Black redeco
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 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.
The in-fiction rationale behind black repaints varies from toy bio to toy bio. One particularly common reason is to represent an "evil counterpart" of a preexisting character. For example, most Nemesis Primes across the fiction are black repaints of a corresponding Optimus Prime toy. Another common reason for producing a black variant of an already used mold is as a "stealth version" of this same character. These toys are often distinguished by adding the prefix "Stealth-" "Shadow-" or some variation of "Night Attack-" to the character's name. Some represent exposure to plot devices, while others offer no explanation whatsoever.
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 true repaint of the Go-Bot Bumblebee, lacking his gold paint (making her a depaint?). Like other BotCon exclusives, she would be unrelated to the mold she was based on.
- Black Lio Convoy is the first black repaint to be an evil Autobot clone, in this case of Lio Convoy.
- The JAFCON-exclusive "Convoy Black Version" is notable both for being one of the first of a billion zillion oddly-colored redecos of the Generation 1 Optimus Prime toy, and for being one of the first black repaints with absolutely no fictional explanation for the color scheme.
- 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 some 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.
- Animated Shadow Blade Megatron is cast entirely in black plastic with the exception of his translucent parts. Rare for a Transformers figure, especially one produced by Hasbro.
- The live-action film series version of Bumblebee has been subject to over a dozen black repaints, virtually all some variation on "stealth" or "night strike" concepts. Particularly notable is 2011's Dark of the Moon Cyberfire Bumblebee, aka "Murderbee", which picked up a small cult following in the fandom for its surprisingly sinister appearance.
