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Saw Boss

Comments

27 comments posted
If the walker up there is

If the walker up there is motorized, then yes I'd like to see a review of it. Otherwise, "meh".

Color palette is a little weak, otherwise I'd think this would have been a fair-though-not-great toy line at the time.

Botanica says, "I am Transformed!".
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CollectionDX Staff

EVA_Unit_4A's picture
Posted by EVA_Unit_4A on 14 December, 2009 - 21:47
More please!

Dude, I LOVED Wheeled Warriors back in the day! Certainly one of the most under appreciated lines out there, although it's certainly got it's cult following. So, yeah, I'd love to see more reviews. Would love to see pics of the packaging too, if you've got it.

"This must be settled the way nature intended....with a vicious, bloody fight!"
Onyx Blackman
Principal, Flatpoint High

NekroDave's picture
Posted by NekroDave on 14 December, 2009 - 22:26
Sadly, no packaging, just

Sadly, no packaging, just toys. I usually like to have boxes when I review these things, but the WW's are pretty scarce. There's very, very little available online, so I figured even boxless specimens are better than nothing. I know there are hardcore fans out there, so I'm happy to defer to others who have boxes. Represent!

The Enthusiast's picture
Posted by The Enthusiast on 14 December, 2009 - 22:29
Dude, thank you so much for

Dude, thank you so much for sharing! I love all of these toys from wheeled warriors, I actually had a few in my collection in the past and I was a big fan of the TV show. Keep reviewing them please! They F-ing rock...

-Dan
CollectionDX LLC
Vice President/Co-Owner

Shogundan's picture
Posted by Shogundan on 14 December, 2009 - 23:00
Under appreciated

I believe Wheeled Warriors and the Cartoon Jayce & The Wheeled Warriors was a great toy line and cartoon for its time. It was no Robotech but It was a cartoon I enjoyed watching it wasn't quite Anime but it wasn't completely American animation either( was a it a French/Japanese co-production?).

I loved the toyline as well, I had the vehicle you have pictured above ( Jayce's Vehicle) I thought it was an excellent and imaginative toy line very different from anything that was being produced at the time. I always thought that brain drivers were super creepy. I think the only problem with the line was how they came with generic figures and when the show was released they had certain characters that I liked driving the vehicles. They should have reissued the figures when the TV show was released.

But like all 8t's toys there was just too much out there and I only ever managed to pick up that one vehicle which I though was really cool. Remember 1985 was Thee landmark year for GI Joe 3 3/4 figures, as well as other toy lines, and all my focus was on collecting all those figures.

The Wheeled Warriors packaging was not the best. I sold my Wheeled Warriors vehicle in 2001 and I still had the packaging for it but it was all torn up and faded and didn't store or age well. You could put the vehicle back into the package but it had a long hanger card on top of the box that easily got damaged and the clear window separated from the box every time you took the toy out and put it back in the box.

C'Mon! Review what you can, you can't leave us hanging, it was a great toy line and its great to have it here as most of us grew up in the 1980's.

Another fine review!
LF

Leonardo Flores
CollectionDX Staff Writer-West Coast Bureau

Showapop's picture
Posted by Showapop on 14 December, 2009 - 23:27
Amazing - I loved these

Amazing - I loved these things, although I never had them. Loved the show, and always wanted them. Very much a microman-esqe construction. More, I say!

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CollectionDX Admin

JoshB's picture
Posted by JoshB on 15 December, 2009 - 09:10
Saw Boss

I confirm that it was a Franco-Japanese co-production (like Ulysses 31) but it NEVER managed to catch my attention as I considered the cartoon simply silly. Personally, I would prefer to see a review of Ulysses 31 diecasts than these, but that's me.

grendizer1975's picture
Posted by grendizer1975 on 15 December, 2009 - 12:21
Franco-Japanese

I agree it wasn't a landmark cartoon but I enjoyed watching it and admire some of the artdesign. Unfortunately in Southern California Ulysses 31 was broadcasted at, get this, 5:00 am in the morning! It was a anime I know was good but frankly it was on way too early in the morning for me or anybody else to watch it. But if it equaled or bettered The Mysterious Cites of Gold I'm sure I missed out on something great. But 5:00 am was way to early for anybody.

Didn't know there was Ulysses 31 toys, would love to see those reviewed as well.

Leonardo Flores
CollectionDX Staff Writer-West Coast Bureau

Showapop's picture
Posted by Showapop on 15 December, 2009 - 16:59
Lightning Strikes!

Excellent review man! I'm really glad to see Wheeled Warriors getting some long-overdue love. I have all but two of the vehicles (Spike-Trike and Gun-Grinner) from the toyline, sitting right here on the shelf next to me. :-) They are definitely one of the many toylines I loved as a kid, and throughout the whole revival of 80s franchises I have been hoping we'd see them return in some way or another.

Having read through various comments about them around the web though, they often seem to get a cold (and often ridiculing and degrading) reception from other toy collectors. Even from many who grew up in the 80s. I never understood that, personally. Imho, the concept of these has a really great play value, with the limitless configurations of the parts and accessories, and the vehicle designs are interesting, original, and innovative. Sure, they might have been even better if the vehicles' bodies were diecast, or if they had spring loaded weapons, or if the figures were more detailed or articulated, but this was 1984/85. The gimmick and selling point were the uniquely awesome vehicles themselves and the ability to swap all the parts around between a faction of good guys and a faction of bad guys. As a kid, that was all I needed, and I feel the same about them today.

The cartoon was... okay. It had a cool 80s hairband theme song. hehe I vaguely remember watching it back then, but I bought the DVD set that came out last year (I think) and watched it again. All in all, it's a little wierd. lol I think I would have been ok if they stuck with the sci-fi type military characters that the toys came with for the characters, but it was still fun to see the vehicles in action. Also, the Monster Minds having a plantlike humanoid form when not in battle... I could have done without. Also, the flying fish. lmao Still, it's fun to watch for nostalgia.

But again, the toys kicked ass. And still do. Thanks again for the review!

REX-203's picture
Posted by REX-203 on 15 December, 2009 - 13:43
I think the Wheeled Warriors

I think the Wheeled Warriors don't get love for a few reasons.

It never got the reboot treatment probably because the toys were a pretty big financial failure at retail when it was released. While they reused molds and various parts, these things didn't take off with kids of the time until they were discounted pretty heavy. Around 1998-99 I found two MISB that had a $0.94 cent red Toys R Us sticker on the outside (covering up about 4 other discount stickers). In this era, you had a lot of very heavy competition (Transformers and GI Joe came out with some of the best toys of the 80's, maybe of all time, when this was coming out) and these things slipped by the radar of many folks.

The show, i can't remember as a kid of that time, any of my friends being excited about it, or even mentioning it once. I know a lot of older collectors and teenagers were into the toys when they were first released.

On the collecting tip it's pretty difficult to identify the parts and pieces beyond the brains and main vehicle shells. The parts all kind of blend in when mixed with other kids toys of the era. You see them a lot in unsorted Lego lots on ebay.

As a big fan of Henshin Cyborg and Micronauts, I'm into these, but I can't say I'd ever collect them.

The Big R's picture
Posted by The Big R on 16 December, 2009 - 12:04
Oh I totally agree, the mid

Oh I totally agree, the mid 80s was a melee-bonanza of toys and cartoons. So in the midst of Transformers, GI Joe, Gobots, He-Man, Thundercats, Star Wars, Silverhawks, Robotech, Voltron (do I need to go on? lol), Wheeled Warriors certainly had it's work cut out for it. And though I can watch the show through nostalgia coated lenses, I still don't even feel it did the toys justice or helped to strengthen the line's following.

It's not that I don't understand a lot of collectors not remembering or knowing about Wheeled Warriors. It's more that I don't understand why so many that do (with the exception of you guys), have such negative opinions about them.

I hear what you're saying about the random parts though. They can be hard to identify, and it's somewhat rare to find a 100% complete Wheeled Warrior on eBay. So that has also made them a bit difficult to collect, as I know from my own searches.

As far as collecting them... You should! You're missing out! :-P

REX-203's picture
Posted by REX-203 on 17 December, 2009 - 00:36
I think they were one of

I think they were one of those "disappointment" gifts that you get when you're a kid... You wanted Optimus Prime, but instead you got a weird car. You wanted Snake Eyes, but you got Jayce.

I'm 100% sure this is the main reason people hate on this line; they got them as gifts as a kid, when they wanted something else. I can't think of any other real reason.

The Big R's picture
Posted by The Big R on 17 December, 2009 - 10:35
Mini-Comic

Hey there Enthusiast,

I got some interesting questions for you. Do you know whether or not if the Wheeled Warriors toyline came with those mini-comics just like Masters of the Universe?

Also, weren't there more WW cartoon commercials w/ Jayce (or some young Lighting League Commander) and his Lighting League team battling the plant-borg Monster Minds & they combined their vehicles by crying out the command code: "Stack and Attack!"

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm sure 'Stack & Attack' was the catchy tagline Mattel tried to promote their toys to the market before the cartoon show came out to help charm the kid public to the toyline.

Does any of this ring a bell?

-R78

Rodimus78's picture
Posted by Rodimus78 on 15 December, 2009 - 22:09
it all rings a bell. The

it all rings a bell. The "stack and attack" bit was a feature sometimes advertised wherein two bodies could stack (see the first video above at 17 seconds). I'll show the stack in future reviews. I could swear there was a minicomic too, but we may be imagining things as I can't find evidence of such a thing.

***I take that back, there is some evidence of these.Check out this interesting interview, it mostly concerns MOTU, but the subject talks about his joyless work writing the WW minicomics at the end (http://www.donaldfglut.com/MOUinterview.html)***

The Enthusiast's picture
Posted by The Enthusiast on 15 December, 2009 - 22:14
Roger That Enthusiast

Roger that Enthusiast,

I knew I wasn't crazy when I remembered the 'Stack and Attack' mini-comic thing that Mattel had whipped up.

My great thanks to your confirmation in regards of the information. I'm about to checkout the source link you've just provided to resolve my memorial investigation.

You asked us if we want to see you do more reviews of Wheeled Warriors. By all means, do it. You should do Terror-Tank or Beast Walker in the near future.

This review deserves a Hugo.

-R78

Rodimus78's picture
Posted by Rodimus78 on 15 December, 2009 - 23:02
Ha! I'll serve up Terror

Ha! I'll serve up Terror Tank next. I'll get to the walkers after the regular vehicles.

The Enthusiast's picture
Posted by The Enthusiast on 15 December, 2009 - 23:13
Ha! Yes!

The "STACK AND ATTACK" tagline was the first thing that I thought of when I saw the review. Of course, I'm a sucker for a little alliteration, so it's not surprising that I remembered it.

PS I think that the rectangle-with-two-circles on the "brain" is meant to be a pair of goggles; the brain should be oriented such that this end can see out. So, yes kids, The Enthusiast does indeed have his brains in backwards ;)

RobotBastard's picture
Posted by RobotBastard on 16 December, 2009 - 14:44
you've been talking to my

you've been talking to my wife, apparently.

The Enthusiast's picture
Posted by The Enthusiast on 16 December, 2009 - 21:50
"But like all 8t's toys

"But like all 8t's toys there was just too much out there"
That about says it all. As kids we were just bombarded with this stuff,more than any generation past or since.
Even as an adult today,there's just too much. I'd love to collect this line and about twenty others,but at some point you're going to run out of space,time,money,or patience.

Hey how about an informal poll? Which theme song do you guys think is better,this one or MASK?

kidnicky's picture
Posted by kidnicky on 16 December, 2009 - 10:12
Wow, this is so freakin'

Wow, this is so freakin' awesome! I can't believe 1) that it's taken me so long to comment on this review (sorry...been busy! :P ), and 2) that there's already so many comments professing love for this line!

I remember a little over a decade ago, while in college and when eBay was still in its infancy, I picked up a few VHS tapes of this show. My buddies at school and I would rock out to the absurdity of it all! I'm pretty sure I still have Saw Boss, Armed Force, and...Gun Grinner?...in a box somewhere (alas, loose).

When I was a little kid, I thought these toys were fantastic. I have zero recollection of the commercials, but I remember the day I discovered not only "Stack and Attack", but that since there are two pegs on the bottom of each vehicle, you can actually attach two wheel assemblies! With the free rotation, you not only had a vehicle twice as long, but it could actually steer!

As for the cartoon, I enjoyed it as well...but let me tell ya...it has NOT held up! It's soooo corny! Anyway, my main beef with it is simply that the main conflict never gets resolved: Jayce never finds his father and reunites the roots or whatever. So...I never bothered with the DVDs.

Anyway, kick ass review, Josh. Definitely keep 'em coming. Oh, and I also noticed your upside-down brain! :P

--
Sanjeev

Sanjeev's picture
Posted by Sanjeev on 16 December, 2009 - 17:16
Just to add to what Big R

Just to add to what Big R was saying,I'm 29,so I was 5 in '85,which was maybe a -little- young for this sort of thing,but still I can't imagine this was a popular show/toyline since I can't remember ever once hearing anyone mention it until I was an adult reading the internet and magazines like Toyfare or Wizard. We're talking about a time period where Transformers,G.I. Joe,He-Man,and about 50 other things were huge. This line really didn't have a chance.

I'm definately going to try to watch a few episodes,and I think I'll try to pick up this guy and maybe whoever the main good guy is (Jayce??). How much does one of these go for if it's in decent shape?

kidnicky's picture
Posted by kidnicky on 16 December, 2009 - 21:33
they're really scarce MIB

they're really scarce MIB (50-150 depending on the day), but not as rare loose (15-50 apiece, but also variable).

The Enthusiast's picture
Posted by The Enthusiast on 16 December, 2009 - 21:53
Yeah,I'd spend 20-30 on a

Yeah,I'd spend 20-30 on a loose one. I checked out some pics on Virtual Toy Chest,and they're all pretty cool,allthough obviously the bad guys are cooler.

kidnicky's picture
Posted by kidnicky on 17 December, 2009 - 16:57
Please do continue

This was absolutely one of my favorite toy lines as a kid (along with Starcom) and is, as you say, virtually unknown these days. I'd love to see more reviews!

fujikuro's picture
Posted by fujikuro on 17 December, 2009 - 14:24
Proceed!

I'm with the lovers of this line...please go on! This was one of the lines I couldn't afford to collect when I was a kid, but I sure did love the idea of them. I'm a sucker for vehicles with mini-figures to enhance the scale of the vehicles, like (as mentioned) Starcom and Air Raiders and the old BSG toys from Mattel. And those brains were so creepy! heh.

Is that a Power Lords Trigore in your sig, Enthusiast?! Get on those reviews. Talk about a bizarre line!

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"Hey, uh...let's volt in."

Gigamach's picture
Posted by Gigamach on 17 December, 2009 - 15:32
Aaaaaand just found your Trigore review...

Well done, sir!

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"Hey, uh...let's volt in."

Gigamach's picture
Posted by Gigamach on 17 December, 2009 - 16:43
thank you all for your warm

thank you all for your warm and, dare I say, enthusiastic feedback. I'll be reviewing the rest of the Warriors in the coming week. The "boilerplate" info will be repeated for archiving purposes, so just skip over the first few paragraphs for the new stuff. Thanks again for the support, fellas. Talking toys with you all is a real joy!

The Enthusiast's picture
Posted by The Enthusiast on 17 December, 2009 - 20:58