Magmatron [Defender Version 07 – Power of the Beast]

@robfromzonebase Magmatron (Blokees Transformers Defender Version 07- Power of the Beast) #zonebase #transformers #blokees #models #beastwars ♬ ChainsawGirl - RinRin

It's been a little too long since I've talked about a Blokees kit here on the site and, since it's Beast Summer (damn, it feels good to say that again), we're getting back into the swing of things with one of Beast Wars' standouts, Magmatron.

Magmatron is the leader of the Predacons in Beast Wars Neo, who later joins the Beast Machines Dinobots. That's actually how I acquired my original Magmatron, as the Japanese release was a little out of reach for a broke college student. However, when Hasbro made him a member of the new Dinobots, he was released as a Target exclusive that I immediately jumped on.

Magmatron is a very interesting Transformer. He's composed of three different dinosaurs—Landsaurus, Seasaurus, and Skysaurus—that combine to form his robot mode. The combination of those three distinct dinosaurs makes for one of the most unique robot designs in the franchise.

Since Blokees obviously don't transform, we don't have to worry about that here. However, it does make for a slightly more involved build than you'd normally expect from a Defender Version kit.

I definitely enjoy the different dinosaur heads on his shoulders. On the original toy, they're beast mode kibble that becomes ornamental in robot mode. Here, Blokees could have easily skipped them altogether, but they didn't. Little touches like that help Magmatron feel more premium than your average Defender Version release.

I especially appreciate Skysaurus's wings on his back. Once again, they're an important part of his design, but they really pop on this kit. Since he doesn't transform, Magmatron's robot head also isn't tied to Skysaurus's transformation and is able to articulate independently. Defender Version kits are already well-articulated once assembled, and that extra freedom really benefits a design that's usually limited by the realities of being a transforming toy.

Another really nice touch is the inclusion of his Magma Blade and Magma Shield. They're appropriately oversized compared to the smaller figure, giving him a much more imposing presence than I'm used to seeing from Magmatron. They're large weapons on the original toy as well, but at this scale they almost make him feel like a miniature fantasy warrior.

The crazy thing is that this isn't even one of the chase figures in the assortment.

It's just a standard release.

That's honestly a little mind-blowing.

This is such a nice little kit that, if I needed a single figure to sell me on the entire Defender Version line, Magmatron would probably be it.

A mammoth of a big deal

When I was in college Japanese Beast Wars was one of the coolest things to me. Still is. At the time the world was so new to me still and thanks to the internet becoming more and more a thing, Transformers from around the planet suddenly started becoming a big deal. I already loved Beast Wars, but I've always preferred traditional animation. Suddenly there was more Beast Wars with traditional animation. It didn't hurt that it looked so amazing either.

Big Convoy and Magmatron were just so bad ass that they became a rather big deal to me. Chances are if you're a Transformers fan, you enjoy the look of Optimus Prime. He's always been a really good looking robot and the combination of that Optimus look and the mammoth elements was awesome. After all these years it's still one of the most impressive looking Transformers toys in my eyes.

Then you have Magmatron, we've established I like dinosaurs and dinosaur based robots. Well, what if we had a dinosaur based team of villains led by a pile of dinosaurs? I knew you'd understand. Magmatron just looks crazy and imposing. Crazy, imposing, and amazing. It was hard to imagine such a figure that was made of three different dinosaurs at the time. How did it even work? Well, pretty complicatedly, but ultimately rewarding when I transformed mine for the first time.

Big Convoy vs Magmatron

Since I'm talking Lio Convoy, I can't not talk Big Convoy. Beast Wars Neo had a ton of new molds that many were very frustrating to transform, but ultimately really good looking and very beloved by me. Big Convoy to this day is one of the best looking Transformers in my opinion. It's just this amazing looking robot made of kick ass. Magmatron isn't anything to sneeze at either. Just this big, imposing robot made of three dinosaurs. Beast Wars Neo was just a showstopper.