Black body (technology)
In physics, a black body is an object that absorbs any and all electromagnetic radiation directed against it, neither reflecting any or allowing any to pass through it. Its name is derived from the fact that it absorbs even light itself, and thus appears purely black. Paltry human science considers perfect black bodies to be theoretical, but wouldn't you know, those dang Transformers had to come along and prove 'em wrong!
Fiction
Transformers Collection
Ricochet's Targetmaster partner Nightstick is equipped with black body armor, which powers his flame cannon mode and allows him to shoot bursts of fire up to 5000°C.[1]
Japanese Generation 1 collection continuity
Robotmasters
In 2004, the Autobots developed a coating that granted a Transformer a "black body", abbreviated as "BB", as an experimental way to efficiently absorb solitarium—it could also drain the energies of nearby machinery, including other Transformers. Optimus Prime, despite protests from his comrades, volunteered to be the test subject. Unbeknownst to them, Buzzsaw had switched out the pertinent data chip for a fake data chip created by Starscream, giving Optimus a deadly "infection". Keeping the data for himself, Starscream gave another fake data chip to Megatron, but his Predacon systems took to the data better and Megatron used his newfound abilities to attack the Autobots.
Befuddled by Megatron's positive reaction to the data, Starscream used a chip with the real data on himself and set out to attack Optimus Prime, only to fail. Optimus Primal used the fake data on himself after realizing its effects on Beast Warriors. Primal cured Prime's condition with his own black body and the two ended Megatron's threat. The Predacon soon was at Starscream's base, destroying the BB data and the traitor mistakenly inserted a fake data chip, giving himself the infection. Black Body
e-Hobby storyline
When Galvatron II appeared to threaten the universe with his fleet of Warworlds, Optimus Prime used his Reconfiguration Matrix to take on a new form with the power to give Galvatron a run for his money. This new body, resembling his original one, was armed with a huge pair of missile launchers which were so energy-consumptive that Prime had to transform his armor into a black body to absorb enough energy to power them.[2] Prime put his new form to use rescuing Ultra Magnus from Galvatron's clutches. Hybrid Style Convoy Black Version
Wheeljack and Ga'mede later studied Prime's new form and duplicated it to create a small army of mass-produced drones known as Eldedroids.[3]
Toys
The Headmasters
- Stepper (Targetmaster, 1987)
- Japanese ID number: C-109
- Nightstick (called "Nebulon") was included with Ricochet (called "Stepper"), and is identical to the Decepticon Nightstick. He transforms into a single-barrelled, non-firing hand-cannon that can peg into Stepper's car-mode spoiler or attach to a separate bracket mounted over his robot-mode shoulder.
- Nightstick was reissued alongside Stepper for Takara's The Transformers Collection series, and by Hasbro as part of their Generation One Commemorative Series, remolded with a slender peg to allow Stepper to hold him in his hand.
Hybrid Style
- Convoy Black Version (2006)
- Japanese ID number: T.H.S.-02B
- Accessories: Trailer/Combat Deck, Roller, ion blaster, gas pump, energon-axe, Matrix of Leadership, rocket pack, 8 fists (4 left, 4 right), Autobot insignia stand, 2 missile launchers, 2 heads
- Available exclusively through e-Hobby, this black and teal repaint of Hybrid Style Optimus Prime features the traditional "Nemesis Prime" color scheme, but represents a version of Optimus Prime himself. Created under the supervision of Shōji Kawamori, Hybrid Style Prime stands only three and three-quarter inches tall, and yet features one of the most complex transformation sequences ever seen on a Transformers figure of its size. It is loaded with detail and articulation, is partially constructed of die-cast metal, and comes with numerous interchangeable fists, weapons and other accessories. Exclusive to this repaint are two new large guns patterned after the new weapons wielded by the Generation 2 Optimus Prime toy, and two additional (blue) Prime heads that can be swapped with the figure's regular noggin, sculpted explicitly in the style of Generation 2 comic artist Derek Yaniger. When combined with the black trailer of Convoy Black Version, these parts can be used to modify the original, red Hybrid Style Optimus Prime into a comic-accurate Generation 2 version, complete with a black trailer, trailer-mounted guns and your choice of Yaniger-style heads.
- This figure came in a unique box, packaged with a mini-comic, both illustrated by Hidetsugu Yoshioka.
References
External links
- Black body at Wikipedia
