City Commander, Transform!

This is nothing short of pure awesome. I think I may have linked to it before in its early stages, but it’s worth mentioning again.

The TransFormers fans at FansProject heard the cry from many other fans of the one problem had by the TransFormers Classics release of Ultra Magnus by Hasbro: He had no trailer.

Which is fair enough; Optimus Prime didn’t have his trailer, either. The problem is, the Generation 1 Ultra Magnus character was visually defined by his trailer, not just in vehicle mode, but in robot mode as well. And without it, he is basically just a white Prime, not to mention frequent Optimus recolor ever since Pat Lee stripped him bare in one of the Dreamwave comics.

I’ve always had a soft spot for Ultra Magnus; when I was growing up, I never had the original Optimus Prime toy. Around the time of the movie, however, I was lucky enough to get not only the new leader Rodimus Prime (who was cool, so suck it, haters), but Ultra Magnus as well. And after Optimus coated himself in a white metal in the episodes where he was brought back, my Ultra Magnus cab would occasionally stand in as Prime. That is, until Powermaster Optimus Prime came out, but that’s a whole ‘nother story.

Last year, good friend (ironically, given his name) managed to get ahold of the Target-exclusive Classics Ultra Magnus for me. So it’s like the return of an old friend, in a new body– something I’m not unfamiliar with seeing in this franchise. And now, the “City Commander” armor/trailer is available, but it costs way too damn much for my weak wallet. Still, it’s a neat piece. But why am I talking about all of this, then, if I can’t even get it?

Mostly because they put together this cool TransFormers: Cybertron/Galaxy Force-styled video of a CGI model of the toy transforming, and then combining with the new trailer and armor:

Man, I love that. For those interested, they’re doing other color variations as well, such as Shadow Commander for Nemesis Prime.

Also, to show history repeats itself, I still have no matching Optimus to go with Magnus. Nor the corresponding Megatron or Galvatron… at least, not yet.

Thanks to for the video, which as it happens is also on FansProject’s site.

–LBD “Nytetrayn”

David Oxford

David Oxford, or “LBD ‘Nytetrayn’,” as he is sometimes also known, is a freelance writer of many varied interests who resides in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. If you’re interested in hiring him, please drop him a line at david.oxford (at) nyteworks.net.

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