Blackarachnia (BW)/toys

If you have a female spider Transformer, it is almost certainly one ofBlackarachnia.

Contents 1Toys 1.1Beast Wars 1.2Beast Machines 1.3Universe(2003) 1.4Beast Wars Returns 1.5Beast Wars Telemocha Series 1.6Animated 1.7Binaltech 1.8Kre-O 1.9Legends 1.10Masterpiece 1.11War for Cybertron: Kingdom 1.12Buzzworthy Bumblebee 1.13Beast Wars Again 2Merchandise 2.1Beast Wars Transformers Mutating Card Game 2.2Robot Heroes 2.3ReAction 2.4Flame Toys 3Notes 4References

Toys

Beast Wars

• Blackarachnia(Deluxe Class,1996/1997)

• Takara name:Blackwidow
• Takara ID number:D-8
• Takara release date:November??1997
• Accessories:Launcher, 4 leg-missiles
• Known designers:Takio Ejima(TakaraTomy),Masakatsu Saito(concept artist)

Part of the third wave ofBeast WarsDeluxes, Blackarachnia is aredecoof theTarantulasmold, transforming into a rather generic-looking organic spider. She features a removable spring-loaded launcher hidden in her beast mode abdomen, which can be "held" in her claws by plugging it into holes in her forearms. This launcher nominally fires the grappling hook/ "poison-tipped missile" attached to Blackarachnia's abdomen by a string, but it can also fire her front four beast mode legs, designed to be removed and used as ammunition. Like all first-yearBeast WarsDeluxes, the robot mode head has both a "robot" face and a"mutant" face;and as a redeco she used the same helmet flipping gimmick of Tarantulas. Blackarachnia has always been depicted in fiction using the "robot" one (or a rough approximation thereof).

TheTakararelease of the toy (coincidentally also in the third wave of the Takara line) has numerous color differences from theHasbroversion, but they are of dubious merit as far as making her more "show-accurate" go. The bright green of the Hasbro version's forearms is replaced with dull silver, while the brighter purple is replaced with a darker, more desaturated purple. These colors changes exactly match those done to the Takara release ofBuzz Saw;similar changes to the previous mold-characters Tarantulas andWaspinatorindicate the spider and wasp molds might have been at least partiallygang-molded.Paint-wise, her dark copper paint is replaced with a brighter gold. Her robot mode facemask is painted gold, which is closer to the show model... but her face beneath is black with gold eyes (instead of gold with black eyes), and she inexplicably gains a new painted-black forehead crest, where the show model has gold. Japanese catalogues showed a figure with a gold face and black eyes; it is unknown why this was changed for the released figure.

This toy has the distinction of being the first toy of afemale Transformerreleased at retail by Hasbro, though she was neither the first retail femaleTransformerstoy ever, or even the first femaleTransformerstoy released by Hasbro, having been beaten to both byMinerva(by Takara in 1988) andNightracer(aBotCon 1995exclusive) respectively.

• More information on Deluxe BW Blackarachnia at TFU.info

Beast Warsmold:Tarantulas
Hasbro: Beast WarsTarantulas Blackarachnia Universe(2003)Blackarachnia (Horrorcon, canceled) Beast Wars 10th AnniversaryPredacon Tarantulus Takara: Beast WarsD-4Tarans D-4 Tarans (redeco) D-8Blackwidow Beast Wars Telemocha SeriesTM-06Blackwidow

• Deluxe Beast Assortment (Rhinox and Blackarachnia)(Multi-pack, 1996)

• Accessories:Launcher, 4 leg-missiles

Sold exclusively atBJ's Wholesale Clubin the eastern USA, Blackarachnia was released alongsideRhinoxin a two-pack card... by which we mean two regularly-packaged toys were slipped into a thick cardboard sleeve.

Both toys are identical to their individual releases, because they're just regular retail releases in a thick cardboard sleeve.

• More infromation on Shmax

• Mitsurin no Taiketsu: Tigatron VS Blackwidow(VS set, 1997)

• ID number:VS-8
• Accessories:Launcher, 4 leg-missiles

In Japan, "Blackwidow" was available both as an individual and in a "Deep Forest Showdown" ( rừng rậm の đối quyếtMitsurin no Taiketsu) two-pack withTigatron.

Both toys were identical to their individual releases.

• Blackarachnia(Happy Meal promotion,1998)

• McNumber:5

Part of the secondMcDonald'sBeast WarsHappy Meal pack-in, Blackarachnia's "Transmetal"form resembles some sort of dust mite more than a spider, though it does have a black widow-esque hour-glass shape on the abdomen. It has averysimilar transformation to the earlier promotional figureBeetle.

Like the other two Transmetal Happy Meal figures, Blackarachnia has some metallic-sheened plastic intended to resemble the colored chromed finish of the retailTransmetalstoys.

• More information on McDonald's BW Blackarachnia at TFU.info

• Blackarachnia(Transmetal 2,1999)

• Takara name:Metals Blackwidow
• Takara ID number:C-48
• Accessories:Mandible grapnel-line
• Known designers:Yuichiro Hira(TakaraTomy),Masakatsu Saito(concept art)

The second of twoTransmetal 2Megas released inBeast Wars,this version of Blackarachnia transforms into a large, monstrous bio-mechanical spider. Her thorax features afaction symbol-switching gimmick activated byrotating her spark crystal around.In robot mode, her beast-mode mandibles separate to form agrappling hook with retractable string,plus she has a spring-loaded spin-kick action feature that rotates her entire lower body around. She also has a half-assed "defense mode", bringing the chromed abdomen bits down to cover her chest.

Like all larger Transmetal 2s, Blackarachnia has hints of an abandoned "transport" mode, mainly the free-spinning wheels and concealed rockets in the spider mode abdomen. There is no discernible way for the wheels to perform their function as wheels, however.

This toy was initially hard to find at retail, as one of the toy's features, a piece of removable chest armor (no, really), was altered slightly, delaying later shipments.

The TakaraBeast Wars Metalsrelease features no differences to the Hasbro version.

This mold was used to make theBotCon 2001exclusiveArcee.

• More information on Transmetal 2 Blackarachnia at TFU.info

Beast Machines

• Blackarachnia(Deluxe Class,2000)

• Known designers:Yuichiro Hira(TakaraTomy),Tim Bradley(concept artist)

Released in the fourth wave ofBeast MachinesDeluxes, Blackarachnia transforms into atechnorganicspider. In spider mode, squeezing its pedipalps together raises its central fangs; they are spring-loaded to release and lower, respectively. In keeping with the earlyBeast Machines"articulated features" motif, her robot mode head has a multi-piece articulated brow, which can slide up to reveal two extra sets of eyes, as she does on the cartoon. HerSpark crystalis located behind a window on the left side of her spider abdomen.

This mold was later redecoed to make theUniverseversion of Blackarachnia,as well asCrystal Widow.

• More information on Beast Machines Blackarachnia at TFU.info

• Blackarachnia(Happy Meal, 2000)

• McNumber:6

As one ofninetoys in the fourth TransformersMcDonald'sHappy Meal promotion, Blackarachnia is a super-simplified version of her retail toy, with a coloration closer to theMainframeCG model, though more shockingly pink rather than maroon. This toy is designed for the younger set, with softer plastic and no removable parts.

She is the onlyBeast Eracharacter to get two McDonald's Happy Meal toys.

• More information on McDonald's BM Blackarachnia at TFU.info

Universe(2003)

• Blackarachnia(Deluxe Class,2003)

Part of the second wave ofUniverseDeluxes, Blackarachnia returned as aDecepticonand as a redeco ofthe originalBeast Machinesfigure.However, her forearms weremistakenly swapped,leaving her forearm "spikes" pointing up towards her biceps rather than down near her elbows. She received a Decepticonfaction symbolover herspark crystalas well.

This mold (with the same swapped-forearms error) was used to makeCrystal Widow.

• More information on Universe Blackarachnia at TFU.info

• Leatherhide Vs. Blackarachnia(Halloween Horrorcon Value Pack,200?)

• Accessories:Launcher, 4 leg-missiles

In 2004, a group of test-shots made their way onto eBay, among them aredecoof the originalBeast WarsTarantulas/Blackarachnia mold in black with silver spider-legs and salmon-colored robot parts. Later, Hasbro's official website checklist featured listings for twoUniverse"HalloweenHorrorconValue Packs "that were to be Wal-Martexclusives... which also likely explains why they were canceled. (Wal*Mart had taken a good half-dozen exclusives and released them more-or-less simultaneously, leading to a huge glut. A lot of otherTransformersexclusives were canceled during theUniverseera.) One of the sets was "LeatherhideVs. Blackarachnia "... and thus, the mystery spider was confirmed, as the other test-shots in that group lined up with the name listings given in the sets.

• Gallery of Halloween Horrorcon test-shots

Beast Warsmold:Tarantulas
Hasbro: Beast WarsTarantulas Blackarachnia Universe(2003)Blackarachnia (Horrorcon, canceled) Beast Wars 10th AnniversaryPredacon Tarantulus Takara: Beast WarsD-4Tarans D-4 Tarans (redeco) D-8Blackwidow Beast Wars Telemocha SeriesTM-06Blackwidow

Proceed on your way to oblivion. This item has been canceled, with no current plans for release.

Beast Wars Returns

• Blackwidow(Deluxe,2004)

• ID number:BR-04
• Release date:November 18,2004

Part of the JapaneseToys "R" Us-exclusiveBeast Wars Returnsseries, this toy is a redeco of the originalBeast MachinesDeluxe Class Blackarachnia in a more show-like maroon coloration. Reportedly, this toy was limited to 3000 pieces, a full thousandlessthan the others in the original assortment. Since she was also the most changed from the US release in the initial batch of toys, this made her considerably harder to get.

Beast Wars Telemocha Series

• Blackwidow(Deluxe,2007)

• ID number:TM-06
• Release date:March 22,2007
• Accessories:Launcher, 4 leg-missiles

Part of the heavily-loaded first wave of theBeast Wars Telemochaline, theoriginal Deluxe Class Blackarachnia toywasextensivelyredecoed with a ridiculous number of goldpaint operations,making her closer toshow-accuratein coloration than the other versions of the mold, but still not quite there. (Her shoulders are silver in the show, among other things.) All of thegimmicksof the original toy were retained, though her alternate head didn't receive any paint that wasn't intended to make her nominal head look more show-accurate.

She came with a DVD containing "The Deadly Virus", the Japanese dubbing ofBeast Warsepisode 10, "Gorilla Warfare".

• More information on Telemocha Blackarachnia at TFU.info

Beast Warsmold:Tarantulas
Hasbro: Beast WarsTarantulas Blackarachnia Universe(2003)Blackarachnia (Horrorcon, canceled) Beast Wars 10th AnniversaryPredacon Tarantulus Takara: Beast WarsD-4Tarans D-4 Tarans (redeco) D-8Blackwidow Beast Wars Telemocha SeriesTM-06Blackwidow

Animated

• Blackarachnia(Deluxe Class,2008)

• Takara ID number:TA-09
• Accessories:Grapnel-hook

Part of the second wave of Hasbro'sAnimatedDeluxes, Blackarachnia transforms into a mechanical spider with some organic aesthetic. Many of her pointier parts aremolded in softer plasticto keep unfortunate children from putting their eyes out. She comes with agrapnelhook accessorywith a jointed claw at the end of it; pulling out the string then pressing a button o the base's top quickly pulls the string back in. It may be mounted under her abdomen in spider mode or on her back in robot mode, via two different sets of pegs. There is also a peg hole in each wrist, forweb-slingingaction.

The spider's head is mis-transformed in the package, making the first step of her instructions initially confusing. Furthermore, the pedipalps will easily come off if manipulated too much, and her transformation requires that they be turned around completely. Because of this, they will often fall off over, and over, andover....

Blackarachnia was released in the first wave of Takara'sAnimatedline in 2010. Oddly, despite the sheer amount of metallic paint applied to virtually every other toy in the first few waves, Takara Blackarachnia is nearly identical to the Hasbro version, down to the gold Decepticon symbol on her collar.

This toy was laterretooledand given aBeast Warscartoon-accurate deco for theLegendstoy.

• More information on Blackarachnia at TFU.info

Binaltech

• Blackwidow(2005)

• ID number:BT-16
• Accessories:Engine-rifle, roof-shield
• Known designers:Masakatsu Saito(concept artist)

In 2005, the sculpt used forAlternatorsDeceptichargewas presented as an upcoming release for the JapaneseBinaltechline. Takara decided to give the toy an entirely new deco, as the Hasbro toy's deco didn't appeal to their ideal of "real-life accuracy". In robot mode, the toy was given a color scheme based on Transmetal 2 Blackarachnia, with the toy's name being changed to "Blackwidow", Takara's name for the character. Though abioand story chapter were written to accommodate it into theBinaltechfiction, and photoshopped images released through an online retailer revealed the intended color scheme, Takara ultimately decided to cancel the toy altogether, as they were fearing that another redeco (in addition to the then upcomingBinaltech Asterisktoys) would be too repetitive. Plans to release this toy as part of a different line were never picked up again. A prototype of Blackwidow was later featured in an exhibit at Transformers Expo in 2014.^[1][2][3]

This sculpt was ultimately released in Japan as part of an unexpectedBinaltechcontinuation, this time asArcee.The original version of the mold was used to makeAlternatorsWindchargerandBinaltechOverdrive.It was also planned to become a new toy of theParadron Medic,but that also got canceled.

Alternatorsmold:Windcharger
Hasbro: Alternators10Windcharger 14Decepticharge Takara: BinaltechBT-12Overdrive BT-21Arcee Blackwidow (canceled) Paradron Medic (canceled)

Proceed on your way to oblivion. This item has been canceled, with no current plans for release.

Kre-O

• Decepticon Blackarachnia(Kreon Micro-Changer,2014)

• Collection:Age of ExtinctionCollection 2
• Accessories:Logo brick

Part of the sixth assortment ofblind-baggedKre-OMicro-Changers,Blackarachnia is aKreonmini-figure that can be rebuilt into a (four-legged) black widow spider. She sportsIronhide's helmet.

Unlike prior Micro-Changer assortments, this series does not have any sort identification code for the bags' actual contents, meaning you'd best be good at the feel-though-the-bag method.

This assortment was originally slated to be aToys "R" Usexclusive,but US stores dropped the line before its release. It was still available in Canada, Australia, and Hasbro Asia's markets. In 2015, the Collection appeared in US Dollar Tree stores, with a price tag of a whopping $1 a pop. They didn't last long.

Legends

• Blackwidow(Blackarachnia) (Deluxe,2015)

• ID number:LG17
• Release date:October 24,2015

Part of the eighth wave ofLegendsproduct, Blackwidow is a retool ofAnimatedDeluxe ClassBlackarachnia.The tooling changes include a new head, a new chest/spider eye cluster, and new, larger pedipalps that form her breastplate in robot mode...albeit made of translucent plastic. (Her pedipalps resemble the kind found onmalespiders, incidentally.) Her official robot mode transformation leaves her robot arms half-transformed, with the spider leg tips unrotated, to more closely resemble the original Blackarachnia's claw-arms.

Because her pedipalps are no longer filling in her stomach area, she now has a tiny,tinywaist. Considerably more annoying is that her torso is misassembled such that pushing up her chest/spider eye cluster into the correct position for robot mode (and thus avoiding her having a gaping hole in her chest) is considerably more difficult than it should be.

• More information onLegendsBlackwidow at TFU.info

Masterpiece

• Blackwidow (Beast Wars)(2019)

• ID number:MP-46
• Release date:November 23,2019
• Accessories:Smiling face, screaming face, visor, visor cable, "Poison Anchor", Anchor missile, Anchor missile with cord, base, arm, spider web, robot mode spider web adapter, spider mode spider web adapter

First shown in grayscale prototype form at WinterWonder Festival2019, thisMasterpieceBlackwidow is an animation-accurate mold depicting her original, pre-Transmetal beast form. She transforms into a show-accurate black widow spider and features multiple accessories, including her trademark anchor missile launcher (which converts into a panel for the rear of her spider mode), a missile for the projectile and an alternate version with a cord, 2 faces for robot mode, a visor and cable, a giant energon spider web and adapters to attach her in both modes. Blackwidow's engineering means that she lacks any major traces of unwanted kibble, and for the pleasure of display owners is incredibly posable. She is also one of the smallerMasterpiecefigures, and is smaller than her fellowBeast Warscastmates.

Care should be taken especially when handling the spider legs of the figure as the tips are known to chip off.

Per the brand unification of TakaraTomy and Hasbro, Blackwidow was directly released with no changes byHasbro Pulsein the United States and Canada.

War for Cybertron: Kingdom

• Blackarachnia(Deluxe Class,2020)

• Hasbro ID number:WFC-K5
• TakaraTomy ID number:KD-05
• TakaraTomy release date:April 24,2021
• Accessories:"Poison Anchor"
• Known designers:John WardenandMark Maher(Hasbro),Ken Christiansen(concept artist)

Part of the first wave ofWar for Cybertron: KingdomDeluxe Class toys, Blackarachnia transforms from a robot (mostly) accurate to her original appearance in theBeast Warscartoon into a more realistic approximation of a black widow spider compared to previous toys. Her robot mode has some notable color differences: mainly, her spider legs are black instead of bronze, likely for realistic accuracy. Her transformation scheme shares many elements with herMasterpiecetoy, albeit simplified. Due to that, her robot mode shoulders blatantly hang beneath the spider mode's head. The spider mode featuresball jointedarticulation in each of its eight legs.

Blackarachnia is equipped with her signature "Poison Anchor" missile cannon. The cannon can be stored under the spider mode, acting as a place to apply pressure to secure the robot arms when moving the spider legs. She is one of the fewWar for Cybertron TrilogyDeluxe Class-and-up molds without a waist swivel. Whether by coincidence or design, Blackarachnia's spider legs can accommodate blast effects on their ends, recreating the spider leg guns she had in the originalBeast Warsshow.

A common but minor point of breakage lies in a small tab that connects Blackarachnia's chest to her torso. On many copies, the tab sits very securely into its port right out of the box. The tab's length is not entirely suitable for the motion required of the piece for the transformation. Thus, the tab will very likely snap off no matter how carefully one approaches it. A later running change for the toy shortens the tab, fi xing the issue.

Much like most of the toyline, Blackararchnia comes with one of four possible holographicGolden Diskcards for her wave, which reveals apossible destinyof a key character, Blackarachnia being one of them. Despite being a wave 1 release, she was a commonly-found pegwarmer throughout the entireKingdomtoyline's time on store shelves.

Buzzworthy Bumblebee

• Worlds Collide(4-pack, 2021)

• Series:War for Cybertron Trilogy
• Accessories:"Poison Anchor"

Released as part of theBuzzworthy Bumblebee"Worlds Collide" 4-pack, Blackarachnia is a redeco and head-retool of the aboveKingdomBlackarachnia, recolored to replicate heroriginal package artwith the "normal" robot face (as opposed to themutant head/Tarantulasface) and a leopard pattern on her chest. Due to them being attached by mushroom pegs, the upper arms/spider legs can be swapped for the ones on the Kingdom toy above to increase its accuracy to Blackarachnia's appearance in the originalBeast Warscartoon.

Included in the set alongside Blackarachnia isNemesis Primal,FangrywithBriskoandBumblebee.Outwardly branded as part of theWar for Cybertron Trilogyon the packaging, the instructions erroneously label the set as part ofStudio Series,under the 2007Transformersmovie, instead.

As with otherBuzzworthy Bumblebeetoys, this set was exclusive toTargetin the U.S.

Beast Wars Again

• Shūnen no Taiketsu(VS set,2023)

• ID number:BWVS-04
• Release date:November 25,2023
• Accessories:"Poison Anchor"
• Known designers:Hisashi Yuki(TakaraTomy),Hidetsugu Yoshioka(packaging artist)

The fourth release in TakaraTomy'sBeast Wars Againline, the "Tenacious Showdown" ( chấp niệm の đối quyết ) set containsTigatronand Blackwidow. Blackwidow is a redeco ofKingdomBlackarachniain even more cartoon-accurate colors, including proper bronze spider legs and metallic paint.

Merchandise

Beast Wars Transformers Mutating Card Game

• Beast Wars Transformers Mutating Card Game(1997)

Blackarachnia was one of the 24 beast warriors to receive a battle card representation for the Beast Warscard game.

Robot Heroes

• Cheetor & Blackarachnia(Two-pack, 2008)

• Known designers:Bill Rawley(Hasbro),Marcelo Matere(concept artist)

Part of the first wave ofUniverse-brandedRobot Heroes,Blackarachnia is a simple, yet well-detailed two-inch tall figurine with exaggerated, cartoony proportions. She was only available in a two-pack withCheetor.

• More information onRobot HeroesBlackarachnia at TFU.info

ReAction

• Blackarachnia(2023)
  • Accessories:Crossbow

Released in the seventh wave ofSuper7's line of multi-property 3.75-inch "retro" action figures,ReActionBlackarachnia is a non-converting figure based on her originalMainframecharacter model,with 5 points of articulation (swivel neck, shoulders, hips). She includes her traditionalcyber-venom-launching crossbow.

Blackarachnia comes packaged on a small cardback that mixes the design of the originalBeast Warspackaging with some nostalgic elements resemblingKenner'sStar Warsaction figures from the late 1970s to early '80s.

Flame Toys

• Blackarachnia(?)

Released as part of theFurai Modelline byFlame Toys.

This item is currently scheduled for release, but is not yet available at mass retail.

Notes

• Theartworkadvertising the Transmetal Blackarachnia toy on Happy Meal Bags was rendered with the toy transformed incorrectly. Her beast mode head isn't flipped down, leaving her organic-looking robot mode chest exposed.
• Blackarachnia's unreleasedUniverseHorrorcon toy(as well asWaspinator) made a cameo appearance in theBeast Wars: Uprisingstory "Not All Megatrons"as amechanimalin theswamp hideoutof fellow HorrorconLeatherhide.

References