Transformers War For Cybertron Haslab Unicron: Behold, the Chaos Bringer!

 What could end 2021? What could be the final review of the year, a final send off to the year that reminded us "things could get worse"? Up until the last week before it was released, I did have this guy on pre-order but ended up cancelling it due to the rocky nature of 2021. JobKeeper was ending. Work wasn't restarting reliably; it was hard to justify an $800 toy with no stable income coming in. So, I wrote it off, thinking I wouldn't get a chance to see it in person, let alone review it. Well, that chance would eventually come when Melbourne's version of Oz Comic-Con came around. On Wednesday Night group chats for the Transformers Collectors Club Australia, I said I'd be willing to help them with events as, to quote myself, "it's what I do for a living anyway." The current president of the club backed Unicron and brought his copy along to the event, and it's thanks to him that I was able to work on this review. Notes were taken at the show, though, and while I didn't get a chance to transform him, I did pay close attention to him transforming it, along with the transformation videos on YouTube by others who have reviewed it. Logistically, this was the best way to get this review done, even if it means it's not as thorough as other reviews have been in the past. 

 

 
I'll start with the accessories, as most are nothing to write home about. The largest and necessary one is a display stand primarily for the planet mode. While the robot can support its weight in robot mode, the stand can remain attached to the figure in both modes and dramatically helps with the transformation. While elements like the removable back leg for the sake of moving the figure closer to the wall is an excellent addition, one thing it could have benefited from was a rotation point at the base of the main arm to help move all the weight during the transformation process. Due to the weight and all the ratchet joints in the figure, an inbuilt way to spin it would help immeasurably. Due to their small size, what wasn't on display at the booth was the nano figure of Galvatron, Hot Rod, and the Autobot Shuttle. Galvatron and Hot Rod are nothing special, but considering as the two characters are barely a centimetre tall, there's understandably not much to them. From what I've seen in other reviews, though, the Shuttle's well-sculpted and is an excellent small display in its own right, in a similar style to models like the old die-cast Star Trek ships, but on a much smaller scale. A nice pseudo accessory he comes with is a removable head. While it's not a Headmaster, the gimmick is a nice inclusion for those who want to display the head on its own and a battle-damaged alternate face to replicate its status in Season 3 of the cartoon. The head has its own separate stand that can hold the minifigures and ship mentioned above, with room to include the ones that come with the Generations Selects Behold Galvatron set. However, these are small fry to the main event.

As for Unicron himself, I was stunned seeing him for the first time in Planet Mode. Words can't describe how big this guy is. For what is effectively a ball with spikes, Unicron is genuinely impressive. The transformation is almost seamless, with the panel lines for transformation blending effortlessly into the sculpted detail. The planet mode is the most eye-catching model for Unicron, and even in this form, it's nice to see the gimmick with the maw, where all the teeth can move in unison if you spin the yellow ring around it. It's a nice novelty feature, even if it's not one many will use. The blast effects posts on both the planet and robot mode are... divisive for me. On the one hand, I like that he has them, as specific blast effects would work well on him to make it look like the Autobots and Decepticons are firing their most potent weapons at him. On the other hand, some of them are in awkward places, and the variety of effects parts isn't there to justify the feature, let alone the ones that would look good on him (ones like Earthrise Soundbarrier's, for example). While the planet mode looks good and is an excellent representation of Unicron's most iconic mode, it's hard to talk about what is essentially a plastic ball with spikes and a ring, so let's get to the more exciting mode.

In robot mode, the only way to describe Unicron is imposing. The biggest ever Transformer lives up to the name thanks to how big a footprint he takes up in any display. Unicron demands attention with even the most basic positions you place him in. However, you'll likely only be placing him in these basic positions because of how heavy he is and how strong the ratchet joints support his weight. With that said, though, almost everything you'd want to move for poses can move. Seeing it in person, the only thing I could think of that would be nice to move around more are the wings, having a hinge where they connect to the shoulders to splay them out more, but that is an incredibly small nitpick. Like in the planet mode, I love all the sculpted detail on him; every surface in both modes is sculpted beautifully. Even the wings, which are very hollow, look really good due to how purposeful the open spaces appear. It helps make look Unicron even bigger. However, one major flaw that many have with the toy is how the designers handled the execution. Unicron is a shell former; almost, if not all of the planet mode, ends up on either his shins or his back in robot mode. In photos, this does look bad, really bad. But in person, it's something that works to his advantage, as the kibble helps make him look even stronger, even more imposing. Could the engineering be improved? Yes, see "Totally not Zeta Toy's Totally not Unicron" that was announced simultaneously and released before this project was. But the issue with better integrating the planet into robot mode, the more frustrating the transformation is, something that I've seen first hand as transforming Unicron isn't easy, purely due to the weight. I'm terrified to think how painful of a transformation "Studio Cell" Unicron would be if he were as big and heavy as Haslab Unicron is. 

Credit to Nathan who took this photo of the booth.

When looking at this from its perspective being a Generations-style release, there's very little to criticize. There aren't any major issues that bring the figure down. By the same merit, though, $800 for a Generations figure is hard to justify, even more so when you compare it to the roughly $500 Studio Cell figure that had Masterpiece styled engineering and was more accurate to the movie. For the cost, it's not unreasonable for people to want something with more complex engineering to help clean the figure up. However, all the barely contained planet chunks help give the sculpture a unique presence that the movie-accurate design doesn't have. I know first-hand how much attention Unicron got as many people stopped to look at how impressive it is. He's one of the best shell formers ever released by Hasbro, but on the matter of if Shellforming was the right approach, that's more debatable and up to personal preference.

G.I. Joe Classified Destro, Profit Director P.D Destro, Baroness with Cobra C.O.I.L and Movie Baroness: A large one to end the year on.

With 2021 coming to a close, bringing with it another year of trying to kill time during lockdowns, I've got one last review in me for the year before beginning the celebratory Best and Worst lists. With it being Cobra's time to shine, who's left to cover? Zartan? I've got the Pulsecon exclusive coming, so I'll wait to review both versions. How about the Red Ninjas, Cobra Vipers or Cobra Infantry? It's like ending the year with a review of a Stormtrooper, rather generic for the final review of the year. That only leaves two, and if the Joe's can have a double review of an iconic pair, why not give Cobra the same treatment? While I'm at it, why not cover a pair of reinterpretations? So, to end the year, let's look at G.I Joe Classified #03: Destro, Cobra Island #13: Baroness with Cobra C.O.I.L, #15: Profit Director Destro and #19, Snake Eyes Origins Baroness.

I'll go in the order I got them for this review, so I'll start with one of the few remaining members of Wave 1 to review: Destro (I'll get to you someday, Scarlet). Destro's an interesting case for me because out of all the Wave 1 figures; I found him to be rather dull at the time. When compared to the modernizations of Duke, Scarlet, Roadblock and Snake Eyes, Destro felt very safe and uneventful, scaled up remake of his original toy. But, with the element of hindsight and seeing how the line has evolved since Wave 1, I've grown more of an appreciation for Destro. The strengths in the design come from simplicity. In terms of design, this is a modern reinterpretation of his 1983 toy, the only new details being a new gold pistol accessory and some new paint and moulding details on the shoulders, briefcase, knees and boots. Just enough detail to break up the black without it being overpowering. Not counting the Cobra logo on the briefcase, I do appreciate the snake motif being toned down compared to characters like Cobra Commander and (as I'll go into later) The Baroness. Like with the original toy, the collar around Destro's shirt is designed like the Cobra Logo, but it's a detail most wouldn't recognize at first, adding to the brilliance of the subtlety. For accessories, Destro comes with a faithful recreation of his Laster gun, a reimagining of his suitcase to include painted in cash and a Cobra computer inside, and a gold futuristic revolver sidearm. Rather tame for a weapons specialist, but still appreciated.

If the priority for Destro was subtlety, Profit Director Destro's priority is extravagance. As for its history... it's complicated. Starting life as a traditional repaint of Destro's 1992 toy in 1997, a joke re-release was developed but not released, though some claim to have seen it at retail. The design got the nickname Pimp Daddy Destro thanks to the delightfully obnoxious leopard print added to the design, and something that Profit Director Destro (because you can't release a toy called Pimp Daddy anymore) takes and runs with. Everything about this is delightfully stupid. The gold head with the dark red and leopard print costume and the two-tiered cape with leopard skin on the back is laughable for all the right reasons. The fact that two of his accessories are a pair of pimp sunglasses (that, unfortunately, require glue to stay on) and some money on fire sells the stupidity of the design. They went all out on this repaint, both good and bad, because they overestimated how many people would want it. I still find store shelves with this guy on them as the only G.I. Joe Classified figure there, complete case assortments of them because no one's buying him. While I'm glad this exists, figures like this are why brands like Transformers have lines like Generations Selects, the lines where the semi niche, absolutely nerdy stretch repaints go for those who want more. At least if you want one, you can likely still find one in dedicated stores like Toyworld.

From a toy, they overestimated the demand for, to one they underestimated the need for (initially). Cobra Island Baroness with the Cobra C.O.I.L. I'll go over the C.O.I.L first before covering Baroness because while many people wanted to get rid of this thing and get the character, I love this bike design. This vehicle is new for the Classified line, as Cobra didn't have an equivalent to G.I. Joe's RAM Cycle. If anyone's curious, though, Coil was used as a name in G.I. Joe before. Coil was the name of a Cobra offshoot unit, and Cobra Coils was the driver's name for the 2003 vehicle, the Cobra Tread Fire. On the other hand, The Classified C.O.I.L is a modern styled motorcycle, the kind of bike you'd see in action movies. The bike is sleek, clearly built for speed while still packing a nice amount of onboard firepower. I would honestly love to see this re-released with a generic army builder repaint of Baroness. Her with a small squad of these would look imposing in a display. In terms of functionality, there isn't much here that's overly impressive. The bike has an excellent turning circle while still connected to the toy's handlebars. The ball joints used to connect the actual handles to the assembly give enough flexibility to help with attaching a figure to the bike. The kickstand also works well enough to keep the motorcycle standing upright on a shelf, and the guns can be removed and held by a figure. Is it a mind-blowing accessory? No, but I certainly prefer it over the RAM.

As for The Baroness herself, like the regular release of Destro, she's a faithful remaster of her early toy design, with grey patches helping to break up her outfit without detracting from the black and red. While I love the sculpting and moulding done for the body, I'm not a fan of the head sculpt they gave her. The big offender of this is the glasses they gave her. While they look better than the glasses she used to have, the frame style makes her look older than the rest of the sculpting lets on. While it works for a faithful reimagining of the 80's Baroness, I don't think it works for her modernization. Due to the inclusion of the bike, she doesn't get her rifle from her original toy, instead coming with two golden pistols, a small knife with a snakehead on the handle, akin to the sword Cobra Commander comes with, a helmet for the motorcycle which better incorporates all the joints in the neck, and... some snake gun that involves you sliding her arm through the coils made by the tail? I hate this gun; it stays in the accessories tub. Overall, she's not bad, and she does look outstanding alongside Destro. She's just not what I think of when I think of a modernization of The Baroness.

Ironically, that title would go to the Classified figure of The Baroness from the Snake Eyes movie. Based on Úrsula Corberó Delgado's portrayal of the character, though that's only obvious in the head sculpt. I love details like the shorter, more filled out hairstyle, along with the more angular glasses frames with smaller lenses. Details like that help modernize a character without subtracting from the original design. Another design element inspired by the original toy is the pure black costume with the red Cobra logo. Thanks to a healthy mix of matte black and glossy black, adding subtle separation in the detailing, it doesn't look as bland as you might think it would. One other change is the inclusion of heeled boots, helping to give the figure a sense of authority. One issue I have with the proportions is a minor one; I feel like the neck is a bit too long, something that's highlighted by the fact that this design for the Baroness has her wearing a Choker, along with paint on the torso to help better define her neckline. For accessories, she comes with a submachine gun with a removable silencer (yes people, a Classified figure that has a realistic weapon!) and two machete-like knives. You can remove the glasses, but I consider it more of an accessory to have the likeness align with the actor rather than the character. Because I don't recall her taking the glasses off during the film, they're something I prefer to keep on her and don't consider them an accessory. Though the Cobra Island one may fit in better with the rest of the line, Movie Baroness is an excellent representation of the character and one I recommend even if you're not collecting the Snake Eyes movie figures. 

Though my views are overall mixed when it comes to the four of them, I was pleasantly surprised with how much I appreciated Destro now that I've spent time focusing on him and how much I enjoyed the Movie Baroness. All four figures have the feel of a line still trying to figure out what it wants to do going forward, so it'll be interesting to see how 2022 treats the line, now that things like a pandemic delayed movie won't hamper it. I'm genuinely surprised the line has kept my attention, especially as this started life as an experiment. Marvel Legends didn't catch on, Star Wars I didn't end up trying because Star Wars content doesn't get much attention from my audiences, so to see the Joes, a brand that struggles outside of America, get interested in Australia enough for people to read the reviews of someone using them not only as an excuse to get into the brand, but also begin collecting traditional 6-inch figures has been quite relieving. I have more plans to review more Joes and Cobra characters in the future; maybe someday I'll give the Vintage toys a review as the vehicles were what got me interested initially. Until then, though, reviews will be put on hold until 2022... at least, that's what I would say, if I didn't have one last one in mind. There's not going to be a better time to review him, so next week: The Big Guy.

Transformers War For Cybertron Kingdom Deluxe Class Waspinator: Scorpion + Spider = Robot Wasp?

 A week late for several reasons, one of which I'll discuss at the end, so I won't waste much time with this intro. For the final Predacon review of the year, it's time to look at the Predacon Punching Bag. The indestructible yet incredibly disposable Waspinator. Try not to read this in a Waspinator voice, though. You'll likely hate yourself for it.

Waspinator in Waszp mode suffers from a similar issue to Scoropnok's scorpion mode, but it feels less egregious here. The bug legs are limited to swivel joints for the sake of the robot mode, limiting what you can do with posing for the beast mode, amplified by the fact that the middle and back legs are moulded together. It makes Waspinator feel more rigid when compared to some of the other Beasts in Kingdom, but it's not as much of an issue as, for example, Scorponok because... well, what are you going to do with a wasp? It would be nice if the legs could move a bit more, at the very least separating the middle and back legs to give some more natural flight poses for those who want to put him on a flight stand. As it stands, all you can move are the pincers and the wings when in this mode. On the wings, though, many have an issue with the plastic colour it was moulded in. To have the bug and bot mode eyes be purple. The wings were also moulded in purple. I honestly don't mind this, as I think the purple wings add a nice bit of extra colour to the bug mode. While a selling point of the Beasts was "realistic animal modes", in practice, a lot of them were stylized in some form or another for the sake of making toys. T-Rex's aren't purple (to our knowledge), spiders don't have golden legs, scorpions aren't purple. Just let him have this; he's the Predacons punching bag; he deserves something nice.

In robot mode, Waspinator feels more like Blackarachnia, in that the robot mode looks very cluttered due to Wasp Mode junk. It's a messy robot mode, but not one you can change because of its iconic design for Waspinator. Granted, it's not entirely accurate. The pair of bug legs on the robot legs are new for this take, as they're generally on the arms. Due to this toy re-imagining tricks from his 2013 toy, there are bug legs on the robot legs at all might be seen as an eyesore compared to the original toy. I'm also not a fan of how they handled the blaster. For the sake of beast mode storage and the fact that spring-loaded shooters are no longer a thing in Transformers, Waspinator's gun just looks like a random bit of wasp he's holding as a classroom pointer. It somewhat looks better with a blast effect (something that would have been nice to include, especially if it looked like his old stinger), but I'm not even sure if it is meant to be blast effect compatible, as the nub on the end of the blaster is a bit smaller then the blast effect posts usually are, making any effect really easy to knock off by mistake. An unintended feature likely caused by a minor quality control defect results in Waspinator's head being effortless to take off. But, it's something that works in this toy's favour, as Waspinator was known to come apart in the show. Now that I say that, I kind of want to see a Weaponizer take on Waspinator now.

Should you get Kingdom Waspinator? Probably not if you have the Generations one. While this one does look good with the other Kingdom Predacons, arguably a lot better than the Generations one does, it doesn't feel very interesting. It's a toned-down version of the Generations one, with a lot of the excitement gone due to the changes in engineering and the inclusion of gimmicks changing in the last eight years. The main reason this took a whole extra week to work on was that he's a mediocre toy to talk about, nothing terrible, but nothing stands out either. Like Dinobot, he's an average figure, but unlike Dinobot, the average toy is perfectly fine. The final review of G.I. Joe Classified is next week, ironic as I may be helping out a Transformers booth at the local Comic-Con that weekend. As much as I want to talk about Cobra Grunts, I think I'll close out the year for them with the last two members of the Cobra Leadership team released so far: Destro and The Baroness.