Dirge (G1)/toys

Dirge's figures aren't so much "toys" as they are miniature memorial statues.

As a Conehead Seeker, Dirge less often receives a toy whenever Starscream does.

Toys

The Transformers

Closet Conehead

• Dirge (Decepticon Plane, 1985/1986)
  • Takara ID number: 97
  • Accessories: Left & right fists, front landing gear, 2 concussion missiles

• Known designers: Kōjin Ōno (TakaraTomy, original mold), Takayoshi Doi (TakaraTomy, new accessories)

A retool of the Starscream mold, Dirge transforms into a modified F-15 fighter jet with a delta wing and front canard. The spring-loaded missile launchers were replaced with simplified non-firing... rifle barrels?

In robot mode his official instructions have the user pulling down his nose cone to complete his head transformation, like Starscream. However, Dirge's character model depicts him as having his head untransformed, leaving a distinctive "conehead" shape to his appearance. This trait is shared by Thrust and Ramjet, leading many owners to do the same thing to differentiate the three later Decepticon jets from the three earlier ones. Dirge's robot mode stickers are the same design as Thundercracker's, but in different colors.

In Japan, Dirge was only available as a mail-away in 1986 (for 1980 yen and 4 Robot Points).

The Joustra version of Dirge, released in parts of mainland Europe in 1986, has a number of small changes from the Hasbro/Takara version, most notably a hard-plastic nosecone (ouch!) and unchromed black landing gear wheels.

This sculpt was also used to make Ramjet, Skywarp, Sunstorm, Thrust, and Thundercracker.

• Patent info, price guide, and further reading on Dirge at Transformerland.com
• More information on Dirge at TFU.info

Beast Wars

I'm the closest this mold got to looking like Thundercracker, but instead I'm two different Dirges.

• Dirge (1998)
  • ID number: D-14
  • Accessories: "Dirge Gun" rifle & barrel

A redeco of the Machine Wars Basic Class Skywarp/Thundercracker mold, Dirge transforms from a Dassault Rafale fighter jet to robot mode with a single-step, spring-loaded transformation. The two halves of his "Dirge Gun" rifle store in his lower legs in jet mode.

• More information on Dirge at TFU.info

Collector's Edition

• Dirge (Collector's Edition, July 2001)
  • ID number: 97
  • Accessories: Left & right fists, front landing gear, 2 concussion missiles

As part of the Collector's Edition series of Japanese reissues in 2001, a limited run (an estimated 800 pieces made) of Dirge was available exclusive to the 20th Century Toy Museum event. Dirge came in standardized packaging also used by the other Collector's Edition Jetron reissues. Unlike the other 2001 reissues, which were all sold as sets of two individually packaged figures, "Set E" consisted of Dirge all by himself.

Commemorative Series

WYLD STALLYNS! deedleedleedleedleet

• Dirge (Commemorative Series VI, 2004)
  • Accessories: Left & right fists, front landing gear, 2 concussion missiles

In 2004, a reissue of Dirge was released as part of the Toys"R"Us exclusive Commemorative Series. Unlike the reissues of the other Decepticon Planes, Dirge didn't require any notable modifcations to his missiles for safety reasons.

The package art depicts him having a Seeker head instead of his trademark Cone head.

Timelines

Conehead uncloseted.

• Games of Deception (Multi-pack, 2007)
  • Accessories: Left & right missile launchers, 2 missiles

Timelines Dirge is part of the Classics-themed BotCon 2007 box set, along with Bug Bite, Dreadwind, Thrust, and Thundercracker. He is a redeco of the Classics Deluxe Class Ramjet toy, transforming into a made up fighter based upon the F-15. Dirge's wings were not retooled from Classics Ramjet's, as the budget would not cover that as well as the more distinctive wings needed for Thrust. He also comes with two spring-loaded missile launchers that can mount on his biceps, under his wings, or be used as hand-held weapons. Like his set-mate Thrust, Dirge comes with Classics Ramjet's bulkier missiles. As with most Classics toys, he features a heat-sensitive rubsign.

There were 1500 Timelines Dirge figures produced.

This tooling also served as the model for the non-toy Shattered Glass incarnation of Dirge.

• More information on Timelines Dirge at TFU.info

Universe (2008)

Wait... if Dirge dies in the past, doesn't that create a time paradox?

• Autobot Ambush (Voyager Deluxe Comic 2-Pack, 2008)
  • Series: G1 Series
  • Accessories: Launcher, missile, Decepticon Planet X-style Cyber Key

• Known designers: Joe Kyde (deco artist)

A Target-exclusive redeco of Galaxy Force Starscream, Dirge transforms into a Cybertronic starfighter. In both modes, plugging a Cyber Key into his back end flips out a spring-loaded "energon blade" from each arm. His spring-loaded missile launcher can be used as either a hand-held weapon, or mounted under his jet mode nosecone. His dark purple Planet X Cyber Key is painted with a silver movie-styled Decepticon symbol, making it very similar to that included with Mudflap; however, the packaging shows the key as having the traditional Decepticon insignia, like those of Jetstorm and Divebomb, and there are photos floating around online of Dirge toys paired with a standard-insignia key, implying either the owners of those samples got them mixed up, or there was some kind of variant.

Some samples of Dirge suffer from a partially compromised key-activated gimmick, with the blade on the right arm not wanting to spring out even when the key is inserted. It can be fairly easily pried out with the included missile (or some other long object).

Dirge is packed with Roadbuster (a redeco of Cybertron Cybertron Defense Hot Shot) and a comic book. In its first release in Canada, the set did not include a comic (in spite of the INCLUDES COMIC! marking on the package), and in the US, the set included the wrong comic. Instead of The Dark Ages issue "Escalation", which was meant for the "Standoff Beneath the Streets" Voyager-Deluxe two-pack of Springer and Ratbat, the right comic was to be a reprint of "Target: 2006" parts 5 and 6, which was similarly and erroneously included with the "Standoff Beneath the Streets" two-pack.

This mold was also used for the BotCon 2008-exclusive Shattered Glass Starscream.

• More information on Universe Dirge at TFU.info

Gentei! Gentei!

AHA! Undeniable proof that Takara does things better than Hasbro! (Sometimes.)

• Dirge (Deluxe, 2009)
  • Accessories: Left & right missile launchers, 2 Sonic missiles

Gentei! Gentei! Dirge is a Toy Hobby Market exclusive retool of Classics Ramjet. Unlike his BotCon 2007 Timelines version, he has newly tooled wings based upon the wings from his original toy, uses the smaller gun missiles from Starscream, and, unusually for Henkei! Henkei!, features an all-new, colorful Hasbro Classics-style deco for his new wings. Like all Henkei! Henkei! toys, he features vacuum metallized parts, specifically the barrels of his missile launchers, his engine nozzles and his cockpit interior.

Dirge was available for pre-order from November 13th through December 10th 2008, and shipped in late March of 2009.

Generations

Death by mold degradation.

• Dirge (Deluxe Class, 2010)
  • Accessories: Left & right missile launchers, 2 missiles

Generations Dirge is a redeco of Gentei! Gentei! Dirge.

Like Ghost Starscream and Generations Thrust, Dirge uses the older version of the Classics Seeker mold used from Classics Skywarp to Acid Storm, rather than the newer version used for the majority of the Henkei figures and Universe Starscream, right down to the 2006 copyright rather than 2008 featured on Gentei Dirge. Unlike the Gentei version, this figure only features wing deco on the top side; to compensate for the Decepticon faction symbols appearing only on the back in robot mode, a tiny symbol has been tampographed on the upper chest. The wing stripes are based on the G1 figure.

Initial batches of Dirge lacked the white center of the head crest in all three tampographed Decepticon faction symbols. This was fixed by a running change.^[1] Dirge unfortunately features many reported problems, seemingly caused by the extensive reuse of the original Starscream mold. Such issues include feet that are unable to stay in place in robot mode, extremely loose hip joints and weak butterfly hinges on his shoulders.

• More information on Generations Dirge at TFU.info

United

• Seekers: Elites (Three-pack, December 28, 2012)
  • Accessories: Left & right launchers, 2 missiles

United Dirge is a redeco of the Gentei! Gentei!/Generations Dirge retooling of the Classics Ramjet mold. This release marks the first time he is offered with Ramjet as well as Thrust.

This version of Dirge is more closely based on his cartoon appearance. Like his Gentei!/Generations releases, he comes with the thinner Starscream missiles. His missile launchers are solid dark grey. His wings are undecorated, save for tampographs of his Decepticon faction symbols on both sides of each wing. Dirge features metallic blue paint applications on much of his blue plastic.

Kre-O

Seeing as how often Dirges die, the flak jacket is probably a good idea.

• Dirge (Kreon Micro-Changer, 2012)
  • Bag number: ***** 49
  • Accessories: Stand brick, 2 clip-on blasters

• Known designers: Ed Masiello (Hasbro)

Part of the first normal wave of Micro-Changer Kreons, Dirge is a blindpacked-bagged mini-figure, though a stamped ID number can be found on the back of the bag, top-right corner. He comes with extra parts to convert him into a jet. He features new wings which clip into his arms and a new jet nosecone helmet, but reuses Starscream's arm-mounted missile pieces.

• More information on Dirge at TFU.info

• Kreon Class of '85 (Kreon figure set, 2015)
  • Set number B5152
  • Voted: Most Likely to Be Found Wandering the Woods Wearing a Hockey Mask
  • Accessories: 2 clip-on blasters

Kreon Class of '85 Dirge's tampographs are much more accurate to the original 1985 toy. He has the wrong wing color, tho. Like all the figures in the set, he uses the almost-wholly-retooled 2015 style Kreon body.

He was only available as part of the San Diego Comic-Con-exclusive "Kreon Class of '85" 30-Kreon set. This set was also sold online through Hasbro Toy Shop after the show.

• More information on Class of '85 Dirge at TFU.info

• Dirge (Kreon Micro-Changer, 2016)
  • Collection: 1
  • Accessories: Logo plate, 2 clip-on blasters

In 2016, the Collection 1 Micro-Changers were re-released in a whole new production run for Dollar General stores in the US as part of a large collection of re-released Kre-O sets, later seeing release in other budget outlets and drug stores. But where most of these releases are nigh-identical to the originals, the re-released Micro-Changer blind-bags use the almost-entirely-retooled 2015 Kreon, with slightly-differently-hued plastics than the originals. (It is possible for some of the add-on pieces to be in the older hues.) Dirge's torso tampograph has also been reworked to be slightly more detailed, and the formerly-bare legs now have extra detail tampographing on them.

Sadly, this release has no individual-identification code on the bag, requiring you to use the feel-through-the-bag method or just buy blind and hope.

Platinum Edition

• Seeker Squadron (Platinum Edition, 2015)
  • Accessories: Left & right fists, front landing gear, 2 concussion missiles

A reissue of the original Dirge toy in a Platinum Edition 3-pack with Ramjet and Thrust.

In the United States, this set was officially a Target exclusive, though only ever found at a single Target store, otherwise only available via the company's website. However, it was also stocked by US-based online retailers BigBadToyStore and TFSource, who supposedly obtained it as an import from Asia. It was available in several of Hasbro's Asian markets (namely Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines; it's currently unknown whether it was exclusive to any particular stores there or not). In Australia, it was sold at Myer stores, whereas in Canada, it was available via the Canadian Walmart website (but never found in stores).

In the United Kingdom, it was sold at Toys"R"Us stores and A1 Toys, whereas in Spain, was officially available via the Spanish division of Amazon. In Germany, it was originally available via Bankroft, an online retailer that otherwise specializes in Nerf blasters and accessories, as part of a special "Fan Edition" arrangement through Hasbro Germany, with the help of several German fan sites. Due to low sales, the unsold stock was later sold to Actionfiguren24, a German online retailer that specializes in imported toys, who was able to lower its price for its existing stock of imported Seeker Squadron sets as a result.

Alt-Modes

Died (Canned) During Production.

• Dirge (Alt-Modes, 2017)
  • Series: 2
  • Collection: 2

A retool of Alt-Modes Starscream with a new head and legs, Dirge was to be a super deformed toy whose body transforms into a jet when the Decepticon faction symbol on his head is flipped. He would have been blind-boxed and available in the second series of the toyline, but the line was canceled before he could be released. The toy itself was never shown off even as a prototype, but a 3D render of it was used in solicitations.

The original version of this mold was also used to make Alt-Modes Thundercracker, Skywarp, Acid Storm and Sunstorm.

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

Masterpiece

Very soon, I will die from Ramjet's flawed shoulders or Thrust's loose waist.

• Dirge (June 28, 2017)
  • ID number: MP-11ND
  • Accessories: 2 null rays, 2 sonic missiles, clear hologram pilot figurine

Masterpiece Dirge is a redeco/retool of Ramjet, with new delta wing and front canard parts.

Dirge also includes two new "sonic missiles" which are hollow and slip over the mold's ever-present null rays, to recreate the character's signature weapons. When not in use in robot mode, they can be pegged onto his back, using holes on the underside of the front canards. Unlike the other Masterpiece Coneheads, Dirge does not suffer from any specific quality control issues, but does suffer from general joint looseness to a lesser degree.

Like the rest of the Coneheads, Dirge was able to be pre-ordered at TakaraTomy Mall from December 12, 2016 to January 19, 2017; Dirge was originally scheduled to ship May 27 but was delayed to June 28.

War for Cybertron: Earthrise

At least he doesn't die from being a Walmart exclusive...

• Ramjet & Dirge (multipack, 2020)
  • Hasbro ID number: WFC-E27
  • TakaraTomy ID number: ER EX-19
  • TakaraTomy release date: February 20, 2021
  • Accessories: 2 "Null-Ray blasters"

Released with Ramjet in an Earthrise two-pack, Dirge is a heavy retooling of Starscream from the same line, transforming into a modified F-15 fighter jet with a delta wing and front canard like his original toy. As one of the Coneheads, Dirge features a new headsculpt based on the original conehead design, though it is a faux piece not formed from the actual nosecone. Dirge's face also features an open-mouthed expression.

The figure's design and transformation scheme is heavily based on the 2006 Classics Starscream mold (and its subsequent Generations retool of Dirge), while adding points of articulation the earlier figure did not have such as pivoting ankles, a more expressive ball-jointed head, and hinges that allow the wings to fold backward on his legs in robot mode. His head, chest, and wings are susceptible to paint chipping due to the transformation scheme.

While the null-rays can be wielded by his pair of hands, it's almost impossible for him to properly hold them due to the size of his forearms.

As with Ramjet, Dirge uses the same, unchanged Null-Ray blasters that came with Starscream. His stock photos show these attached to the jet mode beneath the canards, mounted on the same ports as the robot mode's shoulders; however there are ports on the wings to allow for storage more accurate to the original.

This pack was exclusive to Amazon in the United States and Canada, though it seems that demand for the characters outstripped supply — several customers later had their orders canceled by Amazon due to a lack of available stock. Acknowledging the difficulty in obtaining this set, Hasbro would later reissue Dirge on his own a few years later in Legacy: Evolution. His Map Piece, shared with Ramjet, shows the bottom of Gigantion.

Like all other uses of the mold, Dirge has a missing molded panel-line detail on the right wing hinge that is supposed to curve in towards the body of the jet. The reason for this missing detail is likely due to it missing from the metal mold itself.

War for Cybertron Trilogy

• Behold, Galvatron! Unicron Companion Pack (Leader Class, 2022)

War for Cybertron Trilogy Dirge is a non-transforming and immobile minifigure, barely 10mm tall, scaled to interact with the immense War for Cybertron Trilogy Unicron figure and its clear display base. This was one of a set of 14 minifigures in the "Unicron Companion Pack" that was included with the "reformatting" version of Galvatron. The set was exclusive to Hasbro Pulse.

Legacy

Death by popular demand.

• Dirge (Voyager Class, 2023)

• Accessories: 2 Null Rays

Legacy: Evolution Voyager Class Dirge is a repack of the Earthrise Voyager Dirge, re-released due to popular demand and the pronounced scarcity of his original release. Unlike most other Evolution toys, Dirge has no advertised Evo-Fusion gimmick, potentially because of his status as repack.

The only notable difference between this release and the original Earthrise figure is that the wings are molded in the base color, rather than using painted plastic.

Like all other uses of the mold, Dirge has a missing molded panel-line detail on the right wing hinge that is supposed to curve in towards the body of the jet. The reason for this missing detail is likely due to it missing from the metal mold itself.

Merchandise

Super Collection Figure

The reveal of chase-figure Dirge made a lot of team-completion-minded people... less than happy.

• Dirge (2002)
  • Act: 6
  • Accessories: Stand

A retooling of the Super Collection Figure Starscream mold, Dirge is a three-inch tall non-transforming figure. He was released as a rare "Secret Figure" in the sixth wave of the line, packaged one per every ten cases. It is unknown what figure -if any in specific- he replaced in the lucky cases.

This Act was seemingly in shorter supply than the others before and since, and is not terribly common on the secondary market.

This mold was further retooled into normal-release wave-mates Ramjet and Thrust. The original tooling was also used to make Thundercracker, Skywarp, and the Heroes of Cybertron special releases Sunstorm and Air Warrior.

Heroes of Cybertron

My head's not pointy enough! Someone fix this before I start busting YOUR nice, flat heads.

• Dirge (2003)

Heroes of Cybertron Dirge is redeco of Super Collection Figure Dirge, cast in translucent red plastic and painted over save his eyes and a spot on the back of his head to create a light-piping gimmick. His cone-helmet was also rounded off for safety reasons.

The Hasbro release of Dirge was much easier to find than his Japanese counterpart, as he was a normal release in wave four, and packed on a blister card rather than in a blindpacked box. He was also the only one of the "coneheads" to see release in the Heroes of Cybertron line.

Dirge came with the torso to the Fortress Maximus Build-A-Figure.

• More information on Heroes of Cybertron Dirge at TFU.info

MyClone

• Dirge (MyClone, 2003)

• Known designers: Kazutami Yasuhiko (TakaraTomy)

Dirge was a chase figure in the third wave of MyClone figures. He's a cute, Super deformed figure who can be disassembled to switch his components with other MyClones. Dirge shares many, but not all, of his component molds with MyClone Ramjet and Thrust.

Transformers - Mini Bust

Worst case of petrification he's ever had.

• Dirge (Diamond Select, 2008)

Dirge was released by Diamond Select Toys in 2008 and exclusive to online retailer Big Bad Toy Store. He was sculpted by Mark Wong of Art Asylum and limited to 250 pieces. The sculpt features Dirge's distinctive wings.

The Loyal Subjects

• Dirge (2014)

Collect them all! This character article is a stub and is missing information on their toys & merchandise. You can help Transformers Wiki by expanding it.

• Ghost Seekers (2014)

Collect them all! This character article is a stub and is missing information on their toys & merchandise. You can help Transformers Wiki by expanding it.

Transformers Trading Card Game

"Let Dirge die or draw 25."

• Dirge, Doombringer (2019)
  • Wave 2: Rise of the Combiners
  • Rarity: UT
  • Card Number: T22/T46
  • Stars: 8

Dirge, Doombringer is one of forty character cards released in Wave 2 of the Transformers Trading Card Game, Rise of the Combiners.

The artwork for the card is reused from the Transformers Legends mobile game and is based on the Transformers: Generations Dirge figure.

ReAction

• Dirge (2020)

Released in the third wave of Super7's line of multi-property 3.75-inch "retro" action figures, ReAction Dirge is a non-converting 3 3/4-inch action figure based on his appearance in the original cartoon, with 5 points of articulation (swivel neck, shoulders, hips) and holes in his feet for use with some variety of stand. Lacking any accessories, both of his fists are closed, a rarity at this point in the line.

As with all releases in the ReAction toyline, Dirge comes packaged on a small cardback that emulates the nostalgic packaging style of Kenner's Star Wars action figures from the late 1970s to early '80s.

Notes

• A 1980s Japanese catalog picture shows the then-new second year Seeker jet wings in different colors attached to unaltered first year Seeker bodies. In Dirge's case, the preliminary toy uses Skywarp's main body parts. This production stage received its own packaging art that was eventually revealed in the Legacy: The Art of Transformers Packaging book.
• Hasbro designed a "pretooled" alternate head on the Combiner Wars Deluxe Class Air Raid body tooling styled on the 1985 Coneheads, but ultimately, only TakaraTomy used this head to make Unite Warriors Curse Armada Thrust.^[2]

References