Barricade (Authentics)

 

I've always been a fan of the lower end basic figures. There's a charm to the simplicity and sometimes the low price is just the right thing. Less can be more. As such, I was a fast fan of Authentics. I've always had a love for discount store toys and a version of Transformers intended for that market was a happy combination. Not every figure has been a Masterpiece, but there's a few stand outs in the little line. Barricade is one. The Mrs put it in my stocking Christmas morning and he's a fun little toy. Barricade is one of the smaller Authentics figures. I've been calling them the smaller ones this whole time, though I've seen web sites refer to them as either Alpha or Bravo. 

Barricade follows the precedent set by the Michael Bay movies of him being a Decepticon Police car. Originally the character was a Micromaster F-1 race car and then later the name was often reused sporadically. This version seems to be based on his TF5 and Earth Wars depictions. Not bad, I'm really fond of that look and it comes off well here. I also like Police car deco Transformers. You've probably noticed he's pretty basic in the paint department, but that's going to happen with a discount figure. It's mostly noticeable in car mode, the robot mode came out better in that aspect. 

For an inexpensive figure, Barricade has more articulation than I expected. Head, shoulders, elbows,legs, knees, and even feet move satisfyingly. A little less hollow and he could pass for a core class. The toy almost feels like it was designed for another line or project. More recent Authentics have been pretty good, but there's definitely a different vibe going on here. Being a discount figure I don't foresee more information into his development coming. I'll just be content to theorize he started out in a different direction. Barricade is a great little figure and pretty surprising considering everything. I really like him and am still surprised just how well he came out. I know Authentics aren't everyone's cup of tea, but I drink from my own cup. No backwash.

Wacky Wall Crawling Transformers

The Mrs. surprised me the other day with some blind bagged goodness after a stop by the Dollar Tree. They were Transformers sticky wall walker toys blind bagged in Authetics packaging. I was aware of these prior, but all my stores ever have in these are the WWE ones, so I was happy to get my hand on these sticky little guys. She bought me five and I'm sure to get more in the future. The Dollar Tree is already a guilty pleasure of mine and this is a pretty good reason to stop by other than those Arizona nacho trays.

I got Megatron, 2 Starscreams, and 2 Barricades. Barricade is the odd man out here as I was lead to believe that he was Soundwave with the wrong name on the bag. Opening him up though reveals a modern police car based Barricade. He does have Soundwave's head however, I wonder if there's some part switching and Soundwave will pop up in another batch. Maybe even Prowl.

As you can see the toys are very basic. They're plastic upper and lower bodies in an outstretched position with a piece of rubber in between sections. Where the hands and feet would be are sticky balls. Like the wacky wall crawling octopi of the past you fling the toy at the wall and watch it flip its way down. Character depiction on these is basically printed stickers and colored plactic.

Not as cool as the bag clips and minifigures of Transformers at Dollar Tree stores this past winter, but still pretty neat. The toys are really basic and it's pretty hard to expect them not to be. The actual toy is the wall walking gimmick. Having characters on them is pretty much a plus. For a dollar, they'll be a fun blind bag item to grab on trips to the Dollar Tree. Those and those bad ass Arizona nacho trays.

Bios- Race Track Patrol

There are two kinds of fighters, Decepticons and losers.

The ultimate speed demons! Leaned to drive on Cybertron freeways with some of the meanest, nastiest drivers in the universe. Enjoy swerving in and out of traffic, cutting each other off, tailgating and sending each other into tail spins. All equipped with turbo-powered energon engines that can rocket them to speeds in excess of Mach 1. Often forget their mission and get side-tracked with their dangerous roadway antics. Extremely powerful when they work together as a team. Sometimes use their illegally-powered engines to win drag races and help finance the Decepticons' latest evil scheme.

Energon Igniters Barricade (Nitro Series)

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

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

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

Energon Igniters Hot Rod and Barricade (Speed Series)

 

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