Detritus (Legacy: Evolution/Deluxe Class)

Detritus is one of those Transformers characters that means something to me for reasons I can't fully explain. To begin with, I've always been a Hound fan. Classic cartoon Hound to be specific. In 2004, Takara re-issued G1 Hound in their Book style series in which I bought that immediately. I still have my childhood one, but it was nice to have a complete Hound again. Hopefully I can find that Walmart exclusive version of the G1 toy as well. Love Hound. Well, around that time e-Hobby was running exclusives based off most of the Takara reissues. These would often be brand new G1 characters using original molds.  Sometimes they'd be based off Diaclone versions or take inspiration from other sources. It's probably pretty easy to guess I was quick to snatch up one made from the Hound toy mold.

Detritus was based on a desert colored variation of a military Jeep that really looked good. He was a new character and with a name like was obviously a Junkion! At the time, there wasn't many Junkion toys. Only G1 Wreck-Gar specifically. The Junkions have always had a cult following with many Transformers fans, so this was very welcome. Adding to Detritus's coolness was that he was a Mercenary! That wasn't very commonplace back then either. Detritus was a Junkion who left the planet and took up arms dealing. Working for whomever paid him and would eventually side up with whatever group won. His ultimate goal? Take over the Junkions! Dang! We got a new bot that was full of character, not bad for a straight repaint. Detritus also saw life in Takara's incarnation of Power Core Combiners as a repaint of Mudslinger. I hope to get that eventually.

This new toy of Detritus from Legacy: Evolution is a bit of a weird one. The Siege Hound toy mold was heavily retooled into a fairly updated G1 accurate toy. The figure at some point will be released a Buzzworthy Bumblebee figure that I look forward to. This new Detritus figure is a repaint of that which has not came out yet. Whacky. I liked that Siege toy, but wasn't fond of transforming it. This version, however, I had no problems transforming. Either they made it easier somehow or I just got better at it. Regardless, it's a nice new figure of Detritus. Transformation was easy for me this time and both modes a really nice. The Jeep is very pleasant and the desert deco looks good. As a robot, Detritus is fairly articulated and has two guns that can be combined in a few ways into bigger weapons. You know, Evo-Fusion. I tried to mirror the original toy a little because I love those G1 shoulder rocket launchers. If there is anything to take issue with, the front hood portion of the Jeep does stand out a little extra. Not a deal breaker or anything, but it does seem a bit big. Regardless, this is a very good toy of a character I like quite a bit. It's got me excited for the eventual Hound toy as well. Whenever that comes out. 

Crashbar (Legacy Evolution/Deluxe Class)

There's not a lot of new characters these days in Transformers, so when there is one, it's usually pretty great. Crashbar is just that, a new character. Not just a new character, but a cool one at that. One of the new Junkions from Legacy Evolution, Crashbaris a spiky motorcycle straight from a post apocalyptic scene and I like it. Also, like other new Junkions, he can separate into pieces to combine with other toys. That's a super neat gimmick I've been enjoying since Siege, but these newer toys don't require separation for transformation. While I don't mind partforming, it is pretty neat. I've been told other toys can ride Crashbar in motorcycle mode, but haven't tried it myself. I do wonder if a Microman could as well. Crashbar is a little bigger than a Laser Cycle, but maybe it could work.

Crashbar had two big blasters for weapons. I've been told these are gravity cannons, though I'm sure would double as standard blasters in fiction. One of his motorcycle wheels can also detach and form a saw blade type weapon or shield. Not to mention two exhaust pipes that can be worn or used as melee weapons. I guess he's going to use the gravity guns to hold a Decepticon in place before beating them with the pipes. I really like Crashbar's expressive face. It really conveys that same swarmy charm Wreck-Gar has. That post apocalyptic pirate crew vibe the Junkions have is too cool to ignore. Makes for some cool punk rock types. Crashbar is a little smaller than your average Junkion, but I like it. This is a great figure full of articulation, weapons, and a fun gimmick. Not bad for a guy supposedly made of garbage.

Happy Motoring. Cock-A-Doodle-Doo!

While stopping by Target Sunday, I swung into the toys and lucked up on the new Studio Series 86 Wreck-Gar. I was pretty surprised as I'd just been there Saturday. I wasn't complaining though and gladly grabbed him. I've always really liked Wreck-Gar and even though he's gotten his share of toys, they never quite recreate the original far out design fully. Thankfully the entire purpose of the Studio Series toys is to be faithful versions of the onscreen characters and the king of junk looks right out of the 1986 movie and following seasons. 

Wreck-Gar is a pretty impressive toy and honestly feels like a far more premium figure than I'd expect for a Voyager Class toy at standard retail. The designers really nailed this one, which has been my overall sentiment with the Studio Series 86 toys. There's plenty of articulation, even where I wouldn't have considered it. Like his chest lasers (don't be weird), they're on little ball joints that allow them to be aimed. I've really been impressed with his spikes. Instead of the soft rubbery material you'd expect, they're a hard plastic instead. Safety be damned, you can put an eye out with those things! They're not just for show either, that's how the wheels/shield is mounted! Neat!

Transformation isn't complex. Another Transformer can ride the motorcycle (size permitting) making me wonder if a generic Junkion will be released and I hope so. Just hopefully it's a bit more distinct than the Studio Series generic Sweep. I cannot find a single negative thing to say about this toy and I'm not going to apologize for gushing either. I'm really happy with this toy. There's probably some complaints out there from some folks, but frankly I don't care. I'm so damn happy with Wreck-Gar that I'll happily wallow in my own ignorance about it. Your mileage may vary, of course, but mine is spectacular. I get spectacular mileage!

Power of the Primes Wreck-Gar

I was really happy to find this years Walgreen's Exclusive toy on the way to a Pumpkin Patch with my wife. Weirdly enough, the annual Walgreen's exclusive Transformer has become a big deal for me. It's one of the bigger moments in Transformers toys for me each year and Wreck-Gar is definitely a good choice. Using  Combiner Wars Groove as a base mold, Wreck Gar has a new head and includes his axe weapon from the Reveal the Shield Wreck-Gar toy. Since this is a POTP toy, Wreck-Gar comes with a POTP Primemaster armor hand/foot unit.

Wreck-Gar

Collect and save, collect and save.

Wreck-Gar leads the Junkions, a race of junk robots. He's made of rusted scraps, chassis bits, manifold parts, and dented odds and ends. A little scatterbrained, he speaks in odd-ryming, pieced-together sentences. His words are a junkyard collection of broadcast fragments from T.V. commercials and radio jingles. In robot mode, he carries an armor axe and a decelerator laser that inhibits an enemy robot's flow of cerebral impulses.