Transformers Character Card

"I put my Planeswalker in attack position!"

When longtime TakaraTomy partner e-HOBBY returned to the Transformers brand sans action figures in 2022, the crown jewel of its extensive line of ancillary Transformers merchandise was Transformers Character Card (トランスフォーマーキャラクターカード), a series of trading cards providing bios and tech specs for characters from across the brand. The series unsurprisingly leans towards characters from e-HOBBY's own exclusive Transformers fiction, with additional focus placed on Generation 1 characters never before seen in Japanese markets such as the Action Masters and late-wave Pretenders. While these bios are largely summaries of existing fiction, they occasionally provide supplemental story tidbits in the interests of fleshing out more obscure characters.

Merchandise

Wave 1 (January 25, 2022) Convoy and Megatron Set Convobat and Megaligator[sic] Set		Wave 2 (March 14, 2022) Rodimus Convoy and Galvatron Set Broadcast and Soundwave Set Bludgeon and Stranglehold Set Battle Convoy and Megatron Set		Wave 3 (April 14, 2022) Magna Convoy and Straxus Set Convoy (Beast Wars) and Megatron (Beast Wars) Set Longtooth and Octopunch Set Meister and Banzai-Tron Set		Wave 4 (August 29, 2022) Drift and Deadlock Set Crossblades and Thunderwing Set Grand Scourge and Lockdown Set Lambor and Ultra Magnus Set	Legends Convobat and Megalligator The Transformers Longtooth and Octopunch
Wave 5 (November 1, 2022) Convobat and Megaligator[sic] Set (Beast Wars version) King Grimlock and Starscream Set Metroflex and Dinosaurer Set Carnivac and Starscream Set Transformers Card Binder (with Convoy Black Version and Megatron Black Version)		Wave 6 (February 6, 2023) Superion and Menasor Set Broadside and Astrotrain Set Jhiaxus and Convoy Missile Trailer Set Bruticus and Iguanus Set		Wave 7 (April 22, 2023) Prowl and Laserwave Set Pincher and Vroom Set Convoy and Alpha Trin Set Thunder Clash and Skyquake Set		Wave 8 (August 14, 2023) Magnificus and Eagle Eye Set Omega Supreme and Devastor Set Thundercracker and Skywarp Set Orion Pax and Hot Rodimus Set
Wave 9 (October 17, 2023) Smokescreen and Dreadwing Set Pyro and Clench Set Alert and Inferno Set Twincast and Soundblaster Set		Wave 10 (December, 2023) Deszaras and Victory Saber Set Guardian and Bruticus Set Catilla and Gutcruncher Set Rijie and Refraktor Set		Wave 11 (February, 2024) Optimus Prime and Megatron Set Wandering Roller and Tarn Set Sprung and Octone Set Arcee and Windblade Set		Wave 12 (June, 2024) Star Saber and Victory Leo Set Cheetus and Waspeeter Set Throne Of The Primes and Fallen Set Stepper and Artfire Set

Notes

• About half the real estate of each character profile is allotted to schematics strongly reminiscent of Generation 1 Power Plans, though they are not referred to as such.
• While we cannot definitely credit each card's art, there seem to be patterns: Shin Sasaki does the Precursor World-related characters; Hayato Sakamoto does most of the well-known Generation 1 characters; and Makoto Wakabayashi does Cloud characters. Other identified artists include Hidetsugu Yoshioka and Shōji Imaki.

References

• Complete archive of Transformers Character Card bios
• Transformers Character Card at the e-HOBBY website