The History of Transformers: 1987 Edition

[@DragonTail49]

The '87 Transformers are one of the first lines of toys I remember eagerly anticipating (the other was MOTU's Evil Horde). To this day that early advert, with Magnus and Rodimus discussing the characters, still gives me tingles. This is truly the video this line deserved, good brother - epic and excellent!

[@MichaelMercy]

Thank you brother Slick! So glad you enjoyed it. I certainly have a new appreciation for this incredible year.

[@creasybear31]

Brings me back to when I was collecting Autobots and my best friend was collecting Deceptions. '87-'88 was kind of the final years of all that. Playtime was epic though!

[@MichaelMercy]

Those were the days! Loved getting together with friends and being able to play with other toys from the line that I didn't have, as well as share the ones I had that they didn't.

[@DVDRAR]

@@SJHFoto That’s a nice story

[@northstar5]

I still have my original Scorponok from 1987! I still have the box and all packaging too! I knew from the minute I got it, that he was the crown jewel of my collection. I transformed him over and over, but always with the utmost care. He is still in great shape today. I love that toy!

[@pauricboylan960]

You put so much Effort into these History videos! Much appreciated 🙏

[@MichaelMercy]

Thanks, glad you enjoy them!

[@MrTim2031]

Fort Max was awesome. He wasn’t available in the UK market, but in ‘88 my dad got a new job in the US. We made the move that year and that Christmas I got the best surprise ever. It was a bit hard for 8 year old me to move it around. But it was very sturdy due to his size, I still have it and it’s in pretty good condition after all these years.

[@drozwalker9]

This line of Transformers offered so many cool characters. I really enjoyed the variety of gimmicks and incorporation of "Battle Beasts".

[@MichaelMercy]

The Battle Beasts/Beastformers were such a cool little bonus, and they're even featured in an episode of the Japanese show. That's especially nice since they never got an animated series of their own in North America.

[@BobHansenJokes]

Outstanding work Michael! I loved the Stinger. Wow what a crazy year. Glad to see Rippersnapper have the last word: he was my only Decepticon! He had to fight Powermaster Optimus, Ultra Magnus, and Sludge on his own. He didn't do very well.

[@MichaelMercy]

Thanks Bob, happy to see you enjoyed it. Oh well, it's not the outcome, it's the effort. Go Rippersnapper!

[@MrCAcompora]

This video reminded me of two nostalgic elements of The Transformers and GI Joe, the cartoon announcers before and after the commercials. Both voices were very distinctive.

[@MichaelMercy]

Pure class. 👌

[@TheLWord75]

1987 was the last great year for G1 Transformers. Loved the Headmasters and Targetmasters lines. Fortress Maximus remained my dream toy for decades until I was able to purchase him via eBay two years ago. By this year, I was entering my first year of junior high school (7th grade), transferred to a new school, and was starting to develop a love (and addiction) to video games, especially the NES. I purchased three toys in the 1988 line (Powermaster Optimus Prime, headmaster Siren; Targetmaster Scoop) but by then the Toys were getting really cheaply designed, made of plastic (instead of metal, rubber wheels) and the toy manufacturing shifted to Macao, Hong Kong, and Taiwan instead of Japan. Same went for the GI Joe line. The release of the film really jumped the shark with the release of some awful Joes such as Chuckles and the Cobra-la figures. I just bought Destro and his destroyer vehicle and said Sayanora to the line.

[@roryowens9703]

As someone who read the comics but only sporadically watched the cartoon, I feel like I had a very different experience of Transformers than a lot of people. The Headmasters and Targetmasters were treated a lot better in the comics - both the Transformers themselves and their Nebulan partners. Also - no Daniel in the comics at all, which was a huge bonus.

[@MichaelMercy]

Agreed. I wasn't able to get through the Japanese Headmasters show some years back partly due to Daniel and Wheelie, but they're easier to ignore now and I'm enjoying it a lot more this try.

[@TheYoungDoctor]

Daniel does appear in three pages of UK #199.

[@michaelpalmer5351]

Great video, Mike! I had no idea Optimus sacrificed himself again after they brought him back - but am very glad to know he didn't have to die a third time, and instead shone his big old heart out to the entire universe. Wonderful!!!

[@MichaelMercy]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@bissdoesyoutube]

i'm only seeing this now, but i just want to say i love your work i wasn't born in the 80s or 90s, but all this retro stuff, especially older transformers, is just so cool to me keep up the great work, and i look forward to seeing what else you have planned!

[@MichaelMercy]

Thanks! Glad you're enjoying them Cheers!

[@inflewence]

You deserve so much for the time and effort you put into this. Thank you!

[@MichaelMercy]

Appreciate it!

[@ThePhenomf4]

So many fond memories from that era of transformers. Thank you for the trip down memory lane. These videos give me the same feelings as opening a figure, unfolding the product sheets with all of the available figures in a line and oohing and awing at the potential battles waiting to be had. Like most kids we’d get one or two figures and our imaginations filled in the blanks. I can’t wait to sit down with me son when he gets out of school today and rewatch this with him. Thank you, Patreon Tribe and Mr. Mercy.

[@HappyBirthdayRoboto]

Michael, I had no idea you liked Headmasters, they're my favourite and I thought I was the only one. When I was in school the other kids started making fun of me for still liking Transformers, they were more mature because they watched Knight Rider and the A Team, then a friend lent me the TF comics Headmasters mini-series and I rediscovered my love of Transformers. When I read those comics, I fell in love with Transformers and comics again, but it also put me on a path to appreciating sci-fi and I've never looked back. Nerdmaste.

[@jsttv]

Excellent video. My favorite of 1987 will always be Fortress Maximus.

[@MichaelMercy]

Thanks! Fort Max rocks.

[@touchingevil2302]

Love the video ❤ I like the headmasters and i got Scoponok at christmas, one of the best christmas present and when i got Castle grayskull. I miss the 80s 😭

[@MichaelMercy]

Lucky!

[@Dhark370]

38:58 "was that the bite of 87?!"

[@BJETNT]

I loved this show!!! Thanks for the nostalgic moment sir!!!

[@MichaelMercy]

Thanks for checking it out. Cheers!

[@p.a.u.l.555]

Hi Michael, that brought back good memories, I had second hand Scorpinok for Xmas, my parents couldn't afford new one, can't wait for '88 series from you, thanks again, take it easy,peace👍✌️

[@MichaelMercy]

Thanks, happy to hear that. New or used, still an awesome Christmas present.

[@superluigi018]

I’m glad you touched on The Headmasters anime. I watched it recently during my G1 binge and was surprised by how few people talk about it.

[@WhiskeyShred]

My last year as a collecting kid, I had a couple of micro masters but this was pretty much the end for me (at the time) love your channel man!

[@MichaelMercy]

Thanks! Definitely the peak of G1 for me.

[@eightbit1975]

GREAT 1987 Edition Michael! I had many of these toys and still do!

[@MichaelMercy]

Thank you, happy to hear you enjoyed it.

[@bobahicks]

Fantastic video. Well worth the wait. I'm really in the mood to rewatch Rebirth now. I also still have my 87 annual somewhere in the house. Great work, Michael 👑

[@MichaelMercy]

Thanks! If you've never seen the Japanese Headmasters show, I highly recommend it. I'm giving it my first proper watch-through and it blows Rebirth away. Best of all, lots of continuity from episode to episode like a modern series.

[@Ryochi2011]

My favorite year of the G1 toy line!! The commercial ads had awesome animation!! Anime standards!! Loved the new futurist box design too!! Fort Max is so awesome!! Not even his new Titans Return self could compare to him!! The targetmaster commercial and the Sixshot commerical are my all-time favorites!! Great video!! Can't wait for the 88 series!!

[@logicsfinest3471]

Thanks for this. I had Astrotrain, Shockwave, Soundwave, Laserbeak and Ravage, and all six Constructicons. Devastator is my favorite Transformer.

[@jonarmstrong1961]

I remember this year of transformers vividly only because my dad and his navy buddies collected transformers as well as us kids back in these days. When my dad brought home scorponok for himself in that huge box. My brother and I were so jealous. Then my dad's buddy brought over fortress maximus to show him off. Our jaws dropped at the size of fortress box. Us kids always got the smaller cheaper transformers lol. Man I miss those days.

[@johnnyfountainS]

I was traumatized by Starscream, instead of Optimus.

[@Rodsuper]

Thank you for this review, it was great and worth the wrap up of this great TV G1 show.

[@MichaelMercy]

Thanks, glad you liked it.

[@elijahbegay8661]

Finally I’ve waiting for this for a long time!

[@MichaelMercy]

Been working on it for a long time. 😁 Enjoy!

[@bingbongtoysKY]

YES!!!! YOU DID IT!! I'm going to savor this episode- congratulations!!! a Triumph!!!

[@MichaelMercy]

Thanks, cheers!

[@bingbongtoysKY]

love you brother!!!

[@audiebavington8789]

Michael, you've outdone yourself. This was wonderful. Such a classy production. What a ride! Looking forward to a MM book release!

[@MichaelMercy]

Thanks Audie!

[@jaradk.mitchellstiles2031]

This really makes me relive my childhood, I love these sets. The headmasters, target masters and gestalts were the best part for me.

[@wyldink1]

As usual, excellent video that immediately shunts me back to being a kid in the 80s. Outstanding work.

[@MichaelMercy]

Thanks Jason, glad to hear it. Have a great day.

[@vhsguy032]

I am so happy you have now done a 1987 episode

[@IcedSynergy]

God I love your live action cop dad running joke, probably the best part of the series. I would love to just see a video full of shorts like that. Hell, even get on the YT shorts train and upload them there!

[@MichaelMercy]

Thanks! Have a lovely weekend.

[@davishayden429]

Loved the mentions of the Japanese season, hopefully this means that when we get to 88 there will be shoutouts to Master Force. Fingers crossed that there will be an episode dedicated to the bots of Victory.

[@MichaelMercy]

For sure! I've got the DVDs for those shows and will be watching them when I finish Headmasters.

[@lcathey5523]

Finally its here! But I only have one request, 1:chiffjumper is not chase 2:brawl is not rollbar 3:gears is not searchlight 4:huffer is not wideload, and finally windcharger.

[@MichaelMercy]

They are to me. 😁

[@markrobinsontraining]

Very professional video of one of the best G1 years!

[@stormy9252]

27:38 upgrade is a generous term

[@MichaelMercy]

😆 First downgrade?

[@robvegas9354]

The throttlebots were awesome fun! The technobots were the first full set of combiners that i was able to collect back in the day. Great video as always and lots of fun to watch. Awesome work Michael thank you for sharing :)

[@MichaelMercy]

Thanks Rob, cheers!

[@thebeestingconspiracy]

Good video! This was the last year I collected until Universe 2.0. Pounce and Wingspan were the last two I bought and I was only allowed to get them on the condition that I never open them because I was "too old" for toys and I had to treat them as collectibles. I opened them within a week. No regrets

[@Steven-ip8xo]

Hi Micheal, The Latest Edition Of The History Of The Transformers was superb, keep them coming. also my favorite Transformers are the following they are: 1. The Autobot Headmasters ( 1.Fortress Maximus With Cerebros And Spike(Spike Witwicky),2. Highbrow with Gort,3.HardHead with Duros,4.Brainstorm With Arcana, and 5.Chromedome With Stylor, My favorite Autobot Target Masters are: 1.Kup with Recoil,2.Hot Rod With FireBolt,3.Blurr With Recoil,4.Crosshairs with Pinpointer,5.Pointblank with Peacemaker, and 6.SureShot with Sureshot, my favorite Autobots are the following they are:1. The Technobots/Computron,(1.Schattershot,2.NonseCone,3.Afterburner,4.Lightspeed and 5.Strafe, 2. The ThrottleBots(1.Goldbug,2.Rollbar,3.Chase,4.Freeway,5.Wideload, and 5.Searchlight),3.Punch/CounterPunch, and The Monsterbots(1.Grostque,2.DoubleCross,& 3.Repungus, 5.The Autobot Clones:Fastlane & CloudRaker and 6.Acree with Daniel Witwicky, my favorite Deceptions the Bad Guys I love to hate they are: 1.The Terrorcons/Abominus(1.Hun-Grr,2.Blot,3.Rippersnapper,4.SinnerTwin, and 5.Cuthroat), 2. Sixshot,3.The Deception Clones: 1.Wingspan and 2.Pounce,4.The Deception HeadMasters/Hive:1. Scorponok with Lord Zarak,2.Apeface with Spasma,3.Snapdragon with Krunk,4.Mindwipe with Vorath,5.WeirdWolf with Monzo and SkullCruncher with Grax,5.The Deception Target Masters:1.Cyclonus with Nightstick,2.Scourge with Fracas,3.Misfire with Aimless,4.Slugslinger with Cailburst and 5.TriggerHappy with Blowpipe,and 6. The Duocons:1.BattleTrap and 2.FlyWheels, My Favorite Humans and Nebulian Heroes I love to admire and like they are the following:1.Spike Witwicky,2.Carly Witwicky,3.Daniel Witwicky,4.MarissaFairborne also known as Captain Fairborne,5.Astoria Carlton Ritz,6.Jessica Morgan the girlfriend of former Bad Guy the reformed Gregory swofford and the Daughter of former Bad Guy Doctor Mark Morgan,7.Dirk Magnus,8.Chief Turan,9.Gort,10.Duros,11.Stylor,12.Arcana,13.Recoil,14.Firebolt,15.Haywire,16.Pi pointer,17.Peacemaker,18.Sureshot,19.Doctor Mark Morgan(currently reformed and a On & Off Villain)&20. Gregory Swofford also known as Doctor Gregory Swofford (Currently reformed and as a On and Off Villain) and the Villains Iove to hate are The Hive: 1.Lord Zarak,2.Spasma,3.Krunk,4.Vorath,5.Monzo,6.Grax,7.NightStick,8.Fracas,9.Aimless,10.Cailburst and 11.Blowpipe, also your latest video was superb, also I'm looking forward to watching your latest video tomorrow, also thank you Micheal for sharing but also for posting keep up the great work stay safe out there and have a nice day.🙂👍🟢😀💪🇨🇦🦸and Till All Are One or should I say Till All Are Fun.🙂👍💪👍🟢🇺🇸🇨🇦🦸

[@elxr9434]

I'm so glad you actually show clips of the cartoons so few reviewers actually do even when talking about accuracy or a characters personality

[@MichaelMercy]

Thanks. It's fun going through the shows and hunting for appropriate clips.

[@CylenX6]

"TETSUO!"

[@r.mattcoker4184]

Every piece in your collection is in really good shape.

[@thunderkid1984]

Love your videos, Michael. Nostalgic, fun, informative. Great vibes, thanks for the hard work that you put into these.

[@MichaelMercy]

Thanks Tom. Glad you enjoy them.

[@huihoyan2983]

What a painstakingly effort video you have there. Brilliant and details af. 👌 appreciated your great passion and thought in making this vid. Hatsoff!

[@MichaelMercy]

Thanks! Much appreciated. 🙏

[@pravo117]

The Japanese (and European) storyline make sooooo much more sense. Headmasters transtactors over nebulons mess any day.

[@AgentNevets]

Great video, as always! Regarding 87…I actually really loved this year in Transformers.

[@omarkho4284]

Oh boy I've been waiting for this. Good job on the video Micheal

[@MichaelMercy]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it. It was a lot of work but fun too.

[@OldManTheseDays]

Awesome video Mike! This is particularly interesting to me as this is past the point that I was still playing with toys. I really never saw any of these until fairly recently. All new territory for me.

[@MichaelMercy]

Thanks! It's a shame Sunbow didn't do a full season for this year because the characters were there. The Japanese show proves there was still lots of gas left in the tank.

[@SoundblasterYT]

The head proportions are technically correct, since they're human. TFs all have small heads- to make them look big.

[@medranoge1]

I really enjoyed this, thank you Michael!!!

[@mindislife]

I luv the Technobots especially Strafe and Afterburner, they have such infectious enthusiasm

[@MichaelMercy]

They're really enthusiastic that's for sure!

[@stephenthomas1492]

Speaking from someone who spent the summer of '83 in Athens, it was a FANTASTIC year!

[@MilkshakeSkunkette]

great video man! i love the effort you put into the cut away segments! :D

[@MichaelMercy]

Thanks! Have a good one. ✌️

[@LAZYWORK_]

I always look forward to these history videos. Thank you so much!! Well done sir!!

[@MichaelMercy]

Thanks Dennis, glad you enjoy them.

[@TFfangeek]

Yes, thank you very much Michael Mercy!!! 1987 produced some of my favorite Transformers characters, including my 3rd all time favorite Autobot, Fortress Maximus. He is 3rd after Optimus Prime and Ultra Magnus. lol :D Keep on being amazing.

[@MichaelMercy]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it. I think doing this video helped him edge out Ironhide for my #2 spot.

[@TFfangeek]

@@MichaelMercy You're welcome. It was vastly entertaining to watch. Looking forward to the 1988 Edition. 😃

[@SamuelMuhammad-f3t]

Hardhead is actually my favorite headmaster!

[@RabbiJoeInJerusalem]

Thanks so much! I've been waiting for this for a long time. The Terrorcons were the closest I ever got to having a Combiner team, but I couldn't find Rippersnapper anywhere in '87. Still, Hun-Grrr is the only bot which I still have today. Somehow the brute survived not only my childhood, but my three boys' as well!

[@MichaelMercy]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it. Cheers!

[@john_petroliagkis]

I lol'ed with "MOLON LAVE", awesome video once more Michael!

[@MichaelMercy]

Come back with your shield...or on it! 😁

[@teddyfreddie4739]

This a awesome video 1987 was a big year of great releases! Good job here..

[@MichaelMercy]

Thanks Teddy! Cheers.

[@im2hastyle]

Wow great editing and content!! Always love your vids especially the Transformers ones! Great honor and displaying as well. Thank you much for the video!!!

[@MichaelMercy]

Thanks JCVD!

[@Commander_Bly327]

Thanks for the great production value, Mr. Mercy! 🤘

[@MichaelMercy]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it. Cheers!

[@goldenage]

Excellent work Michael. Really enjoy these.

[@MichaelMercy]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed.

[@FrostyTP]

I love seeing these my dad had a lot of g1 and its cool to see there back storys and waht year they were made

[@andrewfuoss5117]

Only target masters I ever had was the autobot double target masters. My favorite being Quick Mix

[@antonythurman2669]

this is my highlight of the year i’m so glad to be born in the 80’s i would love to come over and just droll because i haven’t seen any decent transformers for a very long time i can smell the nostalgia and retro from here so many trips to Woolworths on weekends or when i saw a advert for them god i can still remember getting grimlock my brother had loads and i did the unthinkable i broke them awful i know

[@MichaelMercy]

Woolworths! 😁 There's a blast from the past.

[@xtremespotzu]

41:06 WOW!!! HOWDJA GET YOUR HANDS ON THOSE MASTER WARRIORS FIGURES?!!? THEY'RE LIKE, MEGA ULTRA RARE!!!

[@garinsparks7041]

WHAT THE ACTUAL HEY!!!! I live for those. Surprised no mention of the decoys. AMAZING JOB MY FRIEND

[@MichaelMercy]

Thanks! Covered decoys in a previous year, didn't feel like rehashing all of that in a video that was already 46 mins long.

[@v4847]

I have a G1 Fortress Maximus. Absolutely adore it.

[@TheMattfindlay]

You have me cracking up. Love this!

[@m.aizzudin]

Now after finished watching Season 3, i will continue watching the Japanese Headmasters. Thats my canon :D

[@joshuadabbs1380]

Love these history of episodes of transformers! Can't wait for the 88 episode.

[@YungShep1]

Literally purchased Devastator at SDCC this year. Was pretty stoked to finally have them. 87 was the best

[@BobHansenJokes]

Enjoying this now, only 10 minutes in but I had to stop and say, "Robits robits robits!!!"

[@MichaelMercy]

Robits in disguise!

[@octaviusfooks7194]

Well don’t forget anime like the Headmasters from Japan is a way different genre. It’s more mature. For example, in Transformers Armada, Smokescreen gets shot to near death by Megatron with the Requiem Blaster, Optimus deflects the blast of the Hydra Cannon and gets destroyed and Starscream gets disintegrated by Unicron. Same with Beast Wars, as a matter of fact, despite it not being anime but CGI, with casualties like Dinobot, Scorponok, Terrorsaur, Tigatron, Airazor etc.

[@MCDJACDC]

Awesome 👌 M&M, thanks for the flashback

[@MichaelMercy]

Thanks, hope you had a great weekend!

[@nathanbarger3449]

1986 was a weird year as a kid. With the huge changes in both transformers and g.i. Joe. Everything that we loved about them was completely changed.

[@jmautobot]

Fantastic video!

[@Dairobo10]

1:17 the Fanstoys Fortmax: wish granted

[@Pokehon]

I love these type of videos thanks for doing 1987!

[@MichaelMercy]

Glad you enjoyed it. Have a great week!

[@Pokehon]

@@MichaelMercy you too!!

[@peucoman]

goodness, Fortress Maximus comes armed and ready. Trowa and his Gundam Heavyarms would *both* be proud of this walking arsenal

[@MrJermeyp]

You know I had forgotten how much I wanted and liked Hasbro fort Max JUST because of spike .. I had totally forgotten.. especially after I got older and found the Japanese headmasters lol. Wow. Good vid!!

[@MichaelMercy]

Thanks! Yup, he was the major selling point when I had no idea who Fort Max, Cerebros and Cog were.

[@djtriode]

Excellent reviews and history thank you very much for the upload great stuff 👍

[@MichaelMercy]

Thank you for watching. Cheers!

[@obbyill5685]

Let's go I'm so excited I'm a big fan of the history of transformers videos and there is finally a new one

[@MichaelMercy]

Awesome, enjoy!

[@obbyill5685]

@@MichaelMercy by the way my favorite deception is soundwave

[@empyreankirboi276]

The skit launched this episode into the stratosphere.

[@darrellmay8032]

Dude, your videos give me joy. Tetsuo!!!!!

[@MichaelMercy]

Kaneda!!! Thanks, glad to hear it.

[@BeeWallace]

i loved every second of this video. I was waiting to see the seacons. Hopefully the next video😊

[@MichaelMercy]

Thanks! They were released in 1988 so it's a safe bet.

[@Noizemaze4]

yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh babyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy been waiting over a FULL YEAR and a HALF for this vid xDDDDDDDDDDDD thank you so much ~~~~

[@MichaelMercy]

Feels like it took that long to make. 😁

[@Noizemaze4]

@@MichaelMercy haha no worries man keep up with the great work ;)

[@galvatron435]

Great review!!! Very informative!!! And entertaining to watch!!

[@MichaelMercy]

Thank you, much appreciated.

[@Idktech4]

Always nice to see a fellow cog fan

[@MechaTheSpider]

Always adored the JP Headmasters version, just made so much more sense for the head to be the bot and the rest being a suit they're wearing basically.

[@asterian75]

Complete the Monsterbot (without paying a heavy price for accesory) is a hard challenge

[@lancertreepuffer]

Really enjoy these so I'm catching up👍

[@171QA]

The wait for this video was worth it.

[@MichaelMercy]

Thanks for your patience. Definitely the most time I've put into a video on this channel.

[@VeeGee77]

I really appreciate these classic toy chronicles, Transformers where so cool, Headmasters, Target masters, also I didn't know the Beast Formers where used for the Japanese version, and that Computron was probably the smartest character of any 80s characters 👍 I can't wait for the 1988 line review with the Pretenders - funny short segments during these reviews, too 😄

[@carlambroson8872]

Love your videos on classic 80s toys that from my youth! I especially love you’re year by year history of entries! (FYI, I just got a nearly complete Killer Whale, that I always wanted)!!

[@MichaelMercy]

Thanks, that’s nice to hear. Congrats on the Whale. Careful with those rear vanes! 😬

[@carlambroson8872]

Thanks! Those were the only thing incomplete. All 4 of the rear parts were broken . But it had everything else, the recon sled, bike, all the depth charges, rocket pods, all 8 rockets, and both machine guns and cannon parts Everything!!

[@billielachatte4841]

The Japanese version you cut and put into this video was hilarious haha!

[@n_ex13]

Having watched the show "captain future", " Transformers: the head masters" And "Gundam" I am kinda shocked how brutal Japanese children animated series could be

[@beepbeeplettuce5890]

Gundam wasnt intended to be a kids show