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.

Dinobot Snarl [Cyberworld/Cyber Changers]

It's always a treat for me to talk about a Snarl toy around Halloween. As I've mentioned many more times than any of you probably care about, I was Snarl for Halloween in the 2nd grade. Ever since then, he's not only been associated with the holiday, but also kept a special place in my heart. Cozy vibes, know what I mean?

This newest version of Snarl from Transformers Cyberworld is a fun new take on the Desert Warrior. He's painted more in traditional Junkion colors as opposed to the bright red and silver we're used to normally seeing him in. He's also got a slight Mad Max look, which is something recent Junkions from Legacy had. A Mad Max vibe fits a Desert Warrior pretty well.

I dig it.

Snarl has the same uniformity other Cyber Changers have and engineering template Megatron and Galvatron use. Between the shared engineering and uniformity, the designers clearly found a way to keep it Cyberworld cost effective. There's a neat GI JOE-ness to this line, it's like what Action masters would have been like if the figures transformed. I really like the smallness of the figures. Not just because I like small toys, but there's a real pleasantness in them. There's been other lines that I thought were too big for their designs. This is just right, the size and simpleness is downright satisfying.

They're neat.

Snarl's weapon is a spiked club type thing made from the dinosaurs tail.
Non-de script melee weapons are pretty on brand for beast warriors and this looks like it'd hurt like hell if he hit you with it. In the Cartoon, Snarl runs like Naruto. Part of me likes to imagine him being a ninja, which is hilarious considering this giant weapon. Though it definitely fits Cyberworld's video game setting. His stegosaurus mode reminds me of a Starrior like Galvatron did. There's older toy DNA in these designs and I really appreciate it.

Dinobot Snarl (Legacy Evolution/Core Class)

Halfway to Halloween is the perfect time to take a look at a Snarl toy. Long time readers know about my Snarl Halloween costume, but in this case it's time we got back to our look at the Core Class Dinobots from Transformers Legacy Evolution. Like the other Core Class Dinobots, Snarl is small and a little blocky. Small, because he's a Core Class. The blockiness obviously also comes due to his smaller size and brings a level of old school charm. It's impossible not to compare this set to Dinoking, which possibly could be coming out later made from this set of molds. I hope it does, Dinoking is pretty great. Volcanicus, the combiner this set, is also pretty great and so is this set of figures. It's really hard to complain about a dinosaur combiner robot.

Snarl, of course, transforms into a stegosaurus. Dinosaur mode is pretty faithful, though I can see others take issue with his hind legs. Those are formed from Snarl's robot mode arms and the feet are at his elbows. This leads to his forearms effectively hanging out the back of the feet and impossible to ignore. In a larger toy, these would fold up. It doesn't bother me as the size and combining nature of the toy will lead to some compromises. I can see how it would turn off some though. Transformation is pretty easily and everything goes where you'd expect too by looking at it. You do have to remove the red portion of the dino back and manually attach it to the robots back. Theirs also a little maneuvering of this piece when converting Snarl to Volcanicus's right leg. So try not to loose it.

Snarl comes with a sword. The sword can be mounted to the top of the dinosaur or beneath. It goes without saying he can hold it in robot mode, but it also can be mounted on his back as that's the same part as the dino back. In robot mode Snarl is fairly faithful to his classic design. He's not as blocky as some of the other Dinobots and probably could have been a stand alone toy. I normally favor Snarl figures, but this one really is a good little toy. Just two more Dinobots to look at until Volcanicus!

Desert Warrior Dynabot

 

I've got a particular attachment to Snarl. It all started when I went trick or treating dressed as him for Halloween. It was a Collegeville costume, the plastic smock and mask style that often gets lumped in with Ben Cooper costumes. Amusingly, the character was labeled Dynabot on the box. My cousin was quite impressed and asked me if it transformed, in which I told him it did as I got on all fours (with requisite transformation noise). I pulled the mask over my head and began to snarl and chomp. I understand if you're impressed, he was. He was also jealous, as I suspect you are.

Thing is, Snarl is pretty awesome looking. The way his plates and spiked tail form 'wings' in his robot mode has always looked cool to me. I recently got the Cyberverse figure (pictured above). I'd been after it for sometime now. You're aware I like Snarl, but also liked the resemblance to his Action Master box art. It's a good toy, simple like most Warrior Class figures, but still a good toy. 

Snarl's cartoon model got recycled as Armor Geist in Brave Exkaiser. I used to think the Age of Extinction Snarl toy would make a good update of that (and still do), but this Cyberverse Snarl would be a good candidate as well. Maybe with a new head. It's so true to the cartoon model that I could see it invoking the character well. Wonder if some kid was Armor Geist for Halloween and really likes him as a result? I hope so.

Bios: Snarl

"Only in war is there happiness."

Function: Desert Warrior

An unhappy loner of few words and fewer opinions. Finds joy only in battle. Hates his Dinobot form, longs to return to Cybertron. Large golden plates on spinal assembly are solar collectors... strength increases tenfold in sunlight. Tail can shatter 20 foot concrete cube. Armored hide resists most missiles. Vulnerable to nighttime attacks due to his weaker state. Slow... uncooperative nature hinders others from helping him.

Since I'm talking Snarl

The name Snarl often gets reused on other pretty cool characters. The Beast Machines Snarl character was never on the show, but was featured in the 3H fiction that took place just after the show ended. Snarl's toy got re-released in the Universe toy line with a new deco and he got some much deserved time to shine. At one point the mold was going to represent Alpha Trion, but a toy was never made. It's a great figure, a neat techno organic lion with a pretty solid robot mode. He's not too different from toys of the time, but that's not a bad thing. I really liked him then and wish he got more love in current times.

Snarltastic

I've always been pretty partial to Snarl. True, I favor Dinobots in general, but Snarl has always been the standout one for me. I like stegosaurus themed things in general (Godzilla got them plates yo). It's just a overall pleasant design/look to me. In robot mode the way the tail separates and the plates/spikes fold across his back looks great. The standard Dinobot colors really work on that visual. It's just an all around good looking design for a robot. When I was in second grade, I was Snarl for Halloween. I had one of those old Collegeville costumes and loved it. I still have the mask, though it's slowly fading away into time. I assume one day it will just blow away in the wind while I watch with a tear in my eye.

Weekly Spotlight: Actionmaster Snarl

Only in battle is there true happiness.

An unhappy loner of few words and fewer opinions. Finds pleasure only in conflict. Otherwise, this stubborn, surly Dinobot is as welcome as a turboworm crawling up an exaust pipe. Solar-powered, his strength increases tenfold in sunlight. Paired with Tyrannitron, a tiny, tempermental terror who'd rather sink his teeth into his opponent's ankle assembly than convert into Snarl's metal-rendering shrapnel rifle.