For those of you unfamiliar with the Dino Bots were first introduced in the 1984 episode of the Transformers aptly named S.O.S DINO BOTS, and at the time currently had 3 members: Grimlock the leader would transform into a fire breathing Tyrannosaurus Rex, Sludge would transform into an Apatosaurus, and Slag would take the form of a Triceratops, however later in the series Snarl a Stegosaurus and Swoop a Pterandon were added.
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| From left to right, Sludge, Swoop, Grimlock, Slag, and Snarl |
It's a fairly straight forward concept, taking the Transformers we know and love, but with the added benefit of their vehicle form being replaced by Dinosaurs...Giant Fire Breathing Transforming Dinosaurs. Yup. Sounds pretty cool, and to make it even better, they're the good guys! Granted many comics have rewritten their origin story, some even placing them on the fabled Transformers home world Cybertron as "Dyno Bots" (bigger Autobots that transform into rather large vehicles). But the fact remains The Dino Bots have always captured the hearts and minds of Transformers fans.
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| The Dino Bots in their Dino Modes. |
I'm sure we can all picture it, a grand trailer much akin to that of Jurassic Park. A great fireball crashing to Earth over a suburban neighbourhood, a quick pan over the impact zone, then a shot of a guy in his car, parked conveniently next to a small puddle. Silence, and then the rumble. thump thump thump, the ripples growing more intense, thump THUMP THUMP, and then silence. The man is terrified by this point, yet in the back ground, we see a tail slip past, flashes of orange dot it. All looks calm. Then, out of no where, a look we've all no doubt pictured, for looking face to face with our car man, do we see it, a truly magnificent robotic Tyrannosaurus Rex snarling at the glass, CUTS TO BLACK. In the darkness a sudden roar.
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| Fan Made Concept Art for Grimlock (Pretty Kick Ass) |
Surely a trailer like that would have peeked an interest or two, I'm sure after that point a title would be redundant, as the very idea of the Dino Bots would lead to Transformers. But the sad fact is, that never came. There was no "thumping", no ripples, no ferocious roar. I admit, I held out hope for them after the unveiling of Devastator in Transformers 2 Revenge of the Fallen, thinking one titanic Transformer was good enough at the time. So for the next little while after I watched it, I scoured the Internet, in a frantic dash to find and shred of the Dino Bots. Nothing. And then...out of the dark, a glimmer of hope (or terror in this case), In a trailer for Transformers 3 The Dark of the Moon, I saw him. Shockwave, long time enemy of the Dinobots. And for a time my curiosity was sated, out of mere fanboy glee, or fear that they wouldn't make an appearance, I can't be sure.
My later reaction proved to frightfully true. For while perusing the web, I saw it. A statement from Micheal Bay saying basically, that he would not be featuring the Dino Bots in movies.
It was a sad day, for me (and many others). Now the movie itself was okay. But it lacked that wonder and amazement it had over us in the first movie, just more nameless humans, and Transformers with no introductions, and oh yes, more pointless shots of the lead actress (seriously Bay, I came to see giant robots duke it out!) And even the final battle was lack luster, I kept hoping to see Decepticons being run down and chewed up by a massive techo T-Rex. But no.
The fact is that, despite all the demands and moaning from fans, the Dino Bots never got their spot in the sun. And to some they'll always remain the dull plot devices that they may have been. All we can do now, is wait and hope Grimlock and his pals make it to the newest reboot of the series.
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