Pretenders (Transformers) line with a human-like head sculpt. Pretenders (Transformers) Pretenders is a subline within the Transformers toy line, introduced in 1988. The concept behind the toy was that the Transformers were capable of disguising their robotic forms through the use of synthetic organic outer shells. While the Autobots' outer shells all resemble human beings clad in armor, the Decepticons' shells are all in the form of monstrous animalistic creatures. The robot figure is contained entirely within the shell, invisible to the outsider observer. After the shell splits apart to release it, the shell can be recombined for a second figure. Although
Countdown (Transformers) character. Although not seen directly, Countdown has been mentioned as one of the evil Autobots in the "Shattered Glass" storyline. Countdown (Transformers) Countdown is the name of the fictional character in the Transformers series. He was introduced as a toy in the United States in 1989, but his first appearance in fiction was in the Japanese "Transformers: Zone" series, in which he was called Moon Raider. He didn't appear in the U.S. Transformers fiction until his role as a main character in the Dreamwave Producations comics' "Micromaster" title. Since then, Hasbro released a new toy of the character in 2009.