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.

Nemesis Prime [Defender Version 07- Power of the Beast]

@robfromzonebase Nemesis Prime [Transformers Blokees Defender Version 07- Power of the Beast] #zonebase #transformers #blokees #beastwars #blokeestransformers ♬ Mind Over Matter - E.G. DAILY

I was pleasantly surprised to see that one of the special versions available in Blokees Transformers Defender Version 07: Power of the Beast was Universe Nemesis Prime, the 2004 Target-exclusive repaint of Big Convoy. I was expecting things like metallic paint or some extra fancy weaponry (which another special version of Big Convoy in this series actually has), but instead they went with one of the more obscure versions of Nemesis Prime. That's a pretty deep cut, and I love seeing Blokees do things like that.

Nemesis Prime originated in the original Transformers Universe toy line, which featured previously released molds repainted into new versions of existing characters or, in some cases, entirely new characters. Initially, Universe served as a companion line to Armada before continuing alongside later Transformers series. Store exclusives, convention exclusives, and even an ongoing comic published through the Official Transformers Collectors' Convention/Club all fell under the Universe banner. This was back during the 3H split era of BotCon.

The storyline centered around Unicron's return. He began pulling Transformers from countless alternate universes and forcing them to battle inside his body. As each Transformer fell, Unicron consumed their Spark and grew even more powerful. The Maximals from a post-Beast Machines Cybertron joined forces with the Autobots against Predacons and Decepticons loyal to Unicron... although the battle lines weren't always so clearly drawn.

Of course, there have been several different characters named Nemesis Prime over the years. This particular version originated from the corpse of one universe's Optimus Prime, who had been killed by Mega Zarak. Unicron cloned the fallen Optimus and transformed him into his own dark version of Prime, complete with the Dead Matrix, an artifact capable of killing Primus.

In the early TFCC comics, which took place on a version of Cybertron during the events of Transformers Cybertron/Galaxy Force, Nemesis Prime and Ramjet, another of Unicron's Heralds, arrived on Cybertron while it was largely abandoned. Most of the Transformers were searching for the Cyber Planet Keys and the Omega Lock in order to awaken Primus and stop the Unicron Singularity, which was busy tearing reality apart.

Because catastrophic events are just another Tuesday when you're a Transformer.

Nemesis Prime and Ramjet planned to use the Dead Matrix to kill Primus while he slept and had virtually no one left to defend him. Naturally, they were defeated, the Dead Matrix was taken away, and Nemesis Prime was imprisoned.

You'd think that would be the end of his story, but nope. This version of Nemesis Prime continued popping up during later inter-dimensional adventures. Alternity even redeemed him and turned him into one of the good guys! It just goes to show there's really no such thing as a burned bridge in a fictional universe.

Just like the original toy, this Blokees kit is a repaint of Big Convoy. While the original figure reused the Beast Wars Neo toy mold, this special Defender Version is a repaint of the Big Convoy model kit found in the blind boxes. I'd still love to get the regular Big Convoy from Series 07, but this was a pretty awesome surprise to open.

I still remember getting my original Nemesis Prime 22 years ago. I'd already owned the original Big Convoy, specifically the Korean Sonokong release, where the character was renamed "Mammolike." Getting the evil repaint afterward was incredibly exciting. One of the things that made Universe so much fun was that Hasbro would occasionally take molds American collectors had never had access to and suddenly release them as store exclusives. There were even plans to reuse molds from Brave, although those unfortunately never happened.

Years ago I remember saying online that it'd be really cool if some of those classic Universe color schemes found their way onto modern updates of those characters. It's neat to see that actually happen, especially in a format that I've clearly become a huge fan of.

Big Convoy's design works incredibly well as a Blokees Defender Version. You'd think the smaller proportions would make him look cute, but somehow he's just as badass as ever. Nemesis Prime isn't simply a black repaint either. His color layout is surprisingly sharp. The cream-colored plastic used on various parts of the robot really pops against the darker colors.

Yes... cream.

That was one of the charms of the old Universe repaints. Instead of using obvious colors like gold, they'd use champagne or other unusual shades that gave each figure its own unique personality. Some of those decos were genuinely creative.

Building Nemesis Prime felt like a premium experience, much like Magmatron did. There are so many unique parts that help separate him from the standard release. The mammoth tusks are separate pieces that attach to the beast kibble on his back, giving the whole design an even more dramatic silhouette.

The paint applications are another highlight. The red tips of the tusks and the red chest clearly draw inspiration from Robots in Disguise (2001) Scourge's windows and sword, while the teal detailing on the legs mirrors Scourge's own teal highlights. The resemblance is so obvious that, in the TFCC comic, Robots in Disguise Optimus Prime actually takes note of it. Apparently the similarity wasn't lost on the fictional characters either.

Assembly is exactly what you'd expect from a Blokees kit. Everything goes together smoothly, and there aren't any tricky spots worth warning you about. Honestly, with a design this ornate, I expected at least one frustrating step... but nope. It's another straightforward, enjoyable build.

Since this is simply a repaint of the regular Big Convoy, he comes with the standard Big Cannon. The other special version includes metallic paint along with the upgraded Matrix Buster version of the weapon. I'd honestly love to own both of the other Big Convoy variants someday—one to display alongside Magmatron, and especially that spectacular Special Armor Type version.

Having a small model of Universe Nemesis Prime wasn't something I ever expected Blokees to make, but I'm certainly glad they did. Once again, they've shown they're willing to dig deep into Transformers history instead of sticking to only the obvious choices. That's one of the reasons I've become such a fan of this line.

And honestly... he's just pretty damned impressive looking.

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.

Beast Man [Masters of the Universe]

@robfromzonebase Beast Man (Masters of The Universe/Core Class) #zonebase #mastersoftheuniverse #toys #mattel #evilwarriors ♬ Ceremony - Holy Wars

I really liked the new Masters of the Universe movie and, of the many things I enjoyed about it, Beast Man was definitely one of them. Like much of the film, he stayed very true to his classic incarnation. He wasn't quite the buffoon he often became in the old cartoon (okay... maybe just a little), but he definitely felt like the genuine threat he was in those original mini-comics.

Like I've said before, Beast Man was actually one of my very first MOTU toys, even before I got He-Man and Skeletor, so I've always been a little attached to the character.

Once again, we're looking at one of the new Core Class figures and, just like the others, it's surprisingly impressive.

For what's essentially the budget line, Beast Man has a really solid amount of articulation. It's obviously not on the level of a more premium figure, but it's far better than you'd expect at this price point.

Part of me wonders if Mattel is sharing CAD work with some of their other lines to help keep costs down because Beast Man genuinely looks like he should cost more than he does.

His sculpt and paint applications are excellent.

Honestly...

He looks so good that I still have a hard time accepting he's a Core Class figure.

This is the sort of quality I'd have expected from one of the old McFarlane Spawn figures back in the early 2000s, only with much nicer plastic.

Of course, Beast Man comes with his traditional whip. Oddly enough, I appreciate that accessory much more as an adult than I ever did as a kid. Part of that is because the original toy's whip wasn't exactly the greatest, but it's also because I've come to appreciate how well it fits the character.

After all, Beast Man's real power is his ability to telepathically control animals. The whip almost feels less like a weapon and more like a tool for someone who regularly wrangles wild beasts... probably not very kindly.

This is one of those figures that completely surprises you with just how good it is. If the rest of the Core Class line continues at this level, I think Mattel has a real winner on their hands.

Weekly Update 7/6/26

Welcome back to a new week of robots, monsters, and misadventure on Zone Base! After that holiday break, I feel fresh and recharged and hope everyone had a great weekend! After spending a few weekends moving, the long weekend at home felt like a miniature vacation. I got caught up with the new season of X-Men '97, played some Starfox, watched the new Ultraman Teo, and spent asome quality time with the Mrs. There was some holiday fun in our new neighborhood such as a fireworks display and "Chalk the Block" where sidewalk chalk and popsicles were handed out. We didn't take part in that, but enjoyed the sidewalk art! 

As for getting fun stuff, I sure did! I ordered Energon Surge Off-Road Bumblebee (the quest to get all the Cyberworld continues!) As well as picked up the Target exclusive Hot Wheels X Transformers red Twin Mill and Stranger Things X Transformers Freakwency. A Blokees blind box resulted in a Galaxy Version Elita-1! In all some good pick ups. 

I've got a fun week of content headed your way and some changes to the site starting soon. I hope you all enjoy what I've got in mind. Beast Summer is stepping in where the Summer of Swapticons left off. We've got some delightfully beasty posts coming over the next few weeks keeping it wild. As usual, I've got some household chores to get to keeping Mondays busy around the base. I hope everyone has a great week and really appreciate you reading Zone Base. Please share the site with your friends and be excellent to each other!

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.

It's Monday, do a Barrel Roll

It's Monday gang, and that means a new week here on Planet Zone! How was your weekend? Mine was pretty good. Did some shopping, watched some TV, played some video games. Good times. As far as new toys go, I didn't buy much. Found new Tacticons! Hashtag and Arcee! Target also had a bunch of Bumblebees, so I'm assuming he was their casemate. I really like these silly little bots, so I was happy with the find. I also finally picked up Warrior class Skywarp from Earthspark. She's been on the backburner since I've already got the mold a few times. Really like her colors though, so she was eventually getting purchased. I also picked up a book of older Japanese ghost stories and some cute monster book marks. Not to mention some great Star Wars back to school items. I may not be a student, but prefer cool stationary for my needs. I also bought a plush SEGA Genesis. They made it, and I own it.

We did some Code Orange work. Many places that usually start early haven't really gotten into grove yet in our area. That's to be expected. It's dependent on summer stuff selling out first and some places are faster than others. At Home did have some stuff. We got a skeleton door mat and an adorable spider. They haven't stocked skeletons yet and my tradition of buying a $1 plastic skeleton hasn't been fulfilled yet. This year they have colored ones. That's important. I also buy a few skeleton animals. From what I've seen, there's a raptor one that I'll definitely be getting. At Home also has some cute monster characters this year. There's a vampire with candy corn fangs and a witch riding a lollipop that I'll be getting when stocked. So far the more vintage Halloween decor of the past few years looks to have been replaced with a rustic style. Oh well, trends end and I liked the vintage stuff. The rustic style is very traditional and fitting, so I'm not complaining. 

Thanks to all of you for reading Zone Base. Clearly Beast Summer has been a success and it's due to all you awesome people. I plan to record a new episode of Transform Squadron today. Hopefully it will be out this week for your listening pleasure. Please, if you could, please share posts with your friends. We're a grass roots site here at Zone Base and I live enjoying my hobbies with others. Now let's get this new week started!

Shooting for a Good Week

Thanks for coming back for another week here on Planet Zone! Beast Summer is in full swing and I can see it's going well. I hope everyone had a great weekend, mine was certainly restful. In fact, I think I got more sleep in the past few days than the entire week before. Plenty of gaming was had. Specifically Run Saber for SNES, Cotton for Neo Geo Pocket, and Magical Chase for Turbograpx 16 were enjoyed. I guess sci fi action platformers and witchy cute em' ups were on the menu. Plenty of paranormal TV was watched as well as the debut episode of AEW Collision, a new Saturday night wrestling show from my preferred company.

The wrestling provided a great match for some school lunchroom style pizza from a local grocery store. Just right for a Saturday cheat meal. Sunday was Father's day and even though I don't have human children, apparently our furry ones got me a great suprise (according to the Mrs). A new lunchbox for work and some toys. Studio Series Battletrap and Cheetor from ROTB (which we all recently enjoyed) and some Bandai Ultimate Legends Demon Slayer figures. Tanjiro and Inosuke! I also ordered the new Battle Tribes drop. This drop is a great Micronauts themed set. I got the three new figures and am super pumped looking forward to their arrival. 

It's summer and you know what that means? CODE ORANGE! The past few weeks I've seen a lot of folks finding great early releases from their local At Home, Old Time Pottery, and Hobby Lobby. Myself I've seen some bleeding candles about two weeks ago, and some gargoyles last weekend after ROTB. I didn't look this weekend just to give the store some time. I did see plenty of folks on YouTube showing off theirs including some early Dollar Tree finds! My stores tend to really get in the mood around July so there's no point in getting to excited yet, but I am anyway. Halloween is almost here Zone Base readers and I've been at work preparing for the Pumpkin Spiced Mayhem starting in August. For all of you enjoying Beast Summer, don't worry I got your back. 2023 will be Beastly Halloween on Planet Zone! What's that mean? Well, you'll see. 

Thanks to all of you for continuing to read Zone Base. I know there's bigger and better sites out there. Your continued support means a lot to me. This is just a little fan blog, but in my mind it's all of us enjoying our hobbies together. I don't have any ads, affiliate links, or donation requests. I don't want your money. Your reading and support means the world. If there's anything I ask, if you could please share the posts with your friends. Help spread the word so more like minded folks can enjoy my nonsense. If you could, follow the new Facebook page. It's slowly getting started and I'd love to see it grow. Thanks again for reading, and let's have a great week!

I heard it through the Weekend

It's another Monday here on Planet Zone and frankly I didn't do much at all this weekend. I pretty much spent it at home getting some rest and doing things around the house. The Transformers channel was playing G1 all weekend and it was on in the background while I did various things like assemble new yard furniture and play old video games on my Q90. I did download Decarnation on my Switch. I had been looking forward to it for a few weeks after learning about it on Instagram. While it isn't the game I thought I was getting, it is pretty interesting. I see the first week of Beast Summer has been a hit. We're just getting started and I've got a fun time planned. Remember, just because it's Beast Summer doesn't mean it's beast warriors only. However they're obviously getting a starring role. Beastbox and others will be making a showing too! Thank you for supporting Zone Base. All I ask from my readers is too share my posts with others. We're all enjoying our hobbies together and that means the more the merrier!

Rhinox (Beast Battle Masters)

Beast Summer is beginning with an analogy for life. You need thick skin and to charge forward, you need to be a rhino. A rhino also makes for a good beast mode in battle. Thick skin, heavy hitter, charge forward. That's why Rhinox as a Beast Battle Master just works. Admittedly I'm a big fan of both beast warriors and Battle Masters... but it's hard to not enjoy the idea of an animal based partner figure that changes into a weapon. In this case Rhinox changes into a chain gun. This is super appropriate as something like a rhino needs to be a BFG and well... it's Rhinox, those signature chain guns of doom are a necessity.

As a Beast Battle Master, Rhinox's main form is his rhino beast mode. It makes for a great partner figure, though I do wish they would have made it a different character in this form as there is a plethora of other Rhinox toys in the line. However they probably want to get some name recognition going as well as there's only so many trademarks in the budget. It also makes me think of the Arms Microns from Go! that were main characters as smaller weapons based partners. Like Bulkhead Knuckle. That being said, I'd love a boxing glove alt mode in Beast Alliance.

Transformation into gun mode is pretty easy as it should be for something this small. To transform into gun form, you essentially split the rhino in half and the chain gun barrel comes out the rear Ace Ventura style. The sides and extra parts fold away and you've got a BFG for whatever figure you wish to use it. I paired it with Battle Charges Rhinox. Because yo dawg, I heard you like rhinos. Also that toy was handy.

Primeval Monday

Dang, it's Monday again. Guess it's time for another new week here on Planet Zone. Hope everyone had a great weekend as we near the Rise of Beast Summer! I had a pretty good weekend. We had a fun family pizza party at my Mom's house for mother's day. Speaking of mother's day, I helped our cats give the Mrs a surprise. 

Saturday the Mrs and I did a little shopping. We had intended to watch Guardians of the Galaxy 3, but like Mario... time wasn't on our side. Friday we did pick her up the new Zelda game while Saturday I found some fun stuff. Got Super Powers Darkseid and the 1989 Batman from the Flash toyline. I don't care about the movie, except for him. Also grabbed some Star Wars discount figures and a gray Yoshi from the Jazwares Super Mario figures.

Later a stop by Target resulted in picking up the Buzzworthy Bumblebee Jungle Mission 3 pack on sale. Good weekend for fun stuff. Speaking of fun stuff, an impromptu stop by Pelicans Sunday resulted in me getting a Super Mario snowball from their Mario Bros movie flavors. It was a hot day and that was just the thing. I've got a fun week in store for you all. Thank you for reading Zone Base. If you like what I'm doing, please share posts with your friends! Or hey, follow our new Facebook page! There's a handy link in the right column links!

Bumblebee (Beast Alliance/Battle Changers)

Transformers Rise of the Beasts means a lot of new Transformers toys. Ever since it's announcement, I've been most interested in the Beast Alliance sub-line. Featuring the return of Battle Masters and partner figures for larger bots that are a mixture of beast and traditional TF characters... it's the kind of thing I really go for. Not to mention, it's priced very fairly. That's been a sticking point lately. In some ways Beast Alliance is similar to the Energon Igniters from the Bumblebee movie. A simple, gimmick based line obviously intended for children as opposed to the more serious and costly Studio Series offerings. However, Beast Alliance is a much better toy line and striking a positive chord within a large part of the Transformers fandom. I like it too.

Today we're looking at Bumblebee from Beast Alliance, or more specifically his Battle Changers figure. Battle Changers are more simple figures sold for around $10. They're mostly compatible with the Battle Masters and to scale with the other figures. In the case of Bumblebee here... he feels like a sized up legion/legend class toy and lacks compatibility with Battle Masters unlike the others in this class. Honestly, he feels like a holdover from another design stage before the gimmicks were decided on. The simpleness can be ignored easier with the other figures in this class thanks to the gimmick integration. Bumblebee can't hold a Battle Master, nor can one plug in anywhere. Considering how gimmick heavy Beast Alliance is, the lack of comparability is impossible to ignore. Aside from that, Bumblbee is a pleasant little figure.

Bumblebee returns to his Camaro alt more we're used to in the movies. However this time, it's a fun off road variation that I'm pretty fond off. I can't stop thinking that this is an up-scaled legion/legend toy as the transformation is VERY similar to prior movie Bumblebee toys of that class as is robot mode. Perhaps the engineering was reused or this is a modified CAD model. One neat feature Bumblebee has that seems to be a standard feature in Battle Changers (or all the ones I've seen) is a flip out weapon. You can spin his right hand around giving us that trademark buster style gun BB uses in the movies. It's simple, but satisfying. Speaking of simple, in robot mode he has basic arm and leg articulation. That'll be a sticking point for some people, as would the basic nature of the toy itself. With the others in the class I looked it over with the gimmick capability. I'm only harping on it so much here because it's impossible to ignore considering just how largely it plays into the rest of the line. 

Beast Alliance Battle Changers Bumblebee is a very pleasing figure. His simple design allows for fast transformation. Perfect for playing around with while watching TV or a little buddy to carry around with you. If you enjoy a desk bot, he'd make a good one. While working at the computer, the need to take a little break happens and a little something to fiddle with is a good way to  clear out the mental fudge. Drive him around and getting in an epic shoot out with the stapler, or just transform back and forth a few times. We're starting off with our dive into Beast Alliance with arguable it's weakest figure, but still a fun little one regardless. It's uphill from here... and this is not a bad start at all. 

Transform Squadron 43- Happy Lucky Beast Wars

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Rise of the Beasts/Beast Wars have promotions. Earth Day got a Godzilla marathon, this month got a Transform Squadron.