Photo Shoots - Triple Changers

Hey there folks,

The Triple Changers in my collection so far...

In our previous Photoshoots, we discussed about the several Double Agents that existed in the Transformers lore. Most of those double agent (although not all), are transformers with 1 alternate mode, and 2 distinct robot mode - i.e. Autobot and Decepticon respectively. Although they technically have 3 separate mode, they are, however, not classified as part of the subgroup that we are going to talk about today.

Yes, we are going to talk about Triple Changers. In the Dreamwave Generation One comic series, the Triple Changers were said to be a product of Shockwave's experiment. In other series however, the origin of Triple Changers weren't so clear.

Although there have been so many Transformers characters that possesses the ability to have 2 distinct alternate modes, throughout the franschise's history; however, in most Transformers fiction, the term Triple Changers is almost exclusively used to refer to the six following characters:

1. Astrotrain

2. Blitzwing

3. Octane (sometimes referred to as Tankor)

4. Springer

5. Sandstorm

6. Broadside

This, of course, discounts many other characters, whose action figures have been marketed as such, but never so in their respective fictions. Examples of these are Laserbeak (Armada/ Micron Legend), Scorponok/ Megazarak (Energo/ Superlink), Galvatron (G1), Metroplex, Fortress Maximus, Trypticon, just to name a few. 

Hence, we shall be focusing on these 6 characters as well.

In the old G1 series, the 1st Triple Changers to be introduced were Blitzwing and Astrotrain. Astrotrain, in particular, has been subjected to much debate in terms of mass shifting (along with Megatron, Soundwave, and subsequently, Blaster). For example, in the 1986 animated movie, Astrotrain's shuttle mode has been shown to be big enough to transport so many members of the Decepticons, not to mentioned being able to contain an almost-fully-transformed Devastator within him. All of these, of course, after his robot mode was constantly being shown to be only as big as Megatron, and other full-sized bots. Worse was to come...

In the 1986 animated movie, we were also introduced to Autobot's very own Triple Changer -- Springer. After uttering what undoubtedly, one of the most memorable lines in the entire movie, the character Springer has proven time and again to be a fan favorite.

At the start of Transformers Season 3 (Five Faces of Darkness #1), Octane appeared in a non-speaking role, and would only speak in several subsequent episodes later. In Season 3 as well, we would be introduced to 2 more Autobot Triple Changers, i.e. Sandstorm and Broadside.

Just like Astrotrain previously, Broadside too was subjected to much criticisms. At one point, the aircraft carrier that it transforms into was shown to be as big as Devastator, and yet, his aircraft mode was shown to be just a regular sized one.

Mass shifting aside, the Triple Changers have been shown to be quite popular with the fans, and why wouldn't they be? As an action figure, it was quite fun to play with, and still! You're essentially getting bang for your buck! Instead of getting 2-in-1 with your regular Transformers figures, now you're getting 3-in-1 instead! 

So popular that it would propel Hasbro and Takara to be more adventurous, thus making way for six-changers such as Sixshot and Quickswitch.  

Post-G1, the Transformers Classics/ Henkei lines, would eventually breathe new life into the Triple Changers, by releasing Astrotrain, and subsequently Octane in the Universe line. These action figures were basically Deluxe-class sized, and fans wanted a larger-scale version of these figures.

In the Transformers: Animated line, on the heels of the successful 2007 live-action movie, the character Blitzwing was introduced as a Voyager-class. 

As an update of its characterization, Blitzwing was created to have split-personalities, and equipped with the feature to swap faces, to correspond with each split personalities. This feature, would also be carried forward to his subsequent Generations incarnation. 

Talk about sub-par design. The Jet and Tank mode weren't all too bad, but the robot mode left a lot to be desired

Also in the Generations line, Springer and Sandstorm, were released as Voyager-class figures. 

Until this day, the Springer figure released in this series is still considered as one of the best ever. 

Fans were hoping for other Triple Changers to be released in the same scale as well.

Unfortunately, that didn't happen. Instead, we had to wait until the Titans Return line, that Blitzwing (again, somehow a lot of people love tanks, and not to mention that the Generations Blitzwing received much flak from the fans for its weak/sub-par designs), Astrotrain, Octane and Broadside would receive the Voyager treatment. 

In this line, however, these four Triple Changers would each come with a Headmaster of its own, which kind of received complaints from some picky fans.

In the later Siege line, anothers variant of Springer and Astrotrain would be released, without the Headmaster feature. 

The fans love Triple Changers. Whenever any Triple Changers are released, people would look forward to it. 

This is definitely a fleet that you do not want coming at you. 

And if you want to have an army of Transformers of your own, chances are that if you can't get any of the Combiner Team (gestalts) to be on your team, you would want a fleet of Triple Changers standing on your side.