Shimo (Godzilla X Kong/2 pack version)

Following up on the Godzilla from the Godzilla vs Shimo 2 pack we looked at earlier this month is Shimo. Like Evolved Godzilla, Shimo is a variation of the standard retail release with an alternate paint deco. Shimo is an interesting looking ice monster who caused the last ice age 11,700 years ago. Avoiding spoilers for those who haven't seen the movie as of this writing, she's an antagonist alongside The Skar King and quite a threat. Like many others, I thought her design was really cool (no pun intended). The blue crystals against the white skin is a much different set of colors than what normally gets used for kaiju.

An ancient frost dragon type monster just makes great example of why Monsterverse is so fun. In this action figure, Shimo is fairly faithful to her onscreen appearance. A quadruped, Shimo's legs move at the hips. Her head and tail also rotate and move around as you'd expect from a toy like this. Her mouth can open which allows the blast effect to be plugged in for the FROST BITE BLAST. It's a fun toy and to make her fighting against the Evolved Godzilla complete, there's some additional included cardboard scenery (not pictured). Playschool makes great toys and this 2 pack is a lot of fun.... as is everything about Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire.

Decepticon Mohawk (Studio Series/Core Class)

Mohawk was one of the very cool looking Decepticons from Transformers: The Last Knight whom sadly didn't get a whole lot of screen time. Thanks to Studio Series, he FINALLY gets a toy (it's been 7 years since the movie) in the Core Class scale. Mohawk is a wild looking dude with his mohawk, bugged out eyes and giant toothy mouth on a skeletal frame. Admittedly, the skeletal frame is pretty on brand for smaller movie Decepticons, but it really ads to the overall look here. In the movie he's also got things like cutlery and spray paint cans strapped to him. I don't outright see that here, but there's still various sharp points abundant and spots of green paint applied. Is that a vest? He's either a member of Alien Sex Fiend or a Bosozoku. Maybe both.

In true Michael Bay Transformers fashion, Mohawk turns into an very expensive motorcycle. Because nothing says disguise better than a vehicle you don't see often. Regardless, it's a cool looking bike that fits his design. Mohawk is fairly well articulated (his mouth moves y'all) and comes with a big knife. The knife is from his concept art and not used in the movie, but looks really cool. He can hold it or it can mount to his waist or on the motorcycle. Transformation is pretty easy and can be done quickly without a lot of cursing. I'm not sure if another toy could ride him like the Studio Series Junkions and don't really see how one would fit. Mohawk is a fun toy of a cool little menace. I was happy to see the little freak in my Easter Basket courtesy of the Mrs. The Transformers movies have some pretty creative designs sometimes and he's definitely one of them.

Weekly Update 4/22/24

Welcome to another week on Zone Base! I had a pretty good weekend for the most part. My Origins Wheeljack came in Friday. I ordered one mid week and a later stop by Target proved that to be a good idea. They still haven't gotten one! Hopefully the upcoming Legacy United 4 pack will be easier to get. I need that Squeezeplay! Also Friday, the Mrs picked up a Legacy Silverbolt for me! Woo! Beast Wars is life! Saturday while out shopping with the Mrs I picked up Studio Series Sunstreaker and Gnaw! I just realized I already had the figure from the 2021 release, but I guess I got another. You can never have too many Sharkticons! I also picked up some Star Wars Doorables... because I'm hooked. Also stopped by Michaels to look at the Nevermore Collection. Halfway to Halloween is is coming up and this little aisle of gothy decor is just the thing to help ring it in! My local store didn't have it all up, but I enjoyed looking at what they had. Sunday was spent at home and enjoying some homemade pizza for dinner and lots of playing Mighty Doom. Well, I've got a busy day full of chores and recording the newest episode of Transform Squadron in score for me. Hopefully I'll have it up this week. Speaking of things in score, there's a fun week of content planned for you! Thank you for reading Zone Base. If you like what I'm doing, thanks! Please share the site with your friends and Mutual High Fives all around! Our next Zone Base Special Event starts next week, get ready for Halfway 2 Halloween!

Thorium Weaponeer (Battle Tribes/Weaponeers of Monkaa)

Finishing up out look at the Micronaut themed Battle Tribes wave 32 is Thorium Weaponeer, whom is a Weaponeers of Monkaa mold. I was quite fond of Weaponeers of Monkaa figures so this was an extra treat. Thanks to his appearance, Thorium looks like many different Micronaut/Microman robots. Due to his variety of interchangeable parts you can really come up with a variety of looks. Of course the main point of this figure is it's alt mode as an Thorium Orbiter vehicle. The set comes with additional parts in order to make this work. They're from a Restructor Combat Pack weapons set, so they make look familiar to other Weaponeers fans.Transformation is a task of taking everything apart and reassembling.

If you're used to Glyos, you already know it'll be hard on your fingertips. Ouch. Once assembled, the Orbiter can be rode by most Battle Tribes figures. It's obviously perfect for the Micronaut/Microman styled ones... but hey, I'm sure anyone would look great on it. Those old Micronaut/Microman robots are one of the forefathers of Transformers and being the 40th anniversary of Transformers... I want to spend some extra time this year looking at the foundation of Optimus and his friends. I think this Battle Tribes wave did a great job of homaging Micronauts and Microman, which is one of the building blocks to what we know as Transformers today.

Transformers One trailer in space!

At 9am this morning I watched the live Transformers One trailer in space. If you weren't there, it was a camera on a drone that flew up to space with an Autobot symbol. The trip took an hour, in which I took a nap. My alarm went off in time to see space for a few minutes before the camera shifted to a screen that then played the trailer in the video above. I was optimistic about this movie before, but now I'm ecstatic. This looks like a lot of fun and I plan to be there the whole way. I really hope they make toys of the deer.

Bios: Cruellock

"By the time you see me, it will be too late."

Cruellock is the most powerful and cunning of the Terrorcons, combining incredible strength with lightning speed. He is a great tactician whose hunting skills are unmatched. In raptor mode, he can jump to great heights and attack his enemies with powerful energon claws and teeth. In robot mode, his energon-cutting blade can slice through anything, or anybody that stands in his way. It has been said by many that Cruellock's gaze is as deadly as his bite. Beware!

Strength: 8 Intelligence: 8 Speed: 9 Endurance: 8
Rank: 4 Courage: 5 Fireblast: 6 Skill: 6

That Possessed Doll

Every once and awhile I'm reminded of Annabelle. Not just because I enjoy the paranormal and scary stuff in general... but because I was terrified of her a a kid. I've talked about it before. Of course back then I didn't know her name. She was just the 'possessed Raggedy Ann doll' that kids talked about. Like Bloody Mary or the escaped serial killer on Halloween, she was a urban legend that scared us all. At the time, it wasn't uncommon to see a Raggedy Ann doll either. I strongly recall one sitting in a display at the local library and another owned by my cousin. Her popularity as a fictional character was waning by that then, but her presence was still there. Every sighting of one seemed evil. Is that the possessed one? Spring has had been a little extra spooky this year and as we near Walpurgis and Halfway to Halloween... it's a good time to remind those who may not be regular readers that it can get scary during the warmer months here on Planet Zone.

Wheeljack (EarthSpark/Tacticons)

For whatever reason, it's hard to deny the charm of Tacticons. Tiny little finger puppet incarnations of Transformers characters from EarthSpark (so far) that are inexpensive and fun to play around with. They may not be for everybody, but for a bunch of us, they're a lot of fun. I picked up Wheeljack around Christmas and haven't seen once since. As you can tell by the backdrop being my tablet sleeve and not the project display board... I also took this picture around then. But now that it's a few months later we'll take a look at this tiny little oddball. Wheeljack makes up the third wave of Tacticons. I assume others from prior waves fills out the rest of the shipping case as the lack of this figure that I've seen on the shelves leads me to think there wasn't a lot of this wave ordered or stocked. It could just be my local stores though.

So... Wheeljack is just a repaint of Bumblebee.

Yep.

Literally, it could have been anyone else as it doesn't exactly look like Wheeljack either. Maybe similar colors, but nothing screams Wheeljack about this toy. Thing is... it does look pretty good. Like, I wish they would have just random name assigned this toy as it's pretty decent all on it's own. A non-show character, yeah, who cares? In a oddball line like Tacticons, a rando character would be perfect. Weird recolors are part of what made little Transformers like Mini-Cons fun. Hell, it could have been a rally car version of Bumblebee. While it doesn't look like the character it's supposed to be, it's still a good looking toy. Like all Tacticons, Wheeljack transforms by sticking your fingertip into the opening in the rear of the vehicle. All giggling aside, the vehicle then auto converts (why aren't these considered Turbo Changers or 1 Steps?) into a non-articulated robot mode. I do wish the arms moved, but alas. You can then have the mightiest of finger puppet battles or transform Wheeljack back to vehicle by closing up the vehicle shell. This is a simple but likable little toy. Wheeljack is just right to keep in your bag and occasionally take out to play with. Perfect for stress relief or annoying your co-workers, who likely caused the stress to begin with.