Squawkbox (Squawktalk and Beastbox) [The Transformers/Mini Cassettes]

@robfromzonebase Squakbox (Squaktalk and Beastbox) [The Transformers/Mini Cassette] #zonebase #transformers #decepticons #toys #g1 ♬ Maniac - Carpenter Brut

I've been organizing my new storage space lately, which has had me wanting to look through boxes at some of my older toys.

Which made me wonder...

Why don't I talk about those more here?

When it comes to the G1 Mini Cassettes, everyone (myself included) thinks about Ravage, Laserbeak, Rumble, and Frenzy first, with the rest following behind. As neat as the original batch are, the later ones tend to be really interesting.

That brings us to two of my favorites of the cassettes, Squawktalk and Beastbox!

Squawktalk's robot mode is allegedly a parrot, from what I've always heard, and he's also a completely new design rather than a repaint of Buzzsaw or Laserbeak.

It's actually a really sharp-looking design.

To be honest, you could have told me he was supposed to be any other bird than a parrot and I'd believe you. I'm inclined to believe they assigned him to be a parrot based on the name rather than the design.

The design itself?

A pretty threatening-looking bird robot with big-ass wings.

Takara designated him an eagle, which is a lot more fitting. He's cast in an awesome aqua-blue-ish color, and the whole thing just works. It's a cool-looking robot toy that somehow manages to make a cassette-sized bird look pretty damn imposing.

For a change, I'm about to talk about a Beastbox toy that wasn't made by 52TOYS.

The name Beastbox originally hails from Transformers, specifically this guy, Beastbox, whose robot mode is a gorilla!

I've always specifically loved his look. There's just something about the way the gorilla design comes from a flat cassette while still fitting perfectly with the aesthetics of the era. He's cast in that wonderful purple that several post-movie Decepticons came in, which just tops off the entire thing.

I remember being a kid and seeing him in the pack-in toy booklets and just thinking he looked awesome.

I got the toys we're looking at today while I was in college and was so happy to finally have this awesome purple gorilla guy.

"Hey Rob, I thought you said you were pretty broke in college."

I was.

Before the live-action movies, you could get older Transformers toys for pretty cheap, usually cheaper than the new ones at stores. Back then, they were pretty dismissed by most of the "serious" fan outlets like comic shops.

Another thing that makes these two special is that they combine to form Squawkbox, a pretty neat-looking robot that, despite being formed from two completely different animal-based robots, doesn't really show it.

The Autobots also had a cassette combiner, Slamdance, whose combined robot is pretty nice as well, but the individual modes don't impress me as much as these two do.

I guess it's just more impressive when a freaking gorilla and a bird with big-ass wings make a robot that doesn't look like it's made from either.

Another thing I enjoy is how Beastbox's Compression Cannons combine with Squawktalk's High Decibel Sonic Boomers to form big guns that mount on his arms in a very aesthetically pleasing way.

Thanks to their design, there's no specific order for this, so you can just stick whichever gun with whatever other gun and it'll work.

There's also a pleasant amount of articulation for the team, more than you'd realistically expect from a toy of this era.

Considering how little I harp on articulation, the fact that I bring it up should say something.

Overall, this is a fantastic toy all together.

The Transformers Mini Cassettes have always been beloved for good reason. It's a genius toy gimmick that never gets old. Even now, you can explain Soundwave (or Blaster) and the cassettes to someone, and they'll make that undeniable "whoah" face, even if they don't actually say it.

It's just neat!

Not to mention, these two just look great, even compared to modern toys and engineering.

I do wish they got more attention, because they really are on the higher level of the original Generation One Transformers toys.

Ratchet and Bumblebee [Cyberworld Energon Surge/Armored Cyber Changers]

@robfromzonebase Ratchet [Transformers Cyberworld Energon Surge/Armored Cyber Changers] #zonebase #transformers #cyberworld #energonsurge #cyberchangers ♬ 苦悩の聖人 (Saint of Suffering) - Akuma Dollz

Last year when I was writing about "season 1" of Cyberworld toys, I regularly took note of what felt like a missing gimmick with all the Cyber Changers having multiple ports. I was also never super fond of the Armored Cyber Changers' "armored" parts, which were essentially larger Mech Tech-style weapons. I didn't hate them, but I rarely felt like they actually fit the toys.

Now, with the new Energon Surge figures, the phantom gimmick and the Armored Cyber Changers are here, and it's awesome.

Like with the new Armored Cyber Changer Megatron we looked at a little bit back, the gimmick is built into the new Energon Surge Armored Cyber Changers Ratchet and Bumblebee, and it just makes me love Armored Cyber Changers instead of simply accepting them as a way to mark up a toy's price. Not to mention, now under the Energon Surge sub-line, the Cyber Changers have wonderful translucent plastic parts that look absolutely amazing.

The colorful clear plastic, of course, reminds me of Microman/Micronauts, and the new armored parts really make me think of 2000s Microman toys. Of course, being Cyber Changers, the articulation isn't anywhere near as extensive, but it's impossible for me not to make that comparison.

I could also make a comparison to the energy weapons from Transformers Energon, and guys... I love this type of gimmick. Translucent plastic looks amazing, even on more simple figures like these.

Bumblebee is a recolor of the first Armored Cyber Changer Bumblebee we've already talked about here. This version feels more like an upgrade, as those new translucent blue parts just pop on the mold, looking a million times better than the original.

His new Energon Surge armor parts include two blade blaster style weapons, two energy stinger style parts, and a large shield/backpack piece. These can be used in multiple ways. I've leaned into using the large piece more as a jetpack than a shield, with the stinger parts as armor and the blade blasters as guns... unless he needs to cut a fool.

The blade blasters can become wings as well, making me use the parts similarly to Macross booster parts for his car mode. It's a modular design, so you can really get creative with it.

It's worth noting that you can combine these parts with the ones from other toys.

Go nuts.

Ratchet is a new mold and a really fun one at that. Instead of changing into his traditional ambulance alt mode, Ratchet converts into a rescue helicopter. That's a neat little touch of variety that gives Ratchet a more exciting look.

The chevron on his helmet is orange, which contrasts nicely with the white and translucent blue that makes up the majority of him. It makes me think of the Powerlinks Red Alert toy from Armada, which has always been a deco I've liked.

Part of me wonders—and hopes—this toy will get more green in the future for a Cyberworld version of Medix.

Ratchet's Armored parts actually work nicely with his helicopter mode, forming jet boosters and rocket pods. Additionally, there are two large bladed bits that look cool, and now that I think of it, they probably would have made more sense if I'd plugged them into the rear section of the helicopter rather than making wings with them.

Oh well.

@robfromzonebase Bumblebee [Transformers Cyberworld Energon Surge/Armored Cyber Changers] #zonebase #transformers #cyberworld #energonsurge #cyberchangers ♬ One Shot TV size Theme Song of "KAMEN RIDER MY-TH" - THE RAMPAGE from EXILE TRIBE

This is seemingly an all-new mold and engineering, so I wonder where it'll resurface? The bits that the helicopter's blades are connected to can be detached, and part of me finds that base body similar enough to a motorcycle without wheels.

As creative as these designers have been with the shared engineering, I'm looking forward to something unexpected.

Part of me can't help but compare the Energon Surge armor parts to the upgrades your ship gets in a shooter game. Like, Ratchet is flying into action and, just because Cyberworld is a video game, he's blasting little floating capsules and adding onto his firepower.In robot mode, the armored bits can make for some nicely dramatic... armor. They can be held as well as plugged in, so get creative. Those big-ass blades, though, make for some sharp ornamentation for Ratchet, giving him some serious super robot energy.

It's really awesome for me to see the Armored Cyber Changers stepping up and bringing that gimmick that the line always felt designed for into Cyberworld. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Cyber Changers feel like the continuation of the Beast Alliance toys that I had such a good time with a few years ago, and it's good to see something like a line-wide gimmick.

I'm hopeful they continue with more fun things like this, or even expand it with even more cool stuff.

Because apparently all these ports were just waiting for someone to finally say, "You know what? Let's put some crazy shit in there."

And I'm absolutely here for it.

Megatron [Cyberworld Energon Surge/ Armored Cyber Changer & Cyber Changer]

@robfromzonebase Megatron [Cyberworld Energon Surge/Cyber Changers] #zonebase #transformers #cyberworld #energonsurge #cyberchangers ♬ 月が見えなくても愛して - Nebelhaus & MAD JAMIE

Today we have a tale of two Megatrons as we look at the two most recent Megatron figures in Transformers Cyberworld under the Energon Surge sub-line. This time we've got the all-new Armored Cyber Changer Megatron and a reissue of the excellent Bull Megatron Cyber Changer as an Energon Surge figure. Both are super cool and share a similar palette, which is appropriate.

Of course, I'll be spending more time with the Armored Cyber Changer. I've been giving the Energon Surge editions of prior Cyber Changers a look as part of my quest to cover all of Cyberworld, but obviously they don't need an entire post of their own.

In his Armored Cyber Changer debut, Megatron transforms from a more traditional version of himself into a drill tank. Apparently he shares engineering with Optimus Primal, which is something I didn't initially notice thanks to his arms, where the drill becomes his right arm. Looking at his core and torso, though... yeah, I see it now. That's pretty clever.

Cyber Changers are obviously really simple toys, so it's pretty neat seeing how they can reuse engineering so creatively. It gives their designs a modular feel. A lot of folks think a transformation needs to be super complex to have impressive engineering, when something simple can be just as impressive. They've managed to churn out a variety of toys with completely different alt modes using just a few basic skeletons to make them work. Neat.

Like I said, Megatron's right arm is the drill from the tank and even has elbow/wrist articulation (it's a little vague) in addition to the drill being able to spin. It's pretty neat. It's easy to compare a tank Megatron with his Generation 2 version, but this one is so unique that it's kind of its own thing. If anything, I'm a little reminded of the tank Megatron from the 2006 "Ultimate Battle" two-pack with Optimus Prime. That tank has a similar shape, and the robot also features a spinning arm weapon gimmick.

In robot mode, Megatron is nicely beefy, as someone who turns into a tank should be. That right arm with a giant drill makes him look a little crazy, too.

One thing I absolutely love about this toy is that it's an Armored Cyber Changer where the additional accessories are actually armor. Last year, when I was looking at the original batch of Cyber Changers, I kept saying how the multiple ports looked as if they were designed for some sort of gimmick. With prior Armored Cyber Changers, the "armored" part was essentially a giant Mech Tech-style weapon. Here, Megatron actually has armor for both robot and tank modes!

The armor pieces are made from a nice translucent purple that matches Megatron's body and look like a mixture of Energon shards and some form of energy armor. It looks neat in robot mode, but I really enjoy the way it looks on the tank. Thinking about it, if the toy were silver, it'd resemble the earlier live-action movie look for Megatron. There's even a gun that he can hold or plug into one of the many ports. This is a really fun toy, and it's awesome to finally see those ports getting utilized.

@robfromzonebase Megatron [Cyberworld Energon Surge/Cyber Changers] #zonebase #transformers #cyberworld #energonsurge #cyberchangers ♬ 불꽃으로 / Bulkkoch Eulo - past self

The Bull Megatron is the same toy I talked about before, and that's a good thing because it's a great figure. Definitely one of my favorite Cyber Changers and the toy that initially sold me on the line. I really like the new blue color used on this version in conjunction with the translucent purple. It's a nice new outfit, so to speak.

One thing about Cyberworld is that, despite their limited articulation, they remind me of Microman in the way the figures interact with the larger toys. Now that the Energon Surge toys are getting these translucent bodies, the comparison is even harder to ignore. I'm outright comparing them to '90s Microman, because regardless of the limited articulation, they visually match. Bull Megatron would make a fine Acrobeast!

Like I've said before, Cyber Changers are so much fun to collect and blog about. The new Megatron was an absolute treat to fiddle around with, while the Bull Megatron was like going on a new adventure with an old friend.

This mission of mine to blog the entirety of Cyberworld continues to be a great decision. 

Soundwave Deep-Sea Explorer [Cyberworld Energon Surge]

@robfromzonebase Soundwave (Deep-Sea Explorer) [Transformers Cyberworld Energon Surge] #zonebase #transformers #cyberworld #energonsurge #seamonster ♬ Square Hammer - Ghost

One of the more fun aspects of Transformers Cyberworld is its imaginative takes on existing characters. With the newer Energon Surge toys, they cranked that concept well past eleven.

Normally, when Soundwave isn't a cassette player (or a modern interpretation of one), he's a communications truck, stealth bomber, drone, or something similarly high-tech. Proving that stranger things happen in the Cyberworld, this version of Soundwave transforms into a hybrid submarine and sea monster.

I should point out that submarines use sonar...

You know...

Sound waves.

While I'm almost instantly sold on robots that turn into monsters, Amazon also delivered my Soundwave just in time for the beginning of the Zone Base Halloween season. Synergy!

There's another reason I love this design, though. It should come as no surprise that I'm a huge fan of Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters, especially Sharkticon Megatron. This Soundwave fits right alongside that figure in the wonderfully strange "Lovecraftian vehicle monster" category. Honestly, I could even see him as some bizarre Quintesson experiment, and I wouldn't be surprised if the Quintessons ended up lurking somewhere behind the events of Cyberworld.

I regularly compare Cyberworld toys to older robot lines, and Soundwave is no exception. He's a larger figure like Grimlock, but thanks to his proportions and construction, he really feels like something from the G1.5 era of Transformers. I joked on social media that Cyberworld feels like G1.5 if it had been adapted into a PC Engine game, and Soundwave is a Prime (hurr hurr) example of that.

His robot mode looks like something straight out of that era, while his alternate mode feels like a boss from Darius or R-Type. Thinking about it, if he were a smaller figure, he'd make a perfect companion to the original G1 Seacons.

I just can't stop comparing him to other things, and that's exactly what I love about him. It's funny how a toy clearly aimed at younger kids makes me think so much more than many of the far more detailed Generations figures.

It's probably unnecessary to mention that Soundwave doesn't have a ton of articulation. In fact, I'm surprised he isn't classified as an Ultimate Cyber Changer. He's basically a giant Cyber Changer already. Honestly, I swear they could shrink his CAD model down and release him as one... just without all the extra gimmicks, obviously.

Speaking of gimmicks, he's got quite a few.

The most obvious are those massive tentacles. The two longer tentacles on his right arm are bendable, allowing you to pose them however you'd like—or wrap them around an unfortunate victim. The three tentacles on his left arm can open, spin, and also grab unsuspecting victims.

When you're a sea monster, you spend a lot of time grabbing victims.

The tentacles on his right arm can even be removed and replaced with the sea monster's head, just in case he wasn't monstrous enough already.

I don't know if it technically counts as a gimmick, but Soundwave also comes with a removable battle mask. It matches the sea monster aesthetic perfectly and even features a little glow-in-the-dark paint. Combined with the monster mouth sculpted beneath his iconic faceplate, it looks absolutely fantastic.

I freaking love this ridiculous toy.

My only real complaint is that I wish the sea monster head stored on his back in a more compact way. As it is, it makes for a rather awkward backpack.

Transformation is simple, once again reminding me of the Cyber Changers. I'm honestly beginning to wonder if this toy started life as one before being enlarged into its final form. The engineering just feels too similar to be a coincidence.

Once transformed, those dangling tentacles give the sea monster mode an incredibly gnarly silhouette that's honestly hard to describe.

This thing is awesome.

The monster's jaws open and close so it can chomp down on another unfortunate victim because, once again, sea monsters and victims simply go together.

Like chocolate and peanut butter in a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup.

Which I sincerely hope you get while trick-or-treating this Halloween because they're delicious.

Unless you're allergic to peanuts.

In which case, I'd like to point out that this is a very awesome toy that could really use a little more teal so everyone would know Soundwave's lair is peanut-free.

The sea monster head also doubles as a cockpit, allowing a Cyber Changer to pilot the submarine. Like the other removable components found on the larger Cyberworld toys, it can also be swapped around and combined with similar parts from other figures to create all sorts of fun combinations.

It goes without saying that this is a very unconventional Soundwave toy, and that's exactly what makes it so special.

The designers simply made a fun toy, and I absolutely love that they did.

It's packed with personality, wonderfully creative, and just plain enjoyable.

Cyberworld may not be everyone's cup of tea, and that's perfectly okay.

Because those of us who love it...

Really love it.

I'd be shocked if this mold didn't receive a repaint at some point. Soundblaster is the obvious choice, but honestly, I'd love to see something even stranger. A Piranacon-inspired deco? Sign me up. Teal and purple would look absolutely incredible on this sculpt.

If it already looks this good in traditional Soundwave colors, imagine what it could do with a truly aquatic color scheme.

I literally cannot stop gushing about this guy...

...which, for a sea monster submarine named Soundwave, is pretty remarkable.

Airachnid and Energon Surge Off Road Bumblebee [Cyberworld/Armored Cyber Changers and Cyber Changers]

@robfromzonebase Airachnid [Transformers Cyberworld/Armored Cyber Changers] There's lots of spiders in Transformers and this one has a little Convertors evergy (that's a good thing). #zonebase #cyberchangers #hasbro #cyberchangers #cyberworld ♬ Children of the Night - NECRONOMIDOL

It felt so good to finally get my hands on an Airachnid Armored Cyber Changer after chasing one for what felt like forever. She was the last of the "Season 1" Transformers Cyberworld toys I needed on my quest to complete the line and blog the entire thing here on Zone Base.

Airachnid (no, she's not Black Arachnia) makes sporadic appearances toward the end of the first season in a role that isn't entirely villainous for a Decepticon. One of the things I really enjoy about Cyberworld is that the line in the sand isn't always clearly drawn. Considering the episodes only run about five to ten minutes, they could have easily just been nonstop action scenes. Instead, they're surprisingly competent little cartoons.

This version of Airachnid is also quite a bit different from her previous incarnations. In Transformers Prime she was an extremely villainous schemer, while in Transformers One she served as Sentinel Prime's sneering right-hand enforcer and leader of the Death Trackers. There's an ongoing rumor that this version was originally intended to be Crasher from GoBots. Whether that's true or not, who knows? It's a fun coincidence considering how often I compare Cyber Changers to Machine Robo toys anyway. Here, Airachnid is more of a scientist and actually helps the Autobots probe Optimus Prime's memories in an effort to better understand the Cyberworld and why they've all ended up there... which naturally leads to more drama.

As a toy, Airachnid shares her engineering with Chop Shop, although nearly all of the sculpting appears to be unique. Being an Armored Cyber Changer, she also comes with the oversized MechTech-style weapon/armor thing that Chop Shop included.

Interestingly, Airachnid already has an upcoming Energon Surge version that features an entirely different weapon/armor thing. Combined with the fact that its product number is actually lower than the standard release we're looking at today, it's led to speculation that this version may have been rushed into the original assortment while the intended accessories were still being finalized. Since Airachnid was the only new figure in her wave before later being repacked, the theory isn't impossible.

If nothing else, it's fun to speculate.

As her name suggests, Airachnid transforms into a spider, and that beast mode influences nearly every aspect of her robot design. It makes for a wonderfully creepy-looking robot, making her a perfect Spooky Beast Summer entry.

Despite the inherent simplicity of Cyber Changers, she has a ton of personality. Like every other Cyber Changer, she shares the standard size and articulation, but thanks to her spider mode she has a completely different silhouette. The spider legs remain attached to her arms and even swivel slightly, adding just a little extra articulation.

One particularly fun accessory is the pair of front spider legs with an integrated chain gun. They can either attach at her navel or be held awkwardly as a handheld weapon. Transformation is exactly what you'd expect from the line—quick, easy, and largely handled through the auto-morphing gimmick.

Spider mode is fantastic. The colors work really well, and I especially like those front legs with the chain gun.

Of course, Cyber Changers constantly make me think about older toy lines. Airachnid immediately reminds me of an early Beast Wars Basic figure, while her shared engineering with Chop Shop still brings Creepy from GoBots to mind. Honestly, I'd love to see this mold repainted into the old Happy Meal Transmetal Black Arachnia. The sculpt is surprisingly close, especially with the spider legs hanging from her arms.

Then my brain starts wandering.

The spider mode makes me think of Armored Insect Corps Beetras. The colors remind me of Convertors. I also keep comparing her to Phobia from Zoids Wild. If I hadn't just moved and packed Phobia away, I'd have loved to photograph the two of them together.

Phobia would've been a great name for this toy.

@robfromzonebase Bumblebee (Off-Road) [Transformers Cyberworld Energon Surge/Cyber Changers] My quest to blog all the Cyberworld continues with the slightly Microman vibed Energon Surge series. #zonebase #transformers #cyberworld #hasbro #cyberchangers ♬ CORNDOG! - RinRin

Of course, as the title says, we're also talking about Energon Surge Off Road Bumblebee.

This is my first Energon Surge figure, and I absolutely love him.

It's pretty obvious this is simply the Off Road Bumblebee Cyber Changer I reviewed previously with a slightly different color layout, so I'll link to that review for anyone wanting a more detailed look. Since I'm trying to blog the entire Cyberworld line, though, I still wanted to cover the differences here. Because.

Thankfully, these toys are inexpensive, so buying another version of a figure I already own doesn't bother me. It comes with the territory. 

The biggest and most obvious difference is that translucent blue torso, which immediately makes me compare Cyberworld to Microman and Micronauts even more than I already do. There's also a bit of glow-in-the-dark paint on his shoulders.

When an Energon Surge figure is connected to the Power Spark Bumblebee, the electronics light up. That light charges the glow-in-the-dark paint, causing it to glow afterward. It's a really fun little play feature.

Obviously, it's a gimmick designed for kids.

What's funny is just how many adult Transformers fans have embraced Cyberworld anyway, despite there already being countless collector-focused lines aimed directly at us.

I think that just goes to show what the right combination of affordability and fun can accomplish.

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.

Star Eagle [Transformers/Deluxe Class]

@robfromzonebase Star Eagle (Transformers/Deluxe Class) A Walmart Exclusive Transformers toy as part of the USA 250th Anniversary... yeah, seriously. Admittedly I'm really rusty at making these and trying to improve. Bare with me and please check out www.zonebase.org #zonebase #transformers #maximals #independenceday #deluxeclass ♬ PLAY BACK TV size (Theme Song of "KAMEN RIDER ZEZTZ") - YUTA

I love a good holiday-themed toy. A Transformers figure themed after the 4th of July? That's not the holiday I expected to see celebrated in Transformers toy form, but here we are with one commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States of America.

Even more out of left field is the fact that it's a Beast Wars toy.

Thematically, it's perfect. An eagle is an obvious choice. However, being that this is strictly branded as Transformers and not under any specific sub-line, I'm surprised it isn't some patriotic version of Optimus Prime. I'm certainly not complaining, as you all know how much I love Beast Wars, and it's a brand-new character to boot!

Not to mention, while it's very hard to completely enjoy summer here in the American South (it's so VERY hot), I do enjoy it to a point. A nice swim in the pool, fireflies in the evening, walking around in flip-flops and shorts while enjoying ice cream, watching fireworks...

Hey... 

Speaking of ice cream and fireworks, you know what another fun summer tradition is?

Bomb Pop flavored things.

The red, white, and blue combination of cherry, lime, and blue raspberry is everywhere this time of year. Some are so popular they're available year-round, but they're especially abundant during summertime thanks to all the patriotic holidays. That's honestly what Star Eagle reminds me of more than anything else.

Yes, I know those are the colors of the American flag.

I know they're symbolic.

But all I see is a Bomb Pop robot and I'm all in for anything Bomb Pop.

Especially Bomb Pop Faygo. It is exquisite.

Speaking of Bomb Pops, I've got a pack of Bomb Pop scented Dude Wipes. They're called Poopsicle and smell amazing.

Star Eagle is a straight repaint of Kingdom Airazor, whom I've talked about here before. I've also covered Kingdom Skywarp and Legacy Filch, who are remolds and repaints of this same mold. It's probably safe to say by now that I enjoy this mold quite a bit. Feel free to visit those posts (I linked them!) for more conversation about things like the transformation and articulation.

For the 4th of July, however, I feel it's better to spend my time pointing out the more trivial aspects of the toy.

Not to mention, this is the sole post during a holiday week.

Hence talking about Bomb Pops so much.

It's seasonal.

How many times have I said Bomb Pop?

Bomb Pop.

So Star Eagle is a red, white, and blue version of the Legacy Airazor mold that looks pretty fantastic. I'm not completely sure of Star Eagle's intended gender and the toy doesn't seem to have much characterization at the moment. Personally, I like to imagine Star Eagle as a soldier utilized by the U.S. government as part of a partnership with the Transformers, or perhaps someone created using Cybertronian technology.

Sort of a Cybertronian Captain America.

That's the sort of backstory I could see Takara Tomy giving them in one of their awesome Transformers web manga stories.

Speaking of Beast Wars and Takara Tomy, the bulk of Star Eagle is blue. That immediately reminded me of Blue Bolts and Bound Rogue.

Blue Bolts is the current incarnation of Car Robots God Magnus/Robots in Disguise Ultra Magnus's ENORMOUS blue gun in the End of G1 Universe storyline from that same web manga I mentioned. In that story, Blue Bolts has been given a more traditional Transformers body and, in the storyline accompanying Dark Amber Leo Prime, Blue Bolts uses a blue variation of the Airazor/Skywarp design.

Bound Rogue is another Beast Wars repaint from the Robot Masters line that had a blue beast mode and a red face that's very similar to Star Eagle's red helmet crest.

It's a pretty nice look.

For whatever reason, up until my Star Eagle showed up, I thought its name was Star Bird, which would have been super fitting. It also gave me hope that Hasbro had the name Star Bird available in case they wanted to bring that toy line back, and part of me was honestly giddy about that idea.

Star Eagle is exclusive to Walmart alongside other patriotic-themed Hasbro toys. The box looks very similar to a modern Generations package, though without any specific line branding. Just Transformers with some fun stars decorating the packaging.

I'm not sure if it'll be sold outside the United States or not.

Funnily enough, Star Eagle is supposed to transform into an eagle.

Hence the name.

However...

Since it's a straight repaint of Airazor...

It's actually a falcon painted like an eagle.

A blue eagle.

To be fair, at first glance it absolutely looks like a blue eagle and works perfectly fine. But the closer you look, the more obvious it becomes that it's still a falcon underneath. It's been pointed out that Hasbro could have used the Skywarp version of the mold since it actually turns into an eagle.

Though I admit, Airazor's robot head with these colors really does give off Captain America vibes, so I assume that's why they went with it.

The falcon pretending to be an eagle isn't a huge issue.

But it is pretty funny.

The toy is normally sold alongside the other patriotic items in Walmart's seasonal section, but I ended up ordering mine because my local store only had the hilarious Furby and Nerf blasters. Of course the section was also packed with fireworks, festive decorations, and those obnoxious Budweiser American flag cowboy hats they sell every year despite me never actually seeing anyone wear one.

Just like with Cyberworld Optimus Primal, which I also ordered, I kind of wish I'd opted for drone delivery so my new neighbors could have heard my toys arriving.

Hi.

I'm new to the neighborhood.

And I bought something stupid.

This is also the first post in a small change to my posting style. I'm experimenting with short-form videos instead of using static pictures. I actually enjoy making videos and fell out of the habit years ago. I'm pretty rusty and relearning things as I go, so please bear with me while I knock the rust off.

This is also the first post in this year's return of Beast Summer.

While writing Summer of Swapticons last month, I noticed just how many Beast Wars characters appeared in that line and realized something:

Summer of Swapticons was inspired by Beast Summer from 2023.

So...

What if Beast Summer returned?

Also, I just really like beast warriors.

And it's the 30th anniversary of Beast Wars.

Between Beast Summer, Spooky Summer, and all the other seasonal nonsense I get into around here, I think it's pretty obvious that I enjoy making summer special on Zone Base.

I hope you all enjoy it too because I have a lot of fun doing these kinds of things.

Of course, being a holiday week, things are a little abbreviated around the site, but I'll be back to my normal posting schedule next week.

Thank you all for reading Zone Base.

Please share the site with your friends and be excellent to each other.

Blackarachnia and Predacon Tarantulas [Swapticons]

The Summer of Swapticons continues with another taste of Halloween because, if anything, I've got tunnel vision. Code Orange is a summer tradition longtime readers know I really get behind, so some creepy spiders are just the thing to remind us that fall is coming during these blistering hot days. However, if you're not the Summerween type... there's tons of bugs in the summer too.

One thing (among many things) I love about Swapticons is their embracing of Beast Wars. Sure, the beast warriors have been getting a bigger spotlight in recent years, but it's super nice to see a line intended for smaller children highlight them. This set is especially fun as it's the two spider bots from Beast Wars that were a big problem most of the time: Tarantulas and Blackarachnia.

Starting with Tarantulas, who was arguably as much of a threat as Megatron. The Predacons' mad scientist always had some clever invention or scheme causing the Maximals problems. Not to mention, his own treacherous ways caused Megatron plenty of trouble as well. He wasn't just this way by chance either. Tarantulas was actually an agent of the Tripredacus Council and was secretly working on their behalf. Due to the Tripredacus Council's intentions, he found himself opposing the Vok and their plans, which ultimately led to his downfall at their hands. However, as 3H-era BotCon fiction went, Tarantulas' dead body, possessed by the Vok, returned to cause trouble.

Talk about irony.

There's a lot about Blackarachnia that I'm not going to tell you. You already know. She's a schemer and treacherous. She's out for herself and not afraid to admit it. So much so that Starscream saw her worth taking under his wing... only for her to betray him! She out-Starscreamed Starscream.

However... underneath it all, she's actually good, and her relationship with Silverbolt slowly sways her to the Maximals' side of the Beast Wars. She was actually a Maximal to begin with, and it was due to the Predacons, specifically Tarantulas, that her protoform was altered, creating the problem she became. Of course, she and Tarantulas had a toxic partnership of their own that could be a textbook example of terrible behavior.

We could go on forever about Blackarachnia, but thanks to creepers on the internet... she's pretty well known.

It's fitting that the two are Swapticons teammates due to their personal history and, well... both being spiders. Kind of a no-brainer, I suppose.

Combined, the two make a pretty decent-looking spider... or you can go crazy with other Swapticons and have a spider cat or spider car. The gimmick pretty much makes the fun obvious, but I just wanted to point out that I accidentally misspelled "and" as "nads" while writing this and found that absolutely hilarious.

The individual robot modes are, of course, very blocky with goofy faces, but thanks to the spider legs serving as robot mode arms and those chunky proportions, I'm reminded of Buddy L Bug Bots and Sacred Beast Legend Bioroid toys. See? I can compare Swapticons to something other than BotBots and the newest batch of Changeables.

Which they also remind me of.

Ironhide and Autobot Ratchet [Swapticons]

The Summer of Swapticons continues with probably the most obvious set: Ironhide and Ratchet!

Ironhide and Ratchet almost always share toy molds, so having a toy where the two combine to form an alt mode makes a lot of sense. Normally Ironhide becomes a red van while Ratchet becomes a white ambulance. As a Swapticons set, they both form a white ambulance because synergy is important when you're a team.

I've always been a little attached to Ratchet thanks to his starring role in the early issues of the Marvel Transformers comic. At the time those issues were on newsstands, I was staying at my Grandmother's house while my parents handled the arrangements for our relocation across states. I must have reread those issues a million times and, despite being a cartoon guy, I always think of comic Ratchet cooking hot dogs with his laser scalpel.

I wish I had a story about Ironhide... but I just enjoy him for him.

His southern drawl. Being a good old soldier boy. He's an enjoyable character who's been around since the beginning, but I don't really have something that endears him to me the way Ratchet does. With as many characters as Transformers has, I can't be attached to them all.

But I do like Ironhide.

How couldn't someone?

Admittedly, First Aid would have worked pretty well in Ironhide's place... but Ironhide is the obvious choice.

They're both your standard Swapticons: chonky, silly, with a tiny bit of articulation in the arms and impossible to hate. They're also not as flashy as some of the other Swapticons we've looked at during the Summer of Swapticons... and that's a good thing.

You need standard bearers, and these two are cornerstones of Transformers.

Starscream and Decepticon Slipstream [Swapticons]

Seekers. Everyone loves them, especially Starscream. So of course they're perfect for the Summer of Swapticons! Usually Seekers are repaints of Starscream. However, this time these two are repaints of Ramjet and Sandstorm, who were included in the Desert Dunes 5-pack that I haven't been able to track down yet. Starscream, of course, is one of the main characters in Transformers and there's not much that can be said about him that hasn't already been said. Slipstream is a Seeker that originated in Transformers Animated and has stuck around since as a popular member of the Seekers with a really cool color scheme.

Of course, I can't help but associate her with a background generic Seeker from the original cartoon. Often generic Seekers, Insecticon clones, and Reflector bots were used as cannon fodder Decepticons. Purple Seekers were often seen, even appearing in a very cool OTFCC Exclusive Heroes of Cybertron Seeker figurine set.

One of those purple Seekers was drawn skinnier than the others, almost feminine, leading several older fans to think that one was female. The "Lady in Purple" appeared in various fan works for a while and I like to think she was one of the initial beginnings of Slipstream, influencing future creators during her creation. 

Since this is my first time with this mold set (I do hope to get that 5-pack, it's driving me crazy), it's a new experience for me and a pretty pleasant one at that.

The blocky and silly proportions Swapticons have often remind me of SD-style robot toys, but also of character sprites from older video games. Thinking about it, Swapticons would make for a fun game mechanic. Combining two individuals into one and creating unique abilities. I'm sure it's been done before, but it'd be fun.

Surprisingly, Starscream forms the rear of the jet with Slipstream becoming the front. I'd think the main Seeker would be the front end, but he is an ass... so it works.

The jet is an elongated thing that doesn't look bad, but once again feels like something out of an older game. I could see it being used on a map screen where you'd choose which area to play next.

Thanks to the silly faces, Swapticons once again feel like a spiritual successor to BotBots, and the chonky designs really make me want to look into the designers and see what else they've worked on. I'm swearing the same designer worked on Changeables and I'm not going to stop saying that anytime soon.

The colors really pop on these little sculpts, arguably giving them more character than the goofy faces. The purple on Slipstream looks legitimately nice.

They've got a small bit of arm articulation, which Swapticons generally have. It's not a lot, but it does make for a nicer toy.

Overall, this is a great little Swapticons set. Good colors, fun designs, and a surprisingly neat jet mode. Plus, any toy that lets Starscream literally be the ass-end of something gets bonus points from me.

Shadow Panther and Ravage [Swapticons]

Continuing our journey through the Summer of Swapticons is a duo of black cats. Obviously, whenever you get a Cheetor and Tigatron, Shadow Panther and Ravage are coming. Well, Cheetor and Tigatron were in the first series of Swapticons, so we've got Ravage and Shadow Panther here in Series 2.

For a change, Tigatron and Ravage aren't repaints of Cheetor. Instead, Tigatron was a new mold and Ravage is a repaint of Tigatron. Both turn into a butt.

Funnily enough, in the past, the infamous Ravage X-9 toy was a heavy remold and repaint of the Transmetal Cheetor figure and was later repainted into Tigatron for a BotCon 2001 exclusive figure. That's a toy I have and a BotCon I've attended.

It was a good time, and due to the layout of the hotel, the dealer room was split into a larger and smaller set of rooms. It's 2026, 25 years later, and I can still smell that smaller dealer room. Good lord, the amount of body odor in that small space was a crime against humanity.

Funnily enough, the following BotCon in 2002 also featured an exclusive made from a Cheetor toy that hasn't made another appearance yet: CatSCAN. I'd love to see a new version of him.

That BotCon, however, is where a story about Shadow Panther comes from.

There I was in the dealer room (only one that year, more room to breathe) and came across a table selling Ravage X-9 figures for $60 each. That was a steal, even back then, and as I reached into my pockets... I realized I only had $30 on me at the time.

These were the cash-only days at conventions, so I found myself rushing to the ATM... which was out of cash. Dammit.

I had been staying at the convention's overflow hotel, which was about two blocks away, and had stopped at an ATM somewhere in the middle of the walk to the convention center. Remembering that ATM, I made a mad dash toward it, got some much-needed cash, and hurried the hell back to that dealer.

...he was sold out.

I looked over and saw a guy laughing like Muttley while carrying the stack of them to his dealer table.

Said guy then put a much higher price on his new stock of toys and, out of spite—pure, unadulterated spite—I refused to stop by that booth for the rest of the weekend.

However, the dealer with the decently priced Ravages had a Shadow Panther for $20... and I bought him.

Ever since then, I've felt a kinship with Shadow Panther.

Which rings true about this site. We're the rejects and the weirdos that get overlooked while someone else gets all the attention and gets overvalued. Ten years in and millions of views later, us rejects are still here flipping the bird.

Speaking of weirdos that don't cost too much, this Shadow Panther comes with Ravage and it's a fun toy of two bots that fit together to make a very long black cat. I talked about the Cheetor and Tigatron toys this set is a repaint of last year, so feel free to check that post out for a more in-depth discussion of the actual toys.

Clearly I've got a fire in my ass today.

Dinobot Snarl and Grimlock [Swapticons]

It's summer, the Summer of Swapticons, and since this is Zone Base... you all know Halloween is cooking in my brain. This isn't just a me thing either. If you look around, you'll see the term "Code Orange" in certain circles. This is due to the early stock of Halloween items in some stores, which has led to the whole Summerween thing. We're taking over.

What does this have to do with Swapticons? Well, as I've mentioned way too many times, I was Snarl the Dinobot for Halloween in the 2nd grade. Specifically Dynabot Snarl, as the Collegeville Costume box said. So, with spooky season in mind, today's a good day to talk about the Snarl and Grimlock Swapticons pack!

I actually like Snarl for more reasons than Halloween. For one, I think he's cool-looking. Also, things like Armor Geist in Exkaiser help solidify just how cool his design is to me. Grimlock, on the other hand... we all love him. The leader of the Dinobots and one of the most impersonated characters in the history of the series.

Times when I've spoken with Greg Berger have led to what's become one of my favorite bits of Transformers trivia. During those original cartoon days when he took on the character, the voice was so demanding that he took lessons from a heavy metal vocal coach to ensure he didn't destroy his vocal cords each session. In short, this is an ideal Swapticons set... and I just like dinosaurs.

In this 2-pack, Snarl becomes the rear of the dinosaur with Grimlock forming the head. The result is a dinosaur that looks like a MechaGodzilla version of the 1998 American Godzilla... or Zilla, as real ones know it by. Frankly, that makes me like the beast mode a lot, and being Swapticons, you can mix and match to create a lot of fun alt modes. Dino truck, kitty-saurus, stego... sports car... or tank... you get the idea.

Once again, they've got that wonderfully boxy and silly Swapticons design that I really enjoy. I mean, look, these clearly aren't for display cases and for ahem serious collectors. These are straight-up toys, and that's what they are. Me? I buy a ton of ahem serious collector toys... and these are more fun to blog about.

You can throw a few in your messenger bag, entertain yourself at your desk, and store them in a shoebox. Once again, part of me wonders if the designers who worked on these also worked on the most recent Changeables from McDonald's. And yes, I am comparing a retail toy with a fast-food premium like it's something noteworthy to think about, and that's because it is. After all, what may have been the first figure of Arcee was made from Happy Meal Power Rangers figures and Sculpey. Not to mention, designers work on a whole slew of products, and it's pretty damn fascinating.

Also of note, Grimlock and Snarl's combined form looks like it's taking a nap, and that's freaking adorable.

Clench and Nemesis Prime [Swapticons]

A recent goal of mine was to write about every Swapticon and Cyberworld toy here on the site (within reason). Now that summer's upon us, it's time to get back to Swapticons, as I sure haven't posted about them since 2025. I've actually been waiting until now to do so, as summer just feels like the right time to give them a big focus. Why? I... don't know. It just is.

So we're starting off our Summer of Swapticons with a look at Clench and Nemesis Prime! Because I like them!

These two are repaints of the Ultra Magnus and Optimus Prime Swapticons set from 2025. Nemesis Prime was an obvious and predictable repaint of any Optimus Prime toy, but Clench was a bit of a surprise. I'm not really sure who else they would have used, but I'm glad to see him here. If anything, it means Hasbro has the name active right now, so maybe he'll get a new figure in Generations or Cyberworld sometime soon. Thinking about it, he'd actually make a great reuse of the Off-Road Optimus Prime Cyberworld figure.

Like all Swapticons, one robot forms the front of a vehicle mode while the other forms the rear. This is the same basic idea as the old Micromaster Combiners, and initially what I hoped Swapticons were going to be a return to. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised with what Swapticons actually ended up being: a silly little line of Transformers mini figures with really boxy proportions. They've got a lot in common with BotBots (which I loved) and are VERY similar to the more recent series of McDonald's Changeables that myself and other robot fans were going crazy for back in February.

Worth noting, there's another series of Changeables in Japan that I'd love to see make their way here. I wonder if the similarities are coincidental, intentional, or if some of the same toy designers worked on both? Who knows.

I usually like Nemesis Prime toys, and this one is no different. The Optimus Prime design just looks good in black, and it naturally makes for a good bad guy toy. There are always people who claim Nemesis Prime is boring... but they're usually just trying to look interesting. And failing.

Clench looks marvelous, as toys of Clench usually do. Those bright colors contrast against the darker colors so nicely that it even looks sharp on a silly little figure like this one. Their combined truck mode is pretty great looking as well. Once again, those colors are working overtime. It's hard not to love such an angry-looking duo as chonky little silly robot toys.

Bumblebee (Devastation) [Studio Series/Deluxe Class]

Transformers: Devastation was one of those games that came in hot, got a ton of fanfare, and then kind of slipped into obscurity. Lately it’s been getting a bit more attention again, and I’m pretty happy to see that version of Bumblebee finally get a toy.

Admittedly, it’s still your standard Bumblebee at its core—but I like this variation a lot.

Instead of the classic VW Bug, he’s got that sporty hatchback look, which I’ve always felt was a great modern equivalent. Add in the cell-shaded style deco, and it ends up being a pretty slick take on a familiar design.

A big part of why I like this one is how much it resembles the 2006 Transformers Classics Bumblebee, which served as a base for his design in the game. Even 20 years later, Classics is still a high point for me, so that connection goes a long way.

I initially thought this might be a retool of the Studio Series 86 Bumblebee, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. In robot mode, he’s armed with twin blasters like in the game, along with a larger vehicle-mode blaster mounted on his back. It gives him a much more aggressive look than you’d normally expect from a “kid appeal” character.

Transformation is pretty straightforward, though some of the parts fit a bit tight. Be careful when folding the head into place—I’ve seen reports that the molded copyright info can scrape the paint on his nose.

In vehicle mode, he turns into a clean little hatchback. The large blaster mounts on the roof, with the smaller ones on the sides for a bit of vehicular combat flair.

Overall, this is a simple, solid figure. Good articulation, decent firepower, and a really nice-looking alt mode. The cel-shaded deco does a lot of the heavy lifting, and I’m just happy to have a strong take on Bumblebee from a game that deserves a little more love.

Windcharger [Studio Series 86 / Deluxe Class]

It’s been a while since I’ve talked about traditional Transformers toys here, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been buying them. Quite the opposite—if you read the Monday updates, you already know. It’s more that I like posts to fit the vibe here on Zone Base, and Windcharger definitely fits in.

I recently received his newest Transformers Studio Series release as part of my birthday presents from the Mrs, and it is excellent. As part of the Studio Series ‘86 line, he’s meant to represent his appearance in The Transformers: The Movie. That movie is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, and as someone who was there opening weekend, it’s getting a ton of love from me. Windcharger’s role in the movie was brief—he’s taken out during the brutal opening battle of Autobot City—but before that he was a regular in the first two seasons of the original cartoon. This toy is a great representation of that animated look.

Windcharger is something of an oddity in the original Transformers line. His toy came from Microman’s Microchange series, but that design actually started life even earlier as part of the Mysterians. The Mysterians were Knickerbocker Toy Company’s attempt at a transforming robot toy line in 1983 that never fully materialized. The company was purchased by Hasbro in 1984, and Windcharger—along with Brawn, Huffer, and Gears—was originally intended for that line. The molds eventually made their way into Microchange before becoming Transformers. Just in case you ever wondered what the “M” on the original Windcharger’s belt stood for.

In the cartoon, Windcharger was given a different face than his toy, and that’s the look this version proudly uses. With a lot of these Minicar updates showing up in vintage-style packaging with toy-accurate heads and decos, I wouldn’t be surprised to see a version of that original Mysterian-inspired look pop up on shelves down the line.

The toy itself is great. As I always say, it looks like he walked right off my TV screen. Windcharger comes with his blaster and an effect piece meant to represent his magnetic abilities. The effect can attach to his chest or the hood in vehicle mode, and both it and the blaster can store on his back in robot mode.

In robot mode, he’s very well articulated, and combined with the sculpted face, he’s surprisingly expressive. He almost feels alive. Transformation is straightforward, though there are a few tight joints and clearance spots—take your time with him. Car mode is a solid approximation of a Pontiac Trans Am, and the blaster stores neatly behind a rear wheel for a clean look.

Overall, this is the slickest Windcharger has ever looked in toy form—and that’s saying something, because he’s had some pretty great releases over the years.

Rescue Bot Heatwave [Age of the Primes/Voyager Class]

In Generations, there’s been an attempt to take Transformers from various series and essentially give them a more traditional-looking bot design. Rescue Bots, being a show aimed at preschool-aged kids, originally had some extremely cute and chonky toys—perfectly sized for small hands. Well, just like Chase and Medix (I’ll eventually make a post about him), Heatwave has now found himself worked into mainline Transformers.

Heatwave is one of the more popular Rescue Bots, and he’s popped up in various other Transformers media over the years. I’m particularly fond of his role in Transformers Angry Birds… I really liked that game. I even won a Halloween tournament in it one night while watching a marathon of the various versions of Disney’s Halloween Treat and handing out candy to kids. Good times.

This new figure of Heatwave is pretty great, and it does something I’ve wanted for a few years now. You see, it’s a retool of the Legacy Bulkhead mold from a few years back. That Bulkhead was one of the first examples of characters from series with very specific visual aesthetics being given a more traditional Generations look. I really liked that Bulkhead (don’t think I ever covered him here), and I kept hoping they’d use that mold for other truck-based characters. It just felt like a good, big, utilitarian truck-guy base. I didn’t anticipate Heatwave being made from it, since the previous reuses were all characters from the same Prime series Bulkhead came from-but honestly, it’s perfect for Heatwave.

Now… when Heatwave was first introduced in Rescue Bots, I was a little sad they didn’t call him Rescue Roy. Rescue Roy was another toy aimed at younger kids from the early 2000s that I missed out on due to making “responsible financial decisions” (dammit) and focusing my Transformers budget on Robots in Disguise (2001). Heatwave always kind of looked like Rescue Roy to me, and in this toy that resemblance is even stronger. In a lot of ways, this feels like my spiritual Rescue Roy.

That aside, on its own this is just a really cool Transformers toy. The base mold is pleasantly big and chonky. With the new parts, what was once a military truck is now a genuinely solid fire truck. All of Heatwave’s signature visual cues carry over nicely, resulting in a figure that could almost fool someone into thinking it was an all-new mold.

Heatwave is nicely articulated and transforms fairly easily. There are a few fiddly bits that took me a little extra effort, but nothing major. Thankfully, he’s not one of those Transformers with Lament Configuration–level transformations. I’m pretty sure I summoned the Cenobites more than once during the Revenge of the Fallen toy line. For me, the sticking points were getting the arms to fold correctly into the cab and lining up the legs just right. If you get it wrong, the truck ends up uneven—like the remains after Wile E. Coyote dropped a boulder on it.

There’s a new ladder piece that looks great, but it does need to be removed during transformation. It pegs nicely onto Heatwave’s back in robot mode and attaches to the back of the truck in vehicle mode a bit differently. It looks like it should just rearrange from its backpack position, and technically it can, but it’s not quite an exact fit.

I don’t remember this being an issue with Bulkhead, but it’s very easy to accidentally remove Heatwave’s arms. They’re on simple shoulder pegs, and it’s surprisingly easy to slide them off while transforming, so just be mindful of that. He comes with some neat new weapons too: a water cannon and his Energize Energy Axe, both cast in a really nice translucent blue. I like translucent colors—they just look good. Both weapons can store on the sides of the vehicle mode, which is something I usually appreciate. Not all the time, but there’s just something about a vehicle covered in gear… you know?

It’s actually kind of remarkable how closely the vehicle mode resembles Heatwave’s Rescue Bots alt mode. I’d almost swear this was planned during Bulkhead’s original design process—but even if it wasn’t, it’s really well done. I was genuinely happy to unwrap Heatwave on Christmas morning as one of the presents from the Mrs. He’s a fun, well-executed Transformer, and if you didn’t know better, you’d swear he was an original mold—which says a lot, considering how noticeable retools usually are.

There’s just something deeply satisfying about a big, chonky robot fire truck.

Twin Mill [Hot Wheels X Transformers]

Getting back to our look at the Hot Wheels X Transformers line, today we’ve got Twin Mill — a classic Hot Wheels car that originally debuted way back in 1969. This Transformers incarnation is the blue Spectraflame version, and it looks fantastic.

It resembles a souped-up classic Corvette with twin engine blocks and gnarly exhaust pipes, complete with attachable flame effects. It’s the kind of car that just looks fast, and in the blue deco I can’t help but compare it to Sideburn from Robots in Disguise (2001).

These Hot Wheels Transformers are roughly comparable to a smaller Deluxe Class figure, similar in size to modern Mini-Bot updates. I know that probably sounds ridiculous… but I actually like the size. I often feel Transformers are just a touch too big. Not because I like small Transformers (see the site’s name), but because the details tend to come out sharper when they’re a little smaller. It’s like when you upscale an image and it loses some clarity. This feels like a real sweet spot, size-wise, for me.

Transformation isn’t hard at all and isn’t too dissimilar from other car bots. The front end becomes the upper torso, with the arms and head folded up inside, while the rear end forms the lower body and legs. I’ll say there are some strong Machine Robo / Gobots vibes here, mostly due to the smaller robot form and the look of his legs. I also can’t help but compare him to Armada Blurr, thanks to how the front fenders form his shoulders and the overall proportions. These are all things I really like, so those similarities are a plus in my book.

Ironically, back in 2001–2002 when Sideburn from Robots in Disguise was on shelves, Hot Wheels had a line called Robo Wheels. These were originally designed by PLEX to be a new Machine Robo series. PLEX has designed Machine Robo, Power Rangers, and Super Sentai toys for Bandai, and Robo Wheels were intended to follow Machine Robo CG Robo. That deal fell through, and the designs were eventually released as Hot Wheels instead. I distinctly remember staring at them on store shelves, very tempted to grab a few. At the time, though, I was pretty broke — finances were stretched paycheck to paycheck — so between rent and life expenses, I had to make some tough toy decisions. Transformers fit the budget, but other lines required being picky. Of course, it wasn’t until years later that I learned Robo Wheels were Machine Robo designs… and by then they were long gone. Here’s hoping I can track some down someday for a decent price — and not broken to hell.

Back to Twin Mill: man, this is a cool-looking robot. His head is a little reminiscent of bots like Smokescreen, but with some extra flair to the helmet and, of course, that fabulous visor. There’s a very post-1986 G1 vibe to the head sculpt. The way his robot parts mix with the car kibble and color scheme gives him an almost knightly look. It’s really sharp, and that blue is spectacular.

The twin engine blocks — which need to be removed first during transformation — become a pair of forearm-mounted guns. They slip over his arms and give him some serious firepower. The flame effects attach to the exhaust pipes, creating a blazing firing effect. It’s pretty great… damn, I really like these toys.

Articulation is solid, too. Twin Mill can pull off a variety of dynamic stances with his twin fire guns, though considering the length of the barrels, he’s going to need some room to swing them around. If it hasn’t already been painfully obvious, I’m really high on these Hot Wheels Transformers. According to rumors, there’s more coming, and I’m genuinely excited about that. These feel special to me, and I’m proud to own them. They’re definitely on a pedestal in my mind.

Here’s hoping those rumors are true and more are on the way. Even if they’re just repaints, I’m in. I’d absolutely love to see more Transformers follow this same approach.

Bone Shaker [Hot Wheels X Transformers]

Hot Wheels collectors often get talked down on by other toy collectors for no real good reason. Sure, I’ve made jokes too… but I’ve seen (and smelled) some interesting characters in every fandom. Neatly enough, Mattel and Hasbro have been collaborating in recent times, creating some really cool stuff. This week we’ll be looking at the Hot Wheels X Transformers Collaborative line, released right at the end of 2025. I got the set in the mountain of presents from the Mrs. at Christmas and have been dying to talk about them here on the site, as they’re really freaking cool!

First up is Bone Shaker, whose slightly spooky skull design feels just right in observance of Setsubun. Bone Shaker is based on a Hot Wheels car of the same name, originally released in 2006. It’s a cool hot rod with flame deco and a giant chrome skull on the grille. That car has been faithfully recreated here as a Transformer that’s roughly Deluxe Class sized. Neatly enough, he features a mace weapon made from the car’s stick shift. The weapon fits into the shift column inside the car, but sticks out of the roof similar to the cars you’d see Rat Fink drive. This thing is pure old-school rockabilly hot rod culture, and I really dig it.

Of note, the top of that mace weapon — which is the shifter’s knob — is emblazoned with an Autobot symbol on crossbones. G2 Hero Megatron had a Decepticon symbol on crossbones, and I’ve always loved that aesthetic. The car also draws mental comparisons to the G2 Laser Rods and Micromaster Hot Rod Patrol toys, which were really cool.

Transformation from hot rod to rad robot is pretty easy, all things considered. You’d think it would be more complex, considering how well done the car mode is. Things fold out in pretty standard car-bot fashion. The hood becomes his chest, with the arms and head folded underneath, while the rear end becomes his legs and feet. The car’s seats actually become his feet when folded up properly.

Of course, that mace can be held in either hand to crack some skulls open with. In robot mode, Bone Shaker looks great, channeling that G2 Laser Rod influence while still being his own bot. That skull custom grille is now his way-cool chest, while the exhaust pipes form a popped, cool daddy-o collar behind his head. Speaking of his head, it has neat exhaust pipe–style detailing, while his red visor suggests a cool pair of shades.

Come to think of it, the cool black colors paired with the flame deco and chrome parts almost look like a leather jacket. Literally a rockabilly robot through and through, and I’m here for it. He’s decently articulated, adding to an all-around great figure. It’s probably easy to tell that I really like this guy. I like both of them, but Bone Shaker is definitely my favorite of the two. It’s just such a neat original design that harkens back to a style that’s often forgotten in today’s toy landscape.