There's only one character in the comic with a Cybertronian alt mode that's animalistic, and Don Figeroa said that he did that as an homage to the Zoids (a reference to Tomy buying out Takara).  If you'll notice, the other 'unnamed Convoy' did not possess any noticable pachyderm parts.

 

Now, out of curiosity, where did it get established that LioConvoy and Big Convoy would retain these names in the IDW comic?  If it was officially said by someone at IDW, then fine.  But if it's based on the fact that the name Magmatron was used, then sorry, I ain't buying it.  Keeping the name Magmatron is not a problem, it's a cool name; plus, it was used as an official Beast Machines toy.  But XXXConvoy?  That sounds friggin' ridiculous.  I'm guessing they'll go with Optimus XXX or something along those lines.  The name Convoy doesn't have any significance to English speakers.

Oh, and Megatron and Primal had Vehicle forms on Cybertron. Bob and Larry said that Primal had a flying alt mode on Cybertron(hence the flight abilities on all his bodies). While Furman said that Primal had a Monster Truck Alt mode and that Megatron had a Battle Platform alt mode.

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I'll go with what Bob and Larry said.

Now, out of curiosity, where did it get established that LioConvoy and Big Convoy would retain these names in the IDW comic?  If it was officially said by someone at IDW, then fine.  But if it's based on the fact that the name Magmatron was used, then sorry, I ain't buying it.  Keeping the name Magmatron is not a problem, it's a cool name; plus, it was used as an official Beast Machines toy.  But XXXConvoy?  That sounds friggin' ridiculous.  I'm guessing they'll go with Optimus XXX or something along those lines.  The name Convoy doesn't have any significance to English speakers.

Okay, first of all, until the comic says otherwise, it's not unreasonable for fans to go around addressing these characters by their Takara names, as they are the only official names that we have for these characters at the time. Future issues may change this, but until then, we'll call them Lio Convoy and Big Convoy. You could go and call them Bob and Dave, but the rest of us won't know wtf you're talking about. :D

 

Secondly, the "Convoy" suffix does sound bad to an English speaking palette yes. Convoy is a collective noun used for describing a procession of large vehicles or troops. A group of lions are known as a pride, sault, sowse or troop. A group of pachyderms is called a herd, memory or parade. The collective noun "convoy" does not apply to either lions or pachyderms. Having said that, these toys were not marketed to an English speaking audience. They were marketed to a Japanese speaking audience, and for them, the "Convoy" suffix works, as it is a direct reference to Optimus Prime. Since Japanese people generally don't speak English, they're largely not even aware of the meaning of the word. I've had this discussion with Japanese Transfans before, and none of them were previously aware, and after I explained it them, it didn't really effect them. The name "Optimus Prime" sounds really awkward in a Japanese palette and has very rarely been used by Takara (the only incident that comes to mind was G2 Gobot Prime who was called "Oputimasu Puraimu" in Japan).

 

Whether IDW decides to change their names or not, I dunno. Remember, they are not attempting to market these toys - which is what the purpose of a toy's name is. For example, Super Fire Convoy's name had to be changed to Optimus Prime to make him more marketable to an Anglophonic market. Unless Hasbro is planning on selling Lio Convoy and Big Convoy in their markets some time real soon, IDW is under no obligation to change their names.

 

That's not to say that they can't - but it does mean that they don't have to. For purity's sake, I would personally hope that they keep their original names. Lio Convoy is no worse a name than Cheetor.

Something else about the comic...

 

I only just recognised Snarl - pictured between Ramulus and Bonecrusher.

 

Oh my fcukin' god... that is the crappiest drawing of a marsupial I have ever seen. Okay, I can understand that the Snarl toy has never been an accurate representation of a Tasmanian Devil. It was more like some weird marsupial... thing. Robot Masters' Bound Rogue's colour was vast improvement and did make the mould look far more accurate to the actual animal.

 

But the way that Don has drawn it, it doesn't even look like a freakin' marsupial anymore!!

 

Go grab your BW comics and have a good look at that drawing of Snarl and compare it with the photo below. Methinks Mr. Figueroa needs his eyes checked.

 

:rofl

 

It's funny how Kopi had that 'moment' a few posts back, but no one seemed to notice.

 

:roll

I haven't read the new BW comic, but how much sense does it make to have a beast mode on a completely mechanical and robotic planet?

 

"Transforming into a gorilla sure beats walking!" 

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:rofl

 

For one we get to see that on Cybertron the Tf have alt modes that look just like their beast modes on Earth.

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if you look closely, Razorback's cybertronian form has wheels.  Warthogs don't have wheels. ;)

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:rofl

 

It's funny how Kopi had that 'moment' a few posts back, but no one seemed to notice.

 

:roll

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:rofl X2

 

 

and am i missing something? why is everyone taking this new bw comic into cartoon continuity? thats like taking g1 comics and toon together. perhaps this will be based around the bw show quite well... but still. its not a show. imo comics are their own contiuity. same way dw comics werent part of g1.

 

has someone said this is officially canon? if so ill just stfu.

We're taking it into cartoon canon because BW continuity is perhaps the most  coherent continuity out of all the TF-series. plus, Simon Furman, writer of the comics, wrote some BW-eps, and is known to be able to write "in continuity".

 

Heres a Picture of Lio Convoy's Cybertronian form from the anime

P.S. Don't even bother trying to think up names and alt modes for BW character's that were introduced via Status pod(except Rampage and Packrat) as the majority of them are "newborns"

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Says you. Wolfang immidiately knew what a "Predacon" was, how it smelled, and that it's an opponent, not an ally. Ergo, he had this knowledge prior to entering the stasis-pod, ergo, he wasn't a "newborn".

same time though airrazor was a "newborn" and she knew to go after terrorsaur

For one we get to see that on Cybertron the Tf have alt modes that look just like their beast modes on Earth.

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if you look closely, Razorback's cybertronian form has wheels.  Warthogs don't have wheels. ;)

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:tflaugh touche.

We're taking it into cartoon canon because BW continuity is perhaps the most  coherent continuity out of all the TF-series. plus, Simon Furman, writer of the comics, wrote some BW-eps, and is known to be able to write "in continuity".

 

Heres a Picture of Lio Convoy's Cybertronian form from the anime

P.S. Don't even bother trying to think up names and alt modes for BW character's that were introduced via Status pod(except Rampage and Packrat) as the majority of them are "newborns"

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Says you. Wolfang immidiately knew what a "Predacon" was, how it smelled, and that it's an opponent, not an ally. Ergo, he had this knowledge prior to entering the stasis-pod, ergo, he wasn't a "newborn".

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The Status pod Transformers have prior knowlage of Cybertron, and the war before they are born via implanted memories.