Alchemist Prime [Age of the Primes/Deluxe Class]

To be completely honest, I had hardly any interest in Alchemist Prime before buying him. Literally, the only reason I did buy him is the desire to complete the 13 Primes from this series. Neat looking, sure, but eh. Upon opening him, however, and what a great toy! I was truly blown away by just how good of a figure this is. Alchemist Prime has dominion over the elements and legend has it he chose to walk among the mortal Transformers. No bot knows if that's actually true... but rumor has it that Maccadam, whom runs Maccadam's Old Oil House, is actually him. Of course it's silly that the legendary bartender could actually be one of The Thirteen... isn't it?

Isn't it?

Alchemist Prime is a burly hoss of a robot with glasses and a handlebar mustache and beard. He makes me think of various old world characters from TV shows. The design of his body armor even resembles a suit with a vest. He could be working that bar when not up to adventure. Considering his *ahem* magical nature, you can be assured that his stories are beyond your wildest imagination. He's seen Unicron and the Demons that live under the surface and still got that friendly smirk when you ask for another drink. 

It's a good think his figure has so much articulation and is so expressive, because you can tell he talks with his hands. His weapon is a weird one. Clamped on his forearm they make blasters or can be flipped around for energy blades. If the situation calls for it, they can even be held for a more direct attack. If you noticed that there is what appears to be lenses on them, that's because once joined together they form a magical pair of glasses that allow for vision beyond our comprehension. Though any mortal can pick out the ancient Transformers symbols, it's probably best these are left up to the more enlightened to use.

Transformation to vehicle mode is pretty easy, though getting the rear portion exactly in place can be a little fiddly if you've got clumsy fingers. Once done, he's a neat looking heavy duty vehicle of sorts. It looks like an armored Strike-X side by side ATV, and that fits such a fellow whose seen a lot of adventure. The weapons can attach on the roof to provide some vehicular firepower... I'm sure that comes in handy. It's easy to overlook Alchemist Prime with his drab green colors... but their fitting of someone like him. They match his utility vehicle well and carry over to his reserved look. Like I said, I really liked him a whole lot more once the box was opened... wand that is fitting considering how much more there is to Maccadam than meets the eye. It's almost like he's the standard bearer of that old tag line.

Sabretooth Tiger [Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Re-Ignition/Combinable Dinozord]

Getting back to out look at Playmates take on the Dino Megazord from Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (or Daizyuzin from Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger if your more Super Sentai leaning) is the Yellow Sabretooth Tiger. Playmates made some really good Voltron sets that I liked a whole lot. Which is why I was anticipating this set so much. It's funny, because on it's own, the Sabretooth Tiger feels like a Voltron lion.

Like the other Zords so far, this is a pleasantly big blocky robot toy with old school DNA in abundance. Some may complain about the limited leg articulation... and that's fair. I wanted more movement in the legs themselves and all there is basic joints. Like the Triceratops, it's very obvious that this toy is part of a combiner team. Also like the Triceratops is a firing rocket in the tail that's easy to accidentally shoot. Be careful to not loose it. Transformation to leg mode is easy, just fold the legs and tail into position. The head folds up to form a foot... be sure to fold the teeth up and out of the way.

There's working wheels for Dinotanker mode, which I assumed the Megazord had... but saw nothing regarding. It's a silly mode, but I've always liked it. Once again the Bandai origins shin through and I'm happy so far with this set. Now it's just time to wait for the other members of the team to form the Megazord. We're halfway there... and hopefully they'll be out soon. There's tons of monsters around Zone Base and we need all the help we can get!

Chop Shop [Cyberworld/ Armored Cyber Changers]

When Cyberworld started getting leaks and previews, Chop Shop really caught my attention. Being a Beast Wars fan, I couldn't ignore the similarities to bots like Insecticon and Powerpinch. Not just that... but I love some insect based robots. Thanks to the uniformity present in Cyberworld toys... he really feels like one of those old Beast Wars basic class figures. Well, aside from the lack of elbow articulation.

It's really neat how this line of simple figures has so much older robot toy DNA. The name Chop Shop itself hearkens back to G1 as one of the Deluxe Insecticons whose source molds were from Armored Insect Corps Beetras. This Chop Shop, though, is likely a new character. Transformers Cyberworld isn't seemingly linked to a prior series, just in that generic Transformers setting things like Authentics reside in. After 41 years, I'm perfectly ok with a generic setting and am a fan of the video game world they're stuck in for Cyberworld. 

You've probably noticed those big mandibles jutting out of his chest, that's a fun bit of insect mode kibble in addition to the little bug legs hanging from his arms and legs. The mandibles are a separate piece that can be used as a weapon. I kept mine in as I like the weirdness. It's impossible to ignore the Armored up bit that makes him an Armored Cyber Changer... and frankly I'd be ok if they were just regular Cyber Changers. Chop Shop's Armored Up part is a huge claw weapon that can form a giant melee weapon when the claws are unfolded. A blade pops up as the weapon can be held as a gun or a ... club? I could only get the 'gun' mode to be held in insect mode, so it's probably meant to be the club type weapon for robot mode. Judging by the size of it, Chop Shop must be pretty strong.

You can also store the big weapon on his back in robot mode... which seems more reasonable. Transformation to insect mode is an easy flipping out of the chest and adjusting everything into place. There's a plethora of ports in insect mode where the Armored Up piece can be plugged in and once again makes me wonder what else is in store for this line or was once planned. Cyberworld definitely feels like the spiritual follow up the the Beast Alliance toys from Rise of the Beasts. It makes me hope for partner figures like Battle Masters. I really like Chop Shop. He's a solid figure in a fun line and I really appreciate his classic Beast Wars inspired looks. This is a toy mold I'd love to see in a million colors... but preferably as a regular Cyber Changer.

Slurps it up!

Slime and Halloween go together like peanut butter and chocolate. One common slime toy you'll find is the rubber monster that can suck up and goosh out slime when squeezed. It's a simple gimmick that keeps returning for good reason, it's fun. Come Halloween, you'll be sure to see many a similar toy and even be tempted to pick one up. These Slurps look like a spooky good time... hey... what if you sat on one?

Constructicon Long Haul [Studio Series 86/Commander Class]

Following Hook in the Transformers Studio Series Two Pack of Torso Terror is Long Haul, whom forms Devastators lower torso. Long Haul, being a dump truck is well suited for carrying the extra parts required for assembling Devastator. Not in the bed of his truck, nope, they actually combine to form a trailer! Long Haul can (wait for it) haul the extra parts! I'm a lot more impressed with this trailer than I am the battle deck/jet add on parts for Superion. Probably because I didn't expect it... and thanks to the wings, it reminds me a little of God Bomber in his trailer mode.

I've always liked the way Long Haul looked. He's this big chonky robot (it's a vibe) made from a good old dump truck. Maybe it's just growing up with Tonka trucks in the back yard... hey come to think about it, the ones we had was a crane and dump truck! This set was pre destined! *ahem* There's just something satisfyingly pleasant about him, you know? The Devastator set Hasbro put out in Combiner Wars a decade ago was pretty good, but there was some reinvention going on. Long Haul ended up being VERY LARGE in that set. Frankly, I liked it, but we're going for screen accuracy this time. Like the others, Long Haul is a nice mix of original design and cartoon appearance. A big difference in this design, however, is that Long Haul doesn't form Devastators thighs. Some of those extra parts in the trailer do that.

Long Haul has his pistol that has a removable barrel. I don't see any point in that as of this moment, but it sure does separate. He's pleasantly articulated and very expressive. It's really neat that his head can move around. Obviously most heads on toys do that, but articulation with his head on a panel is pretty neat. Transformation is pretty easy and aside from a few steps is mostly muscle memory from the original toy. Some Transformers you can just look at and your hands know what to do. The trailer doesn't connect traditionally. Instead you'll have to fit the connector pieces between the rear ends haves as they connect. Rolling him along with his trailer is pretty pleasant, there's a certain charm to it that I can't quite describe. It's kinda cute. Out of this two pack, I like Long Haul the best. Once I get the rest of the gang, I'll show off Devastator. For right now though, I'm enjoying the dump truck guy.

Ghostface [Tiny Mights/Ghostface]

I've been eyeing Tiny Mights for a while now. Their Scooby Doo and Batman sets never arrived at my Walmart stores like I had been seeing online and that was pretty disappointing. Earlier this year when their horror offerings were made known, I started salivating. Fortunately a recent trip to Spirit Halloween resulted in finding a box of their Ghostface series by the check out. Let's take a look at the pack I got. Tiny Mights like to pack their keshi in capsules that match the series. I say that regretting I didn't snap a picture of the Ghostface capsule mine came in, but you should check it out (not an affiliated link). It's great. There's 3 mini figures included and they're a great size. There's a multitude of sculpts and colors in opaque and translucent varieties to collect.

In my pack I got a a translucent yellow holding a scythe, a pink Dead By Daylight version in the classic Kinnikuman pose, and a solid black running with a machete. These look amazing and I'm having a hard time picking a favorite. The machete and scythe ones conjure mental images of Halloween costumes equipped with whatever weaponry Walmart had available. I've never played Dead by Daylight... but I love this version. Ghostface started out as a generic Halloween costume long before Scream came around, so seeing all these colors and variations brings back fond memories of the various versions and colors the masks used be in. I definitely need to pick up more of these.

Constructicon Hook [Studio Series 86/Commander Class]

I've talked before about how sometimes Transformers naming systems can be too wordy or confusing, this is one of those times. Hook is a Voyager Class figure that comes from a 2 pack of Voyager Class figures sold as a Commander Class. The full name on this box is Transformers Studio Series Constructicon Hook/Constructicon Long Haul. Don't forget that Studio Series is under the Transformers Generations sub-line, so the entire name is Transformers Generations Transformers Studio Series Commander Class Constructicon Hook/Constructicon Long Haul.

It's a two-pack of Constructicons for the current Devastator set that comes with a bunch of extra combiner parts sold as a Commander Class. I spent almost a paragraph talking about how many titles the box has to get that out of the way, because it's a bit absurd. Hook is one of those two toys in the box. Hook is one of those Constructicons that's always in every group shot, but tends to blend into the crowd. He's a highly skilled craftsman and has one giant ego to match it, which fits into early Constructicon appearances where they were often working on a project. As a member of the team, he forms the upper torso of Devastator and turns into a crane.

Hence the name.

My brother is a professional crane operator, so I can appreciate this alt mode more now as an adult. One thing I really appreciate about these Studio Series 86 Constructicons is how much they're a combination of the original toys designs and the on screen models. The designers really did a good job making this set feel like an upgrade of that original Diaclone design while making them show accurate. This set is meant to match their looks from the 1986 movie, which itself was a higher quality version of how they appeared in the regular cartoon series.

As someone who always liked the cartoon better, I appreciate the concept behind Studio Series 86 a whole lot. Hook is well articulated. To allow for some of this articulation, the sort of cape his vehicle kibble forms over his shoulders features the ability to be moved out of the way. That's a nice meeting of screen accuracy and real world engineering. The original toy it wasn't a big deal, it had limited possibility naturally. Past updates would reinvent the wheel a little on the characters looks. This one of course must be faithful... so some improvisation was needed.

He's got his laser pistol. It's a good approximation of the one he originally came with and later used to mow down the Autobots while Instruments of Destruction played. In vehicle mode, it can connect the the crane arm for storage. Transformation to that vehicle mode is pretty easy. Once again he's essentially an updated version of the original, so some of those steps it took back in the day are the same today. Vehicle mode is nice, looks right, rolls along well. The little crane arm disconnects, so it can be removed for transformation to either hand off his back or in place properly.

Before anyone points it out, the robot hands are meant to remain folded out in vehicle mode to properly connect the front and back sections. I realized I did that part wrong now that I see my pictures. Years of modern toys make me fold them away on autopilot. Later this week we'll look at Hooks partner in the set Long Haul. Considering the two form Devastators torso when combined, I wish they would have named the box set something witty and torso related. Then again... I suppose that's harder than it sounds.

Silverbolt [Age of the Primes/Commander Class]

I'm putting a solid effort to complete all the current combiner teams. Not finishing Menasaur a few years ago left a bad taste in my mouth, so it feels like an accomplishment to be so close with Superion. We'll be looking at Silverbolt today, he's the leader of the Aerialbots and the core component of Superion. While the toy is sold as a Commander Class, Silverbolt is closer to a Voyager Class toy. The price difference comes from the extra parts that are used to for Superion in conjunction with the other Aerialbots.

Fortunately these parts do serve a purpose when standing alone. They can form something of a battle station or combine with Silverbolt's jet mode to form a larger aircraft. Initially I was a little snarky over them, but grew more fond of them once I started folding them into these forms. You can combine them with Silverbolt to form a skeletal Superion, but I won't be showing that today. Instead that'll be for a completed set post after I get the other two later this year.

Silverbolt is pleasantly articulated and really feels like an evolution of his original toy. He's got a cool little blaster that matches the rest of his team. Speaking of the team, while they tend to be a bunch of buttheads, he's a lot more cool and collective. He tends to try and teach them lessons and be a positive role model. Unfortunately... he's afraid a heights. Considering he transforms into a Concord jet and leads a team of jet buttheads, that's not so great. He does get over it, but it was that initial fear that prompted Optimus to put him in charge of the team.

What the hell Optimus?

Transformation to jet mode isn't hard, but it does take a lot of extra folding. Silverbolt's arms halfway go inside of his upper torso, while his legs do a bit of a pretzel fold around them. It works well, but might take a minute to get in place. It's worth noting that Superion's head folds into that same upper torso in robot mode, and it's got to be just right or won't work. Lots of precise folding going on here. When completed, you've got a pretty decent looking Concord jet... with a giant block of robot kibble underneath.

The extra parts for Superion can connect and form a super jet that does look pretty neat. I appreciate the effort even if mine kept coming apart. It's a good use of the parts and Superion's big gun. Like I said, those same parts can form something of a battle station as well. It's not much, but an effort was made. I definitely like the super jet use better. Overall Silverbolt is a fun toy that manages to use some extra parts creatively. I'm really looking forward to completing the team. Superion is a great looking robot and so are the individual Aerialbots. Not bad.

Triceratops [Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Re-Ignition/Combinable Dinozord]

One problem with combiner teams is that there is compromises in the individual members to create the combined form. The Triceratops is a pretty good example of that, it's usually a giant brick. A cool brick, but a brick non-the-less. Fortunately, that works in it's favor. The Triceratops is essentially a tank that also becomes a leg, Playmates did just that. It's a simple toy, but pleasant.

The dino head has a decent range of movement which will come in hand for the combined Megazord. The tail features the double laser tip that doubles as a firing missile. It folds flush into the dino body during conversion, but I'd be careful. Loosing a missile sucks as is, but when the missile is part of the the toys visual aesthetic... ugh. Like I said, it may be a brick... but it's a cool brick. The simple styling and colors look great. There's a timeless quality to some of these old robots. Just a good looking robot tank dinosaur that becomes a leg.

Optimus Prime Type MFS-3 MechaGodzilla [Synergenex]

It was starting to feel like this toy would never come. I had pre-ordered it with the Godzilla Type Megatron we looked at a little while back. For whatever reason, it was a month a half before this one shipped. That was weird. Regardless, today, we'll be looking at the second half of the Transformers X Godzilla toys from Takara Tomy's Synergenex line. Optimus Prime has followed Megatron to Earth through the Space Bride. Megatron had scanned Godzilla, resulting in one pretty big threat.

To confront this, Optimus used the power of the Matrix to scan MechaGodzilla Kiryu and incorporated his technology into his body. Now teamed with the Japan Self-Defense Forces, Optimus Prime Type MFS-3 MechaGodzilla prepares to face The Emperor of Destruction. One thing certainly on the J.S.D.F's mind must be, is Optimus Prime now haunted by the spirit of the original Godzilla as Kiryu was?

Like Godzilla Type Megatron, Optimus is a repaint of a prior toy. This is a straight repaint of the Legacy Laser Optimus Prime that just looks outstanding. In truck mode his cab is a mix of Kiryu's colors and the trailer in a military green. The trailer converts into a battle station that I can see the J.S.D.F utilizing in the field. The battle platform has a robotic arm and laser cannon that I imagine utilizes the Twin Maser Cannon's abilities. The Laser Optimus Prime mold is a good base for a version of Optimus equipped with Kiryu's technology.

His laser sword and energy axe make for a good use of the Maser Blade abilities. The Maser Blade could deliver a strong electrical surge into Godzilla's body when stabbed. Kiryu's Back Unit is clearly represented by shoulder missile launchers. Like many Optimus Prime toys, Laser Optimus Prime has an opening chest with a removable Matrix of Autobot Leadership. This makes a good placement for Kiryu's Absolute Zero Cannon. While many were turned off by this toy when it was revealed, I think it really is a good fit for the concept.

I'm very fond of Optimus in this deco. The silver, gray, and blue look really great and the green trailer contrasts nicely. The sword, axe, and Matrix are cast in a very nice translucent yellow that matches the electrical energy output from Kiryu's weaponry. The MFS-3 (Multipurpose Fighting System Type-3) markings look sharp and the MechaGodzilla badge on his chest is awesome. My favorite bit is the red interior of Optimus's helmet, which matches Kiryu's 'blood tears' facial detail. A more cynical person may see this as a cheap repaint, but they really knocked the concept out of the park. A lot of complaints towards this set have been that they wished Takara Tomy would have done more, but I'm really happy with what they did.

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.

Tyrannosaurus [Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Re-Ignition/Combinable Dinozord]

It's odd. Feels just like the other day I was welcoming Hasbro's Power Ranger toys with open arms only to be doing that now for Playmates take on the teenagers with attitude. It's an odd change, but one of the steps we're seeing of Hasbro being more of an IP owner than a toy manufacturer. I don't know how far this walk will end up being, but it's fascinating to watch. Regardless, it's good news because Playmates makes GREAT toys. Power Rangers goes in line with their Monsterverse Kaiju action figures and so far they seem to be on a pretty positive path.

My main focal point with their MMPR output for the time being is their Dinozords. Next year they have a pretty interesting mini line coming that I want to get my hands on... but that's next year. This current set of Zords are a combinable team that once completed will form the Dino Megazord from the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Or for you Super Sentai fans, Daizyuzin from Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger. I'm not 100% sure, but it feels like the same design team that made Playmates Voltron were behind this set. I liked their Voltron toys, so that's a positive. Like those Lions, these are big chunky bots that are very similar to the Bandai designs that came before them. There's obviously some differences, but that original DNA is still here.

Today we'll be taking a look at the Tyrannosaurus. The Tyrannosaurus is a Deluxe figure from the assortment with the Deluxe classification owing to it's size. It and the Mastodon are larger toys. All the Dinozords cost $23.98 at my local Walmart, so I'm not sure if deluxes are intended to cost more or not. There's probably some tariff offsetting in that pricing to be fair. Still, $120 for all five isn't bad. Considering the size (they're BIG), I'm not complaining. Tyrannosaurus is a nice hefty dino full of big chonky robot vibes. There's a decent amount of articulation in his legs that clicks satisfyingly when moved. Earlier I said the Bandai DNA is present and it really is. This feels 100% like holding a big ass Gobot and I fucking love it. They did a great job and I'm really looking forward to the rest of the set and building the Megazord.

Bumblebee [Cyberworld/Armored Cyber Changers]

In the Cyberworld, Bumblebee finds himself in some challenging predicaments. As an Armored Cyber Changer, he's packing a big gun that he acquired in a loot box around episode 3. It's uh... normal gun sized in the show. It's also worth nothing, Optimus gets his traditional energy axe in the same episode, but the toy doesn't come with one. I really wonder what all got left on the drawing board with this series.

Of course an Armored Cyber Changer is a Cyber Changer toy with a big honking accessory, which is the big gun I was just talking about. It's kinda neat, if a little hard to describe. Basically, it's a big... block with two bladed weapons plugged into the sides. The bladed weapons can sit to the side or be positioned on top of the block, which is suggested as intended for vehicle mode. The blades can detach and held individually or plugged into the sides of his arms. When doing this, the block can store on his back and kind of looks like a jet pack. To be honest, I'm a little confused by this gun as it's basically a bunch of parts stuck together. There's a peg in the front which makes me wonder if a gimmick of combining these was planned. Just like the ports along the Cyber Changer bodies. Either something using them was planned... or is on the way. I think the gun works better in vehicle mode, just seems to fit naturally.

Bumblebee looks to be in the standard 'car bot' template that according to leaks will be the norm. Like the other Cyber Changers, he's firmly in the uniformity of the line. I really like that uniformity with these Cyber Chagers and I can't quite place why. Articulation is basic, yet serviceable. Articulation for arms at shoulders, legs at waist with knee joints. They're satisfyingly simple. Bumblebee (and other car bots) makes me think of G2 toys like Rapido, Gobots, Drench, Deluge, etc. There's a similarity despite having a little more articulation. I'd love to see some of those characters in Cyberworld. I really like Bumblebee's sculpt, though it's a little hidden in the yellow. I'm sure customizers out there will paint theirs up to bring out that detail.

Transformation is easy and goes exactly the way you'd expect. Sports car mode is blocky and reminds me a little of Armada Hot Shot. As mentioned prior, the gun looks a lot better in vehicle mode and with those ports can be used in a variety of ways. I swear there's a modular play pattern that isn't completely pointed out for some reason. I understand Cyberworld isn't going to be for everyone, but I'm loving it's creative designs and satisfyingly simple toys. Bumblebee is the first of the standard Autobot car bot and leads as a positive example. I'm really looking forward to future cars that follow.

Sky-Byte [Age of the Primes/Voyager Class]

It's pretty cool that I get to talk about two different new Sky-Byte toys this close to one another. Even better, both are really neat. Today we'll be talking about the new Voyager Sky-Byte figure from Transformers Age of the Primes. Like most Generations releases, this is an update of the original toy using modern engineering... and they nailed it! This is literally the original Sky-Byte toy with a bunch of extra articulation.

The improvements are specifically noticeable in shark mode, where his head can be moved around to mimic his appearance in the show Robots in Disguise (2001) in which he stole the fan bases heart. It's funny, considering the original toy was a repaint of a Beast Wars toy (Transmetal 2 Cybershark) that sat on clearance for quite some time. Yet later reached stardom thanks to that show. It's still one of my favorites and is always good to see one of the characters get some attention in the mainline.

Like I said, this new figure improves upon the original adding a great deal of articulation and improving on other things. Most noticeably, the sharks body is no longer curved. The sides of the shark become giant dramatic shoulder armor in robot mode. Not being curved makes this much more pleasant, look better, and not potentially get in the way of the arms. Those shoulder pads plug into place, so you can wiggle them around while transforming for extra part clearance. Sky-Byte has a something extra in terms of weapons as well. Those pectoral fins can be used as little swords... which I found pretty neat. His gun no longer features firing missiles but still retains the originals look. I've never cared much for it, but appreciate the effort. Honestly this is a near perfect update of the beloved original toy.

My only complaint isn't a complaint about the actual toy itself, just wishing it had paint apps the original had. Being such an improvement of the original... I can't help but to wish he had that fabulous chrome. I know it can flake over time, but it looks marvelous. That and it'd been nice if his Spark Crystal had been painted. I really liked the Spark Crystals from Transmetal 2 and when they carried over with reuses of those molds it just made me happy. So really, that's it. No actual complaints. Just wishing for a few extras that would have been appreciated. Sky-Byte was such a great character that he's managed to become a mainstay of the Transformers brand. Part of me hopes they release a Cybershark version of this new mold... just because the original's paint apps came off almost instantly. I don't know if Sky-Byte will ever get a much more premium figure... but this one feels like a Missing Link version of the original in some ways. Maybe they can release a special edition with some chrome.

Upside-Down Glow Demogorgan [Stranger Things/Bandai]

Zombie Boy Will Byers was just heading home after playing some Dungeons & Dragons with his friends one night when he was kidnapped by the Demogorgan and taken to the Upside-Down. Stranger Things is one of my favorite TV shows and with it's final season drawing near, now feels like the perfect time to look at more of the various toys I've acquired since it premiered. You all know how much I love my sofubi and nobody does it better than Bandai.

This Demogorgan figure is part of a Stranger Things series from Bandai that came out a few years ago. It's 7" tall with excellent sculpting and paint with articulation in the shoulders. Did you take notice of the figures name? Yes, there was a regular and glow in the dark version... that's the one we're looking at right now! The glow is a specifically spooky blue color that I wish shown up better in my pictures (I tried) that really invokes the visage of those Upside-Down scenes. Bandai really nailed it with this figure. They normally do, but this time they went a step above. Hey... has anyone seen Barb?

Autobot Devcon [Legacy/Deluxe Class]

Back in the day, Devcon was a name that came up pretty often. Like other show only characters, he built up quite a fan base appearing in tons of fanart and fanfic. Despite all that, he's only gotten 2 toys. A BotCon exclusive and today's subject. Originally released a few years ago in Legacy, this Devcon toy was recently re-released as a Target exclusive. I was both thankful for the second chance to get him and for my wife picking him up for me while out.

Using the Studio Series 86 Blurr as a base with some heavy remolding, we've got a pretty screen accurate Devcon! You know, it's funny how Blurr can look so unique... yet his toys end up getting made into so many other characters. Devcon is looking pretty good here with his bright blues and reds. Like the base mold, he has a decent amount of articulation giving his far out looks plenty of range for expressiveness. He's got a blaster which can be held or plugged into his forearm (like in the show). There's also two boosters from alt mode that can plug into the blaster for some extra firepower.

Transformation is pretty easy, like Blurr. Evey thing just folds up into place and out of the way. Those little boosters plug into the rear and the blaster right under the nosecone. Alt mode is a non-de script Cybertronian aircraft. The Gambler was a season 2 episode that took place in space, but his design could easily fit into season 3's space opera setting. It's pretty cool looking and a little different. Originally this toy was near impossible to locate, but thankfully with the re-release many will finally get a chance to own one. It's nice to finally own a toy of Devcon, who despite being around so long and being so favored by so many, has hardly gotten any toys. Though I guess it's only fitting that his only toys have been harder to get. Thankfully this is  a good toy and a solid representation of him as he appeared in the cartoon. Who knows if they'll be another?

Galvatron [Cyberworld/Armored Cyber Changers]

If you've been reading my posts revolving around the new Transformers Cyberworld toys, you've probably picked up that I really enjoy the creative designs. With that in mind, today's bot has the creative design thing out the wazoo. Galvatron arrives in the Cyberworld with one awesome look by transforming from robot into a mechanical dragon. He's also a Armored Cyber Changer, which is a step up from the standard Cyber Changers in that they come with a large accessories that works with both modes.

Galvatron's Armored Up bit is a gun/flamethrower that forms into a rocket pack for the dragon. Now that I think about it, these Armored upgrades are essentially the same idea as Mech Tech weapons from Dark of the Moon. I don't remember if I've made the comparisons to Action Masters before, but I really feel it with Galvatron. Thanks to the uniformity the Cyber Changers have, they're very similar to Action Masters in a lot of ways... except they Transform. The robot modes resemble them to me. Galvatron could have really been any other character. Part of me wonders if he originally was intended to be another bot. There is a resemblance to Skyscorchers in robot mode, just with the dragon head in place of a cockpit.

It's a cool beastly mechanical look. Add in his visor and handlebar mustache and he's basically an air brushed bit of art on a 80's metal band shirt. Pretty far out, I heard he worships the devil. The dragons tail and the Armored pack are weapons that can be held or pegged into the ports on his arms. It's not clear if the tail is meant to be a gun or a melee weapon, but after years of Beast Wars toys, I'm used to tails being used as non-de script weapons. The Armored pack can be either a gun, or with the flip of a switch a flame thrower. The flames can be rotated for appearances. It's a huge weapon that's a little heavy on his joints. Get ready for him to aim at the ground a lot.

Transformation is a lot like Bull Megatron. Like I said in that post, I'm pretty sure there's some shared engineering across similar shaped bots. It's not exactly the same, but a lot of it's very much the same. Dragon mode is really neat, his little mouth opens! Mechanical beast modes aren't new, and there's a certain old school charm about his design. Dragon mode feels like a combination of an old Tomy design, weird video game boss, and once again... inner robot Pretender alt mode. A very cool touch is the jet style wings. Toy's like G1 Sky Lynx or Twinferno from Robots in Disguise (2015) have the same idea and it's something I've always found cool. The tail plugs into his rear between the legs and that big Armored pack plugs in on top becoming a giant rocker booster. This toy is super far out and I love it. Cyberworld is turning out to be a lot of fun.

Godzilla 2023 (Odo Island) [Godzilla Monster Series 5"]

Bandai's 5" sofubi line continues to pump out banger after banger with the Odo Island version of Godzilla from Minus One. Godzilla Minus One being such an amazing movie, it's to no surprises that more toys of him would be desirable. I remember sitting in that theater after finally finding a local showtime (that was oddly difficult), drinking my Pepsi Zero Sugar and marveling out loud when Godzilla first appeared on Odo Island.

At this stage he hadn't mutated to the super beast we all know, and was more of a local creature the natives had to deal with. I was super impressed with the way he looked. Normally younger Godzilla's are kinda cute or more similar to dinosaurs. Since Shin Godzilla, however, they're depicted more monstrous and frightening. This is one freaky looking thing that would scare the absolute shit out of anyone who saw it.

That's awesome.

This just might be the best sculpted monster from the 5" series that I've seen. At least so far. After becoming aware of him in the winter, I had just recently found the toy at my local Target. I paid $12, though it looks to be a little more online depending on the store. Just try to find the best price. Articulation isn't something you normally buy a sofubi for, but I feel he's got a fair amount for the 5" series. Arms and legs. Despite being in basic colors, they feel impactful and look sharp.

There's a lot of detail in the sculpt that stands out even if it isn't highlighted. This is nice. I'm admittedly smitten with Bandai and have a general love for all things Godzilla... and hell. Have a generally positive outlook on everything I post about here. That's because I buy these toys and do this site for fun. It'd be pretty stupid to waste my time here on things I don't like. This, however, is something I'm genuinely smitten with. Minus One is just pure euphoria and frankly something I get pretty emotional about. A good figure of an important moment?

Outstanding.

Megatron [Cyberworld/Cyber Changers]

The initial leaked blurry image of 'Megabull' sold me instantly, so I'm more than happy today to be looking at Megatron from Transformers Cyberworld. Megatron is a Cyber Changer, the standard class of Cyberworld and like I've said in the prior two posts, kind of like an up sized Legend/Legion class toy with a uniformity across the line. One of the reasons I was hooked from the start with this line was the creative designs.

Megatron, as you can see, turns into a bull. This alt mode is reflected in his robot mode wonderfully. Looking like an unused bit of early Beast Wars concept art, Megatron is delightfully beastly and full of character. I really appreciate his dark blue color. It reminds me of older robot toys that often came in similar colors as well as thanks to the bull alt mode, Noctorro from Beast Wars. Of course being a Cyberworld toy, he's a little limited in articulation and detail, so reminding me of older robot toys is on brand. While I'm comparing him to older toys, he makes me think of an AcroMonster too.

Transformers is a 41 year old toy line with a family tree that goes back longer, it's almost impossible not to see the heritage from the lines history. Megatron originally being a Microman toy, it's only fitting that this newest figure reminds me of another Microman toy. Megatron comes with a unique axe weapon that he uses on the cartoon. It's an oddly shaped axe with a curved blade that rises out from the middle. The weapon attaches to the bulls rear end, cleaning it up a little and giving him a tail. The shape of it's handle makes me wonder if there was a handle attachment planned at some point and dropped. Maybe it was originally the head of a spear?

Megatron has the standard Cyber Changer articulation and transformation is pretty simple. From what I've deduced, there seems to be some shared engineering with him and other similar shaped alt modes (we'll see it later). His arms becomes the bulls front legs, while the body folds into itself forming the body. His legs form the rear legs by folding onto themselves and compacting. Like I mentioned earlier, the axe weapon connects on his rear and creates a tail.

While there's sculpted hooves, there's no hiding robot modes hands at certain angles (like in the pic). This is sure to annoy some folks, I'm just writing it off as part of a cheaper toys budget. Yes, it costs what a deluxe once did... but we all observe rising prices over time. It is what it is. The simpler nature of bull mode makes me think of G1 toys. This feels like the alt mode of a Pretender inner robot. Megatron is full of character and charm. It's nice to see the creativity Cyberworld is bringing to the table and I'm enjoying it. Honestly, no bull.

Sky-Byte [Cyberworld/Cyber Changers]

One of the most exciting figures in the first wave of Cyber Changers is Sky-Byte. Sky-Byte has been a fan favorite character since his introduction in Transformers Car Robots/ Transformers Robots in Disguise. He's a lovable bad guy who writes haiku's and sings little songs whilst getting into mischief. While he hasn't appeared yet in the Cyberworld cartoon (as of this writing), one can only hope this incarnation will retain some of the originals charm.

Seeing as his alt mode is a reference to the episode 'Skid Z's Choice', one can only hope we'll have some poetry being recited while he's participating in some weird challenge. In the episode mentioned, Sky-Byte participates in a race by giving himself car parts. That leaves us with a silly shark car that this new toy transforms into. In robot mode Sky-Byte is the standard Cyberworld figure we discussed earlier this week with Optimus Prime. However, despite that uniformity... he's different. Turning into a sharkcar means his robot mode is pretty beastly. He's normally a Predacon and a bit of a Beast Wars remnant. His original toy, like the majority of the Predacons in Robots in Disguise, was a repaint of a prior Beast Wars toy.

Those beasty designs stuck with all his other incarnations since then. Thanks to the Cyberworld style, there's a Machine Robo flavor to this toy. It's probably unintentional, and maybe just my own take... but he feels like a Devil Invader in so many ways. It's cool. One thing I didn't mention in the Optimus post, these bots have a standard 5mm hole in their hands for holding weapons. Obviously that's great for the Armored Cyber Changers, but give me the hope that something like BattleMasters is on the way. After all, why do bots that don't include weapons have to possibility of holding them? They're unified in design for a reason. Sky-Byte's left hand is his signature claw made from the sharks rear fin. Be careful, this is a separate piece that you have to plug in, it can get lost by accident.

Transformation to sharkcar... damn I love saying that. Sharkcar, sharkcar, sharkcar. *ahem* Transformation to sharkcar (sqweee!) is pretty simple and makes me compare him to a Gobot again. The way he folds in half is very similar to many of those Machine Robo transformation schemes. Not to mention, something like a sharkcar (yay) is so Monster Gobot. Sharkcar (teehee) is a pleasantly satisfying mode. The wheels are nicely large, so you feel like he could easily roll over most obstacles. It's just the right size for such a toy too, just big enough to hold and push around your desk.

Really, this is a great example of how fun Cyberworld looks to be. A solid little Transformers toy that so full of fun that the limited articulation and paint aps are hardly noticeable. Sky-Byte fortunately doesn't have as much of the visible hollowness as Optimus did. It's there, but easy to ignore. I forgot to mention, his claw can be mounted on the sharks head in vehicle mode. Why? I don't know, but there sure is another 5mm port there than could hold a Battlemaster. Maybe something like that is on the way. I keep saying fun in reference to Transformers Cyberworld and Sky-Byte is an ambassador of the brand in that context. He's the greatest shark in town after all.