The Deluxe Class Cyclonus is a fantastic update to the G! character.

The original Cyclonus, released in the 1980s is a real ugly toy. I understand that we all look back on G1 with a sense of nostalgia, and the toy line was in fact really groundbreaking. but lets face facts, most were clunky, ugly things. Where at least most of the original G1 figures had an excuse (their forms were dictated by what they transformed into). Cybertronian forms such as Cyclonus had no such limitation, and it just seems like crap design to end up with what we did.

I know there, are different origin stories for Cyclonus. You know what? I don't care.

What I do care about is good toys, and this new version of Cyclonus is a good toy. Hell, I'd say its a great toy.

Cyclonus comes from the Classics 2.0 line of Transformers - modern toy design created specifically to evoke the spirit of classic characters. In this they succeeded.

Packaging this thing in Jet mode was a mistake, because it hides the awesomeness within.

The jet is a futuristic, angular mish-mash of shapes. It's not the most elegant design in the world, and parts of it don't fit together quite right. It is almost as if it was just too ambitious of a design for the scale they made it in.

But once you transform into robot mode - all is forgiven. Cyclonus is pretty awesome. He is fearsome and menacing. He looks like he could totally kick your ass. There are some neat transformation tricks, such as the way the leg panels separate and move down the legs.

This rockin' figure has some great articulation, especially in the legs. Ball joints at the hips, then good knees, and feet are articulated. It just looks evil.

The gun that is included is actually a robot named Nightstick. The original G1 Cyclonus was also sold as a Targetmaster in the US, so the inclusion of Nightstick is a tribute to that. He on his own is a nicely detailed robot, a far cry from the old G! Targetmaster.

If you want a more detailed review than this, there are plenty on the Transformer sites. He's been covered enough in depth. I just wanted to show him to you. Even if you are not a hard-core TF fan, he is worth picking up.

On his own, Hound is a good enough toy, but Ravage makes him a must buy.

One of the great things about the classics line is how the designers have managed to both pay tribute to the classic G1 designs and infuse a modern design aesthetic. Hound is a perfect example of this.

The G1 Hound was one of the very first Transformers to hit the states. I remember him being a little floppy in the legs, but he was generally cool. Having once owned the original Hound, I can safely say that this toy is a fantastic tribute to the classic Transformer.

But why does he come with Ravage?

I find myself now staring at the screen. What can I say about this particular Transformer that hasn't been said before? Not much. It's pretty standard fare. It's not hard to transform, but I'm not going to go over it step by step. It's a fun little toy. That's about it.

In vehicle mode, Hound is... a Jeep. But hound is no longer an old military jeep - this hound looks suspiciously like that old G.I. Joe Jeep, the Vamp. This wouldn't be the first time that Hasbro has made a Transformer in homage to a Joe toy.

The wheels roll, the gun (erm, sorry, Hologram Projector) can be mounted to the back of the seat. Ravage in tape mode can rest on the back of the vehicle by mounting on two flip up pegs.

Robot mode is pretty good, but kind of stocky. The head and arms are fully articulated, but the legs are kind of restricted due to design.

His gun can now be placed on the shoulder.

Or, he can hold it in his hands.

Hound is neat and all, but really, you bought this for Ravage. I did too. Why the two are packaged together I have no idea. Maybe they thought Hound would not sell enough on his own? Either way, we have a new ravage, and I am glad.

I am also glad that Ravage is still a micro cassette. They didn't try to make him a memory stick or some other lame thing. In fact, he is the same size as the old ravage in tape mode.

I wonder....

Well what do you know? This new Ravage fits inside of a classic Soundwave! That is awesome.

Ravage can even use the same weapons as the G1 toy!

The new ravage unfolds a bit like origami. Comparing the new and old Ravage shows you just how far we've come in terms of design and engineering. This new one is perfectly compact, yet makes an excellent action figure. What a great surprise.

On his own, Hound is a good enough toy, but Ravage makes him a must buy.

Bumblebee’s vehicle mode may not be a Volkswagen Beetle anymore, but he retains the same aura of small, and round… and yellow.

The distant planet of Cybertron was the home to a race of intelligent, feeling alien robots who could change shape at will- the Transformers. For reasons no longer remembered by anyone living, a war broke out between the two factions of robots- the Autobots and the Decepticons- which eventually drained Cybertron of all its power sources, including all-important Energon. In the quest to get more Energon to sustain their fight, the Autobots created the Ark and some of them left Cybertron. But the power-hungry Decepticons were waiting for them in their great flagship, the Nemesis, and boarded the Ark to stop them. A battle between the two ships eventually brought them both crashing down onto Earth. With their leaders and greatest warriors lost, the war on Cybertron continued on to a stalemate. For over four million years, the Ark rested hidden inside a volcano located in what would eventually become Oregon, its occupants unconscious and helpless in stasis lock. Then in 1984, the volcano harboring the Ark erupted, reawakening the on-board computer system Teletraan-1. The computer, realizing that the ship and its crew were in danger, awoke the Transformers aboard the Ark, and reformatted them to change into disguises matching those of modern day Earth vehicles so that the giant robots could move among the population in secret. The surviving Decepticons, having lost their great ship millions of years earlier, also gained new disguise forms and hid themselves on Earth until they could rebuild their forces and gather enough Energon to destroy the Autobots, subvert the intrusive and annoying humans, and renew the war on Cybertron in their quest for total galactic domination.

He is certainly the bug that buzzes annoyingly in the Decepticons’ audio processors, his quick and animated movements guaranteeing that he can’t be ignored in a battle. But on the other hand, Bumblebee is a great scout, and he can be equally stealthy when he needs to be, his buzzing about reduced to a low hum as he scans the region with high-quality sensors. This was why he was chosen to be among many of the other great Autobots when they left Cybertron aboard the Ark, which eventually trapped him in stasis lock until Teletraan-1 reawakened them all millions of years later. Ever anxious to prove himself to his leader Optimus Prime, he is quick to volunteer for any assignment, despite not being as powerful or even as tall as most other Autobots. Through his early days on Earth, Bumblebee soon became close friends with the son of an oil rig worker, Spike Witwicky, which often allowed the Autobots insight into and close-relationships with humans. Soon, this bonding between Spike and Bumblebee would lead them to become official ambassadors to each other’s planets. Years later, Bumblebee (repaired and upgraded into Goldbug by then) would also befriend Spike’s son, Daniel, with the pair of them continuing on in many adventures and battles.

...

This Transformers Classics figure is a completely new toy based off of the original Bumblebee (I call him “BB” for short) who appeared in the classic G1 cartoon series from 1984. In that series, he was a small yellow Volkswagen Beetle car (also known as the Bug) that changed into a robot standing 15ft tall. (Animation errors throughout the G1 series sometimes changed his height from anywhere from 5’ to 20’!) He was indeed a member of the Ark’s crew, playing a rather large role in the war on Earth, acting as liaison between the Autobots and humans, particularly Spike Witwicky, but also mixing it up quite a few times with the Decepticons. Unfortunately, for as famous and popular as BB has become in both the Transformers fandom and pop culture at-large, he is only seen in the G1/G2 cartoon and “The Transformers: The Movie” (1986)! Though the character is well-loved, his role is not entirely absent from the intervening years, being replaced with similar characters like Autobot Hot Shot (typically a muscle car) and Maximal Cheetor, who both filled the role of small-in-height, young, ambitious… and yellow. It would not be until the 2007 live-action film “Transformers” was released in theaters that the character of Bumblebee would return to the saga in both name and presence.

“Transformers” also marks a notable change to Bumblebee’s appearance, which is also reflected in this earlier Classics figure- the absence of the VW Bug as his alternate mode. As with almost all of the toys and characters from the G1 series, commonly-seen real vehicles were used for the alternate modes. Changes in toy design and trademark policies have altered significantly since the 1980s, and companies are much more wary of how their products are portrayed. This conflict actually made its first appearance when Hasbro and [Japanese toy maker] Takara approached Volkswagen for the rights to their New Beetle design for use in the Transformers: Alternators line to remake Bumblebee. However, Volkswagen refused them, saying- to my understanding- that they no longer wanted the VW Bug to be associated with the Transformers franchise because of their inherent violence. Thus, the 2007 film used a Chevrolet Camaro (both the 1977 and 2008 models) for BB’s alternate mode. (There are other reasons for the Camaro, but I’ll not get into that here.) But the people working on the Classics line, which debuted just before the film, wanted to keep as close to the VW Bug-look as possible without infringing on the trademarked and popular vehicle from the 60s. Thus, this toy’s alternate mode is not based on any particular modern car, but rather shares a combination of traits from many different makes and models. However, in all promotional materials, BB’s Classics alternate mode is not positively identified as any specific type of real car.

(After a little poking around, I think that it more closely resembles a compact version of the Nissan Skyline GT-R LM, but with rounded corners, and a shorter backside like the profile of a VW Bug.)

Bumblebee’s vehicle mode (back) may not be a Volkswagen Beetle anymore, but it retains the same aura of small, and round… and yellow. However, BB shares the notability of being modeled after real-life vehicles like just about half of the Classics line released thus-far, such as Starscream and Mirage, as opposed to made-up ones like Optimus Prime and Rodimus which are based loosely on real vehicles. And in modern day aesthetics, the car mode is curved and streamlined- notably thenose with integrated headlights & grille, the windshield and roof (which contain two silver-painted seats within!), and the backside which features a small silver spoiler, transparent-red taillights and black license place. He also rides very close to the ground on the four black ABS wheels with painted hubcaps. A new aesthetic includes a metallic white paint application in stripes along the front and top of the car as well as the backside which is completely white. If you look closely, you can see non-functional door handles and a fuel tank cover molded on, as well as simple tire tread patterns, and the grille pattern along the front bumper!

Classics Bumblebee also comes with an accessory, somehow appropriately called the Wave Crusher- a small white jet ski mounted to a small silver trailer, which can be hitched to him in vehicle mode!

As an additional tribute to the G1 series, each Classics figure has a heat sensitive decal placed on it. When the heat from your finger warms the black patch, the bots’ associated allegiance- Autobot or Decepticon- is revealed. The decal on Bumblebee is located right above the windshield on the roof. In robot mode, the decal is located right in the center of his chest.

...

Bumblebee’s robot mode (back) continues on in the spirit of small, and round… and yellow. But now black and a little blue are added to that. BB also holds an honor of being the second Transformer we ever saw in the G1 series debut (right after Wheeljack, who pulled him up from an access port on Cybertron). The biggest difference would be his size- this figure stands 4 5/8” (11.90cm), whereas the original G1 toy would barely come to his waist! The various parts of the robot mode end up in pretty much the same locations on vehicle mode between them, but the Classics ver. goes about it in a radically different way. There are quite a few other similarities between them:

• His head is mostly yellow, with a silver face. Two small antennae-like horns stick out the side of his head.
• His arms come from inside/beneath the doors.
• The engine/nose section of the vehicle ends up as his feet, with his black legs coming from beneath the passenger compartment.
• The roof of the vehicle mode becomes his chest/upper torso; though the Classics version separates the roof into two halves which end up on both his chest and back. However, the windshield on both remains as part of his front lower torso.
• Sharing also with the G1 cartoon character, his lower legs grow gently as they go from his hips to his feet.

At this point, the comparisons become more about aesthetic, and also show the difference in toy design & manufacturing over 20 years (which I do not have enough confidence to describe in detail here). Needless to say, this is an excellent and flawless transition & homage to the G1 character. I am sure that any long-time TF fan will be able to look at the Classics design, and immediate recognize him as the Autobot Bumblebee.

Aside from dedicated non-transformable figures, busts, and statuettes, this was the most detailed and complex Bumblebee figure made up to the point of the Classics’ release in late 2006. Unlike most of the Classics figures- which have slender and/or strong bodies- BB’s is not quite so, spotting a rather round front torso and big feet. His head retains the overall yellow coloring and tiny twin spikes coming from it. Unless I am too mistaken in my research for this review, Classics Bumblebee is really the first transformable figure in the franchises’ entire 22-year run to spot a smile; as opposed to a neutral expression, grimace, frown, a battle expression such as gritted ‘teeth’, or even a typical face shield to hide the lower face altogether. His arms have black shoulders & fists, but light gray forearms, and almost-square yellow shields which are made from the passenger doors. His legs are covered by the folded-forward passenger seats and the hood from the nose of the car, while they are exposed in back. (By the way, does anyone else thing that BB here is wearing the robot equivalent of overalls, or a kitchen apron…?)

Compared to other figures in the Classics line, BB’s range of motion is average. However, compared against all of his [few] predecessors, his poseability is revolutionary! His head, shoulders, elbows, and hips are all ball-and-socket joints, with only his knees and ankles having standard free-turn joints. His head was sculpted just-so so that he can actually look up! This is mostly due to how he transforms and how his head ends up in the back region of the trunk, but still-! (At least now when he’s flying in robot mode like he did in G1/G2, he can look forward to see where he’s going!) There are actually two limiting factors when posing him. First, the windshield hangs down just enough that his legs cannot bed forward beyond 45-degrees. And second, his ankles cannot pitch forward because the hood panels press up against his legs; they can still pitch backward 90-degrees, but not forwards.

Despite carrying a small light-gray blaster in G1, no BB toy has ever carried a weapon unless the character was represented by a repaint. While this may fit for the profile of a scout (who is typically not meant to engage an opponent unless detected), it certainly leaves BB here up a creek without a paddle when the shooting starts! And also, all of the Classics figures have some kind of integrated accessory. For BB, this is where the Wave Crusher trailer comes into play. It doesn’t form a weapon, and the jet ski itself can’t be separated from the trailer, but altogether it can form a winged jet pack which clips onto his back right behind his head! (Nice touch!)

The only complaint aside from the previously mentioned leg limits that I can find is how close things are when you transform him; if all of these joints are not aligned perfectly, it can cause a domino effect which can become a little irritating. But other than that, this is a very well designed and executed toy; a wonderfully re-imagined form of a beloved character who didn’t get much respect as a toy until now. Like his namesake, he is also small, but fast-looking, and also feels like because of those things he is a young Autobot willing to go out on a limb for the ones he cares about. The colors are also well integrated, with nice subtle additions of white and a tiny bit of blue to liven things up a bit. Full recommendations for Bumblebee!

Skywarp is not exactly the brightest Decepticon, but his rather unique ability of instantaneous teleportation to any location on the planet makes him a rather valuable asset; certainly allowing him to sneak up on anyone he wished to prank or attack, both Autobot and Decepticon.

The distant planet of Cybertron was the home to a race of intelligent, feeling alien robots who could change shape at will- the Transformers. For reasons no longer remembered by anyone living, a war broke out between the two factions of robots- the Autobots and the Decepticons- which eventually drained Cybertron of all its power sources, including all-important Energon. In the quest to get more Energon to sustain their fight, the Autobots created the Ark and some of them left Cybertron. But the power-hungry Decepticons were waiting for them in their great flagship, the Nemesis, and boarded the Ark to stop them. A battle between the two ships eventually brought them both crashing down onto Earth. With their leaders and greatest warriors lost, the war on Cybertron continued on to a stalemate. For over four million years, the Ark rested hidden inside a volcano located in what would eventually become Oregon, its occupants unconscious and helpless in stasis lock. Then in 1984, the volcano harboring the Ark erupted, reawakening the on-board computer system Teletraan-1. The computer, realizing that the ship and its crew were in danger, awoke the Transformers aboard the Ark, and reformatted them to change into disguises matching those of modern day Earth vehicles so that the giant robots could move among the population in secret. The surviving Decepticons, having lost their great ship millions of years earlier, also gained new disguise forms and hid themselves on Earth until they could rebuild their forces and gather enough Energon to destroy the Autobots, subvert the intrusive and annoying humans, and renew the war on Cybertron in their quest for total galactic domination.

This toy is one half of the Target-exclusive Battle for Autobot City set. Be sure to first read the set overview here!

...

Skywarp was among the Decepticons who boarded the Ark, and when it crashed, he too was caught buried alive in that volcano for millions of years. When the volcano finally became active, one of the Ark’s repair beams was nudged just enough to come into contact with Skywarp first and bring him out of stasis lock. It was he who then helped his fellow hibernating Decepticons become reactivated while Teletraan-1 selected alternate forms for them to hide among the planet’s native population. As the Decepticons left the Ark, Air Commander Starscream callously tried to destroy it by firing on the rocks above. However, this nudged the repair beams once more to reawaken Optimus Prime. Skywarp is not exactly the brightest Decepticon, but his rather unique ability of instantaneous teleportation to any location on the planet makes him a rather valuable asset; certainly allowing him to sneak up on anyone he wished to prank or attack, both Autobot and Decepticon. He is one of the [fan-dubbed] Seekers- air-superiority Decepticons whose alternate forms are based on Earth’s most versatile jet fighters: Starscream, Dirge, Ramjet, Skywarp, Sunstorm, Thrust, and Thundercracker. After the assault on Autobot City in 2005, Skywarp- like Megatron himself- was among the injured survivors who was unfortunate enough to be ejected into outer space from Astrotrain to lighten the star flight-capable Decepticon’s weight in order to make the retreat back to Cybertron…

Skywarp’s vehicle mode (back) is that of a McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle all-weather air-superiority jet fighter. In the midst of the Cold War, the United States’ foreign intelligence services were taken by surprise when they discovered that the Soviet Union was building the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25 jet interceptor (NATO designation: ‘Foxbat’). Disturbed at its larger flying surfaces and engines, the US began to design and build the F-15 as a counter to this. A defecting Soviet pilot in his own fighter not much later would reveal how poor a competitor the MiG-25 actually was in the air-superiority role for which the US had mistakenly thought it was made. But despite few-if-any encounters with its Russian counterparts by US-operated aircraft before the end of the Cold War, the F-15 was eventually able to prove its mettle in 1990-91 during the Persian Gulf War- its advanced sensors, maneuverability, and multiple heavy weapons hard-points (as well as a built-in 20mm M61 Gattling cannon for short-range attacks) proving near unstoppable against the second-hand Soviet Union jets and anti-aircraft weapons of Iraq’s military. The F-15 is quite popular with an exemplary service record thus far, and has also been purchased by Israel, Japan, and Saudi Arabia. By 2025 C.E., the United States military is planning to replace and retire the F-15 with the next-generation Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor air-superiority/multi-mission stealth fighter now in production.

(Whether this Classics toy may be based instead on the later ground-assault F-15E Strike Eagle variant is indeterminable. However, since the Strike Eagle did not exist in 1984 when the G1 series began, it’s safe to assume that this is the original F-15… though I’m sure Skywarp nowadays would be more of a multi-mission type of bot and that he would not notice or appreciate the distinction.)

Compared with his opponent-in-package Ultra Magnus, Skywarp is out of scale and smaller, but that may be intentional because the content and morality of the character is equally small… Many of the details of the F-15 transfer over quite easily: two-seat cockpit atop the elongated nose (there is a molded pilot’s seat inside the transparent-orange canopy, BTW), rectangular air intakes on either side of the nose with triangular cowlings, large and wide angular wings with hard-points beneath for the two missile launcher accessories, and slightly-separated detailed jet exhaust nozzles with the horizontal and vertical stabilizers in back. As with any Transformers™ aircraft, ya turn it upside-down and there are a whole bunch of the robot mode’s parts just hangin’ around. (Honestly, when does this not happen in an air/space vehicle from Transformers…?) As one slight compensation, the turbine blades from Skywarp’s chest flip down to become small unmovable landing gear wheels, though he just rests on bumps in back; the F-15 has only three wheels, with one of them under the nose. (Clever, even if inaccurate.) The missile launchers, which can be removed from the wings’ sole hard-points, each hold a single black ABS missile; there are no replacement or extra missiles provided, so don’t loose them! (Only Dinobot Grimlock, Autobot Rodimus, and Decepticons Starscream and Skywarp carry firing missiles.)

As an additional tribute to the G1 series, each Classics figure has a heat sensitive decal placed on it. When the heat from your finger warms the black patch, the bots’ associated allegiance- Autobot or Decepticon- is revealed. The decal on Skywarp is located on top of the left wing. In robot mode, the decal is located still on the left side, but it’s behind his left arm now.

...

Skywarp’s robot mode (back) is a bit on the small and scrawny side, and- again- not really in-scale with any of the other Classics figures [save for Starscream]. However, it is certainly a vast improvement over his G1 predecessor! The first thing you’ll notice as you change him is his superior poseability, but I’ll get to that later. He is still mostly dressed in black ABS with purple ABS thrown in for his missile launchers, lower arms, fists, jet nozzles, and feet. Fairly unique in the Classics line is the sharp nosecone which Hasbro wisely made of semi-flexible purple PVC. All silver and red details have been painted on, as have a few additional purple highlights. As a repaint of Classics Starscream, this version of Skywarp also shares many of the characteristics of his G1 counterpart:

• The vehicle mode’s air intakes- with red paneling- rests on either side of his head; though the G1 version used decals here
• The head hides within the nosecone; though the transformation between the G1 and Classics versions are different.
• Additional air intakes in the chest on either side of the transparent-orange cockpit
• Both have a silver-painted chest and lower torso
• The separate missile launchers can be removed from the wings and attached to his upper arms.
• The arms fold in to become part of the engine housing, with joints in the shoulders for robot mode
• The wings end up inverted on his back, with the dorsal surface facing forwards to display the Decepticon symbol
• The legs are made up from the back half of the engine housing, with the nozzles appearing at his heels for flight, and the tails being repositioned at his ankles; though the Classics version changes the tails around differently to make them more compact
• Purple paint details on the lower legs, though the G1 ver. also used some decals for this
• The purple feet are part of the engine housing in back, and fold down in identical fashion; they also share silver details, though the G1 ver. used decals.
• They stand the same approximate height of 5½” (13.58cm).

At this point, the comparisons become more about aesthetics, and also show the difference in toy design & manufacturing over 20 years (which I do not have enough confidence to describe in detail here). Needless to say, this is an excellent and flawless transition & homage to the G1 character. I am sure that any long-time TF fan will be able to look at the Classics design, and immediate recognize him as the Decepticon Skywarp.

This is perhaps one of the closest matches a transformable toy has ever come to matching its G1 counterpart, and still keep the spirit of that character alive. I mean, it is near spot-on! A couple of minor paint apps might be off, but that’s more of a style thing. The head is still black with a silver face and red eyes. Previously on the G1 toy, Skywarp’s jet nose would just fold back 90-degrees and point backwards like a stiff ponytail, though you’d never see it that way in the show. Well, the nose is still connected to his head, but now the nose itself is attached to the head via a lever assembly, and then points downwards a full 180-degrees; from the front, you can’t tell, but once you turn him around, that’s when it looks awkward. The chest is oh-so slightly redesigned to incorporate a horizontal silver bar across his collar, which partially obscures the canopy on his torso. The arms have the familiar blasters/missile launchers attached to the shoulders, which can be removed and then attached to his fists instead like guns. (Why would you design a weapon to be fixed onto the forearms? That makes it so much more difficult to aim them, and it’s rather awkward! I’ve never understood that…) The legs also look rather rectangular in a sharp-edged way, with curved edges along the back side of them, and his heels being formed by the jet nozzles. The tails and ailerons in particular have been redesigned to store up against the leg more snugly; in the G1 version, the tails remained in their regular positions, and then the side wings just tilted a little so that he could stand up properly. While this can be done with the Classics figure, he becomes rather unstable if you do. His main wings, also, have had their transformation joint redesigned so that instead of just pivoting in place they actually swing upwards and hang higher on his back that the G1 version’s did; balancing him to more closely resemble his cartoon counterpart.

Poseability is rather good for this Deluxe-class-sized figure. Because of how it was redesigned, Skywarp’s head can now twist side-to-side a little, though the nosecone will twist with it in the opposite directions. There are only two snap joints in the figure at the elbows and knees. And because of how he changes, his fists can bend inwards if you’d like them to. The only limiting factor aside from his head joint would be his hip joints. Though they operate on ball-and-socket joints, they are limited in their forward movement, and cannot bend out to 90-degrees (it’s more like 70-degrees forward). His knees also have an independent swivel joint, and so you can point his feet in different directions from his knees, which sometimes help when posing him.

When those launchers are attached to his shoulders (weird, man… just weird), you can’t point his arms forward very far because they bump into the wings behind them. So you can do one of two things: A) remove the launchers and fit them into his fists, or B) tilt the wings backwards to accommodate the launchers; which is a better compromise if you want to preserve the weapons’ look there. (If the launchers are removed, the arms alone will not bump into the wings in the same way.) And just to let you know, though not specifically mentioned in the instructions, you can still attach the launchers to the back/underside of the wings if you wish to get them out of the way but keep them nearby.

Go on to read about Ultra Magnus

Return to the Set Overview

Though not entirely as comfortable in leadership roles as his dear friend and brother-in-arms Optimus Prime is, he is nonetheless a competent and skilled fighter, working very well side-by-side with other Autobots in their unceasing fight against the Decepticons.

The distant planet of Cybertron was the home to a race of intelligent, feeling alien robots who could change shape at will- the Transformers. For reasons no longer remembered by anyone living, a war broke out between the two factions of robots- the Autobots and the Decepticons- which eventually drained Cybertron of all its power sources, including all-important Energon. In the quest to get more Energon to sustain their fight, the Autobots created the Ark and some of them left Cybertron. But the power-hungry Decepticons were waiting for them in their great flagship, the Nemesis, and boarded the Ark to stop them. A battle between the two ships eventually brought them both crashing down onto Earth. With their leaders and greatest warriors lost, the war on Cybertron continued on to a stalemate. For over four million years, the Ark rested hidden inside a volcano located in what would eventually become Oregon, its occupants unconscious and helpless in stasis lock. Then in 1984, the volcano harboring the Ark erupted, reawakening the on-board computer system Teletraan-1. The computer, realizing that the ship and its crew were in danger, awoke the Transformers aboard the Ark, and reformatted them to change into disguises matching those of modern day Earth vehicles so that the giant robots could move among the population in secret. The surviving Decepticons, having lost their great ship millions of years earlier, also gained new disguise forms and hid themselves on Earth until they could rebuild their forces and gather enough Energon to destroy the Autobots, subvert the intrusive and annoying humans, and renew the war on Cybertron in their quest for total galactic domination.

This toy is one half of the Target-exclusive Battle for Autobot City set. Be sure to first read the set overview here!

...

After the Transformers had been on Earth for many years, and finally managed to push the Decepticons off of the planet, one of the Autobots’ greatest warriors, Ultra Magnus, was chosen to be the commander of Autobot City- a new permanent settlement in the wilderness of Alaska for the Autobots to replace the destroyed Ark. Though not entirely comfortable in leadership roles as his dear friend and brother-in-arms Optimus Prime is, he is nonetheless a competent and skilled fighter, working very well side-by-side with other Autobots in their unceasing fight against the Decepticons. But he was truly put to the test in the future year of 2005 when the Decepticons made a hard drive into Autobot City- injuring and even killing many of the Autobots. Though Prime led the charge of reinforcements into the city, in a final stand against the maniacal Megatron and his followers, both leaders caused mortal wounds to the other. This suddenly elevated Ultra Magnus to the top as Autobot Commander as he received the Autobot Matrix of Leadership from Prime’s shut-down chassis. Later, though, a new leader chosen by fate rose through the ranks of Autobots to become the new Commander, much to Ultra Magnus’ silent relief, though he continued on as an adviser to the new Rodimus Prime while still helping in the field to keep peace on Earth.

Ultra Magnus’s vehicle mode (back) is that of a cab-over semi-trailer truck (also called a “flat-nose” semi-trailer truck) equipped with a wind vane and sleeper compartment. Cab-over trucks- called such because their control cabins are located directly over the engine- are designed to operate in tighter quarters than equally-common conventional cabs (aka “long-nose”), but can haul slightly larger kinds of trailers because of their dimensions and the regulations in many countries. In Europe and Japan where roads and corners in the city are shorter and sharper, the smaller cab-over is the more common choice to go with. Because of the style used for the design of this toy, this may be instead a more-modern “‘streamlined’ cab-over”, which reduces drag by guiding air around it the faster it goes as opposed to just plowing through it like a ‘regular’ cab-over or a conventional semi-. The disadvantages are more due to creature comforts: noise from the engine directly beneath the cab is louder, the ride is not cushioned as well as in a conventional semi-, and in order to access the engine, the entire top half of the truck must be tilted forward- which can easily spill loose items inside onto the windshield! For extended distances and trips, a sleeping cabin (or just “sleeper”) is added to the truck model during original construction, which features a mounted cot, wash basin & toilet (sometimes even a small shower), and storage space for food and an accompanying mini-kitchen (with all-electric appliances for safety).

While Ultra Magnus has no interior space in vehicle mode, save two molded seats and a steering wheel just inside the windshield, many other features are quite similar to today’s cab-over trucks seen on the highways: large intake grille on the front flanked by painted headlights and unpainted parking lights to either side and a wide silver bumper beneath, the obvious flattened nose of the side profile, streamlined wind vane on top of the cab to help direct air away from the [non-existent] semi-trailer, tall smokestacks behind the cab, fuel tanks between the front and back wheels covered by the streamlined exterior shell, and the back wheels (though typically cab-overs have ten wheels- two in front, eight in back- instead of the toy’s six). To make things interesting, Ultra Magnus (and thus, also Classics Optimus Prime) have a small tab stick up from between their back-most wheels, indicating a mounting point for a trailer even if one was never designed for them. Unlike a real cab-over, Ultra Magnus’s cab cannot pitch over to reveal the ‘engine’. Perhaps the only giveaway (besides flipping him over) as to his alternate form would be his feet sticking out the back where you’d ordinarily find brake and turning lights. Oh, well…

As an additional tribute to the G1 series, each Classics figure has a heat sensitive decal placed on it. When the heat from your finger warms the black patch, the bots’ associated allegiance- Autobot or Decepticon- is revealed. The decal on Ultra Magnus is located on the right side of the vehicle mode just above the front right wheel. In robot mode, the decal is located on the shield/panel on his right forearm. (Unfortunately, for whatever reason, the decal on my Ultra Magnus refuses to glow, so I cannot show it. Sorry.)

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Ultra Magnus’s robot mode (back) is both solid and powerful looking. He is still mostly dressed in white ABS plastic from the knees up; a slightly-pale blue for his lower legs and feet; black plastic for the knee joints, all wheels, the lower leg panels, and fists; and then transparent blue plastic for his chest and the shields on his arms (which are painted white). One thing that must be made clear for those of you who may not know: Ultra Magnus’s cab-over vehicle mode never changed into robot mode alone in the G1 series like the Classics figure does- he was always accompanied by the large red and blue car carrier trailer, and when he transformed he immediately merged with the trailer to become a larger robot. This is because G1 Ultra Magnus, as I stated earlier, was a repaint of Optimus Prime (aka “OP” online). And following Prime’s death in “The Transformers: The Movie”- which was specifically written to eliminate many of the toys from the first two season of the series (hence the high casualty rate of Cybertronians in the movie)- the molds used for him were used for the new Ultra Magnus character, but then the trailer section was brand new and designed to link up just with him. And so as a repaint of Classics OP, this version of Ultra Magnus also shares many of the characteristics of his G1 counterpart:

• The headlights and back sides of the cab become the arms
• The windshields become the chest
• The front grille on the nose becomes the waist; though on the Classics version, the grille seen in robot mode is a separate and smaller section which is hidden inside the vehicle mode until the transformation. The vehicle mode’s grille is moved onto his back along with the front bumper & wheels.
• The Classics head sculpt shares traits, but put them in a new style; it also has transparent blue eyes that can have light shown through them as opposed to the original’s painted red eyes.
• All colors are the same, and the majority of the body is white; however, the Classics version uses all pale dark blue for the lower legs & feet, whereas the G1 ver was completely white with minor blue paint on the head and in most of the decals.
• The back four wheels move to the back/sides of the lower legs; though the Classics version has a panel which folds over to cover them from a side view. Interestingly, in a cab-over, the fuel tanks occupy the same region where this panel originates from; the G1 ver. had visible fuel tanks on the sides of the knees above the wheels in the legs.
• A ribbed vent structure beneath both knees.
• The back-most section of the truck becomes the feet, both folding out in the same fashion; though the Classics version lacks the brake & turning lights of the G1 version.
• Red Autobot symbols on the front of both upper arms

At this point, the comparisons become more about aesthetics, and also show the difference in toy design & manufacturing over 18 years (which I do not have enough confidence to describe in detail here). Needless to say, this is an excellent and flawless transition & homage to the G1 character. I am sure that any long-time TF fan will be able to look at the Classics design, and immediate recognize him as the Autobot Ultra Magnus even if he lacks the dedicated trailer upgrade.

I’m actually finding it rather difficult to find the right words to make Ultra Magnus sound like a unique creation like all of the others in the Classics line [thus far] without unintentionally describing OP (which someone has already done for CDX). Both are strong, powerful, and honorable characters in leadership positions despite the fact that [most] of their toys are identical. I suppose that while I am writing about Ultra Magnus (and later on here, Skywarp), I will also be commenting also on the original figures which I have not had the opportunity to do beforehand. So, with that little disclaimer out of the way now…

One thing I’ve noticed about this repaint that I have seemed to have overlooked when I got my own Classics OP is the fine level of molded surface detail- particularly on the head, shoulders, back, and upper legs- which shows cables, raised panels, and pistons in a somewhat blocky way without making them seem like something to be glanced at once and forgotten about. His torso is certainly in better proportions than the hollow G1 version; clearly some TLC went into the Classics version. But on the other hand, his arms and legs are almost like rectangular blocks of plastic that have had tiny yet crafty details added to them in perhaps the opposite way that the torso is. But all together, everything works to create a fine tribute to Autobot leaders from across the many lines. (Although, I must say that the paint apps seem a bit bland on Classics Ultra Magnus and not as well thought out compared to Classics OP, as others have also noted.)

Poseability is also excellent for a figure this size- not using any ball-and-socket joints, and only ratcheting snap-joints in the elbows (one axis) and hips (one axis). Perhaps the only possible complaint I can make in this figure would be how the sides of the cab become these small shields along the outside of the lower arms. This is also something that a lot of people have quietly complained about online since the figure(s) came out which is not present in their G1 counterparts. The shields are mounted on swiveling joints and turn quite easily; so unless you keep track of them when you’re first orienting yourself with the toy after first changing it, you almost feel like you’ve forgotten a step. But, on the other hand where else could they have been put and not make the figure overly heavy, out of proportion, or making yet another large and awkward backpack for a Transformers figure?

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G1 Ultra Magnus always carried around a white energy rifle that was an alternate version of the one used by G1 Optimus Prime. He gets it back in the form of a large shotgun-style ion cannon for his Classics update which is made from his wind vane in vehicle mode! Also, he gets the use of a smaller all-black double-barrel laser sub-machinegun, made from the smokestacks! As a bonus, the wind vane can be stored on his back, the smokestacks attached to that, and then the whole thing flipped over to either side of his head to make a pair of shoulder-riding cannons. A really nice touch that, and a good way to keep all the loose parts included! (Even if it is a bit awkward-looking.)

Go on to read about Skywarp

Return to the Set Overview

Alas, with rare exception are either Ultra Magnus or Skywarp not represented as repaints in toy form even though they are different characters; so in this they also share with their predecessors.

The distant planet of Cybertron was the home to a race of intelligent, feeling alien robots who could change shape at will- the Transformers. For reasons no longer remembered by anyone living, a war broke out between the two factions of robots- the Autobots and the Decepticons- which eventually drained Cybertron of all its power sources, including all-important Energon. In the quest to get more Energon to sustain their fight, the Autobots created the Ark and some of them left Cybertron. But the power-hungry Decepticons were waiting for them in their great flagship, the Nemesis, and boarded the Ark to stop them. A battle between the two ships eventually brought them both crashing down onto Earth. With their leaders and greatest warriors lost, the war on Cybertron continued on to a stalemate. For over four million years, the Ark rested hidden inside a volcano located in what would eventually become Oregon, its occupants unconscious and helpless in stasis lock. Then in 1984, the volcano harboring the Ark erupted, reawakening the on-board computer system Teletraan-1. The computer, realizing that the ship and its crew were in danger, awoke the Transformers aboard the Ark, and reformatted them to change into disguises matching those of modern day Earth vehicles so that the giant robots could move among the population in secret. The surviving Decepticons, having lost their great ship millions of years earlier, also gained new disguise forms and hid themselves on Earth until they could rebuild their forces and gather enough Energon to destroy the Autobots, subvert the intrusive and annoying humans, and renew the war on Cybertron in their quest for total galactic domination.

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The Transformers Classics figure of Skywarp- though a repaint of Starscream - is a completely new toy based off of the original that appeared in the classic G1 cartoon series from 1984. Ultra Magnus, also, is a repaint of the brand-new Transformers Classics Optimus Prime figure. However, the original G1 toy of Ultra Magnus first released in 1986 used a specialized red and blue car carrier trailer to create his more-commonly known larger robot form. (The trailer is not represented in the Classics line, though one can only hope that someday it will!) The molds between the two figures are identical to the ones originally designed for the 2006 Classics line. Alas, with rare exception are either Ultra Magnus or Skywarp not represented as repaints in toy form even though they are different characters; so in this they also share with their predecessors.

Go on to read about Ultra Magnus

Go on to read about Skywarp

In recap, these are good toys. I got Ultra Magnus because of my highly enjoyable experiences with the Classics Optimus Prime beforehand; and I was curious about the Starscream design, but didn’t want the somewhat-patriotic coloring of the character, and so got Skywarp. These two were only sold in a Target-exclusive set, and fortunately were cheaper together ($20.00) than having to get them separately (Prime = $25.00, Starscream = $15.00). Complaints are few since both designs are good. Really, the only big complaint I have is Ultra Magnus’s somewhat plain and dull paint apps compared to Prime’s. Some things they could have highlighted in the same ways- lights on the knees, silver torso paint, paint on the sub-machinegun, perhaps a little silver on the waist and upper legs to make him more color-coordinated with his G1 roots- little things like that. But the details and transformations and functions are still awesome; for both characters. Hasbro also chose repaints of well-known G1 characters that actually work with the Classics molds, instead of a wannabe like the Devastator combo figure from “Transformers: Energon” (2005) which was repainted for the Classics line. These are good figures, very well made and well designed. They may be repaints, but they are still worth it, and you don’t have to be a completest in order to like them. I say the Battle for Autobot City set is worth it. Highly recommended!

To ensure that his followers and his enemies never forget this, Megatron arrogantly selected the alternate form of a weapon, to remind all that war is his both his passion and the purpose of his entire existence.

The distant planet of Cybertron was the home to a race of intelligent, feeling alien robots who could change shape at will- the Transformers. For reasons no longer remembered by anyone living, a war broke out between the two factions of robots- the Autobots and the Decepticons- which eventually drained Cybertron of all its power sources, including all-important Energon. In the quest to get more Energon to sustain their fight, the Autobots created the Ark and some of them left Cybertron. But the power-hungry Decepticons were waiting for them in their great flagship, the Nemesis, and boarded the Ark to stop them. A battle between the two ships eventually brought them both crashing down onto Earth. With their leaders and greatest warriors lost, the war on Cybertron continued on to a stalemate. For over four million years, the Ark rested hidden inside a volcano located in what would eventually become Oregon, its occupants unconscious and helpless in stasis lock. Then in 1984, the volcano harboring the Ark erupted, reawakening the on-board computer system Teletraan-1. The computer, realizing that the ship and its crew were in danger, awoke the Transformers aboard the Ark, and reformatted them to change into disguises matching those of modern day Earth vehicles so that the giant robots could move among the population in secret. The surviving Decepticons, having lost their great ship millions of years earlier, also gained new disguise forms and hid themselves on Earth until they could rebuild their forces and gather enough Energon to destroy the Autobots, subvert the intrusive and annoying humans, and renew the war on Cybertron in their quest for total galactic domination.

Megatron. Omnipotent, intelligent, strong, tactician, passionate, driven… evil. Like many of Cybertron’s greatest warriors, his distant past is not well defined, but his legacy as the megalomaniacal leader of the Decepticons is deeply etched in stone, and all - be they organic or artificial- tremble with fear when his very name is mentioned. If you are unfortunate enough to be in his presence, his raspy high-pitched voice alone freezes all circulatory fluids. And if you don’t like what he says, then his giant arm-mounted fusion cannon will silence you. Only perhaps Megatron’s mirror opposite, Optimus Prime, is strong and wise enough to be able to withstand him for as long as he has. And because of this finely-matched rivalry, the Great War continued on for millions of years on Cybertron until the distant planet was drained and weakened. When the Ark left for deep space, it was Megatron and his army aboard the Decepticon flagship Nemesis which pursued it, boarded it, and shot it down over Earth. Unfortunately, through the twists and turns of the battle, the Decepticons became trapped aboard the Ark as well, and lay in stasis lock for millions of years until they were reawakened one-by-one by the fortunate Skywarp. Finding that this Earth had vast resources including Energon, Megatron set out to quietly conquer and enslave the planet until he could rebuild his forces and his power enough to return the fight to Cybertron. The only thing that can stop him is the Autobots and their grand delusions that through peace alone is all in order. Megatron, however, feels that through brutal conquest and crushing dominance can order really be achieved. To ensure that his followers and his enemies never forget this, Megatron arrogantly selected the alternate form of a weapon, to remind all that war is his both his passion and the purpose of his entire existence.

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This Transformers Classics figure is a completely new toy based off of the original Megatron who appeared in the classic G1 series in 1984. The original Megatron toy itself- like almost all of the G1 toys for the first two years of the show’s run- was carried over from a Japanese line of vehicles and other recognizable objects which could change into robots, called Microman. When Takara and Hasbro put their heads together, they imported all of these Microman toys- which had no history, allegiances, or personalities of their own- and created the first two seasons of “The Transformers”; later designs being completely new and exclusive to the following seasons. (“The Transformers: The Movie” in 1986 was the transition between the Microman toys and the new designs. All characters that were killed or removed in that movie were based off of Microman toys.) In that series, he also became a hand-held weapon, specifically a Walther P38 U.N.C.L.E. Special pistol. This particular ‘model’ of gun (the 9mm Walther P38 was a real weapon made at the start of World War II by Germany) was based on the popular prop used by the heroes in the American TV series, “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” (1964-68), which included accessories for an extended stock, longer-ranging barrel, larger clip capacity, sniper scope, and tripod stand- all of which the 1984 Megatron toy had. The original Japanese version of the G1 Megatron toy had tiny plastic pellets stored inside the alternate mode that could actually be spring-shot when you pulled the trigger, but this feature was removed from US releases.

By the time the Classics line was being developed, US toy regulations had changed dramatically from what they were in 1984. Thus, as of November 1988 in the United States, it would be illegal to reproduce a Megatron toy which represented a real gun like his G1 self did, as is stated here. For the Generation-2 release of “The Transformers” in 1993, this new incarnation of Megatron was the first answer to the toy gun problem. However, designing a scaled fictional weapon was not out of the question, so long as it followed certain standards. Thus while the details may look ‘futuristic’ and technical, the colors used for the Classics version of Megatron are what allow it to be distributed across the entire United States (with some states having different regulation laws when it comes to toy weapons than others). Because of these wild and vivid colors, many Transformers fans jokingly refer to Classics Megatron’s alternate form as a ‘NERF gun’, though that company has no relation whatsoever to the design and construction this toy.

Megatron’s blaster mode (back) marks the first time since 1984 where he has been a hand-held toy shaped like a gun. The sacrifices to bring Megatron into the Classics line are in coloring and the outward appearance of a generic futuristic blaster. There are perhaps only five traits that the Classics blaster shares with the G1 toy:

• the scope on top, which can be looked through
• a non-functional white hammer (used to fire off bullets in real guns) just above the grip
• the ridges in the grip to allow ease of handling
• a functional trigger
• [One of] his legs become the grip

Beyond that, it’s all about modern toy design, style, function- and to a certain extent the legalese mentioned above- which the Classics line is all about.

The long barrel of the G1 toy has been replaced with a blocky assembly, tipped off with a small orange cone. The grip is just big enough to accommodate an adult collector’s hand, though the space between the guard and trigger is a bit too tight. The aforementioned trigger is spring-loaded, and can be pulled back. While this does nothing to launch any pellets or missiles or move around any parts inside the barrel, the trigger makes a nice clicking sound. (I suppose that something is better than nothing, and this is a plain but appropriate “something”.) The scope is hollow, and has two transparent-green lenses, one with a crosshatch marking on it. The space inside, however, is quite small compared to how large the scope looks like from the outside, and you can’t see anything clearly through it. One small detail that is noteworthy: if you look at the exposed interior of the blaster mode as you are just starting to transform him, a small white lever above the trigger section shows four small pellet-like bullets molded inside. You can’t see them in blaster mode because they are covered, but you can more easily see them both when transforming him and when in robot mode, along the right side of his waist. Perhaps this was Hasbro’s only form of politically-correct retaliation and a way of sticking it to the regulations…?

All Classics figures feature a small heat-sensitive decal as a throwback to the G1 toys showing their allegiance- Autobot or Decepticon. However, Megatron is arrogant enough that he doesn’t need this, and so he proudly displays two raised purple Decepticon symbols along both sides of the scope barrel. This is the only Classics toy [so far] to not to have a decal, and to have a molded allegiance symbol [instead].

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Megatron’s robot mode (back) is definitely a reinterpretation of his G1 self, but he still holds traits that are true and faithful. No longer is he narrow and rickety and highly deformed. It’s hard to say which color is the most prevalent, but white seems to be it- perhaps a throwback to his original silver; which is located on his head, upper torso/arms/legs, and was painted across the back of his wings. Black ABS appears in his fists, the fusion cannon, his lower torso, lower legs & feet, and was painted onto his upper legs. Purple- a color frequently used with other incarnations of Megatron since the G1 series- also returns (again due to some states’ regulations regarding a toy weapon) on his chest, shoulders, lower arms, lower legs, and feet. There are also several highlights of gold paint, and the orange ABS caps for both the blaster’s barrel on his shoulder and the front of the scope which are legally required for the blaster mode. Transparent neon-green ABS is used for his wings and his eyes. When light shines into the back of his head, his eyes glow neon-green as well! (They may not be their traditional red, but at least the friggin’ gimmick works for a change!) Perhaps the biggest and most-recognizable of these physical traits (literally) is the giant fusion cannon still attached directly to the bottom of his right arm, which is similarly made from the weapon’s scope. This time, however, the scope cannot be removed. His left arm is- though similar in style- asymmetrically different from the right due to how he transforms and where things go in blaster mode, save for the upper arms (the shoulders are different) and the fists. The chest has been radically redesigned, removing the widened shoulders and flat boxy upper torso in favor of a more-techy paneled look- with another molded Decepticon symbol right in the center of it. Also, never again will G1 Megatron have to suffice with a somewhat-humiliating giant gun trigger hanging out uncomfortably from his crotch- it now resides sandwiched between the back of his torso and wings. (You just know that this was a fine way for Decepticons to get away with needling their ‘great’ leader behind his back, and was a basis for many done-to-death jokes on the Autobot side of things… Poor ‘bot probably never lived it down, either.)

Poseability is good. Perhaps the biggest hamper, unfortunately, is that fusion cannon. It is so honkin’ huge that Megatron is very right side-heavy, and doesn’t stand very well at all unless you rearrange things. Even standing perfectly straight is a challenge. The wings allow for a bit of movement backwards, but that’s it, and it usually doesn’t help much unless he leans forward at the hips. However, the feet are rather long and so that helps a bit- just don’t forget to extend his heels when transforming him! Unlike most of the Classics figures, Megatron features quite a few ratcheting joints- shoulders (two of three axis), elbows, hips (both), and knees (one of two). He also has a few free-turn swivel joints in his shoulders and knees (both one-axis only). His head, too, free-turns, but it is on a ball-and-socket joint, and allows for a wide range of directions he can look in- even upwards a little bit! His right arm, which carries the fusion cannon, is kinda weird in its arrangement. Since the cannon is mounted behind his elbow, when held horizontally like his G1 predecessor, the right lower arm (and thus the fist) turn upside down. Kinda awkward that, and I’m not sure if it was overlooked or not, but I think something different could have been arranged. But, unlike the new Japan-only G1-remake MP-05 Masterpiece Megatron (again with the toy gun rules- no way in Hell are you gonna see that in a Toys-R-Us near you if you’re in the good-ole’ US of A!), the Classics Megatron cannot remove his cannon.

The Classics Megatron figure carries no additional accessories or weapons. With the exception of his head- which is on a ball-and-socket joint- no parts can be removed from him. (In other words, with this figure, once it comes off, it stays off…) Both hands, however, can accommodate other hand-held weapons used all the way from the 2004 “Transformers: Energon” line on-down.

There are a few complaints here, most of which I’ve already spoken about-

• The heavy cannon is a problem even though it is such an iconic part of the character
• While we have seen these colors before on other Megatron figures/characters, in tribute to the G1 character they are rather misplaced, and are a well-known turn-off for some fans. This is perhaps his biggest hang-up point. The orange caps are generally accepted without question since those are now standard feature on any gun-like toy, and could be considered a blast/lighting effect in a way.
• The wings actually don’t all that closely match the style of the figure, but wrap around the blaster mode appropriately. In other words, they serve one master better than they do the other.
• Even though this is just a nitpick, I still think that right arm could have been twisted around a little differently when they attached the cannon, while still allowing for the option for it to hold on to things.
• Why was the tube down the center of the scope so narrow? And it was intentionally done too!
• What’s up with that huge black unibrow???
• This last one is me being picky: because this is technically a blaster which shoots energy rather than projectiles (why would Megs here intentionally limit himself that way?), why does it need a hammer which is designed to strike the cartridge primer of a bullet?

Believe it or not, this is actually the first version of the Decepticon (and/or Predacon) leader that I have ever owned since the franchise began over 20 years ago. [What can I say? I was too young for G1/G2 (thus haven’t seen “TF:The Movie”), I got my start on “Beast Wars”, rather disliked “Beast Machines”, and never had cable/satellite to watch anything beyond, save the 2007 movie in the theater. Did I mention how useful YouTube.com can be…?] And so, to accept the Classics figure at face value is perhaps easier for me since I am not as attached to the character, though I know of him. On the other hand, while this is unquestionably a great design and contribution to the Classics line, I also found myself taxed heavily by the colors alone, perhaps because of that lack of familiarity to the character in the first place. (There’s one good reason right there why I’ve never gotten another toy of him… Purple, neon green, black, and orange only really works well together on an EVA anyways.) But, as I just said, this is still a good toy despite those reservations. So, I recommend getting him; it might not be as strong a recommendation as others have given him, but I am satisfied with what I have, and I believe you would be too. Things work the way they’re supposed to, his range of motion is very good, his transformation is very involved but fun and different from the G1 version, and anyone (even I, who have not seen the Decepticon leader on-screen) can identify him immediately without packaging or instructions as thee one-and-only Megatron. If I can do that, then those more familiar with him will appreciate this all the more.

Oh, by the way, I heard that this new Japan-only Transformation! Henkei! Transformers line is going to make some- shall I say- 'interesting' changes to the 2006 Classics line...

He very quickly and unexpectedly became my favorite toy in the entire Classics line.

The distant planet of Cybertron was the home to a race of intelligent, feeling alien robots who could change shape at will- the Transformers. For reasons no longer remembered by anyone living, a war broke out between the two factions of robots- the Autobots and the Decepticons- which eventually drained Cybertron of all its power sources, including all-important Energon. In the quest to get more Energon to sustain their fight, the Autobots created the Ark and some of them left Cybertron. But the power-hungry Decepticons were waiting for them in their great flagship, the Nemesis, and boarded the Ark to stop them. A battle between the two ships eventually brought them both crashing down onto Earth. With their leaders and greatest warriors lost, the war on Cybertron continued on to a stalemate. For over four million years, the Ark rested hidden inside a volcano located in what would eventually become Oregon, its occupants unconscious and helpless in stasis lock. Then in 1984, the volcano harboring the Ark erupted, reawakening the on-board computer system Teletraan-1. The computer, realizing that the ship and its crew were in danger, awoke the Transformers aboard the Ark, and reformatted them to change into disguises matching those of modern day Earth vehicles so that the giant robots could move among the population in secret. The surviving Decepticons, having lost their great ship millions of years earlier, also gained new disguise forms and hid themselves on Earth until they could rebuild their forces and gather enough Energon to destroy the Autobots, subvert the intrusive and annoying humans, and renew the war on Cybertron in their quest for total galactic domination.

One of many Autobots to make it to Earth on the Ark, Mirage, too, was trapped for millions of years until Teletraan-1 woke him up from stasis lock. And he missed his home of Cybertron dearly. This would lead him to become one of Optimus Prime’s most skilled and specialized fighters even if he didn’t care much for the fighting itself. But his skill was clear- sharp-shooting, diversionary tactics, and covert reconnaissance. For him, Teletraan-1 selected for his disguise mode that of a Formula-1 race car, one of the fasted land-based vehicles it could find. This allows him to make speed runs past Decepticon positions and escape unscathed if fired upon. Mirage is also a master of deception. He is equipped with advanced holographic systems which allow him to turn invisible, imitate the appearance of other vehicles, or even impersonate Decepticons in both appearance and voice, though not always in function. His frequent solo scout missions sometimes led some other Autobots to think that he may be collaborating with the enemy in secret, but Mirage has proven his worth hundreds of times to quash any rumors. He just really wants to end the war so that he can go home.

...

This Transformers Classics figure is a completely new toy based off of the original Mirage who appeared in the classic G1 cartoon series from 1984. In that series, he was also a blue and white F-1 race car who could turn invisible or create illusions. He was indeed a member of the Ark’s crew, but played a fairly minor role in the war on Earth. The same character appeared again throughout several other series (a single Decepticon was named Mirage, though it was a different character), but never really retained his F-1 origins… Until now.

(Alas, the original molds for the G1 toy have become lost over time, so he will not ever be made again unless new molds are built. Personally, I think that the G1 toy more resembled a streamlined go-kart…!)

Mirage’s vehicle mode (back) is that of a Formula One race car, with the exception of the enclosed canopy on the toy. Regulations used by the F1 racing industry decree that all cars must be built by the teams that drive them. Also because of the exacting standards that these cars must perform at, the materials to make them are very lightweight and durable, but incredibly expensive to manufacture. And so, F1 cars are almost always covered in the colorful logos of sponsors from around the world to balance these costs, usually from car parts manufacturers, petroleum/gas refineries, electronics and entertainment industries, and even alcohol breweries. The original G1 Mirage character toy- made at a time when trademarks on a toy were not nearly as scrutinized and politically correct as they are today- featured decals with sponsor labels from two real French-based companies: race car-manufacturer Ligier, and the cigarette brand Gitanes (though spelled “Citanes” on the original toy). This would, of course, be, heh- ‘completely inappropriate’ today, and so those two brands were removed and new fictitious ones made up by the Classics toys’ manufacturer Hasbro:

• On the front aerofoil in orange writing- “Lithonian Drivetrain”. This is a reference to the unfortunate planet Lithone which was devoured without mercy by the giant planet-sized transformer Unicron in “The Transformers: The Movie” (1986).
• Along the side cowling on a rectangular space- “F.P. Racing”. This, I am told, is a tip-of-the-hat by Mirage’s designers at Hasbro to a popular online Role-Playing Game (RPG) forum, as are the orange & black checkered squares next to the name associated with the forum’s own colors.
• Across the back aerofoil in black lettering- “Witwicky Sparkplugs”. This is, obviously, a reference to “Sparkplug” Witwicky, father of Spike Witwicky, both of whom befriend the Autobots during the G1 series.

It is not another made-up sponsor, but there is a green label which sits on either side of the cockpit. It says “Plasma Injected Energy” in very tiny lettering. Sounds like cool technobabble, right? In the process of researching for this review, I asked several well-known TF know-it-alls if this had any significance. And they replied that this too is an inside joke, to be said as “Mirage runs off of pie.” And finally, to keep some of the authenticity of the G1 character, the identifying number “26” returns onto the nose and side cowlings on the Classics figure.

This is an F-1racer. No doubt about it, it looks just like one in every way- with the minor exceptions of the unavoidable exposed robot parts in the undercarriage, and the enclosed cockpit (which, on the other hand, some cars actually do use to cut down even more on airflow drag). The front of the car features the forward airfoil, and two black ABS wheels hanging beyond it along two painted skeleton-like suspension supports. The forward aerofoil is designed slightly different from the real cars’ because it is used in a different way for robot mode. I’ve also heard some frequent complaints that due to how he transforms, the front aerofoil drags along the ground and lifts the front wheels off the ground slightly! (I have experienced this as well, but I also make absolutely certain that everything is locked up correctly and tightly before I roll him around. Besides, I usually keep him in robot mode, so it’s a non-issue with me.) The flattened, streamlined bottle shape of the car’s chassis is there, dressed in both white and blue. Due to serving two different needs here (both a vehicle and a robot mode), the blue plastic behind the cockpit curves slightly upwards as opposed to smoothing back out flat on the real car, but it isn’t really that noticeable. Air intakes are molded both above and to either side of the transparent-blue cockpit. Mirage’s head is just small enough that if you look closely, you can see it facing forward inside the cockpit! (I like that touch.) The back airfoil with the “Witwicky” sponsorship curves upwards, and four dark gray ABS exhaust pipes hang out below that in the back of the car between the larger black ABS wheels.

As an additional tribute to the G1 series, each Classics figure has a heat sensitive decal placed on it. When the heat from your finger warms the black patch, the bots’ associated allegiance- Autobot or Decepticon- is revealed. The decal on Mirage is located on top of the right side of the vehicle mode between the cockpit and rear aerofoil. In robot mode, the decal is located between the knee and foot of the left leg.

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Mirage’s robot mode (back) is very thin and light. He is still dressed in mostly white ABS plastic, with blue ABS on his head, upper arms, chest, lower back, and lower legs, but then adds dark gray at the waist, and elbow & knee joints. I have seen some pictures of the G1 Mirage toy online, and I must say that several of the details on him were carried directly over to the Classics figure, despite the dramatic design differences between them. Classics Mirage is almost twice as high (5”) compared to the original (3”?). The various parts of the robot mode end up in pretty much the same locations on vehicle mode between them, but the Classics ver. goes about it in a radically different way. There are quite a few other similarities between them:

• The nose of the F1 folds down to become the chest.
• The curved sides and undercarriage become the arms.
• The front wheels end up in back behind the head, the back-half of the F1 becomes the lower legs & feet.
• Torso-twisting is possible for both transformation and posing.
• The Classics head sculpt shares traits, but put them in a new style; it also has transparent blue eyes that can have light shown through them as opposed to the original’s painted yellow eyes.
• The front wheels and cockpit are repositioned onto the back.
• White lower arms, upper legs, and black fists.

At this point, the comparisons become more about aesthetic, and also show the difference in toy design & manufacturing over 20 years (which I do not have enough confidence to describe in detail here). Needless to say, this is an excellent and flawless transition & homage to the G1 character. I am sure that any long-time TF fan will be able to look at the Classics design, and immediate recognize him as the Autobot Mirage.

Mirage’s body structure, however, is quite different from even the regular lines such as those from the most-recent ’04-‘06 Unicron Trilogy (“Transformers: Armada”, “Transformers: Energon”, and “Transformers: Cybertron”). As stated above, he is very thin, especially at the waist. He is designed for speed even in robot mode. Mirage’s head, also, is on the smaller side. As a recent gimmick built into the yearly lines, the back of his head is transparent blue plastic; that way when light shines through it, his eyes glow. The back of his upper torso carries the front wheels and cockpit of the vehicle mode, streamlined with the air intake from above the cockpit to merge diagonally with the rest of the upper torso. His arms are some of the most flexible I’ve even seen in a toy of equal size, rivaling that of even the 5” G.I. Joe figures from the ‘80s! Because his chest triangular in shape, Mirage can actually cross his arms in front of it, almost to the point of being able to touch one fist to the opposing shoulder… and then holding that pose all on its own. This is also partially due to how his shoulders change during the transformation process, and allows for just that more range of motion. Fantastic! His legs are equally impressive. Ball-and-socket joints at the hips are covered by flexible skirt armor in front. His knees are the location of the vehicle mode’s exhaust pipes, that and adds a nice bit of tech detail there. From the back of the legs, the effect is screwed up a bit because the interior is completely exposed, but you lose very little because of this. The feet- once more the back aerofoil from the vehicle mode shared with his G1 counterpart- are also of interest. Rather than being attached in the center of them to the ankle, the ankle joint actually attaches to the outer edge and is a lever/ball-and-socket joint combo. So not only can his feet pitch up and down, but they also twist horizontally to accommodate wider stances! The only disadvantage to this set-up is that the joints tend to wear out quickly if used too much.

At first I was repulsed by the (no pun intended) flat-footed approach- large lower legs and small upper body. But then I had a revolution… If you look at art from the early Marvel Comics™ stories, and even the G1 cartoon itself, the Transformers typically don’t have details like servos, pistons, or wires exposed for the sake of simplified, faster animation. It’s all blocky to save time and money. The toys counter this by molding them into the joints. The 2008 series, “Transformers Animated”, and the toy line from it, shared this as well with more of a streamlined-organic style to the characters’ appearance. Well, Classics Mirage, whether intentional or not, shares this style. He has long legs the grow steadily wider the closer to the feet you get, arms that do the same towards the fists, a thin waist, and small, triangular upper body and smallish head. Oh, my God- I thought to myself- this toy jumped right out of the TV from an 80s cartoon! After that, my love (yes, I just used the L-word) for the design of the Classics toy grew even faster and stronger.

In the series, Mirage had a single missile launcher over his right shoulder, and had a long-range laser sniper rifle. (Reason for the latter is that he liked to hunt turbo-foxes on Cybertron before he left on the Ark, and had become quite the marksman.) The front aerofoil separates from the nose section (which it couldn’t on the original) and becomes a hand-held “electro-disrupter weapon”. Me? I prefer to think of it as any other small but powerful energy weapon, and so tend to think of it more as a crossbow, and then have the illusion/cloaking/ECM systems inside Mirage’s body itself. Looks better thinking of it that way too.

There are only four things I can really complain about:

• Though the legs are quite dynamic in how they can pose, the knees have double joints due to how he transforms, so when posing him, they don’t stay together properly and flex too easily. I would have made then snap into place, and then leave the knee joints as they are.
• The connection levers on the feet are incredibly sensitive. (They’re ball-and-socket; what do you think they’re gonna do after a while…?) While I like how flexible they are, those joints are just too loose for what they are used for in supporting even the light weight of this figure.
• The whole eyes-light-up gimmick is fun, but it never seems to work out right for the toys they design it for. In this case, yes, they should have painted his blue eyes in.
• The range of motion in the head is a bit limiting. Despite having two joints in the neck, in order to look left or right, the head is forced to tilt downwards by the white ABS behind it.

The waist joint does have a tendency to pop-off when transforming him, and maybe if it had been larger it would have been done differently, but I’m willing to put up with it.

This toy is, by far- and I’m not exaggerating here- superior to a lot of transformable toys (not just including the trademarked Transformers) I’ve seen despite its size. (Hey- some of the favorite pieces in my collection stand on the smaller side of 7 inches!) The transformation is fun and involved, he looks fantastic in both modes, his poseability is exceptional, and the style of the figure (as I talk about above) is a great comparison to the cartoon character designs of the past. Plus, this is a wonderful successor to the G1 character. He very quickly and unexpectedly became my favorite toy in the entire Classics line. I highly, no- strongly recommend getting Mirage!

“Now I am ruler of the Decepticons” He’ll stab you in the back when you’re not looking, he always runs from a fight and he’ll always kick you when your down but we love the sniveling, whiny Decepticon anyway. It’s my review of Transformers Classic Starscream.

The Transformers Classics are new sculpts of classic Generation One characters. The line came with little fanfare and has quickly been scooped up by collectors and kids alike and becoming difficult if not impossible to find on retail shelves.

Starscream was in the first wave and is not available at retail anymore. You can however find him on the after market for triple his original cost. I want to give a big public thanks to Sanjeev for being swell enough to put this in my grubby hands.

In robot mode he looks fantastic. They manage to make a highly poseable figure while still keeping the look of the cartoon. Starscream has 15 points of articulation and while the hands don’t move the head does turn.

Transformation is very straightforward and very close to the original toy. You can see it for yourself with the video review below.