The 2003 Trannies

The Fellowship
Copyright 2004, Robert A. Jung (rjung@mac.com)

All characters depicted or mentioned in this story are the trademarks
and/or copyrights of their respective holders, except for those that
aren't.  Any resemblance to actual people, alive or deceased, is
coincidental, etc., etc.  Geez, it's just a story, guys.  Don't get
too uptight over it...

                                   * * *

    "Errr..."

    Sparkplug stopped, mildly embarassed at himself.  He had never
been skilled at public speaking before, and all the time he spent as
Optimus Prime's liason to the Minicons haven't helped any.  Stammering
like a befuddled drone merely underscored the nervousness he felt.

    He hesitated, then tried again.  "Errr--" (No, idiot!} "--Welcome,
everyone.  Ah, I-- it's good to see you all here.  I don't know what
you may have heard already, so I'll start at the beginning, and we can
all--"

    "Get to the point already!" Buzzsaw shouted from the audience,
with a scattering of ayes for support.

    Sparkplug gaped in surprise, then shut his mouth again.  Minicons
tended to be mildly suspicious and anxious at the best of times, since
one never knew when a passing Transformer might want to capture you
and exploit your power-boosting abilities.  Keeping them cooped up for
several hours at the Trannies' "green room" only served to magnify
that anxiety.

    "Yes, well--" (You're stammering again stop it!) "--if you haven't
heard, Rob's been getting some complaints lately about the Trannies--"

    "SOME?!" laughed Stormcloud, amused with himself.

    "--about the presenters," Sparkplug pressed on.  "Too many folks
were saying the hosts were too G1-centric, that there wasn't equal
time for the later Transformers franchises."

    Runway chimed in.  "Which is where we come in, right?"

    "Exactly.  Since we Minicons represent the current trend in the
Transformers franchise -- and because we're neutrals -- we'll get to
host this year's awards show."

    A smattering of cheers and comments came from the crowd, and
Sparkplug continued.  "Of course, due to the format of the show, only
three of us will get to host it.  Robert's given me this list of what
kinds of characters he wants for the Trannies, so I thought I'd read
each entry, then we can see who's interested and get a volunteer for
each part."

    There was some more quiet muttering from the audience.  Not
everyone was thrilled with the idea, but offhand, no one could think
of a different solution offhand.  Unfolding a sheet of paper,
Sparkplug began to read.  "'Character #1: Grizzled, abrasive, rough-
and-tumble rogue, somewhat sarcastic.'"

    "That's me!" Leader-1 shouted.

    "YOU?!" Dualor roared.  "You've spent a million years as
Megatron's in-house whipping boy!  What kind of qualification is
that?"

    "Hey, it beats kidnapping Minicons to the Moon and strapping
humans to mines!"

    Dead-End quipped, "Oh, don't tell me you didn't like THAT."

    "Hah!" Gunbarrel snorted.  "Compared to me, the rest of you are a
bunch of processor-dead garbagebots!  Step aside and let a REAL
Minicon do the job!"

    "That'll be the day!"

    There was a push, then a shove, then a punch, and the next
thing Sparkplug knew, a dozen Minicons had gathered in a knot and
were fighting it out with anyone within reach.  The others quickly
stepped back to give them space, but the crowded room made for a
tight fit.  Fortunately, in a bout of narrative convenience, the
dueling Minicons quickly drifted to an adjacent warehouse, allowing
them to work out their dispute as violently as they wished.

    Sparkplug spoke again, yelling slightly to be heard above the
distant din.  "Uhhh..." (Idiot!)  "Okay, while they're sorting that
out, let's move on.  'Character #2: Cute and perky female.  MUST BE
CUTE.'"

    Every head turned to the far corner, where a handful of female
Minicons looked up in response.

    "Don' look at me," Falcia snapped.  "I ain't eye candy for
anybody, capite?"

    "Me neither," added Combustia.  "If you wants a pretty pink
girlie-bot, go call Arcee.  Muy muchacha bonita, si?"

    "I'll do it, I'll do it!" Twirl yelled, jumping up and down.

    Falcia grabbed her by the shoulders.  "I don' tink so!  Where's
your self-respect, girl?  Let's get outta here!"

    As Falcia and Combusta dragged the protesting Twirl out of the
room, Sparkplug tried to regain control of the meeting.  "Ohhhhh-kay,
so much for that idea..."

    "Who else do you have left?" Ramjet asked, slightly irritated.

    "Good question!  'Character #3: Comic foil -- nice but slightly
clueless straight man.'  What does that mean?"

    "It means I'm not interested," Crumplezone retorted.  "I don't do
'clueless,' slightly or otherwise."

    The remaining Minicons muttered agreement -- hosting the Trannies
was one thing, but self-debasement was another.  Centuries of
subservience to the larger Transformers tended to make Minicons overly
protective of what self-esteem they had.

    "Guys, guys!" Sparkplug yelled.  "Come on, guys!  We've got to get
SOMEBODY for this!"

    "Why don't you take the part?" Jolt jeered, to scattered laughter.

    Before Sparkplug could respond, a tinny version of the theme music
for "Dharma & Greg" began to play.

    Sparkplug produced a cell phone from a subspace pocket, then
flipped it open.  "Yes?  Oh, yes, Robert, we're--  What?  But I don't--
Now?  But--  No, they left... yes, with Twirl.  No, no... uh, not
yet... But--!  Oh, okay..."

    As Sparkplug put the phone away, Armorhide asked the obvious
question.  "What was that about?"

    "That," Sparkplug said with a sigh, "was a request for me to see
who's survived that fight in the next room, because it's time for--"


                             The 2003

  TTTTTTTT RRRRRR       AA     NNN   NN NNN   NN II EEEEEEE  SSSSSS
     TT    RR    RR    AAAA    NNNN  NN NNNN  NN II EE      SS
     TT    RR RRR     AA  AA   NNNNNNNN NNNNNNNN II EEEEE    SSSSS
     TT    RR   RR   AA    AA  NN   NNN NN   NNN II EE           SS
     TT    RR    RR AA  AAAAAA NN    NN NN    NN II EEEEEEE SSSSSS

                Where "Diebold" is a four-letter word!


                                                      SLOW DISSOLVE TO

A glossy hardwood STAGE.  Dozens of brushed aluminum COLUMNS ring the
rear perimeter, leaving the front EXPOSED to the audience.  RECESSED
lights illuminate the background in VARIOUS PASTEL COLORS, while a
single ALUMINUM podium stands at CENTER stage.

As the music builds to a close, SPARKPLUG and DUALOR enter from stage
left and stage right, respectively, and meet at the podium.

     DUALOR: "Nice but slightly clueless," eh?  If the name fits...
  SPARKPLUG: Oh, hush.
     DUALOR: Make me.
             [Pause]
             So, who's the last member of our group?
  SPARKPLUG: I'm not sure; Robert said he'd take care of--

A FLASH OF LIGHT appears behind Dualor and Sparkplug, which quickly
FADES to reveal T-A.I.

     T-A.I.: Hello, everybody!
  SPARKPLUG: Hello, T-A.I.!  Glad you could join us!
     T-A.I.: I'm glad to be here!
     DUALOR: You've got the "perky" part down, all right.
     T-A.I.: It's very easy!  Who wouldn't want to be on the Trannies?
  SPARKPLUG: Don't ask.
     DUALOR: You're certainly easier to deal with than Falcia, at
             least.
  SPARKPLUG: Uh, yeah... So, anyway, ladies and gentlebots, and fans
             of all ages, welcome to the 2003 Trannies!  Dualor,
             T-A.I. and myself are your hosts for the evening.
     DUALOR: Featuring two hours of "clever" jokes from us, smart-
             assed remarks from your fellow fans, and Optimus Prime
             winning every halfway decent character-based award.
     T-A.I.: You can't blame the fans if they genuinely like him.
     DUALOR: Watch me.

                       ------------------------------

  SPARKPLUG: So, T-A.I., how many votes did we get this year?
     T-A.I.: Oh, it's terrific!  This time around, we received TWO
             HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE ballots, an all-time record!
     DUALOR: As long as I don't have to count them, I'm estatic.
     T-A.I.: And our voters this year are...

        Aaron F. Bourque
        Aaron Hong, Sergeant Major 1st Armored Rangers
        Abrogate
        Aernaroth
        Airfox
        AJ
        Allan [Weapon X] Liangco
        ALLCREATION666
        Alloran
        Amanda "Dragonclaw" Wells
        Amelie
        Andrew Crane
        Angelwings
        Ann-Marie Coffey
        Anonymous
        ANROneOfAkind
        Anthony "BWAAAA!" Sancilio
        aqwaman
        Astrocounter
        Autobot Chris
        Ave Destron
        Balonge
        Bandit
        BifNaked
        Bill "RedStreak" Talor
        Bill Wade
        Blade
        Blaster
        Blind Zen Archer
        Bloodcat
        Bluestreak Paul
        Bombzab
        Botch
        Brian Kilby
        Brian Williams
        BW Glitch
        Charl
        Chief
        Chris "Commander Crayfish" Funaro
        Chris McFeely
        Conor E
        crank
        crazysteve
        Daikaiju
        Dalarsco
        Damian "Damolisher" Tait
        Daniel "Suspsy" Suh
        Dark Ops
        Darrell Cobb
        Dave "Zobovor" Edwards
        Dave Connell
        David "Walky" Willis
        Dev-Nul+
        dirge
        Divefire
        DJ
        Donnie Roberts
        Doomstink
        Doug Anderson
        Drew
        Dustin 'Sonic Broom' Verburg
        Ethan Hammond
        Exar
        Excelon Zero
        Felix
        Finback
        Firestorm
        Firewalker
        FlameStrike
        Fort Macs
        Frank "Nightscream" Herfjord
        Freds Workshop
        G.B. Blackrock
        Gaijiin
        Gears
        Gekisou
        Goktimus Prime
        Guyzer
        Hitman Pez
        HOOPER_X
        HorseTechie
        Horsetuna
        Hotmissile
        Iacon
        Ian "Cradok" Tait-Doak
        ikado
        Implode
        Jason "Flashman666" Korenblit
        Jen Pacerpaw
        Jetstorm666
        Joe "TV's Grady" Green
        Joel "Jimoin" Hunt
        Joona I Palaste
        JRisindahouse
        Kevin
        Kevin H
        kidu
        KingMob
        Klarsh Voxiz
        Knave Iespyk
        lastmaximal
        Lil_ShortOut
        Linda
        Lonely_Cosmos
        Lord Black "Nytetrayn" Draco
        Lord Zarak
        LoserBroadside
        M Sipher
        Mako Crab
        Manuel "KillerMel" Trinidad
        Marc Graham
        Marcelo "Rattrap587" Santa Roza
        Mark A. Brown
        Masked Loser
        Matrix Dragon
        Matt Super
        Maximo Prime
        Maximus Buchanan
        Maximus Prime
        Megan
        Merytneith
        Michael
        Michael "Kil" McCarthy
        Michael Loughlin
        Mike "Edwin" Boyle
        Mike/Sideswipe6520
        Montana Buuck
        Mrhillz
        necrotron
        Nelson "Riptor One" Brewer
        Nelson Ribeiro
        NeroMan
        NightViper
        Nightwing_22
        Noah "Defunct" Carroll
        Omega
        Patrick Wade
        Paul Frawley
        Paul Larder
        Peter Hodgson
        PharaohMegatron
        Phil
        Philcom
        Phoenix186
        PlutoniumBoss/"Myles" Carlton Garlick
        Polarised
        Princess Artemis
        Purple Haze
        Quag Prime
        Quallevra
        Raksha
        Random Sweep
        RandomFerret
        Razorpack
        Redstreak
        reillyd
        Rev. Pee Kitty
        Richard Mistron
        Rick "Aerosurge" Yeatman
        Rick R. Mortis
        Roadbuster
        Robert Powers
        robo_rob
        Romorini
        Royal Zarak
        Rum5000
        Rumble30
        RunawayBishop
        Ryan Hawe/Darwinian Road Kill
        Ryno
        Sailor Cybertron
        Scott Kampa
        Seawave
        Seeker72
        ShadowWing
        Sharon "Tut" LaBorde
        Sheba
        ShelShok
        Sherri "Arashi" Bragg
        Shungokushatsu
        Silverfox
        Sir Raptor of Nonsense
        Sixshot's The Name
        Skids
        Sky Shadow
        Skywarp_TPK
        Smashmaster00
        Speedbreaker
        spi
        Squelch the Destron
        Srini Varanasi
        Stelartron
        Stormrave
        Stormrider
        Strumfender009
        Stuart Denyer
        Supershine 986
        Suzanne M. Ferree
        Teratron
        The Big Fort Max
        The Critic
        "The Mad Bomber" Bombshell
        Themis56
        Thomas Hamann
        Thundercracker1978
        Thylacine 2000
        Tigerpaw28
        Tim Roll-Pickering
        TM2 Dinobot
        Tobias May
        Tony Li, the Prime Saber
        Track Attack
        Ty Stalnaker
        Umbak
        Velvet Glove
        Wayward
        Weirdwolf
        Whirlwind
        William Rendfeld
        Winterblast
        XxUnicronxX
        yakko
        Zacku
        ZacWilliam
        Zodiac

  SPARKPLUG: No email addresses?
     DUALOR: Not unless you want two hundred and twenty-five fans
             pissed at you for giving their emails to every spammer on
             AOL.

                       ------------------------------

  SPARKPLUG: So, shall we get started?
     T-A.I.: Sure!  It's what we're here for, right?
     DUALOR: And here I thought it was to make fun of the rest of
             Transfandom for a few hours.

[Cut to commercials.]
======================================================================
PART I: CHARACTERS

  SPARKPLUG: So, are we ready to go?
     T-A.I.: Sure am!
     DUALOR: Optimus Prime, Optimus Prime, Optimus Prime, and
             Starscream.
  SPARKPLUG: What was that?
     DUALOR: My predictions of who will win the first few awards.  As
             if anyone's surprised.


*** Absolutely the Most Favorite Character of All Time
   1  Astrotrain
   1  Big Convoy
   1  Bomber Bill
   1  Cosmos
   1  Deathsarus/Deszaras
   1  Doctor Archeville
   1  Groove
   1  Mindwipe
   1  Octopunch
   1  Onslaught
   1  Optimus Prime (RiD)
   1  Prowl (RiD)
   1  Raul
   1  Roadbuster
   1  Scourge (orig.)
   1  Seaspray
   1  Sixshot
   1  Sky Lynx
   1  Sludge
   1  Snarl (orig.)
   1  Spinister
   1  Superion
   1  T-AI
   1  Tailgate (orig.)
   1  Thrust (Armada)
   1  Twirl
   1  Wheeljack (Armada)
   2  Breakdown
   2  Cheetor
   2  Cyclonus (Armada)
   2  Dinobot 2
   2  First Aid
   2  Galvatron (Armada)
   2  Hound
   2  Huffer
   2  Jetstorm (BM)
   2  Jhiaxus
   2  Kup
   2  Moonracer
   2  Needlenose
   2  Octane
   2  Ramjet
   2  Skyquake
   2  Spike Witwicky
   2  Streetwise
   2  Tentakill
   2  Terrorsaur
   2  Trypticon
   2  Warpath
   3  Apeface
   3  Blackarachnia
   3  Death's Head
   3  Devastator
   3  Fireflight
   3  Fred
   3  God Ginrai
   3  Inferno (orig.)
   3  Megatron/Galvatron (Armada)
   3  Red Alert (orig.)
   3  Reflector (orig.)
   3  Sandstorm
   3  Scavenger (orig.)
   3  Scrapper
   3  Side Burn
   3  Slag
   3  Super Fire Convoy (Car Robots)
   3  Tommy Kennedy
   3  Tracks
   3  Ultra Magnus (RiD)
   3  Victory Leo
   3  Weirdwolf
   3  Wreck-Gar
   4  Blitzwing
   4  Bruticus (orig.)
   4  Jetfire/Skyfire (orig.)
   4  Mirage (orig.)
   4  Nightbird (from "Enter the Nightbird")
   4  Rampage (BW)
   4  Swindle (orig.)
   5  Blaster
   5  Bonecrusher (orig.)
   5  Motormaster
   5  Perceptor (orig.)
   5  Punch-Counterpunch
   5  Scourge (RiD)
   5  Sideways (Armada)
   5  Smokescreen (orig.)
   5  Thrust (BM)
   5  Thunderwing (orig.)
   5  Tigatron
   6  Bludgeon
   6  Bluestreak
   6  Omega Supreme
   6  Rumble
   7  Fortress Maximus
   7  Ironhide (orig.)
   8  Predaking
   8  Skids (orig.)
   8  Star Saber
   9  Arcee (orig.)
   9  Optimus Primal
   9  Tarantulas
  10  Nightbeat (orig.)
  10  Ratchet (orig.)
  10  Silverbolt (BW/BM)
  11  Scorponok (orig.)
  11  Sky-Byte
  11  Springer
  12  Wheeljack (orig.)
  13  Starscream (Armada/Energon)
  14  Bumblebee
  14  Thundercracker (orig.)
  15  Sideswipe (orig.)
  17  Skywarp (orig.)
  18  Prowl (orig.)
  18  Unicron
  18  Waspinator
  19  Rhinox
  22  Cyclonus (orig.)
  23  Ultra Magnus (orig.)
  27  Rattrap (BW)
  35  Shockwave
  36  Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime (orig.)
  38  Galvatron (orig.)
  45  Jazz
  46  Megatron (orig.)
  49  Dinobot
  50  Grimlock (orig.)
  55  Soundwave
  66  Megatron (BW/BM)
  91  Starscream (orig.)
 140  Optimus Prime (orig.)

Optimus Prime. The heart of Superman, the voice of the Duke, and the
face of a radiator.
    --NightViper

Bumblebee is the Transformer whose personality I most identified with 
as a kid. Plus his alt mode was Herbie the Love Bug. What else could 
an 8 year old ask for? :)
    --ShadowWing

Blackarachnia -- And not because of the obvious 2 reasons!
    --Mako Crab

All three votes for G1 Megatron, do you hear me, all you saturnian 
simpletons out there?!  The almighty magnificence of His Imperial 
Badness shall *not* be denied!! All the universe and this award 
category shall tremble before his might, and-- Optimus Prime, *here*?  
Arrrgh!  If Megatron can't have it, noone can!  Decepticons, RETREAT!! 
[BOOM!]
    --Merytneith

RiD Magnus was like an angsty Dirty Harry. "Go ahead, bro. Steal my
Matr-- I mean, make my day."
    --Aaron F. Bourque

Man, Skywarp is so keen. I bet he likes chocolate milk.
    --Bombzab

Starscream, no question about that. Which Starscream, on the other
hand, could pose a question.
    --Quallevra

     DUALOR: Now THERE'S the surprise of the year.
  SPARKPLUG: Do you have to be so sarcastic?
     DUALOR: Can't think of any other way to make this snoozer
             entertaining.
     T-A.I.: I wouldn't call that "entertaining."
     DUALOR: Neither would I.

                       ------------------------------

*** Favorite Character(s), any Faction(s)
   1  Afterburner
   1  Air Defense Team/Star Saber (Minicons)
   1  Alpha Quintesson
   1  Arcana
   1  Astroscope
   1  Backstreet
   1  Beastbox
   1  Beta (from "Forever is a Long Time Coming")
   1  Big Convoy (Beast Wars Neo)
   1  Bilge (from "Linkage")
   1  Botanica
   1  Braver (Victory)
   1  Break
   1  Build Team/Landfill (RiD)
   1  Buster Witwicky
   1  Buzzsaw
   1  Car Brothers
   1  Chromedome
   1  Clawjaw
   1  Colossus (UK)
   1  Combusta (from "Linkage")
   1  Councillor Tomaandi
   1  Cryotek
   1  Dai Atlas
   1  Daniel Witwicky
   1  Dead End (orig.)
   1  Death's Head
   1  Demolishor
   1  Destruction Team (Minicons)
   1  Diagnostic Drone
   1  Dinobot 2
   1  Dinoforce/Dinoking (Victory)
   1  Dirge
   1  Dirk Manus (from "Money is Everything")
   1  Double Punch
   1  Drancron
   1  Drench (G2)
   1  Eagle Killer
   1  Fire Convoy
   1  Fireflight
   1  Fixit
   1  Fred
   1  Free Wheeler
   1  Galvatron (Beast Wars Second)
   1  Gears
   1  Gort
   1  Grand Slam
   1  Grapple
   1  Greasepit
   1  Groove
   1  Hellscream (Beast Wars Second)
   1  Hot Shot (Armada)
   1  Hot Spot
   1  Huffer
   1  Ikard (Beast Wars Second)
   1  Jaruga (Japanese version of Ravage)
   1  Junkions
   1  Kelly
   1  Kickback
   1  Koji Onishi
   1  Kranix
   1  Laserbeak
   1  Lord Straxus
   1  Lord Zarak
   1  Mixmaster
   1  Needlenose
   1  Nightflight
   1  Nightracer
   1  Nosecone
   1  Optimal Megatron
   1  Optimus Prime (RiD)
   1  Optimus Prime (Armada)
   1  Optimus Prime/Ultra Magnus/Omega Prime (RiD)
   1  Outback
   1  Poison Bite
   1  Powerdasher
   1  Primus
   1  Protectobots/Defensor
   1  Quake
   1  Quickstrike
   1  Quickswitch
   1  Rack 'n Ruin (UK)
   1  Railracer
   1  Raindance
   1  Rampage (orig.)
   1  Raul
   1  Razorclaw (orig.)
   1  Red Alert (Armada)
   1  Rescue Patrol (Micromasters)
   1  Ruination
   1  Savage/Noble
   1  Scattershot
   1  Scavenger (orig.)
   1  Scuba
   1  Seaspray
   1  Sharp Edge (Beast Wars Neo)
   1  Shipwreck
   1  Sideswipe (armada)
   1  Sideways (RiD)
   1  Siren
   1  Skid-Z (Minicon)
   1  Skullcruncher
   1  Skullgrin
   1  Sky Dive
   1  Sky Shadow
   1  Skyquake
   1  Slugfest
   1  Snapdragon
   1  Space Team (Minicon)/Requiem Blaster
   1  Spectro
   1  Splashdown
   1  Squawktalk
   1  Stakeout
   1  Stalker (G2)
   1  Star Convoy
   1  Starscream (Energon)
   1  Stella Holly (from "Linkage")
   1  Stormcloud
   1  Strafe
   1  Streetwise
   1  Submarauder
   1  Swerve
   1  Tailwind
   1  Tentakill
   1  Terrorcons/Abominus
   1  Thrust (orig.)
   1  Tommy Kennedy (from the live-action Optimus Prime puppet
        bumpers)
   1  Tote
   1  Triggerhappy
   1  Tripledecus (Beast Wars Second)
   1  Twirl (from "Linkage")
   1  Twirl (orig.)
   1  Victory Leo
   1  Vorath
   1  Warpath
   1  Whisper
   2  Aerialbots/Superion
   2  Alexis
   2  Apeface
   2  Beachcomber
   2  Blades
   2  Blurr (Armada)
   2  Blurr (orig.)
   2  Breakdown (G1)
   2  Cheetor
   2  Cindy Newell
   2  Cliffjumper
   2  Cyclonus (Armada)
   2  Deathsaurus/Deszarus
   2  Falcia (from "Linkage")
   2  First Aid
   2  Galvatron (RiD)
   2  Hoist (orig.)
   2  Hound
   2  Impactor (UK)
   2  Jhiaxus
   2  Lioconvoy
   2  Marissa Fairbourne
   2  Megatron/Galvatron (Armada)
   2  Metroplex
   2  Mindwipe
   2  Moonracer
   2  Motormaster
   2  Nightbird
   2  Onslaught
   2  Overkill
   2  Perceptor (Armada)
   2  Pipes
   2  Pounce
   2  Predaking
   2  Prowl (RiD)
   2  Punch/Counterpunch
   2  Ramjet
   2  Reflector
   2  Runabout
   2  Runamuck
   2  Sandstorm
   2  Silverbolt (orig.)
   2  Sixshot
   2  Sparkplug (Armada)
   2  Spinister
   2  Strika
   2  Stunticons/Menasor
   2  Tankorr
   2  Technobots/Computron
   2  Terrorsaur
   2  Trailbreaker
   2  Ultra Magnus (rid)
   2  Weirdwolf
   2  Wingspan
   2  Wreckers (UK)
   3  Airrazor
   3  Astrotrain
   3  Bluestreak
   3  Combaticons/Bruticus (orig.)
   3  Cosmos
   3  Emirate Xaaron
   3  Inferno (orig.)
   3  Jetfire (Armada)
   3  Mirage (orig.)
   3  Misfire
   3  Obsidian
   3  Octane
   3  Omega Supreme
   3  Perceptor (orig.)
   3  Ratbat
   3  Scavenger (Armada)
   3  Scourge (orig.)
   3  Sky Lynx
   3  Thrust (Armada)
   3  Thunderwing (orig.)
   3  Tracks
   3  Wheelie (orig.)
   3  Wreck-Gar
   3  X-Brawn
   4  Blaster
   4  Blitzwing
   4  Bludgeon
   4  Flywheels
   4  Fortress Maximus (orig.)
   4  Jetfire/Skyfire (orig.)
   4  Kup
   4  Star Saber (Victory)
   4  Tailgate
   4  Trypticon
   5  Arcee (orig.)
   5  Blackarachnia
   5  Depth Charge
   5  Red Alert (orig.)
   5  Sideburn
   5  Skids
   5  Unicron
   5  Wheeljack (Armada)
   6  Constructicons/Devastator
   6  Frenzy
   6  Ginrai/God Ginrai/Super God Ginrai (Masterforce)
   6  Scourge (RiD)
   6  Silverbolt (BW)
   6  Slag
   6  Sludge
   6  Snarl (orig.)
   6  Swindle (orig.)
   6  Tigatron
   7  Bumblebee
   7  Ironhide (orig.)
   7  Jetstorm (BM)
   7  Nightbeat (orig.)
   7  Rampage (BW)
   7  Scorponok (orig.)
   7  Springer
   8  Inferno (BW)
   8  Prowl (orig.)
   8  Rumble
   8  Sunstreaker
   8  Swoop
   8  Wheeljack (orig.)
   9  Optimus Primal
   9  Ratchet (orig.)
   9  Sideways (Armada)
   9  Ultra Magnus (orig.)
  10  Ravage
  10  Sideswipe (orig.)
  10  Tarantulas
  10  Thrust (BM)
  11  Skywarp (orig.)
  13  Cyclonus (orig.)
  14  Rhinox
  14  Thundercracker (orig.)
  15  Sky-Byte
  15  Starscream (Armada)
  18  Shockwave
  19  Galvatron (orig.)
  19  Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime
  19  Megatron (orig.)
  21  Rattrap
  21  Waspinator
  22  Megatron (BW/BM)
  23  Jazz
  26  Soundwave (orig.)
  27  Dinobot
  27  Grimlock (orig.)
  32  Starscream (orig.)
  33  Optimus Prime (orig.)

Blah blah blah big red trukk blah blah blah... Why do we even have 
this one any more?
    --Rick R. Mortis

The Destruction Mini-Con Team - as seen in the Armada comic! Ruthless, 
amoral, and totally dedicated to what they thought was right. The 
first step Furman took in the new direction for Armada.
    --Rev. Pee Kitty

Tommy Kennedy, human. What an incredibly real looking child he was. 
How they managed to do such an amazing job using stop motion animation 
still baffles me to this day... I wonder why more people don't 
mention how cool *he* was...
    --Brian Kilby

Waspinator.  Anybody who can recover from everything he went through 
has to be strong. :)
    --Tony Li, the Prime Saber

Cosmos. He never seems to get a vote. He's a chunky, helpful little 
fellow. We should all try to be more like Cosmos. For example, I'm 
kinda shaped like him.....
    --Freds Workshop

It's not until you try to make a list like this that you really 
realize the downside to Hasbro/Takara reusing names. You constantly 
find yourself specifying which version you're voting for over another. 
It boils down to you saying, "Well, I'm all about Skywarp. G1 Skywarp 
that is. Not that icky Armada one. Oh and not the Machine Wars one 
either." It makes what should be fun tedious and gets old real fast.
    --Thundercracker1978
[Welcome to my world.]

What? You SAID to pick 26 of my favorites, right?...Right?!
    --Srini Varanasi

  SPARKPLUG: Okay, Dualor, you can't complain this time -- Optimus
             won by only *one* vote!
     DUALOR: That's true.  If I had known it would be this close, I'd
             have thrown a few more votes for Starscream into the
             ballot box.
     T-A.I.: What?  You'd rig the Trannies?!
     DUALOR: Hey, if it'd make things more interesting...

                       ------------------------------

*** Favorite Autobot/Cybertron/Maximal
   1  Apelinq
   1  Backstreet
   1  Big Daddy
   1  Defcon/Devcon
   1  Elita-One
   1  Ginrai
   1  Grapple
   1  Heinrad (Beast Wars Neo)
   1  Huffer
   1  Mach Alert
   1  Mach Kick (Beast Wars Neo)
   1  Mirage GT
   1  Optimus Prime (Armada)
   1  Pipes
   1  Prowl (RiD)
   1  Quickstrike
   1  Raiden
   1  Rail Racer
   1  Roadbuster
   1  Scattershot
   1  Scavenger (Armada)
   1  Scuba (Beast Wars Neo)
   1  Sideswipe (Armada)
   1  Sideways
   1  Slag
   1  Spike Witwicky
   1  Strong Arm
   1  T-A.I.
   1  Top Spin
   1  Wheelie (orig.)
   2  Alpha Trion
   2  Blurr (orig.)
   2  Brawn
   2  Break
   2  Cerebros
   2  Chromedome
   2  Dropshot
   2  Fire Convoy
   2  Hoist
   2  Hot Shot (Armada)
   2  Hubcap
   2  Magna Jet Convoy
   2  Minerva
   2  Optimus Prime (RiD)/Ultra Magnus (RiD)/Omega Prime
   2  Silverbolt (orig.)
   2  Snarl (orig.)
   2  Streetwise
   2  Tailgate
   2  Tasmania Kid (Beast Wars 2)
   2  Tigerhawk
   2  Warpath
   3  Aerialbots
   3  Beta (from "Forever is a Long Time Coming")
   3  Blades
   3  Cliffjumper
   3  Convoy
   3  Fireflight
   3  Gears
   3  God Fire Convoy
   3  Ikard (Beast Wars Neo)
   3  Inferno (orig.)
   3  Metroplex
   3  Optimus Prime (RiD)
   3  Sentinel Prime
   3  Smokescreen (Armada)
   4  Airrazor
   4  Blurr (Armada)
   4  God Ginrai
   4  Sandstorm
   4  Sky Lynx
   4  Star Saber/Victory Leo/Victory Saber
   4  Starscream (Armada)
   4  Victory Leo
   5  Jetfire (Armada)
   5  Kup
   5  LioConvoy (Beast Wars Second)
   5  Moonracer
   5  Optimal Optimus
   5  Punch/Counterpunch
   5  Seaspray
   5  Wreck-Gar
   6  Beachcomber
   6  Sludge
   7  Blackarachnia
   7  Claw Jaw
   7  Cosmos
   7  Fortress Maximus
   7  Perceptor (orig.)
   7  Sideburn (RiD)
   7  Smokescreen (orig.)
   7  Tracks
   8  Cheetor
   8  Depth Charge
   9  Sunstreaker
   9  Ultra Magnus (RiD)
  10  Ironhide (orig.)
  11  Blaster
  11  Bluestreak
  11  Hound
  11  Star Saber (Victory)
  11  Tigatron
  12  Arcee (orig.)
  12  Red Alert (orig.)
  12  Skids
  13  Big Convoy (Beast Wars Neo)
  13  Jetfire/Skyfire (orig.)
  13  Nightbeat (orig.)
  15  Springer
  18  Mirage (orig.)
  21  Bumblebee
  21  Omega Supreme
  22  Ratchet (orig.)
  22  Silverbolt (BW/BM)
  23  Wheeljack (orig.)
  24  Prowl (orig.)
  27  Sideswipe (orig.)
  35  Rhinox
  35  Ultra Magnus (orig.)
  38  Optimus Primal (BW/BM)
  50  Rattrap
  52  Jazz
  62  Dinobot
  65  Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime
  92  Grimlock (orig.)
 175  Optimus Prime (orig.)

Optimus Prime.  Sorry, I know he's boring and noble and irritating but 
he is an inspiration to us all.  Those of us who aren't bastards, that 
is.
    --Bluestreak Paul

Yeah, that's right -- *G1* Silverbolt! Here's a guy that overcame a 
severe psychological debilitation through sheer stick-to-itiveness, 
spiting acrophobic children everywhere, only to have his 
accomplishment dashed into obscurity by a Dudley Do-Right knock-off a 
mere eleven years later. For shame... |-(
    --Iacon

Wheeljack, Rhinox, Roadbuster.  Hmm, I seem to prefer those 
responsible for large explosions...
    --Matrix Dragon

Mach Kick ...what?   ^^
    --HorseTechie

Ratchet never gets his dues. The guy defeated Megatron THREE TIMES!
    --Lord Zarak

Mineruba. Whether you name her Minerva or Minelba or whatever, doesn't 
change the fact that she is a cute blonde who wears no less than 4 
different costumes throughout the series. Oh, and the mini-skirt 
helps. :)
    --Gekisou

  SPARKPLUG: Is this the "Character you want to be lovers with"
             question already?
     DUALOR: No, the fanboys are just getting restless.
     T-A.I.: Men!

                       ------------------------------

*** Favorite Decepticon/Destron/Predacon
   1  Abominus
   1  Brawl
   1  Flywheels
   1  Galvatron (RiD)
   1  Gelshark
   1  Krok
   1  Liokaiser (Victory)
   1  Mega Zarak
   1  Menasor
   1  Nemesis Prime
   1  Nightbird
   1  Scylla (Beast Wars Second)
   1  Sunstorm (g1)
   2  Astrotrain
   2  Bonecrusher (orig.)
   2  Carnivac (UK)
   2  Cyclonus (Armada)
   2  Hellscream (Beast Wars Second)
   2  Leozak (Victory)
   2  Misfire
   2  Obsidian
   2  Runamuck
   2  Sky Shadow
   2  Skyquake
   2  Spinister
   2  Tentakill
   2  Zarak
   3  Jhiaxus
   3  Mindwipe
   3  Octopunch
   3  Reflector
   3  Scavenger (orig.)
   3  Terrorsaur
   3  Thrust (Armada)
   3  Tidal Wave
   3  Trypticon
   3  Weirdwolf
   4  Demolishor (Armada)
   4  Dinobot 2 (BW)
   4  Dirge
   4  Megatron/Galvatron (Armada)
   4  Octane
   4  Overlord
   4  Sideways (Armada)
   4  Swindle (orig.)
   5  Bruticus (orig.)
   5  Jetstorm (BM)
   5  Kickback
   5  Motormaster
   5  Onslaught
   6  Blackarachnia
   6  Deathsarus/Deszarus (Victory)
   7  Dinobot
   8  Sixshot
   8  Thunderwing (orig.)
   9  Thrust (BM)
  10  Inferno (BW)
  10  Predaking
  11  Blitzwing
  11  Devastator
  12  Scourge (orig.)
  14  Bludgeon
  14  Rampage (bw)
  16  Ravage
  21  Tarantulas
  23  Rumble
  24  Scorponok (orig.)
  24  Scourge (RiD)
  25  Sky-Byte
  33  Skywarp (orig.)
  37  Thundercracker (orig.)
  43  Cyclonus (orig.)
  43  Starscream (Armada)
  55  Shockwave
  55  Waspinator
  70  Galvatron (orig.)
  94  Megatron (orig.)
  99  Soundwave (orig.)
 157  Starscream (orig.)
 164  Megatron (BW/BM)

Megatron (BW/BM). Witty, a snappy dresser, always the life of the 
party, and what's that certain je ne sais quoi so often missing in 
Decepticon leaders? Oh yeah. Competence.
    --Zodiac

I love Thunderwing cause he's such a cult favorite, and all the best 
things in life are cult favorites.
    --Shungokushatsu

Grimlock.  Yes, Grimlock.  He was a Decepticon dangit!  Twice!!!!
    --Razorpack

Starscream (G1), for his ambiguous sexuality
    --Matt Super

Terrorsaur beats out G1 Starscream because he's pathetic and stupid.
    --Strumfender009

     T-A.I.: Oh, poor Starscream!  That's another award he almost won!
     DUALOR: Those Screamer fans need to get better organized.
  SPARKPLUG: Do you get the feeling we've just seen the subject of
             a new editorial in the next edition of Con-Quest?
     DUALOR: Beast Wars Megatron beating Starscream, Soundwave, and
             the original Megatron?  Without a doubt.

                       ------------------------------

*** Favorite Minicon/Neutral/Non-Allied Transformer
   1  Air Defense Team/Energon Saber (Minicon)
   1  Backtrack (Minicon)
   1  Bilge (Minicon)
   1  Buster Witwicky
   1  Garbage scow (from "Five Faces of Darkness")
   1  Judge Deliberata (from "Five Faces of Darkness")
   1  Kremzeek! (from "Kremzeek!")
   1  Moon (Beast Wars Second)
   1  Nightbeat (Minicon)
   1  Punch/Counterpunch
   1  Quintesson scientist (from "The Killing Jar")
   1  Raoul
   1  Zap-Master (Minicon)
   2  Alligator sharkticons
   2  Buzzsaw (Minicon)
   2  Diagnostic Drone
   2  Gunbarrel (Minicon)
   2  Land Military Team (Minicon)
   2  Makeshift (Minicon)
   2  Prowl (Minicon)
   2  Rook (Minicon)
   2  Scattor (Minicon)
   2  Tornatron (from "Call of the Primitives")
   2  X-Dimension Air Military Team (Minicon; Japanese repaint)
   3  B.O.T.
   3  Broadside (Minicon)
   3  Firebot (Minicon)
   3  Knockout (Minicon)
   3  Nightscream (Minicon)
   3  Sea Team (Minicon)
   3  Sideburn (Minicon)
   3  Spiral (Minicon)
   3  Street Speed Team (Minicon)
   3  Thunderclash (Minicon)
   3  Thunderwing (Minicon)
   3  Unka Spenka (from "Five Faces of Darkness")
   4  Bonecrusher (Minicon)
   4  Centurion (UK)
   4  Comettor (Minicon)
   4  Crumplezone (Minicon)
   4  Dead-End (Minicon)
   4  Liftor (Minicon)
   4  Longarm (Minicon)
   4  Skid-Z (Minicon)
   4  Space Team/Requiem Blaster (Minicon)
   4  Stormcloud (Minicon)
   5  Air Assault Team/Dark Saber (Minicon)
   5  Falcia (from "Linkage")
   5  Nightbird (from "Enter the Nightbird")
   5  Rollout (Minicon)
   5  Savage/Noble
   5  Sureshock (Minicon)
   5  The Fallen (from Transformers: The War Within: Dark Ages)
   5  Twirl (from "Linkage")
   5  Wind Sheer (Minicon)
   6  Alexis
   6  Primus
   6  Rollbar (Minicon)
   7  Gnaw/Sharkticons
   7  Incinerator (Minicon)
   8  Emergency Team (Minicon)
   8  Grindor (Minicon)
   9  Doubledealer
   9  Oval (Minicon)
   9  Wreckage (Minicon)
  10  Quintesons
  11  Arblus
  11  Highwire (Minicon)
  11  Mirage(Minicon)
  11  Perceptor (Minicon)
  11  Sonar (Minicon)
  11  Terradive (Minicon)
  12  Sky Blast (Minicon)
  14  Death's Head
  15  Jetstorm (Minicon)
  15  Kranix
  16  Air Defense Team/Star Saber (Minicon)
  16  Runway (Minicon)
  18  Astroscope (Minicon)
  18  Dualor (Minicon)
  19  Defcon/Devcon (from "The Gambler")
  20  Swindle (Minicon)
  21  Over-Run (Minicon)
  21  Spanner (from the comic book series)
  21  Transmutate (from "Transmutate")
  27  Jolt (Minicon)
  37  Wreck-Gar
  42  Sideways (Minicon)
  46  Leader-1 (Minicon)
  74  Sparkplug (Minicon)
 160  Unicron

Come on!  He's Unicron!
    --G.B. Blackrock

Nightbird, that high kickin', gun pinchin' ninja girl. Though you 
could argue that she was an actual Decepticon (see certain
fanfics! ;-)
    --Charl

jAm CoPTor! (you'll have to have read that edit of the armada mini-
comic to get this)
    --RandomFerret

Sideways.  By far the most devious, manipulative, unpredictable, and
multi-layered adversary the Transformers have ever faced.  Compared
to him, G1 Starscream is a nearsighted kid wearing a "KICK ME" sign.
    --Thylacine 2000

Armada Skyblast. I knew I liked him from the moment he opened fire on
the kids and their annoying Mini-Cons!
    --Speedbreaker

If anyone else votes for Spanner (or hell, even knows who Spanner is) 
they get a cookie
    --Noah "Defunct" Carroll

Wait, those little things have names?!
    --Divefire

     DUALOR: So, Sparkplug, is it a good thing or a bad thing when you
             finish second to a planet-eating Chaos God?
  SPARKPLUG: It's an honor just to be nominated.
     DUALOR: Yeah, right.
     T-A.I.: You're just jealous because you lost to Leader-1.

                       ------------------------------

*** Favorite Gestalt/Combiner Team
   1  Build Team/Landfill (RiD; yellow Wal-Mart variant)
   1  Hardhead/Duros
   1  Magmatron
   1  Optimus Prime (Energon)
   1  Sixliner
   1  Squawkbox
   2  Metroplex
   2  Mindwipe/Vorath
   2  Sixbuilder
   2  Sixtrain
   2  Starscream/B.B. (Beast Wars Second)
   3  Commandos/Ruination (RiD; Arctic cammo variation)
   3  Commandos/Ruination (RiD; Desert cammo variation)
   3  Fortress Maximus (orig.)
   3  Highbrow/Gort
   3  Jointron Bros. (Tripredacus)
   3  Powerlinx Rodimus/Inferno (Energon; Rodimus + Inferno)
   4  Dinoforce/Dinoking (Victory)
   5  Jet Prime/Jet Convoy (Armada; Optimus Prime + Jetfire)
   5  Powermaster Optimus Prime with Apex Armor/Super God Ginrai
        (Masterforce; Ginrai + Godbomber)
   6  Star Saber/Victory Leo/Victory Saber (Victory)
   7  Magna Jet Prime/Magna Jet Convoy (Armada; Optimus Prime +
        Jetfire + Overload)
   7  Magnaboss
   7  Reflector
   8  Street Action Team/Perceptor (Minicon)
   9  Brainmasters/Road Ceasar (Victory)
  10  Air Defense Team/Star Saber (Minicon)
  11  Street Action Team/Perceptor (Armada)
  11  Trainbots/Raiden
  11  Tripredacus
  13  Build Team/Landfill (Build King)
  13  Omega Prime/God Fire Convoy (RiD; Optimus Prime + Ultra Magnus)
  17  Commandos/Ruination (RiD)
  17  Pretender Monsters/Monstructor
  22  Breastforce/Liokaiser (Victory)
  34  Terrorcons/Abominus
  38  Seacons/Piranacon (aka God Neptune)
  55  Technobots/Computron
  57  Team Bullet Train/Rail Racer (JRX)
  74  Protectobots/Defensor
  82  Aerialbots/Superion
  83  Stunticons/Menasor
 135  Combaticons/Bruticus
 168  Predacons/Predaking
 298  Constructicons/Devastator

Devastator wins for being the first. Every team that came after him 
was simply imitation. Predaking is an excellent runner-up badass.
    --PlutoniumBoss/"Myles" Carlton Garlick

I know, Devastator or Predaking will probably win again, but I've 
never been that impressed by size. Complexity and intelligence have 
always doe it for me, and I can't think of anyone more intelligent 
than Computron.
    --FlameStrike

Omega Prime -- Hey Devastator, Menasor and Predaking, Omega Prime 
laughs at you since he can bend his knees.
    --Matt Super

...the Build Team mostly because they are the Village People in Robot
Form.  Not that there is anything WRONG with that of course! :)
    --Bloodcat

Oh, this is easy, Liokaiser. I know Devastator will win but come on, 
give this bot credit where credit is due. Multi-coloured, spear 
wielding robot made up of a team known collectively as 'Breast-
force', that's some steel-ball bearing backing this bot up.
    --Gekisou

Pretender Monsters as written up in Dreamwave's MTMTE book.  Birdbrain 
and Bristleback have pathetic handicaps, Icepick and Slog don't 
believe in killing innocents, and Scowl wears the ugliest shell 
because he's humiliated by how cute his actual robot form is.  That's 
what the book says--it's canon, now!  And then they merge into 
Cthulhu.
    --Thylacine 2000

     DUALOR: "Ph'nglui mglw'nath Monstructor R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn!"
  SPARKPLUG: What was THAT?
     T-A.I.: "In his house at R'lyeh dead Monstructor waits dreaming."
  SPARKPLUG: ...We've had good jokes, and we've had bad jokes, but
             this is the first time we've had a WEIRD joke.
     T-A.I.: I wouldn't call that a joke.

                       ------------------------------

*** Favorite Non-Toy Character
   1  Ariel (from "War Dawn")
   1  Dion (from "War Dawn")
   1  Jan (Victory)
   1  Joey Slick (from Transformers #13)
   1  Majin Zarak
   1  Megatron (War Within design)
   1  Megatron/Ratchet fusion
   1  Neo-Quintesson (from "Forever is a Long Time Coming")
   1  "O" (friend of Buster Witwicky)
   1  Raoul
   1  Ratbat (War Within design)
   1  Small Nucleon guardian (from Transformers #70)
   1  Spanner (from Transformers #18)
   1  Tornatron (from "Call of the Primitives")
   2  Artemis (Beast Wars Second)
   2  Bomber Bill (from Transformers #10)
   2  Daniel Witwicky
   2  Fred (Armada)
   2  Holographic giant Autobot (from "Heavy Metal War")
   2  Jetfire (War Within design)
   2  Leige Maximo (from Transformers: Generation 2 #12)
   2  Nautilus (from Transformers UK #114)
   2  Quintesson Scientist (from "The Killing Jar")
   2  Quintesson guard
   2  Super Megatron (Return of Convoy/Battlestars)
   2  The Vok
   2  Wheezel (from Transformers #17)
   3  Alligator Optimus Prime (from "City of Steel")
   3  Autobot X (from "Autobot Spike")
   3  Billy (Armada)
   3  Bumblebee (WWII design, from Transformers vs. G.I. Joe)
   3  Cobra Commander/Snake (from "Only Human")
   3  Donny Finkleberg/Robot Master
   3  Dropshot (from Transformers: Armada #16)
   3  Emusa/Zone Bunny (Zone)
   3  G. B. Blackrock
   3  Generic Seekers
   3  Judge Deliberata (from "Five Faces of Darkness")
   3  Lord Chumley (from "Prime Target")
   3  Macabre (from Transformers UK #88)
   3  Megatron Head Fortress (BM)
   3  Octus (from Transformers UK #213-#214)
   3  Optimus Prime (War Within design)
   3  Orion Pax (from "War Dawn")
   3  Rack 'n Ruin (UK)
   3  Rad
   3  Rook (Transformers: Generation 2)
   3  Unka Spenka (from "Five Faces of Darkness")
   4  Dr. Arkeville
   4  Koji Onishi/Yuuki Akashi (RiD)
   4  Raul
   5  B.O.T. (from "B.O.T.")
   5  Carlos
   5  Centurion (from Transformers UK #78)
   5  Chip Chase
   5  Chromia (from "The Search for Alpha Trion")
   5  Grimlock (War Within design)
   5  Kelly/Junko (RiD)
   5  Marissa Fairbourne
   5  Primacron (from "Call of the Primitives")
   5  Stella Holly (from "Linkage")
   5  Vector Sigma
   6  Buster Witwicky
   6  Firestar (from "The Search for Alpha Trion")
   6  Flame (from Transformers UK #168)
   6  Last Autobot (from Transformers #80)
   6  The Fallen (from Transformers: War Within: The Dark Ages)
   7  Alligator sharkticons
   7  Beta (from "Forever is a Long Time Coming")
   7  Teletran-1
   8  Alexis
   8  Sparkplug Witwicky
   9  Kranix
   9  Kremzeek! (from "Kremzeek!")
  11  Jetfire/Skyfire (cartoon design)
  13  Carly Witwicky
  14  Moonracer (from "The Search for Alpha Trion")
  15  Primus
  18  Scrounge (from Transformers #17)
  18  T-A.I.
  20  Botanica
  20  Impactor (UK)
  20  Straxus
  21  Circuit Breaker
  21  Spike Witwicky
  23  Diagnostic Drone
  23  Nightbird (from "Enter The Nightbird")
  30  Transmutate
  31  Death's Head
  33  Jhiaxus
  45  Quintessons
  47  Defcon/Devcon (from "The Gambler")
  50  Emirate Xaaron
  53  Elita-1 (from "The Search for Alpha Trion")
  77  Arcee
 106  Alpha Trion

Alpha Trion. He's like your grandfather, only cool.
    --NightViper

Elita-One.  While Optimus took a nap, she fought the Decepticons for 6 
million years, kept her gals alive - what's not to like?
    --Doug Anderson

A Lord Chumley toy would have been cool. He would have been all like 
"tally-ho, what what" and all of my other toys would have fallen in 
his dastardly traps, and I could have chortled and made snarky 
comments about how this reminded me of the Crimea. My childhood 
suffered for lack of Chumley.
    --Zodiac

Nightbird, wielder of countless weapons, engenderer of even more 
controversy.
    --Quallevra

Autobot Spike.  Wonder what he'd transform into....
    --Bandit

Alexis is easily identifiable with, since like her, I am extremely 
annoyed at the group of morons and idiots I seem stuck around to try 
to keep them from doing things dumber than they already do.
    --Bloodcat

Wouldn't it be awesome to have a giant transforming Primus to battle 
Unicron?
    --Alloran

I'll just say I'm really happy HasTak are making our choices for this 
category more and more limited. :D
    --lastmaximal

     T-A.I.: Hey, Arcee already has a toy!
  SPARKPLUG: I don't think the BotCon exclusive counts; not everyone
             knows it exists.
     T-A.I.: No, not that!  I mean the Japanese version of Sureshock,
             that was also called "Arcee"!
  SPARKPLUG: I don't think that counts, either.
     T-A.I.: And why not?
     DUALOR: When the fanboys hear the name "Arcee," the LAST thing
             they're thinking of is an orange scooter...

                       ------------------------------

*** Worst Character Name
   1  Alan
   1  Alexis
   1  Alpha Q
   1  Ape-Face
   1  Big Shot
   1  Birdbrain
   1  Blast-Off
   1  Blot
   1  Blowpipe
   1  Brave Maximus
   1  Bugly
   1  Bumblebee
   1  Bumblejumper
   1  Butt (Japanese version of Blot)
   1  Camshaft
   1  Cement Head
   1  Clawjaw
   1  Deceptitran
   1  Deluge
   1  Demolishor
   1  Dinobot
   1  Eagle Killer
   1  Fangry
   1  Fetch
   1  Go-Bots
   1  Goldbug
   1  Grindor
   1  Gusher
   1  Hardhead
   1  Heavy Load
   1  Hoist
   1  Hot Rod
   1  Hot Shot
   1  Huffer
   1  Hun-Grrr
   1  Inferno
   1  Kicker (from "Transformers: Energon")
   1  Lazarus
   1  Mega-Octane
   1  Megatron
   1  Midnight Express
   1  Needlenose
   1  "O" (friend of Buster Witwicky)
   1  Omega Spreem
   1  Optimus Minor
   1  Optimus Primal
   1  Oval
   1  Perceptor
   1  Pipes
   1  Policeman Pete
   1  Primacron
   1  Prowl 2
   1  Randy
   1  Raul
   1  Refute
   1  Repugnus
   1  Rewind
   1  Road Pig
   1  Rodimus Convoy
   1  Rodimus Major
   1  Rodimus Prime
   1  Ro-Tor
   1  Side Swipe
   1  Sixknight
   1  Sixshot
   1  Sky-Byte
   1  Stampy
   1  Stinkbomb
   1  Sureshock
   1  Tacklewaver
   1  The Fallen
   1  Tigatron
   1  Tripredacus Agent
   1  T-Wrecks
   1  Ultra Magnus
   1  Vroom
   1  Warpath
   1  WARS
   1  Wreck-Gar
   1  X-Brawn
   1  Zapmaster
   2  Banzai-Tron
   2  Greasepit
   2  Injector
   2  Joe
   2  Kup
   2  Landfill
   2  Leader-1
   2  Movor
   2  Nightbeat
   2  Scattor
   2  Shokaract
   2  Sky Garry
   2  Smokescreen
   2  Sparkle (Spike Witwicky, Singapore dub)
   2  Spike Witwicky
   2  Tankor
   2  Waspinator
   3  Discharge
   3  Drill Nuts
   3  Erector
   4  Rad
   4  Sideburn
   4  Slapper
   4  Thrust
   5  Big Daddy
   6  Battle Unicorn
   6  Cheetor
   8  Wheelie
  10  Firebot
  25  Windbreaker

Windbreaker!!! Activate gasbag!
    --Kevin H
I bet Windbreaker is going to win this, although I've never understood 
why english-speaking individuals find that name so amusing.
    --Airfox
[Kevin can explain it to you]

"Heavy Load". Need I say more?
    --Mako Crab

This should be a whole SECTION, because the possibilities are endless. 
The Japanese Micromastes alone are worth a small book:  Joe.  Leaf.  
Raise.  Desire.  Discharge.  San Diego.  ALAN.  Sheesh.  ("Sheesh" is 
not a name.)
    --Robert Powers

Zapmaster. So Drillnutts and Randy were pretty dumb, but you could 
chalk it up to being a different culture the characters were named 
for. But Zapmaster? It sounds like a cross between a horrible 1988 era 
Nintendo character in a porn movie.
    --robo_rob

Rodimus Convoy. I mean, holy crap. Take the lameness of "Convoy" as a 
leader-name with the idiot faux-Latin of "Rodimus" (which gave rise to 
the whole damn "-imus" fan-name thing), and boom. 
    --M Sipher

Sky Garry - and his decepticon counterpart, SPACE GEORGE!
    --Aernaroth

Blast-Off. A space shuttle. Named Blast-Off. Right. Good one.
    --Michael "Kil" McCarthy
Movor, no matter what colour you paint him, he still gets an awful 
name.  I didn't think it was possible to get worse than 'Blast Off', 
but I was wrong!
    --Implode

Discharge. Come on, didn't ANYONE at Takara think for a second that 
this was just a little bit suggestive for a female character?
    --Daniel "Suspsy" Suh

  SPARKPLUG: What's wrong with having a female named "Discharge"?
     DUALOR: Beats me -- maybe T-A.I. knows?
     T-A.I.: Er... uhm... it's kinda... urrr... EEK!
               [T-A.I. blinks out of view]
  SPARKPLUG: Oops.
     DUALOR: And here I thought she wouldn't get embarassed until we
             got to the "Character you'd want to be lovers with"
             question.

                       ------------------------------

*** Character You Want To Be Friends With
   1  Bludgeon
   1  Blurr (Armada)
   1  Bonecrusher (orig.)
   1  Brawn
   1  Crosscut
   1  D.J. (Beast Wars Second)
   1  Demolisher
   1  Dinobot 2
   1  Dinobot
   1  Dreadwind
   1  Fireflight
   1  Fred (Armada)
   1  G. B. Blackrock
   1  Getsuei (Trainbot)
   1  High Wire (Minicon)
   1  Jesse (from Transformers #20)
   1  Long Haul
   1  Megastorm (Beast Wars Second)
   1  Megatron's evil brain impulses (from "Microbots")
   1  "O" (friend of Buster Witwicky)
   1  Octane
   1  Omega Supreme
   1  Overload (Armada)
   1  Perceptor (Armada)
   1  Predaking
   1  Punch/Counterpunch
   1  Quintesson
   1  Rad
   1  Ramjet (orig.)
   1  Raul
   1  Red Alert (Armada)
   1  Rumble
   1  Scavenger (orig.)
   1  Seaspray
   1  Sideways (Armada)
   1  Sixshot
   1  Sky Lynx
   1  Sky-Byte
   1  Slapdash
   1  Smokescreen (orig.)
   1  Sparkplug (Armada)
   1  Springer
   1  Starscream (Armada)
   1  Sunstreaker
   1  Swerve
   1  Swoop
   1  Tidal Wave
   1  Tigatron
   1  Tracks
   1  Ultra Magnus (RiD)
   1  Ultra Magnus (orig.)
   1  Wheelie
   1  Wildrider
   2  Arcee
   2  Bluestreak
   2  Carlos
   2  Cheetor
   2  Cosmos
   2  Galvatron (orig.)
   2  Ironhide (orig.)
   2  Jetfire (Armada)
   2  Megatron (BW/BM)
   2  Megatron (orig.)
   2  Metroplex
   2  Prowl (orig.)
   2  Ratchet (orig.)
   2  Sideswipe (orig.)
   2  Silverbolt (BW/BM)
   2  Star Saber (Victory)
   2  Starscream (orig.)
   2  Waspinator
   3  Beachcomber
   3  Jetfire/Skyfire (orig.)
   3  Skids
   3  Thundercracker (orig.)
   3  Trypticon
   4  Optimus Prime (orig.)
   4  Rhinox
   4  Soundwave (orig.)
   4  Wheeljack (orig.)
   5  Fortress Maximus
   7  Unicron
   8  Bumblebee
   9  Grimlock (orig.)
  10  Rattrap
  15  Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime
  20  Jazz

Jazz... he has the cool tunes, cool ride, and doesn't mind cruising.
    --Richard Mistron

Megatron, old school style, because he's an anti matter cannon that 
fits neatly into the palm of your hand I'll be having some regime 
changes with that I think!
    --Divefire

Wildrider. I want to make friends with Wildrider, then go down to the 
municipal offices and "discuss" my parking ticket.
    --Stormrave

Metroplex. It's great having a big, dumb, powerful friend to back you 
up.
    --Maximus Buchanan

Rad. Mostly because it seems everyone who associates with him gets to 
hang out with the Autobots, and I want me some of that action.
    --Chris "Commander Crayfish" Funaro

Hot Rod. He's cool and you get also to hang with Kup. It's 2 for the 
price of one.
    --Airfox

     DUALOR: Of course, the downside is that you also get to hang
             with Kup.
               [T-A.I. blinks back into view]
  SPARKPLUG: Welcome back.
     T-A.I.: Sorry about that... that last question was just T.M.I.!
  SPARKPLUG: T.M.I. for T-A.I.?
     DUALOR: Stop that before I hurt you.

                       ------------------------------

     DUALOR: You're not going to run out on us again, are you?
     T-A.I.: No.  I've prepared myself to deal with THIS question...

*** Character You Most Want to Be Lovers(!) With
   1  Blitzwing
   1  Bonecrusher (orig.)
   1  Carrie Fishhook (from "Hoist Goes Hollywood")
   1  Charlene (from Transformers #20)
   1  Chip Chase
   1  Chromia
   1  Cloudburst
   1  Combusta (from "Linkage")
   1  Ethel Stankiewicz
   1  Falcia (from "Linkage")
   1  Galvatron (Beast Wars Second)
   1  Grimlock (orig.)
   1  Isolde Holden (from "Hardwired" novel)
   1  Jazz
   1  Jessie (Buster Witwicky's girlfriend)
   1  Kicker
   1  Kup
   1  Llyra (from the Headmasters limited series)
   1  Megatron (BW/BM)
   1  Motormaster
   1  Nightracer
   1  Optimus Prime (orig.)
   1  Optimus Prime (RiD)
   1  Paradron Medic
   1  Prowl (orig.)
   1  Ratbat
   1  Raul
   1  Road Rage (E-Hobby recolored version of Tracks)
   1  Skywarp (orig.)
   1  Soundwave
   1  Terrorsaur
   1  The Baroness
   1  Trypticon
   1  Vector Sigma
   1  Victory Leo
   1  Wheelie
   1  Wildrider
   2  Airrazor
   2  Astoria Carlton-Ritz
   2  Dr. Biggles-Jones
   2  Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime
   2  T-A.I.
   2  Thundercracker
   2  Unicron
   3  Circuit Breaker
   3  Marissa Fairbourne
   4  Moonracer (from "The Search for Alpha Trion")
   4  Starscream (orig.)
   4  Stella Holly (from "Linkage")
   5  Elita-One
   5  Junko/Kelly (RiD)
   5  Minerva
  10  Alexis
  13  Arcee
  16  Carly Witwicky
  20  Blackarachnia

Gross. That is so wrong. You should be so ashamed. Blackaracknia.

Nope - not even for Blackarachnia.

I'm still not interested in answering this category, thanks. Though 
Carly is a hottie, with *brains*... Oh, I just answered that, didn't 
I? Drat...

Yeah, right.

Alexis. Say, what's the legal age of consent on Cybertron anyway?

Ew!

Minerva.  A caring, sensitive mademoiselle.  Looks cool and hot in a 
French schoolgirl outfit, kimono, swimsuit, and anything else.

Disgusting. Equally disgusting is the amount of fanboys who're going 
to say Alexis or Minerva. You should all be ashamed of yourselves.

I think I'll stick with Airazor, the moaning machine.

I'll keep all my relationships with giant robots strictly platonic, 
thanks anyway.

Motormaster! My love affair with Motormaster has its very own 
soundtrack of bad country songs.  We've got "I Love a Man with 18 
Wheels," followed by "White Line Casanova (Love Bandit of the Road)", 
and the ultimate love theme "Wear and Tear on my Heart" by George Fox.  
In fact, that last song is a requirement for anyone writing TF smut, 
at least for those with automobile/truck alt modes. 

Nobody. I wish Tracks would stop nuzzling his fender against my butt, 
though.

Wildrider. With a name like that...

Ouch! No thanks

Well, she wears pink, has Princess Leia-style hair buns, and hangs out 
with a Han Solo wannabe. What? No, not Arcee, you sickos! Carrie 
Fishhook, the Carrie Fisher-lookalike in "Hoist Goes Hollywood"!

That's disgusting

Falcia. Hurt me, you wild Italian bitch.

Once again, I find this question disgusting. Nope. I'm not even going 
to think about humans and Transformers. Now if you excuse me, I'm of 
to worship Emma Frost some more.

Wheelie, cus hes so young and innocent

excuse me while I puke.

Because I know you only want one answer for this, I'll say Prowl.  
Truth of the matter is though, both Prowl and Jazz.  Preferably at the 
same time.  Many times.  Forever.  My bed's big enough for the three 
of us to romp in.  Besides, I just know that somewhere deep inside 
Prowl, there's an erotic animal just waiting to be released.  I'm sure 
that between Jazz and I we can bring that out nicely.  Close the door 
and turn the sound dampener on, please, we'd like some privacy.

The sadly ironic thing about this question is that, as I happen to be 
female, there are *loads* of candidates for me to choose from.  And 
yet, alas, this question continues to CREEP ME OUT.

OK.  This question is sooo wrong.  That said, Elita's never gotten any 
attention from Optimus and deserves better

..............and moving on to the next question.

Although I still strongly feel that this wouldn't work, I'll say Kup 
on the grounds that he's got experience with everything else....

NO ONE.  Gar, giant alien robots aren't my idea of attractive, dangit.

January 2003 on Decepticon Dominion MUSH, Burt Ward joked that one of 
these years he wanted to vote for Nightracer as a change.  I want to 
donate my vote to his choice even though it wouldn't be my personal 
choice.

[And from the now-infamous "Naked lust" pile:]
Dr Biggles-Jones. This is a pointless question. All this does is to 
serve as an insparation to lame fanfic authours and their lame Mary 
Sue avarats who are the One True Love (TM) of some chracter who it 
doesn't even make sense that they're the One True Love (TM) of... This 
leads to such uckky issues as TF's having sex (eww) and so on... It's 
really sad and pointless. And... mmm... tight rubber suit... ring pull 
zip... labcoat... drool...
    --Rick R. Mortis
JAZZ. I say it every year, and every year it's true. Prowl is a mere 
rank amateur compared to the Jazzbot, says I. The voice, the shades 
(or are those his eyes?), the face...talk about a fangirl magnet.  :)
    --Themis56
Anonymity be damned! Feel free to put my name to this, along with my 
apologies to society in general: The lovely EDC Captain Marissa 
Fairbourne...
  "Oh yeah, that's right, who's your daddy? Who's your daddy?"
  *click*
  "I am."
  "Ahh.. umm, G-Gen.. General Flint, sir.. How... how long have you
been... st-standing there?"
  "Long enough, son. Now kindly step away from my daughter. And put
some damn pants on before I put a bullet in your hairy behind."
    --Michael "Kil" McCarthy

     DUALOR: Yes, nothing says "romance" like having your girlfriend's
             father walk in during your make-out session and take aim
             at your bare bumper.
     T-A.I.: I wouldn't know.
  SPARKPLUG: I don't WANT to know.

                       ------------------------------

*** The Bionic Badass Award, for the most intimidating Transformers
character
   1  Abominous
   1  Alexis
   1  Apeface
   1  Black Zarak
   1  Blackarachnia
   1  Blurr (Armada)
   1  Bruticus (RiD)
   1  Cyclonus (orig.)
   1  Deathsarus/Deszaras (Transformers: Victory)
   1  Defcon/Devcon
   1  Donny Finkelberg/Robot Master
   1  Downshift (Energon)
   1  Emusa/Zone Bunny
   1  Jhiaxus
   1  Landfill
   1  Leige Maximo (from Transformers: Generation 2 #12)
   1  LioConvoy (Beast Wars Second)
   1  Megabolt Megatron
   1  Monstructor
   1  Obsidian
   1  Optimal Optimus
   1  Perceptor (orig.)
   1  Ratchet (orig.)
   1  Raul
   1  Razorclaw (orig.)
   1  Rumble
   1  Scavenger (Armada)
   1  Side Burn
   1  Starscream (orig.)
   1  Tankorr
   1  Thrust (BM)
   1  Torkulon (planet from "Webworld")
   1  Trypticon
   1  Ultra Magnus (orig.)
   1  Ultra Magnus (RiD)
   1  Victory Leo
   1  Victory Saber (orig.)
   1  Wheelie
   2  Brawn
   2  Bruticus (orig.)
   2  Depth Charge
   2  Fortress Maximus (orig.)
   2  Fortress Maximus (RiD)
   2  Rhinox
   2  Shokaract
   2  Sixshot
   3  Death's Head
   3  Devastator
   4  Metroplex
   4  Omega Supreme
   4  Scorponok (orig.)
   4  Soundwave
   4  Tarantulas
   4  Tidal Wave
   5  Megatron (orig.)
   5  Predaking
   7  Dinobot
   7  Megatron (BW/BM)
   8  Scourge (RiD)
  13  Rampage (BW)
  21  Galvatron (orig.)
  25  Grimlock (orig.)
  28  Unicron

Unicron. If you're not intimidated by a planet sized robot that 
munches on entire galaxies, you need help badly.
    --"The Mad Bomber" Bombshell

Shokaract, easily. Megatrons come and go, Galvatrons come, go mad, 
then go. But Shokaract not only commanded armies, not only carved out 
an empire that would put any othe Leading Transformer Conqueror to 
shame, but he had the Fires of a Undead Dark God (tm) helping him kick 
ass personally. He *made Unicron his bitch*. Need more be said?
    --Ryan Hawe/Darwinian Road Kill

Energon Downshift, because anyone that's THAT HUGE of a fanwank scares 
the hell out of me.
    --HOOPER_X

Bruticus. c'mon, you gonna piss off a guy with a CANNON for a kneecap?
    --Omega

Landfill.  He's the combined might of four warriors with the brain of 
a stupid young twerp.  Sure, Devastator's probably stronger and 
dumber, but Landfill has just enough brains and the right fill of 
emotional adolescent turmoil to be possibly the most dangerous 
Transformer alive.  Ask Ruination.
    --David "Walky" Willis

Perceptor, just to skew the results (and because I can't think of 
anyone)
    --dirge

Fortress Maximus (RiD/Car Robots version) is without question the 
single scariest badass ever. G1 Fort Max was a peacekeeping device. 
RiD Fort Max was an unstoppable force of nature. It's like having the 
raging power of The Hulk in charge of the massive body, binary bonded 
to a voice of reason that just barely keeps it in check.
    --PlutoniumBoss/"Myles" Carlton Garlick

Donny Finkelberg. Because anyone with the sheer guts to wear the 
Robot-Master costume in public scares the holy living bejeezus out
of me.
    --Dave "Zobovor" Edwards

  SPARKPLUG: I'm surprised Grimlock finished that close to Unicron.
     DUALOR: If anyone makes a "Me Grimlock, badass" joke, I'm
             leaving.
     T-A.I.: This from the Minicon chanting Cthulu...

                       ------------------------------

*** The "I was framed!" Award, for the character who gets an
UNDESERVED bad reputation
   1  Blaster
   1  Blot
   1  Botanica
   1  Brawn
   1  Carlos
   1  Cerebros
   1  Cheetor
   1  Demolishor
   1  Dinobot
   1  Dinoking (Transformers: Victory)
   1  Gears
   1  Hound
   1  Hubcap
   1  Marissa Fairebourne
   1  Megatron (RiD)
   1  Octopunch
   1  Optimus Prime (Armada)
   1  Perceptor (Minicon)
   1  Perceptor (orig.)
   1  Prowl (orig.)
   1  Quintessons
   1  Rad (Armada)
   1  Ratchet (orig.)
   1  Raul
   1  Sandstorm (orig.)
   1  Scavenger (Armada)
   1  Scavenger (orig.)
   1  Sharkicon
   1  Shockwave
   1  Skywarp (orig.)
   1  Speedbreaker
   1  Spike Witwicky
   1  Sunstreaker
   1  Terrorsaur
   1  Tigerhawk
   1  Wheeljack (orig.)
   2  Alexis
   2  Arcee
   2  Armada kids (Rad/Alexis/Carlos)
   2  Donny Finkleberg/Robot Master
   2  Octane
   2  Optimus Prime (Energon)
   2  Rattrap
   2  Red Alert (Armada)
   2  Sideswipe (Armada)
   2  Sky-Bite (RiD)
   2  Slag
   2  Soundwave
   2  Swindle (orig.)
   2  Topspin/Twin Twist
   2  Unicron
   2  Waspinator
   3  Blurr (orig.)
   3  Bumblebee
   3  Daniel Witwicky
   3  Grimlock (orig.)
   3  Hot Shot (Armada)
   3  Mirage (orig.)
   3  Thundercracker (orig.)
   4  Megatron (BW/BM)
   4  Tracks
   5  Megatron (orig.)
   6  Optimus Prime (orig.)
   6  Starscream (Armada)
   7  Starscream (orig.)
   8  Galvatron (orig.)
  18  Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime
  23  Wheelie (orig.)
  25  Ultra Magnus (orig.)

Ultra Magnus (Movie) - He can't deal with that now because he's trying 
to deal with the homocidal nutcase trying to blow *you* up, Springer!
    --Ian "Cradok" Tait-Doak

Terrorsaur.  Yeesh, if his voice wasn't screechy, *no one* would 
compare him to Starscream.  If you *have* to compare him to a G1 
character, try Thrust.  Better yet, stop comparing him to other 
people.
    --Wayward

Daniel -- I mean, the kid had a screwed up childhood! We should pity
the poor kid!
    --ShadowWing

Rodimus Prime, who had a total of three angsty moments in thirty 
episodes, yet is perpetually known as 'the whiner'. Pardon me whilst I 
quirk my brow.
    --Sir Raptor of Nonsense

Hubcap. Actually, I think Hubcap would have been lucky to achieve 
*any* reputation.
    --Stuart Denyer

Megatron (BM). He only was trying to stop Primal from destroying 
Cybertron and turning it into some freakish organic mess. In 
retrospect I find Megatron to be in the right, not the wrong.
    --Ryno

The Armada kids, the show would've sucked without them.
    --Amelie

     T-A.I.: Hey!  I LIKE the kids from "Armada"!
  SPARKPLUG: I'm surprised Wheelie didn't win this one, to be honest.
     DUALOR: Actually, since Optimus Prime got fewer votes than
             Wheelie did, does that mean his bad reputation is
             DESERVED?
     T-A.I.: You leave Optimus alone!
     DUALOR: Sure, spoil my fun.

[Cut to commercials.]
======================================================================
PART II: TRANSFORMERS TOYS AND MERCHANDISE

*** Best Toy of the Year
   1  Battle Ravage
   1  Side Swipe (Alternator)/Lambor (Binaltech)
   1  Dirge (Heroes of Cybertron PVC)
   1  Emergency Micron X-Dimension team (Micron Legend)
   1  Hoist (Armada)
   1  Hot Shot Powerlinx (Armada)
   1  Hot Shot (Armada)
   1  Lambor (World's Smallest Transformers)
   1  Megatron (original reissue)
   1  Optimus Prime (Armada)
   1  Powermaster Optimus Prime with Apex armor/Super God Ginrai
        (reissue)
   1  Rampage (Micron Legend)
   1  Ratchet (Universe)
   1  Red Alert (Armada)
   1  Scorponok (Energon)
   1  Sea Team (Minicon)
   1  Shockwave (Micron Legend)
   1  Skywarp (Armada)
   1  Soundwave (Q-Robo PVC)
   1  Starscream (Armada)
   1  Sunstorm (Botcon 2003 exclusive)
   2  Air Military Team (Minicon)
   2  Blurr (Armada)
   2  Optimus Prime (Armada Supercon)
   2  Optimus Prime (Energon)
   2  Overload
   3  Jazz (original reissue)
   3  Wheeljack (Armada)
   4  Starscream (Energon)
   4  Tidal Wave
  34  Smokescreen (Alternator/Binaltech)
  43  Masterpiece Convoy/20th Anniversary Optimus Prime
  76  Unicron (Armada)

"And the answer is...Unicron."
    --Ryan Hawe/Darwinian Road Kill

Tidal Wave. Yeah, you can have your Unicrons, but Tidal wave is just
huge stompy love.
    --M Sipher

Energon Starscream... Armada Unicron... I really want to give the vote
to Energon Starscream, but if I did that, Armada Unicron might eat
him.
    --Suzanne M. Ferree

Masterpiece Optimus Prime. Anyone who says otherwise DOESN'T OWN
ONE!!!
    --Maximus Buchanan

Armada Wheeljack. After years of "Robo-Smasher" stupidity and
Decepticons who saw the light, it's high time we had an Autobot do the
same and join the winning side!
    --Stormrave

Q-Robo Soundwave, the full-color version. Sure, it's a little silly,
but I can't help loving it....
    --Raksha

I know this one -- any toy that wasn't Hot Shot (Armada). Ha, count
this Rob!
    --Gekisou

This was actually a really awesome toy year, wasn't it? Alternator
Smokescreen was helluva nice, and we FINALLY got Unicron, which is
just mindblowing in and of itself, but all things considered the BEST
THING WE GOT ALL YEAR was Universe Ratchet. LOOK OUT! EMERGENCY SUV
WITH PAINTED ON LADDER RACK! so awesome.
    --HOOPER_X

     T-A.I.: I sense much sarcasm here.
     DUALOR: You'd have to be blind, deaf, dumb, and dead to MISS the
             sarcasm there.

                       ------------------------------

*** Best Toy Ever
   1  Apelinq
   1  Big Convoy (Beast Wars Neo; black variant)
   1  Blitzwing
   1  Breakdown
   1  Bumblebee (orig.)
   1  Cyclonus (Botcon exclusive)
   1  Deathsaurus/Deszarus (Victory)
   1  Demolishor
   1  Depth Charge (BW)
   1  Dinobot
   1  Dreadwing (G2)
   1  Galvatron/Devil Gigatron (RiD)
   1  Goldbug
   1  Grimlock (Action Master)
   1  Hauler-Bot
   1  Heinrad (Beast Wars Neo)
   1  Inferno (orig.)
   1  Jetstorm (BM Ultra)
   1  Liokaiser
   1  Megabolt Megatron
   1  Megaplex (E-Hobby exclusive)
   1  Megatron (G2)
   1  Perceptor (orig.)
   1  Pirahnacon/God Neptune
   1  Razorclaw (Universe)
   1  Rhinox (TM)
   1  Rodimus (Choro-Q)
   1  Scourge (RiD Spychanger)
   1  Sideways
   1  Slugslinger
   1  Superion (orig.)
   1  Terrorsaur (orig.)
   1  Unicron (Energon)
   2  Ace Evader (G2)
   2  Anime Starscream (Takara #9 reissue)
   2  B'Boom
   2  Blackarachnia (BM)
   2  Cheetor (Transmetal)
   2  Cyclonus (orig.)
   2  Cyrotek
   2  Galvatron (Beast Wars Second)
   2  Highbrow (orig.)
   2  Hoist (Armada)
   2  Hooligan
   2  Jetfire (Armada)
   2  Jetstorm (BW)
   2  Kickback
   2  Kup (orig.)
   2  Landcross (Victory)
   2  Lioconvoy (Beast Wars Second; Galvatron-colored variant)
   2  Megatron (Choro-Q)
   2  Mirage (Energon)
   2  Optimus Primal (Transmetal)
   2  Optimus Prime (Energon)
   2  Overload
   2  Primal Prime
   2  Rail Racer/JRX (RiD)
   2  Roulette (OTFCC exclusive)
   2  Scorponok (Energon)
   2  Starscream (Armada)
   2  Starscream (Heroes of Cybertron PVC)
   2  Starscream/B.B. (Beast Wars Second)
   2  Strongarm
   2  Takotank (Beast Wars Second)
   2  Tankorr
   2  Tigerhawk
   2  Waspinator (Transmetal)
   2  X-Brawn
   3  Astrotrain
   3  Bumblebee (Pretender)
   3  Dead End (Minicon)
   3  Fortress Maximus (orig. Japanese)
   3  Galvatron (Armada)
   3  Grand Maximus
   3  Jaguar (Japanese BW Metals)
   3  Jhiaxus (RiD)
   3  Megatron (BW Ultra)
   3  Megatron (MW)
   3  Optimus Minor
   3  Optimus Prime (Choro-Q)
   3  Prowl (RiD)
   3  Prowl (orig.)
   3  Raiden
   3  Rotorstorm
   3  Scavenger (BM)
   3  Sideswipe (orig.)
   3  Silverbolt (BW Fuzor)
   3  Skids (orig.)
   3  Swindle (orig.)
   3  Tailgate
   3  Thundercracker (orig.)
   3  Tidal Wave (Armada)
   3  Tracks
   3  Victory Leo (Victory)
   4  Big Convoy (Beast Wars Neo)
   4  Bluestreak (orig.)
   4  Brave Maximus (Car Robots)
   4  Inferno (BW)
   4  Overlord
   4  Super God Ginrai (Masterforce)
   4  Retrax/Powerhug
   4  Shockwave (orig.)
   4  Sky Lynx
   4  Starscream (Armada; white Takara variant)
   4  Trypticon
   4  Wheeljack (orig.)
   5  Devastator
   5  Hot Rod (orig.)
   5  Jetstorm (BM Deluxe)
   5  Side Swipe (Alternator)/Lambor (Binaltech)
   5  Sixshot (orig.)
   5  Starscream (Energon)
   5  Tarantulas (Transmetal)
   6  Megatron (RiD)
   6  Predaking
   6  Sideburn (RiD)
   6  Skywarp (orig.)
   6  Super Mach Alert
   6  Victory Saber (Victory)
   7  Megatron (Armada)
   7  Optimal Optimus
   7  Optimus Prime/Fire Convoy (RiD)
   7  Starscream (orig.)
   8  Optimus Primal (BW Ultra)
   9  Galvatron (orig.)
   9  Optimus Prime (Armada Supercon)
   9  Sandstorm (orig.)
   9  Scorponok (orig.)
  10  Megatron (Transmetal)
  11  Ultra Magnus (orig.)
  12  Jazz (orig.)
  13  Grimlock (orig.)
  13  Omega Supreme
  14  Metroplex
  15  Omega Prime/Super Fire Convoy
  18  Megatron (Transmetal 2)
  18  Optimus Prime (Laser Rod)
  19  Air Attack Optimus Primal (RiD)
  21  Optimus Prime (RiD)/Fire Convoy
  24  Powermaster Optimus Prime/God Ginrai (Masterforce)
  29  Jetfire/Skyfire (orig.)
  35  Soundwave (orig.)
  36  Megatron (orig.)
  38  Fortress Maximus (orig.)
  45  Scourge (RiD)/Black Convoy
  48  Optimus Prime (orig.)
  94  Smokescreen (Alternator/Binaltech)
 141  Masterpiece Convoy/20th Anniversary Optimus Prime
 144  Unicron (Armada)

All three choices came from this year. Prime is a given. Binaltech
Smokescreen is absolute perfection. Unicron is... well, he's friggin
UNICRON!
    --Lord Zarak

Fireconvoy -- a damn fine toy and a generally accepted redesign for
Optimus prime, that I love simply because his super-mode looks nothing
like the other primes, lets hear it for originality.
    --Matt Super

Megaplex, E-Hobby Exclusive. I'll vote for him for the sheer bravado
Takara has shown. <Takara> No, he's nothing like Megatron. He's got
blue leg panels. HE'S A TOTALLY DIFFERENT CHARCTER. GIVE US $90.00.
    --Brian Kilby

Soundwave - Not an actual radio. Enough said.
    --Doomstink

I liked the evil-color Laser Prime better, cause he doesn't has his
name written on his trailer like a dumbass.  Robot in Disguise indeed.
    --Shungokushatsu

Inferno still has the best, most lunatic action-feature ever - the
butt-propeller.
    --Wayward

Yes, that's right, Hooligan! If it wasn't for him and his fellow
Cyberjets, all those poseable toys we have now might not be here.
    --Scott Kampa

Did you know that Galvatron's cannon makes an excellent fake cigar, or
even a pacifier? It's true! The life of a three year old girl is just
full of discoveries!
    --Themis56
Galvatron.  Nothing like sticking a carrot-like piece of plastic into
a robots head and pressing a button right above his crotch to make him
light up.
    --Bombzab

  SPARKPLUG: There's something WRONG seeing those two quotes put
             together.
     DUALOR: And WHY do you think they were put together?
     T-A.I.: For a very cheap joke, of course!

                       ------------------------------

*** Best Convention-Exclusive Toy
   1  Black Rodimus Convoy (Hyper Hobby #38)
   1  Vice Grip (BotCon 1998)
   2  Kickback statue (WizardWorld East 2003)
   2  Onyx Primal (BotCon 1996)
   2  Shining Ultra Magnus (Yokohama Toy Show)
   3  Bombshell statue (WizardWorld Houston 2003)
   3  Brawn Spychanger (CybCon 2002)
   3  Megazarak (OTFCC 2004)
   3  Optimus Prime Choro-Q (BotCon Japan 2000)
   4  Optimus Prime Spychanger (CybCon 2002)
   4  Packrat (BotCon 1997)
   5  SHBM Galvatron (BotCon Japan 1997)
   5  Scavenger (CybCon 2001)
   6  Nightracer (BotCon 1995)
   6  Rook (BotCon Europe 2002)
   7  Fractyl (BotCon 1997)
   8  Sunstorm PVC (OTFCC 2003)
   9  Black Convoy (JafCon 2000)
   9  Heroes of Cybertron Seekers PVC six-pack (BotCon 2003)
  11  Apelinq (BotCon 2001)
  14  Breakdown (BotCon 1994)
  16  Sandstorm (BotCon 1999)
  17  Windrazor (BotCon 1999)
  18  Tap-Out (BotCon 2002)
  21  Glyph (BotCon 2002)
  23  CatSCAN (BotCon 2002)
  28  Antagony (BotCon 1998)
  29  Sunstreaker (OTFCC 2003)
  30  Shadow Striker (OTFCC 2003)
  37  Sideswipe (OTFCC 2003)
  40  Roulette (OTFCC 2003)
  54  Shokaract (BotCon 2000)
  74  Tigatron (BotCon 2001)
  86  Arcee (BotCon 2001)
  93  Cyclonus (BotCon 2002)

Only one vote on this one -- Botcon Cyclonus, the most beautifully
done Transformer I have EVER seen. The interplay of Transmetallic and
regular purples complimenting his aerodynamic lines is nothing short
of breathtaking. Jaws drop when I show this toy off to my friends --
and the G1 fans are twice as amazed when they realize that's it's an
homage to Cyclonus. "It's perfect," they say, and they're right.
    --Rev. Pee Kitty

Botcon "Chatty" Arcee. Not just a pretty face, and she's not afraid to
point this out -- frequently.
    --Ryan Hawe/Darwinian Road Kill

Roulette is a great toy.  The remold of the head to make it look both
feminine and unique, coupled with a toy that also looks strong but
feminine in both modes, and painted in beautifully complimentary
colours, makes for one sharp looking toy.  Wonderful bio to go with
it.  A shame the same can't be said of Shadow Striker...
    --Stormrave

The only thing that could stop Shokaract from being #1 is if he sent
heralds into his own past to ensure his ongoing perpetual victory.
    --David "Walky" Willis

Glyph: A blue recolor of keychain Bumblebee... what's not to love
about it?
    --PlutoniumBoss/"Myles" Carlton Garlick

Shuttle Chodes, Crazy Steve's WTF Convention Exclusive #2 (OTFCC03)
Limited decoy giftset commemorating the 17th anniversary of the death
of Brawn.
    --necrotron

I am unqualified to answer this, so i'll just say CybCon Scavenger,
since Zobovor is cool.
    --RandomFerret

     DUALOR: Is it just me, or were the OTFCC 2003 guys
             overcompensating on the exclusive toys?
  SPARKPLUG: Yeah, they had a lot of stuff last year, didn't they?
     T-A.I.: I think it's nice; they probably wanted to give something
             back to the fans.
     DUALOR: Sure, but you believe in the tooth fairy too.

                       ------------------------------

*** Worst Toy of the Year
   1  Astroscope (Minicon)
   1  Cheetor (Armada)
   1  Highwire (Minicon)
   1  Hoist (Armada)
   1  Hot Shot (Energon)
   1  Hot Shot Powerlinx (Armada)
   1  Jhiaxus
   1  Optimus Prime Powerlinx (Armada)
   1  Rapid Run
   1  Red Alert (Armada)
   1  Refute
   1  Shadow Striker (OTFCC 2003)
   1  Side Swipe (Alternator)/Lambor (Binaltech)
   1  Snarl (Universe)
   1  Space Action Team (Minicon)
   1  Street Speed Team (Minicon)
   1  Tidal Wave
   1  Treadbolt (Energon)
   1  WARS
   1  Wheeljack (Armada)
   2  Armourhide (Minicon)
   2  Cyclonus (Armada)
   2  Cyclonus Powerlinx (Armada)
   2  Ironhide (Energon)
   2  Optimus Primal (Universe)
   2  Overload (Armada)
   2  Predacon
   2  Ratchet (Universe)
   2  Ruination (urban yellow variant)
   2  Smokescreen (Alternator/Binaltech)
   2  Street Action Team/Perceptor (Minicon)
   2  Thrust Powerlinx (Armada)
   3  Silverbolt (Universe)
   3  Ultra Magnus (Universe)
   3  Unicron
   4  Laserbeak (Armada)
   4  Scavenger (Armada)
   4  Sideways (Armada)
   4  Smokescreen (Armada)
   5  Optimus Prime (Armada)
   5  Thrust (Armada)
   6  Hot Shot (Armada)
   6  Nightbeat (Minicon)
  21  Optimus Prime (Energon)
  40  Sideswipe (Armada)

Armada Sideswipe. There's thigh problems, and then there's "My torso
fits through the door, but my hips are bigger than the BUILDING."
    --Robert Powers

What do you get when you take one of the best Transmetals toys, strip
off the vacuum-metalized chrome, cast the toy in completely random
colors and paint applications, and then affix tiny sports cars to its
body? Why, you get Predacon, of course. Well, and Cheetor. Yes, and
Airazor. Sure, and Rhinox. Uh, yeah, and Terrorsaur, too. Wait, let's
start over.
    --Dave "Zobovor" Edwards

Armada Cyclonus repaint.  As if he wasn't ugly enough, they gave
Armada Cyc a NEW paint job.  And NO it does NOT make him look any
better. :P
    --Sheba

Universe Silverbolt.  You seen the new paintjob on the guy?  It puts
Elita's fembots to shame.
    --Whirlwind

[And now, the special commemorative "Build to Suck" award:]
Jeez, can I just vote for all the Built-To-Rule Transformers. I used
to make much better lookg Transformers out of Legos when I was a kid.
Heck, one night I made a better looking version of Optimus Prime out
of mashed potatoes and peas.
    --Thundercracker1978
Built-To-Rule, maybe?  Nice vehicle modes, sucky robot modes.
    --Lord Black "Nytetrayn" Draco
Admitted, there were plenty of ugly TFs this year, but I am trying to
forget BTR even exists!  (Those things remind me of the failed Ripley
clones in the 4th Alien movie! "Kill me....")
    --Bloodcat

I know America has a problem with obesity effecting most people, but
when it spreads to the legendary leader of the Autobots, you know
you've got a problem on your hands. Energon Prime is fat, big, chunky,
overweight, pilling on the pounds, due for retirement, in need of slim
fast, the latest victim of the Atkins diet.
    --Divefire

I bought Sideways because of the gimmick.  Wow, I thought, a robot who
changes from Autobot to Decepticon based on the minicon attached! 
Only too late did I realize that while his first faction is Autobot
and his second faction is Decepticon, his third and permanent faction
is his serving as the President Of UGLY.
    --Merytneith

     DUALOR: Hey, it's hard to look attractive when two of your robot
             modes consists of having a Mini-con do a headstand on
             your shoulder and waving his ass at everyone.
     T-A.I.: Thank you for THAT disturbing mental image.

                       ------------------------------

*** The Earth Day Award, for the best reuse of a character's name
   1  Battle Ravage (Energon)
   1  Bludgeon (Armada)
   1  Dead End (Minicon)
   1  Fortress Maximus PVC
   1  Galvatron (Beast Wars Second)
   1  Grapple (Armada)
   1  Grimlock (BW)
   1  Hot Shot (Armada)
   1  Hot Shot (Energon)
   1  Ironhide (BW Magnaboss elephant)
   1  Ironhide (Energon)
   1  Jetstorm (BM)
   1  Megatron (Armada)
   1  Megatron (BW T-rex)
   1  Megatron (BW Transmetal)
   1  Nightbeat (Minicon)
   1  Optimus Prime (RiD)
   1  Prowl (Transmetal 2)
   1  Rampage (Micron Legend)
   1  Ratchet (Universe)
   1  Red Alert (Armada)
   1  Red Alert (Universe)
   1  Rodimus (Energon)
   1  Scavenger (Armada)
   1  Scorponok (BW)
   1  Sideswipe (Armada)
   1  Sideways (Armada)
   1  Starscream (Energon)
   1  Street Action Team/Perceptor (Armada)
   1  Thundercracker (Armada)
   2  Arcee (Energon)
   2  Cyclonus (Armada)
   2  Hoist (Armada)
   2  Inferno (Energon)
   2  Scourge (Rid)
   2  Shockwave (Micron Legend)
   2  Silverbolt (BW)
   2  Skywarp (Armada)
   2  Sunstreaker (OTFCC exclusive)
   3  Prowl (RiD)
   3  Rampage (BW)
   3  Soundwave (Mutant Beast Wars)
   3  Thrust (Armada)
   4  Leader-1 (Minicon)
   4  Sparkplug (Minicon)
   5  Optimus Prime (Armada)
   6  Blurr (Armada)
   6  Jetfire (Armada)
   6  Wheeljack (Armada)
  12  Scorponok (Energon)
  13  Smokescreen (Alternators/Binaltech)
  14  Inferno (BW)
  33  Starscream (Armada)

Starscream (G1/Armada) A power hungry Decepticon traitor from G1
becomes an honorable Decepticon warior caught between what he believes
is right and loyalty to the Decepticons he briefly betrayed by joining
the Autobots. He may not be the same character, but he's almost as
much a traitor to the Decepticons, and with just as much personality
as the original.
    --FlameStrike

Leader-1 (Armada). As someone who didn't much care for the original
Gobots, making the main good guy into Megatron's ***** seems very
appropriate to me.
    --Conor E

BW Rampage.  The G1 Rampgae, while cool, is sadly just another
forgetable Big Bad Decepticon character.  BW Rampage made Season 2 and
3.
    --Razorpack

Go-bots Buzz-Bot. I mean, look at him! This is the closest thing we'll
get to a Transtech figure, people.
    --RandomFerret

I've got to hand it to Ironhide being assigned to the Beast Wars
Magnaboss elephant. Try as I might, I can't think of a better name for
a Transformers elephant.
    --Joona I Palaste

I would have to say the team name "Terrorcons" for a knock off set of
TF's I saw on ebay, consisting of 2 Terrocons, 2 Technobots, and a
Protectobot. In pink.
    --ANROneOfAkind

  SPARKPLUG: That sounds like a terrifying sight, all right.
     T-A.I.: What's more terrifying, the pairing or the color?
     DUALOR: Does it matter?  It's all bad.

                       ------------------------------

*** The Grave-Spinning Award, for the worst reuse of a character's
name
   1  Battle Ravage
   1  Bruticus (BM)
   1  Bruticus (RiD)
   1  Galvatron (Armada)
   1  Hoist (Armada)
   1  Hot Shot (Armada)
   1  Ironhide (RiD)
   1  Jetstorm (Armada)
   1  Leader-1 (Minicon)
   1  Megatron (Armada)
   1  Megatron (BM)
   1  Megatron (BW Ultra T-rex)
   1  Megatron (BW basic bat)
   1  Mirage (Minicon)
   1  Optimus Minor
   1  Optimus Primal (BM)
   1  Optimus Prime (Armada)
   1  Over-Run (Armada)
   1  Prowl (RiD)
   1  Rampage (Beast Wars)
   1  Scavenger (Transmetal)
   1  Scourge (RiD)
   1  Skid-Z
   1  Skyboom (Minicon)
   1  Snarl (Universe)
   1  Sparkplug (Armada)
   1  Thrust (Armada)
   1  Thunderwing (Minicon)
   2  Inferno (Minicon)
   2  Ironhide (Energon)
   2  Jetfire (Armada)
   2  Megatron (Energon)
   2  Prowl (Transmetal 2 owl)
   2  Scorponok (Energon)
   2  Starscream (Armada)
   3  Ironhide (Armada)
   3  Prowl (Minicon)
   3  Prowl 2
   3  Ratchet (universe)
   3  Soundwave (BW mutant)
   3  Soundwave (Go-bot)
   5  Inferno (Universe)
   5  Optimus Prime (energon)
   5  Street Action Team/Perceptor (Minicon)
   6  Nightbeat (Armada)
   7  Laserbeak (Armada)
  10  Wheeljack (Armada)
  13  Cyclonus (Armada)
  16  Sideswipe (Armada)
  22  Grimlock (RiD)
  25  Smokescreen (Armada)

Smokescreen (Armada), since neither of his modes nor any of his
abilities have anything to do with smoke or screens.  He'd have been
much better named Grapple, Hook or Hoist, or even better, something
original.
    --Implode

Sideswipe. I'd like to say I like the character. I'd like to say I
like the toy. But, I don't need the extra bad karma.
    --Gekisou

Grimlock (RiD) (From T-Rex to JCB...sheesh)
    --KingMob

Prowl. Every set seems to have one of him
    --Michael
The name "Galvatron" has just become shorthand for "Megatron repaint".
    --Amanda "Dragonclaw" Wells
"Mirage".  *YOU* figure out which post-G1 version I'm talking
about!  :D
    --Merytneith

Laserbeak (or however it got spelled for Armada). No lasers, no
beak... no character. Why bother?
    --kidu

Thunderwing. Once the scourge of the Autobots, now a dinky little
minicon who, let's be honest, probably isn't the scourge of his own
back garden.
    --Bluestreak Paul

RiD Jhaxius. I've waited years for a Jhaxius toy. This ain't it.
    --NightViper

TFU "Inferno".  If it looks like a Red Alert, smells like a Red Alert,
sounds like a Red Alert, and most importantly is PAINTED like a Red
Alert.... WHY IN THE NAME OF ALL THAT IS HOLY IS IT *NOT* RED ALERT?!
    --Robert Powers

     DUALOR: Because that would actually make sense!

                       ------------------------------

*** The "Transform THIS!" Award, for the Transformers toy with the
best transformation
   1  Battle Unicorn
   1  Blackarachnia (BM)
   1  Blitzwing
   1  Bluestreak (orig.)
   1  Doubledealer
   1  Firebot (Minicon)
   1  Galvatron (Armada)
   1  Galvatron (orig.)
   1  Hotshot (Armada)
   1  Inferno (BW)
   1  Ironhide (RiD Spychanger)
   1  Jazz
   1  Lioconvoy (Beast Wars Second)
   1  Mach Alert (Beast Wars Neo)
   1  Megabolt Megatron (RiD)
   1  Megatron (Choro-Q)
   1  Megatron (Transmetal T-Rex)
   1  Megatron/Galvatron (RiD)
   1  Nemesis Prime
   1  Nightviper (BM)
   1  Omega Prime (RiD)
   1  Omega Supreme
   1  Overload
   1  Powermaster Optimus Prime
   1  Prowl (RiD)
   1  Prowl (orig.)
   1  Ratbat
   1  Sandstorm (orig.)
   1  Scavenger (BM)
   1  Scorponok (Energon)
   1  Scourge (RiD Spychanger)
   1  Side Swipe (Alternator)/Lambor (Binaltech)
   1  Sixshot
   1  Smokescreen (G2)
   1  Snarl (orig.)
   1  Soundwave (orig.)
   1  Spiral (Minicon)
   1  Stalker (G2)
   1  Starscream/Skywarp/Thundercracker (orig.)
   1  Street Action Team/Perceptor (Minicon)
   1  Strika
   1  Strong Arm
   1  Tailgate
   1  Tarantulas (Transmetal)
   1  Terrorsaur (orig.)
   1  Trainbots/Raiden
   1  Trypticon
   1  Victory Leo (Victory)
   2  Dead End (Minicon)
   2  Fortress Maximus (orig.)
   2  Metroplex
   2  Optimal Optimus
   2  Optimus Prime (Armada Supercon)
   2  Optimus Prime (RiD)
   2  Sideburn (RiD)
   2  Starscream (Energon)
   3  Astrotrain
   3  Jetfire (Armada)
   3  Megatron (Transmetal 2 dragon)/Cryotek
   3  X-Brawn
   4  Bonecrusher (Minicon)
   4  Laser Rod Optimus Prime (G2)/Scourge (RiD)
   4  Optimus Prime (orig.)
   4  Starscream (Armada)
   4  Wheeljack (Armada)
   5  Jetfire/Skyfire (orig.)
   5  Megatron (orig.)
   8  Tidal Wave
  21  Unicron
  25  Masterpiece Convoy/20th Anniversary Optimus Prime
  28  Smokescreen (Alternator/Binaltech)

BT Smokescreen. Took me 30 minutes to transform him on my way to work.
No, I wasn't driving at the time.
    --dirge

Optimal Optimus - big toy, four modes, all transmetal ;)
    --Bill "RedStreak" Talor

Bonecrusher (ARM) - A transformation so flawless should not naturally
exist in one so small... I suspect a bargain with Satan... that single
red eye has the glint of the damned...
    --Iacon

Armada Dead End. COMBAT READY GONAD.
    --HOOPER_X

Fortress Maximus, it's like wrestling a small baby, eat your hearts
out catholic priests.
    --Winterblast

Gotta give it up for Masterpiece convoy simply because a lot of
thought went into the piece and the team who worked on it are all
geniuses in my book. Bring on the Nobel Prize for toy-design.
    --Matt Super

Overload. He even has the damn /sound/ man! THE SOUND!
    --Blind Zen Archer

Jazz! What other TF out there is willing to risk screwing up a
swandive and slamming his face into a telephone pole or innocent
pedestrian? Jazz is cool in EVERYTHING.
    --Themis56

  SPARKPLUG: You know what's going to be fun?
     T-A.I.: What?
  SPARKPLUG: Watching the winners for this award next year, where the
             top ten winners will all be Alternators/Binaltech toys.
     DUALOR: I'd pay good money just to watch the fans try to pick
             their top THREE.
     T-A.I.: You boys are cruel.

                       ------------------------------

*** The Big Ugly Bot Award, for the ugliest Transformers toy
   1  Big Daddy
   1  Blot
   1  Bludgeon (orig.)
   1  Bonecrusher (BW)
   1  Bulletbike (G2 Power Master)
   1  Buzzsaw (BM)
   1  Demolishor (Armada)
   1  Demolishor (Energon)
   1  Demolishor (Happy Meal)
   1  Demolishor Powerlinx (Armada)
   1  Depth Charge (Universe)
   1  Dinobot
   1  Dinobot 2 (Happy Meal)
   1  Fortress Maximus (orig.)
   1  Galvatron (orig.)
   1  Gnaw
   1  Grandus (Return of Convoy/Battlestars)
   1  Grimlock (BW)
   1  Grimlock (Pretender)
   1  Highwire
   1  Hoist (Armada)
   1  Hot Shot Powerlinx (Armada)
   1  Ironhide (BW elephant)
   1  Ironhide (Minicon)
   1  Jetfire (Armada)
   1  King Atlas (Universe)
   1  Laserbeak (Armada)
   1  Longtooth
   1  Meanstreak (Power Master)
   1  Motormaster
   1  Oceanglide (Minicon)
   1  Octopunch
   1  Optimal Optimus
   1  Optimus Minor
   1  Optimus Primal (Happy Meal)
   1  Optimus Primal (Universe)
   1  Optimus Prime (Armada)
   1  Predacon
   1  Prowl (Armada)
   1  Quickswitch
   1  Ramulus
   1  Ratchet (orig.)
   1  Reptilion (Universe)
   1  Rhinox (orig.)
   1  Scavenger (BM)
   1  Scavenger (Transmetal)
   1  Side Burn
   1  Silverbolt (BM)
   1  Sixshot
   1  Soundwave (BW)
   1  Soundwave (Gobot)
   1  Sunstorm
   1  Sureshock (Armada)
   1  Tankorr
   1  Tentakil
   1  Terrorsaur (Universe)
   1  Thundercracker (Action Master)
   1  Tracks
   1  Transquito
   1  Treadbolt (Energon)
   1  Tripredicus
   1  Vroom (Pretender)
   2  Astroscope
   2  Cyclonus (Armada)
   2  Cyclonus Powerlinx (Armada)
   2  Drill Bit
   2  Geckobot (BM)
   2  Nightscream (BM)
   2  Optimus Prime (Universe)
   2  Red Alert Powerlinx (Armada)
   2  Rodimus Prime
   2  Scorponok (Energon)
   2  Sideways (Armada)
   2  Street Action Team/Perceptor (Armada)
   2  Thrust (Armada)
   2  Tidal Wave (Armada)
   2  Wheelie
   3  Overload (Armada)
   3  Retrax (BW)
   3  Scavenger (Armada)
   4  Hot Shot (Armada)
   4  Megatron (orig.)
   4  Nightbeat (Minicon)
   4  Silverbolt (Universe)
   5  Bruticus (RiD)
   6  Ironhide (orig.)
  11  Sideswipe (Armada)
  16  Injector
  22  Optimus Prime (Energon)

Energon Optimus Prime - "And I'll form THE HEAD! ... right after I
finish this plate of nachos."
    --Aernaroth

BM Silverbolt. Easily the worst TF toy EVER, IMO. It transformed from
an awkward, badly colored, way too tiny robot into a mess of non-
connecting limbs that looks like a bird only if you're willing to
imagine that said bird was run over first by the entire G1 Autobot
cast. That he was fairly cool in the show only makes that peice of
cr@p toy seem worse. Whoever okayed that mess deserves a visit from
Monstructor.
    --ZacWilliam

Longtooth, yeah the yellow pants and skull belt will make him more
intimidating.  *Thumbs up*
    --Ethan Hammond

Minicon Sea Team's Oceanglide, the first Minicon and TF ever to come
with the beer-guzzling hat.
    --Aaron Hong, Sergeant Major 1st Armored Rangers

McDonalds Demolisher. You ever seen him? DON'T.
    --Alloran

Soundwave (BW)- Whenever I look at my BW Mutant Soundwave (still
sealed in package due to fear rather than greed), I get mental images
of glass tanks filled with failed attempts to clone Ren Hoek...
    --Iacon

Thundercracker (Actionmaster) Wow. Just what a tough-as-nails
Decepticon warrior needs, a neon colour scheme.
    --Conor E

My theory on why Injector is not being re-released in Universe?  It
can't possibly be made any more hideous!
    --necrotron

     DUALOR: If someone at Hasbro takes that as a challenge, we'll
             know who to blame.

                       ------------------------------

*** Strangest Merchandise Item of All Time
   1  Armada Happy Meal toys
   1  Armada backpack
   1  Armada bag
   1  Autobot/Decepticon football jerseys
   1  Beast Wars "just add water" coloring books
   1  Beast Wars Neo fish sausages
   1  Bedsheets
   1  Bluestreak walkie-talkies
   1  BotCon 2002 exclusive RiD commercial dance-mix CD
   1  Bumblebee keychain
   1  Chrono-Qs
   1  Deployers
   1  Drink coasters (included with region 4 season 1 DVD)
   1  Erasers
   1  Japanese die-cast Armada Figures
   1  Megatron gun microphone
   1  Minerva PVC figure
   1  Mini jigsaw puzzles
   1  Optimus Prime Squeeze 'n Blow
   1  Optimus Prime cookie jar
   1  Optimus Prime slippers
   1  Optimus Prime soap
   1  Optimus Prime sunglasses
   1  PVC figures
   1  Party balloons
   1  Party supply display center
   1  Ramjet toast cutters
   1  Shampoo bottle caps
   1  Smallest Transformers figures
   1  Soundwave tape player
   1  Soundwave toothpaste
   1  Tiny tins
   1  Trading cards
   1  Transformer Icy-pole snacks
   1  Transformer dictionary
   1  Transformers "Find Your Fate" books
   1  Transformers Autobot sigil car air freshener
   1  Transformers Board Game
   1  Transformers Christmas crackers
   1  Transformers bottle caps
   1  Transformers cereal
   1  Transformers snow booties
   1  Transformers welly (rubber) boots
   1  Transformers: Energon Scorponok kite
   1  Transformers: Takara UK DVD
   1  Tyco race Set
   1  Ultra Magnus Halloween costume
   2  "Satellite of Doom/When Continents Collide" video storybook
   2  Beast Wars Japanese Rattrap sausages
   2  Built to Rule figures
   2  Megatron gumball machine
   2  Optimus Prime shampoo
   2  Skywarp soap dish
   2  Starscream inflatable lounge-in
   2  Transformers playing cards
   2  Ultra Magnus voice changer
   3  Armada bubble twist candy with figures
   3  Armada slippers/shoes
   3  Memorial plates
   3  Optimus Prime lollipops
   3  Tyco train set
   3  Watches
   3  Zippo Optimus Prime lighter
   4  Armada Optimus Prime keychain flashlight
   4  Role-play Star Saber/Dark Saber
   5  Bobbleheads
   8  RiD party/Christmas tree lights
  12  Transformers Underoos/underwear
  19  Optimus Prime Oral Care Station

Optimus Prime Oral Care Station. I'd love me some oral care, but from
Oprimus Prime?
    --lastmaximal

The Soundwave Grandfather clock I saw on a fanpage once, though not
official sadly.
    --ANROneOfAkind

Transformers Zippo lighters. Nice to know that Optimus Prime is
encouraging kids to smoke.
    --Goktimus Prime

The Botcon 2002 exclusive RID-commercial-dance-mix soundtrack CD
distributed by the Hasbro reps.  I suppose it's the thought that
counts, but.... a plastic tree died for *this*?
    --Thylacine 2000

Transformer poop! was available for a short time at novelty stores in
mid 90's it was large nuts and bolts painted black
    --Mike/Sideswipe6520

"Satellite of Doom/When Continents Collide," the video storybook that
M_Sipher unleashed upon an unsuspecting audience at the 2003 MST3K
panel. Should the CIA force Saddam Hussein to watch it, he'll be
spilling his entire life story by the time it's over.
    --Daniel "Suspsy" Suh

Soundwave Toothpaste from Israel.  What did it taste like? DONT ASK!!! 
Eww!
    --Seawave

The G1 Skywarp soap dish. I can just imagine the conversations in
homes all over American in 1984:
    MOM: Timmy, go upstairs and wash your hands for dinner.
  TIMMY: Aww, gee whiz, do I have to, Mom?
    MOM: Don't you want to be like Skywarp? Skywarp always washes his
         hands after he tears the still-beating energon pump out of
         his enemy's chest and comes away covered with the black,
         glistening, oily blood of his still-writhing victim.
  TIMMY: Mom, you're off your medication again, aren't you?
    --Dave "Zobovor" Edwards

     DUALOR: It takes a special kind of twisted mind to imagine
             something like this.
  SPARKPLUG: You're the authority there.

                       ------------------------------

*** The "Justifiable Murder" Award, for the most desired merchandise
item you want
   1  Arcee statue
   1  Armada Starscream club shirt
   1  Armada kids punching bags
   1  Armada roleplay Star Saber
   1  Autobot and Decepticon car decals
   1  Beast Wars Metals Nintendo 64 game
   1  Beast Wars Season 2 on DVD
   1  BotCon comics
   1  Botanica toy
   1  Clothing
   1  Comic book series signed by Simon Furman
   1  Devastator/Superion poster
   1  Die-cast Convoy and Megatron BW statues
   1  Display end cap
   1  Dreamwave's Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye TPBS
   1  Energon Blaster suction dart gun
   1  Energon Scorponok kite
   1  Energon sword roleplay
   1  Fleer Transformer Armada collector cards
   1  G1 Unicron prototype
   1  G2 Menasaur prototype
   1  Galvatron statue
   1  Hot Rod go-kart
   1  Japanese DVDs
   1  Jazz Oral Care Station
   1  Jazz and Thundercracker promotional costumes
   1  Lithographs
   1  "Matrix Forever" Japanese laserdisc
   1  McDonalds Happy Meal Armada Demolishor
   1  Mega SCF Victory Leo
   1  Megatron and Soundwave placemat
   1  Megatron club shirts
   1  Megatron keychain figurine
   1  Movie cel
   1  Myclone Dirge
   1  OTFCC documentary video
   1  Optimus Prime Oral Care Station
   1  Original G1 production mold
   1  Original Pat Lee Transformers artwork
   1  Paint-a-Figure Grimlock
   1  Roleplay Matrix
   1  Simon Furman's "Transformers: Alignment" story
   1  Skywarp PVC figure
   1  Skywarp and Soundwave vs. Snarl and Sideswipe poster
   1  Smallest Transformers
   1  Starscream inflatable lounge-in
   1  Stickers
   1  Sunstorm PVC figure
   1  Trailer for Masterpiece Convoy
   1  Transformers Rock-em Sock-em Robots game
   1  Transformers playing cards
   1  Transformers sleeping bag
   1  Transformers: Armada on DVD
   1  Transformers: Armada playing cards
   1  Transformers: Generations photo book
   1  Transformers: The Movie script
   1  Transformers: The Movie soundtrack
   1  Ultra Magnus AM/FM radio
   1  Voice changer
   1  Watches
   1  World's Smallest Skywarp
   2  Elita-1 MC Axis resin kit model
   2  Hot Rod MC Axis resin kit model
   2  Inflattable Unicron promotional display
   2  Optimus Prime Statue (full body)
   2  Ravage statue
   2  Rhinox statue
   2  Soundwave radio/tape recorder
   2  Statues
   2  "'Til All Are One" BotCon '97 CD set
   2  Transformers Bedsheets
   2  Transformers PlayStation 2 game
   2  Transformers Underoos/underwear
   2  Transformers: Armada PS2 game
   2  Transformers: Genesis art book
   2  Tyco train set
   2  Unicron status
   3  Dreamwave mega lithograph
   3  Optimus Prime Cookie Jar
   3  Trading cards
   3  Transformers UK comic book series
   9  Transformers G1 DVDs

A Region 2 DVD boxed set of *all* TF episodes
    --Tim Roll-Pickering

The *entirety* of Transformers: UK reprinted. And that's including
Earthforce recoloured. And the Action Force crossover. Who'd I have to
justifiably murder at Marvel for that?
    --Hotmissile

A Paint-a-Figure Grimlock. Used to have one, mother lost it for me,
that beeyatch is hard to find....
    --Sharon "Tut" LaBorde

The Starscream lounge chair -- and don't give me any smart-aleck
suggestive comments.  It's got my favorite character on it, so I want
it, it's as simple as that.
    --Quallevra

Optimus Prime Cookie Jar.  For me, personally, it never ends.
    --Quag Prime

Gotta get me some TF related underpants.  that'll impress the ladies.
    --Bluestreak Paul

I want for nothing. I don't really collect merchandice, so there's
nothing I would actually kill for. Maybe a complete G2 Menasaur
prototype, but the only place I can get that is better-guarded than
Bill Clinton's Burger Vault.....
    --Freds Workshop

[And from the "Way-Out Wishes" category:]
A working Transfromer DUH!
    --Dev-Nul+
A G1-styled Devcon. That would be so awesome.
    --Redstreak
Punching bags of all the Armada kids. Just imagine, next time you hear
Alexis bitch at someone, or Fred complain about his hunger, or Carlos
say something in that unbelievably annoying sterotypical gringo accent
of his, or Rad claim to understand the unintelligible bleeping noises
coming out of the Minicons, you can just beat the crap out of the
appropriate inflatable scapegoat! Highly theraputic!
    --Srini Varanasi
Botanica toy.  RATTRAP NEEDS HIS WOMAN!  Let the poor guy have his gal
pal!
    --Bloodcat
Megatron The Conqueror And His Ultimate Horde Erasing The Autobots
From Existence - the Movie. (catchy title, isn't it?)
    --Jetstorm666
Rumour has it that they created a working Autobot Matrix of Leadership
for movie merchandising but they had to recall it after the glow in
the dark uranium nightlight gave a bunch of kids leukemia. I'd like
that and a lead shield.
    --Zodiac
A fandom that doesn't bitch so damn much
    --Matt Super

     DUALOR: Why not just ask for something simpler, like world peace?
  SPARKPLUG: Because it wouldn't be as funny if he did?
     T-A.I.: Given the type of comedy we've gotten so far, I don't
             think we can get any lower.

[Cut to commercials]
======================================================================
PART III: TELEVISION AND MOVIES

*** Best Single Episode or Multiple-Part Episode of the Year
   1  Alliance
   1  Carnival
   1  Chase
   1  Cramp/Alliance/Union/Origin/Mortal Combat
   1  Crisis
   1  Dash
   1  First Encounter
   1  First Encounter/Metamorphisis/Base
   1  Gale
   1  Origin
   1  Portent
   1  Redemption
   1  Ruin
   1  Tactician
   1  Unity
   2  Detection
   2  Mars
   2  Regeneration
   2  Sacrifice
   2  Unity/Origin/Mortal Combat
   3  Crack
   4  Rebellion
   9  Past, parts 1-2
  20  Cramp
  37  Mortal Combat

Mortal Combat. The final episode of Armada launched us into the big
Prime vs. Galvatron battle royal that the entire series had been
slowly building up to. It evoked sweet memories of Prime and Megs in
the movie, mixed in with a touch of Hot Rod vs. Galvatron, since it
took place within the confines of the diabolical Unicron. The
animation was beautiful, the action was brutal, and the consequences
were dire. Hard to believe this masterpiece was the final installment
of a series that once farted out "Carnival"!
    --Srini Varanasi
"Mortal Combat" gets the "Thank Primus it's finally OVER!" vote.
    --Mark A. Brown

"Rebellion". There's a lot more going on in this episode than there
seems at first glance. Tons of excellent Decepticon characterization
and some interesting scenes depicting what's really going on in
Megatron's head.
    --Mako Crab

Armada was dubbed into Dutch here in Holland. Seeing it is already
bad, and Dutch dubbing is usually pretty bad, it got worse. So I
didn't bother watching.
    --Thomas Hamann

"Cramp" was an all-around great episode, but what truly makes it stand
out is the fact that it achieved what most fans would've dismissed as
impossible. It caused the name "Starscream" to be associated with
courage, honour, selflessness, and heroism.   Not since that fateful 
winter evening in 1998 when I watched "Code of Hero" have I been so
moved by a TFs episode.
    --Daniel "Suspsy" Suh

Past, parts one and two. Armada's plots begin to visibly improve. And
it only took half the series too :)
    --Matrix Dragon

Detection (Armada). I watched only 42 episodes of Armada to date and
heard that last episodes are best, but I quite liked Detection. Mainly
because action does focus on Decepticons. Thrust is in his best form
there and Sideways become much more than I expected from him. Last but
not least, Autobrats presence is reduced to minimum.
    --Jetstorm666

  SPARKPLUG: Does it mean anything that only the first and last
             episodes of Armada have titles that WEREN'T a single
             word?
     DUALOR: Sure.  It means those were the only times the writers
             actually bothered to use their creativity.
     T-A.I.: "Mortal Combat" isn't a very creative title.
     DUALOR: I never said they had a lot of it.

                       ------------------------------

*** Best Single Episode Ever
   1  A Prime Problem
   1  Attack of the Autobots
   1  B.O.T.
   1  Beast Wars (pilot), part 2
   1  Coming of the Fuzors, part 2
   1  Crossing the Rubicon
   1  End of the Line
   1  Five Faces of Darkness, part 5
   1  Kremzeek!
   1  Life Can Be Sacrificed For Planet Earth (Headmasters)
   1  Link Up
   1  Master of the House
   1  Megastorm's Reckoning (Beast Wars Second)
   1  More Than Meets the Eye, part 3
   1  Nemesis, part 1
   1  Origin
   1  Prime Target
   1  Sacrifice
   1  Spark of Darkness
   1  Star Saber, Hero of the Universe (Victory)
   1  The Spark
   1  The Ultimate Battle (Masterforce)
   1  The Ultimate Doom, part 3
   2  Alliance
   2  Awaken, Victory Leo! (Victory)
   2  Cutting Edge
   2  Dinobot Island
   2  Double Jeopardy
   2  Farewell, God Ginrai (Victory)
   2  Feral Scream, part 1
   2  Fires of the Past
   2  In Darkest Knight
   2  Madman's Paradise
   2  Only Human
   2  Portent
   2  Prometheus Unbound
   2  Rebelion
   2  The Deceptions
   2  The Fish Test
   2  The Green Warrior
   2  The Master Builders
   2  The Weak Component
   2  Enlarge, Fortress Maximus!
   3  A Decepticon Raider In King Arthur'S Court
   3  Battle in the Desert (Masterforce)
   3  Carnival
   3  Child's Play
   3  Crisis
   3  Death of Ultra Magnus (Headmasters)
   3  Divide and Conquer
   3  Enter the Nightbird
   3  Four Warriors Come Out Of The Sky (Headmasters)
   3  Hoist Goes Hollywood
   3  LioKaiser, Merge! (Victory)
   3  Proving Grounds
   3  SOS Dinobots
   3  Scramble City
   3  Sky-Byte Saves the Day
   3  The Killing Jar
   3  The Probe
   3  Traitor
   4  A Plague of Insecticons
   4  Atlantis, Arise!
   4  Forever is a Long Time Coming
   4  Grimlock's New Brain
   4  Master Blaster
   4  Money is Everything
   4  Other Victories
   4  Other Voices, part 2
   4  S.O.S. Dinobots
   4  The Gambler
   4  The Immobilizer
   4  The Insecticon Syndrome
   5  Auto-Bop
   5  Charge! The Fortress Against The Victory Combination (Victory)
   5  Fire on the Mountain
   5  Return of Optimus Prime, part 2
   5  Roll For It
   5  Search For Alpha Trion
   5  Starscream's Ghost
   5  The Agenda, part 2
   5  Transformers: Zone
   5  War of the Dinobots
   6  Aftermath
   6  Changing Gears
   6  City of Steel
   6  Dweller in the Depths
   6  Fire in the Sky
   6  More Than Meets The Eye, part 2
   6  Optimal Situation
   6  The Girl Who Loved Powerglide
   6  The Ultimate Weapon
   7  Make Tracks
   7  Microbots
   7  Rebirth, part 1
   7  The Low Road
   7  The Secret of Omega Supreme
   7  Triple Takeover
   7  Victory
   8  Countdown to Extinction
   9  Carnage In C-Minor
   9  Cramp
   9  Dark Designs
   9  Endgame, part 3: The Seeds of the Future
  10  Ghost in the Machine
  10  Law of the Jungle
  10  Masquerade
  11  Fight or Flee
  11  The Search for Alpha Trion
  12  Bad Spark
  12  More Than Meets The Eye, part 1
  12  The God Gambit
  13  Revenge of Bruticus
  14  Cosmic Rust
  15  Auto Berserk
  15  The Golden Lagoon
  15  War Dawn
  16  Possession
  17  The Burden Hardest To Bear
  18  Nemesis, part 2
  21  Transmutate
  25  Mortal Combat
  32  Starscream's Brigade
  34  Heavy Metal War
  37  Call of the Primitives
  39  Dark Awakening
  40  The Agenda, part 3
  44  Webworld
 209  Code of Hero

"Tell my tale to those who ask. Tell it truly - the ill deeds, along
with the good - and let me be judged accordingly. The rest...is
silence." Quite possibly the best line of dialogue ever written for a
TF cartoon.
    --Tigerpaw28
If I put "NOT Code of Hero", would you take points away from that
perennially overrated piece of averageness? Please?
    --Michael "Kil" McCarthy

Honorable mention: Child's Play.  Yes, I said Child's Play.  I rank it
with the best for nostalgia's sake and because looking back on how
much I loved it as a kid, I am forced to laugh at myself and the
animators for whatever they were smoking when they made it.  'Sides,
it's always fun to see people do battle with a paperclip and a #2
pencil.
    --Princess Artemis

Dark Awakening. The first version, when Prime's *not* coming back!
    --necrotron

Law of the Jungle.  Major character depth, great pathos, and much
heavier issues than most kidvid toy commercials could ever hope to
begin to explore.
    --Thylacine 2000

'Leo Kaiser, Merge', because there's no other episode where we get to
see the Autobot leader get so utterly trounced.
    --Implode

I could offer many serious and profound arguments as to why Dweller in
the Depths is the best episode of all time, involving usage of cast,
the tight plot, beautiful animation, sly homages... but I can't be
arsed, so I'm going to give a four word reason instead: Transformer
Zombies Rule All.
    --Velvet Glove

Microbots.  drunk Decepticons, this clearly needed a couple of
sarcastic robots making remarks at the bottom of the screen.
    --robo_rob

  SPARKPLUG: Paging M Sipher, paging M Sipher, please pick up the
             white courtesy phone.
     T-A.I.: That's MY job!

                       ------------------------------

*** Best Multiple-Part Episode Ever
   1  The Miracle Warriors: Targetmasters (Headmasters)
   2  Feral Scream
   2  Other Victories
   2  Revelations
   3  Other Visits
   3  Starscream's Ghost/Ghost in the Machine
   4  Beast Wars (pilot)
   5  Sparkwar
   5  Starscreams Brigade/Revenge of Bruticus
   7  Coming of the Fuzors
   7  Dinobot Island
  10  Past
  14  The Trigger
  25  Endgame
  32  Other Voices
  37  Desertion of the Dinobots
  37  Megatron's Master Plan
  41  Return of Optimus Prime
  46  The Ultimate Doom
  48  Rebirth
  67  The Key to Vector Sigma
  72  Nemesis
  88  Five Faces of Darkness
 185  More Than Meets the Eye/Arrival From Cybertron
 282  The Agenda

The Agenda.  Without a doubt the most tightly plot storyline in the
history of the franchise. Great character moments, laugh out loud
humor, amazing action, and the most mind-numbingly over the top
cliffhanger in television history.
    --Chris "Commander Crayfish" Funaro

Bah. We all know "The Agenda" will win, even if a grandiose Megatron
speech and Ravage was all it had going for it. Give me "Five Faces"!
Quintessons! Rodimus! Neato plotline! Flashbacks! Teaspoon,
Cybertron's chief dishwasher!
    --Sir Raptor of Nonsense

MTMTE is the definitive TF episode that "has it all."  No better
introduction exists to the TF universe - it sets up almost everything
that will be significant throughout the series, and shows considerable
insight into every character who got air time. If no other episode
had ever been made, Transformers would still be among the greatest
cartoon series of all time, for this episode alone.  *That's* how
exceptional it is.
    --Raksha

The whole of Masterforce! Can you not see how the writers masterfully
wrote the whole series as a multi-parter, from Metalhawk and the
Pretenders' appearance to the final showdown. Now that is writing.
    --Gekisou

Megatron's Master Plan.  For one episode in the original cartoon,
Megatron wins.  Okay, Prime truly was an idiot and was written very
badly which detracted from the whole, but it's all made up by the
simple fact that Megatron wins.
    --Razorpack

The Key to Vector Sigma.  The creation of TWO gestalt teams? Ha, beat
THAT!
    --Bombzab

Endgame, and I'm STILL not kidding.  For an example of a great
conclusion not only of individual character subplots but also series-
length and *franchise-spanning* super-themes, this is one rockfest
that doesn't disappoint.  The people who banish it because of the end
literally just can't see the forest for the trees.
    --Thylacine 2000

     DUALOR: And if there's one thing that Endgame finished with,
             it's a LOT of trees.

                       ------------------------------

*** Worst Single Episode or Multiple-Part Episode of the Year
   1  Comrade
   1  Conspiracy
   1  Cramp
   1  Crisis
   1  Decisive Battle
   1  Forest
   1  Miracle
   1  Overmatch
   1  Puppet
   1  Rebellion
   1  Regeneration
   1  Ruin
   1  Sacrifice
   1  Union
   2  Base
   2  Origin
   3  Depart
   3  Past
   3  Remorse
   5  First Encounter
   5  Jungle
   9  Runaway
  11  Vacation
  24  Carnival

Carnival. Really, your cast is composed of giant robots from
outerspace and the most intriguing adventure you can come up with is
to send them to the county fair. Yuck.
    --NightViper

Jungle. I think about three minutes' worth of action happened in the
whole thirty minutes I watched this show, and those were stolen from
Captain Planet.
    --Rev. Pee Kitty

Grab the list and pick one at random for me, will you Rob?
    --dirge

"Past" I & II. Gosh, I wish they'd flashed back to that wall of flames
just one more time... BECAUSE FIFTY TIMES WASN'T ENOUGH.
    --Robert Powers

Depart. It focused on Rad trying to convince his parents to let him go
to another planet to help fight a war between giant robots. Focusing
on one of the Autobrats is bad enough, but to have him trying to get
permission for something that sounds on the face of it absurd, makes
it worse. Topping it off is the fact that he actually GOT PERMISSION!
There are so many things wrong with this episode, it goes far beyond
just the worst episode of the year.
    --FlameStrike

"Runaway." Yee-haw, let's join the Mini-Cons down on the farm.
    --Chris McFeely

This is a trick question, right? Uh... gee, well, the pilot of Armada
was pretty brutal. I switched the channel to Barbara Walters
interviewing a chimp. She made him cry, too.
    --Zodiac

Transformers: Rebellion. This is the closest I can find to disliking
an episode this year (If I hated anything else, I can't figure out its
title.). The episode was great, but all while I first watched it I
wanted to punch Sideways in the head.
    --Suzanne M. Ferree

  SPARKPLUG: Oh, that's nothing; we all get that feeling from
             Sideways sooner or later.

                       ------------------------------

*** Worst Single Episode Ever
   1  Autobot Run
   1  Changing Gears
   1  Cutting Edge
   1  Dark Voyage
   1  Endgame, part 1: The Downward Spiral
   1  Fallout
   1  Fires of the Past
   1  Koji Gets His Wish
   1  Make Tracks
   1  Possession
   1  Rebirth, part 3
   1  The Core
   1  The Final Battle
   1  The Gambler
   1  The Reformatting
   2  Chaos
   2  Crack
   2  Cramp
   2  Crisis
   2  Decisive Battle
   2  Depart
   2  Endgame, part 2: When Legends Fall
   2  Escape
   2  Mercenary Pursuits
   2  Only Human
   2  Overmatch
   2  Palace
   2  Regeneration
   2  Roll For It
   2  Savage Noble
   2  Swoop
   2  The Burden Hardest to Bear
   2  The Golden Lagoon
   2  The Killing Jar
   2  The Mystery of Ultra Magnus
   2  Transport to Oblivion
   2  Triple Takeover
   2  Union
   2  Who is the Strongest Warrior? (Beast Wars Second)
   3  Atlantis, Arise!
   3  Circus
   3  Code of Hero
   3  Comrade
   3  Cosmic Rust
   3  Dinobot Island, part 1
   3  Divide and Conquer
   3  Grimlock's New Brain
   3  Master Blaster
   3  Origin
   3  Ruin
   3  Spider's Game
   3  The Ultimate Weapon
   3  Thief in the Night
   4  Aerial Assault
   4  Call of the Primitives
   4  Forest
   4  Sea Change
   4  Soldier
   4  The Catalyst
   5  Go With The Flow
   5  Miracle
   5  Mortal Combat
   5  Secret Weapon D-5
   6  A Decepticon Raider in King Arthur's Court
   6  Battle Protocol
   6  Forbidden Fruit
   6  Heavy Metal War
   6  Metamorphosis
   6  Money is Everything
   6  Prime Target
   7  Hoist Goes Hollywood
   7  Nightmare Planet
   7  The Fish Test
   7  Webworld
   8  Base
   9  A Prime Problem
   9  Madman's Paradise
   9  Runaway
  10  Endgame, part 3: Seeds of the Future
  11  Face of the Nijika
  12  Jungle
  13  Auto-Bop
  13  Enter the Nightbird
  13  The Low Road
  13  The Weak Component
  14  Autobot Spike
  19  Child's Play
  19  First Encounter
  20  Kremzeek!
  20  Surprise Party
  22  Vacation
  23  B.O.T.
  27  The Girl Who Loved Powerglide
  44  City of Steel
 120  Carnival
 147  Carnage In C-Minor

I've chosen infamous Carnage In C-Minor for amazing amount of
animation errors. Especially, Constructicons are the size of Magnus'
fist - it's just too much to bear. This annoying singing aliens in
fancy clothes don't help either.
    --Jetstorm666

I think it was the episode in Headmasters where Fortress merged with
his ship to form Fortress Maximus and defeat a giant plant. What a
stupid plot device to show a cool transformation sequence.
    --Gekisou

Here is a one paragraph rundown of "Enter The Nightbird" (G1). Ahem.
"Optimus Prime! Quickly! Decepticons have stolen the robot ninja that
we built instead of finding a cure for cancer! Megatron's stolen it
and he's about to ... what the heck is he doing to her? Oh, ew. EWW!
That's just ... oh, that proves it, there is no God. Nevermind, they
can keep her."
    --Zodiac

Boy, where do I begin? Old Transformers cartoons are ripe with
stereotypes that would get them banned in four seconds flat today, but
you've got love the blatent sexism of "B.O.T." - girls are stupid, and
if they're smart, they're ugly, and the best way to handle a girl is
to tape her mouth shut. Why don't we just have the Autobots learn
about cooties while we're at it?
    --Thundercracker1978

I didn't think it possible - 'B.O.T.' is no longer my least favourite
episode.  Why?  Because at least it had robots in it.  The Armada
pilot had thirty seconds of robots and twenty-one minutes of annoying
child times three.
    --Wayward

You know, by having a flying shark as a main character probably set
RiD up for a lot of "Jumping the Shark" jokes. And, in "Secret Weapon
D-51" they paid off... when the locomotive, and the whole show, jumps
the proverbial and literal shark.
    --Rick R. Mortis

"Money is Everything". I hate it. Where the #%@# are the regulars?
Where's Galv, and Rod? Cyc and Magnus? Instead I'm stuck with these
stupid, ridiculous Technobots and grunting growling Hun-Grr and co.
"Hey, here's a good idea. I'm an Autobot Gestalt VS a psychotic raging
freak, Abominus! Why don't I sit here while he ravages me for a few
minutes, while I compute the perfect solution to handle the problem,
and then explain it REALLY, REALLY loudly so that everyone including
my enemy can hear the answer! Probability of THAT being smart?
1.333333%"
    --Paul Larder

None, respect the work gentlemen good or bad, no one owes you
anything, and most often you are not a qualified judge.
    --Matt Super

     T-A.I.: Sounds like we should take Matt to see "Battlefield
             Earth" sometime.
  SPARKPLUG: That would be inhumane!
     DUALOR: Luckily, we're not human.  I'm free next Thursday.

                       ------------------------------

*** Worst Multiple-Part Episode Ever
   1  Other Voices
   2  Techno-Organic War
   3  Awakening/Desperate (Armada)
   3  Fortress Maximus
   3  Other Visits
   3  The Miracle Warriors: The Targetmasters (Masterforce)
   4  The Agenda
   5  Coming of the Fuzors
   5  Sparkwar
   7  The Trigger
   8  Past
   9  More Than Meets The Eye
  10  Feral Scream
  11  Beast Wars (pilot)
  14  Desertion of the Dinobots
  17  Revelations
  23  Endgame
  30  Dinobot Island
  32  Return of Optimus Prime
  40  The Ultimate Doom
  41  Megatron's Master Plan
  69  Rebirth
  73  First Encounter (Armada pilot)
  96  Five Faces of Darkness

The Quintessons apparently built an "off" switch which works on all
TFs, including those on the other side of the galaxy. The gerbil wheel
powering the brain of the guy who wrote that must have seized up by
the fifth episode.
    --Stuart Denyer

The Return of Optimus Prime.  It took two episodes to render an entire
season completely pointless, cheapen one of the great sacrifices in a
TF story, and negate one of the best moments in TF history - Hot Rod's
rise as the one chosen by the Matrix to save and lead the TF race.
    --Teratron

The entirety of Beast Machines.
    --kidu
Transformers Victory - urgh
    --Polarised
RID.  All of it.
    --Amelie
The entire run of Armada. Sorry.
    --Masked Loser
Hey Rob, am I allowed to vote for all of Beast Wars 2 here? Because I
should.
    --Daniel "Suspsy" Suh

The Ultimate Doom. "Mwaha! We will destroy the Earth, and harness the
power the explosion creates! And to do that, we will BRING OUR HOME-
WORLD CYBERTRON SO CLOSE TO EARTH IT WILL BE CAUGHT IN THE EXPLOSION
AND DESTROYED AS WELL! . . . How ironic."
    --Aaron F. Bourque

Well, the Vok blow goats and Dinobot Island makes my brain hurt, but
the winner (or rather, loser) of them all is the Armada pilot.  I've
never had to force myself to watch a TF episode for the first time all
the way through before.
    --Stormrave

Meg's Master Plan... if the Autobots had been anymore compliant,
they'd have been serving the Decepticons drinks out of the hollowed
skulls of various Earth Creatures.
    --Felix

  SPARKPLUG: You just know SOMEONE is going to draw that up as a cover
             for a future issue of Con-Quest.
     DUALOR: You have to admit, it's a catchy image.
     T-A.I.: "Catchy"?!
     DUALOR: We ARE talking Con-Quest here, remember?

                       ------------------------------

*** Best Transformers Animated Series Ever
   1  Transformers: 2010
   1  Transformers: Armada
   1  Transformers: Headmasters
   2  Transformers: Masterforce
   2  Transformers: Zone
   4  Transformers: Robots in Disguise/Car Robots
   4  Transformers: Victory
   5  Beast Machines
  73  Transformers/Fight! Super Robot Life Force Transformers
 113  Beast Wars

Beast Wars!!!!!! Great, multi-faceted developed characters, deep,
intriguing, continuing stories, intelligent well-scripted writting, a
respect for what came before, beautiful cutting-edge CGI for the time.
It seems like a beautiful dream now looking back. Would that those
days would come again. And that someone would bring back Waspinator. I
miss Waspinator.
    --ZacWilliam
Although G1 will always be in our hearts, this one belongs to Beast
Wars.
    --Airfox

The G1 series, because it stands the test of time in spite of
animation errors, obvious budget and time constraints and
sociopolitical pressures of the day.
    --Sharon "Tut" LaBorde
G1.  I love Beast Wars, but I keep going back to G1.
    --Wayward

Transformers Masterforce - first to take the chunky molds and make
them freaking ALIVE, man. Nuff said.
    --Aaron Hong, Sergeant Major 1st Armored Rangers

They've all had characters too like, scenes to remember, lines worth
quoting. Even Beast Machines. Let's just throw them in the blender. :)
    --Ryan Hawe/Darwinian Road Kill

Armada!
*ducks bricks that will surely be thrown at her by Armada haters*
    --Stelartron

RID.  Even if the show was crap, the animation was consistently good.
    --Amelie

  SPARKPLUG: Is there anything we can say at this point that won't
             sound like pleading?
     DUALOR: Can't think of a thing.
     T-A.I.: I'm stumped.
  SPARKPLUG: *Sigh*

                       ------------------------------

*** Funniest Episode Ever
   1  A Decepticon Raider in King Arthur's Court
   1  A Wolf in the Fold
   1  Auto-Bop
   1  Autobot Spike
   1  B.O.T.
   1  Beast Wars (pilot)
   1  Before the Storm
   1  Changing of the Guard
   1  Dark Designs
   1  Fight Or Flee
   1  Fire in the Sky
   1  Fire on the Mountain
   1  Five Faces of Darkness, part 1
   1  Four Warriors From the Sky (Masterforce)
   1  Gorilla Warfare
   1  I Risk My Life For Earth (Masterforce)
   1  Jan, Protect The School! (Victory)
   1  Madman's Paradise
   1  Megastorm's Reckoning (Beast Wars Second)
   1  Money is Everything
   1  Mortal Combat
   1  Movor's Space Shot
   1  Nemesis, part 2
   1  Only Human
   1  Prime Target
   1  Roll For It
   1  Runaway
   1  Sky-Byte Saves the Day
   1  The Decepticons
   1  The Final Showdown on Earth, part 1 (Headmasters)
   1  The God Gambit
   1  The Insecticon Syndrome
   1  The Master Builders
   1  The Mystery of Planet Master (Masterforce)
   1  Traitor
   1  Ultra Magnus: Forced Fushion
   1  Victory
   1  Warriors of Planet Micro (Victory)
   1  Wedge's Short Fuse
   1  The Test
   2  Changing Gears
   2  Commandos
   2  Cutting Edge
   2  Double Dinobot
   2  Hoist Goes Hollywood
   2  Secret Weapon D5
   2  Surprise Party
   2  The Agenda
   3  Posession
   4  A Better Mousetrap
   4  Carnival
   4  City of Steel
   4  Go With the Flow
   4  Microbots
   4  The Girl Who Loved Powerglide
   6  Triple Takeover
   8  Carnage In C-Minor
   8  Kremzeek!
   9  The Fish Test
  13  Webworld
  33  The Low Road

The Low Road.  Sometimes crude is just plain funny.  But the best part
is in the scene where Rhinox's tail shoots up.
    --Lord Black "Nytetrayn" Draco

"The Fish Test". Sure, that episode had a lame plot, but, to quote
Slapper, "It was worth it to see Sky-Byte bark like a seal!"
    --Speedbreaker

"Ultra Magnus: Forced Fushion.". Everything about that episode is
hysterically funny, right down to the typo in the title.
    --Dave "Zobovor" Edwards

"Carnage in C Minor". Funny for all the WRONG reasons.
    --Merytneith
City of Steel.  For all the wrong reasons.
    --Amelie
"Go With The Flow". Yeah. It's funny. Unfortunately, it's for all the
wrong reasons.
    --"The Mad Bomber" Bombshell

A Wolf In The Fold, Beast Machines. Tries for serious, but the
characters/VAs all going nuts on one another was hilarious.
    --lastmaximal

The Girl who loved Powerglide (aka Powerglide: Woman beater)
    --Nightwing_22

Madman's Paradise. I won't lie to you. Madman's Paradise won because
of Grimlock's apron, and no other reason.
    --Conor E

Microbots. I was going to put Webworld, but drunken Decepticons beat
out Crazy Galvatron anyday.
    --Anthony "BWAAAA!" Sancilio

     DUALOR: Of course, crazy Galvatron getting drunk and beating up
             the Decepticons would REALLY take the prize.
  SPARKPLUG: Next, on Jerry Springer!

                       ------------------------------

*** Best Character Voice
   1  Alpha Trion
   1  Blurr (Armada)
   1  Cheetor
   1  Convoy (Japanese Beast Wars)
   1  Depth Charge
   1  Galvatron (Movie)
   1  Galvatron (orig.)
   1  Grand Maximus (Masterforce)
   1  Heavy Load
   1  Inferno (BW)
   1  Ironhide (orig.)
   1  Jetfire (Armada/Energon)
   1  Lord Zarak
   1  Mindwipe
   1  Mixmaster
   1  Optimus Prime (RiD)
   1  Reflector
   1  Rumble
   1  Scourge (RiD)
   1  Scrapper
   1  Sixshot (Japanese Headmasters dub)
   1  Tarantulas
   1  Thrust (BM)
   1  Tracks
   1  Unicron (Armada)
   2  Astrotrain
   2  Cyclonus (orig.)
   2  Grimlock (orig.)
   2  Prowl (orig.)
   2  Rampage (BW)
   2  Rhinox
   2  Silverbolt (BW/BM)
   2  Wheelie
   3  Sky-Byte
   4  Rattrap
   4  Ultra Magnus (orig.)
   5  Optimus Primal (BW/BM)
   6  Megatron (orig.)
   7  Dinobot
   7  Unicron (Movie)
   8  Jazz
   9  Waspinator
  15  Optimus Prime (orig.)
  25  Starscream (orig.)
  29  Soundwave
  34  Megatron (BW/BM/Armada)

Megatron, by David Kaye.  Pick one.
    --David "Walky" Willis

Alpha Trion. He always managed to sound both old and pissed off at the
same time.
    --Phil

Astrotrain - It's like all the unknowable vastness of the universe
condensed into one perfectly ethereal vocal tone... which can
apparently also be accomplished by sucking yogurt from a tube...
    --Iacon

Soundwave. And you thought his career was over when he got kicked out
of Cylon Boot Camp.
    --Dave "Zobovor" Edwards

Victor Caroli as the narrator doesn't count, does he?
    --Joona I Palaste

Sixshot, Headmasters dub. Sure, he soundss the same as everybody else
but his voice is muffled by his voice actor's hand. That's how they
did character's with faceplates in those things. Genius.
    --Brian Kilby

Storybook-On-Tape Megatron. 'Cause he's MUMM-RA.
    --HOOPER_X

You mean I have to decide between Chris Latta, Orson Wells, and
Scatman Crothers?
    --HorseTechie

  SPARKPLUG: Starscream!
     DUALOR: Unicron!
     T-A.I.: (dreamily) Jazz...  *sigh*

                       ------------------------------

*** The Dr. Wily award, for the weirdest plot device/gadget/scheme in
an episode
   1  Gravitizing meteorite/spaceship (from "Approach of the Demon
        Meteorite", Headmasters)
   1  Armada kids
   1  Armada kids can understand Mini-cons
   1  Attitude Exchanger (from "Attack of the Autobots")
   1  Autobot Matrix of Leadership
   1  Autobots bury Skyfire after he crashes into the snow (from "Fire
        in the Sky")
   1  Autobots disguised as scientists (from "More Than Meets the
        Eye")
   1  Autobots pretend to be the Stunticons (from "Masquerade")
   1  B.O.T. (from "B.O.T.")
   1  Beast modes protect from excess energon
   1  Botanica
   1  Buddha Transformer (from "The Great Buddha Transformer")
   1  Cosmic rust (from "Cosmic Rust")
   1  Cowardice/Berserker virus (from "Gorilla Warfare")
   1  Crystal of Power (from "Fire on the Mountain")
   1  Cybertronium depletion (from "Desertion of the Dinobots")
   1  Decepticons using explosives to blow up the dam
        (from "Commandos")
   1  Destroying the train to get its energy (from "Bullet Trains
        to the Rescue")
   1  Dinosaur transform static (from "Thief in the Night")
   1  Finding Jetfire/Skyfire buried in the Antarctic
        (from "Fire in the Sky")
   1  Finding Ultra Magnus's birthday (from "Surprise Party")
   1  Fire retardant foam stops Decepticons (from "The Ultimate Doom")
   1  Flower (from "Dark Designs")
   1  Gal