Shocking Shark
From Transformers Wiki
| The name or term "Jack" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Jack (disambiguation). |
- The Shocking Shark is a Beastformer Fortress from the Generation 1 continuity family.
The Deep Sea Fortress Shocking Shark (深海要塞ショッキングシャーク Fukaumi Yōsai Shokkingu Shāku) was once one of three Beastformer heroes of ancient legend, known as "Jack" (ジャーク Jāku). They have since been reincarnated as a massive mechanical Fortress embodying the power of Water, one of the three foundational elements that keep the planet Beast stable.
Like their brethren Wood Beetle and Red Phoenix, Shocking Shark had laid dormant and hidden for centuries, but rose again to combat the evils threatening the planet. But only by working with a Beastformer truly strong in spirit can their powers be brought to their full potential. Strong Hippo may be a bashful beast, but he's not one to shy away from responsibility, and his tenacity may prove strong enough to help Shocking Shark turn the tide of battle!
Contents |
Fiction
Beastformers comic
Legends comic
Toys
Beastformers
- Shocking Shark (Fortress, 1988)
- Accessories: 2 double-barreled "Beam Guns", gripper-claw
- Released in the post-Transformers "RPG" portion of Takara's Beastformers toyline, the Shocking Shark is a large mechanical shark (obviously) with small wheels on the underside so it can roll along. At the top of its head is a small pilot's compartment that can "seat" a Beastformer or Laser Beast (or any small Transformer or other toy, use your imagination!), with a small mounting point for one of the included double-barreled cannons or spring-loaded gripper-claw in the front. The large turbine fan on the tail is only attached by a simple post, which means it can be rotated (not freely) and also removed, revealing a lot of empty space that can be used for figure and accessory storage.
- It opens up into a water-themed battle station with a central "waterfall". Unlike the other two Fortresses, the transformation is asymmetrical and results in the pilot compartment being rendered unusable in base form, upside-down and flat against the back of the base. The left side of the base has a prison cell (a very common feature among 80's playsets). The right side has two flip-out panels with weapon mounting points, one from the side of the main body, and a smaller one in the side of the tail. A third weapon mounting point is revealed at the front of the base on the shark's lower jaw; there is just enough clearance for the barrels of the double-guns or the gripper-claw to stick out of the shark-mode mouth if you leave them mounted there. However, they butt right up against the upper jaw wedged between the teeth, so they're rendered effectively immobile.
- This set came with the Strong Hippo figure as its pilot. (The Hasbro Battle Beasts release of the toy came with a randomly-packed Battle Beast figure.)
- The included customer-applied sticker sheet is from the Hasbro Battle Beasts release, using that logo and everything.
Notes
- The Shocking Shark box art is identical to the Hasbro Battle Beasts box-art, which means good-guy Bonga is in the prison cell. Which is a bit weird, but at this point in the toyline, fictionally the world was in kind of a "free-for-all" as different teams worked to be the first to stabilize the Gems of Motion and Stillness, and the threat-to-all Laser Beasts hadn't yet been introduced.
- It also shows Golder, Polar Battle Bear, and Sea Iron, figures not available at the time of Shocking Shark's release. Golder would eventually be released in the "RPG" part of the line, but not until very late and only in a large box set during the Laser Beast part of the line.
- Golder and Polar Battle Bear are also holding Graysharp and Wildthunder's weapons, respectively.
- Speaking of incorrect weapons, it shows the base outfitted with three double-cannons, and leaves out the capture-claw.
