Action Cards: Difference between revisions
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==Japanese Action Cards== | ==Japanese Action Cards== | ||
Never one to miss out Japanese fans also had Action cards to collect. Produced by Yamakatsu in 1985 they were released in small envelopes each containing three cards, similar to the MB series the cards displayed the characters' Japanese box art on various backgrounds, while the reverse contained a small textual burb in blue about each transformer. The envelopes were stapled shut and had a picture of Optimus on the front and Megatron on the back. The cards were about half the size of the MB release but double the thickness. | Never one to miss out Japanese fans also had Action cards to collect. Produced by Yamakatsu in 1985 they were released in small envelopes each containing three cards, similar to the MB series the cards displayed the characters' Japanese box art on various backgrounds, while the reverse contained a small textual burb in blue about each transformer. The envelopes were stapled shut and had a picture of Optimus on the front and Megatron on the back. The cards were about half the size of the MB release but double the thickness. | ||
The exact number of cards in the set is currently unknown but 47 cards have been identified so far. This includes the 'Lucky Card' | The exact number of cards in the set is currently unknown but 47 cards have been identified so far. This includes the 'Lucky Card', Devastator, whose card art is the same as the standard card but has additional text in red on the reverse. | ||
* Autobots - Optimus, Jazz, Bluestreak, Trailbreaker, Red Alert, Inferno, Smokescreen, Sideswipe, Wheeljack, Prowl, Perceptor, Bumblebee, Grimlock, Swoop, Slag, Snarl, Sludge, Hound and Mirage | * Autobots - Optimus, Jazz, Bluestreak, Trailbreaker, Red Alert, Inferno, Smokescreen, Sideswipe, Wheeljack, Prowl, Perceptor, Bumblebee, Grimlock, Swoop, Slag, Snarl, Sludge, Hound and Mirage | ||
* Decepticons - Megatron, Starscream, Skywarp, Thundercracker, Soundwave, Frenzy, Ravage, Laserbeak, Rumble, Kickback, Bombshell, Shrapnel, Devastator, Mixmaster, Scavenger, Bonecrusher, Hook, Scrapper and Reflector | * Decepticons - Megatron, Starscream, Skywarp, Thundercracker, Soundwave, Frenzy, Ravage, Laserbeak, Rumble, Kickback, Bombshell, Shrapnel, Devastator, Mixmaster, Scavenger, Bonecrusher, Hook, Scrapper and Reflector | ||
* Mixed - Trailbreaker/Soundwave, Prowl/Frenzy, Perceptor/Laserbeak, Hound/Mixmaster, Hook/Bluestreak, Snarl/Longhaul, Scrapper/Optimus and Blaster/Megatron | * Mixed - Trailbreaker/Soundwave, Prowl/Frenzy, Perceptor/Laserbeak, Hound/Mixmaster, Hook/Bluestreak, Snarl/Longhaul, Scrapper/Optimus and Blaster/Megatron | ||
* Lucky Card - | * Lucky Card - Devastator | ||
==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
Revision as of 12:26, 16 June 2017
Action Cards were a series of Transformers trading cards marketed by Milton Bradley during Generation 1. They were sold in packs of 8 (plus a bonus sticker) in 1985.
The US "Series 1" contained 192 cards and was the only series produced. Some cards were full-color still frames from various Season 1 cartoon episodes, with a title and description of the action on the back. The remainder featured package art of the 1984 and 1985 characters against a variety of colored backgrounds on the front, with their tech specs and bio on the back. Rather than the line graph used on toy packaging, the tech specs were shown with simple digits.
- #1 - #41: Autobot tech specs
- #42 - #81: still frames from "More than Meets the Eye, Part 1"
- #82 - #92, #94-95: still frames from "More than Meets the Eye, Part 2"
- #93: a rather inexplicable lone still frame from "Countdown to Extinction"
- #96: checklist #1
- #97 - #122: Decepticon tech specs
- #123 - #127: stills from "More than Meets the Eye, Part 2"
- #128 - #149: stills from "More than Meets the Eye, Part 3"
- #150 - #161: stills from "War of the Dinobots"
- #162 - #173: stills from "Heavy Metal War"
- #174 - #191: stills from "A Plague of Insecticons"
- #192: checklist #2
The "descriptions" on the back of the episode scene cards tend to be rather generic, rather than detailing what's going on in the episode. For example, card #156 is a scene from "War of the Dinobots", with Slag and Sludge holding Optimus Prime captive after betraying and attacking him; rather than explaining why they're holding up their battered leader, the "description" simply talks about how powerful the Dinobots are (and how they were "once extinct".)
Australian Action Cards
"Series 1" cards were also released in Australia but limited to a set of 100. They were not ordered in any logical way and not one number matches in each set. For example card #1 in the Australia set is Twin Twist while in the full US released series he is card #21. No checklist cards were included in this set.
Japanese Action Cards
Never one to miss out Japanese fans also had Action cards to collect. Produced by Yamakatsu in 1985 they were released in small envelopes each containing three cards, similar to the MB series the cards displayed the characters' Japanese box art on various backgrounds, while the reverse contained a small textual burb in blue about each transformer. The envelopes were stapled shut and had a picture of Optimus on the front and Megatron on the back. The cards were about half the size of the MB release but double the thickness. The exact number of cards in the set is currently unknown but 47 cards have been identified so far. This includes the 'Lucky Card', Devastator, whose card art is the same as the standard card but has additional text in red on the reverse.
- Autobots - Optimus, Jazz, Bluestreak, Trailbreaker, Red Alert, Inferno, Smokescreen, Sideswipe, Wheeljack, Prowl, Perceptor, Bumblebee, Grimlock, Swoop, Slag, Snarl, Sludge, Hound and Mirage
- Decepticons - Megatron, Starscream, Skywarp, Thundercracker, Soundwave, Frenzy, Ravage, Laserbeak, Rumble, Kickback, Bombshell, Shrapnel, Devastator, Mixmaster, Scavenger, Bonecrusher, Hook, Scrapper and Reflector
- Mixed - Trailbreaker/Soundwave, Prowl/Frenzy, Perceptor/Laserbeak, Hound/Mixmaster, Hook/Bluestreak, Snarl/Longhaul, Scrapper/Optimus and Blaster/Megatron
- Lucky Card - Devastator
Notes
- Some of the bios were slightly abbreviated and edited. For example, "Optimus Prime... the brain center known as the Commander" became "Optimus, the brain center... has vast strength, laser rifle" for the Action Cards.
- The Action Cards provide proof positive that the three original Seeker jets had their Tech Spec numbers switched up, as the numbers have been corrected for their cards. Starscream has the set of numbers originally given to Skywarp (with intelligence as 9); Thundercracker has the set that originally went out as Starscream's (intelligence as 7).
- The Australian set had no number 68 produced, but two numbered 86 - Shockwave and Mixmaster, so it's assumed one of them was meant to be 68.
- Bios for Tap-Out and Glyph were produced in a replica Action Card format for BotCon 2002.
