Oh shit! What are we going to do now?

I was really excited to get the new Spike figure from the Transformers Studio Series 86 line. Not just because I really enjoy Transformers, the 1986 movie, the Studio Series line, Core Class, and everything else related to Transformers. No... well that's not just why. Spike also looked really cool. As someone who grew up with various sci fi/fantasy toys from the 80's and never left them behind (as you can see), Spike feels like a culmination of those ideas into a neat little figure. 

Spike, of course, represents his appearance in the 1986 Transformers movie decked out in his Exo-Suit. As seen in the movie, the suit has an attack mode as well as a vehicle mode that the figure pulls off pretty well. Before I go any further, let me just say that I REALLY like this figure. So I have nothing bad to say AT ALL. He is fairly articulated for a figure at his size and price. For a change, I really dig the included blast effects. I usually take them as a novelty and don't think much of them. Here's they represent the rocket fire from the vehicle modes booster pods. In attack mode, they're the blaster fire! That's nothing new... but it really did it for me this time.

Spike really feels like a natural evolution of Takara SF. All that old Microman and Diaclone art really seemed to be reflected in the 1986 Transformers movie and subsequent seasons. Honestly, if I were in the position to make convention or store exclusives, Spike would get made into a new Microman figure. Some of you are probably glad I'll never be in that position. I want repaints of this toy. Give me a Buzzworthy Bumblebee version in weird 'stealth' colors. They already use the Micronauts font in that line anyway. Let me find some weird knock off of this figure. I want that grind house feel of bootleg robot toys on this mold. I just envisioned a bootleg line where this figure is another character ala Inter-Changeables. Spike is a great version of his appearance in the 1986 movie and the culmination of so much more.

These Two Are Buzzworthy

While taking the wife shopping for her birthday this past weekend, I stumbled across the new Bumblebee and Spike set. This 2 pack is part of the new Target exclusive Buzzworthy Bumblebee line that as you can guess focuses on Bumblebee. The line mainly reuses older molds from various lines (movies, Cyberverse, etc.) aside from this one. This is a new Core Class figure that's either getting left out of Kingdom or the mold itself will get used differently later on. 

I've been speculating that Core Class is going to be staying around for awhile, so seeing the usual players in the class isn't surprising. I'm pretty sure this mold will get used in different colors and likely different heads. It looks like it could fill in for a few different bots. I'm not sure where the Spike comes from, maybe the new 1986 Studio Series figures has a Daniel in exosuit included. It's a neat little minifigure that I'd like to see get plenty of use.

I like Bumblebee and Spike, but I don't like transforming Bumblebee. Spike is fine, he's not much more than a Targetmaster. Just fold them legs up and keep his arms down. Now he's in that vehicular mode exosuits have. It's pretty simple.

Bumblebee's alt mode is a generic sporty hatchback. The transformation itself isn't terribly bad, but getting things to lock into place was a pain. It's either the plastic being used or the engineering. Like it's designed too exact or off a hair somewhere. I kept popping his arm off trying to get it into place. Once it was there though, I was happy.

It does have weapon storage inside the alt mode. That feels like a lost art these days with guns hanging off the sides of vehicles. Aside from the transformations annoyances, I'm pretty happy with the set. Looking forward to future uses of it and the Core Class in general. I like Spike a lot as well. Core Class generally costs around $10 right now, this was $15 with the addition of Spike. I'd gladly pay the extra for more partner figures. I uh... like partner figures.

Buzzworthy Like A Bee

Leaked images of a Bumblebee toy has been hitting the news site all night. Buzzworthy Bumblebee, which appears to be a core class Bumblebee and a Spike partner figure. There's a War for Cybertron logo on the packaging. Speculation to the toys home on the retail shelves is rampant and I guess time will tell on that.

What's got my attention is a a partner figure two pack. I loved this basic concept in Power Core Combiners and the Legend with Targetmasters in Generations. 

I'm hoping this is a new small market line. This is the ideal thing to pop into a Walgreens and pick up along with a Pepsi and one of those Andes Mints candy bars. The small size and partner figures make for good random repaints for random oddball characters. That Spike could be made into somebody else and paired with somebody else repainted as somebody else. Know who's all in for that? Somebody like me. Who else?