“Mighty Robots, Mighty Vehicles” The Transformers Competition Worth Remembering: Gobots and Rock Lords I LRM’s Retro-Specs

Welcome back to another installment of LRM’s Retro-Specs! I know Transformers always take the top-spot for robot transforming vehicles. To this day we are still getting films, cartoons, toys, etc. from the franchise that began in 1984. While they may have the throne, there is a competitor which many overlook. This may be a bold statement, but GoBots and Rock Lords are definitely worthy competition for the top role. Let’s rewind back to the 80s to remember the other transforming robots (yet not really robots…I’ll get to that later): GoBots and Rock Lords!

GoBots History: The Toys Came First

 

Originally hailing from Japanese company Bandai, Machine Robo toys debuts in 1982. The interesting toy line designs is actually created by kids. This is more than likely why the American version of the toys (GoBots) seem so basic. Machine Robo changes names to Revenge of Cronos which still continues after the American release of the idea from Tonka. 

Tonka is the toy company known for their trucks, yet also are responsible for the Voltron toys. The company is actually the reason GoBots have personalities rather than just being changing vehicles.  The original concept revolves around the robots being controlled similarly to Voltron. This idea is moved away from in favor of giving the GoBots characteristics and personalities of their own. Tonka also comes up with the idea of the Good Guardians and the Evil Renegades before the idea of the Autobots and Decepticons. In comparison, the GoBots are smaller than the Transformer toys at around 2-3 inches high selling for $3.50 in the early-mid 80s. Super GoBots later come out which are 5-6 inches high, which sells for around $10 in the 80s.

Tonka releases GoBots in 1983. The Transformers do not come our way until a year later in 1984 from Hasbro. Many view GoBots as a cheap knockoff, or “the poor man’s Transformer” as they are usually referred to. In reality, the predecessors did not get nearly as much marketing as Hasbro’s Transformers. More criticism comes in how basic the transformation process is while comparing to Transformer toys. However, for a young kid in the 80s, the basics of the Gobots are good. (Maybe I just did not have the fine motor skills as a child…).

The 1985 JCPenney Christmas Catalog. | Dinosaur Dracula!

They toy names are pretty badass as well. I’ll list just a few: Turbo, Crasher, Cy-Kill, Geeper-Creeper (kind of weird now), Tork, Pincher, Spay-C, Klaws. The list goes on!

One of my favorite toys growing up is the GoBots vehicle Command Center (pictured above). Yes, it looks almost exactly like an AT-AT from Star Wars, but whatever. It is probably cheaper and I can use it for both, right? The other thing I remember about the toy, besides its awesomeness, were the millions of decals that comes with it. That seems to be another theme of the 80s. I remember my dad helping me put them all on, which seemed to take forever!

LabFiles at LightningRod Labs » Blog Archive » Tonka GoBot Command Center for Sale

GoBots History: The Cartoon — Challenge of the GoBots

While many believe that Transformers lead the way, that is actually incorrect. Transformers comes to us in 1984. Gobots, however, arrives in 1983, a year prior to Transformers. Like many of our beloved cartoons and toys of the 80s, GoBots are created in Japan. The original idea was to have humans controlling the robot vehicles. This changes when the toys come to the US. Many call the GoBots the “poor man’s Transformers”. While they still receive hate, they actually deserve more love.

Hanna-Barbera brings in freelance writers for the 65 episodes of GoBots. This is probably to blame for the helter skelter episodes. However, this is common for 80s cartoons. 22 of the episodes are from none other than Putzie from Grease. That’s right (probably explains a lot). Challenge of the GoBots only spans from September 8, 1984 to December 13, 1985. The irony is in the name of the show. GoBots meets a challenge to stay afloat when Transformers debuts. 

While the name and tagline convey that Gobots are indeed robots, this is not quite the case. The cartoon establishes that they are human-like aliens until an asteroid hits Gobotron. This merges their brains into robot bodies. So kind of robots, but more cyborgs. 

There Is A Movie!

That’s right, a movie that actually came out in theaters! GoBots: Battle Of The Rock Lords hits theaters on March 21, 1986. The cartoon movie is not a hit. Transformers: The Movie fairs much better when it is in theaters on August, 8, 1986. The GoBots film does introduce the hopeful spinoff characters of the Rock Lords. Now I actually completely forgot about Rock Lords until I began researching for this column. I do however have some of the toys (which is will get to later). 

The plot of the film has the rock-changing Solitaire coming from her planet to find help. Magmar is trying to take total control. As the Gobots come to help her, of course The Renegades team with Magmar to thwart the Good Guardians and Rock Lords. The film only brings in $1.3 million. There is strategy involved though. They knew that a Transformers movie is being made, so they release five months earlier to try and pull the audience. However, The Transformers: The Movie is in production for two years and produces much better quality. You can’t fault them for trying! 

GoBots: Battle Of The Rock Lords ends up serving as a movie-length commercial for the tie-in toy line. 

Creating Rock Lords

Sure Transformers have Dinobots and awesomely 80s Cassetticons, but you know what Gobots come out with in 1986? Rock Lords. That’s right, transforming rocks…Alright, before there is too much hate, they are actually pretty cool. I find them to be much more detailed than the GoBots figures. Rock Lords come with weapons as well such as guns and swords. Of course they have their own vehicles as well. Some of the vehicles even can transform. I mean, why wouldn’t they, right? There are still factions: The Boulders vs. The Magmar. I remember the toys being extremely unique. Aside from their transforming capabilities, there are also bright, colorful figures (some like Silverhawks chrome-coloring). There are also some random furry ones. 

Powerful Living Rocks! Remembering Tonka's Rock Lords - Flashbak

Unfortunately, Rock Lords come out when GoBots are beginning to phase out. They stick around for a while though. Some either think Rock Lords are Gobots or that the two are separate. While GoBots did not really help the line out much after the movie, they are still regarded by many toy collectors. To this day the weapons for the Rock Lords are extremely difficult to find. 

The Inclusive Robots

Crasher Laughs - YouTube

The Transformers eventually have some female robots in a few episodes of their original series. But GoBots represent female leads from the start. Crasher is one of the primary leaders of the Renegades. For whatever reason I remember her the most. She and Turbo are the first toys in the line I remember having. Small Foot, Pathfinder, and Snoop are also female series regulars. Each female character has their own unique personalities as well. They do not fit a stereotypical female role for the time. Other notable female GoBots include Vamp, Sparky, and Spay-C.

By far the most well known is Crusher though. She seriously did not take crap from anyone. While most feel that Cy-Kill is the real leader, Crusher is the real mind behind the Renegades.

Where Are They Now?

Jobs and Internship Opportunities - Hasbro

The GoBots toyline spans from 1983-1987. Not surprising, Transformers toyline Hasbro buys out Tonka in 1991. In an odd move, Hasbro only buys the storyline, characters, etc., but not the actual toys. This is because Bandai licenses the toys to Tonka in the 80s, which means Hasbro cannot actually use the molds for the figures. In 1995 there is a Matchbox size line of Transformers called GoBots, but none of the original characters feature.

The company tries a workaround in 2002 by starting a line called Transformers: GoBots. The 2007 Transformers film mentions names such as Crasher and Night Ranger, which derives from the original GoBots. Aside from that and some fanart, there really is not much connection to GoBots presently. 

ALSO SEE: Thundercats, Silverhawks, And TigerSharks Take Over The World I LRM’s Retro-Specs

GoBots get a bad wrap. I can understand why many do not love them as much as Transformers. Justifiably so. However, I gravitated towards GoBots as a kid and still hold a strong appreciation for them. Maybe it is because I have more of their toys. I am sure I will get hate, but I still would watch an old-school episode of GoBots over Transformers. I think they knew the competition and tried to stay ahead, which in turn is their downfall by not being as strategic and intentional. 

Do you remember Gobots and Rock Lords? Did you have any of the toys? Who was your favorite? The least they can do is bring them into a movie, right? For nostalgia’s sake? Yeah, I’ll keep dreaming. Leave your thoughts in the usual spot, and thanks for reading!

Sources: SyFy, Topless Robot, Everything 80s Podcast, Toy Archive

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