In order to fill out the Decepticon ranks of the first series of Generation 1 in 1984, Hasbro elected to include a number of Takara’s cassette designs in a variety of colors sold in two-packs. The only Mini-Cassette released without a direct redeco was Ravage, a black robotic jaguar, who was packaged with Rumble.

US Patent for G1 Ravage

Origins

Ravage, like many early Transformers toys, originated in the Takara Microman: Microchange line. He was originally released as MC02 MicroCassette Robo Black Jaguar. This toy was also available as the Blue Jaguar, who would later be homaged as e-HOBBY Howlback. These toys included a small, transparent tape case with a paper insert that was omitted for the Transformers release. Ravage was invented by Takashi Matsuda and the US Patent, titled Combined reconfigurable toy cassette and box therefor (aka Transformers G1 Ravage) was filed on December 2, 1983 (U.S. Patent No. USD283336 S).

Description

Ravage transforms into a black and silver Olympus Type IV “Metal” MC60 Microcassette, in a real-life scale. The front of the cassette is detailed to fairly realistically depict the printing on a Microcassette, including the edges of the two tape reels as seen through a window, with a playback time gauge included below. Due to the black-tinted die-cast cat legs forming the bottom edge of the cassette, the guide pin holes are not depicted like on the other Mini-Cassettes, but actual holes (complete with a molded-in “tooth” look) are present for the player’s drive spindles. The back of the Microcassette mode has molded-in robot details, but is otherwise relatively undecorated. Unfortunately, due the design of his legs at the bottom edge of the cassette, several extraneous holes are created in a compromise to create a more natural robotic jaguar shape. Ravage is the first of several robotic beast cassettes that are laid out asymmetrically, with the head and tail swinging from the top of the cassette to the sides, and the legs extending down from the bottom. Ravage has a surprising amount of articulation, due to the joints for his transformation being at natural articulation points: raising of the tail or neck, pivoting the hips and shoulders, knees, and the wrist or ankle of each paw. Early Ravages have a small Decepticon symbol sticker on the “back” of the cassette, positioned upside-down on the cat’s shoulder, which was eventually replaced by the rubsign. He includes two vacuum-metalized “chrome” rocket boosters that may be pegged into the cassette holes near his hips, adding some lateral dimension to his otherwise flat appearance, as well as gold-chromed eyes.
Date stamp location: None (1984), or sides of tail (1985-)
Rubsign location: None (1984), or left shoulder (back of tape) (1985-)

Collector Notes

Despite his small size and fine detail, large metal pins connecting his hips and shoulders, as well as riveted die-cast metal legs make Ravage remarkably sturdy. However, unlike his brehthren, almost all of his tape details are painted rather than stickered, so wear to the face of the cassette is more likely to affect Ravage’s appearance. Similarly, his gold eyes are vacuum-metalized rather than stickered like Laserbeak and Buzzsaw, making them more prone to wearing off completely. If the painted plastic center caps of his hip rivets become misaligned with the surrounding pattern, they can be realigned by rotating the leg so the paint ring matches the cap, then tightly pinching the whole joint and rotating into cassette mode.

Variants

Like most of his brethren, Ravage has production variations over the course of his release run. Somewhat surprisingly, there are only three. Since figures are not precisely packed with the matching production era of the other figure in the factory, notes on Rumble variants are best-guess deductions.
Type 1: Japan tampo on front as part of cassette deco, smooth sided tail, upside-down Decepticon sticker on left shoulder (with T1 Rumble)
Type 2: Japan tampo on front as part of cassette deco, smooth sided tail, rubsign on left shoulder (with T2 Rumble)
Type 3: Japan tampo on front as part of cassette deco, ©Takara '83 (on right side of tail) ©Hasbro '83, rubsign on left shoulder (with T3-4 Rumble)

Availability

Ravage was released in the US and UK in 1984, packed with Rumble. Like all 1984 Decepticons, Ravage was available again in 1985 with a rubsign replaces the foil-based Decepticon logo on his left shoulder. This version was also released in continental Europe on a unique single-pack blister card, as well as in Japan in a single-packed box, now named Jaguar. The Japanese release included the clear plastic tape case. Due to their popularity, Ravage and Rumble continued to be available in 1986 (although extremely short-packed at only 2 per case of 24 sets), an uncommon distinction for 1984 characters. Ravage was reissued in 2005 in Japan as part of the The Transformers Collection, packaged with reissue Soundblaster. This version replaced the tape reel sticker with a diagram of Fortress Maximus, which revealed his weak point when viewed through Soundblaster’s translucent red door. He was reissued with Soundwave again for the U.S. through Toys ’R’ Us as a Commemorative Edition / Classics seires in 2007, including a clear plastic tape case. He was reissued again in Japan in Transformers Encore in 2009 in The Great Cassette Operation with Rewind, Eject, and Buzzsaw. The U.S. reissue was available again in 2009’s Universe San Diego Comic Con / Hasbro Toy Shop exclusive Soundwave set.
Case Assortments (Item#/Asst#): 1984-1985: Mini Cassettes Assortment 1 (E5731/5730), 12 per 24; 1986: Mini Cassettes Assortment 2 (G5931/5733), 2 per 24
MSRP: $5.99
Packaging: Blister card with instructions and Tech Spec on back
Robot Points: 1 Decepticon
Paperwork included:“Look Inside for a Special Offer!” (1985), “Inside… A Transformer not Sold in Any Store!” (1986)

Redecos & Retools

Ravage’s mold was first used in Takara’s 1983 Microchange MC02 MicroCassette Robo Jaguar in two versions: Black Jaguar and Blue Jaguar. An homage Blue Jaguar deco was released in 2005 as Howlback. The mold was redecoed in 2006 for Takara’s e-HOBBY Stripes (though including Steeljaw’s guns), and again in 2006 for Kiss Players Glit. The mold was redecoed in 2013 to produce Linkin Park Ravage: Special Edition.

Character Bio

FUNCTION: SABOTEUR
“Today's Autobots are tomorrow's scrap metal.”
RAVAGE operates best alone. A creature of the night. Craftiest of all Decepticons. Adept at devising deadly new strategies. Remains aloof from others, but his deeds command their respect. Can virtually escape detection—emits an electromagnetic emission shield, has a soundless walk, disappears in subduead light or shadow. Carries 2 powerful heat-seeking missiles. Light-sensitive. Can be blinded.

STRENGTH INTELLIGENCE SPEED ENDURANCE RANK COURAGE FIREPOWER SKILL
5 6 5 6 7 4 7 10