Ratbat (G1)/toys
From MediaWiki
Ratbat is often not a cassette.
Toys
The Transformers
- Ratbat / Frenzy (Cassette 2-pack, 1986)
- Accessories: 2 "radar-guided free-electron laser" thrusters
- Released in the third year of The Transformers, and the only new Decepticon cassette that year, Ratbat transforms from a robot bat into a microcassette that can fit in the chest compartment of the Soundwave and Blaster molds. He was released in a two-pack with Frenzy in 1986 in the US and European markets. The toy had either gold or silver weapons, and either painted or sticker cassette detail. It is unknown if the color of the weapons corresponded to the detailing types.
- Ratbat's tiny "ears" are among the more easily lost parts in the original Transformers toyline.
- This mold was later used to make Encore Wingthing and Shattered Glass Ratbat.
- Ratbat (Cassettron, 1986/1987)
- Japanese ID number: D-61, D-107
- Accessories: 2 "radar-guided free-electron laser" thrusters, cassette case (1987 release only)
- In Japan, Ratbat was initially released by himself on an individual card. This version of the toy came with golden weapons and stickered paint detailing.
- Later, he was re-released in the Headmasters-themed era of the line, this time in a small box with a new ID number. The toy itself appears to have no significant changes from the first Takara release, though it did gain a clear-plastic cassette case Ratbat (or any other cassette) could be stored in.
You were there, impossibly alone.
- Transformers Linkin Park Soundwave: Special Edition (September 23, 2013)
- Accessories: 2 "radar-guided free-electron laser" thrusters
- Linkin Park Ratbat is a gold and ... also gold redeco of Ratbat. He's packaged with Linkin Park gold redecoes of Soundwave, Laserbeak, Buzzsaw, and Ravage on a flocked-purple plastic tray inside a special commemorative box. He has no stickers, factory-applied or otherwise. Linkin Park Soundwave: Special Edition was exclusive to SURU and limited to 2000 pieces.
- At least one Ratbat (*ahem*) was misassembled so that the tips of the feet are unable to swing forward for bat mode, requiring disassembly and reassembly. Currently unknown if this is a widespread problem.
Universe (2008)
- Standoff Beneath the Streets (Voyager Deluxe Comic 2-Pack, 2008)
- A Target-exclusive redeco of Cybertron Sideways, Universe Ratbat is a purple, alien spacefighter with a pop-out "internal displacement cannon". When his Cyber Key is inserted into the back of the cannon, he switches factions (from Decepticon to Ultracon) and the built-in spring-loaded "combat blades" deploy. His wings can also detach from his ankles and be used as blades, with both pegging into either his hands, either with one blade in each hand, or with both blades pegging into the top and bottom of a single hand, forming a double-bladed weapon. His (conveniently color-coded) purple Cyber Key is unpainted, save for its silver Decepticon symbol. He was available only with Springer.
- His packaging stock photography has his robot mode flipped, and his instructions and packaging call-out erroneously mention that his key-activated faction-changing gimmick makes him switch from "Autobot to Decepticon at will!" Worse yet, in an effort for him to fit in the box, he is horribly mis-transformed, with his crotch being left split open, and the panel above it not being fully attached to his main body.
- Despite being a redeco of a Cybertron mold, Universe Ratbat is a remarkable homage to his Dark Ages robot mode and altmode. This is further enhanced by packaging him with Springer, whom Ratbat had a rivalry with in the story. See the relevant story section for more details.
- In its first release in Canada, the set did not include a comic (in spite of the INCLUDES COMIC! marking on the package), and in its first reported US sighting, included the wrong comic. Instead of a reprint of "Target: 2006" parts 5 and 6, which was meant for the "Autobot Ambush" Deluxe-Voyager two-pack of Roadbuster and Dirge, the right comic was to be The Dark Ages issue "Escalation", which was similarly and erroneously included with the "Autobot Ambush" two-pack.
- This mold was also used to make the Noisemaze Mass Production Type Version, and retooled into Timelines Scourge and Sweeps Two, Six, and Seven. The Sweeps were later repurposed as Shattered Glass Scourge.
- Soundwave (2009)
- Accessories: 2 "radar-guided free-electron laser" thrusters, cassette case
- In 2009, the original Ratbat toy was included with yet another reissue of the original Soundwave as part of the Universe line, this time as a Hasbro Toy Shop exclusive that was prominently offered at San Diego Comic-Con 2009. This release has stickered tape detailing and gold weapons, as well as a clear cassette case.
- Surprisingly for a reissue, the US San Diego Comic-Con release and the Encore release were near simultaneous, both occurring on the same weekend... but the two have a significant difference (see below).
Encore
- Great Cassette Operation Vol.2 (2009)
- Encore number: 17
- Accessories: 2 thrusters
- As part of TakaraTomy's Encore line, Ratbat was reissued in a box set along with Slugfest, Ramhorn, and Steeljaw. While this release retains the gold weapons, its tape detailing is now a tampograph, a first for Japanese Ratbats.
- In 2014, this and the other two cassette four-packs were re-released as lucky draw prizes for the Transformers Celebration 2014 event held at Ikebukuro Sunshine City store's Toys"R"Us, though this was likely just leftover stock.
Generations
- Part of the seventh wave of TakaraTomy Generations toys, Ratbat is a pretool/redeco of Generations Deluxe Class Scourge. It uses the mold's alternate head, inspired by Ratbat's pre-war Senator body as seen in IDW's Megatron Origin. He transforms into a jet loosely based on the Boeing X-48 blended wing body concept aircraft, and comes with two weapons that are both held via 5 mm post. They can combine via C joint into a triple-barreled weapon, and can store inside each of his cape halves/aircraft wings.
- This mold was also used to make Timelines Serpent O.R., and was separately retooled into BotCon 2014 Devcon. This tooling of the mold also served as the basis of the non-toy IDW incarnation of Deathcobra and the Ex-Jet.
| Generations mold: Scourge | ||
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War for Cybertron: Siege
- Decepticon Rumble & Ratbat (Micromaster, 2019)
- ID number: WFC-S46
- Japanese ID number: SG-41
- Japanese release date: January 25, 2020
- Part of wave 5 of Siege Micromasters, Ratbat transforms into the "V4 Sonicsurge Drone Armor." This flattened box mode is theoretically compatible with Siege Soundwave, but in practice it's slightly too large to fit into his chest compartment. He can however attach to Soundwave and other figures as some sort of shield.
- Ratbat comes packaged together with Rumble.
Masterpiece
- Masterpiece Ratbat is a new-mold toy that transforms from micro-cassette to a character model-accurate mechanical bat. Similar to Masterpiece Buzzsaw/Laserbeak and Ravage, Ratbat's gold accessories are now integrated into the transformation and separation is not possible. Unlike the other TakaraTomy Cassettrons, Ratbat comes with a colorless clear cassette case instead of a hot pink cassette case.
- Due to the modified transformation scheme compared to the original toy, the cassette mode details are visible on the front of his wings. The line art of these details were actually part of Ratbat's original character model, although in most depictions of this model in fiction the wings remained solid purple. The details were properly colored in for his appearance in All Hail Megatron #5, however, as shown in Ratbat's IDW section.
- This mold was also used to make Masterpiece Wingthing.
| Masterpiece mold: Soundwave | ||
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Xiaomi/Transformers
- Soundwave (2016)
- The result of a team-up between Hasbro and Chinese consumer electronics company Xiaomi, Ratbat is included with the larger Soundwave figure that transforms from an officially licensed Mi Pad 2 tablet to a Voyager-sized robot in 30 steps. Ratbat is a somewhat large figure formed from part of Soundwave's kibble and can be mounted on his back as a wing attachment, or perched on his arm. Ratbat's whole design seems like something of an afterthought and lacks any semblance of a bat face other than a Micro-USB port that is perhaps meant to represent his head in this form. Soundwave's weapons store within Ratbat's wings while the two are combined in tablet mode.
G.I. Joe and the Transformers
- Club Crossover Exclusive (Club crossover exclusive, 2016)
- Part of a comics-inspired G.I. Joe / Transformers crossover set sold by Fun Publications, this redeco of Masterpiece Ratbat has super-comic-inspired colors, most notably replacing his black with blue, as was the way "black" was usually depicted in comic coloring through the '80s and '90s.
- This set also includes a "hologram" Megatron toy, non-transforming figures of Blackcat and Toaster, as well as G.I Joe action figures of Cobra Commander, Scarlett, and Doctor Biggles-Jones based on the G.I. Joe / Transformers Generation 2 crossover comics.
Merchandise
Diamond Select
- Sound Blaster (Diamond Select, 2008)
- Released by Diamond Select Toys in 2008, the Sound Blaster bust was sculpted by Mark Wong of Art Asylum, limited to 1,000 pieces. It includes a new sculpt of Ratbat perching on Sound Blaster's shoulder.
- Rumble (Diamond Select, 2009)
- Released by Diamond Select Toys in 2009, Rumble was sculpted by Mark Wong of Art Asylum and limited to 1000 pieces. Ratbat is seen blazing over his shoulder and decoed in a deeper purple than he is usually depicted in.
G.I. Joe and the Transformers
- An exclusive release for San Diego Comic-Con 2012, this toy is a redeco of the 2012 new-mold G.I. Joe: Retaliation HISS tank meant to represent Shockwave. It includes the Cobras James McCullen Destro XXIV and a Battle Android Trooper with a trolley for carrying Energon cubes.
