Ken Masters

"I need a better workout than this! Where's Eliza?!"

Ken (ケン) is an American martial artist and Ryu's best friend. Having trained at the same dojo, Ken and Ryu share many of the same fighting techniques, including the Hadōken, Shōryūken, and Tatsumaki Senpūkyaku, though Ken favors mobility and speed over Ryu's slower, more powerful attacks.

Fiction

Street Fighter II x Transformers packaging story

Ken, Ryu, and Chun-Li were in the midst of a battle with Vega in Thailand. When they were about to defeat him, a dimensional gate was open and Megatron emerged. The three were caught off guard, allowing Vega enough time to share his power with Megatron before the two escaped. Optimus Prime, Hot Rod, and Arcee also emerged from the gate and asked for the three fighters' help in stopping Megatron. They agreed, and Hot Rod scanned Ken to learn his fighting techniques. The two of them formed a bond, with Ken treating Hot Rod much like a younger brother. Packaging bio

Toys

Street Fighter II × Transformers

File:Ken SFIIxTF toy.jpg

Flowchart not included.

• Hot Rodimus [Ken] vs Arcee [Chun-Li] (May 26, 2018)
  • Accessories: Left & right rifles, Headmaster

Available as part of the exclusive Street Fighter II × Transformers toyline, Hot Rodimus is a redeco of Legends Targetmaster Hot Rodimus (itself a retool of Titans Return Deluxe Class Hot Rod) in Ken's traditional colors, luxurious eyebrows and fleshtones and all. He transforms from robot to Cybertronian sports car and back. The Street Fighter II logo is printed on the car's spoiler, and the Headmaster's robot mode is also painted to resemble Ken.

Like all Deluxe-sized Titans Return toys, Hot Rodimus's cockpit can be opened to reveal a seat that allows any Titan Master/Headmaster figure to man it in both modes. His two rifles can be clipped together to form a larger gun with a Headmaster seat; separately they can be pegged behind Hot Rodimus's front wheels or one can be pegged into his engine.

Hot Rodimus was only available in a two-pack with with Arcee [Chun-Li]. This set was available for pre-order on TakaraTomy Mall from November 22 to 27, with orders fulfilled in late May of 2018. A pre-order goal was set as well: if 3000 units were pre-ordered total, the set would also come with clear display stands for both toys.

Notes

• In its original packaging, the Hot Rodimus [Ken] toy is posed performing a Shōryūken.
• Ken has been played by a handful of Transformers alumni. Scott McNeil and Steve Blum both voiced Ken in English, while in Japanese, he has been voiced by Tetsuya Iwanaga, Monster Maezuka, Toshihiko Seki, Keiji Fujiwara, Nobuyuki Hiyama, and currently, Yūji Kishi.

External links

• Ken Masters at Wikipedia
• Ken Masters at the Street Fighter Wiki