Mirage (G1)/toys
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Mirage will need more than a four-car garage to hold all his toys!
Toys
Generation 1
- Mirage (Autobot Car, 1984-1988)
- Japanese ID number: 07
- Accessories: "Rocket-Dart Hunting Rifle", missile launcher, 3 missiles
- Mirage was part of the original 1984 Autobot car assortment. His mold was originally used for a Diaclone F-1 Ligier JS11 racer. The toy was specifically designed to work with the launcher mechanism contained in the Optimus Prime / Battle Convoy trailer. This toy is easily broken at the waist pivot. The labels on the toy are references to several real-world companies. The largest name, Citanes, is a deliberate corruption of Gitanes, a French cigarette company. (Quite unusual for a child's toy, but not the only cigarette reference in Diaclone.) The toy included Gitanes' logo of a dancing gypsy woman on what ends up as Mirage's belt in robot form. "Ligier" is the name of the company that manufactured the JS-11 chassis and fielded the team, traditionally wearing 25 and 26 on the F1 grid, while "elf" is a reference to a French oil company that has since merged with TotalFina to become TotalFinaElf.
- Like all his 1984 brethren, Mirage received a heat-activated rubsign 1985, added to his spoiler. He was discontinued at retail in 1986, but continued to be available as a mail-away item until 1988, costing $8 and two Robot Points. The last of these offers, 1988's "The Autobots Are Under Attack!," marked the final release of the toy; the figure's mold was subsequently either lost or damaged, making him the only 1984 Autobot to never be reissued in any capacity. He has, however, been knocked off to high heaven in a variety of colors.
- Good Bye Convoy (Multipack, 1986)
- Accessories: "Rocket-Dart Hunting Rifle", missile launcher, 3 missiles
- Commemorating the death of Optimus Prime in The Transformers: The Movie, this set contains a special version of the original Optimus Prime figure with show-inspired translucent blue windows packaged with unchanged versions of Mirage ("Ligier" in Japan) and Red Alert ("Alert"). It seems this was done in an apparent homage to the similar Diaclone "Powered Convoy DX" giftset, which packaged the "Powered Convoy" version of the Optimus mold with the Diaclone versions of the other two Autobots.
Generation 2
- Mirage was released in 1995 as a black and yellow recolor of the Go-Bot Double Clutch, transforming into a 1:64-scale Lola T94 Indy car with through-axle construction, making him compatible with racing sets from the "Hot Wheels" and "Matchbox" toylines.
- This mold was also used to make 2001 Robots in Disguise Mirage. The toy was later repurposed to be a "next-generation" clone of Mirage.
Machine Wars
- Mirage (Basic, 1997)
- Accessories: 2-part rifle
- Machine Wars Mirage was originally designed for release during the Generation 2 toyline, but the line's cancellation resulted in the figure being held back. Consequently, unlike most of the Machine Wars toys, his head looks very similar to his Generation 1 form. He transforms into a blue and white Penske PC-18 Indycar, and like the other Machine Wars Basic-class figures, the toy is a "flipchanger" with a one-step, spring-loaded transformation. His rifle splits into two pieces, which store inside his legs while he is in vehicle mode.
- This mold was also used to make Machine Wars Prowl and 2001 Robots in Disguise Skid-Z. It would later be redecoed into Mirage's Robot Masters incarnation.
Robotmasters
- Rijie (Basic, 2004)
- Japanese ID number: RM-03
- Accessories: 2-part "Molecular Bonding Gun", "JS Laser Gun"
- Robotmasters "Rijie" uses the Machine Wars Mirage mold, but in a much more Generation 1-based coloration and deco. He also came with an extra chrome-silver "JS Laser Gun" (like the other bonus weapons of Robotmasters, it is suspected to be a mold originally developed yet ultimately unused by the cut-short Microman LED Powers line).
- Because of legal reasons, "Ligier" could not be used for the name of the Robotmasters toy, so "Rijie", which has the same pronunciation in Japan, was used instead. Curiously, the toy's instructions still identify it as "Ligier".
Alternators
- Mirage (Alternator, 2006)
- Alternator ID number: 22
- Accessories: Engine/tonfa weapons
- Alternators Mirage transforms into a finely detailed 1:24 scale replica of a Ford GT, featuring opening doors, engine bay and trunk, with a realistic interior. As with most Alternators, his car body is mostly unpainted, but the metallic-flake deep blue plastic makes this hard to see.
- Featuring an innovative, different robot mode, Mirage is not a straight re-interpretation of the original Mirage's robot mode, due to the completely different types of vehicles. But coincidentally the Ford GT's hood features a shape that echoes a F1-type racing car's nose and front spoiler. His removable engine supercharger splits in two, becoming either a pair of small pistols, or two tonfa weapons.
- Mirage was retooled into Hot Rodimus for the Kiss Players line, which was further redecoed into Alternators Rodimus. Later in 2007, he was redecoed in clear plastic colours to represent his 'invisibility mode' as an e-HOBBY exclusive in the Binaltech line.
Universe (2003)
- Mirage (Spy Changer, 2006)
- Accessories: Rifle
- Released in the 2003 Universe toyline, "Spy Changer" Mirage is a redeco of Generation 2 Go-Bot Mirage. He is identical to the last KB Toys exclusive redeco of 2001 Robots in Disguise Mirage, transforming into a translucent green Lola Indy car.
- He was available only on an individual card from discount chains like The Dollar Store.
Classics
- Mirage (Classics Deluxe, 2006)
- Accessories: Gun/front spoiler
- Classics Mirage was released in November 2006 in wave 2, along with the shortpacked Grimlock. He transforms into a closed-canopy Formula racer concept car. Mirage's paint details contain a few Transformers in-jokes in the form of sponsor logos such as "Witwicky Sparkplugs" and "Lithonian Drivetrain." Additionally, his racing number is still 26, as it was on the original toy. Other logos, which include "Plasma Injection Energy" and "F.P. Racing," refer to "pie" and the initials of the deco artist's super-secret non-gay friendship cult, respectively.
- The front detaches to become a handheld electro-disruptor weapon which is said to be able to create illusions and allow him to appear invisible. According to some of his production art, the weapon was partially styled after a crossbow. He is extremely poseable for his time, featuring double-jointed elbows and knees, ball-jointed spoiler "toes", and waist articulation, among others.
- His stock photography (Pictured at right) depicts almost all of his unpainted grey plastic as blue.
- This mold was also used to make Movie Fracture and Universe Drag Strip.
| Classics mold: Mirage | ||
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Timelines
- Hologram Mirage (BotCon, 2007)
- Accessories: Gun/front spoiler
- A redeco of Classics Mirage in translucent and opaque blue, Mirage was available only as a "freebie" gift to attendees at BotCon 2007.
| Classics mold: Mirage | ||
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- Mirage / Thundercracker (souvenir pack, BotCon 2013)
- Accessories: Gun/front spoiler
- This redeco of Classics Mirage renders him in his Machine Wars color scheme. He was only available in a two-pack with Machine Wars Thundercracker at BotCon 2013.
- This souvenir set was a particularly poor seller, ending up on deep clearance online after the convention.
| Classics mold: Mirage | ||
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Binaltech
- Rijie (e-Hobby exclusive, 2007)
- Japanese ID number: BT-18
- Accessories: Engine/tonfa weapons
- Rijie is a redeco of Alternators Mirage using mostly transparent plastic. The toy was exclusively available from e-HOBBY in September 2007.
- Even though Takara had briefly contemplated releasing a Hot Rodimus (Hot Rod) retool of Alternators Mirage as the next Binaltech toy after Ginrai (both toys would ultimately come out as part of the Kiss Players line instead), they apparently never created any die-cast molds for the Ford GT sculpt. To justify the absence of diecast parts from a Binaltech toy, Takara decided to use clear plastic parts to represent an "invisible" mode, officially called an "Electro-Disrupter" [sic] mode on the packaging.
Henkei! Henkei!
- Henkei! Henkei! Transformers Ligier is a redeco of Classics Mirage. In an effort to make him appear more accurate to Mirage's cartoon appearances, Ligier lacks most of the sponsorship tampographs that appeared on Classics Mirage. As with all Henkei toys, he lacks the heat-sensitive rubsign seen on the Classics version, but features vacuum-metallized parts: his rear spoiler and his front spoiler.
| Classics mold: Mirage | ||
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- Electro Disruptor Ligier (Deluxe, 2009)
- Electro Disruptor Ligier is a translucent plastic version of Henkei Ligier offered as a mail-away exclusive to those who have bought the book Transformers Generations 2009 Volume 1.
- This toy was repurposed as "Shattered Glass" Mirage.
| Classics mold: Mirage | ||
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Bot Shots
- Mirage (Bot Shot, 2012)
- Series: 1
- Number: B005
- Fist strength: 210
- Blaster strength: 840
- Sword strength: 580
- Part of the second wave of Bot Shots single-packs, Mirage is a teeny little sports car with a spring-loaded automatic transformation to robot mode triggered when his front bumper is pressed. He has a "spinner" in his chest that shows his three attack types and power levels. His head is based on the Classics version of Generation 1 Mirage but with a vehicle mode and chest reminiscent of his Dark of the Moon counterpart.
- Mirage's main car body, arms, and legs are also used by Barricade, Bumblebee, Lockdown, Prowl, and Topspin.
- Polar Assault Team (Multi-pack, 2013)
- Series: 2
- Number: T003
- Fist strength: 670
- Blaster strength: 190
- Sword strength: 760
- A redeco of the original Mirage mold in a darker blue with white windows. This version of Mirage was available in a five pack with new redecos of Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Ironhide, and Jetfire.
- Red Alert / Ultra Magnus / Mirage (Multi-pack, 2013)
- Series: 2
- Number: Super Bot 009
- Fist strength: 181
- Blaster strength: 845
- Sword strength: 594
- Part of the third wave of Bot Shots Series 2 three-packs, Super Bot Mirage is a redeco of the original Mirage mold in translucent teal with yellow wheels. He comes in a three-pack with Jump Shot Red Alert and Jump Shot Ultra Magnus.
BeCool
- Red Sports Car (Mirage) (2012)
- ID number: B08
- BeCool "Red Sports Car" is a red redeco of the Bot Shots Mirage toy (presumably in homage to Dark of the Moon Mirage) with the power level stickers replaced by little drawings related to sports cars: a speedometer, a car with its hood open and... a rice ball. Don't ask us. It might be a joke about its similarity to the speedometer.
Generations
- Specialist: Autobots (multi-pack, 2014)
- Accessories: Gun/front spoiler
- Classics Mirage was re-released in a three-pack with Universe Ironhide and Hound, available from Hasbro Asia and TakaraTomy Mall. All three Autobots feature new metallic paint decos, and the set's package art links up to the contemporaneously-released "Specialist: Decepticons" set to form a complete image. At selected stores in Asia, the set was available with a free Autobot insignia dangler.
| Classics mold: Mirage | ||
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- Mirage (Deluxe class, 2015)
- Accessories: Sword, double-barreled "rocket dart launcher"/fist/foot
- Part of the fourth wave of Generations Combiner Wars Deluxe Class toys, Mirage is a retool of Combiner Wars Decepticon Dragstrip, sporting a brand new head sculpt. The hand-foot-gun can be stored on top of his alt mode via 5mm posts. Being a Combiner Wars figure, Mirage can combine to form an arm or leg for any combiner from the Combiner Wars subline or any Unite Warriors Voyager class figure, although he would usually be associated with Optimus Maximus or Betatron.
- Mirage comes packaged with the comic book "The Sum and Its Parts". In Canada, Latin America, and Europe, he was available in different types of multilingual packaging including a character card featuring his comic book cover/package art instead. He and the last three waves of Combiner Wars Deluxe and Voyager figures later started showing up at TJ Maxx at reduced prices with the collector card.
Unite Warriors
- Convoy Grand Prime (Multi-pack, 2016-02-27)
- Japanese ID number: UW-05
- Accessories: Weapons, 4 Gun/Fist/Foots
- Takara's iteration of Combiner Wars Optimus Maximus is sold in a gift set including all five Autobots (minus the Rodimus mold). "Ligier" has numerous changes in deco to better match his look in the Generation 1 cartoon.
Merchandise
Decoy
- Defeat Trypticon Strategy Game (board game, 1986)
- Cybertron Hero Collection 22 (Decoy multi-pack, 1986)
- Mirage was among the many characters rendered by Takara as part of their series of 1.5" soft rubber keshigomu figurines. Like all the figures in the series, Mirage featured a number sculpted into his back that was the sum total of his Tech Specs, for use in the various games that could be played with the figurines. He was one of the six red-rubber Autobot playing pieces included in the Defeat Trypticon Strategy Game, and was also available as part of a 22-piece box set of Autobot figures. He could be purchased in peach as part of various other randomly-packed box sets released by Takara subsidiary Seven, and in a wide variety of different colors in "gachapon" capsule machines.
- Mirage (Decoy, 1987)
- Decoy number: 20
- The Mirage figurine was later brought over to Hasbro markets as part of the Decoy promotion, largely identical to the Japanese release except the number on his back was replaced with a simple "checklist" number. Like all Autobot Decoys, he was a randomly-chosen pack-in available with the carded Throttlebots, Aerialbots, Protectobots, and Technobots.
Choro-Q
- Ligier (2000)
- Choro-Q Ligier is a mostly translucent redeco of the Honda Jordan F1 toy from Takara's Choro-Q toyline of non-transforming super-deformed vehicles. He was an exclusive at BotCon Japan 2000, and features a pull-back motor and a rear license plate that reads "BotCon Japan 2000".
- Along with Choro-Q Convoy and Megatron, Ligier was given out randomly to convention attendees. Each toy was limited to 1000 pieces.
Attacktix
- Mirage (Booster,
2007)
- Mirage was likely to have been one of several Transformers Attacktix Booster pieces. He was to be a 20-point Specialist-class piece. Though displayed as part of the Attacktix display at the Star Wars "Celebration IV" convention, Mirage was ultimately never released as the Attacktix line was put on ice.
 Game over. |
Robot Heroes
- Mirage Vs Starscream (2007)
- Packaged with Starscream, Mirage is a two-inch-high robot sculpted in super deformed style with articulation at the head and shoulders. The toy has a sculpted missile launcher, like the original character, but oddly it is resting on the figure's back instead of the shoulder. This mold was later redecoed into Hologram Mirage.
- Decepticon Sneak Attack (2007)
- Hologram Mirage is a recolor of the two-pack Mirage cast in transparent blue with slightly different paint details. Most notably, the Autobot symbols on his arms have been replaced with part of the word "Citanes", to evoke the original toy. Mirage was packed with Metallic Finish Optimus Prime, Metallic Finish Megatron, Cliffjumper, and Skywarp. This pack was sold exclusively in Walmart, and Walmart.com.
The Loyal Subjects
- Mirage (2014)
- The Loyal Subjects Mirage is a Wave 2 figure with standard articulation. He is based on the original toy and features a few references that replace his normal racing sponsor details. Mirage's right foot reads "The Loyal" and his left reads "Subjects". On both sides of his chest, "Pawtucket" can be seen, a reference to Hasbro's headquarters. Under the 26 on his chest, the name "les" is shown, a reference to the designer of The Loyal Subjects figures. For every 16 figures, there is 1 Mirage.
Transformers Figure Collection
- Ligier (01-2016)
- Standing 42mm tall, Transformers Figure Collection Ligier is a non-poseable soft-rubber figure greatly based on a Decoy figure.
Notes
- Someone at Hasbro in the '90s must have had Mirage on the brain. Aside from the released Go-Bot and the unreleased Flipchanger created in his image, concept art for a green and pink redeco of Mirage's original toy (with alligator decals!) meant for the Generation 2 toyline surfaced in the Transformers Vault collector's book. In an unusual coincidence, Transformers fan and rarities-hunter Maziar "Maz" Shahsafdari unveiled a pictorial review of the mock-up done for this redeco on his website TF-1.com shortly after the book came out, entirely unaware of its inclusion in the tome. The color scheme went on to creep up in a few pieces of referential fiction, described above.
- The BotCon 2014 redeco of Classics Mirage almost became Machine Wars Prowl, but it ended up being replaced by Machine Wars Mirage.[1]
References
Categories:
- Pages with broken file links
- Pages with image sizes containing extra px
- Unreleased Attacktix
- Alternators Autobots
- Attacktix
- BotCon exclusives
- Classics Autobots
- Combiner Wars
- Combiners
- Decoys
- Generation 1 Autobots
- Generation 1 Decepticons
- Generation 2 Autobots
- Generation 2 Go-Bots
- Henkei! Henkei! Autobots
- KB Toys exclusives
- Machine Wars Autobots
- Mail order items
- Robot Heroes
- Robotmasters Autobots
- Timelines characters
- TransTech Autobots
- Unite Warriors Autobots
- Wings Universe Autobots
