Slag (Transformers Generation 1)

I have no need for friends, even less for enemies.

Name: Slag
Allegiance: Autobots
Function: Flamethrower
Sub-group: Dinobot, Firestormer
Timeline: Generation 1

Toyline: Transformers Power of the Primes

Profile:

Nasty. Disruptive. Foul-tempered. These are just some of the words that can be used to describe Slag. Perpetually angry, Slag vents his frustrations violently. If there's a Decepticon around, Slag will take great pleasure in utterly destroying them, reducing them to a smoldering pool of liquid metal with his flame-breath. When there are no Decepticons available, Slag takes out his frustrations on whatever else is around - which includes stomping on parked cars, punching holes in mountains, and even beating up Autobots who annoy him. And everyone annoys Slag. Like most of the Dinobots, he doesn't like Optimus Prime and only grudgingly follows his orders. But Slag also doesn't like his fellow Dinobots, even going so far as to get into brawls with Grimlock on occasion. Concerned about Slag's anger issues, Ratchet once recommended that Slag undergo counselling with Rung - which resulted in Slag setting fire to Rung's office, nearly melting Rung, and then beating up Ratchet for suggesting counselling in the first place. Most Autobots steer well clear of Slag, with a few remarking that it's a small wonder he's not wearing a Decepticon badge.

Abilities:

In Triceratops mode, Slag is equipped with a flamethrower which can blast a 3,000 degree centigrade flame over a distance of 25 metres. Slag carries enough fuel to keep his flamethrower burning at maximum range and hear for around 90 minutes. Slag can also release a high-intensity burst of electricity through his horns, but he avoids using this as it tends to quickly deplete his energon reserves. In dinosaur mode, Slag boasts incredibly dense armour that makes him largely impervious to most standard munitions. He is enormously strong and can demolish a reinforced concrete building with his head without breaking his stride.

In robot mode, Slag is equipped with an energo-sword which can easily slice through Decepticon armour with its energised blade. He also carries a high-energy electron rifle; the particle bursts from Slag's rifle can tear through most Cybertronian armour and disrupt shield systems, although it carries a very limited number of charges. Slag sometimes equips himself with an incendiary rocket launcher which carries a thermite payload, which he takes great pleasure in using to melt Decepticon armour to the point it is painful for his unlucky victim to transform. This slows the victim down until Slag can get into range to bring his flamethrower breath or energo-sword to bear.

Weaknesses:

Slag is his own worst enemy. His constant anger is always clouding his better judgment, which results in him placing himself in dangerous situations. His nasty and mean-spirited nature means when Slag does, inevitably, find himself in these situations there aren't many Autobots who are willing to go out of their way to rescue Slag.

Triceratops mode:

Additional images of Slag:

More information on Slag at TFW2005

Author notes:

The foul-tempered Dinobot Slag is a character who has undergone a few name changes, because in the UK "slag" is an offensive term. I've not observed the name change because I grew up knowing this character as Slag, and it's a name that fits his personality, since slag is also a term for molten metal. Plus given Slag's personality, offensive really just fits him.

Slag's character is one that I remember. I always knew Slag as the angry Dinobot. I'm not entirely sure where I got that from since like Grimlock and Sludge, I mainly only had SOS Dinobots to go on in my childhood. As a kid, Slag was the third Dinobot for me - the cool looking triceratops with the angry eyes. It wasn't until I read the IDW comics, particularly the more recent one shots, that I started to see Slag as the powerful and angry second-in-command of the Dinobots. I actually liked the focus later IDW gave to Slag - it gave his personality a chance to properly shine.

A common criticism I have with the Power of the Primes versions of the Dinobots is their size. Ordinarily, I'm not too concerned about the scale of characters, but there are some characters whose personalities and designs say "this character needs to be a big guy". That's the Dinobots. Sludge, Snarl, Slag and Grimlock should all be big, beefy robots who stand on a par with Optimus Prime given they're meant to be absolute powerhouses. The Power of the Primes versions of the Dinobots mostly just feel too small for the powerhouse nature of the characters, and I feel that particularly with Slag and Sludge.

Issues with the scale aside, Power of the Primes Slag is pretty much a perfect rendition of the character. The plastic colours are perfect and the clear plastic over the gold elements is a great recreation of a unique feature on the original toy. The transformation is spot on to the feel of the original and gives us a great robot mode, albeit one that feels a little too slender - I feel Slag could use a bit more bulk in his robot mode. The poseability is decent and gives Slag some great posing options.

For a few of these photos I gave Slag a sword made by Renderform to complete his look. I feel Hasbro made the right call giving Slag a gun - he wasn't a Dinobot I ever associated with wielding a sword - but the addition of a sword does help to complete Slag's look.

Overall, a decent version of the character, a little small, but looks amazing either on his own or displayed with the other four Dinobots.