G2 Universe Breakdown [Legacy United/Deluxe Class]

Generation 2 recolored versions of Generation 1 characters are always fun due to the loud neon colors. Seemingly the Legacy Stunticons are slowly getting a G2 release as a few of them have been released so far in their respective G2 colors. I'm pretty hopeful for a full team as I missed out on completing the full Legacy set and honestly would enjoy a G2 version better. With Breakdown here, I've gotten all that's been released so far. Go me. Of course the original G2 Stunticons were canceled and the few completed sets out there (from various merchandising samples) are extremely rare and expensive.

Newer Stunticon toys have gotten the G2 treatment over time, especially Breakdown. The original G2 Breakdown toy was the very first BotCon exclusive toy as the convention was given stock produced prior to the teams cancellation. Since then, there's been various G2 versions of Breakdown. Usually with some sort of exclusivity along with it. This version is a general retail toy, but released during the tail end of Legacy. So it still might be tricky for some to get. He was among my birthday presents from the Mrs., so mines extra special to me.

Variations of teal tend to be some of my favorite colors, so it's probably to no surprise that I gravitate towards G2 Breakdown over his original self. This version doesn't feature the Trapper Keeper style graphics the original and a few updates have. That's a little disappointing... but at the same time it looks so sharp that I don't really mind. The teal and purple with black and silver just looks so sharp. Outside of those truly majestic colors, is also a pretty good figure. Normally Combiner limbs are often sacrificed a little as they're a unique type of triple changer. The third mode is a body part, and that leads to robot and alt modes that have to be worked into that shape. Astrotain works because his train mode can be configured into a space shuttle, but how do you get a car into an arm? Thankfully these newer combiners side step that as the main body component member forms something of a skeleton and the limbs just sort of connect into place. This works pretty well and looks great. So we have a Breakdown who manages to be a normally functioning Transformer.

Robot mode is pretty good with plentiful articulation. His car mode kibble mostly resides on the backside of robot mode and is hidden pretty well. The hood forms a backpack that can separate enough as to not be a giant brick on his back. I normally like the backpack look, but can appreciate these improvements that don't block articulation. Breakdown has his usual laser pistol, but the car's spoiler can be held as a weapon too. Frankly it's king of a dumb weapon as he doesn't hold it like a sword... just kind of awkwardly. What the hell is he supposed to do with it? I stuck it on the back of his leg in the picture above as there wasn't much of a place to store it anywhere else. It feels like a design oversight more than an intentional choice. Maybe if it could attach to his forearm it'd be better... how do you even swing that effectively?

Transformation is pretty easy, and like many other car mode Transformers, you can pretty much figure out to do by looking at him. Despite all the folding pieces from the hood, there's not much panel forming and it all just goes into place easily. The pistol stores underneath the car and that spoiler works well as it's intended element. Honestly, it should have been a molded in part that split in half. I'm not ragging on the design, just everything about this toy is pretty great... except that. It just doesn't make sense to me. Remember how much I liked the colors? Well, they continue to look great in car mode. Just look at that damn thing! That's one cool looking car. The black hood and G2 Decepticon symbol on the hood look super sleek making what would normally be considered gaudy colors look very nice. Overall, Breakdown is a pretty solid toy that looks amazing. I'd be happy with him as a stand alone figure, let alone a member of a combiner team. 

Road Pig [Star Raiders Collection/Deluxe Class]

Yarr matey! The Star Raiders continue to plunder the galaxy with a look at Road Pig today. Road Pig is an update to the wonderfully cool Transformers Generation 2 Laser Cycle that frankly just doesn't get enough attention. Road Pig is a repaint of Crashbar with a new head. Using Crashbar's parts means Road Pig can also be taken apart and made into armor or weapons for most other  current Transformers toys.

The exhaust pipes can be attached to his forearms to create a mode faithful to the original toy robot mode. I kept them on his back as I love those big honkin guns he's packing. Like Crashbar, one of his bike wheels can separate and become a blades weapon or shield. Road Pig's deco is very faithful to the original toy. The exhaust pipes mentioned above are in a pinkish red hue that simulates the originals light up feature. Neat!

Transformation is easy and can be done without completely dissembling the figure like earlier Weaponizer figures. I did have a little trouble getting the parts to fit into place a little. Not sure if that's from mold usage and repair or big clumsy hands. It's not a deal breaker either way. Once in motorcycle mode, Road Pig is a pretty solid homage to his original toy again. Just needs his windshield. I've very fond of the Transformers logo and G2 symbols on the motorcycle. Transformers from from late G1 and G2 tended to have logos on the vehicle modes. It's silly, sure, but also looks cool. I've always liked the G2 logo and at times have preferred it. I can't see it without instantly being reminded of older fandom times due to it's regular use back then. Road Pig is a great update of a classic toy and another cool member of the Star Raiders Collection. I really enjoy these Walmart exclusive series from the past few years. The random homages blended with fun themes is awesome.

Original Robot Animation

The Transformers as a TV show technically lasted 5 seasons. Three full seasons with The Rebirth counting as season 4 and season 5 being repackaged reruns. Of course it feels like cheating to classify a bunch of reruns as a season... but the Generation 2 series was just repackaged reruns. Which admittedly also feels like cheating. However, if you've ever been curious about season 5, you'll of course remember the live action bumper sequences with Optimus Prime and possibly the intro. Considering the show was repackaged reruns, you'd figure they'd just reused existing intros... but no. To the untrained eye, it appears to be all new animation featuring current toys. In fact, however, the new intro is all animation from toy commercials being used.

I like watching older commercials and post enough of them here to make that very well known. So of course I enjoy watching these and taking in all the cool little animated bits. In many cases the quality of the animation is a little better than the cartoon itself or makes me wish they were scenes from unmade episodes. It's hard not to watch little bits like Micromasters running amuck and wish it were from an actual cartoon. The animated Action Masters present a solid case for an Action Master season. Sure, the Takara series exist... but I had no clue about them when I was 11. Thankfully these days it's easy to watch these little spots whenever you want. They wouldn't do it, but a collection of these animated segments would make a great special to air on the Transformers Channel.

Cloudcover (Toxitron Collection/Voyager Class)

The Toxitron Collection is this years Walmart Exclusive sub-line taking the place of last years Velocitron Speedia 500 Collection that I loved. This time the toy's concept is unused Generation 2 designs and the original unused Toxitron from Universe. With EXTREMELY AWESOME black light art boxes (and instructions) selling these VERY BRIGHTLY COLORED toys. I love them... maybe more than the Velocitron set. The story line is that these radical radioactive robots rose from the Toxic Sludge Swamps on Cybertron to cause all sorts of mayhem and anarchy. Hopefully Takara will produce another manga like they did for the Velocitron Speedia 500 set to flesh it out some more. It's not super necessary for a store exclusive set to have such a thing... but it's fun and I appreciate it.

Cloudcover is based on a mock up Seeker whose picture I feel like I've been looking at forever. Like everything else from this set, it's an un-produced concept that's finally being made on a newer updated figure. This time the Earthrise Conehead Seeker mold. I didn't get that specific mold, but really liked the Starscream version. The urge to get all the various Seekers was ruined for me thanks to the Seeker mold, but it is nice to finally get a version of the Conehead version of an excellent Seeker base toy. It's also nice to get it in such a specifically awesome concept. To be honest, I wasn't as interested in Cloudcover as the other members of the collection. Like the Velocitron set, I just want the entire set and he's the first toy from it that was found. In hand however... wow this color scheme is awesome. Over what's felt like a lifetime of looking at that blue Seeker mock up (and not being very concerned about it), I'm actually glad to own it. The blues and whites are specifically nice in robot mode... but are amazing in jet mode. This is a very nice looking toy and makes me a little sad that the original never happened. That cloud camouflage design is super pretty.

I talked about the base mold in the post linked to above, but this is a little different with a few mold changes. Specifically the head and wings. Cloudcover is a repaint of Earthrise Ramjet as the original mock up was a repaint of the G1 Ramjet toy with the Earthrise Dirge head was used. I know the pictures don't show it pretty well, but his mouth is open and there's some nice dark red eyes. That black contrasted SO HARD against the lighter colors and I'm obviously not a professional toy photographer. Hence the lace of monetization and actual content produced on a regular basis. The toy itself is pretty nice, but the real draw is the color scheme. Hopefully I can score the rest of the Toxitron Collection, Cloudcover is a wonderfully surprising start of the series for me.

You better Axe somebody

Nothing says Christmas like worrying about getting laid off after it's over. The bot we're looking at today is from that same mindset! Merry Christmas! Jhiaxus debuted in the Marvel Transformers Generation 2 comics. His name being a play on the words 'Gee... axe us' as the comic had really high sales numbers to meet to not get canceled. Like everything else in the G2 comics, Jhiaxus is batshit crazy looking. From the extreme 90's face to that gnarly exposed wiring. The far out design is highlighted with bright colors symbolic of the era. This new toy of Jhiaxus from the Transformers Legacy toy line is a perfect representation of the character in that comic series.

Jhiaxus is a voyager class figure and that larger scale benefits the design quite nicely. His beefed up seeker style body should be imposing. The design just commands to be bigger. Transformation from robot to jet is pretty simple. Everything goes into place where it should without any unnecessary steps. Both modes are really clean too, not much left over kibble from either mode. With a little more features, this could be a higher priced figure. Jhiaxus is pleasantly articulated and packing two guns to properly represent the comics blood lust. It wouldn't be the G2 comic without an insane amount of violence.

I legitimately do not have a single bad thing to say about this toy. Not just because I love Transformers, Generation 2, and the character. It's because this is a really good toy. As we're coming to the end of the year, it's safe to say THIS is my toy of the year. They nailed it. I don't see how another figure of Jhiaxus can beat this one without being a higher priced offering. Even then, I'd be surprised this one's engineering wasn't the base for that supposed higher priced toy. As a Transformers fan from a certain era, this feels like a love letter from Hasbro. There were two other toys of Jhiaxus that were not super great representations of him. This, THIS is what I've been wanting since his introduction in 1993.

Bios: Road Rocket

"I'm faster than the speed of light!"

Function: Street Defense

Although he exaggerates actual speed capabilities, this Autobot can really burn up the pavement! Always ready to hit the throttle hard and race into battle. Constantly red lines his triple-turbo engine that glows upon reaching excessive temperature parameters. Cools off by ingesting mixture of anti-freeze and oil for catalytic stabilization. Light saber weapon dissolves Decepticon armor faster than ice cream melts on a summertime sidewalk.

Strength: 6 Intelligence: 6 Speed: 8 Endurance: 4

Rank: 4 Courage: 5 Firepower: 6 Skill: 5

Another time, Another Place

 

Having almost every show I want to watch availible on in demand is pretty awesome. Things like TokuSHOUTsu and the Transformers Channel on Roku is amazing. YouTube... YouTube is pretty great, I mean, look at all the content I put on this site using YouTube. All this stuff is available pretty much any time of the day and any where (we've all watched Voltron on the toilet). It got me thinking though, just how much we take it for granted and the things I did prior.

I've mentioned before that I worked at Office Max in college. I had rent, a car, and school to pay for while only having McDonald's as work experience. It wasn't easy. Fortunately at 20 you're more willing (and able) to live off ramen noodles. I still was able to enjoy my hobbies, even if it could be pretty limiting due to funds (or lack of). I might not be able to order those Car Robot toys from Japan, but no problem, they're getting released here next year as Robots in Disguise. Gonna prop up with my laptop real late at night when traffic is pretty light on dial up internet and download pirated episodes in Real Media format. 

The video quality is horrible, but hey, I can actually watch it. I'd often make VCD's from them and buy other VCD's online. They usually were pretty cheap, even though the quality was iffy and sometimes there would be a wrong show stuck in randomly. Usually The Tick or TMNT. I also had bootleg tapes thanks to a roommates arrangement with a nearby comic/anime/gaming store. They rented out bootleg and legal gray area sub-titled imports. My roommate had a part time job there and he was allowed to make copies of shows for us as part of the deal. I'd hit up the thrift store and find some G1 and G2 bots. Missing the gun, yeah, but it's a buck. Big Lots has some cool bootlegs. Animorphs are on clearance. I had my fun.

That Office Max I spoke of, well, it was a terrible store. Badly ran and unwisely opened up next to a Walmart. However, it had a copy center. There was a Staples and an Office Depot in the shopping center across from the highway. However mine had that Walmart, Target, Belk, Home Depot, and many other popular stores a person would go to on the weekend. They'd often pop in our crappy store to make copies so they wouldn't need to leave our shopping center. This meant that despite working in the electronics section, I also helped in that copy center. What's a shit head kid with disks full of images going to do with unlimited printing resources? 

Every poster on my wall, every flier for an event, even home work was printed right there in that copy center. If I ever would have made any of those zines I wanted to make (which this site is the ultimate culmination of), I probably would have made them there. In hindsight, I probably should have helped other zine producers out.

One poster I had made for myself somehow survived all this time. It was a promotional image for the Beast Wars 2 movie. One side had Lio Convoy and Optimas Primal, the other side was Galvatron and Megatron. I thought it was awesome. I blew up the image and printed out a poster of it. That poster was stuck on every refrigerator I had for years. Every apartment, there it was. Eventually it did get retired. I still have it though, in a box. Folded up and sorta acting as a liner. It's a little dingy from the years and has that old paper smell. Like it came from a library, not something I made with a floppy disk and a color copier in the 90's. Guess that was over 20 years ago.

Pretty Mayhem Redux

 

To be completely honest, I've always associated bright neon colors with summer. Probably from various water gun fights, pool floats, and various summer time stuff. Weirdly enough, despite being so bright and colorful, there's always been something threatening about neon colors. Probably thanks to their use in various cyber punk, post apocalyptic media, and Halloween costumes.

Following up on our fireworks themed post from last week is a look at the Sparkabots! Sparkabots are one of those weird areas of Transformers that are somewhere between obscurity and urban legend. I've seen a person or two dismiss their existence or disregard them as bootlegs. They are real however, and absolutely fantastic.

European Generation 2 is an extremely interesting time. G1 didn't really end. It just stopped in the States while continuing in other parts of the world. This time of Transformers in Europe is often referred to by some fans as G1.5. In the States, G2 was the relaunch of Transformers after pausing in 1990. During that two year gap in US Transformers, the G2 symbols and branding were used on those European toys... but sold as just Transformers without the additional branding until 1994. Many of these were sold in G2 later on. 

Of course you can't talk about G2 without mentioning the bright neon colors and the reuse of G1 molds in them. That brings us here today. A European market only version of the Sparkabots was released in 1994. In G1, the Autobot Sparkabots were matched up against the scary Decepticon Firecons. However this odd new version of the Sparkabots combined members of those teams to form a new group of Sparkabots. 

Blaze and Sizzle were joined by Flamefeather and Sparkstalker. However this union only existed in name only as the Firecons were still Decepticons. The two different teams were sold under the shared banner with only two members each. Cindersaur did later join his teammates in 2010 though. The toys use the same molds, however now in some amazingly eye searing neon translucent colors. They're quite nice looking, though thanks to the unfortunate issue with translucent plastic aging... finding them in decent shape for a decent price now is a bit of a challenge.  

Art provided with permission by Draconis130

Bios: Jolt

 

"Live fast, ride hard, and leave a great looking chassis!"

Function: Sneak Attack Specialist

As mean as he is fast, but fearful of Autobots when outnumbered. Peels out at the first sign of trouble. Equipped with turbo-charged, V-12 engine with dual carburetors and side pipes. Too fast to be clocked by radar. Specializes in sneak attacks when armed with light saber. Steals from gas stations for spare parts.

Strength: 7 Intelligence: 6 Speed: 9 Endurance: 5 Rank: 3 Courage: 4 Firepower: 4 Skill: 6

Deep Cover (Netflix version)

Deep Cover is one of those characters who's been around for awhile but is just there. Literally a repaint who serves as only a background character. I'm not complaining though, because he's a cool repaint that pays tribute to Transformers history. Originally Sideswipe was made from a Diaclone mold which came in a few different variations. Deep Cover originally was a E-Hobby exclusive made from the early 2000's Sideswipe re-issue based on a version of New Countach LP500S.

Along comes the Siege version of Sideswipe and there's a version of Deep Cover based on that toy (which I sadly missed out on). Then oddly enough this Deep Cover was released in the Walmart exclusive Netflix War for Cybertron line. This time seemingly based on the G2 Sideswipe Go-Bots toy. Which is funny since a lot of folks thought Deep Cover was based on the regular Sideswipe G2 toy.

With all of that talk of different versions and repaints, I didn't talk about this toy very much. That's because it's another repaint of a toy that's gotten quite a lot of repaints. Deep Cover is based on the Siege Sidewipe mold which is a very good toy. I'm generally fond of Sideswipe toys and I liked Siege a whole lot. It's nice to revisit Siege and one of my favorite molds from it in such a cool way.

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.

Bios: Deluge

 Function: Rear Guard

"If we don't finish the job and flatten them - we might as well not be in the fight at all."

A vital cog in the vast Autobot battle machine. Can endure the most extreme battle conditions and still fight fearlessly to the last. Ties up all the loose ends as he mops up the action behind the troops. As a tough vehicle will take on any endurance challenge and defend with devastating water power. Is just as deadly as a robot.

 

Watch This Magnus

I'm pretty sure you're well aware but, it's Christmas. While out shopping I've been taking notice of all the licensed character watches. They're something fun to stick in a stocking. A cool small gift. As usual, there's plenty of various Transformers ones next to the Baby Yoda ones. 

It's funny how these days you just take them for granted. Some are little toys, or just have a symbol, but you know they'll be there. Back in the day this particular set was a pretty hot commodity. Released in Japan around Scramble City/2010 time and later in G2 here in the US. 

There was plenty of Transformers fans trying to complete a set back then. They're pretty cool, it's easy to see why someone would want to collect them all. I wonder if in a few years will fans who are kids now would be trying to do the same with those watches we take for granted. I kinda hope so.

Bios- Double Clutch

Catch me if you can!

Whether on an abandoned dirt track in the desert, or tearing up the tar at Indy, this Autobot defines the word speed. He's also incredibly versatile. Rear spoiler acts as laser deflection shield - converts to energy absorption panel when fuel is depleted. Nose is not only aerodynamic, but radiates electron disrupters to disengage Decepticon tracking sensors.

Bios- Sideswipe

I don't break rules, I bend them - a lot.

Loves a good fight, and will do anything to win. Dirty tricks still part of his anything-to-win arsenal, but he's no longer the selfish playboy he was on Cybertron. On Earth, he's become a brilliant warrior. Fights with a new-found intensity for the Autobot's goal of universal peace. Not afraid of being injured. Enjoys the challenge of a risky mission, or hazardous firefight.

Bios- Megatron

Peace through tyranny!

A criminal combination of brute strength, military cunning, ruthlessness and terror. Copied Optimus Prime's ingenious example of radically re-configuring his external structure to current design parameters. Now travels virtually unnoticed in race car mode while undertaking clandestine espionage purposes, but never passes up an opportunity for battle. Megatron has no known weaknesses.

Let's Transform Cyberjet Jetfire!

Good old Jetfire. One of the more popular Cyberjets and for a while there, one of the more often used molds. Chances are you've probably got a version or two of it and let's transform it? As you can see above your figure should have two missiles. These fire from the launcher on the top of the jet which is also the robots right hand. It only fires one at a time, so the spare is often held in the other hand as a club.

 

In jet mode, the spare missile can be stored underneath the jet. With both missiles in place he looks pretty heavily armed. The jet itself is pretty neat. It's small, but not tiny. The wings can open up as well.

To fire the missile, just push on the end and it pops out flying a few inches. Instead of a spring trigger, the launcher has a sort of marble mechanism. 

The launcher clamps around the ball shape on the missile. The pushing plays with the friction of the holder and it just pops out. This works really well and is very handy as you won't loose missiles by accidental firings.

Let's start transforming him now. simply unfold the jet's undercarriage out. It's pretty obvious that these are Jetfire's legs. Thanks to the sculpting they blend in pretty well. There's also some fold-able landing gear built into them which stores out of the way in robot mode.

After you flip out those legs, adjust those arms into place. The missile launcher is one and by now you've noticed the other was the storage for the spare missile. Spread them out like in the picture. Just like the picture, don't get creative. 

By now you can probably see the robot's head, that's generally where you need to start folding. So do that. Fold it. Now. As you do this everything will fit into place with a little adjusting. Maybe a lot if you got creative with those arms like I told you not to.

You've mostly got Jetfire transformed. Just fold those arms up into place and you've got a pretty good looking robot.

 

Place one of those missiles in the launcher so Jetfire can shoot it at somebody. The other can be held like a club or stored on the underside of his arm. It's the same place you had it stored in jet mode and looks like an arm mounted gun when done so here.

Like I said before, this mold got a lot of use and chances are you've probably got a version or two of it. There's five different versions of it out officially and I still see bootlegs of it occasionally. 

It was used twice in G2 as Hooligan and Jetfire. In Robot Masters as R-Blade and Wind Sheer in Universe (v1). The last use was in the BotCon 2005 exclusive set as Ricochet. Each version is pretty different from the other and are pretty sharp looking toys. Go get one if you don't already own a version. Then fly him around your living room. Make "pew pew" noises.

Color Changing Mayhem

I love the G2 Transformers toy. When I say that, I mean the gimmick heavy robot figures. There was a charm about the basic robot toy that went with such things as water squirting action, or rotor shooting guns. I would say they don't make them like that anymore, but they do and I talk about it often. Still, I buy regular modern TF's too and wish these guys were homaged as much as other eras. There's an occasional bone thrown here and there. I get it, it's business and they'd rather go with safe bets. I'm not a gambler, I'd go with a safe bet. Just man, how can you not look at these guys and just want more of that?

Skyquake in Germany, jack crap in Georgia

I'm pretty jealous of the countries that got Skyquake, Thunder Clash, and all the other Transformers from that era of that didn't get released here (the dark times). Though I'm pretty sure others are jealous of my super powers of finding old ass commercials. No? Well... just pretend you are. Because I'm not pretending, even though I later got these molds in other releases, I still wish I would have had the option of getting Skyquake at my local Walmart back then. This German commercial really shows off the robots and even has a touch of stop motion. I absolutely love the colors of this era, but love the all around look and build of Transformers of this time even more. Keep your overpriced MP, give me a early 90's robot any day.

Combat Optimus Prime and Megatron

Still some of the best Transformers ever made.