Brawn (G1)/toys

Brawn has many toys. All of them are invincible.

Toys

The Transformers

Oh no, he's a Cylon!

• Brawn (Mini-Vehicle, 1984/1985/1986)

• Takara ID number: 15
• Known designers: Masaki Maruyama (TakaraTomy)

The Transformers Brawn was part of the original assortment of Autobot Mini Vehicles released in 1984. He transforms into an off-road SUV of indeterminate, probably-made-up model, with a non-removable spare tire on the roof.

Brawn inexplicably has the most confirmed variants out of the 1984 Mini Vehicles, due to a change in his robot mode construction, three different company stamping arrangements on his vehicle back end, and of course the change from foil insignias on the vehicle mode to a heat-sensitive rubsign in 1985:

• V1 - Helmet with faceplate & top portions separate from robot chest, "Takara Japan" stamp, foil insignia on hood
• V2 - Helmet with faceplate & top portions separate from robot chest, "Takara Co Ltd / Japan 1974, 1983" stamp, foil insignia on hood
• V3 - Entire helmet part of robot chest, "Takara Co Ltd / Japan 1974, 1983" stamp, foil insignia on hood
• V4 - Entire helmet part of robot chest, "Takara Co Ltd / Japan 1974, 1983" stamp, rubsign on left door
• V5 - Entire helmet part of robot chest, "Hasbro 1974-1983" stamp added to window, rubsign on left door

The 1985 Japanese release of "Gong" was sold in a small box instead of on a bubble-card. Only the rubsign variant was available in this market (presumably the final mold variant with the single-piece helmet and Hasbro stamp, but that is not confirmed).

There are a large number of redecoes of Brawn in various markets south of the border, which are covered in individual entries below (to reduce the clutter in this one). Mostly unchanged versions of Brawn were sold in Mexico by IGA and in Venezuela by Rubiplas: it's very likely that there are small differences in plastic hues and copyright stampings, and, of course, quality control.

The mold was first released in 1983 as part of Takara's Micro Change line, but evidence exists to suggest it was originally designed by defunct American toy company Knickerbocker for the cancelled toyline, Mysterians. Notably, the Micro Change version was olive green, the same color depicted in his instructions and used for Brawn's animation design, while his actual Transformers release is forest green.

The Brawn mold was also used to create the Malignus Jipe, and retooled to make Outback (except in Mexico, where Outback was a straight redeco of Brawn).

• Patent info, price guide, and further reading on Brawn at Transformerland.com
• More information on G1 Brawn at TFU.info

• Jipe (Robocar, 1985)

Released by Estrela in Brazil, "Jipe" was available in two different colorations: the original toy's green-and-yellow, or tan-and-sand. This release lacks the Autobot symbols, and the remaining robot-detail stickers are of considerably cheaper quality, and rarely left on loose samples.

Whether or not he is the same character as either the Eletrix Jipe or the Malignus Jipe is unknown.

• More information on Estrela Jipe at TFU.info

• Brawn (Mini Vehicle, 1986)

Manufactured by Argentine company Lynsa but sold in Peru, Peruvian Brawns lack chrome. Two different colorations have been confirmed: olive-green-and-cream, and an inverted cream-and-olive-green. It is claimed that there may be six different versions of Peruvian Brawn all told, with the four others being unique to that market, but no-one has been able to find and confirm the others so far.

• Brawn (Keychain, 2002/2003/2007)

A keychain version of Brawn was released by Hasbro licensee Fun4All as part of the second wave of Transformers keychains alongside Windcharger. Though based on the original toy, this is an entirely new set of molds, with a number of small differences throughout (minor proportion differences and generally softer edges), but the most immediately obvious one is the small plastic ring added to the front bumper, which the metal key chain attaches to. The keychains came on pretty close reproductions of their original cardbacks from 1984. These were originally sold in chains like Hot Topic and video game stores, but over the course of several years, found their way even to the racks of Wal-Mart.

In 2003, Takara released all four of the keychain Minibots (Cliffjumper, Bumblebee, Windcharger, and Brawn) as 7-Eleven exclusives. They came in blind-packed boxes so you don't know which one you got until you open 'er up, plus each one could also come in a "chase" all-black version exclusive to this release. The black deco was later repurposed as an evil clone of Brawn.

All four keychains were re-released in 2007 under the Heroes of Cybertron banner by Basic Fun (Fun4All having gone bankrupt in 2004). Sold on new cardbacks with the Heroes look, these releases are functionally identical to the originals (just the company stamping has changed) except for the actual chain part, which is a different style with an additional black plastic tab attached.

• More information on keychain Brawn at TFU.info
• More information on black keychain Brawn at TFU.info

Universe (2003)

Now we'll never get a new Brawn toy!

• Autobot Brawn (2005)

• Accessories: Crane/cannon, 2-part spare tire/blades, energon star, energon gauntlet

A retool of Energon Energon Class Strongarm as Universe Brawn was part of 3H Productions' proposal for an OTFCC 2005 convention exclusive set. However, with the financial collapse of 3H Productions in late 2004 and the subsequent transfer of the Transformers convention license to Fun Publications, all plans for this toy (and its companion piece Roadbuster) were scrapped. It would have featured a new head and new snap-on Energon weapon fists.

Proceed on your way to oblivion. This item has been canceled, with no current plans for release.

Universe (2008)

...whoops, scratch that.

• Brawn (Legends Class, 2008)

• Series: G1 Series
• Known designers: Bill Rawley (Hasbro)

Released in the fourth wave of Universe Legends Class toys, Brawn is a new-sculpt toy of the original Brawn inspired by his character model, transforming into a generic SUV that takes some design cues from a Land Rover Discovery Series II and a Jeep Cherokee XJ with a bullbar mounted on the front. His spare tire, mounted on his back end in vehicle mode, is actually a free-spinning wheel just like the normal four, and the same size as the front wheels... meaning that, in theory, it could be used as an actual spare tire.

Amusingly enough, his robot mode arms are upside-down inside the packaging, with his shoulders somewhere around hip-level.

Official stock photos depicting a pre-production sample in and out of packaging featured the tires in the same green plastic color as the vehicle shell. They were changed to black plastic for the mass production version.

• More information on Legends Brawn at TFU.info

Henkei! Henkei!

Now available in puke green.

• Minibot Attack Team (Multi-pack, 2009)

• ID number: C-18

The Universe Legends Class Brawn was redecoed into Henkei! Henkei! Gong, using a much more desaturated olive-green base plastic, with brighter yellow chest paint, yet keeping the black face paint due to having the same paint layout as the Universe version. This is apparently meant more as an homage to his Micro Change roots than "just" TakaraTomy wanting to do something different than Hasbro.^[1]

Gong was only available in a 3-pack set with Beachcomber and Cliff.

Generations

"Could've had the body of my dreams, but nooo, Megatron took me down again, while the other guy proceeded to steal my colors. There's a reason why I'm so grumpy."

• Brawn (Voyager Class, 2012)

• Accessories: Energon Battle Mace

Initially created for release exclusively in China and other Hasbro Asia markets, Generations Brawn was to have been a retool and redeco of Prime: First Edition Voyager Class Bulkhead, and would have featured an all-new Generation 1 Brawn head and green/bronze paint scheme. He would have transformed into a truck, and would have come with an "energon battle mace" that could have either pegged into his hands, or replaced one of his hands when either was flipped into his arm, thus switching it out for a wrist peg-hole. The mace itself would have also featured a plain peg-hole at the top, and would have stored in vehicle mode by pegging it onto the trunk.

This was the only toy that was not included in the massive group of Toys"R"Us exclusives for US market release in 2012. He was eventually dropped^[2] from the Asian-market case assortments, and his spot was taken by Megatron.

This version of the mold was eventually released, albeit in different colors, as Cloud Brawn.

Proceed on your way to oblivion. This item has been canceled, with no current plans for release.

Kre-O

• Brawn (Kreon Micro-Changer, 2014)

• Bag number: 33501 35
• Accessories: Stand brick, large rifle
• Known designers: Ed Masiello (Hasbro)

Part of the fourth assortment of blind-bagged Kreon Micro-Changers, Brawn can be rebuilt from a humanoid mode to a kinda land-rovery thing.

His chest deco is ridiculously detailed and shaded.

He uses the Mirage helmet.

• More information on Brawn at TFU.info

• Kreon Class of 1984 (Kreon figure set, 2014)

• Set number: B0090
• Voted: Class Jock
• Accessories: Scoped pistol

This version of Brawn is in a more toy-accurate olive plastic. He has toy-based tampographs like his prior version, but somehow these ended up less detailed than the Micro-Changer's deco. This version does have the original toy's visor-face, though.

He was only available in a San Diego Comic-Con 2014 exclusive pack of 30 Kreons dubbed the "Kreon Class of 1984". Remaining stock was to be sold at Hasbro Toy Shop online, only there was no remaining stock after the show.

• More information on Class of 1984 Brawn at TFU.info

Titans Return

Let's see how this guy can fight against the larger Soundwave.

• Brawn (Titan Master, 2016)

• Accessories: Hoverbike/jeep/rifle vehicle
• Known designers: John Warden (Hasbro)

Titans Return Brawn is a miniature Titan Master figure that can transform from a robot into Brawn's head, which can then be attached to Deluxe, Voyager, and Leader Class Titans Return figures. He is packaged with a hoverbike-ish vehicle that he can ride, which can also transform into a 5 mm gun accessory for a larger figure or combine with Brawn into a caterpillar-tracked jeep. His head in robot mode is based on the faceplated face of his original toy, while the face in his head mode resembles his animation model. Brawn provides the abilities of enhancing the bot's armor, though whether or not he will apply this to their shoulders too is unknown.

Brawn's vehicle was redecoed into Synapse, which came with Legends Brainstorm. The head was also repurposed as the Beast Wars: Uprising character Muscles.

• More information on Titans Return Titan Master Brawn at TFU.info

"The shield? Hey, I needed something to help protect my shoulder."

• Brawn (Legends Class, 2017)

• Accessories: Shield/Roof
• Known designers: John Warden (Hasbro)

The second Titans Return Brawn is a Legends Class mold who transforms from a robot to jeep, inspired by his original Generation 1 toy. His roof can detach to become a shield in robot mode, or peg into his back to maintain symmetry, and features a 3 mm port in the centre of the wheel. As with some of the Titans Return Legends Class figures, Brawn features an opening canopy for his cockpit, which allows any Titan Master figure to ride. You can actually let his Titan Master counterpart ride himself. Kinky! Due to his construction, Brawn is the only Titans Return Legends class figure that can transform without needing to remove a Titan Master from his cockpit.

In a clever touch, unpainted windows are sculpted beneath the vehicle mode storage of the shield, so that the vehicle mode will still look complete even if the accessory is lost.

This mold was retooled to make Power of the Primes Outback.

Legends

Just wait. They will release my Legends Class figure some day...

• Headmaster Set (Multi-pack, 2017)

• ID Number: LG-EX
• Release date: February 19, 2017

Released as a Wonder Festival 2017 exclusive, this Headmaster version of Brawn/Gong is a redeco of the Hasbro head mold, without the vehicle accessory, and features extensive paint apps.

Gong was released along with Grimlock, "Chromedome", "Hardhead", Flywheel, and "Brainstorm".

..."some day" being eight months later.

• Gong & Repug (Brawn & Repugnus)^[3] (Two-pack, 2017)

• ID Number: LG48
• Release date: October 28, 2017
• Accessories: Shield/roof

The second Legends Gong is a redeco of the Hasbro Legends Class toy to resemble his appearances in the Generation 1 cartoon, and he's packaged with Repug, who can ride inside Gong.

Printed on his instructions is the Bonus Edition Vol. 48 of the Legends manga.

Studio Series

12 Frames Of Fame.

• Brawn (Deluxe Class, 2023)

• Movie: The Transformers: The Movie
• Hasbro ID number: 86-22
• TakaraTomy ID number: SS-112
• Accessories: Blaster, spare wheel, "Decepticon Shuttle Ambush" backdrop
• Known designers: Evan Brooks (Hasbro), Shogo Hasui (TakaraTomy)^[4], Mario Carreiro, Christina Murphy and Amy Bence (packaging),^[5] Marcelo Matere (packaging artist)

Studio Series Brawn is a Deluxe-scale figure based on his short-lived appearance in The Transformers: The Movie, transforming into a small off-road SUV. He includes a small blaster accessory that can be attached to the spare wheel atop his alt mode's roof, which itself is removable via a 5 mm peg but serves no real purpose once removed.

As mentioned on the May 16, 2023 Transformers Fanstream, the way Brawn transforms allows you to recreate the "stilt legs" of his original 1984 toy. So you can do that if you want to. Which you will.

This is the consequence of pushing your team's scientist too far.

• Brawn / Autobot Ratchet (Multi-pack, 2024)

• Series: Studio Series
• Movie: The Transformers: The Movie
• ID number: 86-27
• Accessories: blaster, 2 large 3-part Fire Blast effects, "Decepticon Shuttle Ambush" backdrop
• Known designers: Mario Carreiro, Christina Murphy and Amy Bence (packaging), Marcelo Matere (packaging artist)^[6]

A redeco and partial retool of the above Deluxe Class Studio Series Brawn figure, Brawn is a morbidly hilarious version of the character during his death in the 1986 movie. In addition to a new, distressed headsculpt, his chest (which is now cast in yellow plastic instead of painted like the original) has been retooled to include some pretty nasty battle damage, and a blast effect compatible hole on his collarbone area. The silver paint on his face, forearms, hands and knees is swapped for a cartoon-based gray while his blaster is coated in silver.

He was available in a 2-pack with a similarly morbid Ratchet retool, along with two purple recolors of Siege Jetfire's Fire Blast effects and a larger version of the "Decepticon Shuttle Ambush" backdrop.

Merchandise

McDonald's

• Brawn (St. Louis McDonald's promotion, 1985)

Collect them all! This character article is a stub and is missing information on their toys & merchandise. You can help Transformers Wiki by expanding it.

Transformers Milk Caramel

• Gong (Candy toy, 1985)

A soft rubber figurine—known in Japan as a keshigomu— of Brawn was released as part of the first wave of Kabaya's Transformers Milk Caramel candy toy range. He came packaged with chocolate-covered caramel candies, and was available in white, blue, sky blue, yellow, green, and orange.

Curiously, the figure was not based on either his toy or animation model robot mode designs; instead, it depicted him in an entirely different robot form, based on his 4WD alternate mode as it would appear if it transformed in the same manner as Bumblebee and Cliffjumper, even going so far as to give him Bumblebee's head! The origin of this strange design is unknown, but it would be seen again in a model kit released by Takara and Seven the following year.

Transformers Choco

• Gong (1985)

A solid-color, snap-together model kit of Brawn was released by Kabaya as part of their Transformers Choco line of candy toys. Essentially a downsized but otherwise broadly identical version of his original toy, the Brawn kit was available in various colors, and came with candy-coated chocolates.

Decoy

Toy-accurate in one hand, show-accurate in the other.

• Cybertron Hero Collection 22 (multi-pack, 1986)

Brawn was among the many characters rendered by Takara as part of their series of 1.5" keshigomu figurines. Like all the Autobots in the series, Brawn was molded in soft red rubber, and featured a number sculpted into his back that was the sum total of his Tech Specs, for use in the various games that could be played with the figurines. Brawn mixes the cartoon model with elements from the original toy (most notably giving him a claw for a right hand).

Brawn was available as part of a 22-piece box set of Autobot figures, and later, in a peach coloration randomly packed as part of various other box sets.

• Brawn (Decoy, 1987)
  • Decoy number: 24

The figurine was later brought over to Hasbro markets as part of the Decoy promotion, largely identical to the Japanese release except for the fact that the number on his back was replaced with a simple "checklist" number. Like all Autobot Decoys, he was a randomly-chosen pack-in available with the carded Throttlebots, Aerialbots, Protectobots, and Technobots.

• More information on Decoy Brawn at TFU.info

Pachi-pla kit

If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them....maybe you can hire The A-Team.

• Charger and Gong (model kit multi-pack, 1986)

This two-pack of fully-transformable Brawn and Windcharger snap-together model kits were released by Takara and Seven; "pachi" is Japanese onomatopoeia for things which snap together, while "pla" is short for plastic, hence the kit's name. The figures are made from red and black plastic, and were available in two variations that alternated which of the colors was predominant. About the same size as the original figures, the kits are speculated to be unused molds created for Micro Change. Most notably, this set again makes use of the strange alternate design for Brawn seen previously in the Milk Caramel line, based on the Bumblebee body complete with Bumblebee's head.

• More information about Brawn and Windcharger at TF-1.com

Transformers Trading Card Game

• Brawn, Demolitions (2020)
  • Wave 5: Titan Masters Attack
  • Rarity: CT
  • Card Number: T11/T46
  • Stars: 5

Brawn, Demolitions is one of forty-six double-sided character cards released as part of Wave 5 of the Transformers Trading Card Game, Titan Masters Attack.

The card's artwork is based on the Titans Return Legends-class Brawn toy, with Bot Mode artwork being reused from the toy's packaging art, and original Alt Mode line-art by Ken Christiansen.

This card's set was originally set for an April 2020 release, however due to the global COVID-19 pandemic the release was pushed back to May 29, 2020.

Notes

• Leaked product listings for the Thrilling 30 subline of Generations included a "Brawn & Mudslinger" entry, indicating that a new Legends Class toy of Brawn was in the works prior to cancellation.^[7] It is unknown if this Thrilling 30 toy eventually evolved into the Titans Return Legends Class Brawn figure, or if the latter is a separate design project.

References