1987

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1987 was the the sixth year of the Machine Robo franchise and the second year of Rock Lords.

North America[edit]

GoBots[edit]

Toys[edit]

Main article: GoBots (toyline)

No new GoBots toys were issued, though sales of existing inventory brought in around $10m in revenue for Tonka.

Fiction[edit]

GoBots Magazine [edit]
Main article: GoBots Magazine

With no toyline to support, Telepictures Publications' GoBots Magazine ended after 5 issues.

Rock Lords[edit]

Rock Lords continued into a second series, though the amount of product dwindled.

Toys[edit]

Main article: Rock Lords (toyline)

The second series of toys were exclusive to the Western market as Machine Robo moved in a different direction. The smaller line included two new 'standard' Rock Lords, the translucent Jewel Lords, the gimmick-based Shock Rocks and further Narlies. Plans to release the combining Fossilsaurus did not come to fruition, though the moulds would be retooled as the Japanese Gattai Saurer figure.

Revenue fell to $15m, and the line would be cancelled.

Series 2[edit]
Rock Lords (Series 3)[edit]
Jewel Lords[edit]
Main article: Jewel Lords
Narlies (Series 2)[edit]
Main article: Narlies
Snarlie-Narlie[edit]
Shock Rocks[edit]
Main article: Shock Rocks

Series 1

Series 2

Fiction[edit]

A second mini-comic was included in selected toys.

Japan[edit]

Machine Robo: Revenge of Cronos[edit]

Machine Robo: Revenge of Cronos continued for the first half of the year before being replaced by Machine Robo: Battle Hackers.

Toys[edit]

The all-new Wheelmen range began, and would continue into successor Machine Robo: Battle Hackers.

Wheelmen[edit]
Main article: Wheelmen

Fiction[edit]

MemoriesOfTheBattlefield.jpg
Machine Robo: Revenge of Cronos cartoon[edit]

The last of the 47 episodes were broadcast, ending on May 28 with a trio of clip shows. The series was immediately replaced by Machine Robo: Battle Hackers. It is possible that the show was intended to run for the more standard 52 episodes before Bandai's plans changed, but this remains unconfirmed.

An OVA named Memories of the Battlefield, containing music videos based on the series and comedy short "Leina's Holiday" was released on home video before the conclusion of the series, while Futureland would issue a soundtrack to the series.

MRBHSpread.jpg

Machine Robo: Battle Hackers[edit]

Bandai opted to substantially overhaul the Machine Robo franchise once again, possibly in response to the futuristic setting of Transformers (the Japanese version of which had just imported the third series of the American cartoon as Transformers 2010). The focus of the new line were the Battle Hackers, a group of rebellious Machine Robo fighting the Gurendos on Electronic Planet B-1, led by R. JeTan, helped by human allies.

MRBHToys.jpg

Toys[edit]

Unlike the Revenge of Cronos line, the Battle Hackers toyline saw nearly all-new figures (the only exception being Gattai Saurer, salvaged from the abortive Rock Lords combiner Fossilsaurus). Firing BB-style weapons as introduced on the 1986 Chara DX Collection figures were a recurring theme on the toys, which were larger than many of their predecessors, and were based on fictional futuristic vehicles. The line also included a trio of Riser Suits, designed to interact with doll-type poseable figures. No villainous figures were made.

Sadly the toys would sell poorly in Japan, reflecting a wider market shift away from children buying toy robots. As such, plans for toys of Garzack and an updated Baikanfu would be abandoned in favour of the smaller Winner Robo for 1988.

Battle Hackers[edit]
Main article: Battle Hackers
Wheelmen[edit]
Main article: Wheelmen

Fiction[edit]

BattleHackersPrintAd.jpg
Machine Robo: Battle Hackers cartoon[edit]

An all-new series was produced to plug the toys, again created by Ashi Productions and helmed by Hideki Sonoda. This acted as a sequel to the Revenge of Cronos cartoon, though the lead cast were not carried over (instead being spun off into the Leina Stol in Wolf Sword Legend OVA series in 1988) and those that were carried over lost their memories as a plot point. Instead the leads were the Battle Hackers - R. JeTan, Garzack and Gattai Saurer, joined by Mach Blaster, Pro Truck Racer, Drill Crusher, the Wheelmen and the Winner Robo as the series progressed - and their human allies Akira Amachi, Luke Stewart, Mia White, Patricia Longfellow and Zen Ogawa. They battled the Gurendos, led by Gakurandar and the supercomputer Dylan.

The series was broadcast on TV Tokyo at the earlier timeslot of 18:00, beginning on June 3, 1987. While the series garnered strong ratings its' fate was sealed by the poor toy sales leading to Bandai likely withdrawing their support, and a hurried conclusion was created before the series ended on December 30, 1987 after 31 episodes.

Europe[edit]

Robo Machine[edit]

Toys[edit]

Rock Lords[edit]
Jewel Lords[edit]
Action Shock Rocks[edit]
Combiner[edit]
Ultrabots[edit]

Calendar[edit]