Action Cards: Difference between revisions
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* Most Autobot and Decepticon art cards have different background color variants. (blue, orange, purple, yellow) | * Most Autobot and Decepticon art cards have different background color variants. (blue, orange, purple, yellow) | ||
* Obvious angle changes in character cards are considered standard varient changes to cards. | * Obvious angle changes in character cards are considered standard varient changes to cards. | ||
* #11 Sideswipe - Color gradient left to right, not top to bottom (Orange card only examples known) | * #11 Sideswipe - Color gradient left to right, not top to bottom (Orange card only examples known) | ||
* #14 Wheeljack - Transparent chest | * #14 Wheeljack - Transparent chest | ||
Revision as of 13:52, 12 January 2025
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. The deluxe Autobots and deluxe Insecticons were omitted from the set. 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
- 24 Bonus Motto Stickers (13 Autobot 11 Decepticon)
While there is no offical list of variant cards, there are notable cards that are commonly accepted as such.
- Most Autobot and Decepticon art cards have different background color variants. (blue, orange, purple, yellow)
- Obvious angle changes in character cards are considered standard varient changes to cards.
- #11 Sideswipe - Color gradient left to right, not top to bottom (Orange card only examples known)
- #14 Wheeljack - Transparent chest
- #40 Hoist - Only Autobot card to have 3 different color backgrounds; Orange, Blue, Purple
- #48 Autobots' Domed Home - Inverted colors (orange sky, blue ground)
- #76 Attack on an Oil Rig - Font size on back title ( Rig is partially cut off as a result )
- #88 Flying High - Starscream is pointed left instead of right
- #103 Ramjet - 2 colors, 2 orientations (level & tilted) both with and without tech spec line resulting in 8 different cards
- #105 Buzzsaw - Posed upside down
- #107 Ravage - Head angled, Head parallel to top of card, both colors 4 different cards
- #108 Laserbeak - Posed upside down
- #122 Shockwave - Facing opposite direction, both colors, 4 different cards
- #176 Jetfire, the Protector - Font size on back text ( description text goes off panel )
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".)
The cards were produced on 36 x 31 sheets [1] with 96 cards per sheet. So far, only 7 unique proof sheets have been documented.
The bonus "motto" stickers were produced on large rolls 1 sticker wide before cut and placed in behind the 8 cards per blister pack.
Australian Action Cards
"Series 1" cards were also released in Australia but limited to a subset of 100, not including the checklist.
Cards were packaged in a pack of 4 with a piece of bubblegum.
Although a subset of the US cards, the numbering of the Australian cards does not match the full US set, it appears totally random with no logic being applied to numbering or card selection. For example card #1 in the Australian set is Twin Twist while in the full US released series he is card #21.
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
Philipines Action Cards
Action Cards were also released by Trusty Maker Trading company. These cards are distinct by the back of the cards being printed in Blue ink (red signed chase cards) with yellow octagons containing letters (spelling out Trusty Maker Trading for 100pesos and TransFormers for 50pesos) and in most Trusty Maker logos with yellow as well.
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 two different #86 cards produced - Shockwave and Mixmaster. Mixmaster was also card #68, meaning #86 Mixmaster is a genuine error variant card.
- Hound card 39, has unique art. His card art retains the JEEP License Plate from the Diaclone art, where his box art has no License plate.
- Bios for Tap-Out and Glyph were produced in a replica Action Card format for BotCon 2002.
