If you think about it, the Transformers have been
quite an amazing phenomenon. I'm not talking about the
toy-craze that swept through consumer consciousness in the
mid-80's; that's what kicked it off, but that's not the truly
amazing part. The incredible part is that this toy line, these
characters, this story, this universe, has captured the
devotion of the fans to such an extent that there are those of
us who remain passionately dedicated to the whole concept
more than a decade later.
What makes the Transformers so special? What is it
that compels otherwise halfway-rational individuals to
amass vast collections, write fanfic, draw pictures, and
interact on the Net for hours on end? What compels us to
debate the issues, analyze the stories, and defend our
favorite characters and cherished interpretations against all
comers? What draws us together, despite our deep-seated
philosophical differences, in the face of outsiders who
would approach us with ridicule and disdain? Sure, lots of
the toys were great, and certainly, that's what started the
craze - but I remain convinced beyond a doubt that the very
thing which has made the TF mythos endure, is the strength
of its characters.
It is a concept that the marketers and manufacturers
of the toys have sadly lost track of in recent years. The toys
themselves are tangible representations of characters that
we have come to know very well, characters whom we have
integrated into our personal mythology and who have
become important symbols and role-models in our lives.
Many different elements go into what makes those
characters unique and special -- their look, their name, their
voice, their colors, their personality, etc. etc., and all of
those things are interconnected into the total picture of who
a character is. Change any one of those elements too far, let
alone several of them at once, and you've violated the
character. You've basically undermined what made the
character - and the entire TF mythos - so special in the first
place. I truly wish that the folks at Hasbro/Kenner would
take note of this very simple fact. They may be far more
interested in toy sales than in the integrity of their old
characters and the names they bear, but one concept is
inextricably linked to the other. Without consistent
characters to relate to and feel for, the TFs become just
another toy line - just another set of plastic figures who will
be forgotten in a year when the next fad comes out - a
disappointment to long-time fans, and an ineffective
generator of new ones.
And I don't want to see that happen. I know that
the dedication exists in the fan community, to keep the
Transformers true to the very elements that made them so
incredible when they started out. We are by our very nature
an active fan community rather than a passive one, actively
adding to the mythos ourselves rather than sitting back and
waiting to be fed the story. We must be willing to stand up
and speak out when our favorite characters are mishandled,
and we can no longer quietly accept without scrutiny
anything that comes out of the "official sources," because
we have, in effect, made the TF universe our own. We are
as much the shapers of this world as any official source, and
we have been willing to give of our time, energy, and
finances for well over a decade now. We have kept the
Transformers in the periphery of the public eye long enough
for them to be given a second lease on life with Beast Wars,
and the creators of the Transformers owe us (and their
characters) at least as much consideration in return.
In the current state of the fan community, it's
sometimes too easy to get lost in the influx of new
information, interpersonal conflicts, and collectors mania;
toys perhaps become more important for what they're
financially worth, than for the element of the larger
mythology that they represent. That syndrome is all-too-
prevalent among toy sellers now also; dealers who, a few
years ago, would have laughed you out of the toy show if
you asked about Transformers, are now suddenly digging
into their attics and offering them at truly ludicrous prices.
Step back, and think about how you felt when you
were first getting caught up with the TF universe - when
you got caught up in the story, as presented by the cartoon
or comic - when you first developed an affection for the
characters. Did it truly matter to you at that time, what
your brand-new Thundercracker or Prime or Soundwave
was "worth"? Or was it the fact that the toy was your
personal piece of the overall Transformers universe that
made it so special? Did you ever creep down the stairs in
the dead of morning to catch the cartoon at an ungodly hour
and experience it with intense fascination while everyone
else slept? Did you ever rush to the comic shop to see if the
latest issue was out? Can we re-capture that feeling again?
Can we help generate it in the newcomers to our fandom, to
our mythology? Can we adjust to the changing dynamics of
a larger group and continue to make contact with people
and listen to one anothers' viewpoints and enjoy one
anothers' contributions? This magazine seems to indicate it
is still possible. Let's not lose what made the TFs such a
major influence in all our lives. Let's not lose the mythology
that's buried under the gathering dust of consumerism. Let's
not forget what made this universe special in the first place.
--Raksha
The Plumed Serpent
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