TRANSFORMERS: Revisiting The Characters Of Generation 1 - SLUGSLINGER

TRANSFORMERS:  Revisiting the Characters of Generation 1

    "The only way to survive a duel with me is to not show up." - Slugslinger, 1987.

DECEPTICON

Name - SLUGSLINGER

Function - Air Defense

Nebulan Partner - Caliburst

Series Debut - 1987 / Wave 4

Sub-Group - Targermaster

BACKGROUND...

        The Decepticon, Slugslinger, is a big-mouthed braggart.  He's always acting like the tough-guy - itching for a fight, shooting off his mouth, and challenging others to a "duel".  Despite all his bold talk, the reality is, he would rather creep up on his enemies and blast them in the back then take them on face to face.

    Slugslinger transforms into a Cybertronic jet.  In this mode, he has extreme speed, reaching up to 2400 mph.

    Slugslinger was a member of a Decepticon unit that found itself on the planet Nebulos searching for a team of Autobots.  Joining forces with some of the Nebulans, Slugslinger was one of the Decepticons chosen to be a part of the "Targetmaster Process".  

    This process involved the Nebulan undergoing a bio-engineering process and utilizing a special battle armor that would allow him to convert into the Decepticon warrior's weapon.  In this case, a Nebulan named Caliburst was given the ability to convert into Slugslinger's machine gun.  Caliburst was working as a lead actor on Nebulos, but the lure of money swayed him into service with the Decepticons.

MY THOUGHTS...

    I gotta say... I really don't know much about Slugslinger at all!!  I never had the figure, I don't know anyone that had it, and he never got any spotlight in any of the media.  That said, I think he's a pretty cool looking character with an interesting, unique starfighter mode!  I also like having a team of Decepticon Cybertronic jets (Slugslinger, Misfire, and Triggerhappy) working together.  Although the concept was never fully utilized!  The idea of a jet trio harkens back to the original seeker gang from 1984.

    Slugslinger here is represented by the Titans Return version of the character.  Like many others, here the Targetmaster idea is dropped and he is actually more of a Headmaster.  Thus Caliburst now forms his head rather than his gun.  From what I can tell, this is a great update of the figure though!  A little less blocky than the original and he has some nice articulation!  I will add, however, that is a LOT of teal or whatever color that is...  This figure belongs to one of my boys as they were really heavy into the Titans Return line!

Decepticon Targetmasters from the 1987 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.)