TRANSFORMERS: Revisiting the Characters of Generation 1 - OUTBACK

 TRANSFORMERS:  Revisiting the Characters of Generation 1

    "Rules are the detours on the road of life!" - Outback, 1986.

AUTOBOT

Name - OUTBACK

Function - Gunner

Series Debut - 1986 / Wave 3

Sub-Group - None

BACKGROUND...

    Outback is one of those robots that likes taking the easy path in life... and in driving.  Whether it's bending the rules or cutting through someone's backyard to get where he going - it doesn't matter to him.  As a result, he is poor at following directions!

    Outback transforms into a tan, 4-wheel drive, off-road, armored vehicle.  In this mode he is able to tackle various degrees of rough terrain and steep grades.  On a flat surface he can reach speeds up to 100 mph.  On top of his vehicle mode, he carries an armor-piercing mortar cannon.

    In 2006, Outback was partnered with Blaster in effort to track down Decepticons hidden on Earth.  Attempting to trick them with his made-up "Decepticon Detector" gadget, the pair was successful in finding Ramjet and Dirge.  Questioning the enemy seekers, revealed the information that the Decepticon army was taking refuge on the planet Charr.  

    A short time later, he was part of the team tasked with protecting the Autobot's original Earth base - the Ark.  As the massive Trypticon slowly made his approach, Outback and his team gave their best effort to stop him.  Unfortunately, they could not overcome the gigantic Decepticon.  In the end, the Ark was buried under tons of rubble.  

MY THOUGHTS...

    Outback was released as one of the 6 mini-cars in Wave 3.  This assortment of small vehicles borrowed heavily from the molds of the 6 mini-cars from Wave 1.  Outback is clearly recolored and re-tooled from the 1984 Autobot - Brawn.  This didn't bother me though.  I really liked all the mini-cars and with their low price-point, I bought them all!  Plus, these small vehicles were great to fit in your pocket and take to school to show your friends!

    Outback was a favorite because of the addition of the cannon accessory.  I would use him and Warpath to defend and protect the city of Metroplex from Decepticon invaders.  Also, the desert colors made him a great figure to take outside and have him barrel over all kinds of terrain!

    Standing in for the original Outback is the 2018 Power of the Primes Outback.  This was a amazing homage to the original!  A great-looking figure!  They dropped the ball though as they forgot to give him a cannon!?!?  Luckily, there is a place to put one if you have an extra weapon from another figure... which I did!  

    While on a family vacation at the beautiful Topsail Island in 2022, I brought Outback along for some photos of him exploring the sandy dunes.  My son, Finn (6 at the time), came up with the cool idea of him punching his way out of the sand.  Personally, I thought that pic came out great!    

Wave 2 & 3 mini-cars from the 1986 catalog.

    (Information on the character's lore was taken from the Sunbow Transformers cartoon series, including the Movie and the figure's original Tech-Spec.)