Galvatron

"My power is everything; defeat is absurd!"

Galvatron is a cold-hearted robotic villain. Determined to lead the Decepticons. Possesses enough strength to pulverize an Autobot into scrap metal. Unconquerable. Arrogant and compassionless. Plots against his allies, thus weakening his position. In robot mode, he carries a laser that emits chemically-produced, direct-current electricity.

STRENGTH

9.5

INTELLIGENCE

8.5

SPEED

9

ENDURANCE

10

RANK

9

COURAGE

9

FIREPOWER

9

SKILL

10

OVERALL

74

Click the image above to see the alt mode, or view more photos here
First Appearances

First/Last Comic Appearance (US) - Issue 43, August 1988
First/Last Comic Appearance (UK) - Issue 78, September 13th 1986 / Issue 205, February 18th 1989
First/Last Cartoon Appearance - The Transformers: The Movie, August 8th 1986 / Episode 98 (Season 4 #3), November 11th 1987
First Toy Appearance - 1986

Click here to see Figure Details and review

Figure Details

AKA 'Maniaking' Manufacturer - Unique Toys
Toyline -

Additions/Mods:
- Added a Decepticon symbol to the chest
- Added a Decepticon symbol to the top of the cannon

Review

Galvatron. Basically Megatron on steroids, he has always been a favourite of mine. Looking like a robotic Jack Nicholson, this crazed despot's finest hour was standing defiantly, half his face missing, as a rift in space and time tore him into little pieces. It was a fitting end to a character who became more unhinged over time. Driven half-crazed by Unicron's relentless control, I have always loved Galvatron. It's a shame then that Hasbro have seen fit to honour one of the finest characters in Transformers history with an abhorrent figure. So, what to do about this. Well, so far, 3rd parties have been woefully silent on producing their own version of the big guy, so my only other recourse was to look at other lines, for any suitable Galvatron homage. Luckily for me, Takara produced a smaller version of a leader-class Megatron from the Energon series, in G1 Galvatron colours! So I got this, and no sooner than I did, at rather great expense, Unique Toys announced their intentions to make a 'proper' Galvatron! But would this relatively new 3rd party with a patchy track record be able to pull it off?


Appearance (Robot Mode) 9/10
Yes, this is a real figure and not a figment of your imagination, or a cruelly-believable CG mockup. This figure really does exist and can even be purchased at a reasonable (for 3rd parties) price. This figure could almost be lifted from the screen where it not for some stylistic divergences on Unique Toy's part. This is indisputably Galvatron, but his aesthetic leans slightly towards 'Fall of Cybertron' but it still works with G1-styled figures as well. The colour scheme has caused some controversy - not the purple which is pretty much bang-on, but the white areas, many feel should be grey. I don't care too much but I do see their point in terms of greater screen accuracy. The headsculpt is great, quite a neutral expression but the piercing eyes really evoke a sense of menace, framed and accentuated as they are by well-applied black 'eyeliner'. In fact the decent paint is repeated all over this figure - there are no iffy apps whatsoever. The plastic itself is not the best I have seen, but it does have a very cool sheen to it. The other achievement of this figure is that the alt mode kibble is pretty much invisible. I am really pleased with the knees on this figure, which evoke the vicious-looking pads seen in the comics, particularly when someone like Geoff Senior was drawing him. The forearms look slightly bowed, and I'm not entirely convinced by how the cannon attaches to the forearm, but overall this exceeds any expectations I would have had. He also scales reasonably well with my United Megatron, although I would have preferred Galvatron to be about a centimeter taller.

Appearance (Alternate Mode) 9/10
It's a cannon! Hurrah! Finally, Galvatron has an authentic alternate mode. My only gripe is that there is no gun mode, although I'm sure you could approximate one if you really wanted to, with a bit of imagination. This is the biggest achievement of this figure - making 2 modes which were designed with animation in mind and not the practicalities of the real world and making them work together. There is almost zero kibble on display, with the notable exception of a head hanging from the underbelly of the gun. This is a shame and is really the only thing stopping me giving this cannon a 10. Again, we have some decent paint apps and an overall coherence which is impressive. this could have been a areal mess, but Unique Toys have pulled it off.


Transformation 8/10
Ooh, this is fun. Firstly, the crotch plate has to be moved up and away from the groin area, and the upper leg joiunts are folded to a 'sitting' position. The feet are folded back over in an ankle-breaking move and flipped out of the way. Then the legs split open at the shin, with the halves folded back. The lower leg then pulls out from the knee, allowing it to swivel and be positioned back over the upper leg. The various panels then click back together to form the large cylindrical section. The front of the arm cannon is removed and connected to the cylinder, forming the barrel. Then the whole torso is folded back on itself, with the head and chest plate rotating and stowing underneath the cannon. The shoulder sections rotate outwards and become the 'legs' for the gun platform, and the 'feet' are unfolded from these pieces. Finally the strange shape of the forearms is revealed, as they split and form the rear of the cannon, once they are joined together. The back leg is unfolded and finally the front of the arm cannon is slotted into place on top of the newly-configured arms. It is scary the first time, but afterwards, it really becomes enjoyable.

Poseability 7/10
This figure has come in for some criticism in this respect, and I agree to an extent. In terms of articulation, there is a ball-jointed head, and a swivelled waist. Onto the shoulders and hips which both offer lateral and side-to-side movement. The upper legs can not be moved backwards though, because there is plastic blocking them. If you move the legs up to 90 degrees, then the crotch plate has to be moved out of the way which looks odd. There are hip 'guards' which move outwards if the hips are splayed. There is bicep and thigh swivel respectively, as well as decent knee and elbow joints. Onto the major issue with this figure which is firstly the orientation of the wrist and secondly the lack of any wrist joint. Basically Galvatron looks like his is curling weights constantly which is a very unusual placement but seemingly necessary for the transformation. His hands can open and close. Also he has some articulation in his feet. He can balance and pose well otherwise, with the aforementioned limitations excepted.


Quality 7/10
As I said, all of the paint is wonderful and the plastic has a lovely sheen to it, but it does feel a bit flimsier than some other offerings I have seen. My major issue though is the head, which has extremely delicate spikes on the crown. Usually that would be ok, of the head was stored somewhere in either mode, but it is not. It hangs right down in cannon mode, and is also relatively exposed in robot mode. My fear being that the spikes will snag on something and break off. I guess I really wish that the head was protected better in alternate mode. Although the box this guy comes with is very high quality and the foam inserts protect him well enough. It's just a bit impractical for how I store my figures.

Overall - 40/50
I finally own a Galvatron that I do not despise with every fiber of my being, and in addition I actually really like! Someone had to do this figure justice and respect to Unique Toys for putting their heads above the parapet. Despite the minor issues I have with the articulation and plastic quality, it is by far the best option available. If you have any affection for this maniacal, despotic Decepticon then I implore you to buy this figure now!

Grimlock

"Among the winners, there is no room for the weak."

Most fearsome and powerful Dinobot. Although dedicated to the Autobot cause, resents authority. Cold merciless, but a valiant warrior. Has contempt for the weak, including all humans. Great strength, uses jaws to break almost anything in two. Carries energo sword and galaxial rocket launcher in Dinobot mode. Other than arrogance and lack of speed, has no real weakness.

STRENGTH

10

INTELLIGENCE

7

SPEED

3

ENDURANCE

10

RANK

9

COURAGE

10

FIREPOWER

8

SKILL

10

OVERALL

67

Click the image above to see the alt mode, or view more photos here
First Appearances

First/Last Comic Appearance (US) - Issue 4, March 1985 / Issue 80, July 1991
First/Last Comic Appearance (UK) - Issue 29, October 5th 1985 / Issue 289, September 29th 1990
First/Last Cartoon Appearance - Episode 8 (Season 1 #8), October 27th 1984 / Episode 91 (Season 3 #26), November 18th 1986
First Toy Appearance - 1985

Click here to see Figure Details and review

Figure Details

Manufacturer - Hasbro
Toyline - Fall Of Cybertron

Additions/Mods:
- Added an Autobot symbol to the chest, covering the tampographed 'dinobot' symbol
- Added an Autobot symbol to the t-rex head, covering the tampographed one
- Added the FansProject G3 Trailer weapon
- Added the Iron Factory Chest filler upgrade

Review

"Me Grimlock smash Hasbro Building!" Is what Grimlock would say if he ever saw the state of his 'classics' incarnation. This truly awful specimen is probably the low point of the entire Classics line and its successors. It was the case that the only alternative was the beautiful but slightly too big Masterpiece figure. That was until Hasbro released a voyager-class Grimlock within their 'Fall Of Cybertron' line. But would this do Grimlock justice, or would it be flimsy and insubstantial as with some of the other FOC figures?


Appearance (Robot Mode) 7/10
I finally got sick of looking at the terrible Classics Grimlock, and as soon as this version arrived I melted him in my waffle iron. I can tell you that this figure is a major improvement! Early pictures of this figure had me very worried, but I must say that in hand, this figure is quite a lot nicer than those early photos led me to believe. The headsculpt is impressive, and the broad chest and shoulders give hime a very powerful look. The silver plastic is quite nice, but I'm not a fan of the pale gold, which looks washed out in my opinion. My biggest worry with this figure was gappiness, but actually it ain't too bad. The lower legs are hollow at the back but are kind of filled in by the tail tips. The back of the torso is completely hollow but reasonably filled in by the dinosaur neck and head. Also the addition of the Iron Factory filler makes the back slightly more complete with 'wings' which can evoke the G1 appearance if you wish. Compared to other figures on the FOC line, this feels very substantial. Size wise, He is about the same height as United Megatron, albeit lighter, so scales very well with Optimus Prime, being slightly taller than him. I also augmented the figure with a FansProject sword, which looks nice and shiny.

Appearance (Alternate Mode) 7/10
I'm not a major fan of this mode, which is a massive step backwards from the Masterpiece version, but it is still a lot nicer than the 'Classics' version. That thick tail will annoy you from certain angles, I won't lie. The hollowness was a major problem in Dino mode, with there being obvious voids from the neck all the way down to the baby maker. Unfortunately because this approximates an old-skool T-Rex, the 'chest' area is on full display. Thankfully, Iron Factory have produced a very decent filler which plugs in snugly and does not need to be removed. Also, they have done a great job in matching up the paint and plastic colour of the main figure - so much so that you do not notice this is a 3rd-party add-on at all. The light-up gimmick works impressively, but I feel that the surrounding plastic needed to be thicker to accentuate the effect, seeing as in dinosaur mode the entire head lights up like a Christmas tree. Also, it is a shame that the mouth cannot be posed 'open' - you have to pull the trigger or prop the mouth open with something, as I elected to do.


Transformation 8/10
The transformation is fun, with some elements which invoke the G1 figure. The dinosaur head and shoulders flip back to reveal the robot head, which is similar to the original, the main difference being that the shoulders do not split in two to form the distinctive 'wings' in robot mode. The tail splits apart to reveal the (not very well-disguised) legs. The bottom of the tail folds into each lower leg. Lastly, the fists fold out from the legs, giving the robot mode a very G1 feel in this area.

Poseability 8/10
The articulation is very good, with a ball-jointed head (although his chin prevents much downwards movement) good movement at the shoulder, wrist swivel, elbow joints, bicep swivel, decent hip articulation, thigh swivel, knee joints. No waist swivel though. Because of the transformation, the arms can also be posed inwardly or outwardly at the shoulder. Most of the joints are like little cogs, and these will obviously wear down with excessive use - a poor man's ratchet joint. Surprisingly this figure balances well, despite hollow heels and some back kibble.


Quality 6/10
Nothing feels immediately problematic on this mould, but the quality of plastic certainly feels lesser when compared with other figures in my collection. Also, those crappy ratchet-like joints are very tight and every time you move them it is akin to stripping the plastic cogs they hinge on. So I wouldn't like to say what the long-term prognosis for this figure is.

Overall - 36/50
I know a lot of people will consider using this figure in their 'classics' lineup. does it work? For me, it does, I stuck Reprolabels over the dinobot insignia and it looks pretty good. He scales very well with classics Voyager Prime in robot mode. Aesthetically, you can get away with it - it's not as jarring as trying to incorporate a Movieverse figure into your collection. So in summary better than I thought. As a stand alone figure people will definitely like this, and I feel that if you wanted to display this figure in your 'classics' collection in robot mode, he is a better fit in your collection than any other Grimlock out there. But if you prefer to display Grimmy as a dino, then it is MP all the way.

Motormaster

"These wheels are made for crushing."

No one on the road is colder and crueler. Shows no mercy to Autobots who happen to be on the highway with him. Seeks to destroy Optimus Prime so he can claim to be "King of the Road". Can survive a collision with anyone, except Optimus Prime. Reaches a top speed of 140mph and can shatter a 20-foot concrete block. Uses a 400mph wind producing cyclone gun. Forms robot "Menasor" with fellow Stunticons.

STRENGTH

9

INTELLIGENCE

6

SPEED

5

ENDURANCE

10

RANK

7

COURAGE

9

FIREPOWER

7

SKILL

4

OVERALL

57

Click the image above to see the alt mode, or view more photos here
First Appearances

First/Last Comic Appearance (US) - Issue 22, November 1986 / Issue 41, June 1988
First/Last Comic Appearance (UK) - Issue 63, May 31st 1986 / Issue 289, September 29th 1990
First/Last Cartoon Appearance - Episode 56 (Season 2 #40), November 25th 1985 / Episode 94 (Season 3 #29), february 24th 1987
First Toy Appearance - 1986

Click here to see Figure Details and review

Figure Details

AKA 'Diesel'
Manufacturer - FansProject
Toyline - Causality

Additions/Mods:
- Added a Decepticon symbol to the chest
- Added Decepticon symbols to the trailer

Review

Way before my Nemesis Prime obsession begun, there were 2 Decepticons who for me were the first 'black repaints'. One of which was Skywarp, and the other was Motormaster. Now strictly speaking Motormaster wasn't a repaint at all but his resemblance to Optimus prime may have paved the way for RID Scourge and all of those other cool black primes. The Stunticons in general were an anomaly, as they were all wheeled vehicles - something rare in the Decepticon ranks back then, when all of the sporty cars and trucks were the provisio of the Autobots. I remember thinking how cool Motormaster looked - rendered immediately more badass than Optimus Prime by virtue of his 'evil' colour scheme. My interest was always in whether Motormaster could defeat Optimus Prime, and this question came to be answered in the cartoon, where the slightly unhinged Decepticon engaged Optimus Prime in a game of 'chicken'. Of course, Motormaster was utterly defeated, humiliated even, as his whole alt mode collapsed like a concertina. Optimus sailed through him like he wasn't even there. This was an iconic moment for me in the cartoon. The anarchist in me wanted Motormaster to win, and there was something primally satisfying to me about that whole scene. For years, I waited to be able to recreate this classic moment with my camera, but a Motormaster was not forthcoming. Then Hasbro provided us with the awful legends-class Motorbreath, and reminded us all why third parties have a necessary place in so many of our collections. It was ultimately left to FansProject to deliver something that Hasbro either couldn't or didn't want to - a Motormaster worthy of taking on Henkei Prime.


Appearance (Robot Mode) 7/10
I will come right out and say that I'm not a fan of FansProject headsculpts - I find them to either lack definition, or be utterly uninspiring. This figure is no exception and feel rather characterless to me. His expression is very blank and if you squint he looks like he is wearing a babies bonnet. However, for me, this character was always about the alt mode, and the ability to combine into Menasor. I don't want to convey this as a rubbish standalone robot mode because it is far from that. This figure is large, and well-proportioned. The lower legs in particular really pop. His arms are slightly less successful, having a fair amount of kibble on the forearm, and looking slightly awkward at the shoulder. He can wield a choice of weapons - you can either use the trailer doors folded over and equip him with matching shotguns, or you can combine these along with other parts to form a rather impressive rifle. The paint apps he has are very well applied, his expanses of charcoal grey are punctuated by accents of purple and yellow. He is very coherent and neat, but overall slightly underwhelms me. He also has a daft mode which allows you to use every part of the trailer and basically stick it on him. Frankly, it is a mess and not worth doing, for the amount of time and frustration it imposes.

Appearance (Alternate Mode) 9/10
I am an absolute sucker for trucks with trailers so it would take a monumental screw-up from FansProject for me not to like this. I am glad to report that this is not the case, and this alt mode is very successful. The detailing on the cab section is great, with well-applied paint apps. The trailer is a little 'busy' in terms of the amount of panels which separate out, but nothing compared to the unmitigated disaster of Universe Ironhide's alt mode. The back set of wheels are smaller than the front, but this does not detract form the overall aesthetic. Scale-wise he is a fair bit smaller than Optimus Prime with the G3 trailer, and cannot be displayed alongside. However, with the judicious use of angles and perspective, you can make them look more or less the same size. Which is exactly what I did so I could finally capture the photo I wanted. The paint apps on the trailer are not the consistent line of the old toy, but then FansProject had to assure symmetry. I think that my addition of Decepticon symbols really help to make the whole thing more coherent.


Transformation 7/10
The first couple of time you do this, you will be cursing to yourself, while nursing sore fingers, as you try to pry the various panels apart without incurring breakage. This figure is extremely tight and it takes a bit of manipulation to make the tabs and joints move more freely. After this, it becomes a bit easier although it must be noted that the instructions are not great. Basically, the whole back half of the trailer is removed and can be set aside, since it is not used. This is a very intelligent piece of design by FansProject, who have managed to incorporate all of the combiner kibble into this trailer section. The doors are removed to form the aforementioned guns. I usually attempt to explain most aspects of the transformation but for this figure I would have to write a small essay. So I'll leave it at this - follow the instructions, look at Youtube videos and be extremely patient. Look out particularly for the small joint which holds the torso to the waist - it is very flimsy and very stiff. Exercise extreme caution when moving it, grab the actual joint rather than attempting to swivel the piece around by holding the torso.

Poseability 7/10
Unfortunately this figure sacrifices some articulation for the greater good, which is making sure that Menasor is as phenomenally badass as possible. His neck is ball-jointed, although the joint is very small. The waist has a very stiff ratchet swivel. The shoulder and hip joints offer lateral and side-to-side movement, with the hips on very strong ratchets. The shoulders have a tendency to move forward, as they have a secondary joint intended for transformation, so you may find yourself holding these in place as you move the shoulder. There is thigh swivel but bicep swivel is almost impossible, you can move the combiner pegs out of the way to allow some movement (which looks awful) but then the kibble on the back of the upper arm conspires to get in the way. The elbows are basically double-jointed, and the knees offer a good range of movement, you may just have to hold the surrounding parts in place as they have a tendency to pop out of transformation before the stiff knee joint gives way. The wrists are on a swivel and the feet are ball-jointed, however they have tabs which collide with the windscreen area and limit posing potential slightly. This figure has decent balance, however.


Quality 6/10
I'm really in two minds about this particular aspect of the figure. On the one hand, you have an extremely complex, well-engineered, impeccably painted masterpiece with incredibly strong joints in the hip and waist region, required for the stresses manipulating the combiner introduce. On the other, there are some joints and tabs which are so scary to manipulate, you never feel you are too far away from a dreaded stress mark or a break altogether. I might be unfair in my appraisal of this, as I have noticed some joints loosening up after some use. Just be extremely careful and take your time with this figure. I allowed myself 2 hours to transform this figure between all available modes.

Overall - 36/50
This is a flawed, but utterly essential figure. You obviously have to get it if you have any intention of getting yourself a Menasor, and the primary consideration of this figure is how well it performs this task. I can tell you that it performs it extremely well, but that will be covered in my Menasor review. This figure is ultimately an incredible achievement, being that the Motormaster mode was always going to be secondary to the combined mode we still have a decent base figure. Compare this to the horrible messes of Hasbro's combiner torso figures - Silverbolt and Onslaught - and this only emphasises just how good FansProject are.

Omega Supreme

"Unyielding resolve has no conqueror."

The ultimate defensive force. Great strength, even greater courage. Serious, even grim... last line of Autobot defense. Protects the Ark and all else vital to his cause. As robot, can shatter a mountainside, lift 300,000 tons with clawed arm, destroy 12' steel cube with plasma blaster arm... has head-mounted laser cannon. Can transform to laser cannon tank and launching pad with rocket. Rocket can achieve planetary orbit.

STRENGTH

10

INTELLIGENCE

5

SPEED

3

ENDURANCE

10

RANK

7

COURAGE

10

FIREPOWER

10

SKILL

6

OVERALL

61

Click the image above to see the alt mode, or view more photos here
First Appearances

First/Last Comic Appearance (US) - Issue 14, March 1986 / Issue 50, March 1989
First/Last Comic Appearance (UK) -
First/Last Cartoon Appearance - Episode 39 (Season 2 #23), October 23rd 1985 / Episode 85 (Season 3 #20), November 12th 1986
First Toy Appearance - 1985

Click here to see Figure Details and review

Figure Details

Manufacturer - Hasbro
Toyline - Platinum Edition

Additions/Mods:
- Added an Autobot symbol to the shoulder, covering the tampographed one

Review

Omega Supreme: Awesome. That was my esteemed opinion as a young chap despite the fact that the toy was derpy at best, with roughly 1,000 seperate parts to lose down the back of the sofa. In the cartoon, it would later transpire that he and Devastator had a rivalry spanning millions of years, which makes his absence from the Movie even more bizarre. Without Devastator being able to smash up Autobot city pretty much unopposed, would Optimus Prime have had to pay the ultimate sacrifice? This kept me awake at night after tearfully witnessing Prime's death back in 1985 - where was Omega Supreme? IDW later attempted to explain this absence in their Movie adaptation by pitting him and the 2 Autobot combiners up against Menasor and Bruticus. I make that 3 against 2, so that explanation is rubbish. Even in the UK comic, when Ultra Magnus was getting his butt kicked by Galvatron in Target:2006, Omega didn't appear, despite Magnus even discussing the use of him as a possibility. I have therefore decided that for all his strength, Omega Supreme is a bit of a coward. Despite this, I still leapt at the chance to buy this great retool of the Energon toy of the same name. And unlike the fictional character, at least the toy showed up when I needed him.


Appearance (Robot Mode) 8/10
The Chinese year of the snake has been the Transformers collector's gain with this quite ace retooling of Energon Omega Supreme. One change is the new head, which is no longer detachable but is frankly amazing. The face looks so good and is masked by the sheen of clear plastic which really evokes memories of the G1 figure. The light-up gimmick is gone, which I won't particularly miss but some might find this a shame. The major change, however, is the completely new 'claw' forearm, which is suitably impressive and upsized as if to resemble 'War For Cybertron' Omega Supreme. In fact the whole colour palette is reminiscent of the videogame character. Considering the quite loud paint scheme employed for the Energon toy, this paint job is remarkably coherent and understated. I do have 2 gripes though and they both center around the legs - The 'Omega Train' leg is too bright a red and I would have loved to see a more burgundy hue used, and the 'Omega Battleship' tower is black, when matching burgundy would have the more obvious choice. The copper highlights are fantastic though and really bring out the impressive amount of sculpted detail on this huge robot. I didn't mention how massive this figure is. He dwarfs Devastator and Bruticus with ease, and only Unicron is taller in my collection. He is also extremely barrel-chested, with huge arms which just evoke extreme power. 'Last line of defense' indeed.

Appearance (Alternate Mode) 7/10
First off, I am not going to complain about the various alt modes at your disposal too much when it comes to this figure, since the G1 original was pretty odd in this regard. The spirit of the original has been referenced here though because the alt mode comprises of 2 seperate entities - The Omega Train and the Omega Battleship. I really like the battleship because it is bristling with weaponry - the three turrets near to the bow rotate in unison which looks both impressive and menacing at the same time. There are also firing missiles on the largest gun, and then another gun to the stern. It's a slightly incongruous mode in the Transformers universe but I guess he can always hang out with Broadside. Then there is the Omega Train which is also pretty nice, were it not for the previously-mentioned bright red areas. There are 3 small cranes as well as the massive rear crane, which adds significantly to the play value of this toy. These 2 individual vehicles can be combined to form a mega-massive combined trousersnake train thingy but frankly I don't have room to photograph such a large object. There are also 3rd modes for the 2 sections, one being a crane and one being a weapons platform. Both of these kinda resemble Omega split in half and leaning over, which is appropriate because they are just that.


Transformation 6/10
Transforming this figure is pretty much the matter of bisecting the poor chap at the torso, which may come in handy if I decide that he and Bludgeon should have a fight. Other than this the legs and arms are moved about a bit, and that's pretty much it. For some reason Hasbro determine that this is an 'advanced' transformation - not sure if moving a few bits around justifies that categorisation. Oh yes and the head sinks into the surrounding plate and the whole thing is swivelled out of sight. Not necessarily a bad thing though, a bit of simplicity.

Poseability 6/10
I feel like this figure is missing some key articulation especially when they had such a large dude to work with. The head is on a swivel, there is no waist swivel though, which is pretty forgivable. There is front-to-back and side-to-side jointing in the shoulder, as well as elbow swivel and forearm rotation. The claw actually has 'knuckles' and is surprisingly poseable with the abilty to grip even small objects. The hips are articulated as per the shoulders, and the knees are jointed with lower leg swivel. So why the low mark? Because there is no bicep or thigh swivel. This severely limits poseability and is a real shame because the centre of gravity and other articulation have the potential to make this great.


Quality 9/10
This figure would probably become shelter for Cockroaches in the event of nuclear destruction. It is incredibly solid, in part due to its simplicity and also sheer mass. The plastic feels a world away from more recent Hasbro offerings and I'm sure could stand up to much battering at the hands of an overzealous child.

Overall - 36/50
This huge figure should be added without consideration to any collection, unless space is of a real concern. It really is an example of Hasbro maximising the potential of moulds from other lines and making them work perfectly with a few tweaks. This may be the best we can hope for in these austere times. I just hope that they do the same with their Unicron trilogy versions of Scorponok and Metroplex so there are a few more classic names ticked off the list. This is a great homage to an imposing (albeit cowardly, if you subscribe to my controversial beliefs) Autobot legend.

Optimus Prime

"Freedom is the right of all sentient beings."

Optimus Prime is the largest, strongest and wisest of all Autobots. Feels his role is the protection of all life, including Earth-life. Fights unceasingly to defeat the Decepticons. Splits into three autonomous modules: 1) Optimus Prime... the brain center known as the Commander; 2) Roller, the Autobot scout car... a spy who operates up to 1200 miles away; and 3) Autobot Headquarters... the combat deck equipped with a versatile mechanic/artillery robot. Injury to one module is felt by the other two.

STRENGTH

10

INTELLIGENCE

10

SPEED

8

ENDURANCE

10

RANK

10

COURAGE

10

FIREPOWER

8

SKILL

10

OVERALL

76

Click the image above to see the alt mode, or view more photos here
First Appearances

First/Last Comic Appearance (US) - Issue 1, September 1984 / Issue 80, July 1991
First/Last Comic Appearance (UK) - Issue 11, February 9th 1985 / Issue 281, August 4th 1990
First/Last Cartoon Appearance - Episode 1 (Season 1 #1), September 17th 1984 / Episode 98 (Season 4 #3), November 11th 1987
First Toy Appearance - 1984

Click here to see Figure Details and review

Figure Details

Manufacturer - Hasbro/Fansproject
Toyline - Classics

G3 Trailer by Fansproject

Additions/Mods:
- Added Autobot symbols to the cab
- Added Autobot symbols to the shoulders , covering the tampographed ones
- Added large Autobot symbols to the front of the trailer
- Added the ArtTek Designs Hero Rifle

Review

Optimus Prime. What hasn't been said about Optimus Prime by many other people in more eloquent ways than I am capable of? Not much. Everyone knows that he had a habit of dying quite a lot, that he was awesome, swatting aside Megatron on more occasions than the erstwhile Decepticon leader would care to remember. The rich timbre of Peter Cullen's voice, the way he descended into Autobot City and took out half the Decepticon army before Megatron sneakily killed him, the legendary game of chicken with Motormaster, the list goes on. Even Bumblebee is eclipsed by the amount of Optimus Prime figures available, and elicits far less hatred. Cut this chap in 2 and he would bleed Autobot. He was my favourite toy as a child. I wasn't allowed him until Christmas but I convinced my mum to let me wheel the damn box around because I was that desperate to play with him. I'm not a religious man. Where others ask 'what would Jesus do?' I ask the same of Optimus Prime. If I was gay and had a fetish for giant transforming robots then I would marry Optimus Prime and back Obama all the way. It's fair to say that I am fond of Optimus Prime. So it's fair to say that only the best figure would be fit to represent him in my own modern G1 universe. No pressure then!


Appearance (Robot Mode) 9/10
This is one of what must be hundreds of Optimus Prime toys that have been 'rolled out' since the inception of the Transformers. What I like about this particular mould is that it attempts to modernise Prime, while preserving his overall look. So while not a G1 carbon copy, it still epitomises the Autobot Leader. Despite being kibble heavy (half the cab just sits on his arms) I am a big fan. However, I was never a fan of some of the seemingly random yellow paint apps which were seen on the 'classics' version of the mould. This Henkei version is much cleaner, with more G1-inspired paint which gives the figure a cleaner, more minimal look. The arms are red all the way now, and the upper legs are silver as opposed to a mixture of blue and light grey - it just works so much better. One issue with the Henkei mould however is the darker tone of red used for some of the plastics - this causes a bit of a mismatch although the impact is minimal. Also, the Henkei version is resplendent in chrome across the bumper and grille. One thing I feel lets down this mould is the weaponry - it was very clever to have integrated weapons but I felt too much of a deviation from Prime's iconic rifle. So I plumped for this new version by ArtTek designs. The rifle is very good quality and really cements this as Optimus Prime proper.

Appearance (Alternate Mode) 10/10
I only give this a 10 because of the FansProject trailer, which is magnificent. An Optimus Prime without a trailer is like a Megatron that is not a gun - plain wrong. The trailer also opens up to reveal a modernised Roller, plus the 'repair bay' can be transformed to a gun platform, which most TF's can operate (provided that they are tall enough). There is even a 'stealth mode' which attempts to explain away how the trailer just dissapears in the cartoon - basically mirrored panels fold out which just love fingerprints. This aside, the gimmick works very well. The truck itself is really nice, I like the wind vane and the way that the gun transforms into the smoke stacks. The chromed bumper and grille look suitably regal.


Transformation 7/10
Optimus is a lot of fun to transform, he is deceptively simple but satisfying nonetheless. His legs unsurprisingly are formed by the rear of the vehicle with the front forming his torso, legs and arms. A nice touch is the fake grille which rotates around, once and for all eliminating the need for a boxy or 'thick in the middle' appearance. He is a shell-former to an extent. Shell-forming leaves a lot of useless kibble hanging around but it is also quite fun, if I can be so bold. The way his weapons integrate is also clever, although I am unconvinced about how good a weapon the wind vane makes. One word of caution is that if you transform his arms in the wrong sequence then they can collide, causing deformity to the edges of the upper arm.

Poseability 7/10
So from top to bottom he has head swivel (but no tilt), Lateral and side-to side movement in the shoulder, bicep swivel and elbow joints. No wrist swivel though. He also has waist swivel, 2 points of articulation in the hips, thigh swivel and knee joints. He has big feet which help with balance, but is a shame that his ankles can't tilt. A mixed bag really which is disappointing for a voyager-class figure - this mould is starting to show its age in this respect.


Quality 8/10
Besides the potential for damaging his arms by mis-transforming him, this mould feels very solid indeed, with all the plastic being good quality. He has the reassuring click of ratchet joints in places, which are a dying breed in some of today's toys. Even the clear plastic parts feel thick enough that brittleness over time should not be a problem.

Overall - 41/50
Optimus Prime has some flaws which stop him from being a great Transformer. I would also have marked him lower on his alt mode were it not for the FansProject trailer. That said, he is still a good figure who is heads and shoulders better than the abominable deluxe class figure, which is tiny and pathetic, with the worst alt mode that I have ever seen. Voyager Prime is the mould to go for if you want someone with enough stature to lead the Autobots, just be aware that you may prefer the Henkei version because the paint apps are better. I had the classics version and was never really satisfied with it. Although if the rumours of a forthcoming IDW-based figure are proven to be true, then this figures days may be numbered in my collection. As long as the replacement can hitch to the FansProject trailer, that is.

Optimus Prime (Powermaster)

"Freedom is the right of all sentient beings."

The beloved leader of all Autobots. Dedicated to protecting all life forms -- mechanical, human, and otherwise. Willing to sacrifice anything in order to end the Autobot/Decepticon conflict. Wise and compassionate... the inspiration that fuels every Autobot. Binary bonded to the super intelligent Nebulan computer programmer, HiQ. In engine mode, HiQ handles all of Prime's power needs. Trailer transforms into armed fortress, complete with laser rifle, concussion blaster, and 2 twin particle beam cannons. Tractor and trailer combined construct Optimus Prime's new super-powered robot form.

STRENGTH

10

INTELLIGENCE

10

SPEED

6

ENDURANCE

10

RANK

10

COURAGE

10

FIREPOWER

9

SKILL

10

OVERALL

75

Click the image above to see the alt mode, or view more photos here
First Appearances

First/Last Comic Appearance (US) - Issue 42, July 1988 / Issue 76, March 1991
First/Last Comic Appearance (UK) - Issue 198, December 31st 1988 / Issue 281, August 4th 1990
First/Last Cartoon Appearance -
First Toy Appearance - 1988

Click here to see Figure Details and review

Figure Details

Manufacturer - Custom
Toyline -

Additions/Mods:
- Customised a KO version of FansProject D.I.A. Commander armour
- Added the head from Energon Optimus Prime
- Added G1 Powermaster Optimus Prime weapons
- Added Autobot symbols to the shoulders
- Added large Autobot symbols to the sides of the trailer
- Added an Autobot symbol to the front of the trailer

Review

Back in the G1 days it may have shocked you to know that it was very unusual for any character to be gifted a new form, and the first figures to buck this trend were Goldbug and, of course, Optimus Prime. You could argue that Galvatron and his minions beat them both to the punch, but whether they actually have any association with their original characters has yet to be proven. Certainly Cyclonus and Scourge have no recollection of what they previously were, and Although Galvatron may have some inkling, the brutal and at times suicidal lunatic has little to do with the brash, calculating yet ultimately cowardly Megatron. Not so with Optimus Prime, who had absolute knowledge about his previous body. Of course, the more cynical amongst you might think that this reincarnation was done purely to sell more toys, and you'd be bang on with this assertion. However, it was an update definitely needed as the 1984 figure was positively dwarfed by Ultra Magnus and Galvatron. Unfortunately Powermaster Optimus Prime was to follow the same direction as the city commander by being a brick. You could move his arms up and down and split his legs, but that was it. Even his wee Powermaster buddy, Hi-Q, had more poseability. Despite these shortcomings the character had a fairly long run in the comics, surviving the Epics 'Timewars' and 'The Matrix Quest' before blowing up Unicron in a spectular swansong for the character. I wanted to represent this particular flavour of Optimus in my collection, however the only choice was the Xovergen homage, which made the figure Masterpiece scale. I wanted something that could pose with my Ultra Magnus and Galvatron, so ultimately I made my own, having got bored of waiting.


Appearance (Robot Mode) 8/10
The base figure is the Classics voyager Optimus Prime mould, which I happen to think is very decent. You can read me waxing lyrical about it in my Prime review. The armour element of this figure gives Powermaster Prime some much-needed height and bulk, as well as his classic appearance from the comics. I had to cut down the shoulders as they were too 'Ultra Magnus' and also I omitted to not use the massive forearms. The biggest change was to the torso armour - I cut the original head and neck away, and also made the chest panel removable. I had to use bits of plasticard to fill in all the hollow areas which were normally covered by the armour. When it came to the headsculpt there was only one that I could consider - the Energon Optimus Prime figure, if only because it had the signature cylinders either side of the faceplate. It's not ideal but will do until something better comes along. Painting this figure was a challenge. I added the guns from the G1 figure because I couldn't find modern alternatives and thought 'why not'.
Appearance (Alternate Mode) 9/10
The base figure truck is one of my favourites, and the trailer really makes it. I prefer the Henkei mould colour scheme, but this classics version does a good job of differentiating the two, and is still pretty neat in its own right.

The trailer itself is pretty cool and I had to modify the paintwork extensively, changing the predominantly blue trailer to grey. I mounted the twin guns on the same holes that the missiles typically sit. Then I drilled holes to connect the two black guns to the roof, in a similar configuration to the G1 trailer. I think it homages the original trailer quite well - obviously it is a lot shorter than the original. There is no articulation between the trailer and the truck because they sit flush together, FansProject cleverly utilising a strange tab on the base figure to great effect. This also helps to obscure the void at the front of the trailer which would otherwise be in full view. The rear profile of the trailer has been altered because I cut the shoulders down.


Transformation 8/10
The base figure is one of my favourite figures to transform of all time, it is so damn intuitive and satisfying. The lower part of the cabin sides are folded back, then the legs fold out, and the cabin sides split to reveal arms underneath, which are then cleverly folded into position. Then the top part of the cab swivels like a Rubiks cube to reveal the fake grille which becomes the robot 'abs'. Finally the head is revealed by removing the wind vane and puttng it into position. The wind vane and the smoke stacks both transform into guns, which is impressive but I don't use them.

The trailer splits up into multiple parts which are then transformed into various configurations. The rear wheel section splits in 2 to become the basis of the legs (once you have removed the 'codpiece' first). The remainder of the lower part is set aside as I have glued it together. The shoulder pieces and torso armour are made from the upper part of the trailer, which is lifted out of position and separated. The 'codpiece' and torso armour (minus the breasplate which I remove) attach easily enough - in preparation the base figure must have the head transformed as per vehicle mode. The legs can be challenging to attach and remove. You have to apply a lot of force and the lower legs must engage with the armour just so. The tab which is used so cleverly by FansProject as a trailer hitch really gets in the way here and I advise extreme caution when faced with this tricky obstacle.

Poseability 7/10
For Hasbro's part, poseability is decent without being particularly impressive. The head is on a swivel rather than a balljoint (although you can pitch it slightly up and down thanks to the transformation joint) In fact, there are no balljoints on the entire figure. The waist swivels. The shoulders have a swivel and lateral movement as well, and the biceps also have swivel. The elbows are curiously ratchet jointed while the shoulders are not. The fists cannot rotate and have no articulation save for a useless transformation joint. The hips have swivel both verticaly and horizontally. There is thigh swivel just above the knee, and then standard jointed knees. The feet can be moved back because of their transformation joint. So while all the essentials are in place, it's kind of a mixed bag.

Even with the armour in place, the figure remains surprisingly poseable. The legs gain some articulation because the armour has 'feet' which can tilt to keep the leg on solid footing. The shoulders are cleverly designed to allow as much movement as possible. The head is now also on a Balljoint which I had to build up myself. The reason that I do not pose this guy with the stupid big gun for long periods is because it looks dreadful, and also it will wear out poor Prime's shoulder joint.


Quality 7/10
To be fair to Hasbro/Takara, nearly all my concerns with this figure relate to the effects of the (KO) FansProject armour. Nearly all. The arms form the sides of the cabin in truck mode. If you don't transform them in the right order, then the uper arms collide with the lower arms, resulting in damage to the plastic. This is a very common problem with the mould, as both my original Prime and Magnus were second hand and had damage to their upper arms. I know what to look for to avoid this issue. I actually took a scalpel to Prime to remove the excess plastic which had been warped out of shape over time. The main concerns I have with the figure plus the armour in place are the legs, which are subjected to the terrifying ordeal of being slotted into the armour and subsequently removed. Again, I advise extreme caution and patience. You have to bend the FansProject legs quite a lot to avoid damage to the base figure, and unsightly plastic gouges. Also as I have applied the paint myself, it is obviously not as robust as factory paint.

Overall - 39/50
I had fun making this and have no regrets. Basically I had a spare Optimus Prime lying around plus a KO of the D.I.A. armour which I had no qualms about using. It would be cool if someone like FansProject eventually came up with a proper homage for this cool character, but until then, my efforts will have to do.

Overlord

"I stand my ground... I accept any challenge... I am hungry for conflict."

A legend by nature of his existance, he emerges as a new and deadly Decepticon anti-hero. This mighty machine has the Autobots guessing. No location is too remote and no terrain too tough for this megalithic power-monger. With amazing capabilities he traverses the dimensions, his multiple functions activated by Energon mini figures in engine mode. A Tank to steamroll a path ahead and a Jet for C-SAC duty (carrier, spy and air-combatant). The colossal body houses an arms manufacturing plant, producing a multitude of sophisticated super-weapons. The ultimate conversion is to Battle Station Complex. A strategic support base ready for the arrival of the Decepticon fleet... ready for all out war!

STRENGTH

9

INTELLIGENCE

3

SPEED

3

ENDURANCE

10

RANK

10

COURAGE

9

FIREPOWER

8

SKILL

2

OVERALL

54

Click the image above to see the alt mode, or view more photos here
First Appearances

First/Last Comic Appearance (US) -
First/Last Comic Appearance (UK) -
First/Last Cartoon Appearance -
First Toy Appearance - 1991

Click here to see Figure Details and review

Figure Details

AKA 'Gigatron'
Manufacturer - Hasbro
Toyline - Botcon

Additions/Mods:
- Added the Renderform rifle

Review

Thanks to 'Last Stand of the Wreckers', Overlord's profile has been raised somewhat. An obscure toy with pretty much no supporting fiction outside of Japan suddenly became a must-have. I remember seeing the original toy of this in a store and thinking it looked cool, and never seeing it again. Given how much the original toy sells for these days, I regret not purchasing him which I had the chance! Let's see if this Botcon version can hold a candle to the imposing original.

Appearance (Robot Mode) 7/10
First off, this Botcon exclusive represents only the tank - originally Overlord comprised of a tank and a jet, which both combined to form a massively bulky robot. Unfortunately, the Bludgeon mould used here is necessarily skeletal, which does not homage the original character well at all. The new headsculpt is very nice, but looks too big for the body. Thankfully, the colour scheme is beautifully garish, and mirrors the original brilliantly. Overlord comes with Bludgeon's 2 swords, but I don't display him with them. Overlord is too badass to need swords. At the moment, I use G1 Galvatron's gun, which I may spray purple at some point.

Appearance (Alternate Mode) 9/10
I have long been a fan of the tank mode anyway, and now that this colour scheme has been applied it is near perfect. A bright blue, purple and white tank would be a little conspicuous on the battlefield, but I guess a robot of Overlord's fearsome reputation wouldn't care about being spotted. I have a major gripe with the kinky barrel though - the plastic that comprises the sword is flexible as with the original Bludgeon, but for Bludgeon I purchased the Headrobots upgrade set, so didn't have to worry. The trouble is that the sword/barrel is made from a slightly less flexible plastic than Bludgeon's parts, which means that every picture I have seen of Overlord has a wonky barrel. I have been trying to iron out the kinks in the barrel by wadding the gap between the barrel and the body of the tank while storing it, and this has helped to fix it.

Transformation 7/10
Fiddly at first but I quickly got to grips with it. The only concerning part is pulling the chest back up to revert to tank, which requires a fair amount of pressure. Because of Overlord's huge face, you have to be extra careful not to scrape the paint off his nose as I have already done.

Poseability 8/10
While the lack of wrist/waist articulation is bothersome, Overlord can still strike a lot of poses. He does look slightly pigeon-footed, unless you splay his lower legs outwards slightly.

Quality 8/10
Apart from the fact that there is not much clearance for his face, which led me to scrape some paint off his nose, this mould is solid. If you exert too much pressure, the joints pop off, so at least actual breakages are scarce. But because this is a Botcon exclusive, kids should be kept clear anyway!

Overall - 39/50
FansProject need to do their magic with this figure. The way I see it, they should start designing a large black jet, whcih can split up to become armour for Overlord to wear, which will give him the bulky and G1-accurate appearance that he needs. The Bludgeon mould works brilliantly to render his tank alt mode, but is way off the mark to depict Overlord as a robot. As a figure in its own right, Overlord is pretty cool, and the colour scheme is gloriously reflective of the original.

Rodimus Prime

"Experience is the benchmark of maturity."

A vanguard for the Autobot ranks. Possesses acute military prowess. Speaks with the savvy of seasoned veteran. Expert tactician with exceptional maneuverability in battle. Can be hot-headed at times. Has a tendency to act first and ask questions later. In robot mode, carries a photon eliminator that shoots high voltage electricity. Range: 500 miles. Speed: 200mph. Sole purpose is to protect all life. His only weakness is his compassion for other living creatures.

STRENGTH

10

INTELLIGENCE

10

SPEED

9

ENDURANCE

10

RANK

10

COURAGE

10

FIREPOWER

9

SKILL

10

OVERALL

78

Click the image above to see the alt mode, or view more photos here
First Appearances

First/Last Comic Appearance (US) - Issue 43, August 1988 / Issue 67, June 1990
First/Last Comic Appearance (UK) - Issue 113, May 16th 1987 / Issue 254, January 27th 1990
First/Last Cartoon Appearance - The Transformers: The Movie, August 8th 1986 / Episode 95 (Season 3 #30), February 25th, 1987
First Toy Appearance - 1986

Click here to see Figure Details

Figure Details

AKA 'Rodimus' with 'Protector' Armour
Manufacturer - Takara/FansProject
Toyline - Henkei

Protector Armour by Fansproject

Additions/Mods:
- Added an Autobot symbol to the chest armour
- Added large Autobot symbols to the top of the 'trailer'

Skyquake

"Break them, crush them - grind them to dust!"

Pathological hatred of anything and anyone that is not 100% evil. A wicked genius, wholly dedicated to laying waste all in his path. Utterly cold, calculating and rational. Even his all consuming loathing of the Autobots is clinical in its vicious single-mindedness. Locks together with Predator planes to maximize astounding supersight capabilities. Interaction also gives him instant ultra-communication with the minds of his forces. As bomber, attacks with dreadful 15 missile power. As robot, strikes terror with handheld missile weaponry.

STRENGTH

9

INTELLIGENCE

10

SPEED

9

ENDURANCE

10

RANK

10

COURAGE

10

FIREPOWER

10

SKILL

9

OVERALL

77

Click the image above to see the alt mode, or view more photos here
First Appearances

First/Last Comic Appearance (US) -
First/Last Comic Appearance (UK) -
First/Last Cartoon Appearance -
First Toy Appearance - 1992

Click here to see Figure Details and review

Figure Details

Manufacturer - Hasbro
Toyline - Botcon

Additions/Mods:
- Added Decepticon symbols to the wings (Covering the sculpted ones)
- Added a Decepticon symbol to the chest

Review

By the time I saw Skyquake in the shops I had pretty much lost interest in Transformers. I do remember being impressed by the sheer size of the toy, but put off by the pretty horiffic neon colours. I was obviously naive back then and couldn't see the inherent beauty of the bonkers late G1 colour schemes. So unfortunately Skyquake remained on the shelf that day, although I seemingly dodged a bullet, as lots of them fell apart due to gold plastic syndrome. FunPub eventually gave this figure a new lease of life, just as he was unceremoniously executed by Overlord in Last Stand of the Wreckers. The irony.

Appearance (Robot Mode) 8/10
So I am going to gripe about the size of the figure once and get it out of the way. G1 Skyquake was an immense and impressive figure, and his Tech Specs are the most powerful on any G1 Decepticon that I know about. So it is perhaps a disappointment that the figure chosen to represent him is a deluxe class. Size aside, the figure does do a very good job of evoking the neon despot of old, right down to the crazy colour scheme. The paint apps are some of the nicest I have seen - impeccably neat and vibrant. The base plastic colours are also suitably bold. I think that the gold plastic is a bit too orange for my liking, though. Proportionally, this figure has some issues. The legs are just a bit too short in relation to the torso for my liking, and the garishly vulgar waepons are huge. They connect together to form some kind of sword/blaster thingy but the end result isn't great. But they are ostentatious which is what you want with this figure.

Appearance (Alternate Mode) 9/10
I love this jet mode. It sticks a massive two fingers up to camouflage and subtlety by basically being a huge glowing target in the sky. The colour scheme is explained away somewhere as being effective camouflage on Skyquake's native planet, but I like to think that he just doesn't care if he is seen. I am a big fan of this sleek plane although its aerodynamics are somewhat ruined by the large and asymettrical weapons on either wingtip.

Transformation 7/10
This is a mainly routine transformation although positioning the arms to make the jet, and removing them to make the robot is a bit fiddly, and relies on there being a fair bit of flex in the surrounding plastic. It makes me nervous. Other than this, Skyquake is pretty satisfying to transform and holds together very well in both modes, with decent tabs and tolerances to keep him locked in place.

Poseability 8/10
Being an Energon repaint I wasn't expecting too much from this figure and actually he is pretty good. The hips are on ball joints but everywhere else is hinged or swivelled. There is no waist articulation. The shoulders offer a good range of movenment and there is also bicep swivel and an elbow hinge. The knees are jointed and the thighs swivel. My main concern is the elbow joints which are not only very thin but also are not pinned, meaning that they could fall out with a bit of wear. They also look quite odd but are necessary for the transformation.

Quality 7/10
This figure has 2 things which worry a lot of collectors - Lots of clear plastic, and lots of 'gold' plastic. Only time will tell whether either or both of these become brittle. I particularly worry about Skyquake's right arm and wings, which feature loads of clear plastic. The aforementioned elbow hinges worry me also, as does the rather scary manipulation of the arms required for transformation.

Overall - 39/50
Skyquake is a brash and quite mad figure with oodles of sculpted detail. This re-purposed Energon Starscream mould is pretty special. It isn't without its flaws, but it just looks so damn good with the crazy colour scheme. While it may be a tad too small, a lot of thought has clearly gone into accurately referencing this last hurrah of the Generation 1 era. A left-field choice for Botcon treatment maybe, but a very welcome one.