Black Rodimus Convoy

Black Rodimus Convoy is a Decepticon from the Japanese cartoon portion of the Generation 1 continuity family.

You know you're evil when you talk in Comic Sans.

Black Rodimus Convoy (ブラックロディマスコンボイ Burakku Rodimasu Konboi) is Rodimus Prime's insecurities, his reluctance at leadership and possessing the Matrix of Leadership, given form. Originally simply an opposite persona that began within Rodimus Prime's subconscious, stemming from his conflicted emotions at becoming Optimus Prime's successor, this dark double eventually developed a will of its own. As such, it became a mass of negative emotion that wavered on the line between life and death, attracting the attention of the ghostly Starscream. Thus, when Rodimus Prime was subliminally brought to an abandoned Decepticon base that contained the clone synthesizer, Black Rodimus Convoy was able to use the device to realize a corporeal existence of his own. Jumping at Rodimus Prime's moment of surprise, the black Hot Rod ripped the Matrix from his heroic counterpart's chest. With it, he plans to rule all—Autobot, Decepticon, and even beyond.

Fiction

e-HOBBY comics

When Rodimus Prime investigated the clone synthesizer, a black Hot Rod leapt out and tore the Matrix out of Rodimus Prime's chest. All the while, he taunted his original template for being unable to bear the responsibilities of the Matrix. Destron Doppelgänger Black Rodimus Convoy

Toys

Masterpiece

"With this Matrix, I shall RULE A—"
*CRACK*
"Sweet Primus, MY LEEEGS!"

• Black Rodimus Convoy (November 28, 2011)
  • Japanese ID number: MP-9B
  • Accessories: Trailer/Mobile Defense Bay, Anti Photon Eliminator/Anti Photon Lasers Alpha & Beta, Matrix of Leadership, Snatchers Blade, Phantom Torch

Masterpiece Black Rodimus Convoy is a black, purple, blue, teal, and gray redeco of MP-9 Rodimus Convoy, and can transform from Black Rodimus to Black Rodimus Convoy in both robot and vehicle modes. Extensions in the figure's hips give Black Rodimus Convoy some slight extra height over Black Rodimus, while a spring-loaded pop-out second face, revealed when the figure's helmet is tilted back, gives him his older, lined features; this face is somewhat narrower than Rodimus's, combining with a slight elevation of the back-mounted spoiler to further create the illusion of a larger figure. Black Rodimus Convoy's vehicle mode is formed by fitting Black Rodimus into the trailer backwards, and an entirely new vehicle-front—featuring Black Rodimus Convoy's shorter hood and smaller canopy and lacking an exposed engine block—flips out from beneath the trailer and wraps around his rear end. Both vehicles feature opening canopies, though only Black Rodimus has any sculpted interior detail of note.

Black Rodimus Convoy's trailer opens up into a Mobile Defense Bay through a spring-loaded transformation activated by pressing a button on the trailer's roof. Furthering his armament, the figure comes with two twin Anti Photon Lasers for Black Rodimus, which can combine and extend through a spring-loaded automorph-style process into Black Rodimus Convoy's larger Anti Photon Eliminator. The guns can store within his trailer, and mount on any one of six different ports in Defense Bay mode for additional firepower. Like the original Hot Rod toy, a single Anti Photon Laser can mount in the vehicle mode's engine block. The rest of Black Rodimus's additional gadgets and features are based on ones used by Hot Rod in The Transformers: The Movie, including a retractable "Fear Sight" visor (dropped over the figure's eyes by rotating the circular "ears" on its helmet), a "Snatchers Blade" buzzsaw, and a "Phantom Torch" welding torch. Both saw and torch store inside his trailer while not in use, and attach to universal clips which rotate out of his forearms. Lastly he also comes with a Matrix of Leadership accessory redecoed in red chrome. The Matrix stores within his chest and is so small that Black Rodimus Convoy cannot actually hold it by its handles.

As with most of the releases of the Masterpiece Rodimus Convoy mold before the 2018 "Long Life Design" reissue, several collectors have reported one or more of the upper knee joints on this figure cracking after the first transformation. Typically this is a result of the knee joint being cracked at the top of the ratchet joint while still in the package. Once this joint is moved into some of the more extreme positions, like those required for transformation, it will then snap in two places. The brittle nature of the joint and the painted sockets are most likely to blame for the initial cracking.

External links

• "e-HOBBY exclusive MP-9B Black Rodimus Convoy" at e-HOBBY