Wrecker Hook [RobotMasters]

@robfromzonebase Wrecker Hook [Transformers Robot Masters] #zonebase #transformers #robotmasters #wreckerhook #decepticons ♬ Trick Or treat - Nekromantix

I've been reorganizing my storage space recently, which has had me looking through a lot of my older toys. Like last week, it's inspired me to talk about one of note here.

I've mentioned Transformers RobotMasters on more than one occasion here. It was a line Takara put out in the mid-2000s that featured a mixture of older and newer molds as Transformers characters from multiple timelines, with both new and old characters gathered together to battle.

The line was announced shortly before OTFCC 2004, and several dealers had the first wave in stock. I was quite enamored with it myself, and the bulk of my convention buying was that first wave, aside from only getting the DVD version of Convoy over the standard release.

Over its time, I managed to get the bulk of the line, and RobotMasters is still one of the higher points in Transformers for me.

One of the returning characters in the line is Wrecker Hook, who we in the States know as Tow-Line.

Instead of the good-natured Autobot we're all used to, Wrecker Hook has lost his memory and is now sided with the Decepticons!

During this time, he actually becomes a better mechanic and finds friendship with Decepticon Wingstun.

Aside from the allegiance change, the biggest change is his deco. Instead of the bright green tow truck last seen in Transformers Car Robots/Robots in Disguise, Wrecker Hook now sports a completely badass black and red color scheme decked out in rockabilly flames!

In addition to his trademark "Aiming Shot," which is formed from his truck mode's grill, he also has the "Boost Hammer" weapon, which is a translucent green morning star type melee weapon.

Several RobotMasters weapons would come with additional weapons like this that could be combined together to form new weapons, similar to the ones in Transformers SuperLink/Energon, which was being released at the time.

All things considered, Wrecker Hook went through a lot of positive changes after joining the Decepticons.

I'm not sure how he went back to the Autobots, but he's his old self again in the Legends World manga.

Wrecker Hook uses the same toy mold as Wrecker Hook/Tow-Line did before in Car Robots/Robots in Disguise. Itself is a reuse of the mold used for Hoist and Hubcap in Transformers Machine Wars.

The mold was originally developed for Transformers Generation 2 and went unused until Machine Wars.

Originally sold as a Basic Class, a size class that sadly no longer exists, it's a smaller toy that features a pleasant amount of articulation for the time and auto-transforms.

By moving the tow truck's hook, Wrecker Hook's body will fold into itself as his chest moves out to form the truck cab. Make sure his arms and legs go into place properly, and then snap the hook into its spot to lock him in place.

The rifle folds up into the front of the truck and forms the grill, while you can either sit the Boost Hammer to the side or plug it into his fist in the bed area.

The flame deco really pops more in truck mode than you'd think, leading to an old nickname I gave it back in the day:

"Satan's Tow Truck."

Compared to today's toys, he probably seems pretty simplistic. Maybe comparable to a Cyber Changer from Transformers Cyberworld, if a bit bigger and with nicer paint.

But to be honest, I can't say a single bad thing about him.

I love this toy.

He looks amazing, and I find him endlessly fun.

RobotMasters was a particularly great Transformers line that had fun new toy molds and managed to make great older ones even better.

How can you not love that?

Godzilla (Astronaut Version) [Godzilla Scramble]

@robfromzonebase Godzilla (Jet Jaguar Version) [Godzilla Scramble] #zonebase #godzilla #godzillascramble #kaiju #blindbox ♬ Noroi No Syananana - SEIKIMA-II

It's time to crack open another kaiju egg from Godzilla Scramble, and ho boy, this one's pretty great!

It's Jet Jaguar!

*edit* It's not. Up until after writing this thought it was Jet Jaguar until reading the box at Target and learning it was an astronaut. So, the rest of this post was written when I thought it was supposed to be Jet Jaguar. I'm laughing at my mistake and absolutely not rewriting this as I find it hilarious now.

Well, Godzilla colored as Jet Jaguar... which looks outstanding as a slightly derivative take on the Jet Jaguar look on Godzilla.

For example, instead of being silver or grey as you'd go in expecting, Bandai used a wonderful slightly translucent silver color that's almost more of a shade of white and quite pretty.

Then they gave him blue armbands similar to the ones classic Jet Jaguar sports, along with a set of red ones around Godzilla's thighs that kinda invoke the red coloring on Jet Jaguar while still being unique, but slick-looking.

His chest features a computer readout and logo, leaving the bulk of Godzilla in that wonderful base color.

It's really pretty, and the whole deco screams art vinyl more than blind-box Egg Monster toy.

Squawkbox (Squawktalk and Beastbox) [The Transformers/Mini Cassettes]

@robfromzonebase Squakbox (Squaktalk and Beastbox) [The Transformers/Mini Cassette] #zonebase #transformers #decepticons #toys #g1 ♬ Maniac - Carpenter Brut

I've been organizing my new storage space lately, which has had me wanting to look through boxes at some of my older toys.

Which made me wonder...

Why don't I talk about those more here?

When it comes to the G1 Mini Cassettes, everyone (myself included) thinks about Ravage, Laserbeak, Rumble, and Frenzy first, with the rest following behind. As neat as the original batch are, the later ones tend to be really interesting.

That brings us to two of my favorites of the cassettes, Squawktalk and Beastbox!

Squawktalk's robot mode is allegedly a parrot, from what I've always heard, and he's also a completely new design rather than a repaint of Buzzsaw or Laserbeak.

It's actually a really sharp-looking design.

To be honest, you could have told me he was supposed to be any other bird than a parrot and I'd believe you. I'm inclined to believe they assigned him to be a parrot based on the name rather than the design.

The design itself?

A pretty threatening-looking bird robot with big-ass wings.

Takara designated him an eagle, which is a lot more fitting. He's cast in an awesome aqua-blue-ish color, and the whole thing just works. It's a cool-looking robot toy that somehow manages to make a cassette-sized bird look pretty damn imposing.

For a change, I'm about to talk about a Beastbox toy that wasn't made by 52TOYS.

The name Beastbox originally hails from Transformers, specifically this guy, Beastbox, whose robot mode is a gorilla!

I've always specifically loved his look. There's just something about the way the gorilla design comes from a flat cassette while still fitting perfectly with the aesthetics of the era. He's cast in that wonderful purple that several post-movie Decepticons came in, which just tops off the entire thing.

I remember being a kid and seeing him in the pack-in toy booklets and just thinking he looked awesome.

I got the toys we're looking at today while I was in college and was so happy to finally have this awesome purple gorilla guy.

"Hey Rob, I thought you said you were pretty broke in college."

I was.

Before the live-action movies, you could get older Transformers toys for pretty cheap, usually cheaper than the new ones at stores. Back then, they were pretty dismissed by most of the "serious" fan outlets like comic shops.

Another thing that makes these two special is that they combine to form Squawkbox, a pretty neat-looking robot that, despite being formed from two completely different animal-based robots, doesn't really show it.

The Autobots also had a cassette combiner, Slamdance, whose combined robot is pretty nice as well, but the individual modes don't impress me as much as these two do.

I guess it's just more impressive when a freaking gorilla and a bird with big-ass wings make a robot that doesn't look like it's made from either.

Another thing I enjoy is how Beastbox's Compression Cannons combine with Squawktalk's High Decibel Sonic Boomers to form big guns that mount on his arms in a very aesthetically pleasing way.

Thanks to their design, there's no specific order for this, so you can just stick whichever gun with whatever other gun and it'll work.

There's also a pleasant amount of articulation for the team, more than you'd realistically expect from a toy of this era.

Considering how little I harp on articulation, the fact that I bring it up should say something.

Overall, this is a fantastic toy all together.

The Transformers Mini Cassettes have always been beloved for good reason. It's a genius toy gimmick that never gets old. Even now, you can explain Soundwave (or Blaster) and the cassettes to someone, and they'll make that undeniable "whoah" face, even if they don't actually say it.

It's just neat!

Not to mention, these two just look great, even compared to modern toys and engineering.

I do wish they got more attention, because they really are on the higher level of the original Generation One Transformers toys.

Infinite Lance Gigan [Godziburst]

@robfromzonebase Infinite Spear Gigan [Godziburst] #zonebase #godzilla #godziburst #kaiju #monsters ♬ MELANCHOLIA - KNIFE BRIDE

Gigan is basically Toho taking something completely batshit crazy and making it super awesome.

Originally in the Showa era, he looked like something out of a hallucination. A mixture of chicken, robot, and dragon... with hook hands and a saw in his belly.

Then this ridiculous thing absolutely kicked the shit out of Godzilla.

Gigan is a force to be reckoned with!

After some off appearances in Zone Fighter and various other media, Gigan returned in the insanely awesome Godzilla: Final Wars in 2004. Now upgraded with a sleeker body and FREAKING CHAINSAWS!

Gigan later got another upgrade in TV Magazine in 2007 with Armed Gigan, now sporting armor, a dual-hooked hand, and another hand with DUAL GATTLING GUNS!

Basically, how much more dangerous can they make Gigan?

Hold Toho's beer. Any day now they'll make him a politician.

Then he'll endanger EVERYONE'S LIVES!

There have been other Gigan developments like Gigan Rex, but I'll stop there because it's the ones I've been talking about that influence today's post the most.

A Godziburst figure of Gigan, reimagined as...

INFINITE LANCE GIGAN!

Actually, this is a repaint of a prior Godziburst Gigan figure from Japan named Gatling Gigan, which combined the look of Final Wars Gigan with the Gatling guns from Armed Gigan in a wonderful black and green deco.

Infinite Lance Gigan is a repaint and remold of that Gigan, with a MUCH larger right Gatling gun arm and now including a lance that can plug into his left arm's Gatling gun.

Because why not?

Infinite Lance Gigan also sports a new red and gold deco that looks amazing and is pretty similar to Gigan Rex, whom I feel is the inspiration for the new colors.

This is a damn fine figure of Gigan on its own as well. There's several points of articulation, and the smaller scale just makes him so satisfying. Like other Godziburst toys, you can mix and match his parts to make the freak even freakier.

And honestly, what more could you want from Gigan?

I clearly adore this toy and Gigan in general. His appearance in Final Wars has always been one of my go-to awesome moments in Godzilla movies.

Final Wars gets a bit of a bad name for being so... nuts, but I love it.

Admittedly, having an appreciation of Japanese cyberpunk helps, as the film is absolutely in the vein of movies like Zeiram, The Guyver, and Mechanical Violator HaKaider while somehow still being a love letter to Godzilla and the works of Toho.

Infinite Lance Gigan is definitely the monster spirit of “kill everything,” and I just want to hug it.

Optimus Prime [Big Figs]

So, I might have bought something dumb.

Part of the Transformers: The Movie 40th Anniversary theatrical run included various merchandise. Because, that's kinda the point of why these companies make these things. However, one of the coolest items is the subject of today's post, a Target Exclusive Big Figs Optimus Prime by Jakks Pacific.

Big Figs and other brands like it are massive action figures, generally around 18" to 48" tall. For a while there, they were everywhere. I don't think it was possible to walk into a Toys R Us without walking down an aisle and finding a small gathering of them.

I haven't seen them in a while, but they seem to have become more of an online item lately, as I just don't see them in person as often as I used to. Apparently they're still pretty popular, though, and I get it.

There's nothing like a giant-ass figure of a character you like.

That's why I got this one, a 30" Optimus Prime Big Figs tied into the Transformers: The Movie 40th Anniversary and sold exclusively at Target stores in the states (it's been appearing at Costco in Japan recently).

He's apparently pretty popular, as stores have been having a hard time keeping him in stock and the thing is getting resold for less-than-favorable prices by resellers. Fortunately, on a whim, the Mrs. was checking the Target app for some cat food for a pickup order and found one in stock for delivery only.

So we jumped at the chance because that's what you have to do in these instances.

Arriving a few days before my viewing of the movie in theaters, Optimus Prime is a lot bigger than I realized.

Like... I knew he was 30 inches.

But the number "30 inches" on your phone screen doesn't really register until he's standing in your living room, mingling with the Halloween blow molds at our fireplace.

Wow...

There's truth in the name. That's a Big Fig.

I feel like I have to say this now, because there's always that one person who's going to ask. And I get it. The line is named Transformers. There are expectations.

However, no, he doesn't transform.

You're not getting a 30" action figure that turns into a truck for thirty-five dollars. You can hardly get a standard Deluxe Class Transformer for that now.

It's probably also worth noting that articulation is pretty limited. He's got shoulders, elbows, and a head. It looks like his wrists swivel, but to be honest, I haven't tried. There's no leg articulation, though I've seen folks in groups modify theirs to allow for it.

Considering how heavy he is, about six pounds, I wonder just how floppy of a mess those Primes are now.

I've been seeing the Shogun Warrior/Jumbo toy guys go nuts over this. Which is to be expected, because this is right up their alley. But he doesn't really have that Shogun Warrior look.

This looks like a big-ass Optimus Prime that you'd expect to see in standard-sized retail packaging.

I've heard more than one person claim that his sculpt is almost identical to the Leader Class Studio Series 86 Optimus Prime toy. Both are intended to look like Optimus as he appears in the 1986 movie, so no surprise there.

It is possible that CAD files were shared, or that one of those Studio Series toys was scanned to make an STL file from. I'm not sure if that's the case or it's just a coincidence. 

But it's safe to say this looks like who it's supposed to.

Which is part of the point.

The other part is that it be big as hell.

Which it is.

Optimus doesn't come with any accessories, but I've been seeing folks 3D-print guns and Energy Axes for theirs. That looks pretty fun. I hope to get into 3D printing soon, and even though I want to focus on smaller projects, I can see how rewarding it would be to deck this guy out with stuff.

Personally, I kinda want to make a Tommy Kennedy to reenact the live-action segments from Season 5.

Really, despite being just a big silly toy, this thing is causing so many fans to have a lot of fun. They're parading it around social media, pretending it's their new child, making things for it, and just generally enjoying their big silly robot toy.

Frankly, it feels like the perfect thing to go along with the 40th Anniversary showings.

I've been jokingly calling it this big dumb thing, when the truth is...

I love it.

In buying something dumb, I got something awesome.

Godzilla (Ice Cream with Sprinkles) [Godzilla Scramble]

@robfromzonebase Godzilla (ice cream with sprinkles) [Godzilla Scramble] #zonebase #godzilla #godzillascramble #blindbox #kaiju ♬ Halloween - Siouxsie And The Banshees

It's well past time that I've started talking about the Godzilla Scramble toys here on the Base.

Godzilla Scramble is a cool blind-box gacha line by Bandai utilizing their Godzilla Monster Egg toys in fun color variations. Series 1 is out now, and I've gotten a few of them and want to get them all!

These are great.

The color variations remind me of art vinyl sofubi and various pop art pieces, while I just love transforming egg toys. Not to mention, Bandai.

You say Bandai, I'm in.

Today we're looking at the Ice Cream Godzilla, or as I insist on calling him, Ice Cream with Sprinkles, because he has sprinkles and I love that extra detail.

Despite not normally liking sprinkles on my ice cream.

I initially thought he was supposed to be a cupcake thanks to those sprinkles, which is probably why I focus on them so much.

I'm neurodivergent. Work with me.

The mold used is the standard Godzilla from the Egg Monsters series, and I've talked about that a few times before here, so pardon me while I focus on the spectacular deco today.

Now, it's easy to just glance at this toy and write him off as just pink with sprinkles painted on his chest.

Which, frankly, would have still been awesome.

However, there are little swirls of colors floating around that add to the look and frankly just look nice. Godzilla is basically a living nuclear reaction, so he's going to melt that ice cream, and that's what happened to some of those sprinkles.

Those little swirls of color...

We've all made that mistake of adding sprinkles to our ice cream only to regret biting into the little shards of hard asshole particles floating around. Some people like the added texture. I prefer to enjoy my food.

My point is, those sprinkles tend to leave little swirls of color in your ice cream, and those little swirls of color look fabulous on this design.

Not to be left out is the slightly darker and metallic shade of pink used on his dorsal fins. I've seen multiple kaiju fans refer to those as sploots, which kinda fits on an ice cream-themed kaiju.

It just occurred to me that egg mode looks kinda like a scoop of ice cream.

That's probably unintentional, but I'm going with it.

The other color versions in Godzilla Scramble are fun too, and I plan to go more into those in time. This is a fun little blind-box series to collect that's pretty creative with some of the color versions and right up my egg-robot-loving alley.

I do hope future series utilize more monsters from Toho's catalog. Bandai has made plenty of them into Egg Monsters, so it's probably a safe bet.

White Tiger Thunderzord [Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Re-Ignition]

@robfromzonebase White Tigerzors [Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Re-Ignition] #zonebase #mightymorphinpowerrangers #powerrangers #zords #megazord ♬ Running like a Tiger - Damian Hamada's Creatures

It's fall, and that means it's time for Playmates Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Re-Ignition Season 2 to start!

As many of you know, I was really fond of the Season 1 Zords, and I'm looking forward to completing that set once the Dragonzord ships next year. Fortunately, there's no weird stipulation with Season 2, and the entire set of Zords is available at standard retail.

The Thunder Megazord was always my preferred Megazord, and it's nice to see him getting the Re-Ignition treatment. I know some folks vastly prefer the nicer, higher-end options, but I really like these because they're just fun, big-ass robot toys that are not only easily available... but also fairly cheap.

At $20 each from my local Walmart, they're not a bad way to build a big-ass Megazord. Not to mention, it's fun to acquire them week by week and slowly assemble the team.

These figures are developed by Playmates themselves by their Hong Kong team—the group that made their Voltron sets that I was a big fan of—and they're heavily based on the original Zords. As a result, they have a nice, satisfying old-school Bandai feel to them.

Not to mention, they're nice and large. Like a Jumbo Shogun Warrior.

I'm starting my look at Season 2 with what has to be my all-time favorite Zord, the White Tiger Thunderzord.

Super Sentai fans know him as Mythical Qi Beast Won Tiger from Gosei Sentai Dairanger, though I mainly associate him with MMPR since I haven't watched nearly as much Dairanger as I have Zyuranger.

When I was younger, I had assumed he was meant to resemble a sphinx, but instead he's based on the Byakko from Chinese mythology. That's something I was fairly ignorant of as a kid, despite being surrounded by its imagery quite often thanks to my hometown having a largely mixed population.

When the tiger transforms into Warrior Mode, it's intended to resemble ancient warrior statues, something I've always thought looked cool. Another thing I like is the white base color with the black, red, and gold accent colors. It just looks so sharp, and with that classic Bandai design, it looks awesome.

In Warrior Mode, the tiger's head becomes his chest, which is a design style many transforming robots have used, but once again, that classic Bandai look gives it a charm all its own.

Like the other Re-Ignition toys, it feels like a giant Gobot... which, if history had gone another way, the originals might have ended up as.

This is a really satisfying toy thanks to its larger size and chonky design. Being intended to homage the original, it's fairly simple... and that's not a bad thing.

Transformation... whoops, I meant morphing from tiger to warrior... isn't complex at all. The tail is his scimitar, and the whole package just comes together nicely.

Of course, you can attach the other Thunderzords and form the White Tiger Thunder Megazord, which we'll get to once all the members are acquired.

For now, however, let me just bask in a new toy of one of my favorite designs.

Ratchet and Bumblebee [Cyberworld Energon Surge/Armored Cyber Changers]

@robfromzonebase Ratchet [Transformers Cyberworld Energon Surge/Armored Cyber Changers] #zonebase #transformers #cyberworld #energonsurge #cyberchangers ♬ 苦悩の聖人 (Saint of Suffering) - Akuma Dollz

Last year when I was writing about "season 1" of Cyberworld toys, I regularly took note of what felt like a missing gimmick with all the Cyber Changers having multiple ports. I was also never super fond of the Armored Cyber Changers' "armored" parts, which were essentially larger Mech Tech-style weapons. I didn't hate them, but I rarely felt like they actually fit the toys.

Now, with the new Energon Surge figures, the phantom gimmick and the Armored Cyber Changers are here, and it's awesome.

Like with the new Armored Cyber Changer Megatron we looked at a little bit back, the gimmick is built into the new Energon Surge Armored Cyber Changers Ratchet and Bumblebee, and it just makes me love Armored Cyber Changers instead of simply accepting them as a way to mark up a toy's price. Not to mention, now under the Energon Surge sub-line, the Cyber Changers have wonderful translucent plastic parts that look absolutely amazing.

The colorful clear plastic, of course, reminds me of Microman/Micronauts, and the new armored parts really make me think of 2000s Microman toys. Of course, being Cyber Changers, the articulation isn't anywhere near as extensive, but it's impossible for me not to make that comparison.

I could also make a comparison to the energy weapons from Transformers Energon, and guys... I love this type of gimmick. Translucent plastic looks amazing, even on more simple figures like these.

Bumblebee is a recolor of the first Armored Cyber Changer Bumblebee we've already talked about here. This version feels more like an upgrade, as those new translucent blue parts just pop on the mold, looking a million times better than the original.

His new Energon Surge armor parts include two blade blaster style weapons, two energy stinger style parts, and a large shield/backpack piece. These can be used in multiple ways. I've leaned into using the large piece more as a jetpack than a shield, with the stinger parts as armor and the blade blasters as guns... unless he needs to cut a fool.

The blade blasters can become wings as well, making me use the parts similarly to Macross booster parts for his car mode. It's a modular design, so you can really get creative with it.

It's worth noting that you can combine these parts with the ones from other toys.

Go nuts.

Ratchet is a new mold and a really fun one at that. Instead of changing into his traditional ambulance alt mode, Ratchet converts into a rescue helicopter. That's a neat little touch of variety that gives Ratchet a more exciting look.

The chevron on his helmet is orange, which contrasts nicely with the white and translucent blue that makes up the majority of him. It makes me think of the Powerlinks Red Alert toy from Armada, which has always been a deco I've liked.

Part of me wonders—and hopes—this toy will get more green in the future for a Cyberworld version of Medix.

Ratchet's Armored parts actually work nicely with his helicopter mode, forming jet boosters and rocket pods. Additionally, there are two large bladed bits that look cool, and now that I think of it, they probably would have made more sense if I'd plugged them into the rear section of the helicopter rather than making wings with them.

Oh well.

@robfromzonebase Bumblebee [Transformers Cyberworld Energon Surge/Armored Cyber Changers] #zonebase #transformers #cyberworld #energonsurge #cyberchangers ♬ One Shot TV size Theme Song of "KAMEN RIDER MY-TH" - THE RAMPAGE from EXILE TRIBE

This is seemingly an all-new mold and engineering, so I wonder where it'll resurface? The bits that the helicopter's blades are connected to can be detached, and part of me finds that base body similar enough to a motorcycle without wheels.

As creative as these designers have been with the shared engineering, I'm looking forward to something unexpected.

Part of me can't help but compare the Energon Surge armor parts to the upgrades your ship gets in a shooter game. Like, Ratchet is flying into action and, just because Cyberworld is a video game, he's blasting little floating capsules and adding onto his firepower.In robot mode, the armored bits can make for some nicely dramatic... armor. They can be held as well as plugged in, so get creative. Those big-ass blades, though, make for some sharp ornamentation for Ratchet, giving him some serious super robot energy.

It's really awesome for me to see the Armored Cyber Changers stepping up and bringing that gimmick that the line always felt designed for into Cyberworld. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Cyber Changers feel like the continuation of the Beast Alliance toys that I had such a good time with a few years ago, and it's good to see something like a line-wide gimmick.

I'm hopeful they continue with more fun things like this, or even expand it with even more cool stuff.

Because apparently all these ports were just waiting for someone to finally say, "You know what? Let's put some crazy shit in there."

And I'm absolutely here for it.

Formula Type 3 Kiryu [Godziburst]

@robfromzonebase Formula Type 3 Kiryu [Godziburst] #zonebase #godzilla #godziburst #kaiju #monsters ♬ SPECTRAL__WITNESS - ZANKYO://ERROR

One of the many things that draws me to Godziburst is the wild colors they put the kaiju in. It's not a new idea, sofubi and other toys have been doing it forever, but it's still awesome and I love seeing it. When it comes to MechaGodzilla, I can't get enough. When it's Kiryu, that goes quadruple billion.

Like many other kaiju fans, Kiryu strikes an emotional chord with me that's stuck all these years. He's also freaking awesome looking, so when they put him in alternate colors, it's usually pretty great. That's the case with Formula Type 3 Kiryu from Godziburst.

Admittedly, he's got a more muted color scheme than some of the other figures in the initial US wave. He's black gunmetal and blue with gold armor, which is intended to invoke racing imagery.

Personally, I can't look at him without thinking about 90s movies like Zeiram, Mechanical Violator Hakaider, or The Guyver.

I suppose the armor could also be compared to the Gold Ranger from Power Rangers Zeo or King Ranger from Chouriki Sentai Ohranger. Pick your poison.

Kiryu is a wonderfully articulated figure, like most of the Godziburst gang. His armor can be used in a variety of ways or combined with armor from other Godziburst figures to come up with something unique. It's a fun little modular system that encourages you to experiment with the figures and see what ridiculous combinations you can come up with.

Though his armor does present the only problem I actually have with this toy.

Not the armor itself, but... getting it to connect to Kiryu.

You see, these toys are made from a softer plastic that I find really satisfying, but that also makes Kiryu's armor connection nearly impossible to use. You'll notice in the post video that there's a plug that's just not connected. It kept falling out. It was frustrating, but it didn't ruin the toy for me. I really just wanted the Kiryu figure, and I wasn't too fussed about the armor.

Though I suppose I should try plugging that armor into some of the other Godziburst figures just to see if the problem is with Kiryu or the armor itself.

Man, how many times have I said "armor" today?

Megatron [Cyberworld Energon Surge/ Armored Cyber Changer & Cyber Changer]

@robfromzonebase Megatron [Cyberworld Energon Surge/Cyber Changers] #zonebase #transformers #cyberworld #energonsurge #cyberchangers ♬ 月が見えなくても愛して - Nebelhaus & MAD JAMIE

Today we have a tale of two Megatrons as we look at the two most recent Megatron figures in Transformers Cyberworld under the Energon Surge sub-line. This time we've got the all-new Armored Cyber Changer Megatron and a reissue of the excellent Bull Megatron Cyber Changer as an Energon Surge figure. Both are super cool and share a similar palette, which is appropriate.

Of course, I'll be spending more time with the Armored Cyber Changer. I've been giving the Energon Surge editions of prior Cyber Changers a look as part of my quest to cover all of Cyberworld, but obviously they don't need an entire post of their own.

In his Armored Cyber Changer debut, Megatron transforms from a more traditional version of himself into a drill tank. Apparently he shares engineering with Optimus Primal, which is something I didn't initially notice thanks to his arms, where the drill becomes his right arm. Looking at his core and torso, though... yeah, I see it now. That's pretty clever.

Cyber Changers are obviously really simple toys, so it's pretty neat seeing how they can reuse engineering so creatively. It gives their designs a modular feel. A lot of folks think a transformation needs to be super complex to have impressive engineering, when something simple can be just as impressive. They've managed to churn out a variety of toys with completely different alt modes using just a few basic skeletons to make them work. Neat.

Like I said, Megatron's right arm is the drill from the tank and even has elbow/wrist articulation (it's a little vague) in addition to the drill being able to spin. It's pretty neat. It's easy to compare a tank Megatron with his Generation 2 version, but this one is so unique that it's kind of its own thing. If anything, I'm a little reminded of the tank Megatron from the 2006 "Ultimate Battle" two-pack with Optimus Prime. That tank has a similar shape, and the robot also features a spinning arm weapon gimmick.

In robot mode, Megatron is nicely beefy, as someone who turns into a tank should be. That right arm with a giant drill makes him look a little crazy, too.

One thing I absolutely love about this toy is that it's an Armored Cyber Changer where the additional accessories are actually armor. Last year, when I was looking at the original batch of Cyber Changers, I kept saying how the multiple ports looked as if they were designed for some sort of gimmick. With prior Armored Cyber Changers, the "armored" part was essentially a giant Mech Tech-style weapon. Here, Megatron actually has armor for both robot and tank modes!

The armor pieces are made from a nice translucent purple that matches Megatron's body and look like a mixture of Energon shards and some form of energy armor. It looks neat in robot mode, but I really enjoy the way it looks on the tank. Thinking about it, if the toy were silver, it'd resemble the earlier live-action movie look for Megatron. There's even a gun that he can hold or plug into one of the many ports. This is a really fun toy, and it's awesome to finally see those ports getting utilized.

@robfromzonebase Megatron [Cyberworld Energon Surge/Cyber Changers] #zonebase #transformers #cyberworld #energonsurge #cyberchangers ♬ 불꽃으로 / Bulkkoch Eulo - past self

The Bull Megatron is the same toy I talked about before, and that's a good thing because it's a great figure. Definitely one of my favorite Cyber Changers and the toy that initially sold me on the line. I really like the new blue color used on this version in conjunction with the translucent purple. It's a nice new outfit, so to speak.

One thing about Cyberworld is that, despite their limited articulation, they remind me of Microman in the way the figures interact with the larger toys. Now that the Energon Surge toys are getting these translucent bodies, the comparison is even harder to ignore. I'm outright comparing them to '90s Microman, because regardless of the limited articulation, they visually match. Bull Megatron would make a fine Acrobeast!

Like I've said before, Cyber Changers are so much fun to collect and blog about. The new Megatron was an absolute treat to fiddle around with, while the Bull Megatron was like going on a new adventure with an old friend.

This mission of mine to blog the entirety of Cyberworld continues to be a great decision. 

Plasma SpaceGodzilla [Godziburst]

@robfromzonebase Plasma Space Godzilla [Godziburst] #zonebase #godzilla #godziburst #kaiju #monsters ♬ VENGEANT - Uz:ME

I was overjoyed when Bandai announced they would begin selling Godziburst toys here in the States. The toys have been available in Japan since last year, but thanks to various issues, certain imports are a little more affordable than others. Thankfully, they're now as close as my local GameStop and Target, both of which are only a short drive away.

Godziburst is a fun new expression of Toho's classic kaiju as small action figures in fun colors with unique add-on armor. The armor can be used on other kaiju as well as combined with each other, and the kaiju themselves have parts that can be swapped around, allowing you to create all sorts of custom designs. They're also super cheap, with a base price of $9.99 at Target and GameStop, putting them in roughly the same category as Transformers Cyberverse. Fun, imaginative, and affordable. What's not to love?

Clearly, these are right up my alley, and you can expect to see me talking about them a lot here on the site. I mean... they're literally made of Zone Base DNA.

To my knowledge, there isn't an ongoing fiction behind Godziburst, which is something I'd love to be wrong about. If you've read something about one and know otherwise, please let me know. I don't have a Patreon or ads, so I don't mind being corrected. Currently, the closest thing to any fiction I've seen is this blurb on the back of the packaging:

"GODZIBURST, the place where battles no one has ever seen unfold..."

That tells me Godziburst is a physical place of some sort, and I love the idea that there's possibly an entire town. There's a mayor of Godziburst. There's apparently a Walmart. Honestly, the basis of the line just being monsters fighting is pretty much on par for anything Godzilla.

Here's a pink and teal Godzilla with enormous cannons beating a completely translucent Gigan with weed whackers until his brains hang out of his ears.

Honestly, I was joking when I wrote that last bit... but it's also completely on brand for Godziburst, and now I want those toys.

The first toy we're looking at is Plasma SpaceGodzilla because... I like SpaceGodzilla.

Plasma SpaceGodzilla is colored in a brilliant purple that's much brighter than he's normally colored in, with vibrant gold and... a pretty pearl color on his feet. He's got pretty feets!

Painted-on lightning detail is a recurring theme with these Godziburst toys, and they've done it particularly cleverly with this one. In the post video, I have his accessories attached, so you can't see this, but his left shoulder crystal is unpainted. This is obviously for budget reasons, and the shoulder lightning covers it anyway. However, the right one is painted with that vibrant gold, and the lightning detail spreads out from it, giving a little visual story to the deco that I love so very much.

OMG, this line is awesome.

SpaceGodzilla is actually fairly articulated, and that's something that has stood out to me. Godziburst toys have a surprisingly decent range of movement for small, inexpensive figures. SpaceGodzilla's accessories are these large energy lightning effects that attach to his shoulder crystals, making for a much more dramatic-looking monster.

With that lightning spreading across his chest, he's clearly radiating all that energy and preparing to strike. This is a rather dramatic amount of energy to radiate off of someone, clearly giving him the look of a big attack that's about to happen. It looks great.

SpaceGodzilla is an absolute pleasure and the ideal introduction to what will be ongoing Godziburst coverage here on the site. Not only is he pure kaiju bliss, but he's also one of the more simple figures in the assortment, allowing me to introduce the line without writing an entire novel as a post.

DOUBLE TROUBLE!

In case my abundant excitement wasn't clear, I am overjoyed with Godziburst. These little monster toys are awesome.

If I were on stage, I'd drop the mic... assuming I didn't pay for it. Because microphones are expensive...

UNLIKE GODZIBURST TOYS!

X-Ray Men from Space

Earlier today, while doing my daily five miles on the exercise bike, I found myself thinking about X-Ray Man from Fisher-Price Adventure People. More specifically, the astronaut version my brother had that came with the Firestar 1 and Alpha Star 1 sets.

Alongside Clawtron, X-Ray Man and X-Ray Woman were some of the line's resident space adventurers and featured some pretty far-out designs. Of course, they were clever repaints of existing Adventure People figures, but let's be honest: some of the coolest toys ever made have been repaints. Don't be a hater.

My older brother and I were big Adventure People fans back in the day, so it shouldn't be much of a surprise that we had quite a few of them. I've mentioned Clawtron before as one of those figures that remained on his bookshelf well into adulthood, and I still fondly remember his Firestar 1 battling my Alpha Interceptor during countless imaginary space conflicts.

Sometimes I wish the astronaut version of X-Ray Man got a little more attention. He was a fun design, looked great alongside the other space-themed Adventure People figures, and honestly deserves a little more love than he gets.

Cheetor and Jazz [Cyberworld Energon Surge/Cyber Changers]

@robfromzonebase Cheetor [Transformers Cyberworld Energon Surge/Cyber Changers] no, not Tigatron #cyberchangers #energonsurge #transformers #cyberworld #zonebase ♬ Catcat Heaven - The Lethal Weapons

One of the things that first got my attention with Cyberworld was the Bull Megatron design. It reminded me so much of early Beast Wars that even if I hadn't jumped headfirst into my "get them all" quest, I probably would have gotten every version of him anyway. A year later, the Energon Surge toys are continuing that vibe with today's subjects: Cheetor and Jazz.

Both come with little caveats that make you pause for a second before you realize exactly what they're doing. Cheetor is white, while Jazz has a beast mode. Those little details lean even harder into that early Beast Wars vibe I was talking about.

You see, when Beast Wars first started, the fiction we know today wasn't there yet. It was essentially Transformers Generation 3, with familiar characters taking on a new gimmick. If you find any of the old concept art, that idea becomes pretty clear.

Cheetor originally began life as a new Prowl toy. That's pretty obvious when you look at the original toy's head sculpt, and I've always thought the cat-head chest was reminiscent of the car-hood chests of the G1 toys.

While this Cheetor is a mixture of white and translucent blue, it's a little hard for me not to think about that original Prowl destination.

Jazz, on the other hand, isn't a character I remember seeing in that original concept art, but I've always thought Polar Claw's head sculpt looked very Jazz-like. That makes Jazz's beast mode, which is a polar bear, stand out even more to me. Then there's the fact that we're taking a classic G1 character and putting his traditional head on a clearly beast-warrior body. That's exactly the kind of weirdness I love.

Part of me hopes they make a black bear Ricochet version of this toy.

@robfromzonebase Jazz [Transformers Cyberworld Energon Surge/Cyber Changers] yes, he's a polar bear #zonebase #transformers #cyberworld #energonsurge #cyberchangers ♬ VISIONS Theme Song of "KAMEN RIDER ZEZTZ" - NAQT VANE

It's worth noting that Cheetor is supposed to be a snow leopard and not a cheetah, despite his card placing him in the Jungle biome rather than the Arctic biome that Jazz comes from. Considering the arrival of the Maximal stasis pods shown in an Arctic region of the Cyberworld during the season-ending episode, it's pretty clear that the upcoming monster truck Optimus Primal is going to have a non-traditional crew of Beast Warriors. I'm really looking forward to seeing what they do with them.

Like other Cyber Changers, Cheetor and Jazz share engineering. That's clearly part of the model behind Cyber Changers: keep the price low through shared engineering and a universal silhouette that allows the smaller figures to interact with the larger toys in the line.

I really hope Cyber Changers continues beyond Cyberworld. Imagine having figures that can interact with each other for years regardless of what series they come from. Since these are the mainline toys aimed at younger kids (and loved by old farts like me), it's entirely possible that a kid could receive one from their grandparents years from now, bought from a liquidation or discount store, and have it work with whatever the current iteration of the kids' line happens to be.

I'd love to see straightforward versions of classic characters as Cyber Changers. The white-box general line already has Deluxe Class figures of traditional characters, so why not make some of those characters in this format as well?

There are differences between Cheetor and Jazz, though. They're not simply the same mold with different heads. Both have unique sculpting and deco. They're both primarily white and translucent blue, but their other colors are different, as is their glow-in-the-dark paint. One fun little tradition that carries over to Cheetor is having his beast-mode tail become his weapon. He has a tail that turns into a sword. Neat!

I do wish Jazz had a gun, though. I'll probably pair him with one eventually. It just feels right, you know?

The slight auto-transformation that most Cyber Changers have is present here as well, shifting their upright robot bodies into a more quadrupedal beast form. While writing the earlier paragraph about the original Beast Wars designs, I started thinking about the Manta Ray Optimus Prime sketch and the obvious comparison to Manta Ray from the McDonald's Beast Wars Happy Meal toys.

Man, I'd love to see that design fleshed out as a Cyber Changer.

I'd also love to see the Panther from those Happy Meal toys become the obvious eventual Ravage repaint of this Cheetor. Honestly, I might just make one myself. The sculpt is too similar. Which makes me think that toy really was originally intended to be Prowl, especially since Manta Ray was so clearly intended to be Optimus Prime.

And now I've had another thought.

A Cyberworld Happy Meal would be amazing.

I wonder if the toys would hold up to the Beast Wars-era Happy Meal toys. Probably not. But wouldn't that be amazing?

Soundwave Deep-Sea Explorer [Cyberworld Energon Surge]

@robfromzonebase Soundwave (Deep-Sea Explorer) [Transformers Cyberworld Energon Surge] #zonebase #transformers #cyberworld #energonsurge #seamonster ♬ Square Hammer - Ghost

One of the more fun aspects of Transformers Cyberworld is its imaginative takes on existing characters. With the newer Energon Surge toys, they cranked that concept well past eleven.

Normally, when Soundwave isn't a cassette player (or a modern interpretation of one), he's a communications truck, stealth bomber, drone, or something similarly high-tech. Proving that stranger things happen in the Cyberworld, this version of Soundwave transforms into a hybrid submarine and sea monster.

I should point out that submarines use sonar...

You know...

Sound waves.

While I'm almost instantly sold on robots that turn into monsters, Amazon also delivered my Soundwave just in time for the beginning of the Zone Base Halloween season. Synergy!

There's another reason I love this design, though. It should come as no surprise that I'm a huge fan of Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters, especially Sharkticon Megatron. This Soundwave fits right alongside that figure in the wonderfully strange "Lovecraftian vehicle monster" category. Honestly, I could even see him as some bizarre Quintesson experiment, and I wouldn't be surprised if the Quintessons ended up lurking somewhere behind the events of Cyberworld.

I regularly compare Cyberworld toys to older robot lines, and Soundwave is no exception. He's a larger figure like Grimlock, but thanks to his proportions and construction, he really feels like something from the G1.5 era of Transformers. I joked on social media that Cyberworld feels like G1.5 if it had been adapted into a PC Engine game, and Soundwave is a Prime (hurr hurr) example of that.

His robot mode looks like something straight out of that era, while his alternate mode feels like a boss from Darius or R-Type. Thinking about it, if he were a smaller figure, he'd make a perfect companion to the original G1 Seacons.

I just can't stop comparing him to other things, and that's exactly what I love about him. It's funny how a toy clearly aimed at younger kids makes me think so much more than many of the far more detailed Generations figures.

It's probably unnecessary to mention that Soundwave doesn't have a ton of articulation. In fact, I'm surprised he isn't classified as an Ultimate Cyber Changer. He's basically a giant Cyber Changer already. Honestly, I swear they could shrink his CAD model down and release him as one... just without all the extra gimmicks, obviously.

Speaking of gimmicks, he's got quite a few.

The most obvious are those massive tentacles. The two longer tentacles on his right arm are bendable, allowing you to pose them however you'd like—or wrap them around an unfortunate victim. The three tentacles on his left arm can open, spin, and also grab unsuspecting victims.

When you're a sea monster, you spend a lot of time grabbing victims.

The tentacles on his right arm can even be removed and replaced with the sea monster's head, just in case he wasn't monstrous enough already.

I don't know if it technically counts as a gimmick, but Soundwave also comes with a removable battle mask. It matches the sea monster aesthetic perfectly and even features a little glow-in-the-dark paint. Combined with the monster mouth sculpted beneath his iconic faceplate, it looks absolutely fantastic.

I freaking love this ridiculous toy.

My only real complaint is that I wish the sea monster head stored on his back in a more compact way. As it is, it makes for a rather awkward backpack.

Transformation is simple, once again reminding me of the Cyber Changers. I'm honestly beginning to wonder if this toy started life as one before being enlarged into its final form. The engineering just feels too similar to be a coincidence.

Once transformed, those dangling tentacles give the sea monster mode an incredibly gnarly silhouette that's honestly hard to describe.

This thing is awesome.

The monster's jaws open and close so it can chomp down on another unfortunate victim because, once again, sea monsters and victims simply go together.

Like chocolate and peanut butter in a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup.

Which I sincerely hope you get while trick-or-treating this Halloween because they're delicious.

Unless you're allergic to peanuts.

In which case, I'd like to point out that this is a very awesome toy that could really use a little more teal so everyone would know Soundwave's lair is peanut-free.

The sea monster head also doubles as a cockpit, allowing a Cyber Changer to pilot the submarine. Like the other removable components found on the larger Cyberworld toys, it can also be swapped around and combined with similar parts from other figures to create all sorts of fun combinations.

It goes without saying that this is a very unconventional Soundwave toy, and that's exactly what makes it so special.

The designers simply made a fun toy, and I absolutely love that they did.

It's packed with personality, wonderfully creative, and just plain enjoyable.

Cyberworld may not be everyone's cup of tea, and that's perfectly okay.

Because those of us who love it...

Really love it.

I'd be shocked if this mold didn't receive a repaint at some point. Soundblaster is the obvious choice, but honestly, I'd love to see something even stranger. A Piranacon-inspired deco? Sign me up. Teal and purple would look absolutely incredible on this sculpt.

If it already looks this good in traditional Soundwave colors, imagine what it could do with a truly aquatic color scheme.

I literally cannot stop gushing about this guy...

...which, for a sea monster submarine named Soundwave, is pretty remarkable.

Rodan's Right Wing

I've mentioned before that Shogun Warriors was something of a foundational toy line for me. While I was far too young to fully appreciate the toys at the time, I absolutely loved the ones I had. I had no clue who Dragun or Poseidon were, but those little Shogun Warriors figures went on more adventures than I could ever count.

Towering over them all, however, were Shogun Warriors Godzilla and Rodan. These enormous toys seemed practically to scale with my other action figures, and to a little kid they felt absolutely gigantic.

Admittedly, this is one of those memories that pops into my head several times a year and probably means a lot more to me than it would to most people.

Most people know that the Shogun Warriors toys were based on molds originally produced by Bandai/Popy in Japan. Godzilla and Rodan were released under the "World's Greatest Monsters" sub-line as an expansion of the series. Godzilla was a modified version of an existing Japanese release, but Rodan was an original creation made specifically for the American line. Between that and the toy's rather fragile construction, an original Rodan commands a small fortune today.

Back then, though...

He was just my giant Rodan.

Rodan stood about 13½ inches tall with an incredible 38-inch wingspan.

Yes...

His wingspan was roughly my height.

His big play feature was those massive flapping wings. You'd grip him by the holes in his back—almost like holding a bowling ball—and shake him up and down to make his wings flap.

I'm sure that was a very pleasant breeze for everyone else in the house during summer vacation.

Unfortunately, that wing mechanism relied on rubber bands inside the body that were known to break over time. Even worse, those huge rigid plastic wings had a tendency to crack under their own weight.

Mine did.

Rodan's right wing developed a crack that ran about three-quarters of the way down from the base.

I refused to give up on him.

Rodan received the finest medical care a small child with very little understanding of engineering—and parents who believed in do-it-yourself repairs whether they were good at them or not—could possibly provide.

Electrical tape.

Duct tape.

Super glue.

Lots of super glue.

Did the repairs hold?

Not for long...

...but they held long enough.

DAMMIT, RODAN! I'M NOT GIVING UP ON YOU!

Unfortunately...

My parents did.

During our move from Statesboro, Georgia, to Jonesboro, Georgia...

Rodan disappeared.

Where does a giant bird toy go?

Into the trash while the kid isn't looking.

In the chaos of moving, the mighty Rodan was ultimately defeated by two exhausted parents trying to pack a house.

Time, of course, moved on.

I accumulated other Rodan toys over the years, but I never forgot that one.

Then, around 2019, while walking around Toylanta taking pictures of various toys for the site, I spotted one.

A dealer had a complete Shogun Warriors Rodan still in the box, laid out so you could see every piece.

I just stood there for a while.

It felt like visiting an old friend.

Naturally, pictures of it ended up on my social media.

Not long afterward, my mom called.

She asked if I still had "that Rodan toy."

I reminded her that they had thrown it away.

Naturally, she immediately threw my dad under the bus before asking why I hadn't just bought the one I'd photographed.

I told her it was around $1,500.

She thought I'd said $15.

After a few rounds of what basically became Who's on First?, she finally realized what I'd actually said.

The noise she made sounded like a cross between Scooby-Doo and the brakes on a worn-out 1987 Ford Taurus.

Later that year, Godzilla: King of the Monsters hit theaters, along with a whole assortment of new kaiju toys.

She ended up getting me the large Rodan figure for Christmas.

These days, an original Shogun Warriors Rodan is even more expensive than it was back then. Thankfully, Super7 released a wonderful reproduction as part of their ReAction line, which the Mrs. got me for Christmas one year.

That Rodan now sits alongside the matching Shogun Warriors Godzilla reproduction in a special place in my heart.

No duct tape required.

Airachnid and Energon Surge Off Road Bumblebee [Cyberworld/Armored Cyber Changers and Cyber Changers]

@robfromzonebase Airachnid [Transformers Cyberworld/Armored Cyber Changers] There's lots of spiders in Transformers and this one has a little Convertors evergy (that's a good thing). #zonebase #cyberchangers #hasbro #cyberchangers #cyberworld ♬ Children of the Night - NECRONOMIDOL

It felt so good to finally get my hands on an Airachnid Armored Cyber Changer after chasing one for what felt like forever. She was the last of the "Season 1" Transformers Cyberworld toys I needed on my quest to complete the line and blog the entire thing here on Zone Base.

Airachnid (no, she's not Black Arachnia) makes sporadic appearances toward the end of the first season in a role that isn't entirely villainous for a Decepticon. One of the things I really enjoy about Cyberworld is that the line in the sand isn't always clearly drawn. Considering the episodes only run about five to ten minutes, they could have easily just been nonstop action scenes. Instead, they're surprisingly competent little cartoons.

This version of Airachnid is also quite a bit different from her previous incarnations. In Transformers Prime she was an extremely villainous schemer, while in Transformers One she served as Sentinel Prime's sneering right-hand enforcer and leader of the Death Trackers. There's an ongoing rumor that this version was originally intended to be Crasher from GoBots. Whether that's true or not, who knows? It's a fun coincidence considering how often I compare Cyber Changers to Machine Robo toys anyway. Here, Airachnid is more of a scientist and actually helps the Autobots probe Optimus Prime's memories in an effort to better understand the Cyberworld and why they've all ended up there... which naturally leads to more drama.

As a toy, Airachnid shares her engineering with Chop Shop, although nearly all of the sculpting appears to be unique. Being an Armored Cyber Changer, she also comes with the oversized MechTech-style weapon/armor thing that Chop Shop included.

Interestingly, Airachnid already has an upcoming Energon Surge version that features an entirely different weapon/armor thing. Combined with the fact that its product number is actually lower than the standard release we're looking at today, it's led to speculation that this version may have been rushed into the original assortment while the intended accessories were still being finalized. Since Airachnid was the only new figure in her wave before later being repacked, the theory isn't impossible.

If nothing else, it's fun to speculate.

As her name suggests, Airachnid transforms into a spider, and that beast mode influences nearly every aspect of her robot design. It makes for a wonderfully creepy-looking robot, making her a perfect Spooky Beast Summer entry.

Despite the inherent simplicity of Cyber Changers, she has a ton of personality. Like every other Cyber Changer, she shares the standard size and articulation, but thanks to her spider mode she has a completely different silhouette. The spider legs remain attached to her arms and even swivel slightly, adding just a little extra articulation.

One particularly fun accessory is the pair of front spider legs with an integrated chain gun. They can either attach at her navel or be held awkwardly as a handheld weapon. Transformation is exactly what you'd expect from the line—quick, easy, and largely handled through the auto-morphing gimmick.

Spider mode is fantastic. The colors work really well, and I especially like those front legs with the chain gun.

Of course, Cyber Changers constantly make me think about older toy lines. Airachnid immediately reminds me of an early Beast Wars Basic figure, while her shared engineering with Chop Shop still brings Creepy from GoBots to mind. Honestly, I'd love to see this mold repainted into the old Happy Meal Transmetal Black Arachnia. The sculpt is surprisingly close, especially with the spider legs hanging from her arms.

Then my brain starts wandering.

The spider mode makes me think of Armored Insect Corps Beetras. The colors remind me of Convertors. I also keep comparing her to Phobia from Zoids Wild. If I hadn't just moved and packed Phobia away, I'd have loved to photograph the two of them together.

Phobia would've been a great name for this toy.

@robfromzonebase Bumblebee (Off-Road) [Transformers Cyberworld Energon Surge/Cyber Changers] My quest to blog all the Cyberworld continues with the slightly Microman vibed Energon Surge series. #zonebase #transformers #cyberworld #hasbro #cyberchangers ♬ CORNDOG! - RinRin

Of course, as the title says, we're also talking about Energon Surge Off Road Bumblebee.

This is my first Energon Surge figure, and I absolutely love him.

It's pretty obvious this is simply the Off Road Bumblebee Cyber Changer I reviewed previously with a slightly different color layout, so I'll link to that review for anyone wanting a more detailed look. Since I'm trying to blog the entire Cyberworld line, though, I still wanted to cover the differences here. Because.

Thankfully, these toys are inexpensive, so buying another version of a figure I already own doesn't bother me. It comes with the territory. 

The biggest and most obvious difference is that translucent blue torso, which immediately makes me compare Cyberworld to Microman and Micronauts even more than I already do. There's also a bit of glow-in-the-dark paint on his shoulders.

When an Energon Surge figure is connected to the Power Spark Bumblebee, the electronics light up. That light charges the glow-in-the-dark paint, causing it to glow afterward. It's a really fun little play feature.

Obviously, it's a gimmick designed for kids.

What's funny is just how many adult Transformers fans have embraced Cyberworld anyway, despite there already being countless collector-focused lines aimed directly at us.

I think that just goes to show what the right combination of affordability and fun can accomplish.

Optimus Primal [Cyberworld/Cyber Changers]

@robfromzonebase Optimus Primal (Cyberworld/Cyber Changers) #zonebase #transformers #cyberworld #hasbro #takaratomy ♬ SATORi SEDAi - NEON ONI

It feels a little poetic to be talking about a Cyberworld toy during Beast Summer. Beast Summer originally began back in 2023 with the release of *Rise of the Beasts* and a heavy focus on the Beast Alliance toys. I loved Beast Alliance and repeated over and over that I wished it would continue beyond the movie tie-in line.

Well...

Cyberworld arrived in 2025 and feels very much like the spiritual successor to Beast Alliance. It has similarly sized figures and that same fun spirit. If only it had Battle Changers too... but maybe eventually. I've pointed out those familiar connection ports all over the Cyber Changer figures several times already.

Today we're looking at the Optimus Primal Cyber Changer, a figure that really hits home for me. It's a perfect Cyber Changer and a wonderful example of what makes Cyberworld so much fun.

But first, let's address the obvious.

Optimus Primal usually transforms into a gorilla (with the occasional exception... I still love that bat toy), and one of the oldest Beast Wars fandom jokes was "Truck, not monkey," poking fun at G1 purists who couldn't accept Optimus Prime becoming a gorilla.

So naturally...

Here's an Optimus Primal that turns into a truck.

Now, Primal has had vehicle modes before, including another truck, but since this is a widely available mainline toy, it's getting plenty of attention for exactly that reason.

Honestly...

I find it hilarious.

Outside of that conversation is one fabulous little toy. Optimus transforms into a Cybertronian armored carrier that's reminiscent of a Lenco BearCat. Which, funnily enough, gives a beast of a truck a beastly owner. It really suits a powerhouse like Optimus Primal.

Transformation is a simple auto-morph. Click his feet together and push upward, allowing his thighs to slide into the torso while the upper body folds neatly into place. It's quick, satisfying, and results in a really solid vehicle mode.

I do think it would benefit from some extra accessories. Battle Changers or the armor parts from the Armored Cyber Changers would really add a lot to it. It's the kind of vehicle that just begs for extra equipment.

Robot mode is just plain fun. Optimus is stocky, blocky, and wonderfully chunky. Thanks to his colors and overall shape, he still immediately feels like Optimus Primal despite the completely different alternate mode.

Being a Cyber Changer, he follows the class's unified design philosophy, which I've found myself oddly enjoying. Articulation is at the shoulders, hips, and knees, and the similar silhouettes across the line allow them to interact with larger Cyberworld toys and their various gimmicks.

If Action Masters were the G.I. Joe-ification of Transformers, Cyber Changers almost feel like the transforming equivalent of that idea.

The only real nitpick I have is that I wish his thighs were just a little thicker. It's a side effect of the transformation, but on such a broad, beefy design they stand out just a bit more than I'd like.

Speaking of the design, Takara Tomy doesn't appear to be involved with Cyberworld. I've often pointed out similarities to older Transformers with this line, but one comparison that keeps coming back to me is Gobots and Machine Robo. The proportions, articulation, and overall silhouette feel remarkably similar, even if these are a bit larger.

Just like the Hot Wheels x Transformers line, I can't help but wonder if PLEX might have been involved. PLEX has designed Machine Robo toys for Bandai and has worked with Mattel in the past. Now that Hasbro and Mattel have been collaborating more often, it doesn't seem completely out of the realm of possibility.

That's purely speculation on my part...

But it makes sense in my head.

I know another Optimus Primal repaint is already on the way using this mold, but seeing how Cyberworld likes to reuse engineering, I'm already looking forward to seeing what else comes from it.

Personally?

I'd love to see Demolishor using this body, specifically his *Transformers: Energon* design. Even if they didn't make him a dump truck, I think the overall shape is close enough to make it work.

It's been too long since I've taken a look at a Cyberworld toy here on the site and, with my goal of covering the entire line, I'm happy to finally be adding more of them to Beast Summer.

Optimus Primal is a fantastic addition to Cyberworld...

And I just really like him.

Beast Man [Masters of the Universe]

@robfromzonebase Beast Man (Masters of The Universe/Core Class) #zonebase #mastersoftheuniverse #toys #mattel #evilwarriors ♬ Ceremony - Holy Wars

I really liked the new Masters of the Universe movie and, of the many things I enjoyed about it, Beast Man was definitely one of them. Like much of the film, he stayed very true to his classic incarnation. He wasn't quite the buffoon he often became in the old cartoon (okay... maybe just a little), but he definitely felt like the genuine threat he was in those original mini-comics.

Like I've said before, Beast Man was actually one of my very first MOTU toys, even before I got He-Man and Skeletor, so I've always been a little attached to the character.

Once again, we're looking at one of the new Core Class figures and, just like the others, it's surprisingly impressive.

For what's essentially the budget line, Beast Man has a really solid amount of articulation. It's obviously not on the level of a more premium figure, but it's far better than you'd expect at this price point.

Part of me wonders if Mattel is sharing CAD work with some of their other lines to help keep costs down because Beast Man genuinely looks like he should cost more than he does.

His sculpt and paint applications are excellent.

Honestly...

He looks so good that I still have a hard time accepting he's a Core Class figure.

This is the sort of quality I'd have expected from one of the old McFarlane Spawn figures back in the early 2000s, only with much nicer plastic.

Of course, Beast Man comes with his traditional whip. Oddly enough, I appreciate that accessory much more as an adult than I ever did as a kid. Part of that is because the original toy's whip wasn't exactly the greatest, but it's also because I've come to appreciate how well it fits the character.

After all, Beast Man's real power is his ability to telepathically control animals. The whip almost feels less like a weapon and more like a tool for someone who regularly wrangles wild beasts... probably not very kindly.

This is one of those figures that completely surprises you with just how good it is. If the rest of the Core Class line continues at this level, I think Mattel has a real winner on their hands.

Star Eagle [Transformers/Deluxe Class]

@robfromzonebase Star Eagle (Transformers/Deluxe Class) A Walmart Exclusive Transformers toy as part of the USA 250th Anniversary... yeah, seriously. Admittedly I'm really rusty at making these and trying to improve. Bare with me and please check out www.zonebase.org #zonebase #transformers #maximals #independenceday #deluxeclass ♬ PLAY BACK TV size (Theme Song of "KAMEN RIDER ZEZTZ") - YUTA

I love a good holiday-themed toy. A Transformers figure themed after the 4th of July? That's not the holiday I expected to see celebrated in Transformers toy form, but here we are with one commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States of America.

Even more out of left field is the fact that it's a Beast Wars toy.

Thematically, it's perfect. An eagle is an obvious choice. However, being that this is strictly branded as Transformers and not under any specific sub-line, I'm surprised it isn't some patriotic version of Optimus Prime. I'm certainly not complaining, as you all know how much I love Beast Wars, and it's a brand-new character to boot!

Not to mention, while it's very hard to completely enjoy summer here in the American South (it's so VERY hot), I do enjoy it to a point. A nice swim in the pool, fireflies in the evening, walking around in flip-flops and shorts while enjoying ice cream, watching fireworks...

Hey... 

Speaking of ice cream and fireworks, you know what another fun summer tradition is?

Bomb Pop flavored things.

The red, white, and blue combination of cherry, lime, and blue raspberry is everywhere this time of year. Some are so popular they're available year-round, but they're especially abundant during summertime thanks to all the patriotic holidays. That's honestly what Star Eagle reminds me of more than anything else.

Yes, I know those are the colors of the American flag.

I know they're symbolic.

But all I see is a Bomb Pop robot and I'm all in for anything Bomb Pop.

Especially Bomb Pop Faygo. It is exquisite.

Speaking of Bomb Pops, I've got a pack of Bomb Pop scented Dude Wipes. They're called Poopsicle and smell amazing.

Star Eagle is a straight repaint of Kingdom Airazor, whom I've talked about here before. I've also covered Kingdom Skywarp and Legacy Filch, who are remolds and repaints of this same mold. It's probably safe to say by now that I enjoy this mold quite a bit. Feel free to visit those posts (I linked them!) for more conversation about things like the transformation and articulation.

For the 4th of July, however, I feel it's better to spend my time pointing out the more trivial aspects of the toy.

Not to mention, this is the sole post during a holiday week.

Hence talking about Bomb Pops so much.

It's seasonal.

How many times have I said Bomb Pop?

Bomb Pop.

So Star Eagle is a red, white, and blue version of the Legacy Airazor mold that looks pretty fantastic. I'm not completely sure of Star Eagle's intended gender and the toy doesn't seem to have much characterization at the moment. Personally, I like to imagine Star Eagle as a soldier utilized by the U.S. government as part of a partnership with the Transformers, or perhaps someone created using Cybertronian technology.

Sort of a Cybertronian Captain America.

That's the sort of backstory I could see Takara Tomy giving them in one of their awesome Transformers web manga stories.

Speaking of Beast Wars and Takara Tomy, the bulk of Star Eagle is blue. That immediately reminded me of Blue Bolts and Bound Rogue.

Blue Bolts is the current incarnation of Car Robots God Magnus/Robots in Disguise Ultra Magnus's ENORMOUS blue gun in the End of G1 Universe storyline from that same web manga I mentioned. In that story, Blue Bolts has been given a more traditional Transformers body and, in the storyline accompanying Dark Amber Leo Prime, Blue Bolts uses a blue variation of the Airazor/Skywarp design.

Bound Rogue is another Beast Wars repaint from the Robot Masters line that had a blue beast mode and a red face that's very similar to Star Eagle's red helmet crest.

It's a pretty nice look.

For whatever reason, up until my Star Eagle showed up, I thought its name was Star Bird, which would have been super fitting. It also gave me hope that Hasbro had the name Star Bird available in case they wanted to bring that toy line back, and part of me was honestly giddy about that idea.

Star Eagle is exclusive to Walmart alongside other patriotic-themed Hasbro toys. The box looks very similar to a modern Generations package, though without any specific line branding. Just Transformers with some fun stars decorating the packaging.

I'm not sure if it'll be sold outside the United States or not.

Funnily enough, Star Eagle is supposed to transform into an eagle.

Hence the name.

However...

Since it's a straight repaint of Airazor...

It's actually a falcon painted like an eagle.

A blue eagle.

To be fair, at first glance it absolutely looks like a blue eagle and works perfectly fine. But the closer you look, the more obvious it becomes that it's still a falcon underneath. It's been pointed out that Hasbro could have used the Skywarp version of the mold since it actually turns into an eagle.

Though I admit, Airazor's robot head with these colors really does give off Captain America vibes, so I assume that's why they went with it.

The falcon pretending to be an eagle isn't a huge issue.

But it is pretty funny.

The toy is normally sold alongside the other patriotic items in Walmart's seasonal section, but I ended up ordering mine because my local store only had the hilarious Furby and Nerf blasters. Of course the section was also packed with fireworks, festive decorations, and those obnoxious Budweiser American flag cowboy hats they sell every year despite me never actually seeing anyone wear one.

Just like with Cyberworld Optimus Primal, which I also ordered, I kind of wish I'd opted for drone delivery so my new neighbors could have heard my toys arriving.

Hi.

I'm new to the neighborhood.

And I bought something stupid.

This is also the first post in a small change to my posting style. I'm experimenting with short-form videos instead of using static pictures. I actually enjoy making videos and fell out of the habit years ago. I'm pretty rusty and relearning things as I go, so please bear with me while I knock the rust off.

This is also the first post in this year's return of Beast Summer.

While writing Summer of Swapticons last month, I noticed just how many Beast Wars characters appeared in that line and realized something:

Summer of Swapticons was inspired by Beast Summer from 2023.

So...

What if Beast Summer returned?

Also, I just really like beast warriors.

And it's the 30th anniversary of Beast Wars.

Between Beast Summer, Spooky Summer, and all the other seasonal nonsense I get into around here, I think it's pretty obvious that I enjoy making summer special on Zone Base.

I hope you all enjoy it too because I have a lot of fun doing these kinds of things.

Of course, being a holiday week, things are a little abbreviated around the site, but I'll be back to my normal posting schedule next week.

Thank you all for reading Zone Base.

Please share the site with your friends and be excellent to each other.