Changing Gears

I've been experimenting with the way I handle things around the site. I put a lot of time and energy into Zone Base and always try to make it a better overall experience. For the longest time, there wasn't really a regular posting schedule. I just posted whenever I wanted. Eventually, that turned into posting nearly every day before settling into the rhythm I've had for the past few years.

Lately though, that rhythm has started feeling more like a rut. It became content for the sake of content, as long as I followed my schedule, and I'd be way too hard on myself whenever I couldn't.

Guys, I make exactly zero dollars from this site. It's simply an extension of my hobby and my way of enjoying all this fun stuff with you. If I *did* make money from Zone Base, I'd probably be even more militant about sticking to a schedule.

One of the reasons I've always tried to post regularly is because it's always seemed strange to me when a website goes silent for months, then suddenly posts again like nothing ever happened. Sure, life happens, and sometimes people just can't update. That's completely understandable. But let your readers know what's going on, especially if you're making money from the site. In my mind, those readers deserve that courtesy.

I've always felt like too many people take their audience for granted, and I refuse to do that with all of you.

Zone Base isn't some giant website, and I'm certainly no influencer. But the site gets thousands of views every day. There aren't words that can fully express how flattering and humbling that is to me. Thank you all so much for taking time out of your day just to read whatever nonsense I've decided to write about.

With all that in mind, and with the goal of making both the site better and my life a little easier, I'm changing the posting schedule. I think it's going to lead to higher-quality posts and, ultimately, a better experience for everyone. They'll probably be a few adjustments as I go, but here's the plan.

**Monday**

The Weekly Update posts have become surprisingly popular, so I'm going to expand them a bit. I'll still talk about what I did over the weekend and any toy pickups (I seriously doubt anyone is interested in the drawstring cargo shorts I found at Burlington), but I'm also going to use them to talk about things happening in the hobby. A new toy line? A new game? Something interesting that's been announced? It'll all have a place here.

**Tuesday**

Random Day!

This is where the Godzilla, He-Man, and other non-Transformers topics will live. I'm also expanding "random" to include robot lines adjacent to Transformers. Maybe I want to talk about a BeastBOX figure, one of those cool Nano Block-style mechs from Daiso, or even a GoBot. They'll all fit here.

The biggest change is that if I don't have something substantial to say, there simply won't be a Tuesday post.

Previously, I'd sometimes throw up a video or something with very little text because I felt like I *had* to post something. Not anymore. I'd rather post something worth reading than post just to fill a space on the calendar.

**Wednesday**

Wednesday becomes the week's main Transformers feature.

Instead of two shorter Transformers or robot-related posts every week, expect one larger, more substantial article.

Transformers model kits will probably continue taking center stage because they're a blast to build and write about, and you all have made it pretty clear you enjoy them too. But don't worry, regular Transformers toys aren't going anywhere. I still want to continue things like my quest to cover every Cyberworld toy.

I also want to get back to writing more articles that aren't necessarily toy reviews. Maybe it's an episode of the cartoon, a character, a piece of history, or just an experience I've had with the franchise. I miss writing those kinds of posts, and I think they'll make Wednesday feel like the week's "Main Event."

**Occasional or Special Posts**

Sometimes something happens and I just want to talk about it *right now*. Those posts aren't going away. They'll happen whenever inspiration strikes or whenever there's something worth talking about.

**Social Media**

Zone Base has never had a huge social media presence. Most of the sharing has always been through my personal accounts. I did create a Zone Base Facebook page to make sharing easier, and while it doesn't have a huge following, that's perfectly fine.

I've also started treating Instagram and TikTok as extensions of the site rather than separate things. I've been making TikTok videos, sharing them to Instagram as Reels, and even using those videos as the images for some of my posts.

Going forward, you'll probably see more content there that doesn't necessarily become a full blog post here on Zone Base. Those oddball videos I mentioned earlier? Social media is probably where they'll end up. There are links here on the site, and over the next few days I'll be looking for ways to integrate them even better. If you'd like to give me a follow, I'd certainly appreciate it.

Starting this week, Zone Base will officially move to this new format, with the first new Weekly Update arriving next week.

Don't worry—Halloween is still happening exactly as it always does, with Halloween posts appearing before the regular scheduled posts. Beast Summer isn't going anywhere either. July is still going to be packed with beast-themed content, not just here on the site, but across the social media pages as well.

I hope you all enjoy the changes, and I hope they make Zone Base an even better place to visit.

As always, thank you for reading, thank you for sharing the site with your friends, and as always... be excellent to each other.

Optimus Primal [Cyberworld/Cyber Changers]

@robfromzonebase Optimus Primal (Cyberworld/Cyber Changers) #zonebase #transformers #cyberworld #hasbro #takaratomy ♬ SATORi SEDAi - NEON ONI

It feels a little poetic to be talking about a Cyberworld toy during Beast Summer. Beast Summer originally began back in 2023 with the release of *Rise of the Beasts* and a heavy focus on the Beast Alliance toys. I loved Beast Alliance and repeated over and over that I wished it would continue beyond the movie tie-in line.

Well...

Cyberworld arrived in 2025 and feels very much like the spiritual successor to Beast Alliance. It has similarly sized figures and that same fun spirit. If only it had Battle Changers too... but maybe eventually. I've pointed out those familiar connection ports all over the Cyber Changer figures several times already.

Today we're looking at the Optimus Primal Cyber Changer, a figure that really hits home for me. It's a perfect Cyber Changer and a wonderful example of what makes Cyberworld so much fun.

But first, let's address the obvious.

Optimus Primal usually transforms into a gorilla (with the occasional exception... I still love that bat toy), and one of the oldest Beast Wars fandom jokes was "Truck, not monkey," poking fun at G1 purists who couldn't accept Optimus Prime becoming a gorilla.

So naturally...

Here's an Optimus Primal that turns into a truck.

Now, Primal has had vehicle modes before, including another truck, but since this is a widely available mainline toy, it's getting plenty of attention for exactly that reason.

Honestly...

I find it hilarious.

Outside of that conversation is one fabulous little toy. Optimus transforms into a Cybertronian armored carrier that's reminiscent of a Lenco BearCat. Which, funnily enough, gives a beast of a truck a beastly owner. It really suits a powerhouse like Optimus Primal.

Transformation is a simple auto-morph. Click his feet together and push upward, allowing his thighs to slide into the torso while the upper body folds neatly into place. It's quick, satisfying, and results in a really solid vehicle mode.

I do think it would benefit from some extra accessories. Battle Changers or the armor parts from the Armored Cyber Changers would really add a lot to it. It's the kind of vehicle that just begs for extra equipment.

Robot mode is just plain fun. Optimus is stocky, blocky, and wonderfully chunky. Thanks to his colors and overall shape, he still immediately feels like Optimus Primal despite the completely different alternate mode.

Being a Cyber Changer, he follows the class's unified design philosophy, which I've found myself oddly enjoying. Articulation is at the shoulders, hips, and knees, and the similar silhouettes across the line allow them to interact with larger Cyberworld toys and their various gimmicks.

If Action Masters were the G.I. Joe-ification of Transformers, Cyber Changers almost feel like the transforming equivalent of that idea.

The only real nitpick I have is that I wish his thighs were just a little thicker. It's a side effect of the transformation, but on such a broad, beefy design they stand out just a bit more than I'd like.

Speaking of the design, Takara Tomy doesn't appear to be involved with Cyberworld. I've often pointed out similarities to older Transformers with this line, but one comparison that keeps coming back to me is Gobots and Machine Robo. The proportions, articulation, and overall silhouette feel remarkably similar, even if these are a bit larger.

Just like the Hot Wheels x Transformers line, I can't help but wonder if PLEX might have been involved. PLEX has designed Machine Robo toys for Bandai and has worked with Mattel in the past. Now that Hasbro and Mattel have been collaborating more often, it doesn't seem completely out of the realm of possibility.

That's purely speculation on my part...

But it makes sense in my head.

I know another Optimus Primal repaint is already on the way using this mold, but seeing how Cyberworld likes to reuse engineering, I'm already looking forward to seeing what else comes from it.

Personally?

I'd love to see Demolishor using this body, specifically his *Transformers: Energon* design. Even if they didn't make him a dump truck, I think the overall shape is close enough to make it work.

It's been too long since I've taken a look at a Cyberworld toy here on the site and, with my goal of covering the entire line, I'm happy to finally be adding more of them to Beast Summer.

Optimus Primal is a fantastic addition to Cyberworld...

And I just really like him.

Beast Man [Masters of the Universe]

@robfromzonebase Beast Man (Masters of The Universe/Core Class) #zonebase #mastersoftheuniverse #toys #mattel #evilwarriors ♬ Ceremony - Holy Wars

I really liked the new Masters of the Universe movie and, of the many things I enjoyed about it, Beast Man was definitely one of them. Like much of the film, he stayed very true to his classic incarnation. He wasn't quite the buffoon he often became in the old cartoon (okay... maybe just a little), but he definitely felt like the genuine threat he was in those original mini-comics.

Like I've said before, Beast Man was actually one of my very first MOTU toys, even before I got He-Man and Skeletor, so I've always been a little attached to the character.

Once again, we're looking at one of the new Core Class figures and, just like the others, it's surprisingly impressive.

For what's essentially the budget line, Beast Man has a really solid amount of articulation. It's obviously not on the level of a more premium figure, but it's far better than you'd expect at this price point.

Part of me wonders if Mattel is sharing CAD work with some of their other lines to help keep costs down because Beast Man genuinely looks like he should cost more than he does.

His sculpt and paint applications are excellent.

Honestly...

He looks so good that I still have a hard time accepting he's a Core Class figure.

This is the sort of quality I'd have expected from one of the old McFarlane Spawn figures back in the early 2000s, only with much nicer plastic.

Of course, Beast Man comes with his traditional whip. Oddly enough, I appreciate that accessory much more as an adult than I ever did as a kid. Part of that is because the original toy's whip wasn't exactly the greatest, but it's also because I've come to appreciate how well it fits the character.

After all, Beast Man's real power is his ability to telepathically control animals. The whip almost feels less like a weapon and more like a tool for someone who regularly wrangles wild beasts... probably not very kindly.

This is one of those figures that completely surprises you with just how good it is. If the rest of the Core Class line continues at this level, I think Mattel has a real winner on their hands.

Magmatron [Defender Version 07 – Power of the Beast]

@robfromzonebase Magmatron (Blokees Transformers Defender Version 07- Power of the Beast) #zonebase #transformers #blokees #models #beastwars ♬ ChainsawGirl - RinRin

It's been a little too long since I've talked about a Blokees kit here on the site and, since it's Beast Summer (damn, it feels good to say that again), we're getting back into the swing of things with one of Beast Wars' standouts, Magmatron.

Magmatron is the leader of the Predacons in Beast Wars Neo, who later joins the Beast Machines Dinobots. That's actually how I acquired my original Magmatron, as the Japanese release was a little out of reach for a broke college student. However, when Hasbro made him a member of the new Dinobots, he was released as a Target exclusive that I immediately jumped on.

Magmatron is a very interesting Transformer. He's composed of three different dinosaurs—Landsaurus, Seasaurus, and Skysaurus—that combine to form his robot mode. The combination of those three distinct dinosaurs makes for one of the most unique robot designs in the franchise.

Since Blokees obviously don't transform, we don't have to worry about that here. However, it does make for a slightly more involved build than you'd normally expect from a Defender Version kit.

I definitely enjoy the different dinosaur heads on his shoulders. On the original toy, they're beast mode kibble that becomes ornamental in robot mode. Here, Blokees could have easily skipped them altogether, but they didn't. Little touches like that help Magmatron feel more premium than your average Defender Version release.

I especially appreciate Skysaurus's wings on his back. Once again, they're an important part of his design, but they really pop on this kit. Since he doesn't transform, Magmatron's robot head also isn't tied to Skysaurus's transformation and is able to articulate independently. Defender Version kits are already well-articulated once assembled, and that extra freedom really benefits a design that's usually limited by the realities of being a transforming toy.

Another really nice touch is the inclusion of his Magma Blade and Magma Shield. They're appropriately oversized compared to the smaller figure, giving him a much more imposing presence than I'm used to seeing from Magmatron. They're large weapons on the original toy as well, but at this scale they almost make him feel like a miniature fantasy warrior.

The crazy thing is that this isn't even one of the chase figures in the assortment.

It's just a standard release.

That's honestly a little mind-blowing.

This is such a nice little kit that, if I needed a single figure to sell me on the entire Defender Version line, Magmatron would probably be it.