Black redeco

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Black repaint is a fan-coined term referring to a mostly dark-colored redeco of a toy, usually featuring black as its primary color. The term is usually inaccurate, as the toys are almost always redecos and not actually repaints, but the name has stuck. They were primarily a product of Japan until Robots in Disguise popularized the concept on American shores.

Black repaints are a comparatively common type of redeco; in particular, a great many Optimus Prime toys have been produced in a black repaint color scheme at least once. As with most aspects of Transformers, fandom opinion on black repaints is split: some like them, some denounce them as bland and/or uncreative, and some don't think of them as being any different from other redecoes.

A black repaint does not necessarily have to literally be mostly black. Armada Nemesis Prime, for instance, is technically dark blue.

Though not exclusive to these kinds of redecos, black repaints are most commonly the standard method of releasing an "evil counterpart" to an existing Transformer. "Stealth mode" versions of characters are somewhat common as well.

Some particularly well-known black repaints include:

• Skywarp could technically be considered the first black repaint in Transformers, though he doesn't match up to the modern notion.

• Soundblaster is the rebuilt form of Soundwave. He has an unusual backstory for a black repaint; he is an upgrade of an existing Decepticon. This reflects his status as one of the earliest black repaints, before the modern conception had taken root in the fandom or the toy manufacturers. BlackZarak would have a similar origin.

• Nightracer, the first convention-exclusive black repaint, is a repaint of High Beam. Like other BotCon exclusives, she would be unrelated to the mold she was based on.

Though Hasbro produces some black repaints, Takara produces the, heh, lion's share.

• Black Lio Convoy is the first black repaint to be an evil autobot clone, in this case of Lio Convoy.

• Robots in Disguise Scourge is one of the few black repaints that represent main show characters. His popularity helped ensure that Hasbro, not just Takara, would be producing many black repaints in the future. Takara still produces the majority of the black repaints.

• The Multiforce were one of the earliest toys where the black repaints represent a stealth mode.

• Alternators Nemesis Prime is infamous for starting out as a nearly unobtainable exclusive surrounded by various problems with Hasbro Toy Shop, then seeing a wide release in Australia.