Commemorative Edition G1 Soundwave

COMMEMORATIVE ADDITION G1 SOUNDWAVE 2006

Soundwave is one of the most iconic characters ever. He has a metallic gravely voice and he has a whole army of Decepticon cassettes in his chest which he can eject at will.
This is the re issue and he was packaged with two of his cassettes Lazerbeak and Ravage. This re issue is the Tekara Soundblaster version of the mold  As the original 1984 mould was destroyed. The Soundblaster mold is good though as he can hold two cassettes rather than the one with the original mold.

Back Story

Soundwave is one of the most loyal to Megatron. The first time you saw him was in "More than meets the eye" part one when he transformed into a lamp post on Cybetron.. You also saw him on earth as a cassette player.
Soundwave is a bit of a spy and Megatrons right hand man. He is sent on many Covert missions for his master. His cassettes come in handy.
In part two he was sent to infiltrate the Arc and to learn more about Earth. They knew nothing about it. He was discovered by Spike who set off the alarm although Soundwave did escape.
Soundwave has the job of making Energon cubes. He makes them in his chest so they can then be filled with energon. He actually came up with the idea of Energon cubes.
Throughout the series  in "War of the Dinobots" he discovered the Dinobots weakness through a brain scan. When he is in cassette player mode he has probes (audio devices) which can be used to spy. They look like ear pnones
I  "SOS Dinobots" he was attached to Reflector. They were downloading pictures.
He is the communications officer and Megatron relies on him.

In the G1 Movie Soundwave had to keep his mouth shut when the injured Decepticons where thrown into space by Astrotrain. he has self preservation.

"Carnage in C minor" Soundwave was recording a musical weapon. A bit of a dodgy episode in my book.

The last time you saw him was in " Return of Optimus Prime. Ratback returned to Soundwave.

Blaster is his rival and in "Antartica they fought and killed each other. His cassettes survived and picked up all his parts. He was taken to The pklanet master where he was re built as Soundblaster. The same thing but with a black paint job.

When the first fought it was in " Autobop" Soundwave was using a hypno weapon to use on humans so they would become slaves for the Decepticons

Soundwave in the comic became the leader in one time line.

FUNCTION; Communications

MOTTO; " Cries and screams are music to my ears"

TECH SPEC; It's said that Soundwave can hear a fly sneeze. It's also said that beneath his smooth-talking, affable surface beats the generator coil of a blackmailer. Those who know these facts about him are careful about what they say within earshot of him. Soundwave is the ultimate opportunist & will use anything he can to advance his status in the eyes of Megatron. He doesn't worry about what others think of him because he knows he's nearly indispensable. Although they all despise him, other Decepticons pretend to like him rather than get on his bad side. As Rumble explains, "Soundwave always has the last laugh."

SPEC; Strength 8. Intelligence 9, Speed 2, Endurance 6, Rank 8, Courage 5, Firepower 6, Skill 10

Soundwave robot mode

Soundwave cassette player mode

Cassette player showing missiles that turn into batteries in compartment in back

With laserbeak in cassette deck

With lazerbeak in cassette deck ejecting

Ravage in tape deck

Ravage being ejected

Ravage in panther mode with missiles

Ravage as cassette

 lazerbeak as bird mode

lazerbeak with cassette mode

cassettes in cassette boxes

Front of box

Back of box

Showing 3D picture of Soundwave inside box

RAVAGE

FUNCTION; Saboteur

MOTTO; "Today's Autobots are tomorrows scrap metal"

TECH SPEC; " Ravage operates best alone. A creature of the night. Craftiest of all Decepticons. Adept at devising deadly new strategies. Remains aloof of others, but his deeds command their respect. Can virtually escape detection- emits an electromagnetic emission shield, had a soundless walk, disappears in subdued light or shadow. Carries two powerful heat seeking missiles. Light sensitive. can be blinded"

SPEC; Strength 5, Intelligence 8, speed 5, Endurance 6, Rank 7, Courage 4, Firepower 7, Skill 10

Back Story

Ravage is used to capture humans. You first saw him in part one of "More than meets the eye" . When the Decepticons detected a vehicle coming towards them they thought it was an Autobot so they released Ravage  to see what was happening.

When Soundwave infiltrated the Arc he released Ravage who slotted into Teletran one and downloaded all the information  about earth into Soundwave. When they were discovered Soundwave escaped but Ravage was captured. He was a prisoner for a while. The Decepticons wanted to increase their supply of Energon and also build a ship to get them off earth and take over the universe . The autobots hatched a plan so Hound and Mirage talked in front of Ravage about their plans and dropped a key so he could escape and tell his master about it. That was the first and last time you hear him speak.

In the rest of the series he went back to capturing humans and worked as a tracker to capture the Insecticons.

He was the back up in battle with his firepower.

He was in the G1 movie along with the others.

Ravage in the comic spoke all the time and he was a lot more cunning. More than a snarling beast.

He made an appearance in Beast wars. Not as a re name but as the G1 ravage in a new form. megatron was trying to mess with time in prehistoric Earth. the Tripredicus council liked what he was doing but thought of him as a rogue  They sent Ravage but in a humanoid head but Jaguar head a dntail. He spoke with a Italian accent. He still transformed into a cassette.

  gave Ravage a prototype Transwarp cruiser to go to Prehistoric Earth and capture Megatron and bring him back to Cybertron. If he was still operating his agenda he was ordered to kill him.

Ravage teamed up with the Maximals to bring Megatron down. he did capture him but Megatron told Ravage about message from the original Megatron he found on the golden disc. He told him his plan to destroy the Autobots in the past. ravage agreed to help Megatron and betray the Maximals. Ravage ended up dying. The cruiser was blown up by Rattrap and Ravage died.

Ravage did appear in the IW Beast wars comic but not sure if it is the same form. I have to read the rest.

In Japan he is called Jaguar

LASERBEAK

FUNCTION; Interrogation

MOTTO; " The only point I like in Autobots: melting point."

TECH SPEC; " Laserbeak takes pleasure in hurting his pray - usually the straggling survivors of a battle. Noticeably not brave. Will run for safety if threatened. Flies at speeds up to 250mph. Uses two independently target-able laser cannons with extreme precision to get information from captives. Shortage of ruby crystals that powers the lasers can panic his systems into shutting down"

SPEC; Strength 5, Intelligence 6, Speed 8, Endurance 5, rank 6, Courage 2, Firepower 8, Skill 9

Back story

He was a spy in the cartoon to see what the Autobots were doing in Iocon. On Cybertron he looked like a Frisbee with a birds head. he saw that the Auotbots going to blast off on the Arc

On earth he looks like a robotic bird resembling a condor.

When Cliffjumper and Hound were spying on the Decepticons. Sound wave sent laser beak to check them out . He caught up with them and blasted them with his lazer. They split up but Laserbeak had a weapon which could deploy a drone so he could follow both of them. Cliffjumper blasted the drone out of the air. Laserbeak shot Hound down the side of a cliff. Hound survived but laserbeak went off back to the Decepticons.

He has some key story roles as he was full of informtion.

When Optimus ws badly wounded laserbeak  was sent to discover his true condition. At first he did not want to go but Megatron threatened him. He recorded Optimus with his hidden camera so Megatron could see. Lazerbeak blasted Optimus. He was ordered to finish Optimus off.

Lazerbeak is pretty much loyal to the Decepticon leader in general whoever they are.

He speaks in the comics but not in the cartoon.

In the comics he did the same things as in the cartoon. He did not get any major story lines but what could you do with a robotic bird.

In the G1 movie he was spying on the Autobots and recorded Optimus Prime  telling Ironhide to make a special run to  Autobot city on Earth.

The final episode he appeared in was "Web World" the Decepticons where discussing what to do with Galvatron. You see him hovering overhead.

In Japan he is called Condor.

Soundwave

His tape player mode is a good representation of an old tape player  He has all the buttons like record, stop, play etc. he even had a wheel on the side which would be the sound. he also has the on and off switch which slides back and forth. 

You can see the back of his head in tape mode. You can overlook this.

His weapons slide into the back like batteries. In the original instructions this was missed out as to what to do with them. 

You press the silver button and the tape deck opens. He has some molding in there and nice chrome. 

The stickers are on the right buttons. 

The original had a insignia on his cassette door but this one is on the side of his shoulder and is pre applied

He has the code on the cassette door. and this will tell you Fortress Maximus's weak points. 

You can also make the street lamp mode from the cartoon. It is a little strange looking but it can be done which is nice and unofficial. 

Robot mode

One missile becomes his arm cannon and the other his rifle. It can fire a missile but mine cannot. 

His robot mode is very nice and accurate to G1 cartoon which makes a change.

He bends at the elbow and has decent articulation. His knees bend the wrong way though due to transformation.

His feet are die cast. The original was part of the Diaclone line so nice to add this.

This is a really good figure and one of the iconic ones. You can add to him with cassettes and is one of my favorites  the cassettes can be expensive especially is G1.

He should be part of any G1 collection

Highly recommended.

His shoulder cannon splits in half which is a little strange and the other extends.You can switch them about. 

You can store the cassettes weapons in Soundwaves back. 

Ravage

His cassette mode is not quite as good as Lazerbeaks in my opinion as you can see his Jaguar legs and head. 

He has something the original did not have in a map of Fortress Maximus and his weak points.

He has cassette details

He does not look that great in Jaguar mode as he is a little squashed and looks like he is run over. Once his weapons are attached though he does look a lot better. 

He can be tricky to stand at times. I lean him against Soundwaves leg.

He has decent articulation. 

I do recommend his though and you need him in your collection. 

he comes with a clear cassette case

Lazerbeak

His cassette mode is far cleaner than Ravages. He looks more dynamic and red and silver.

He has this weird gold window to represent the cassette reel.

He has a bit of kibble with his bird head. 

Lazerbeak is pretty good in bird mode and looks more 3D

he looks a little plain without his weapons but they finish him off.

He can sit on Soundwaves shoulder or arm.

I put him on his arm.

The molding is quite good and he does look like an eagle

On the side the panels that form his legs are made to look like mechanical bird talons.

lazerbeak is a must for your collection and a really good figure along with Ravage. 

He comes with a clear case

Try to get the G1 but if not re issues are fine. 

When  I got this I then saw a Universe 2.0 with Ratbat and Buzzsaw also included which was the same price as this set. Annoying but never mind.