Transformers G1 Shockwave AFA Q50 (Hasbro, 1985)....

Description

Transformers G1 Shockwave AFA Q50 (Hasbro, 1985). Released in 1985 as part of the second series of Hasbro's Transformers line, Shockwave occupies a unique position within the brand's early history, as one of the few characters not derived from Takara's Diaclone or Micro Change ranges. The mold originated instead with Japanese manufacturer ToyCo, first produced in 1983 as the 4 Changeable Astro Magnum, a battery-powered laser pistol marketed with four nominal modes, most of which were subtle reconfigurations of the gun form. That design was subsequently licensed to Korean company Intecs as 4-Changeable Spark Man, a version long misidentified by collectors as a knock-off due to its "Made in Korea" battery cover marking. Hasbro ultimately licensed the figure from Intecs rather than ToyCo, rebranding it as Shockwave for Transformers, retaining the Korean manufacture credit on the packaging and even listing it internally under the Spark Man name before Bob Budiansky finalized the character identity. As part of this licensing transition, the mold was modified to include a 1983 copyright stamp inside the right lower leg, a feature shared by contemporaneous releases including Tandy's RadioShack-exclusive Galactic Man, often nicknamed "Shackwave" by fans. This example is graded AFA 50 Q-VG, with subgrades of B40 W85 F85. Few Generation 1 figures better illustrate the complex international pathways that shaped the Transformers line, and Shockwave remains a tangible reminder that the brand's most iconic characters often came from the least straightforward origins.

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