Rollout (Transformers)
Action Masters are a sub-line of the Transformers toy franchise, first released in 1990, with a wave of new releases released in Europe in 1991. It featured Transformers action figures who were unable to transform, but came with transforming partners, weapons or exo-suits. Some of the larger sets came with transforming vehicles or bases. This was the last sub-line release as part of the original Transformers toyline before the launch of Generation 2.
Action Masters were non-transformable 3 3⁄4 inch action figures designed to represent classic and new Transformers characters. Those based on existing characters, were designed to best match their appearance in the popular cartoon series, with the newer characters following the same basis design. Despite the lack of an ability to transform, they had more articulation than many of the Transformers toylines that preceded it, with moveable heads, arms, knees and legs. To complement the figures, each came with a transformable weapon, or in the case of the larger sets, a transformable vehicle.
The packaging for the carded Action Masters figures departed from the standard style, with the figure placed near the top of the card, rather than the bottom. The rear of the packaging didn't outline what other figures where available in the toyline. The back of the packaging featured a fight scene, along with the figures technical-specification (tech-specs) and a "Power Plan", pointing out special fictional abilities or features in the figure.
After the initial run of Action Masters, the line ended in the US, however continued for another year in the European market. Six new individual figures were released, each with the figure located on the bottom of the packaging card unlike the previous run. Along with this, the run included recolours of some of the existing Actions Masters vehicle sets with new names to represent other characters. Unlike the US run of Action Masters, some of these figures came with transformable exo-suits or motorised vehicles.
The most distinctive difference between the US and European Action Masters line was the release of a special assortment of four Action Masters that could actually transform. These were called "Action Masters Elites".
The background fiction for the toys as to why they became Action Masters stated that in an attempt to replace their dwindling supply of energon, Optimus Prime had come across a super energy known as Nucleon. It had the unseen side-effect of causing any Transformer who took it to lose their ability to transform. Megatron also found out about the Nucleon and stole some for his side. To compensate, both the Autobots and Decepticons developed weapons and vehicles that were able to transform.
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