Ultra Magnus [Age of the Primes/Target Exclusive 4-Pack]

"Come in! Come in, and know me better, mech!"

The grumpy one entered timidly and hung his head before this Spirit. He was not the dogged grumpy mech he had been; and though its eyes were clear and kind, he did not like to meet them.

"I am the Ghost of Christmas Present," said the Spirit. "We have matters to deal with now."

I’ve said it before, but it’s worth saying again: Ultra Magnus’s cab mode looks spectacular. There’s just something about that classic Convoy design that looks great in any color. White though—white looks super nice.

This toy comes packaged in the currently available Transformers Age of the Primes Target Exclusive 4-Pack. The set doesn’t have a themed name like some have had in the past, or much of a specific theme either. It’s just a neat multi-pack, and I’ve been a big fan of these over the years. It’s one of the things I look forward to each year: Walmart’s exclusive capsule line and Target’s exclusive multi-pack. Well… Walmart kinda crapped their pants with the capsule this year, but Target’s set is another strong one. As with Bumper, whom we talked about last week, Ultra Magnus is another deluxe-class toy from the set. He’s a straight recolor of the Legacy G1 Optimus Prime toy I raved about earlier this year. Since it’s a straight recolor, I’m going to focus on what makes this version different.

One thing I really loved about that Optimus toy was how it remade the original figure with modern engineering, similar to a Masters of the Universe Origins release. It’s such a neat idea; I’d be all for it as the mainstream Transformers line. I know Missing Link is doing that, but I mean as the line available at general retail. It’d be so cool to see recreations of classic toys—considering Generations is mostly updates of those designs anyway, I think it’d be super popular. I’d like to think so, anyway.

Matching his G1 toy’s original deco, Magnus is mostly white with gray and silver parts. Bits of light blue are used throughout, giving him a slightly icy look. Just right for Christmas time. Ultra Magnus has the two different variations of G1 Optimus’s rifle that the base mold came with, now in white. I’ve always preferred the fatter version of the gun and think it looks much better—especially in white. Magnus also has a blue version of the Energon Axe, which is very similar to the Masterpiece MP-2 toy. It matches nicely with the various blue accents on his deco. Also like MP-2, there’s a silver version of the Matrix of Autobot Leadership that fits in his chest. It’s not unheard of for an Ultra Magnus toy to come with the Matrix since they’re often redecos of Optimus, but the silver Origin Matrix works well here. In this context, I like to think it represents the brief time Ultra Magnus carried the Matrix in the 1986 movie.

In truck mode, Magnus is once again a white version of the classic Convoy semi truck—missing his trailer in this release, of course. Like the Optimus toy, his tires are rubber, a nice throwback to the original G1 toy. I know there are issues with rubber tires popping off or dry-rotting with age, but I’ll be damned if they don’t feel nice and give the toy a higher-quality feel. Also like Optimus, Cybertronian Radial 275/80 R22 is molded into the tires. That’s a reference to the fictional tire brand from Transformers Alternators.

It’s been over 20 years and I’m still blown away by Alternators. They may not have been the most fun toys to transform, but they looked amazing. I have nothing bad to say about this toy. I love the idea of it, and I never get tired of cab-mode Ultra Magnus. It’s a great way to enjoy what came before in present-day design, and a solid part of a great 4-pack.

Optimus Prime and Ultra Magnus [Swapticons]

You'd be hard pressed to get a Transformers line without an Optimus Prime figure and since this is Swapticons we're talking about, you know he's paired with Ultra Magnus. Being silly little toys, they have some wacky faces with Optimus giving the people's eyebrow while Ultra Magnus makes an attempt to be like Optimus. The two link up to form a version of Optimus's truck and trailer mode that's pretty similar to some of it's newer depictions.

Slightly armored, a little sporty. I think someone in the design team must be really insistent on this look. It's not on every toy... but sure pops up every so often. It does look cool, so no problem. I can't help but to see Ultra Magnus as Gears though. It's the colors. A lot longer than I should remember, I had a dream where I found an Ultra Magnus made from a Gears toy. So now sometimes I'm reminded about that dream when I see an occasional Ultra Magnus toy. You haven't dreamt about your hobbies? What's that like?

Ultra Magnus [Galaxy Version 03 The Autobot Run]

I've always really liked Ultra Magnus in cab mode. I've always liked Ultra Magnus in general, but that white cab mode is so pretty. Originally, Ultra Magnus was made from the Diaclone Powered Convoy toy, which was an upgraded version of Battle Convoy. The toy that Optimus Prime was made from. I've heard a few different times that originally Ultra Magnus was intended to be an upgraded Optimus Prime before they settled on making him an all new character. Considering I can't currently find a source for that, maybe it's best to chalk that up as an unconfirmed trivial fact.

In most media, Ultra Magnus was shown only combined with his trailer. Obviously to cut down confusion, but as a result, it isn't common knowledge to everyone that Ultra Magnus has a cab mode and that the cab mode is basically a white Optimus Prime. It's to no surprise that a cab mode Ultra Magnus is one of the standby repaints you can expect to see when a new Optimus Prime toy is released. That's the story when we're talking about today's toy. Cab Mode Ultra Magnus as a Blokees, is mostly a straight repaint of their Optimus Prime kit that as you can expect is very sharp looking.

I say mostly a straight repaint as he has a different axe weapon included, a blue variation of the axe Optimus tends to use in Cybertronian depictions. Also, to my understanding, his inner head has some retooled pegs which hold his inner face parts in place better during assembly. I didn't notice it when I was putting him together, but now remember being frustrated with Optimus's head. So that's an improvement. Aside from that, he's pretty much a straight repaint of the Optimus Prime Blokees I talked about earlier that comes with all the same accessories and parts (except that alternative axe... damn, alternative axe sounds rad). However now, it's extra pretty.. you know. Because of that white cab mode.

Bios: Laser Ultra Magnus

"Consistency is victory!"

Profile: Ultra Magnus once lost his life in a Decepticon attack. When he did, as he had briefly been the bearer of the Matrix, his soul was invited to join those guardians of wisdom beyond that of the present world, but it did not seem to him that he truly belonged there. Now, aware of Galvatron II putting the galaxy in crisis by commanding a fearsome mobile battle fortress, he has used Optimus Prime's "Matrix of Reconfiguration" and achieved his own resurrection!

Abilities: Programmed with a new combat structure, Ultra Magnus normal form now possesses power rivaling his original large robot mode, on top of which he has complete control over a battle station equipped with a diverse array of armaments. He can also feed energy from his laser core into the gun and long sword that are his personal weapons, providing them enormous destructive power.

Tales Of The Beast Hunters - Chapter 16: Ultra Magnus

Tales of the Beast Hunters - Chapter 16

Ultra Magnus sees the massive Predacon coming from a mile away. He doesn't know who the big dragon is, and he doesn't care. All he knows is that the dragons are dangerous, and must be defeated. He converts to robot mode and leaps into the air, bringing the Forge of Solus around in a shattering blow that would destroy a lesser robot. Grimwing takes the blow, and is only momentarily fazed. The battle is short, violent, and never in doubt. It ends with Ultra Magnus on the ground, disarmed and barely functional. Grimwing stands over him. "Pathetic," he says. "I hoped to learn something from you, but this new race of Cybertronians must all be liars and savages." He leans down to look into the optics of his Autobot opponent, "Be warned. This world is in grave danger from my fellow Predacons. I will restrain them. You and your fellows stay out of my way or be destroyed." And then he is gone, leaving Ultra Magnus dented and smoking in the dust.
 

Bot In The Big Grey Box

I took this crooked to piss you off.

Surprise, the other toy from the mystery box I talked about yesterday is Ultra Magnus! I'd continue the spoiler warning stuff but every news site told you this already. That and his picture is on the box. Honestly you probably knew all the other stuff I hid under the break yesterday, but sometimes you just want to put a big ass post under a break so it doesn't dominate your front page. Like the one I just put here.

Powered Masters of Prime

How about another prototype Transformers design. This time its a concept for a reuse of the Powermaster Prime cab but with a new trailer which the caption says was to be similar to the Ultra Magnus toy just like in G1/Diaclone. pic.twitter.com/D7BtW4c2S0

— TFRaw.com Transformers Multimedia Archive (@walruslaw) December 5, 2019

It's been a while since I've talked PMOP. My absolute favorite Transformer toy of all the times. Probably because, well, at this point there's only so much I can say about him other than the occasional 'man I love this thing' post. TFRaw.com posted earlier on their Twitter a great look at early working designs for PMOP. It's a really cool concept drawing that I would like to see a toy of eventually. Basically the cab and trailer modes hearkened back to Ultra Magnus's design, which in turn transferred over to the super mode for Optimus.

This was a really nice throwback to Diaclone in which the Ultra Magnus/Powered Convoy toy was a upgrade to the Optimus Prime/Battle Convoy toy. Part of me wonders how much Takara was planning on eventually reusing the molds later on. Several Transformers molds got used in later assortments of Microman as well as their use in Brave, which in turn the first few years of Transformers toy molds came mostly from Diaclone and Microman. So I wonder if Takara designers had potential future uses of the mold in mind at the development stage. Mind you, at this point Transformers had only been going on for a few years, and was starting to wane in popularity. What's to say a designer wasn't considering/expecting for the line to revert back to Diaclone at some point?

Ultra Magnus parts

It's pretty hard not to like Ultra Magnus. He's basically an upgrade of the classic Optimus Prime toy and really a more impressive toy (you gonna need some oven mitts for that hot take). Everyone loves Black Convoy, but that all white cab mode is probably the best the toy has ever looked to me. It does make me wonder again (here we go again), what if Diakron was a success and Transformers never happened? Would we have eventually gotten Battle Convoy and Powered Convoy in the line? Battle Convoy/Optimus Prime is basically the same toy aside from some stickers. Powered Convoy though, has different colors and a few more parts than Ultra Magnus.

I guess we'll never know unless a portal to an alternate reality where that indeed did happen just opened up. Admittedly though, if alternate reality portals started opening up, the one where Diakron was a sucess probably wouldn't get checked first. A firm tenth maybe, but not first.

Ok, I'd check it first and tell you what happened.

Japanese Ultra Magnus and Galvatron commercial

I love the production of this commercial. Like most Japanese toy commercials, this has a small tokusatsu style action sequence starring the toys and really selling the crap out of them! Though I have to wonder... what's the flaming V business at the beginning of the commercial? Just some random V's on fire floating around the screen. Random alphabet on fire aside, I just love how Ultra Magnus's transformation is detailed here. Just really showcasing the overall neatness of the toy. It's not just there, but Magnus is carrying Silverbolt with him in the opening shots selling his vehicle modes versatility. Galvatron is lurking overhead and attempts to get the jump on our hero, but Ultra Magnus just no sells it like Brock Lesner not even attempting to put on a show.

TTTRAAANNNSSSFFFFFOOOMMMMMAAAAAA

Omega Prime commercial

I'm really jealous of those kids. Not because they have those toys, I have them too, but the fact that they were able to get them transformed while running down the stairs and across their yards like that. Those were pretty complex figures.

That took skill.

Ultra Magnus 1986

Diaclone Powered Convoy

Sometimes I wonder how things would have went if Diakron would have worked out here in the states and we never would have gotten The Transformers as we know them. I've always been a fan of the G1 Ultra Magnus toy and it's overall look. It's a pretty toy and he's always been a great character. But just look at that picture of the toy his mold came from and look at that art. It's hard to deny that with better marketing it could have been a bigger hit. I can't help but to wonder how great a Saturday morning cartoon based on Diaclone could have been.

Look what came in the mail today!

No, not one of those 5$ Taco Bell meals

Thanks to Kilby picking me up one at Hascon last weekend, my Titans Return Arcee set came in today. Inside the shipping box was a rolled up poster that I haven't looked at yet, a new RFC staff badge, a Hascon branded can of Play Dough, and of course the Arcee set. Long time Transformers fans know Arcee was made a Headmaster in the Rebirth and we've all heard Don ask for one for over 20 years at BotCon. Titans Return of course being a return to the Headmaster gimmick and well... they actually made the Headmaster Arcee. Arcee is a reuse of the Blurr mold with a new head. The new head is Daniel as a Titanmaster (spelled backwards so they can trademark it) and even resembles his exo suit. Also included with the set is a diecast Titanmaster Ultra Magnus. The box is really neat and not what I expected. I saw images online and just assumed it was a box with the figures inside. If I would have read more, I would have saw it's actually a fancy unfolding contraption that displays the toys, the art, and their collector cards quite nicely when you unfold it. It's a super nice set, and I could happily live with more exclusives packaged in this manner.

Well

Stumbled across this screen grab randomly. If I were better at photoshop, I'd remove the Headmasters and have him gazing at the clouds. Ultra Magnus strikes me as a guy who would lay on a hill and just look at the clouds. Figure out what shape each one looks like. Take note of them moving. Uh oh, looks like rain. Oh hey, a plane.

We are going to get SO much candy

Dibs on Metroplex.

Spooky Spotlight: Shattered Glass Ultra Magnus

Everything turns to tedium eventually. Everything save power.

Ultra Magnus shouldn't be happy. He lost his face and freedom due to a failed attempt to replace his brother Optimus Prime as leader of the Autobots. His co-conspirators in the coup betrayed him. His old rival, Treadshot, seeks his death with ceaseless vigor. Magnus shouldn't be happy... and yet he is. Things are finally going to be exciting again. After centuries of quietly manipulating events from his exile on Paradron, everything is falling into place. Now he has everything he needs: an army, the legendary Terminus Blade, a copy of his brother's newly augmented body and the means to make everyone pay.

An unrepentant hedonist and libertine, Magnus eternally seeks greater thrills and excesses from life. Now jaded and bored, he finds his distractions where he can, whether it be in Treadshot's assassination attempts, in the humiliation of his brother, or in simple universal conquest.

Weekly Spotlight: Ultra Magnus

Consistency is victory.

Ultra Magnus is all soldier. Most comfortable when carrying out Optimus Prime's orders. Possesses magnificent fighting skills, courage, and a gift for battlefield improvisation. Uncomfortable in the mantle of leadership, but presents strong profile as a commander. Carries missile launchers capable of hitting a target 30 miles away. Resolute, fair, and courageous beyond reproach. Ever ready to sacrifice himself for the good of men and mission.