It's been a while since I did a Friday Feature, hasn't it? With all the crazy work going on at my House to prepare for the Big Family Visit, and with said Family Visit having commenced, I haven't had the time for them lately. Thankfully, that's all settled down now, so I finally managed to put together a new list...one that took THREE DAYS to complete. So my return to Friday Features got pushed back to...well, today. Either way, though, such a return warrants more than merely a FIVE... or even a SIX...it warrants a whole TEN! So enjoy my latest list, with a topic more than large enough for its scope.

This Week's Topic: Transformers Characters
With over twenty years, spanning Cartoons, Comics, numerous Merchandising Lines, innumerable Toys, one Animated Movie and two Live-Action ones, the Transformers mythos certainly is a large and expansive beast. And over the years, it has produced dozens of memorable, distinct, and creative characters. So to honor that legacy, I've picked out my ten favorites across the franchise's many incarnations. Note, of course, that since certain TF characters have multiple versions, I'll be specifying which ones I'm talking about.

10.) Wreck-Gar (Generation 1, Animated): What better way to start our list off than with the humorous antics of a crosswired clown? Hailing from the planet Junkion, Wreck-Gar is the absent-minded leader of a tribe of scrapyard rejects with a penchant for Repair Work and a wealth of Pop-Culture knowledge, thanks to Radio Transmissions picked up from Earth. Voiced by the always-amusing Eric Idle of Monty Python fame when he debuted in the Animated Movie, he might have seemed like a bumbler at first glance, but instead proved to be a vital player in aiding the Autobots in their fight with Unicron. Another even more absent-minded incarnation of the character appeared in Transformers: Animated, this time voiced by Weird Al Yankovic, who had written the Junkion theme "Dare to be Stupid" for the animated movie's soundtrack. Here, Wreck-Gar is created from a pile of junk animated by a fragment of the All-Spark, naive and impressionable enough to believe just about anything anyone says. Ultimately, he finds it in himself to become an Autobot...if a slightly off-beat one. In both cases, Wreck-Gar provides a healthy helping of humor with his off-kilter observations and Pop-Cultural saavy, and starts our list off right: with a smile.

9.) Starscream (Generation 1, Animated, Live-Action): Alongside the respective Leaders of the Autobots and Decepticons, Optimus Prime and Megatron, Starscream is one of the most prominent and recurring characters in the "Transformers" pantheon. With the exception of the three Anime that constitute the "Unicron Trilogy" (Armada, Energon and Cybertron), his many incarnations very often share a very similar personality: the ultimate Cybertronian Snake in the Grass, there is nothing, literally nothing, this Decepticon Lieutenant won't do to obtain Power. Lieing, cheating, stealing, killing, double-crossing, triple-crossing...if it means getting what he wants, there is no line Starscream won't cross...save one. It's possible he could've obtained his goal of usurping Megatron as Leader of the Decepticons if not for his own cowardice, always making sure to save his own hide above all else. Nonetheless, he is a fearsome foe in battle. With a distinctive high-pitched voice, a ruthless fighting style, and a sleek Fighter Jet alt-form, Starscream's penchant for survival, skill at deception, and duplicitous double-dealings make him a peristent thorn in the sides of both the Autobots and Megatron himself. With such a distinctive resume, it's hard to deny him a place on the list.

8.) Jazz (Live-Action): Oh lordy I can hear the grumbling about this pick already. Jazz? That jive-turkey from the first live-action Movie who gets unceremoniously killed off by Megatron towards the end without contributing much of anything to the story? You're putting him on the list? Ahead of STARSCREAM? Yes. Yes I am. And d'you want to know why? Because despite his sacrifice at the altar of "The Brother always gets it" (to quote his VA, Darius McCray), Movie!Jazz is fucking cool. Like, not even kidding here. In his first on-screen appearance, he Transforms via Breakdancing. He's the only Autobot to question Optimus' decision to leave Bumblebee in the hands of Sector 7, an act that takes no small amount of courage and shows his strong loyalty to his fellow Autobots. Using smooth speed and skill, he turns away Brawl's cannon from firing on civilians. All throughout his screen time, he shows off a unique, distinct style of combat and character that instantly made him a memorable character in my mind. To be able to do that despite his extremely limited overall screetime is really quite the feat in my opinion, and one that gives him the extra kudos to jump ahead of Starscream on the list. Heck, I love Jazz so much that I prefer to believe the Movie's tie-in toyline's micro-continuity which states that he was repaired and rebuilt following his scuffle with Megatron. With smooth moves and a distinct style, Jazz more than makes the cut.

7.) Soundwave (Generation 1, Live-Action: The Decepticon's Recon and Espionage expert, Soundwave is, in many ways, the perfect counterpoint to Starscream. Where Starscream constantly seeks to dethrone Megatron, Soundwave shows himself to be fiercely loyal to the Decepticon Leader. Where Starscream is loud and brash, Soundwave is cool and collected. Able to infiltrate just about any situation due to his ability to turn into a Tape Player, his primary role is to retrieve information on Autobot activity so that the Decepticons can gain an advantage on their foes. One of the best-remembered G1 characters among fans, it isn't hard to see Soundwave's appeal. With his calculating efficiency in battle, unforgettable monotone Reverb voice, and effectively ominous design (faceplate and visor making expression next to impossible and thus emphasizing how completely devoted he is to his mission), he is easily one of the most striking of the Decepticons. Perhaps his best-known trait, however, was his ability to deploy Cassettes who turned into mini-Transformers capable of recording information that Soundwave could then play back. This was beautifully updated in Revenge of the Fallen (since you don't exactly see a lot of Tape Players anymore X3), where he was now a Satellite capable of hacking other Satellites, deploying mini-Decepticons like Ravage in missile-form to Earth. It's a clever way of allowing him to retain his most memorable traits without feeling outdated. In both forms, though, the thing that most sets him apart from other Decepticons is the fact that, frankly, where most of them are best known for their bumbling and failures, you can just about always count on Soundwave to succeed at his job, effectively providing vital intel to his comrades and circumventing counterattacks. While he may not be physically powerful, Soundwave is nonetheless a threat to be reckoned with.

6.) Grimlock (Generation 1, Animated: Let's face some facts. Dinosaurs are wicked cool. Giant Robots? They're also extremely cool. So, naturally, when you put them all together, the result is EXTREMELY WICKED COOL. In this case, that means the Dinobots, a Five Man Band of Autobots who Transform into, you gussed it, Dinosaurs: Swoop the Pterodactyl, Sludge the Brachhiosaurus, Snarl the Stegosaurus, Slag the Triceratops, and their leader, the mighty Grimlock the T-Rex. I love all the Dinobots, of course, but this list ain't big enough for all five, so I had to go with the best. And, in his own words, "Me Grimlock King". Despite his sub-par intellect (a trait all the Dinobots share), Grimlock is Leader of the Dinobots for a reason, namely that he can breathe fire, rend steel with his jaws, has a broad sword that can easily cleave you in half, and exhibits the fiercest fighting Spirit of his team, and indeed perhaps of any Autobot. Of course, given his aforementioned sub-par intellect, that can be just as much a problem for the Autobots themselves as it can be for the Decepticons. Indeed, one of Grimlock's most interesting traits is his utter unpredictability. Because his only real desire is to fight fight fight, his loyalty lies less with either of the two factions, and more with whomever can offer him the best battles. And what wondrous battles they are; with his killer instincts and overwhelming strength, Grimlock can always be counted on to deliver devastation, destruction, and demolition wherever he goes, whenever he fights. Always hungry for action, Grimlock is both humorous for his...unique speech patterns and primitive understanding AND kick-ass for his mighty battle tactics and weaponry. A deadly combo.

5.) Megatron (Beast Wars): Yessss. The villainous Megatron has had many incarnations over the years. However, very few of them have ever made for terribly compelling Villains, in my humble opinion. Save, however, for one. Literally acting as a Successor to the Generation 1 villain of the same name, the Beast Wars Megatron was leader of the Predacons, Decepticon descendants who seek to eradicate the Autobot's descendants, the Maximals. Rather than the bumbling bluster that defined G1 Megatron, this Megatron was one smoooooooooth operator, with a talent for strategy and deception that marked him right off the bat as one Villain worthy of the title. Indeed, throughout the series, he managed to earn some EXTREMELY dangerous successes, such as killing off Optimus Primal at the end of Season 1 (though, being an Optimus, he got better), forcing the loyalty of the immortal Rampage in Season 2, stealing the original Megatron's Spark to increase his own power in Season 3, and the piece d'resistance, nearly undoing Reality itself by murdering the original Optimus Prime. It's quite a list of Dastardly Deeds, to be sure. Combine that all with his exceptionally crafty personality, and BW Megatron feels like a true Bad Guy's Bad Guy. Menacingly uttering "Yessss..." and "Noooo..." whenever appropriate to emphasize his statements, he commands the fear of his enemies, the respect of his Subordinates, and my own accolades for being one Megatron who actually comes off as someone you do NOT want to mess with. Plus, he's another T-Rex Transformer. Bonus Points!

4.) Bumblebee (Generation 1, Live-Action: With the legions upon legions of Transformers in the many universes of the franchise, it is really difficult to stand out. Such difficulty is only increased when you've got as simple and unremarkable a design as that of the original Bumblebee. Yet despite his unassuming appearance, Bumblebee wound up being one of the most memorable Autobots of the Show, and that holds equally true for his Live-Action counterpart. In both cases, the primary appeal remains the same: a fierce fighting spirit despite his relatively diminutive size (in comparison to other Transformers, at least) working hand in hand with the strongest sense of loyalty and the deepest willingness to stick his neck out for his friends and comrades of just about any Transformer in the entire franchise. Both are also seemingly meant as younger members of the Team, giving them further Underdog Charm. In the case of the original, he also had a charming and friendly voice that could endear him to all but the most cynical. In the case of the Live-Action version, his non-verbal communication skills imbue him with that special "WALL-E" style of cute-but-charismatic appeal as well. Ultimately, though, Bumblebee's greatest strength is his aforementioned bond of loyalty. Particularly with Optimus Prime (and Sam too in the Movies), Bumblebee is willing to risk servo and circuitry to protect those he cares about, even though he often does so at a severe disadvantage. Yet he fights on anyway, willing to be harmed himself rather than see those close to him get hurt. It's an admirable trait both incarnations share, and I think it's that more than anything else that lands this yellow VW Bug/Camaro this high up on the list. That, and he's just so darn adorable, isn't he? :3 Loyal, daring, and likeable, Bumblebee's strong friendship will always serve to help him stand out from the crowd.

3.) Prowl (Animated): So, confession time: when I first saw the Promotional Flyer for the new series Transformers Animated back in 2007 ([link]), I was horrified. The style and proportions looked all wrong, the designs felt too bizarre and "kid-friendly", and just in total it looked awful. Looking back on it now, though, I realize how silly I was being. Once I actually watched the show in question, I changed my tune pretty damned quick. And perhaps the biggest reason why is because of that sleek black-and-gold guy holding a shuriken/Krull. That would be Prowl, a Motorcycle Autobot who is also a Cyber-Ninja, making him one of the coolest Autobots in history. Perhaps the most experienced Fighter among his team (though, given that they're just Repair-Bots in this version, that's not saying much), Prowl is also the most serious. He takes his Duty and his Honor both very seriously, and often attempts to pass on that respect to his comrades...though it rarely works out quite the way he wants it to. Nonetheless, it is sometimes Prowl himself who winds up learning something of value from his friends. Always, though, he focuses himself to do the best he can, using clever thinking, stealthy strikes, and Processor Over Matter in battle, making him a fierce enemy for any Decepticon. I found Prowl's character fascinating; he seems the most insightful of the Autobots in Animated, always contemplating the precise boundaries of Life and Meaning, but ultimately a bit too caught up in himself to find the answers he wants. Likewise, his Cyber-Ninja Fighting Style makes for some incredible Fight sequences, particularly when it comes to clever usage of his Transforming abilities (such as one episode where he shifts from Motor Cycle to Robot in mid-air to avoid detetion by a sensor ray). As well, it was Prowl's distinct, charismatic design that ultimately most helped bring me around on the aesthetic used in Animated. Thanks to him, I began to view the rest of the Show's style in a much more favorable light, and I've been much happier as a result. Smart, swift, and strong, Prowl is always ready to take on any kind of threat and able to walk away from just about any experience with a little lesson learned. It's a rare combo, but a damned good one.

2.) Dinobot (Beast Wars): In the Great Wars of the Transformers franchise, it is very often easy to draw the line between Good Guy and Bad Guy. Hero and Villain. Autobot and Decepticon. Maximal and Predacon. Yet in the case of Dinobot, the line becomes blurred until it almost no longer exists. Almost. And unlike Grimlock, whose lack of a clear loyalty stemmed more from his lust for battle and diminutive intellect rather than any personal conviction, Dinobot's uncertain allegiance is owed entirely to his personal beliefs, beliefs he feels neither side of the Beast Wars fully satisfies. Initially, he served as Megatron's Second-in-Command, but when the Predacon Leader's Command style proved unsatisfactory to him, he defected to the Maximal side. Of course, their more morally upright way of doing things didn't exactly fit him well either. Indeed, his Predacon upbringing often clashed, and clashed vioently, with the Maximals' rules, but ultimately, something about their methods kept Dinobot around. Taking the form of a Velociraptor, Dinobot is perhaps the most multifaceted character I've ever seen in a Transformers show. He is bound by a strict sense of Honor, yet also has a deeply pragmatic streak that often leads down a more merciless road. This conflict often puts him at odds with Predacon and Maximal alike, and indeed during the show's second season it all but tore him apart. Nonetheless, he always stands ready for battle, fighting ferociously with his Laser Eye Beams and unique weapons: a copter-like spinner made from his Raptor Tail and a multi-segmented spinning sword that emerged from its center. With these weapons in hand, Dinobot sealed his place as one of my all-time favorite Transformers characters by making the ultimate sacrifice, fighting off the entire Predacon Army to rescue a Valley inhabited by the earliest ancestors of human-kind. Single-handedly warding off the Predacons, destroying the Golden Disk which gave Megatron the knowledge to destroy the Valley (and which Dinobot himself had given him in a fit of aforementioned-personality conflict), and unknowingly arming Humanity with its earliest means of self-defense, Dinobot exhausted his Spark, passing on from life...and into the annals of Immortal Awesomeness. No words better sum up Dinobot's life and impact better than those of Optimus Primal's at the sight of his passing: "He lived a Warrior...and died a Hero". The rest...is silence.

Goodness, we've come so far...now, only one remains. Who is it? Who stands taller than all other Transformers? Only one...one who can light the Darkest of Hours...one who can rise even from Death itself to smite the evils of the universe...one known only as...

1.) Optimus Prime (Generation 1, Live-Action): In the annals of History, there are good people, there are Heroes, there are LEGENDS, and then, above them all...there is Prime. Easily the single most iconic character of the franchise, an Optimus Prime has appeared in literally every incarnation of the series, and unlike the also-frequently-recurring Megatron, there is substantially less visual variation. Always, he will stand tall as Autobot Leader. Always, he will have a distinct red and blue color scheme. And always, he will Transform into some kind of Truck, be it delivery, Fire, or otherwise. And to think, originally, he was meant to simply die off after the original show's first two seasons. All things told, it is rather difficult to describe Optimus' appeal, at least for me. In terms of personality, he's pretty much your basic Good Guy's Good Guy, following every rule, always walking the straight and narrow, and always able to stand up and fight no matter how rough things got. Likewise, his Transformation is a Truck. That, to me, is a fairly unengaging vehicle, lacking finesse or real gravitas. By all accounts, I really should loathe Optimus Prime. Yet instead, he tops my list. And why? Because, thanks mostly to the exquistive Vocals of Peter Cullen and a Robot Mode that always commands power and authority, he makes being the Goodest of the Good Guys feel like the the coolest thing possible. Transcending the paper-thin heroics that so often hamstring other such Heroes, Optimus becomes instead a Symbol of the power of Good to overcome all obstacles on equal footing with the likes of Superman. SUPERMAN!!! Being able to do that is no lean feat, let me tell you. But more interesting still, once you start to look beneath that Heroism, you see just how heavy Prime seems to wear the burden of his duties. Even as a child, I could sense that the choices he made and the battles he fought always hold tight in his Spark, another stone on his chest. Yet he still stands strong as the Leader the Autobots look to for inspiration and courage. Add to that the fact that his Live-Action form kicks nine thousand different levels of Decepticon Ass, and you have a Hero who simply cannot be topped. In a universe where all hope seems lost...in a battle where Evil seems always poised to take its ultimate Victory...there is still a light at the end of the Tunnel...there is still Prime.

"Freedom is the right of all Sentient Beings."