- Ichibi is an Autobot-allied Mini-Con from the Galaxy Force portion of the Unicron Trilogy continuity family.
Considering he was supposed to have a
Powerlinx socket and not a 5mm peg,
I certainly feel misdirected...
Ichibi (イチビ) is a member of the Caliber Mini-Con Team, a special strike force under the command of Wing Saber. He is a stealthy 'bot, a master of misdirection.[1]
Toys
Galaxy Force
- Caliber Ichibi (Promotional Micron, 2005)
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- Ichibi is a redeco and retool of the Armada Air Military Mini-Con Team Mini-Con Thunderwing, transforming into a "flying wing" style stealth fighter. The swiveling Powerlinx socket was removed and replaced with a swiveling 5 mm post, letting Ichibi be used as a hand-held weapon by most larger Unicron Trilogy toys (the Cybertron version of Wing Saber has to hold Ichibi on his forearm, not in his hand). This makes him the only Mini-Con without a Powerlinx socket.
- He and the other Caliber Microns were only available in July of 2005 from select stores in Japan as special promotional giveaways. Ichibi could be obtained from either Ito Yokaido or Hello Mac department stores, with the purchase of any Galaxy Force item.
- The same mold (without the peg) is used by Razorclaw, Seeker, and Twirl.
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Notes
- Hirofumi Ichikawa explains that "ichibi" is the Japanese name of a variety of velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti). It has no common kanji representation, though it's theorized to have derived from tomoshibi (灯), meaning "lamplight". While this seems to set this name rather apart from the other two Caliber Micron names in feel, if you consider the names as all deriving from "ninja tools and skills", a common thread emerges. It turns out this particular plant was used long ago as an ingredient of the gunpowder used for matchlock rifles and similar weapons.
- The Transformers Collectors' Club commissioned art for Ichibi, which was published in issue 28 of the Collectors' Club magazine as part of the article "THE ARMADAVERSE: A Whole New Way to Play". However, with the collapse of the online bio program circa 2009, said bio and name never surfaced.
References
