Vector Prime [Legacy United/Voyager Class]

Today we're looking at another updated Cybertron series character, Vector Prime! Vector Prime is the guardian of time and space. He travels between realities and timelines serving the will of Primus. One of the original Thirteen, Vector Prime is OLD. Recorded history says he's 25 million years old, but he claims to be 9 billion. Man, he doesn't look a day over 19. I've always liked his clockwork knight style appearance and big blue sword. This new update of him in Transformers Legacy United is a remold of Jhiaxus from Transformers Legacy. I liked that toy quite a bit and see how the basic skeleton could work for Vector Prime. It's most obvious in his legs which also leads to my biggest complaint about the toy. Jhiaxus featured a pair of fins on his boots that Vector Prime doesn't. This leads to a pair of unused hinges on Vector Prime that make the toy look as though it's missing parts out of the packaging. That's a little poopy. 

While I vastly prefer the chonk of the original figure, this is a good representation of the character in a new toy. I liked the Jhiaxus toy a whole lot, so it bares to reason I'd like this one too. Like the Cybertron Starscream, Vector Prime also comes with a Cyber Planet Key. Also like Starscream, it's just for show. That's ok with me as I just don't see where a compatible gimmick would fit on this figure. The key can either mount on his waist or on the sword hilt. I personally like it on the sword as it looks cool, but prefer it in it's normal docking position in vehicle mode. Speaking of vehicle mode, transformation is pretty easy, though I did find myself juggling his wing sections while maneuvering parts. They're on arms that swivel about and just got in the way at times. Spaceship mode is very similar to the original Sith Infiltrator inspired vehicle. Which is a good thing as both the Sith Infiltrator and this are cool looking spaceships.

This update gives Vector Prime a good bit of articulation thanks to the modern engineering. The original toy was fairly articulated in it's own right, but the advancements are impossible to ignore. I do find him a little flat feeling. That's leftover from the Jhiaxus skeleton and can't be helped, but was a little awkward. Not deal breaking, just noticeable. I think my only real complaint is those weird empty hinges on his legs (mentioned above). They're just impossible to ignore. I do wish he would have come with Safeguard like the original, but do understand. I loved Mini-Cons and that was a really good one. This is a great update of Vector Prime and I'm happy to see him getting a new toy. The updates of various characters from the 40 years of Transformers is what's made Legacy so fun. Cybertron almost feels lost in time thanks to the movie coming out immediately after it. The Unicron Trilogy was a really good time full of really good toys. Vector Prime was a cool character that came from that era who has managed to stick around in one way or another over the years. His place in Transformers history deserves new toys more often.

Starscream [Legacy United/Voyager Class]

Starting off our annual 3 months of Halloween is the newest version of Starscream from the Transformers Legacy United toy line. This version of Starscream is an update of his appearance from the Cybertron/Galaxy Force series that ended the Unicron Trilogy and pretty much lead up to the release of the live action movies (with Classics rounding out the toys). This version of Starscream is perfect to start our spooky season with. Not only did he spent the majority of Energon as a ghost, but also lead a force of Ancient Deceptions at one point. Whom were hidden on Earth for a long time posing as monsters of our folklore and myths! Super robots and monsters go hand and hand!

Starscream's design in Cybertron was heavily influenced by his depiction in the War Within comic series, which was influenced by the Cybertronian Tetrajet Seeker design seen in the original cartoon. It's a really cool look and fun to see the update improve upon the original toy which I've always held in high regard. Honestly, it's not that different from that original toy. Maybe not as chonky and the Cyber Key gimmicks are removed. Thanks to modern engineering, Starscream has more articulation than before, though the original wasn't lacking in that department. All around, this toy is an improvement, though I do like that chonk the original had. It's just satisfying. Starscreams arm mounted swords fold out without the need for a Cyber Key like the original, however this toy does come with a Cyber Key! That's really neat as they were so heavily ingrained in the original Cybertron line. This one is much smaller and not backwards compatible. It really doesn't serve any function other than appearances and that's fine. The throwback is cool. While I had a love/hate relationship with the original Cyber Key gimmick, I always liked the keys individually. The Cyber Key can be placed either in the docking location behind Starscream's head or on his rifle.

Transformation to jet mode isn't hard and not terribly unlike the original. I don't know if this is a common problem, but my Starscream's right arm kept coming off at the shoulder and constantly found myself re-attaching it. This led to some annoyance in transformation as that area has to be configured in a certain way. The extra articulation added some aggrivation in transformation as I found myself constantly re-adjusting parts to make them fit just right. The extra movement is cool in robot mode, but was a little troublesome in conversion. That could be a personal issue admittedly. Once transformed the jet looks great and holds together firmly. You can attach his rifle on top or underneath the jet (I choose underneath) and everything just works well. I've always liked this design and it works well updated here. While I had a little trouble (mentioned above), overall I'm happy with this new version of a classic design. I've been a big fan of the Unicron Trilogy since it's introduction and these new toys of the characters are very appreciated.

BIOS: Jolt

Sub-Group - Recon Team

Jolt -- the leader of the team, and the only one able to speak a human language - is a great lover of human culture, addicted to television, music and the Internet. On more than one occasion he has caused difficulty for the Autobots by forgetting he's not a human being. Six-Speed and Reverb, though sometimes frustrated by their leader's tendency to become distracted by cartoons and web-comics, love the excitement of missions with their human partners, working as a fast response strike and rescue team on away missions on the Lost Planets.

Strength: 6 Intelligence: 8 Speed: 9 Endurance: 6
Rank: 5.5 Courage: 6 Firepower: 6.5 Skill: 8

Bios: Excellion

An outsider among the Autobots because of his brooding attitude, Excellion is one of the very few Autobot warriors who the Decepticons think of with any respect, but that respect is earned. Excellion has made an art of speed and stealth, moving back and forth across enemy lines as if he were invisible. More than once, he has retrieved vital information from within a Decepticon stronghold, or quickly and quietly disposed of a particularly annoying enemy agent.

Strength: 6 Intelligence: 7 Speed: 8.5 Endurance: 8
Rank: 6.5 Courage: 9 Fireblast: 7 Skill: 9

Cybertron X: Rondo of Blood

 

What is a Autobot? (flings goblet of strife aside) A miserable little pile of secrets! But enough talk! Have at you!

Werewolves, witches, vampires. Monsters, big and small have terrorized mankind since the beginning of time. But what if I told you that many, in fact, were actually... Decepticons? In Transformers Cybertron episode 23 'Trap' that indeed is the case. While we know the Transformers came to Earth and took the disguises of our vehicles and animals for various purposes, they traveled elsewhere as well. To other planets and even here at other times. The Ancient Decepticons who came to Earth hundreds of years ago patterned themselves after Earths monsters to terrorize humans! Fortunately the Autobots have an ace monster hunter on their side- CROSSWISE!

A Hyper Galaxy

 

Cybertron/Galaxy Force is one of those lines that feels like the last of it's kind. It was the last series to run before the 2007 live action movie changed everything. Sure, 'classics' happened in between. However that didn't have a cartoon and generally filled out the time before the movie (which had been delayed) released. Cybertron was the last of the Unicron Trilogy (Galaxy Force was stand alone) and a fun ride. Following up on the gimmick heavy lines of the Unicron Trilogy, it took the 'activated' gimmick from Armada and improved it. I liked the different themed planets and variety of robots that came from it.

A neat Kabaya candy toy line sold as part of Galaxy Force was Hyper Galaxy. Hyper Galaxy was a figurine line sold mainly at convenience stores like other candy toys in 2005. There were 3 total figures in the line- Galaxy Convoy (Optimus Prime), Galaxy Convoy Super Mode (Optimus Prime Super Mode), and Master Megatron (Megatron). Each was individually labeled (not blind boxes) and came with a piece of gum. 

The figures were neat overall. Galaxy Convoy Super Mode was my favorite with Master Megatron coming in second. The regular Galaxy Convoy was fine, just not as neat as the others. They were well painted and honestly something I would love to grab from a convenience store. I could easily see myself picking up one while stopping in for a Bueno Bar and bottle of Coke Zero. Unfortunately these cool toys don't reach my small stores. I got my set at BotCon that year. I don't remember the exact price, but it wasn't expensive. The three stood by my computer monitor for a while with some Beast Wars gachapon figures. That was a cool set up.

Wreckloose is a weird name

Off screen characters are usually pretty great toys despite not getting any screen time. Wreckloose from Cybertron is one of those really great toys that somehow didn't make it to the show. Realistically because of random marketing and business reasons, but I'll call it because of bad decisions. Wreckloose is a Decepticon from the Jungle Planet who turns into a komodo dragon (autocorrect suggested I misspelled Commodore Dragon there and frankly that's an awesome idea). I was a big fan of the Jungle Planet as it was something of a return to Beast Wars and Wreckloose really felt like a lost beast era mold.

As part of the Cybertron line, Wreckloose had a Cyber Planet Key gimmick in his weapon. His weapon, which was a helmet piece in lizard mode would unfold into a crossbow type weapon. This could be activated in beast mode or when held in his hand. Also felt like a late addition to the design, making me wonder if he was sitting in some designers binder somewhere for a few years. Probably not, but with his overall design and look, I'm convinced he could have been a Transmetal 2 basic... and man should he have been.

Just as the injustice of such an excellent toy not being featured on the show was committed, so was the misfortune of no repaint into a new character happened. Wreckloose was the rare one and done mold in Transformers that happens less often than you can imagine. I could assume it was due in part to the movie line originally being planned to follow Cybertron immediately (but didn't), but will just chalk it up to another bad decision based on no factual evidence and not ever working in the toy industry. Though later the mold did resurface in discount store releases.

Several Cybertron and Energon figures found their way back onto shelves with minor differences via discount store releases. Initially this was under the Universe banner, but shorty after the live action movies it was just 'Transformers'. For a brief moment in time Transformers were just called Transformers and it was glorious. Wreckloose was re-released around 2010 with minor paint differences in these discount store packages. He could be found on a standard card normally, though a boxed gift set with him included did pop up. The toy is largely the same as his Cybertron release with a few minor paint detail differences.

While the original toy's fiction was limited to his bio (he sets traps) setting him in the Cyberverse story, the re-release didn't really put him anywhere other than your local Family Dollar. Though years later, he was a bit character in Fun Publications fan club fiction in the Beast Wars: Uprising story line. Eventually, the obviously a freaking Beast Wars found his way into some sort of freaking Beast Wars setting. Because holy crap it was a freaking Beast Wars toy that somehow didn't come out until Cybertron and don't you tell me otherwise because dammit it's a fucking Beast Wars toy with a shoehorned gimmick.

Ridin' into the Crumplezone

 

I've been talking about Cybertron lately, and frankly that's a good thing. Cybertron and it's other Unicron Trilogy series were pretty great. They had solid toys with fun gimmicks and a great story line. It was a pretty great time to be a Transformers fan and pretty much the last of the old ways before the movies came along and everything seemingly changed forever (though, it does look like things are slowly reverting).

Crumplezone was always pared with his partner Ransack in the cartoon. They were the standard pair of bozos and Crumplezone was pretty much the typical big dumb guy. Though his toy was hardly typical, in fact it was really cool! Crumplezone's vehicle mode was some sort of rocket powered sci fi race car owing to his home planet of Velocitron (a planet based on race culture), or as noted on his Cyber Planet Key, The Speed Planet.

In robot mode, Crumplezone has a big upper body with long lanky arms. The rocket boosters from his vehicle mode flip over his shoulder with sound effects to fire missiles when activated by his Cyber Planet Key. I really wish he came with some sort of melee weapon and I can really see the brute clobbering somebody with something. With a mix of dark and light green colors, Crumplezone is a really good looking toy.

Remember how I just talked about his flip over the shoulder rocket launchers a minute ago? Well, here's the first part of why I chose to talk about this particular toy today. To the surprise of absolutely nobody, I'm thinking about Halloween. Crumplezone is something of a ghost story of mine. When the toy came out, I lived in an apartment that just always had something weird going on like it was cursed or something. Outlets shorted out, the ceiling leaked once, my PS2 literally died for no apparent reason one night and a week later it's replacement had to be returned after also dying. Really nice apartment, but there was just always something wrong.

My toy room at the time was decked out with various bookshelves that I'd store the bulk of my toys on. I had Crumplezone in a good spot so I could see him (he was new and I liked him!), I'd keep his missile launchers in the locked in position as over his shoulder would cause him to fall over. There was no extra storage for his key, I'd put it in it's port, but not enough to trigger the launchers. With those keys you really had to jam them in to hit the sweet spot, so it worked out usually. At random times, those damn launchers would just flip over and the deploying sound effect would BLARE. Like I said, I didn't have the key in far enough to trigger anything. The catch wasn't super strong obviously, but man when it happened out of nowhere...

When the time for a repaint came, by some magic, Crumplezone also got a hefty remold. Dark Crumplezone didn't just have new colors, but also new parts! Now more angular with attached fins that made the car look more menacing with a Frankenstein-ish looking robot mode! This might be the other Halloween inspired reason I felt like talking about him, he's a monster! This is without a doubt my favorite version of the toy as it's just gorgeous to look at. The colors and lightening/tribal decals make for one mean looking toy, not to mention the more sharp boxy parts are great! They took a good looking toy and made it 100% better.

The toy mold got one more use as a BotCon exclusive in 2006. Part of the "Dawn of Future's Past" box set, the original version of the mold was made into a Cybertronian version of Optimus Primal! With a new head and the classic Primal deco, I was surprised by how well this came out. Easily my favorite of the Fun Publications era of exclusives, the box set was themed as the Beast Wars characters right before the start of the show. It's not just my favorite of their work because of how much I love Beast Wars (maybe a little bit), but man they did a really great job! The toys looked amazing and were really imaginative uses of prior existing molds.

It's almost bittersweet though, just as I've said above that Cybertron was the last hurrah of the old ways before the movies. And even though this was only Fun Pub's second BotCon, it was the last one that felt like BotCon to me. While I don't bemoan the movies (I enjoy them, actually) or all the money and attention they brought to the brand. I do miss the older times before them and before everything changed. Not just scope, the overall vibe of Transformers and the Transformers fandom itself hasn't been the same since. Change is the nature of all things, even the theme of the brand, but sometimes you can't help but to wish some things stayed the same.

Overhaulin Cybertron

In 2005, Transformers Cybertron graced toy shelves with some pretty neat toys. Overhaul was in the initial shipments of the scout class and was a fast favorite of the line for me. Going with the Cyber Planet Key gimmick of the line, you'll notice that he's representing the Jungle Planet. The Jungle Planet was home to beast based Transformers and even though a jeep/SUV style vehicle would fit in that environment, Overhaul was a bit of a beastly bot on his own with claws, sharp teeth, and some distinct styling. Overhaul was effectively modeled after Wolverine.

Though that's not all to his Jungle Planet life. Overhaul was changed into Leobreaker, a lion based bot whom fit in among the Jungle Planet even more. You may notice his names don't exactly translate into each other. That's because Overhaul was originally planned to be Trailbreaker. Leo-Breaker, get it?

If you guessed the toy mold got a repaint, then you've been paying attention to the franchise for the past 35 years. Not too much long after Overhaul was released, a new Decepticon character using the mold was released named Brushguard. Brushguard was not just a cool blue version of the toy, he was also a botanist! He spends his time researching things like poisonous plant based toxins and how to use them in battle! He's actually working for money to spend on science fiction, what a nerd! Not to mention, Brushguard is actually Overhaul's cousin. Talk about an awkward Thanksgiving!

Later when the movie came out in summer of 2007, Transformers fans were treated with a DELUGE of toys! Target featured an exclusive line of basic and scout repaints in movie packaging. While that might sound boring to some of you, it was actually a really neat little line all to itself. The toys would have unique colors and bios expanding the universe of the movie past the handful of bots seen on screen. This lead to a new character using a familiar name-Warpath!

In an attractive red and black with light blue highlights, Warpath is easily my favorite version of the toy. Many of these off screen character types would pop up in movie themed comics where the characters would get into even more adventures. I personally really liked these comics. They weren't just more fiction in the universe, but usually really good too! Part of the fun of the first few movies was all the off screen characters. A mix of new molds and repaints, the toy line was really fun (depending on where you keep sticks on your body). It was so fun that it was easy to overlook the actual movie and focus solely on all the additional product and fiction.

These days the Overhaul mold doesn't get much attention (though Leobreaker's mold got used a million times), and that's a shame. It was a fun little toy that got reused in fun little ways. While I certainly enjoy things like Siege, it's hard not to back at times when Transformers was a little more inventive with it's lines. Something as simple as a repaint got a life of it's own, even if it was just in a few blurbs on the toys package, it was a good few blurbs!

Little Rad Robot Hood

I've noted before how certain things in the Transformers family tree show up from time to time again. Sometimes it's blatant and sometimes it's pretty low key. Today I realized one such instance that happened 14 years ago and I've never noticed until now... and it's really not that low key either (maybe a happy accident though).

The picture above is of  Microman Hoodman in various colors (as Microman toys were generally available in). The figure was pretty cool, you've got a Microman with a neat 'hood' space suit that just exemplifies that classic sci fi look the line pulled off with flair (woo!). The figure was later used in Micronauts as Galactic Defender (with some different parts). One again multiple colors and man what a great toy, right?  So what am I even talking about here? Well...

This is Jolt, a Mini-Con from Transformers Cybertron/Galaxy Force. The toy mold was released in multiple colors under multiple names as well. I'd say the apple doesn't fall to far from the tree, but I don't have too. It's more like one of those moments where you say 'it's a small world' about a person or when something was in front of your face without you realizing it until later. It never would have occurred to me until today. On Instagram I saw a Hoodman and thought it was Jolt at first as it was in the background. It's probably a neat coincidence at best... Just by chance, Jolt turns into a helicopter... wait. 

Galaxy Convoy

The buzz surrounding the leak of the Siege version of Cybertron Optimus Prime/Galaxy Convoy has gotten me looking back fondly at Cybertron when it was in stores. That certainly was a good Optimus toy. I stalked a few stores nabbing up the first releases of Cybertron one Friday night spending much of the following weekend playing with them on my computer room floor. Though looking back, I don't think I've put much thought into that Optimus over the years.

Instead focusing more on the Energon version that came before and the Classics version that came after. It's a really great looking robot and makes me miss the neat weirdness of the toy. I think that fun sci fi slant on the classic designs is part of what has me liking Siege as much as I do. I like those weird outer space designs merged with traditional looks, which is something Cybertron offered and I super dug back then.

Siege Cybertron Optimus Prime?

Huh. If it's real, I'm all for it.

I'm super sentai, thanks for asking

Lupinranger vs Pataranger

I've made it known before that I generally just watch Power Rangers and only take in various clips and general info on Super Sentai. Not for any particular reason, just there's only so many hours in the day. Not to mention, I'm a married man who works 60+ hours a week. So that time it takes to keep up with shows I can't just DVR doesn't always add up with real life. Though I admit, I'm really tempted to watch the current Super Sentai show Lupinranger vs Pataranger. It looks super cool. Not only do I like the Ranger suits and mecha, but I really dig the theme. You got a team of police, chasing a team of bandits, while both are battling a gang of monsters. The clips I've watched make the show look like a lot of fun and that's what I'm all about with my leisure time (what's with all these whiny nerds anyway, they know hobbies are voluntary right?).

Uchu Sentai Kyuranger

The prior Super Sentai series also looked super cool, but I assumed it was going to be the next Power Rangers adaption before Beast Morphers was announced. So while I'm stoked for Beast Morphers, I do plan to go back and take in some of Kyuranger since I've mainly just taken in clips and general info. Fortunately it's getting adapted into a Korean Power Rangers series called Galaxy Force. Which is going to get confusing as there was already Transformers Galaxy Force (Cybertron here, but still used the Galaxy Force name on some of the toys leading to confusion at times). Though the name is a good match as Uchu Sentai Kyuranger translates into Space Squadron Nine Ranger. So, yeah, Galaxy Force works. So, I'm hoping to catch some of it translated soon enough as I seem to have a much better time finding Korean series subbed than Japanese on video sites. Not to mention, with my local Super H-Mart, kinda wondering if I can luck up on any random swag. I've done it before.

Galaxy Force Korean intro

One thing I really appreciate (if you haven't noticed) is the differences in shows in various countries. I've made note here before of my interest in Korean robot shows and it occurred to me to see how the Korean versions of shows I already know go. The Korean version is basically the second intro for the Japanese version, which is still drastically different from the Cybertron intro. Glad I choose Galaxy Force/Cybertron, I could almost be convinced it was a different show. Super neat.

You see, he kicks.

While the cartoon at times felt like a fever dream, I absolutely loved Energon in comics and on tv. In fact I was a big fan of the Unicron Trilogy as a whole. Just like any incarnation of Transformers (past, present, future, whatever), it had it's detractors (surprise, surprise). Personally I had a ball with it. 

Following the events of Armada, Energon was a jump forward into the future. Alpha Quintesson was utilizing his huge Terrorcon army led by Scorponok to take all the energy they could (by force!) to revive Unicron (whose corpse they were floating around in). Megatron gets revived and brings his Deceptions into the fray (because there wasn't enough going on already). Optimus Prime and the Autobots were left with the only choice they ever have, go save the day! But this time with combination powers giving them a much needed power boost in this far out space opera cartoon.

It was insane.

The toys were super neat. The Autobots from deluxe sized and up could almost all combine with each other in some way or another. The Deceptions from deluxe up  mostly had an attack mode gimmick following in the idea that they were much more dangerous this time. The basic class of each faction had weapons that were essentially a building toy with parts for creating your own weapons. It was a super modular themed toyline that was fun to play around with.

I still remember waiting after the new product panel at OTFCC 03 for the toys to arrive on shelves. Armada had finished and it's last figures were still on shelves with the first incarnation of Universe. Christmas shopping season had rolled around and as usual, during the rushed restocking, the new Energon figures found themselves on shelves just before Christmas day. I had just gotten off work and was grabbing the new toys at my local Walmart.

I had my lanyard with work id badge on still with a BotCon Europe t-shirt on. That's specific, because that shirt had an autobot symbol on the left side of the front and the art on the back. Being winter, I had a jacket on. So here I was holding new toy boxes and reading the back when various parents started asking me about the various Transformers toys. Being a nice person, I tried to answer all their questions as polite as I could. After a bit I took my toys and left as soon as I got an opening from all the questions.

As I walked through the aisles towards checkout, I began seriously wondering about the onslaught of questions that just happened. Taking a shortcut through the clothing area I got a glimpse of myself in a mirror. Jacket, cargo pants, lanyard with badge, kinda nice looking t-shirt with obvious branding...

They thought I was a product rep.

Good thing I was in a good mood. I can only imagine what could have happened if I was grumpy or something. That potentially could have been hilarious.

Energon and it's Japanese counterpart Superlink was around during the 20th anniversary of Transformers. Which at the time seemed unreal, can you imagine it's really been 20 years (mind you, we're approaching the 35 anniversary pretty soon)? At the time Masterpiece first raised it's head with a showcase figure intended to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Transformers (which in turn became a successful line in it's own right). However as not only Transformers was celebrating it's 20th anniversary, another related line was celebrating it's 30th.

Microman, which several of it's molds were used for Transformers in those early years was turning 30 in 2004. In Japan, a special figure pack was released to commerate the occasion. A Superlink gift set featuring a deluxe sized Optimus Prime (with wonderful chrome) and a Microman version of Kicker (the human companion of the Autobots at the time) in his trademark armor, also with wonderful chrome).

The two pack was a nice set and while I wanted it, I had learned that the smaller Optimus was to come in a set with the smaller Japanese version of Megatron in a Toys R Us exclusive gift set (sans wonderful chrome). The Kicker was also released as a stand alone Transformers edition Microman (also without wonderful chrome).  So I bought the standard Kicker and held off for the TRU set. Figuring I'd save some money and also get that Megatron.

 

In hindsight I should have got that set, just for the special edition-ness (and wonderful chrome). A few years prior, I had really gotten into Microman/Micronauts and was in heaven with the newer (at the time) Microman toys as well as the Palisades recreation Micronauts toys. The Microman Kicker wasn't released as an American version, though Hasbro did release a Kicker using GI JOE engineering and giving him a scale version of the High Wire Mini-Con to ride. Which was a cool toy in it's own right.

By the time Energon/Superlink reached it's end, I was ready for the next series : Cybertron/Galaxy Force. It had been almost 2 years and time for something new. The comic had ended early due to the bankruptcy of its publisher and while I did enjoy the cartoon, the tail end was very hard to enjoy (that's a nice way of putting it). Looking back though, I can only remember all the fun had with the series and how much as a whole I enjoyed it. The Unicron Trilogy as a whole was a very good time for me in Transformers, with each component being great in it's own right and own way. It's something I'll always have enjoyed while it was going on and look back fondly on despite how much hate it gets from others​.

(with wonderful chrome)