Gigastorm and BW Galvatron [Defender Version 07- Power of the Beast]

@robfromzonebase BW Galvatron [Transformers Blokees Defender Version 07-Power of the Beast] #zonebase #transformers #blokees #blokeestransformers #beastwars ♬ rondo - Uz:ME

Admittedly, I get pretty excited for just about every character Blokees includes in a Transformers Defender Version assortment. Of course, like the other Beast Wars characters they've released, I was ecstatic when these two were revealed. With Defender Version 07: Power of the Beast, Blokees dipped into the Japanese-exclusive Beast Wars series and included characters that have always been a really big deal to me. I was blown away to see both Galvatron and Gigastorm from Beast Wars II included. Frankly, it surprised me since there was already a version of G1 Galvatron in the assortment, and I never expected them to tackle something like Trypticon or Gigastorm in the Defender Version size class. This one still kind of blows my mind.

Galvatron serves as Lio Convoy's counterpart and the main villain of Beast Wars II. The Emperor of Destruction eventually becomes corrupted by Angolmois Energy and later falls under Unicron's influence during Beast Wars Neo. Depending on how you look at it, that technically makes his original toy the first Unicron action figure. For a long time, the original Beast Wars II Galvatron toy was considered one of the greatest Transformers toys ever made, and mine is still very special to me. I'm hoping to pick up the new version soon, but just like the other Beast Wars characters in this assortment, there's a lot of love attached to him. The kit itself does a great job capturing the character's look and even includes his signature Galva-Axe rather than a generic weapon.

In Beast Wars II, Galvatron has a younger brother named Megastorm, whose toy was a reuse of the original Generation 2 Megatron mold. Thanks to the effects of that pesky Angolmois Energy, he and several other Destrons were mutated into gnarly cyborg beast warriors. Megastorm became Gigastorm, who was created from a remold of the original Generation 1 Trypticon toy. At the time, both Megastorm and Gigastorm became affordable ways for fans to obtain molds they might have otherwise missed. Around the early 2000s, these toys seemed to sit on clearance at online retailers forever. Gigastorm was especially fun because he featured a large nose horn that somehow made an already giant dinosaur even more kaiju-like than Trypticon had been.

@robfromzonebase Gigastorm [Transformers Blokees Defender Version 07-Power of the Beast] #zonebase #transformers #blokees #blokeestransformers #blindbox ♬ 苦悩の聖人 (Saint of Suffering) - Akuma Dollz

Gigastorm is an especially impressive kit. While building him, I kept finding myself impressed by just how well Blokees adapted the design. Assembly follows a similar approach to other beast and dinosaur Defender Version kits, with a central frame surrounded by shell pieces that form the body. The limbs then plug into place around that structure. While this certainly isn't a Master Grade-style build or anything, I really enjoyed assembling the head. The horns fit through slots in the upper head section, which also houses the eyes. The lower jaw then attaches before the completed head connects to the neck and upper body. It's not especially complex, but it feels involved in a satisfying way.

I had actually built Dino Mode Sludge right before Gigastorm, whose head wasn't much simpler, yet somehow Gigastorm's assembly felt more substantial. The neck section is particularly fun, as it can be connected regardless of position but only looks correct when oriented properly. It's a small touch, but one I appreciated.

Another detail I absolutely loved was the inclusion of the tiny Gigascouter attached to his body, just like on the original toy. That's the sort of detail Blokees could have easily skipped, but they didn't. If you remove it, you'll even find a tiny molded Predacon/Destron symbol underneath. Again, they didn't have to do that, but they did. Those little extra touches are one of the reasons I enjoy these kits so much. Blokees could cut corners, but they usually don't.

Of course, seeing Gigastorm in this line immediately gets my imagination running wild. If they can do Gigastorm, then surely a Defender Version Trypticon can't be too far behind. I'd be completely on board with that. Honestly, I've always wanted a red Trypticon. Maybe they could even do a special version inspired by Starriors Cosmittor or Zoids Rex. I also hope Gigastorm's inclusion eventually leads to Megastorm, which in turn could pave the way for a proper Generation 2 Megatron.

That would be awesome.

Leo Prime/Lio Convoy (Robot and Beast) [Defender Version 07 – Power of the Beast]

@robfromzonebase Leo Prime/Lio Convoy (robot and beast) [Transformers Blokees Defender Version 07- Power of the Beast] #zonebase #transformers #blokees #blokeestransformers #beastwars ♬ Volcano Girls - Veruca Salt

I was extremely excited to see Lio Convoy (or Leo Prime, as Hasbro now him) included in the Blokees Transformers Defender Version 07: Power of the Beast assortment when it was first revealed.

Extremely.

Sure, I get excited for every Defender Version assortment, but this one was a particularly big deal for me.

During the Beast era, Lio Convoy was one of the coolest-looking Transformers on the planet. College-aged me (who was perpetually broke) couldn't afford one, so for the longest time he existed only as JPEGs I'd printed on my old HP inkjet printer and thumbtacked to the wall next to Coal Chamber posters.

Remember that terrible OfficeMax job I've mentioned before? While working in the copy center, I printed one of the Beast Wars II movie promotional images of Lio Convoy battling Galvatron as a poster.

It proudly hung on my wall for years. In fact, I still have that wonderfully pixelated poster folded up inside a tote in the garage. It spent years hanging on whatever refrigerator I happened to have.

Come to think of it...

Maybe I should turn that image into a refrigerator magnet for the current one.

At BotCon 2001, I finally picked up a pair of sofubi figures of Lio Convoy and Galvatron. Between those, a few PVC figures, and some little keshi, they were my stand-ins until I eventually tracked down the real toys.

These days you can hardly throw a rock without hitting a new toy of one of the Japanese Beast Wars leaders, but there was a time when they felt incredibly special.

Honestly...

They still do.

In this assortment, Lio Convoy is available in three different forms: his beast mode, his robot mode, and a Special Armor Type version of the robot. I'm thrilled to have the standard robot mode, but I'd really like to add the Special Armor version someday. It features chrome detailing, Energon Tonfas, a blast effect for his jet pack, and the Convoy Council cape from his later appearances.

Now that I think about it, Flame Toys even produced a Furai Model version with the cape.

I really should pick that up.

There have been all sorts of alternate color versions of Lio Convoy over the years, but part of me wishes Blokees would surprise us with an Alpha Trion version. During the old 3H era of BotCon, there were plans for an Alpha Trion toy based on Beast Machines Snarl. When Alpha Trion first appeared in that story, though, he was illustrated using Lio Convoy's silhouette instead.

That's one of those wonderful "what if?" moments that would make for an incredibly fun special edition.

Today we're looking at both the standard robot mode and beast mode kits. Like the other Defender Version releases, Blokees treats each mode as its own separate model instead of trying to engineer a transformation between them.

Personally, I love that approach.

A transforming toy always has to make compromises. By separating the two modes, both end up looking as good as they possibly can.

The lion assembles very easily. The body begins with two large halves connected by an internal frame that acts as the skeleton for the rest of the kit. The legs and feet go together quickly, while the head gets a little extra attention. The lower jaw is assembled separately before attaching to the face, which then connects to the mane. Additional mane pieces can fold upward to recreate the Lion Typhoon attack.

Once complete, the lion has a modest amount of articulation. The jaw opens, and the mane pieces can be displayed raised or lowered.

The robot builds much like a standard Defender Version kit, although it has a few fun gimmicks. The lion claw sections can be displayed forward for his claw attack or folded back to resemble the mane pieces seen on his forearms. The lion head that normally sits on his shoulder can also be swapped with the full beast-mode head, allowing you to display the Lion Typhoon in robot mode. It's a little oversized, but it looks fantastic.

Like a few of the Beast Wars Defender Version kits, the extra armor around the forearms slightly limits articulation. Personally, I don't mind, although I'm sure it probably drives somebody on the internet absolutely crazy.

Lio Convoy also includes a yellow blaster using the same mold that's been included with several Defender Version kits. I tend to think of it as this line's equivalent of the classic Optimus Prime rifle. Part of me wishes Lio Convoy had received a yellow version of that weapon instead, but this one still looks great in his hands.

Once assembled, this is an incredibly sharp-looking mini figure.

Like Cheetor before him, I can't help but compare him to the sprites from Transformers Beast Wars: Beast Warriors' Strongest Decisive Battle on the Game Boy Color. The proportions are surprisingly similar, and now I've got myself wishing Blokees would release a line of Defender Version kits painted to match those pixel-art colors.

Now that I've said it...

I want that even more.

Lio Convoy has always been a special character to me, and Blokees absolutely nailed him. This is one of those rare instances where I honestly don't have a single complaint.

I'm just ridiculously, blissfully happy with it.

I wish everything did that.

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.

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.

Blackarachnia and Predacon Tarantulas [Swapticons]

The Summer of Swapticons continues with another taste of Halloween because, if anything, I've got tunnel vision. Code Orange is a summer tradition longtime readers know I really get behind, so some creepy spiders are just the thing to remind us that fall is coming during these blistering hot days. However, if you're not the Summerween type... there's tons of bugs in the summer too.

One thing (among many things) I love about Swapticons is their embracing of Beast Wars. Sure, the beast warriors have been getting a bigger spotlight in recent years, but it's super nice to see a line intended for smaller children highlight them. This set is especially fun as it's the two spider bots from Beast Wars that were a big problem most of the time: Tarantulas and Blackarachnia.

Starting with Tarantulas, who was arguably as much of a threat as Megatron. The Predacons' mad scientist always had some clever invention or scheme causing the Maximals problems. Not to mention, his own treacherous ways caused Megatron plenty of trouble as well. He wasn't just this way by chance either. Tarantulas was actually an agent of the Tripredacus Council and was secretly working on their behalf. Due to the Tripredacus Council's intentions, he found himself opposing the Vok and their plans, which ultimately led to his downfall at their hands. However, as 3H-era BotCon fiction went, Tarantulas' dead body, possessed by the Vok, returned to cause trouble.

Talk about irony.

There's a lot about Blackarachnia that I'm not going to tell you. You already know. She's a schemer and treacherous. She's out for herself and not afraid to admit it. So much so that Starscream saw her worth taking under his wing... only for her to betray him! She out-Starscreamed Starscream.

However... underneath it all, she's actually good, and her relationship with Silverbolt slowly sways her to the Maximals' side of the Beast Wars. She was actually a Maximal to begin with, and it was due to the Predacons, specifically Tarantulas, that her protoform was altered, creating the problem she became. Of course, she and Tarantulas had a toxic partnership of their own that could be a textbook example of terrible behavior.

We could go on forever about Blackarachnia, but thanks to creepers on the internet... she's pretty well known.

It's fitting that the two are Swapticons teammates due to their personal history and, well... both being spiders. Kind of a no-brainer, I suppose.

Combined, the two make a pretty decent-looking spider... or you can go crazy with other Swapticons and have a spider cat or spider car. The gimmick pretty much makes the fun obvious, but I just wanted to point out that I accidentally misspelled "and" as "nads" while writing this and found that absolutely hilarious.

The individual robot modes are, of course, very blocky with goofy faces, but thanks to the spider legs serving as robot mode arms and those chunky proportions, I'm reminded of Buddy L Bug Bots and Sacred Beast Legend Bioroid toys. See? I can compare Swapticons to something other than BotBots and the newest batch of Changeables.

Which they also remind me of.

Ironhide and Autobot Ratchet [Swapticons]

The Summer of Swapticons continues with probably the most obvious set: Ironhide and Ratchet!

Ironhide and Ratchet almost always share toy molds, so having a toy where the two combine to form an alt mode makes a lot of sense. Normally Ironhide becomes a red van while Ratchet becomes a white ambulance. As a Swapticons set, they both form a white ambulance because synergy is important when you're a team.

I've always been a little attached to Ratchet thanks to his starring role in the early issues of the Marvel Transformers comic. At the time those issues were on newsstands, I was staying at my Grandmother's house while my parents handled the arrangements for our relocation across states. I must have reread those issues a million times and, despite being a cartoon guy, I always think of comic Ratchet cooking hot dogs with his laser scalpel.

I wish I had a story about Ironhide... but I just enjoy him for him.

His southern drawl. Being a good old soldier boy. He's an enjoyable character who's been around since the beginning, but I don't really have something that endears him to me the way Ratchet does. With as many characters as Transformers has, I can't be attached to them all.

But I do like Ironhide.

How couldn't someone?

Admittedly, First Aid would have worked pretty well in Ironhide's place... but Ironhide is the obvious choice.

They're both your standard Swapticons: chonky, silly, with a tiny bit of articulation in the arms and impossible to hate. They're also not as flashy as some of the other Swapticons we've looked at during the Summer of Swapticons... and that's a good thing.

You need standard bearers, and these two are cornerstones of Transformers.

Starscream and Decepticon Slipstream [Swapticons]

Seekers. Everyone loves them, especially Starscream. So of course they're perfect for the Summer of Swapticons! Usually Seekers are repaints of Starscream. However, this time these two are repaints of Ramjet and Sandstorm, who were included in the Desert Dunes 5-pack that I haven't been able to track down yet. Starscream, of course, is one of the main characters in Transformers and there's not much that can be said about him that hasn't already been said. Slipstream is a Seeker that originated in Transformers Animated and has stuck around since as a popular member of the Seekers with a really cool color scheme.

Of course, I can't help but associate her with a background generic Seeker from the original cartoon. Often generic Seekers, Insecticon clones, and Reflector bots were used as cannon fodder Decepticons. Purple Seekers were often seen, even appearing in a very cool OTFCC Exclusive Heroes of Cybertron Seeker figurine set.

One of those purple Seekers was drawn skinnier than the others, almost feminine, leading several older fans to think that one was female. The "Lady in Purple" appeared in various fan works for a while and I like to think she was one of the initial beginnings of Slipstream, influencing future creators during her creation. 

Since this is my first time with this mold set (I do hope to get that 5-pack, it's driving me crazy), it's a new experience for me and a pretty pleasant one at that.

The blocky and silly proportions Swapticons have often remind me of SD-style robot toys, but also of character sprites from older video games. Thinking about it, Swapticons would make for a fun game mechanic. Combining two individuals into one and creating unique abilities. I'm sure it's been done before, but it'd be fun.

Surprisingly, Starscream forms the rear of the jet with Slipstream becoming the front. I'd think the main Seeker would be the front end, but he is an ass... so it works.

The jet is an elongated thing that doesn't look bad, but once again feels like something out of an older game. I could see it being used on a map screen where you'd choose which area to play next.

Thanks to the silly faces, Swapticons once again feel like a spiritual successor to BotBots, and the chonky designs really make me want to look into the designers and see what else they've worked on. I'm swearing the same designer worked on Changeables and I'm not going to stop saying that anytime soon.

The colors really pop on these little sculpts, arguably giving them more character than the goofy faces. The purple on Slipstream looks legitimately nice.

They've got a small bit of arm articulation, which Swapticons generally have. It's not a lot, but it does make for a nicer toy.

Overall, this is a great little Swapticons set. Good colors, fun designs, and a surprisingly neat jet mode. Plus, any toy that lets Starscream literally be the ass-end of something gets bonus points from me.

Shadow Panther and Ravage [Swapticons]

Continuing our journey through the Summer of Swapticons is a duo of black cats. Obviously, whenever you get a Cheetor and Tigatron, Shadow Panther and Ravage are coming. Well, Cheetor and Tigatron were in the first series of Swapticons, so we've got Ravage and Shadow Panther here in Series 2.

For a change, Tigatron and Ravage aren't repaints of Cheetor. Instead, Tigatron was a new mold and Ravage is a repaint of Tigatron. Both turn into a butt.

Funnily enough, in the past, the infamous Ravage X-9 toy was a heavy remold and repaint of the Transmetal Cheetor figure and was later repainted into Tigatron for a BotCon 2001 exclusive figure. That's a toy I have and a BotCon I've attended.

It was a good time, and due to the layout of the hotel, the dealer room was split into a larger and smaller set of rooms. It's 2026, 25 years later, and I can still smell that smaller dealer room. Good lord, the amount of body odor in that small space was a crime against humanity.

Funnily enough, the following BotCon in 2002 also featured an exclusive made from a Cheetor toy that hasn't made another appearance yet: CatSCAN. I'd love to see a new version of him.

That BotCon, however, is where a story about Shadow Panther comes from.

There I was in the dealer room (only one that year, more room to breathe) and came across a table selling Ravage X-9 figures for $60 each. That was a steal, even back then, and as I reached into my pockets... I realized I only had $30 on me at the time.

These were the cash-only days at conventions, so I found myself rushing to the ATM... which was out of cash. Dammit.

I had been staying at the convention's overflow hotel, which was about two blocks away, and had stopped at an ATM somewhere in the middle of the walk to the convention center. Remembering that ATM, I made a mad dash toward it, got some much-needed cash, and hurried the hell back to that dealer.

...he was sold out.

I looked over and saw a guy laughing like Muttley while carrying the stack of them to his dealer table.

Said guy then put a much higher price on his new stock of toys and, out of spite—pure, unadulterated spite—I refused to stop by that booth for the rest of the weekend.

However, the dealer with the decently priced Ravages had a Shadow Panther for $20... and I bought him.

Ever since then, I've felt a kinship with Shadow Panther.

Which rings true about this site. We're the rejects and the weirdos that get overlooked while someone else gets all the attention and gets overvalued. Ten years in and millions of views later, us rejects are still here flipping the bird.

Speaking of weirdos that don't cost too much, this Shadow Panther comes with Ravage and it's a fun toy of two bots that fit together to make a very long black cat. I talked about the Cheetor and Tigatron toys this set is a repaint of last year, so feel free to check that post out for a more in-depth discussion of the actual toys.

Clearly I've got a fire in my ass today.

Dinobot Snarl and Grimlock [Swapticons]

It's summer, the Summer of Swapticons, and since this is Zone Base... you all know Halloween is cooking in my brain. This isn't just a me thing either. If you look around, you'll see the term "Code Orange" in certain circles. This is due to the early stock of Halloween items in some stores, which has led to the whole Summerween thing. We're taking over.

What does this have to do with Swapticons? Well, as I've mentioned way too many times, I was Snarl the Dinobot for Halloween in the 2nd grade. Specifically Dynabot Snarl, as the Collegeville Costume box said. So, with spooky season in mind, today's a good day to talk about the Snarl and Grimlock Swapticons pack!

I actually like Snarl for more reasons than Halloween. For one, I think he's cool-looking. Also, things like Armor Geist in Exkaiser help solidify just how cool his design is to me. Grimlock, on the other hand... we all love him. The leader of the Dinobots and one of the most impersonated characters in the history of the series.

Times when I've spoken with Greg Berger have led to what's become one of my favorite bits of Transformers trivia. During those original cartoon days when he took on the character, the voice was so demanding that he took lessons from a heavy metal vocal coach to ensure he didn't destroy his vocal cords each session. In short, this is an ideal Swapticons set... and I just like dinosaurs.

In this 2-pack, Snarl becomes the rear of the dinosaur with Grimlock forming the head. The result is a dinosaur that looks like a MechaGodzilla version of the 1998 American Godzilla... or Zilla, as real ones know it by. Frankly, that makes me like the beast mode a lot, and being Swapticons, you can mix and match to create a lot of fun alt modes. Dino truck, kitty-saurus, stego... sports car... or tank... you get the idea.

Once again, they've got that wonderfully boxy and silly Swapticons design that I really enjoy. I mean, look, these clearly aren't for display cases and for ahem serious collectors. These are straight-up toys, and that's what they are. Me? I buy a ton of ahem serious collector toys... and these are more fun to blog about.

You can throw a few in your messenger bag, entertain yourself at your desk, and store them in a shoebox. Once again, part of me wonders if the designers who worked on these also worked on the most recent Changeables from McDonald's. And yes, I am comparing a retail toy with a fast-food premium like it's something noteworthy to think about, and that's because it is. After all, what may have been the first figure of Arcee was made from Happy Meal Power Rangers figures and Sculpey. Not to mention, designers work on a whole slew of products, and it's pretty damn fascinating.

Also of note, Grimlock and Snarl's combined form looks like it's taking a nap, and that's freaking adorable.

Terrorsaur and Lazorbeak [Swapticons]

The inclusion of Beast Wars characters in Swapticons is just a huge plus. Lazorbeak, however... that's a surprise.

The original Beast Wars Lazorbeak toy was a nicely colored figure that, believe it or not, was an entirely new mold from Terrorsaur despite looking nearly identical. Later releases of Terrorsaur actually used Lazorbeak's molding, which makes things really confusing if you keep up with such things. It's also not completely clear if Lazorbeak is meant to be G1 Laserbeak in a new body either. There are some similarities in the bio and some differences. Mainly, Lazorbeak isn't a coward like Laserbeak tends to be.

Terrorsaur has always had a cool design, and his similarities to Starscream on the show are impossible to ignore. So much so that when Starscream possessed Waspinator... everyone was a little surprised it wasn't Terrorsaur.

As Swapticon figures, the two are VERY blocky, which fits the Swapticon look but is a little odd for two robots that turn into a pterodactyl. They are, however, very good-looking Swapticons... and Lazorbeak is so happy about that. Just look at that grin!

Lazorbeak forms the rear end of the rather monstery-looking pterodactyl, with Terrorsaur forming the front. The beast mode head and tail fold up onto their respective bots' backs in robot mode, with the wings becoming Terrorsaur's arms (he's even got a little gun!) while the legs become Lazorbeak's.

The combined pterodactyl mode is... very long-bodied thanks to the way Swapticons are proportioned. It's silly, but fun and... kind of looks like a hot dog. Honestly, this shouldn't be as neat as it is, but it just is. This is simply a really fun Swapticon. It's silly, it's weird, and it's perfectly enjoyable.

Clench and Nemesis Prime [Swapticons]

A recent goal of mine was to write about every Swapticon and Cyberworld toy here on the site (within reason). Now that summer's upon us, it's time to get back to Swapticons, as I sure haven't posted about them since 2025. I've actually been waiting until now to do so, as summer just feels like the right time to give them a big focus. Why? I... don't know. It just is.

So we're starting off our Summer of Swapticons with a look at Clench and Nemesis Prime! Because I like them!

These two are repaints of the Ultra Magnus and Optimus Prime Swapticons set from 2025. Nemesis Prime was an obvious and predictable repaint of any Optimus Prime toy, but Clench was a bit of a surprise. I'm not really sure who else they would have used, but I'm glad to see him here. If anything, it means Hasbro has the name active right now, so maybe he'll get a new figure in Generations or Cyberworld sometime soon. Thinking about it, he'd actually make a great reuse of the Off-Road Optimus Prime Cyberworld figure.

Like all Swapticons, one robot forms the front of a vehicle mode while the other forms the rear. This is the same basic idea as the old Micromaster Combiners, and initially what I hoped Swapticons were going to be a return to. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised with what Swapticons actually ended up being: a silly little line of Transformers mini figures with really boxy proportions. They've got a lot in common with BotBots (which I loved) and are VERY similar to the more recent series of McDonald's Changeables that myself and other robot fans were going crazy for back in February.

Worth noting, there's another series of Changeables in Japan that I'd love to see make their way here. I wonder if the similarities are coincidental, intentional, or if some of the same toy designers worked on both? Who knows.

I usually like Nemesis Prime toys, and this one is no different. The Optimus Prime design just looks good in black, and it naturally makes for a good bad guy toy. There are always people who claim Nemesis Prime is boring... but they're usually just trying to look interesting. And failing.

Clench looks marvelous, as toys of Clench usually do. Those bright colors contrast against the darker colors so nicely that it even looks sharp on a silly little figure like this one. Their combined truck mode is pretty great looking as well. Once again, those colors are working overtime. It's hard not to love such an angry-looking duo as chonky little silly robot toys.

Jetfire (Robot & Vehicle) [Defender Version 05-Traitor to Tyranny]

It's clearly not a secret to anyone at this point that Jetfire's original toy was a reuse of a Macross Valkyrie, which was also getting used in Robotech. This of course led to his character getting named Skyfire in the cartoon and given a different look on the show. Various toys and lawsuits later and it's still a thing.

That leads us to today's really well executed Blokees Transformers Defender Version Jetfire, who's appearing in his G1 cartoon looks and I'm pretty happy about that as I've always liked that design. In Series 05-Traitor to Tyranny, Jetfire was released in robot and vehicle forms with a Special Armor Type available if you were lucky enough to get one.

Starting with the vehicle kit, you actually get a pretty neat little approximation of Skyfire's jet mode seen in season 1. It assembles pretty easily and features wings that can fold back similar to the Valkyrie Jetfire's based on. I probably should have taken pictures of the jet's additional features... but it didn't occur to me until just now that I should have. The jet has features, and some pretty neat ones.

For starters, the top can be opened which allows for a Defender Type robot mode Transformer to ride on top of Jetfire via two pegs. In addition, there's two pegs on the jet's bottom that allow it to be used as a jetpack. On top of that, thanks to those pegs and a few other ball joints, you can take the legs and arms from a robot mode Jetfire and recreate a Macross Gerwalk mode. That's a lot of features for this little vehicle that I probably should have showed off, but honestly I was more focused on how cool I think the jet looks. To further illustrate that, in the picture I used a piece of popcorn to prop him up at an angle. Tunnel vision.

The robot mode kit is pretty special. The Skyfire design really lends itself to the Blokees look and that really shines as a Defender Version. I specifically favor Defender Versions due to their proportions and smallness (the site's named after a Micromaster base, there might be something to that). That and Defenders have a lot of really cool features like all the gimmicks in Jetfire's vehicle mode kit for example, or the various combiners.

Not only can Jetfire interact with his alt mode kit in fun ways, but he's pretty visually distinct in robot mode too. Of course he's representing his Skyfire design, but that big honking backpack contrasts so neatly with those smaller proportions that it really looks fabulous. I'm glad these are smaller, not just because I lean towards smaller toys often, but because if this was a larger figure, the design would lose a lot of its personality.

It kind of reminds me of Skyblast, who of course was patterned after Skyfire, but the proportions are similar enough that I think a clever repaint would make for a fun conversion.

Of course he's fairly well articulated. For a blind box model kit that results in a mini figure, the range of movement is pretty impressive. Frankly, it's pretty impressive overall regardless of any of those factors. Jetfire has his Photon Missile Launcher and if you got the Special Armor Version, it also came with launching missile effects and a mounted forearm sword similar to his appearance in the War for Cybertron cartoon, which the kit is colored to match.

It's honestly pretty neat how Blokees managed to reference War for Cybertron, G1, and those Macross roots. Not to mention giving the Skyfire design Macross style gimmicks is really clever.

Ultimately, it's a solid case of why Defender Versions are so damn cool.

Skeletor [Mighty Masters]

Skeletor is a lot of things. Originally an evil demon before his origin was later rewritten into him being the former Keldor, who had been transformed into Skeletor, a skull-faced man. I've made countless jokes before about He-Man fighting an army of Halloween decorations, but the thing with Skeletor is... he was actually inspired by a haunted house prop.

Mark Davis has said that when he was designing Skeletor, he took inspiration from a neon-painted skeleton that scared the crap out of him as a kid in the Laugh in the Dark haunted house. Turns out, that skeleton was a little scarier than anyone knew. The same prop was later discovered not to be a dummy, but an actual corpse that had somehow found its way there. This was discovered when an episode of The Six Million Dollar Man was being filmed and the crew accidentally broke its arm off. Turns out, it was the body of Elmer McCurdy, a Wild West bandit whose corpse became a sideshow attraction that eventually found its way into that haunted house. Skeletor doesn’t just look spooky, he’s tied to a legitimately spooky true story.

This Mighty Masters figure of him is great and, just like the others, is a nice little replica of his original toy. He has the same swinging waist gimmick He-Man has and comes with his trademark Havok Staff to swing around while using it. It’s an extremely likable mini figure of Skeletor and... you know what? I always liked his demon origin better. You didn’t ask, and that was abrupt, but thug life.

I’ve always been a fan of Skeletor’s armor. Faker uses it in orange colors, and it looks fabulous. This is a great little figure to keep you company at your desk or even carry around in a cargo pocket. Just the right size and neatness.

Unfortunately, it’s also the last of the Mighty Masters for the time being. I really hope Mattel continues making these and that there are future series with more Heroic and Evil Warriors. I’ve heard talk of 3D prints of Castle Grayskull out there that are in scale with this... and honestly, that’s awesome.

BW Megatron (Special Galaxy Type & Tyrannosaurus Rex) [Defender Version 06-Brutal Fang]

Ah yes, Beast Wars Megatron. A character you can't talk about without either quoting him or hearing his voice in your head. Absolutely my favorite of the Megatrons, he started out as a lowly criminal before taking the namesake of Megatron for himself and beginning his quest of stealing the Golden Disks and traveling back in time to Earth to rewrite history in the Decepticons' favor.

Then later, he completely dominated Cybertron and ruled it with his new Vehicon army. Other Megatrons may be a threat, but this one actually succeeds, and he's charming as hell while doing it. His death actually caused the reformation of Cybertron, and whenever he pops back up... it's kind of a big deal. And he has a rubber ducky.

Needless to say, I was ecstatic when Blokees started working Beast Wars characters into their awesome Transformers Defender Version blind box model kits. In Series 06-Brutal Fang, there are four different Megatron kits available: a standard robot mode, beast mode, Special Galaxy Type, and Special Armor Type. I was fortunate enough to get Special Galaxy Type for my robot mode representation. The difference between it and the standard is that Special Galaxy Type has metallic colors and extra painted detailing on the Tyrannosaurus bits. It's really sharp looking and feels more show-accurate, while the standard resembles the original toy more. Special Armor Type has even more metallic coloring and paint detailing, along with a blast effect and the rifle he carried in the episode Call of the Wild.

Robot mode assembles mostly like a standard Defender kit, but there are some differences, mostly in his arm construction. His arms are composed of the T-Rex's tail and head. So instead of the standard forearm and fist construction, his right arm has a dinosaur head in place (the same mold the beast mode kit uses), while his left arm gets a tail piece that connects at the elbow, with a fist that fits inside it at an angle. Some of the arm articulation you'd expect from a Defender is compromised, but it looks fantastic.

The Tyrannosaurus Rex kit is a fun little build that results in a neat little representation of his infamous beast mode. He was colored purple as a bit of a jab at Barney the Dinosaur, which in turn has led to some folks thinking that calling him Barney is somehow a way to insult Beast Wars fans. Me? As a teen during the time Barney was huge, I appreciated the joke. Not to mention, I always thought he resembled Tyrantisaurus Rex from Masters of the Universe, and I've always liked the Grayskull era of MOTU.

Assembly is pretty easy. Really, the body comes together almost like a shell, with the limbs connecting afterward. There's a fun fire blast effect that plugs into his mouth (which opens) and can also be used with the robot mode kit, as the head is the same molded piece. I've seen some complaints from folks sticking the flame effect in too hard and breaking teeth... and I have no clue how they manage that.

This little dino also reminds me of the Predacon Mini-Con Gnashteeth from around 2008. I jumped all over that Micron Booster series he hails from, and it was so much fun. Ultimately, this is a great little set of models that results in solid mini figures of a classic character I clearly love. I really appreciated the variety in their builds, as the beast element brought some welcome variety and made for a newer experience. Really good time.

He-Man [Mighty Masters]

He's the most powerful man in the universe, he's He-Man! The main hero of Masters of the Universe of course is in the initial Mighty Masters series and looking great.

I was pleasantly surprised to learn that he doesn't have the same swinging arm gimmick Man-At-Arms and Beast Man have. Instead, he features a pull-back waist similar to the original Masters of the Universe figures! I had wrongly assumed the swinging arm gimmick was line wide and am very happy to see variety like this. Considering the size and price, I'm impressed they even included gimmicks.

He-Man, like the others, is a fairly decent reproduction (there's some differences) of the original toy in mini figure form. He's got his trademark Power Sword, which even has a little holster on the back of his hardly-there armor.

So here's where I make an admission. MOTU came out when I was very young... and I totally thought he was the bad guy at first. Yep, you heard me. I thought Skeletor was the good guy.

That first commercial featured a skull-faced castle with a skull-faced guy and some normal dude threatening him. To be fair, I was 4 and completely not listening to or comprehending the dialog. I also liked monsters, which clearly has never left my system.

Well, it didn't take me much longer to realize He-Man was the good guy and the army of Halloween decorations were the villains. Who knew?

Oh... yeah. This Mighty Masters figure of the apparently good guy is pretty great.

Man-At-Arms [Mighty Masters]

Like Beast Man, Man-At-Arms was one of the first MOTU toys I ever got, even before He-Man and Skeletor (my older brother got those). So I’ve always naturally gravitated towards him, just like with Beast Man. His inclusion in the initial batch of Mighty Masters was pretty obvious, and welcome too.

This is a pretty nice mini figure recreation of the original toy, with the addition of his mustache. That’s something that was lacking on the original figure, but ever since its addition in the cartoon, it’s been present ever since. I actually used to draw it on mine with a felt tip pen. I say used to because as a kid I had no clue the ink wouldn’t rub off and redid it multiple times. For a while, Duncan found himself with a variety of different colored mustaches... which, to be honest, would be awesome if he did that in fiction.

A neat thing I’m finding with this toy is how his armor piece rides high, allowing the face guard to partially cover his face. That was something usually featured in the earlier mini comics that I always thought was neat and normally doesn’t happen on his toys. In fact, I don’t think it’s even intended on this one and mine could possibly be defective. It’s not on any pictures I’ve seen of these guys online. If mine does have weirdly molded armor... it’s welcomed.

Like all Mighty Masters figures so far, he has the swinging arm gimmick, which works well with his trademark mace. I’ve always enjoyed MOTU’s weird mixture of fantasy and sci-fi, and Man-At-Arms was an early example of that.

This little line has been a case of “Whoops, all bangers,” and I’m holding out hope that this will be an ongoing series. I can see it becoming my main MOTU toy focus.

Beast Man [Mighty Masters]

When I first learned about Mighty Masters, it was one of those moments where it feels like I slipped into a parallel universe and toy companies are suddenly dialed directly into my specific tastes.

That’s been happening a lot lately.

Mighty Masters is a new expression of Masters of the Universe, featuring small-scale, fairly faithful recreations of the classic characters. After taking a little too long to show up at my local Walmart, I managed to complete the first series—and we’re going to take a look at them over the next few weeks. 

Because they’re awesome.

I’m starting with Beast Man for a specific reason. He was one of my very first MOTU toys back when they originally came out, along with Man-At-Arms. So yeah, there’s a little bit of attachment here. 

This is a really solid recreation in miniature form. It’s small, but it captures the look of the original toy surprisingly well—with a few tweaks. The original had more human-like feet, while this version gives him clawed feet like he had in the mini-comics, which I actually like.

He’s got articulation in the arms, legs, head, and waist. No rubber bands (thankfully), and no spring-loaded waist either. His right arm features a line-wide gimmick where it can be raised and then brought down in a swinging motion—kind of like a Super Powers Collection figure. 

He also comes with a tiny version of his whip, which feels essential. You can’t have Beast Man without it—it’s how he keeps all those creatures in line. 

For five bucks, this is a great little toy. Honestly, it’s exactly the kind of thing I’ve been wanting—especially after the disappearance of the Mega Construx Masters of the Universe figures.

Like I said, I’ve got the full first series, and we’ll be taking a look at the rest over the next few weeks. Hopefully this line sticks around, because it’s hitting a really nice sweet spot.

SG Rodimus Prime [Defender Version 06 – Brutal Fang]

There’s just something special about Shattered Glass. Sure, mirror universes aren’t anything new, but for some reason it hits a little different with Transformers.

For me, a lot of that comes down to the colors. When they did Rodimus Prime in Shattered Glass, it felt like a perfect mix of those black special edition toys and Skywarp’s color scheme.

It’s a striking look that really pops, and once you add the evil mirror-universe goatee, it’s just a winner.

It’s always reminded me of the BotCon 2002 program guide, too, where Prowl is colored like Skywarp on the cover. Funny how that kind of thing sticks with you.

The original SG Rodimus Prime toy even used the Classics Rodimus mold as a base, which also ties into the Transformers Collectors’ Club Side Burn. It’s one of those weird little lineage connections that makes him more interesting.

One day I’ll probably do a deeper dive into the Blokees Transformers Defender Version Rodimus kits, but for now I just wanted to take a look at this Shattered Glass release.

Like most SG figures, it’s a straightforward recolor of the standard Defender Version Rodimus from Series 04 Tyrant’s Fury. Aside from the deco, he comes with a recolored version of Blitzwing’s gun. It’s a small change, but it works with the sharper angles to match Rodimus’s overall design really well.

These Defender Version kits have a very specific look that I love. They’re a little cute, sure—but at the same time, they still come across as pretty badass. It’s a weird balance, but it works.

Assembly is simple, as expected. Everything snaps together easily, though the instructions—printed on the back of the included card—are pretty small, so take your time.

Speaking of those cards, earlier series included larger collector cards when you bought a full box. Since Series 05, they’ve phased those out, which is a bit of a bummer. I’ve been putting together a binder for all the cards and instructions, and those larger inserts were perfect for breaking things up between sections. Oh well.

One last thing worth mentioning is the shiny paint on Rodimus’s purple parts. It looks fantastic next to the black and silver—just a really clean, eye-catching combination.

This is a really sharp-looking little Rodimus Prime… have I said that yet?

Cheetor [Defender Version Series 06 – Brutal Fang]

When Blokees Transformers Blind Boxes first started introducing Beast Wars characters in their Defender Version series, I was beyond excited. Of course they included Cheetor in the initial lineup—he’s one of the main bots, after all.

Cheetor also happens to be one of my all-time favorite Transformers, so getting a favorite character in a format I already enjoy?

Yeah, I’m a happy camper.

Cheetor really comes alive in this Defender Version style, and honestly, that goes for the Beast Wars characters in general. Their designs translate really well into this format. That said, I can’t help but think of Duel Fight Transformers Beast Wars: Beast Warriors' Strongest Decisive Battles—specifically how the character sprites there have a similar chunky, stylized look. I played that game non-stop for a while, often as Cheetor, so this hits that same part of my brain. Double dose of giddy.

Cheetor comes with his Quasar Rifle—or, as most of us called it back in the day, the “gut gun.” It’s the weapon you usually saw him using in the show, as opposed to the extra gun formed from his tail on the original toy. It’s such a distinct look that it just feels right to include it here.

I’m also really into the metallic paint used on his blue parts. It pops nicely against the yellow and gives the whole figure a striking look. Cheetor has always had a strong design, and that carries over perfectly into this style. It just feels natural.

Score one for this cool cat.

Optimus Primal (Robot & Gorilla) Defender Version 06 – Brutal Fang

When Blokees previewed Defender Version 06 – Brutal Fang, I was overjoyed. Not just because we were getting more Defender Versions (though that was definitely a factor), but because they were finally dipping into Beast Wars. And while there’s hardly anything Transformers-related that I actively dislike, Beast Wars holds a very special place in my heart. It’s almost like a beloved family member I always get excited to visit… and a little depressed to leave.

Today we’re looking at Optimus Primal from Brutal Fang — which I constantly confuse with Wild Fang, and that’s mildly frustrating.

Optimus Primal is available in a few variations in this wave. There’s the beast mode (gorilla) kit and three robot mode versions. Standard, which is what I picked up, is your typical Primal. Then there are two chase versions: Special Galaxy Type, which features a metallic deco with more show-accurate paint detail, and Special Armor Type, which builds on the Galaxy version and includes his forearm blasters, cyber-swords, and Mutant Head.

The Mutant Head gimmick on the original Beast Wars toys was either a mask or alternate head that functioned like a battle mode. Often, redecos would use the Mutant Head as the primary head sculpt. For example, Blackarachnia is a redeco of Tarantulas but uses his Mutant Head. The fact that Blokees included Mutant Heads here brings out a level of giddiness I didn’t know I still had.

Standard Optimus Primal is great on his own. Defender Versions are already pretty irresistible, but the Beast Wars designs translate especially well into this format. I’m reminded of Duel Fight Transformers Beast Wars: Beast Warriors’ Strongest Decisive Battle on the Game Boy Color. The proportions of the Beast Defender Version kits line up shockingly well with the sprites from that game.

And now I can’t stop thinking… what if more of the Beast Wars cast makes it into Defender Version?

Primal comes equipped with his back-mounted cannons. They flip over his shoulders for attack mode or angle backward to form his Prime Jets. His deco leans more toy-based than the other versions. The faceplate is painted solid in traditional Optimus fashion.

The beast mode kit represents his gorilla form and does a solid job. Interestingly, beast mode uses joints more commonly found in Galaxy Version kits for the gorilla elbows, giving him better range in a quadruped stance. I did manage to mix up the upper arm and lower thigh pieces at one point, so pay attention during assembly.

Both kits result in sturdy mini figures of the classic character in robot and beast form. Defender Version is highly articulated, so you can get a wide range of poses out of him.

It’s genuinely great to see Blokees expanding into Beast Wars, and of course I want more. The entire time I’ve been typing this, I’ve been thinking about the dinosaurs from Beast Wars Neo… and oddballs like the bat and gator Optimus vs. Megatron two-pack.

That would be just Prime.