A rubsign is a small pre-applied heat-sensitive sticker. Rubbing the sticker reveals a hidden symbol.

Operating principles

Most rubsigns in *Transformers* look like the top row, a rainbow-y effect that changes with temperature. Full-color rubsigns are also possible.

Demons make the color change. Anybody who tells you otherwise is a witch, and should be burned, burned at the stake. Death to the evildoers!

Ahem.

The working part of a rubsign is a layer of Mylar plastic which contains thermochromic liquid crystals. At different temperatures, the liquid crystals' molecular structure changes reflecting different wavelengths of light and making a visible faction symbol appear. Mood rings work by the same principle, but have more bogus magical properties. For the overwhelming majority of Transformers toys, rubsigns reveal black linework contrasting against colors ranging from blue-green to green-yellow to red-brown as the temperature rises, then back again to solid black as it cools.

Of course, there are variations of what can be done with this process, but they are vanishingly (ha ha) rare in Transformers, and are detailed below.

Toys

The Transformers

It's like a Kinder egg toy, but without the Kinder. Or the egg.

The first toys to sport rubsigns were the Mini-spies from the original toy line in early 1985, miniature Transformers that came with repackages of the 1984 Mini-Car toys. The faction of a Mini-spy remained hidden until someone opened up the package and rubbed the rubsign revealing an Autobot or Decepticon insignia... or if it got warm enough to activate the sticker while the toy was still sealed away.

Later that year, all Transformers toys featured a rubsign that revealed an Autobot or Decepticon insignia. The purpose of these rubsigns was (in theory) to help consumers distinguish genuine Transformers toys from the many knockoffs their success inspired (off-brand versions of the Dinobots, Soundwave and his cassettes were particularly common in 84/85), as well as Tonka's GoBots toys and similar toys of other competitors. Re-releases of 1984 toys sometimes had rubsigns slapped on in odd places in addition to their standard customer-applied insignia stickers, but some, like the aforementioned Mini Cars, had their factory-applied insignia replaced with rubsigns.

The Clones from 1987's series had special rubsigns that revealed their personal insignia. The rubsign could be activated so their true identity could be revealed without having to transform them (or, you know, rotate them slightly).

By 1988, rubsigns were dropped from the line (presumably as most of the competition had been long-buried, but cost-saving may also have played into it), even though several toys from that year still had molded spots for them. Later releases/reissues of various toys designed with rubsign indents were retooled to remove or otherwise alter those indents.

Also in 1988, Takara's Transformers spinoff series Beastformers (aka Battle Beasts in Hasbro's markets), which had been making use of rubsigns as part of the Beastformers Role-Playing Game, began using a new type of rubsign that revealed full-color illustrations beneath the black towards the very end of its run (seen in the section above). At about the same time, the series introduced the Laser Beasts, who used light-piping through clear-plastic orbs to reveal full-color visions of their Fire, Water or Wood powers rather than rubsigns... and then the line ended.

Rubsigns made a brief return in 1990, when the Classics reissues that were available in Europe featured them. However, the 1991 Classics reissues dropped them again, and even saw many (but not all!) figures that originally had specific indents for rubsigns retooled to fill those in.

Hasbro still continued using rubsigns for some Chinese releases, including figures which had not previously sported them, including the Triggerbots and Triggercons, which were released in China in 1994, six years after their debut in Hasbro's other markets.

Beast Wars

Rubsigns would not appear again on Transformers toys until the second year of Beast Wars product in 1997, called "hidden Energon Chips". These decals lacked the silver border of the prior rubsigns, being solid black when cool. When warmed, the background changes color into rainbow hues, revealing a solid-black Maximal or Predacon insignia.

"Energon Chips" continued to be used through the following year's Fuzors and Transmetals toys, but were replaced by the time of the Transmetal 2s (and in the Beast Wars Neo new-mold toys) with "spark crystals".

Classics

Rubsigns were reintroduced to the Transformers line in 2006 with the Classics series, appearing on all toys at the Deluxe and higher price-point. They are effectively the same as the originals, having silver borders and rainbow-hued symbols.

Reveal the Shield

Rubsigns were used as the main gimmick of the Reveal the Shield subline imprint of the 2010 Transformers toy line. These versions are not square, but borderless black decals cut into a rough silhouette of the Autobot symbol, though the Decepticon insignia fit snugly in there as well.

The toy packaging directed people to "Press to reveal Autobot or Decepticon allegiance." However, the back of the packaging also featured a large faction symbol for the character, spoiling the "mystery" of the character's allegiance.

Reissue toys

*Vintage* Frenzy, with the new style of rubsign.

Many/most of the reissued "Generation 1" toys released over the years also have rubsigns, though often their positioning has changed from the originals.

After a (long) while, the older style of rubsign was replaced with a new version, featuring a near-mirror-like silver border, and solid-red insignia regardless of faction. These are most notable on the various Walmart-exclusive reissues from the latter half of the 2010's, but have appeared on other recent re-releases.

Generations Selects

Generations Selects Galvatron features an optional sticker sheet as a throwback to the original "Generation 1" stickers, including a Decepticon rubsign intended to be placed on the right side of the cannon. A black bar has been added beneath the faction border's "chin" to make it less pentagonal.

Age of the Primes

In an unprecedented toy reference, Age of the Primes Deluxe Class Autobot Powerglide's jet mode features a sculpted and painted non-functional rubsign on top of the rear fuselage.

Fiction

Battle Beneath the Ice

Due to the EXTREMELY toy-accurate artwork, many of the Transformers involved in these events sported rubsigns. Battle Beneath the Ice

Transformers Comic-Magazin

Needlenose, Darkwing and Dreadwind were hiding in an airbase in Nevada before revealing their liquid crystal Decepticon insignias and flying off. A Big Day for Powermaster Optimus Prime

Dreamwave Generation One continuity

Dreamwave Productions, famous for their re-launching Transformers comics and generally featured a few posters of Transformers featuring rubsigns.

Rubsigns were used as a way of disguising Autobot Smokescreen's faction symbol which had been outlawed. War and Peace

2005 IDW continuity

RUBSIGN DEPLOY. OPERATION: TOY NOSTALGIA

Soundwave used a rubsign to gain access to the illegal gladiatorial games. Megatron Origin #3

Brainstorm's security pass, which he used to get on board the Lost Light, featured a rubsign. How to Say Goodbye and Mean It

Animated

Yeah, that spiky, edgy, black-metal-facepaint guy could totally be a friendly Autobot. Obviously.

The bounty hunter Lockdown appears to sport a rubsign probably to indicate that he's just in it for the parts and hunts he gets out of it. The Thrill of the Hunt

After being 'dishonorably discharged' and sent to the Stockade, Wasp has been seen wearing a rubsign probably to indicate he's not with the Autobots anymore. When he was reformatted into Waspinator, he completely changed sides and instead sported a Decepticon insignia. Predacons Rising

Commercial Appearances

Generation 1

Cliffjumper and Huffer let a yellow Mini-spy into the Ark. They then got suspicious and rubbed his rubsign, revealing him to be a Decepticon. Commercial/Generation 1

Notes

The original patent for the Generation 1 rubsigns is shared by Henry Orenstein and George Dunsay. The patent term expired in 2002.

Foreign names

Japanese: Secret Emblem (シークレットエンプレム Shīkuretto Enburemu)

External links

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-[[Image:Rubsign.gif|thumb|right|300px|Wax on, wax off.]]
+[[File:Rubsign.gif|304px|thumb|Wax on, wax off.]]
+A '''rubsign''' is a small pre-applied heat-sensitive sticker. Rubbing the sticker reveals a hidden symbol.
-A '''rubsign''' was a small heat-sensitive sticker that came pre-applied to [[Generation 1]] toys beginning in the line's second year, 1985. They would reveal an [[Autobot]] or [[Decepticon]] [[faction symbols|faction symbol]] upon being rubbed. The [[Mini Spies]] were the first toys to feature rubsigns. The purpose of the rubsign addition was to help consumers distinguish genuine [[toy|Transformers toys]] from the many [[knockoff]]s their success inspired (off-brand versions of the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]], [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]], and his [[Mini Cassette|cassettes]] were particularly common in 84/85), as well as the [[Tonka Go-Bots]] and other competitors.  A variation on the rubsigns were also used in the spin-off [[Hasbro]]/[[Takara]] toy line ''[[Battle Beasts]]''.
+==Operating principles==
+[[File:Rubsign inactive.png|left|37px]][[File:BF-toy FireWaterWood.jpg|upright=1|thumb|Most rubsigns in ''Transformers'' look like the top row, a rainbow-y effect that changes with temperature. Full-color rubsigns are also possible.]]
-By 1988, rubsigns were dropped from the line (presumably as most of the competition had been long-buried), even though several toys from that year still had molded spots for them.  They would not appear again on ''Transformers'' toys until the second year of ''[[Beast Wars]]'' product in 1997, called "hidden [[energon chip]]s".  They continued through the next year's [[Fuzors]] and [[Transmetal]]s, but were replaced by the time of the Transmetal 2s (and in the ''[[Beast Wars Neo]]'' new-mold toys) with "[[spark crystal]]s".
+Demons make the color change. Anybody who tells you otherwise is a witch, and should be burned, ''burned'' at the stake. Death to the evildoers!
-Rubsigns recently were re-re-introduced to the ''Transformers'' line in 2006 with the [[Classics (2006)|Classics]] series. They are also on most of the Generation 1 [[reissue]]s from both [[Takara]] and [[Hasbro]].
+''Ahem.''
+The working part of a rubsign is a layer of Mylar plastic which contains thermochromic liquid crystals. At different temperatures, the liquid crystals' molecular structure changes reflecting different wavelengths of light and making a visible [[Insignia|faction symbol]] appear. {{w|Mood ring}}s work by the same principle, but have more bogus magical properties. For the overwhelming majority of ''Transformers'' toys, rubsigns reveal black linework contrasting against colors ranging from blue-green to green-yellow to red-brown as the temperature rises, then back again to solid black as it cools.
-===Operating principles===
+Of course, there are variations of what can be done with this process, but they are vanishingly (ha ha) rare in ''Transformers'', and are detailed below.
-Demons make the color change. Anybody who tells you otherwise is a witch, and should be burned, burned at the stake. Death to the evildoers!
+{{-}}
+==Toys==
+===''The Transformers''===
+[[File:G1-toy Mini-spy buggy.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|It's like a Kinder egg toy, but without the Kinder. Or the egg.]]
-Ahem.  The working part of a rubsign is a layer of Mylar plastic which contains thermochromic liquid crystals.  At different temperatures, the liquid crystals' molecular structure changes, reflecting different wavelengths of light, and making a visible [[faction symbols|faction symbol]] appear.  Mood rings work by the same principle, but have more bogus magical properties.
+The first toys to sport rubsigns were the [[Mini-spy|Mini-spies]] from the [[The Transformers (toyline)|original toy line]] in early 1985, miniature Transformers that came with repackages of the 1984 [[Mini Vehicle|Mini-Car]] toys. The faction of a Mini-spy remained hidden until someone opened up the package and rubbed the rubsign revealing an Autobot or Decepticon [[insignia]]... or if it got warm enough to activate the sticker while the toy was still sealed away.
-===In fiction===
+Later that year, '''''all''''' ''Transformers'' toys featured a rubsign that revealed an Autobot or Decepticon insignia. The purpose of these rubsigns was (in theory) to help consumers distinguish genuine [[toy|Transformers toys]] from the many [[knockoff]]s their success inspired (off-brand versions of the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]], [[Soundwave (G1)/toys|Soundwave]] and [[Mini-Cassette#Toys|his cassettes]] were particularly common in 84/85), as well as [[Tonka]]'s ''[[GoBots]]'' toys and similar toys of other competitors. Re-releases of 1984 toys sometimes had rubsigns slapped on in odd places in addition to their standard customer-applied insignia [[sticker]]s, but some, like the aforementioned Mini Cars, had their factory-applied insignia replaced with rubsigns.
-Generally being a somewhat goofy marketing [[gimmick]], rubsigns were generally ignored in Transformers fictional media... until fairly recently.  [[Dreamwave Productions]], famous for their re-launching Transformers comics and generally toy-accurate artwork, featured a few posters of Transformers featuring a rubsign, and in their ''[[War and Peace]]'' series, it even appeared as a way of disguising [[Autobot]] [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]]'s faction symbol (which had been outlawed). {{storylink|War and Peace}}  The current holders of the Transformers comic franchise, [[IDW Publishing]], picked up on the idea and featured [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] using a rubsign to gain access to the illegal gladiatorial games. {{storylink|Megatron Origin}}
-In addition, the [[Decepticon]] [[Lockdown]] appears to sport a rubsign on the new ''[[Transformers Animated]]'' cartoon. {{storylink|The Thrill of the Hunt}}
+<center>
+[[File:Fastlane.png|70px]] &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
+[[File:Cloudraker.png|70px]] &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
+[[File:Pounce.png|70px]] &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
+[[File:Wingspan.png|70px]] &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
+</center>
-==External link==
+The [[Clone (subgroup)|Clones]] from 1987's series had special rubsigns that revealed their personal insignia. The rubsign could be activated so their true identity could be revealed without having to transform them (or, you know, [[Kibble|rotate them slightly]]).
-* [http://www.ewh.ieee.org/soc/cpmt/presentations/cpmt0201b.pdf Paper on the uses of liquid crystal thermography, apparently but not actually written by G1 Perceptor.]
+By [[1988]], rubsigns were dropped from the line (presumably as most of the competition had been long-buried, but cost-saving may also have played into it), even though several toys from that year still had molded spots for them. Later releases/reissues of various toys designed with rubsign indents were [[retool]]ed to remove or otherwise alter those indents.
-[[Category: Classics]]
+Also in 1988, Takara's ''Transformers'' spinoff series ''[[Beastformers (franchise)|Beastformers]]'' (aka ''Battle Beasts'' in Hasbro's markets), which had been making use of rubsigns as part of the [[Beastformers Role-Playing Game]], began using a new type of rubsign that revealed ''full-color'' illustrations beneath the black towards the very end of its run (seen in the section above). At about the same time, the series introduced the [[Laser Beast]]s, who used [[light-piping]] through clear-plastic orbs to reveal full-color visions of their Fire, Water or Wood powers rather than rubsigns... and then the line ended.
-[[Category: Generation 1]]
-[[Category: Toys]]
+Rubsigns made a brief return in 1990, when the ''[[Classics (Europe)|Classics]]'' reissues that were available in Europe featured them. However, the 1991 ''Classics'' reissues dropped them again, and even saw many (but not all!) figures that originally had specific indents for rubsigns retooled to fill those in.
-[[Category:Gimmicks]]<div id="wikia-credits"><br /><br /><small>From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</small></div>
+Hasbro still continued using rubsigns for some [[The Transformers (Chinese toyline)|Chinese releases]], including figures which had not previously sported them, including the [[Triggerbot]]s and [[Triggercon]]s, which were released in China in 1994, six years after their debut in Hasbro's other markets.
+{{--}}
+===''Beast Wars''===
+[[File:BW Razorclaw toy.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb]]
+Rubsigns would not appear again on ''Transformers'' toys until the second year of ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'' product in 1997, called "hidden Energon Chips". These decals lacked the silver border of the prior rubsigns, being solid black when cool. When warmed, the ''background'' changes color into rainbow hues, revealing a solid-black [[Maximal]] or [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] insignia.
+"Energon Chips" continued to be used through the following year's [[Fuzor]]s and [[Transmetal]]s toys, but were replaced by the time of the [[Transmetal 2]]s (and in the ''[[Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Neo (franchise)|Beast Wars Neo]]'' new-mold toys) with "[[spark crystal]]s".
+{{-}}
+===''Classics''===
+[[File:Classics Cliffjumper toy.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|]]
+Rubsigns were reintroduced to the ''Transformers'' line in [[2006]] with the ''[[Transformers: Classics|Classics]]'' series, appearing on all toys at the Deluxe and higher price-point. They are effectively the same as the originals, having silver borders and rainbow-hued symbols.
+{{-}}
+===''Reveal the Shield''===
+[[File:TF2010toy-Strafe.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb]]
+Rubsigns were used as the main [[gimmick]] of the ''[[Transformers (2010 toyline)#Hasbro Reveal the Shield subline|Reveal the Shield]]'' [[subline imprint]] of the [[Transformers (2010 toyline)|2010 ''Transformers'' toy line]]. These versions are not square, but borderless black decals cut into a rough silhouette of the Autobot symbol, though the Decepticon insignia fit snugly in there as well.
+The toy packaging directed people to "Press to reveal Autobot or Decepticon allegiance." However, the back of the packaging ''also'' featured a large faction symbol for the character, spoiling the "mystery" of the character's allegiance.
+{{-}}
+===Reissue toys===
+[[File:VG1-toy Frenzy3pack.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|''Vintage'' Frenzy, with the new style of rubsign.]]
+Many/most of the reissued "Generation 1" toys released over the years also have rubsigns, though often their positioning has changed from the originals.
+After a (long) while, the older style of rubsign was replaced with a new version, featuring a near-mirror-like silver border, and solid-red insignia regardless of faction. These are most notable on the various [[Walmart]]-exclusive reissues from the latter half of the 2010's, but have appeared on other recent re-releases.
+{{-}}
+===''Generations Selects''===
+[[File:Selects-Leader-ToyGalvatron.jpeg|upright=1.4|thumb]]
+''[[Generations Selects (toyline)#Hasbro|Generations Selects]]'' [[Galvatron (G1)/toys#Selects|Galvatron]] features an optional [[sticker]] sheet as a throwback to the original "Generation 1" stickers, including a Decepticon rubsign intended to be placed on the right side of the cannon. A black bar has been added beneath the faction border's "chin" to make it less pentagonal.
+{{-}}
+===''Age of the Primes''===
+[[File:AOTP Powerglide.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
+In an unprecedented toy reference, ''[[Transformers: Age of the Primes|Age of the Primes]]'' Deluxe Class [[Powerglide (G1)#Age of the Primes|Autobot Powerglide]]'s jet mode features a sculpted and painted non-functional rubsign on top of the rear fuselage.
+{{-}}
+==Fiction==
+===''Battle Beneath the Ice''===
+[[File:BBTI-RunaboutandRodimus.jpg|thumb]]
+Due to the ''EXTREMELY'' toy-accurate artwork, many of the Transformers involved in these events sported rubsigns. {{storylink|Battle Beneath the Ice}}
+===''Transformers Comic-Magazin''===
+[[Needlenose (G1)|Needlenose]], [[Darkwing (G1)|Darkwing]] and [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] were hiding in an airbase in Nevada before revealing their liquid crystal Decepticon insignias and flying off. {{storylink|Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 6#Transformers in the Battle for Peace: A Big Day for Powermaster Optimus Prime|A Big Day for Powermaster Optimus Prime}}
+{{-}}
+===Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity===
+[[File:Rubsign Smokescreen.JPG|thumb]]
+[[Dreamwave Productions]], famous for their re-launching Transformers comics and generally  featured a few [[posters]] of Transformers featuring rubsigns.
+Rubsigns were used as a way of disguising [[Autobot]] [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]]'s faction symbol which had been outlawed. {{storylink|War and Peace}}
+{{-}}
+===2005 IDW continuity===
+[[File:Rubsign Soundwave.JPG|thumb|RUBSIGN DEPLOY. OPERATION: TOY NOSTALGIA]]
+[[Soundwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Soundwave]] used a rubsign to gain access to the illegal gladiatorial games. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 3|Megatron Origin #3}}
+[[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm's]] security pass, which he used to get on board the ''[[Lost Light]]'', featured a rubsign. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|How to Say Goodbye and Mean It}}
+{{--}}
+===''Animated''===
+[[File:TFA Thrill Hunt Prowl Lockdown.JPG|thumb|upright=1.3|Yeah, that spiky, edgy, black-metal-facepaint guy could totally be a friendly Autobot. Obviously.]]
+The bounty hunter [[Lockdown (Animated)|Lockdown]] appears to sport a rubsign probably to indicate that he's just in it for the parts and hunts he gets out of it. {{storylink|The Thrill of the Hunt}}
+After being 'dishonorably discharged' and sent to [[Stockade (Animated)|the Stockade]], [[Wasp]] has been seen wearing a rubsign probably to indicate he's not with the Autobots anymore. When he was reformatted into Waspinator, he completely changed sides and instead sported a Decepticon insignia. {{storylink|Predacons Rising (Animated)|Predacons Rising}}
+{{-}}
+==Commercial Appearances==
+===Generation 1===
+[[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] and [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] let a yellow Mini-spy into the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]. They then got suspicious and rubbed his rubsign, revealing him to be a Decepticon. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1}}
+==Notes==
+* The original patent for the [[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]] rubsigns is shared by [[Henry Orenstein]] and [[George Dunsay]]. The patent term expired in [[2002]].
+===Foreign names===
+*''Japanese:'' '''Secret Emblem''' (シークレットエンプレム ''Shīkuretto Enburemu'')
+==See also==
+*[[Insignia]]
+*[[Pre Rub]]
+*[[Transformers (2010 toyline)#Hasbro Reveal the Shield subline|Reveal the Shield]]
+*[[Spychanger#Toys|Spychangers]], which used heat-sensitive paint to achieve a similar effect
+==External links==
+*[https://patents.google.com/patent/USD297337S/ The original patent for the Transformers rubsigns on Google Patents]
+*[http://www.ewh.ieee.org/soc/cpmt/presentations/cpmt0201b.pdf Paper on the uses of liquid crystal thermography, apparently but not actually written by Generation 1 Perceptor.]
+[[Category:Classics]]
+[[Category:Energon]]
+[[Category:Generation 1]]
+[[Category:Toys]]
+[[Category:Gimmicks]]