Battletrap (Autobots Unite/ Power Plus)

Autobots Unite is a rather odd little sub-line from the Rise of the Beasts movie toys. It's basically all reissues of the Energon Igniters figures from the Bumblebee movie that I went nuts for here with the exception of Battletrap, the only new toy. Battletrap so far has only 2 toys despite being an on screen character. A Studio Series Voyager and this. I don't mind it... but find his lack of toys odd. This is also a straight repaint of the Ironhide Energon Igniters toy. At first I thought this was a weird choice... but it really does work even if not very screen accurate. As you'd guess with the Power Plus class name, there is an an additional 'Energon Core' included.

The Energon Core is a small motor block that can connect to a compatible figure adding a pull-back gimmick to the vehicle and adds to the appearance in some cases. A Power class figure from the Energon Igniters figure could fairly be called an up-scaled Legend/Legion/Speed Series toy. For me, they drew heavy mental comparisons to G2 figures in stature and build. They're simple and not for everyone. I'm pretty sure the types they're not for don't read this site.

Battletrap turns into a 70's/80's-ish pick up truck similar to the one in the movie but without the towing attachment. I didn't really mind that and in his 'attack mode', Battletrap really looks cool. He's a straight repaint of the Ironhide figure... but the new deco really looks good here. It's a simple set of colors, but Battletrap is a nice looking little figure. I don't have to tell you than transformation is simple and articulation is limited. You can tell from the pictures. Considering I paid $4 for him at Ross, I'm not complaining. In Energon Igniters, this class generally cost around $15. I'm not sure if Autobots Unite was supposed to be a discount line or not as they seemingly never appeared in stores until now at liquidation type places. I did see some more in the same class for $8 at the same Ross, so I have no clue what price he'd if you were to find one. At $4 though... I'm happy.

Zone Beast

My excitement for Rise of the Beasts is nearing critical level. NGL, I'm gonna explode and take at least one hemisphere with me. As of this writing I don't have any of the toys from the movie (by the time you're reading this, I have), but they're starting to show up at stores and I am literally chomping at the bit. I normally get excited for a new line, but I haven't been this ecstatic in a VERY long time. I'm specifically excited for the mainline toys. The Studio Series releases are nice... and I'll likely get them... but I'm mostly focused on the mainline. It's a wonderful blend of all sorts of things I gravitate towards in Transformers toys.

I'm of course a huge Beast Wars fan, so the incorporation of it into the mix is of course a welcome one. Then you have partner figures that turn into weapons and armor. That's something I generally go crazy for. I was sad when Battle Masters went away... so seeing them return is just awesome. During the Bumblebee movie I had a LOT of fun with the Energon Igniters line and several of those toys are getting worked in as well with new characters to boot. Not to mention, as I've mentioned more recently... the economy is putting a strain on finances. Sure, I'm ok, but man it makes those ever climbing prices of Generations and Studio Series figures feel irresponsible. Thankfully the mainline figures are following a more economical route. So I can indulge and not feel guilty.

I tend to prefer smaller figures and there's seemingly plenty to choose from. Not to mention the larger Beast Mode figures. Silly, but they're making me think of Weaponizers from Prime or even Power Charge Bumblebee from the Bumblebee movie. I originally didn't intend to get that toy, however it was a Christmas gift from my mother that year. It went on to be one of my favorite Transformers releases that year. This looks like an almost completely positive experience for me. Hopefully the movies good, and I'm prepared for it not to be... but *fingers crossed*. I enjoyed Bumblebee so much that I'm riding into this one on a high note.

Energon Igniters Barricade (Nitro Series)

While picking up our grocery order, we went into Walmart to get a few office supplies. Despite the ton of toys I was given for Christmas, I checked out the toy section and was pleased to find the post holiday clearance in effect. Oddly enough the store had the Nitro Series Barricade marked down to $15 while all the other Energon Igniters was at their standard retail price. Not one to argue with a good deal, I snatched him up.

Barricade turns into a heavily armored Police Car who's super cool looking. Inserting the Energon core into the hood deploys some guns and gives him a more badass look with his engine poking through the hood. Barricade seems more out of an old arcade game than the mid-80's setting of the movie, though I'm not complaining. A few simple steps and Barricade is in his robot mode.

Barricade looks a lot like his 2007 movie appearance here, which looks great even though I'm a bigger fan of his TF5 look. If the toy was smaller they probably could have made it more solid, but it's hard not to like this big robot. He has a decent amount of articulation, though you can't roll him up in a ball like some toys seem to be intended to. I wish he had some guns, I'm sure I could just stick one in his hand. Though the Energon core does make a good circular saw for weekends at home when Barricade is working on his deck.

Soundwave turns into a guy who used to live down the street from me

My word, it's majestic

News broke while I was sitting at my desk working of even more Energon Igniters toys on the way. The news post gives new looks at the Ratchet I talked about earlier as well as the Nitro series Blitzwing and Dropkick that's been shown on news sites already (and look fabulous). That's not what's exciting, what's mind blowing is the Power Series Plus Soundwave and Ironhide that just melted my brain.

MAJESTIC

Soundwave just might be the best toy of the year and it's the first week of January. That is amazing. Turning into a radical rocker dude van with a freaking mural of Ravage and Laserbeak, Soundwave is literal perfection. I can only hope for a Shattered Glass and Soundblaster version. Man, a standard Power Series Soundblaster would be nuts. He could have a mural of Ratbat and Overkill and be a metal dude. OMG HE SHOULD HAVE A MURAL OF RATBAT AND OVERKILL AND BE A METAL DUDE. I might just shit my pants.

rock you like a hurricane

Ironhide decided to show up, and clearly he's made friends with a dude named Chet who blasts Motley Crue in the Circle K parking lot while crushing beer cans on his forehead. Just look at that badass truck, you know it smells like a carton of cigarettes. But wait, there's more!

plays with madness

Whoa, Ironhide is the most directly out of G2 dude yet. In fact, I demand the repaint be Turbofire. IT HAS TO HAPPEN. Good lord Energon Igniters is just the best thing to happen in in a long time. Simple, inexpensive, fun little Transformers toys with a TON of charm that take a page out of the book of what made older robot toys so great. I'm not crying, you're crying.

They're wonderful.

Needful Bots

 

Over the past few days, news and images of random Energon Igniters figures have been popping up and really grabbing my attention. There's the recently discovered Power Series Ratchet that somehow alluded news sites coverage. It's an odd bit as the toy is sculpted like Ratchet's earlier movie appearances and not his look in the Bumblebee movie (which the toy is tied too). Add in his deco looks more like Medix and you've got an pretty random toy. Which I'll buy.

Not to be outdone is random sightings of a Speed Series Cliffjumper. The repaints of legend/legion/speed series molds are usually a lot of fun, so I've been hoping for some good ones. Bumblebee toys just look good in red. They have since G1 and look good even these days when they're usually sold as Cliffjumper. So, I'm game. I kinda hope they do a red version of the Camaro Speed Series Bumblebee toy as Stinger. Mainly because I'm silly over Stinger, and also because I'm silly over Stinger.

 

Finally we have a Crystal version of Bumblebee that's a magazine exclusive in Febuary 2019. I'll probably never own this and it will haunt me to my dying day.

Energon Igniters Shatter (Power Series)

Shatter turns into a neat little jet that's hard to not like. Featuring some landing gear, it's a basic but a very pleasant jet. As an Energon Igniters figure she is compatible with the gimmick blocks in the line that can be connected in her 'attack' formation.

In this mode Shatter has some great missile pods deployed and the addition of the gimmick block allows for the jet to roll around on it's landing gear. Just a few steps and Shatter forms her robot mode.

Shatter is a perfectly acceptable robot, but I wish there was more to her arms. Not necessarily anything major, just something else would really go far. Probably because they look so spindly next to the rest of her body. Super solid toy though.

Energon Igniters Optimus Prime (Power Series)

 

Power Series Optimus Prime has a great truck mode. It's a throw back to the classic G1 Optimus flat nosed truck that's also a pleasant little toy. Like all Energon Igniters figures, he's compatible with the gimmick block. Either it can be plugged into his front bumper or in his 'attack' formation.

It's in this mode that his cannons fold out in vehicle mode giving him some firepower. Just a few simple steps and Optimus switches into his robot mode.

Optimus looks more like his movie representation here while forming a very basic robot toy. Articulation is limited to his elbows, which isn't that big of a distraction as it's intentionally a very simple, yet pleasant toy.

Energon Igniters Bumblebee (Speed Series)

Since both the VW and Camaro versions of the Speed Series Bumblebee share engineering, I included them as the same post. Like the Optimus Prime of the Speed Series, Bumblebee finally gets a new legion style toy as the past few movies have been steadily using the ROTF mold. While that was a good toy, this is a big step up. Just a much better toy. While the Volkswagon Bug looks closer to the traditional Bumblebee we're all used to, it actually shares engineering with the Camaro version based on the 2007 movie that's just as well known. The transformations are almost identical, save for a little wiggle here and there. Though I found the Camaro version harder to transform as his car parts were harder to work around. At $5 a pop, these are great figures and since it's Bumblebee's time to shine with the new movie, it's hard to ignore all the fun toys he has on shelves. I really like these guys and hope for a million recolors. Like all Energon Igniters, they are Power Core compatible. Great little toys.

Energon Igniters VW Bumblebee (Power Plus Series)

 

I've been a fan of Energon Igniters figures since first learning of them. After completing the first series of Power and Speed Series figures, I decided to dip my toes into the next class of figures. A Power Series figure is around $9.99 at my local Walmart, while a Power Plus is $12.99. For those extra three dollars, you get the Power Core gimmick block which is compatible with all Energon Igniters figures, even the ones that don't include one.

Energon Igniters Hot Rod and Barricade (Speed Series)

 

Since Hot Rod and Barricade share a base mold, I thought it best to post them together. The toys are very similar to the  2007 Transformers movie Legend/Legion Barricade toy. I don't know if it's a coincidence, purposely using the engineering, or a heavy remold. Either way, in this toy they turn into a generic 70's/80's muscle car. Barricade a Police Car and Hot Rod that car the neighborhood bully drove while listening to Judas Priest. Aside from some basic deco differences, the two have different heads and Barricade has a light bar. As all Energon Igniters, they are compatible with the Power Core blocks. There are some pretty good little figures and at $5 each, they're hard to pass up.

Energon Igniters Optimus Prime (Speed Series)

My love of Legion figures is far known and the new Speed Series naming for the scale is something I quite like a lot. It's just a better name. As part of the Bumblebee movie toys and aesthetic Optimus Prime looks very traditional mixed with his established movie look. In his truck mode, Optimus is a very pleasant flat nosed semi that despite it's small size, is compatible with a Energon Igniters Power Core (available with the larger figures in the line).

I have nothing bad to say about this figure. It looks good, has solid play value, and only costs $5. The past few legion class Optimus toys have been reuses of the ROTF mold and this is an upgrade. It's a welcome change and I can only hope the recolors of it are as many as the prior mold. The toy has a pleasant amount of articulation and a simple transformation. The metallic blue paint is a really nice touch. Just a great toy.

Energon Igniters Power Series (wave 1)

From left to right: Hot Rod, Bumblebee, Megatron, and Dropkick in vehicle mode

The Energon Igniters toy line from the Bumblebee movie created a new size class called the Power Series. These are relatively simple figures with a lot of charm. If you're confused about them, don't worry, I was too at first. News sites didn't give the Energon Igniters the best coverage information initially and I thought these were a renamed version of Scouts. If you were to look at them in stores, you'd think they were Turbo Changers at first glance as they have the same style packaging. Once you get past the initial confusion, there's a fun little series of figures to be found.

Energon Igniters commercial

Happy Dance

More news from NYCC has been coming and boy oh boy is it my kind of news! New renders of Cyberverse and Energon Igniters figures have been popping up showing me stuff I just can't help but to love. Transformers is the music I can't hear enough and the upcoming year's verse is the very song that I'll gladly put on repeat.

I'm very happy to see Shadow Striker get a scout release and find it just a bit better looking than the larger 20$ toy, so that's a definite plus! Also a Soundwave with a super rad Laserbeak launching action is hard to deny as pure awesome. Not to mention more Hot Rod. Love me some Hot Rod. It looks like some great releases in my personal fan favorite Power series is coming by way of a few creative repaints as well as some new molds. Man... just MAN I wish these had some crazy launching missile gun, or water changing action with squirter because they are ssssooooo descendants of G2 gimmick figures in design. Seeing as they're outfitted with a port for that Energon Igniter gimmick block, maybe some crafty fans can make some nifty Axelerators type guns to hold in bot mode and store as engines in vehicle mode.

Ignite Speeding Energon

More looks at the upcoming Energon Igniters line popped up yesterday and man does it look great. Following a bit in the steps of the original Cyberverse (ironically just after the launch of the new Cyberverse), the line looks great. Though unlike the original Cyberverse, the line features Legion and Commanders under a new size class name with higher end line mates whom share their gimmick. That little plug and play Core Reactor can work on the various classes that don't include one. Personally, I'm focusing on the smaller Speed (Legion) and Power (Commander/Legend) class figures and maybe a few of the higher end figures (because everyone knows I love smaller figures). They look like a lot of fun (as was Cyberverse... the original Cyberverse...).

Ignite the night

News broke this morning with the first looks at the Energon Igniters figures for the upcoming Bumblebee movie that just look great. Playing off the 80's theme of the movie, these figures are movie characters that turn into 70's and 80's cars. So dang cool!

There's multiple size classes and I can't help but to mentally recall G2 and Machine Wars when looking at some of these. These look great and help the excitement for the upcoming movie develop in me. I hope this movie is a bigger hit than TLK. Not just for the bettering of the franchise, but movie stuff is just fun.

I really want that Bumbebee Snickers back.