Best Toy Prchases of 2022

My apologies for the significant drop-off of content this year. With restrictions eased now that people stupidly believe the pandemic is over, things have naturally changed for me this year. For one thing, I got a new, better Audio Visual job than the one I was doing before the pandemic and the ones I was doing in the little spaces between lockdowns. In addition, my workload has picked up so much that I'm finally chipping away at my student loan debt from University at long last, and renting a house seems possible. That may seem like a low bar, but when your life was on hold for two years, it felt like a more significant accomplishment than you'd think it would. Sadly, the trade-off is less time to work on these sights. I work on these sites for fun; I don't make a profit on them, meaning that I need to prioritize what does make money.

Anyway, I wanted to do something different this year. Instead of ranking toys in separate lists, I wanted to do a single post cataloguing some of my favourite toys of the year in no particular order. Are these toys all objectively the best? No, but they're enjoyable for different reasons. I've sorted them into categories for you; feel free to skip through to what you're interested in. With that out of the way: 

 

Top 8 Best G.I. Joe Classified Figures of 2021 (/so far)

The end of the lists and recaps is here. Scaled back from my original plan of a best and worst (for those curious, Roadblock made the worst because for all the repaints and re-releases, it still feels like they're struggling to lock down the character). And now, including a summary of the Fan First Friday that aired yesterday (or tonight at the time of writing this part), it's time to see how the Classified line goes ranked. While it's true for the Transformers lists and the miscellaneous action figure list, I feel I should stress that this is a list covering the Joes I got in 2021. Thanks to the fact that I could still get early line figures last year relatively easily, it's a list that covers both 2020 and 2021. Does this include all of the figures in the line? No, there are some I'm missing and some I do not intend to get. This list is just covering the ones I've gotten. To the retro collectors, I would love to do one of these for the retro line at some point, especially for the vehicles. Unfortunately, I don't have the money or space to collect the retro stuff.

8. Scarlet (v1):

 

 
Scarlet's an interesting case for me. Like her wave mates, she got a reissue with a different paint job to "make her look more realistic and not as futuristic", but except for the head sculpt, I think the first version is far better thanks to the modernization done to her original costume. I think the dark blue better compliments the figure than the black does. The accessories she comes with are also a little clumsy. Her crossbow comes apart easily (granted, it's an anti breaking bit of engineering), and her quiver is awkward in its design. Awkward is probably the best way to describe her, as there isn't anything objectively wrong with the toy, just awkward. I hope if she does get a new toy later down the line, they bring the dark blue back. Another hope of mine is that they give her the articulation that came with Lady Jaye. For those wondering why she didn't make it, out of the two I just prefer Scarlet in terms of an overall upgrade to her original design, even if Lady Jaye is still a solid figure on her own merit.

7. Cobra Infantry Trooper: 

 

 
Representing the army builders is the Cobra Infantry. Better than the Cobra Trooper released in the Cobra Island line? I don't know, there are two figures I'm missing from the 2020-2021 lineup, and that army builder is one of them (the other is Beachhead). While the Infantry Trooper might not be as well-armed as other Cobra Army Builder's so far, I honestly prefer that as it helps identify them as the grunts. The nameless, faceless, rank fillers intended to enforce a "Strength in Numbers" mindset but are more akin to Stormtroopers, "throw enough bodies at the problem and hope it goes away". There's a certain charm in the simplicity of the Infantry Trooper, and what helps them at the moment is that they're so generic that they fit in with basically any member of Cobra. The Vipers seem to be too skilled to not be on their own, the ARC Troopers of Cobra. The Red Ninjas look fine, but they feel out of place without any other Cobra Ninjas. That's why the Infantry Trooper wins out over them, at least in my eyes.

6. Major Bludd: 

 

As much as I joked about how much of a "first boss" feel Bludd has, it's hard to deny how good he looks. The detailing work for him is well done, and it helps define things from the original toy, such as the robotic arm. Bludd makes it to the list as, while it doesn't make me more invested in the character, I can't help but give him credit for trying. He is a solid figure of a needed character, but for all that polish, for better or worse, he still feels like that first boss.

5. Zartan (retail and Pulsecon): 

 

 
Zartan's an interesting case for me. It's a figure where I loved the base retail release but hated the accessories; some felt like mould flash that looked somewhat cool, so they kept them in (these being the monkey's paw and the snake head). When the Convention Exclusive version came out, I thought the colour change gimmick was an excellent nod to the original toy. The silver armour I could take or leave, but the accessories he came with were a significant step up from the retail release. I love the giant sniper rifle and the different heads (the Snake Eyes one I keep on my Snake Eyes figure, as the grey visor looks good on him). I wouldn't recommend what I did; the chances are that Zartan will see another release that combines the two is relatively high. Both are good, though, so there's no definitive "which one's better?" in my eyes.

4. Snake Eyes Movie Baroness: 

 

 
Like I said in my review of the two different Baroness toys, while the Cobra Island release feels more like a faithful, blown up re-release of the original Baroness figure, the Snake Eyes release feels more like what I want to see from Classified. "What if this character was done in the style of the 2020's?" While I know this was because of the movie, and the style of Holywood is, at least for Paramount, to take things in a very different direction in terms of designs (yes, I see you in the corner over there, Bayformers), this feels different enough to the original without being barely recognizable. You can still show the design to a casual fan of G.I. Joe, and they'd go, "Oh yeah, that's The Baroness". While I have gotten some more from the Snake Eyes sub-line, Baroness is still the best of the ones I've gotten (which ironically still doesn't include Snake Eyes himself).
 
3. Duke and Flint: 

 

 

 I think many people gave Duke a hard time when it came to the initial launch of Classified. "G.I. Joe is based on the real army. Get all that sci-fi shit out of here!" I hear people say. To paraphrase a friend of mine, G.I. Joe has always felt like it was on the cutting edge of modern military technology. While Cobra went harder into Sci-fi in terms of weapons and vehicles, the Joes' gear felt like it was brand new, like they get the latest, experimental hardware before the main military gets it. New military hardware is being developed every day; why do you think America spends so much on its military? What was new for 1982 is dated in 2021. Even with that said, Duke doesn't go into Sci-fi. His rifle is just a little shinier. I include Flint here because of how similar the two figures are (Flint uses a lot of Duke's parts, after all). While he doesn't get as much modern tech (probably thanks to the backlash the first wave got), it gives him a more rugged feel, which I think nicely complements Duke as Flint always seemed to prefer the front line instead of leading from behind.

2. Cobra Commander and Regal Cobra Commander: 

 

 
I love how expressive this guy is, considering there's not much to be expressive with. Because of the mirror helmet, it's hard to convey any emotion until you get the hands involved. Oddly, CoCo is the only character to include alternate hands, as all the other figures rely on the heads to carry the expression. While that's not a bad thing, it feels limiting compared to other 6-inch lines, and even when compared to CoCo due to how much personality you can get out of his unique hands. I think all the figures in the line could benefit from a set of fists at least (and I'll have an example coming soon of that point). Still, the expressiveness that comes from both the significant releases of Cobra Commander is what brings him to Number 2. I couldn't pick a favourite out of the two, though; both are equally good.
 

1. Timber. 

 

 
 You may say it's a cheat to include an accessory into this let, let alone have it be the number 1 spot, but it's hard for me to think of anyone else taking up this role. Bundled with the Commando Snake Eyes (based on the first unpainted Snake Eyes toy from the 80's run), Timber is just a gorgeous figure and sets a high bar for not only the upcoming Fiona but also any other potential Classified animals like Junkyard. Timber captures the wolf's beauty while also adding in unique detailing that helps tell a story about what Timber's life was like before befriending Snake Eyes. In all honesty, Snake Eyes feels like an accessory in this set; that's how good of a figure Timber is. Perhaps Commando Snake Eyes would stand out more if it gets repainted into cartoon/ "this is probably what they intended him to look like before his paint was sacrificed to make everyone else better" colours, but even with the generic Snake Eyes bundled with him, you should go out of your way to get Timber. 

 

While working on this list, Hasbro put out a Fan First Friday for G.I. Joe, which was overall solid. A shift to digital renders should hopefully help with the messaging so that they get announced before figure leaks happen. Tomax, Xemont and Stalker all look great (I would absolutely buy a set of the twins in their business suits if they made them). The Viper troop builder pack I'll wait and see how they look with the already released Vipers (as I already have three...), the retro "totally not being released on oversided card backs like Marvel Legends" look ok, the only one that interested me was Destro, maybe Gung Ho, I'm going to wait and see before I make up my mind on them. I don't have much to say about the O-Ring figures, as I don't collect them. Hopefully they interest the retro collectors. From next week on, I'll be going back to reviews. In fact, the following review will keep in the spirit of the Classified line, just not quite what you're expecting. Welcome to the slaughterhouse G.I Joe.

Top 10 Worst Transformers of 2021

For everything good, there is often always something terrible. While this year and the last few years have been an excellent run for Transformers as a whole, not everything's been a hit. So for the first time on this site, I'd like to contrast the good with what has, to me at least, been some of the low points of the year. For most of the entries on this list, low points mean just that, low points. Just because a toy is on here doesn't make it objectively bad. Some entries are here because of questionable design choices and frustrating engineering elements. Some are here because it made me question what I was doing in past years. Some toys are bad for QC issues, some are personally frustrating, and others objectively don't work. The point I'm trying to make is that this is a spectrum, and just because I don't like it doesn't mean you don't have to (though I do hope we can all agree on Number 1). So come with me on this trip down memory lane to the things I'd rather forget.

 

10. Kingdom Red Alert. 

 

Red Alert is not a bad toy. I've gotten many versions of this mould, which should tell you how much I like the mould. The issue isn't that it's a lousy toy; it's the fact that it makes Siege seem redundant, more so than Earthrise did. I liked the futuristic look for the characters; I wanted to see more of them, so to see Hasbro not only throw that away after a year but also actively replace characters with their Earth Mode counterparts stings. It makes me feel like most of the stuff I got in 2019 was a waste of money.

 

9. Kingdom Wingfinger.

 

I'm an avid defender of the Partformer gimmick bots of the War for Cybertron Trilogy. I had a lot of fun with the Weaponizers of Siege, the Modulators of Earthrise, and the Fossilizers of Kingdom. Wingfinger as a parts pack for other figures is also fun. I've just never liked the standalone beast mode. I don't get how this one is supposed to work. Granted, you could say that about the others, but the others only had to walk. How is Wingfinger supposed to fly when he has no real wings? Yes, that's why he's low on the list. 

 

8. Studio Series 86 Gnaw. 

 

It's a little hard to justify saying this is one of the worst toys of 2021 when I have three of them, isn't it? Clearly, I don't hate it that much, and to be honest, I don't. I still enjoy the figures that are low on this list. Gnaw's a fun figure in robot mode and looks good in Shark mode. Honestly, the only issue I have is the position of the shark hips in beast mode, as they sit very far down the back, making him very front heavy and a pain to pose. It's an area where I think the Titans Return one did it better, but that came with its sacrifices. The bot head peeking out from under the jaw is also unsightly compared to how clean the shark mode was for the Titans Return release. While I think this has a way better bot mode than the Titans one did, the beast mode was handled better back then and considering the nature of the character; I can't help but feel the priorities were wrong, as the people who would buy lots of this (how's it going Simon) will buy them for the beast mode. 

 

7. Kingdom Ultra Magnus.

 

Though I went into this expecting a Siege retool (unlike many people, apparently), there are still some bells and whistles that I wish they did now that they could cut the extra guns and cut some of the costs retooling the Siege one. A Matrix cavity would have been nice, along with some hinged hands to hold a Matrix. Filling out the shoulder stacks also would have been nice, or at least moving the gaps, so they weren't visible beside his head. Do I hate the mould? No, and I'd honestly still buy a Delta Magnus repaint if they ever made it. I can't help but expect a little more as other 86 movie characters got that little extra TLC. 

6. Buzzworthy Bumblebee and Spike.

 

 

Or, to be more accurate, Spike. The Bumblebee included in this pack is good. I'd love to see a version of this at some point with a Bumper head sculpt. This is a really good figure for a modernization of Bumblebee's original toy. Unfortunately, he came packaged with a plastic plank. How hard is it to do a good toy of the Exo Suit? I didn't hear good things about the Masterpiece one when it came out with Bumblebee 1.0, the one that comes with Studio Series Slug is a joke, and this somehow fails even more than that thing did. How is the best version of the Exo Suit the one from Titans Return that has to do double duty as Arcee's head? 

5. Premium Finish Bumblebee. 

 

 

The worst thing about this toy isn't that it's genuinely bad but overly complicated. Considering the space to work with, the transformation is highly complex for a figure this size and price, and because of that, it's hard to make the car mode actually behave and stay together. Unfortunately, ambition got the best of you, Bumblebee. Here's hoping we get a new one that's accurate to the final on-screen model, though.

4. Buzzworthy Bumblebee Fangry. 

 

 

I'm just going to let this photo speak for itself:

This is the current state of my Fangry. Unfortunately, a severe factory error put a screw in at the wrong time, causing the hips to have no friction in them. All I need is a pin puncher to fix the issue, hopefully, but it's not exactly a tool I've got on hand. In the meantime, though, any toy that's in pieces, and isn't by Lego, has to make it onto the worst list.

3. Kingdom Scorponok. 

 

 

What the hell happened here? Between Blackarachnia's release and this, how did the care going into the Predacon bugs drop so drastically? The transformation isn't fun. The robot mode looks awkward (though accurate depending on where you look), and the beast mode is basically a brick thanks to the useless hollow bug legs and the tail almost wholly locked into place. All that comes to mind whenever I look at him is, "What the hell happened?"

2. Shattered Glass Megatron.

 

Is this a bad mould? No. Is this a lousy repaint? That depends on your definition. To me, it's not a good repaint due to the team trying to turn a tank into a jet. Because of it, Shattered Glass Megatron comes off as an awkward mess. A clash of identities given plastic form because if this is meant to look like the original Shattered Glass Megatron, a toy that was a repaint of the Transformers Energon Megatron, this is a laughable disgrace. I wouldn't have an issue with it if it were "Here's Siege Megatron, in Shattered Glass colours". I would probably groan a little because I like Energon Megatron's design and would love to see a new version, but I would at least respect it as a fresh take on the character. This awkward mashup of concepts makes me angry because the Unicron Trilogy designs get shafted so often lately, reduced to "kinda sorta close enough" repaints. That's why I put this toy so high on my "Worst of 2021". This, this right here is the pinnacle of fans of the toys, of the designs, being given less than scraps. Primus, I hope Legacy helps ease this and gives us more designs that aren't G1 or repaints forced out of G1 moulds.

 

Honourable Mentions 

• Generations Selects Powerdasher Zetar
• Earthrise Thrust
• Kingdom Huffer
• Kingdom Grimlock
• Generations Selects Lancer

1. Kingdom Tracks and Road Rage.

 

 

For all the issues I have with the concept behind Shattered Glass Megatron, the worst toy of the year has to go to a figure that barely works, and even when working as intended, it feels like it's straight-up broken. Nothing about Kingdom Tracks feels finished. While I'm willing to accept that issues would have come up in the testing process due to the pandemic, that can only go so far when there are objective design issues. Most copies of the mould barely stand, with many people (myself included) resorting to a variety of 3D Printed adapters just to keep the shins together in robot mode. I've had to modify both figures to get the front windscreen to plug in and out without running the risk of shattering, and I was unable to get a friend's copy of Road Rage into car mode in order to have a version of the mould for robot mode, and a version in car mode for Comic-Con. "Oh, you just have a dud copy" can't apply when three copies of the mould barely function, and the vast majority of people have similar issues. So is there a positive to this mould? Well, it's nice to have an alright looking copy of Tracks, and great to see Hasbro making a Road Rage for mass retail. For those like me who got back into collecting after his last toy left shelves, it's nice to have that hole in the Autobot Car Collection filled. But this is a toy I'm looking to replace as soon as a better one comes along, assuming it even lasts long enough to survive a resell. 

And that wraps up the worst of the worst for me this past year, at least from a Transformers perspective. Next week will be a smaller list combining the best and worst 6-inch figures I got over the year that aren't from G.I. Joe Classified. Let me know if you agree or disagree with this list, as I'm curious how these stack up in the eyes of others.

Top 10 Best Transformers of 2021

2021 has come to a close, and it's time to begin looking back at the year that was. Throughout January, I'll be looking over the figures I've bought this year, seeing who's the best of the best and the worst of the worst. Both Transformers and G.I. Joe will have two posts each, today being the Best of Transformers. Between the Bots and the Joes, there's going to be a smaller miscellaneous list, covering some of the other 6-inch figures I obtained in 2021, to give them a send-off as well. However, a golden rule for all of them is that these are all figures I own. As a result, Unicron is automatically disqualified, as I don't own a copy of that toy. With that said, come with me on this trip down memory lane. Here are the Top 10 Best Transformers I got in 2021 (most of which came out in 2021).

 

10. Shattered Glass Jetfire.

 

I'm starting the list with some returning moulds that I enjoyed back then and still enjoy now. Many of my issues with Siege Jetfire still hold true with the Shattered Glass repaint; he still feels very light for a bot of this size (especially when compared to Sky Lynx). Some things also feel a bit too clunky (such as the Titan Master support), but the positives still outweigh the negatives, and the colour change on the Shattered Glass repaint makes a solid mould even better.

9. Generations Selects Galactic Man Shockwave. 

 

 

"He also looks great in black, at least based on pictures I've seen.". A quote from my 2019 Top 10 Transformers list and... Well, yeah, he does! Functionally this toy is just a repaint of the Siege Shockwave mould using the colours of the original, pre-Transformers toy in Japan. I was shocked by the little extras included in this toy, including painting some of the moulding detail to look like wires for a nonexistent light up gimmick (again to homage the original toy). I'm glad that the controversy about all the extra pieces has died down, probably because we live in a world where a Deluxe can be sold as a Voyager, Voyagers can be sold as Deluxes, Voyagers can be sold as Leaders, and a Voyager can be sold as a Commander if given enough accessories. Is Galactic Man a must buy? No, it's only for those who like the niche repaints.

8. WFC Kingdom Megatron (Beast Mode). 

 

"He's just a degimmicked re-release of the original!" Is that a bad thing? Though I haven't gotten the Beast Wars reissue of Megatron yet, it's something I've been on the fence on since learning about how similar the toys are because the Kingdom one is really good. Many of the Kingdom Beasts (and don't worry, there's more of them later on in this list) blend cartoon accuracy with realism, something that I think the brand has been missing up until recently. Sure, if they did a version of this toy in more cartoon accurate colours, I'd buy it because the cartoon colours are beautiful. Even without that, though, this is what I wanted in a modern take on Beast Wars Megatron. The dino skin is excellent; the gimmick integration is fun, the modern articulation makes him so much more dynamic in both beast and bot mode. This is the boss of the Predacons redone two decades later; what more is there to say?

7. Generations Selects Transmutate.

 

 

Representing the Fossizers and "partsforming made fun" for 2021, how could it not be Transmutate? The moulding and the gimmick work so well as a fresh take on the half a bot we all know, love and who haunts our nightmares thanks to the ugly 90's CGI and that godforsaken scream. While she's fine in official configurations, the nature of being a Fossilizer has meant that people have gone to town with configurations for her, bringing her closer to the original body horror-based design. Still don't like her as a standalone, independent fembot that don't need no Maximal's help? Well, rip her apart and turn her into a golden axe for Primal. Everybody wins! Just, please don't make her scream. I'm not kidding about that "haunts our nightmares" part.

6. Studio Series 86 Grimlock and Slug.

 

Wheelie and Daniel not included. I couldn't decide between the two of them which one I enjoyed more, which is why both of them made the list. Both begin to tease us with what we've been missing in our lives, a complete set of Leader Class Dinobots that tower over the cars and trucks of the Autobots. However, neither wholly outshines the other in my eyes. Grimlock's very imposing, but I'm not a fan of the transformation as it's a very safe transformation for Grimlock. On the other hand, Slug is more complex and exciting but not as burly in some areas, and the backpack looks far more cluttered when compared to Grimlocks (thanks to the new transformation. Together, both are great, I can't wait to get the other three, and Sludge had better have the Googly eyes as an accessory, dammit!

5. Netflix Optimus Primal

 

As tempting as it is to include all three versions of the mould here, I prefer the Netflix release just a bit more out of the three. The paint applications are more in line with the cartoon while still keeping the Kingdom detail, and some of the annoyingly tight elements of the original release are smoothed out here, making him effortless to move around and pose. The differences between this version and the regular Kingdom version are minor, though, so if you can't find one, the regular Kingdom release is still a great option. As for the Nemesis Primal repaint included in Buzzworthy Bumblebee, my only complaint is the black fur. After seeing all the customizers repainting the black gorilla fur white, it just looks so much nicer.

4. Golden Disc Collection Mutant Tigartron.

 

 A more recent inclusion that I only got a few days ago at the time of writing. I include it, though, because of the history of Tigartron and Cheetor. If you have Kingdom Cheetor, Netflix Cheetor or Kingdom Shadow Panther, you'll know how this mould's going to mostly work, as the original Cheetor mould was used for Tigertron back in the '90s. With the upscale to Voyager class, Tigartron gets to have more of the bells and whistles that the little cat didn't get. Extra joints, extra accessories, a few minor tweaks in the transformation, pretty much everything I wish was done for the Deluxe Class release is done here. I love the fact that this is a nod to the original plan for Tigartron, and I can't wait to get the regular release of him next year. Hopefully, I'll go into more detail early in 2022, but that will have to wait until I get the regular release. 

3. WFC Kingdom Rodimus Prime.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if this is Number 1 for many people. Rodimus is a great toy with a lot of playability and display options. I love how effortless he is to move, a perfect refinement of Studio Series Hot Rod from earlier this year (even though I got mine last year). The only issue with him is that he's a little overpriced at RRP, something that sales, especially holiday ones, easily fixed. So why isn't he Number 1 for me? Two do beat him. This year was just an excellent year for Transformers.

2. WFC Kingdom Cyclonus.

 

 

Refined Perfection. This is what the Earthrise Seekers wish they could be. An updated take on the 2008 toy is the Cyclonus toy people have wanted for years. Cartoon accurate without being bound to the aesthetic (looking at you modern Masterpieces), Voyager Class scale, with all the articulation and modern engineering tricks made standard in the 13 years since the original's release. If Starscream and his merry band of repaints got this kind of treatment last year, they would have made the Top 3 easily. Easily the best of the G1 stuff in Kingdom.

Before Number 1, a few honourable mentions. 

• Kingdom Vertibreak
• Kingdom Dinobot
• Pulsecon Covert Agent Ravage
• Generations Selects Sandstorm and Ramjet
• Studio Series Dino
• Buzzworthy Bumblebee Origin Bumblebee

And the best of the best is...

 

1. WFC Kingdom Airazor.

 

 

Beyond the perfect articulation, the beautifully sculpted feathers, and the delightful transformation, the reason Airazor gets Number 1 is because this is a long time coming. While a good chunk of the Beast Wars characters have had toys since the late '90s, some like Scorponok, Terrorsaur, and Airazor haven't. Until this year, the only other option for a Beast Wars Airazor on your shelf WAS her 1997 toy. This didn't need to be this good, and cases like Scorponok show that we still need to wait for a perfect version of some beasts. Kingdom Airazor is a perfect figure for the character, though. Not only that, she's the best female transformer toy to date as she doesn't get bogged down with alt mode junk on her back, putting recent releases of Arcee, Chromia and Elita-1 to shame. She's more dynamic than many other Aerialbots (not just the combiner team); what few faults she has are easily drowned out by the positives. Not only is Kingdom Airrazor the best figure of 2021, but I'd also go so far as to say it's one of the best Transformers figures I've ever owned, right up there with the likes of Cybertron Optimus Prime and Energon Tidal Wave. Without a doubt, Kingdom Airazor is a must-have figure.

And with that, that wraps up the best of the best. Let me know what you think if you agree or disagree, and I'll see you next week for the worst of the worst.

Top 10 Transformers figures of 2020

 *insert obligatory "2020 was a awful year" joke here

 

Now that 2020 is over, I thought it might be fun to look back on what has been, because while reviews haven't really happened this year, my collection did keep growing. Delayed? Yes, but here's hoping that this can kick off consistent reviews again, here are the top 10 best figures I got in 2020... which all came out IN 2020, as I didn't really get anything older last year...

10. Netflix Nemesis Prime

 

This feels like a steal in terms of value in the box, considering all the accessories you get in it, along with a black repaint of Siege Optimus Prime. The weapons once exclusive to the Power of the Primes Nemesis Prime along with Earthrise Optimus Prime's trailer, some Energon cubes and even a Battle Master that I'll get into later in the list for $120 AUD and the stink of unnecessary Play-Doh? Nemesis Prime is a character that gets my attention at the moment mostly because I like black repaints of Optimus Prime, there's just a intimidation factor to it that I don't think other designs for Evil Optimus Primes capture. My one complaint though with this figure comes from the reuse of Power of the Primes accessories. Though the Nemesis Prime Takara put out (which I almost got this year, but cancelled when the Pandemic struck in order to help cover the cost of the Seacons) has the better looking sword, the Power of the Primes swords aren't the issue for me, it's the arm cannons. They're too big, and barely fit into the trailer, certainly can't fit onto the weapon ports inside the trailer. If vehicle mode storage was more reliable then "try and squeeze all these bits of plastic in the box", this would have been put even higher on my list. 

9. Generations Selects Lobclaw

 

Representing both sets of Seacons, the one member missing from God Neptune. If you're sick of Combiner Wars styled combiners, then you're not going to like the Seacons, but that being said, it's nice to get a Combiner Wars team that feels complete in terms of gear. Lobclaw/ Nautilator is the stand out of the team, even if the Lobster legs don't want to stay in place in beast mode, mainly due to the use of Blot's mould for the foundation. It's a shame he never got a white repaint in God Neptune, as it was way better Overbite. Granted the name Sea Phantom is kinda badass.

8. Studio Series Scrapper

 

From one combiner crew to another, Studio Series Scrapper is probably the one member of Devastator that I can recommend on his own, because he isn't compromised that much in order to do the combined mode. Granted, he still suffers from the overly designed issues that plague the live action movie characters and his proportions are a too leg focused, but the excavator mode looks great. I do wish his wrecking ball hand was a normal hand with the wrecking ball whip as a accessory, as it looks more like a odd looking claw in robot mode rather then a weapon.

7. Earthrise Slitherfang

 

How did this become a thing? Not that I'm complaining, I think this is amazing, but just imagining the pitch for this guy. "Ok, so the new Battle Masters are going to be roads and shields, right? What if one of them turned into a snake?". I don't have much to say about this one because the Battle Masters are so basic, but the idea of a chunk of road turning into a giant snake is kind of amazing. This Battlemaster got repainted into Fangtron for the previously mentioned Netflix Nemesis Prime, which honestly further drives home the idea that the person who designed this works in the GI Joe team and snuck the design in. Question though, why aren't there official Transformers that turn into GI Joe vehicles? Hasbro, you're underestimating the interest this crossover would have. Make the vehicles generic Autobots and Decepticons and you have Army building the toyline.

6. Generations Selects Black Rorichi

 

The Decepticons pulled off the Weaponizer gimmick a lot better then the Autobots did. Though I have enjoyed the Modulators that have released this year, to the point that next year I'll be able to make my own take on the Micromaster Rocket Base, even with a Countdown I bought off a Omega Supreme owner who didn't want it, there's something sattisfying about a robot that turns into giant guns for another robot. Originally I was going to skip this guy, as I picked up Fasttrack and was enjoying him, plus considering as I don't own a Earthrise Skorponok, the chances of me owning a modern to of Black Zarak are insanely low. But this and Doublecrosser qualified for free shipping, and Rorichi is tons better then Fasttrack. So much so that I've considered getting a few more Fasttracks to army build Rorichi's drones from Super-God Masterforce. I just hope that this one is more durable then his original toy was.

5. Earthrise Sky Lynx

 

Like many, I thought the last we'd see of Sky Lynx was Combiner Wars. He is the biggest outlier in the G1 roster when it comes to a "Where did this come from?", both in concept and the toy itself looking nothing like any other figure in the G1 toyline. It seemed unlikely that they'd make a modern version that could pull off all the modes, that he'd be stuck as a new Combiner torso due to the sheer size of him. Well, it turns out he can survive in the modern day as (almost, there's no motor walking gimmick) his original self. In fact, he can thrive! It just makes me smile whenever I look at it, because it is such a stupid idea done so beautifully. He's a pain in the ass to store, don't get me wrong, but considering as this may never happen again, I'm willing to give it to him. Fitting that his space shuttle is called the Magnificence.

4. Earthrise Ramjet

 

This team was way harder to complete then it needed to be. I've probably spent way too much on trying to complete a Seeker Squad this year, something that many would say I still haven't because I haven't got Red Wing and the Rainmakers from Siege (maybe someday? but G1 accurate... not always a good thing!). Though Thrust didn't make the deadline (not that he would have made it anyway if I'm being honest), the best of the 5 that I did get this year would have to be Ramjet, if for nothing else then the fact that I can fold his wings forward, meaning he doesn't take up as much room when in Robot mode. They're all solid, and great if you don't have the Classics Seekers, just... be ready for the continued barrage of repaints.

3. Studio Series Jazz: 

 

Time to flex a little for anyone overseas who reads this (at least it would have been if I got this out at the start of the month like I intended). Australia seems to have gotten Studio Series 1986 first, and after picking up all three Deluxes, and the two Voyagers of the sub-series, all I can say is that if this is a indicator of where they're going with SS86, I'm excited! Paint and plastic matching isn't great on it, though it's not a deal-breaker for me as the plastic matching is only noticeable in Daylight, and the paint matching is hidden away in robot mode. Definitely worth getting this one, especially if you're a fan of Jazz.

2. Alternate Universe Optimus Prime

 I couldn't find any good pics of it as a corpse, so here it is as a Zombie!

 Or to give it the toys real name, Dead Prime. Though I still really enjoy the Siege version of Optimus Prime, it's hard to deny that the Earthrise one is a step up in terms of engineering. They're both as good as each other, but when comparing the versions of the Earthrise one that are out there, Dead Prime is the one I find the more interesting of the two I personally own (the two Leader versions, sorry Shattered Glass fans... for now...). It's rare to get novelty repaints of Optimus that aren't Nemesis Prime in general retail, and I think the first time Dead Prime has gotten a general retail toy. With the influx of 86 movie characters coming soon, it's a great figure to include with them.

Before getting to Number 1, some honorable mentions:

• Earthrise Doubledealer: It's the thighs that kill this figure for me. I can live with the hollow legs, that was done for Transformation, though I wish there was something trying to cover it. The thighs though that are a problem, he's too short! It's a shame because he's so close to becoming a great modernization of Doubledealer. It's nice though that his Powermasters got a release in Generations Selects, credit where it's due at least.
  
  
  
  
  
• Earthrise Runabout and Runamuck: I have a soft spot for Z list nobodies. The Battlechargers were not good toys from what I can tell. Better then the Jumpstarters, but that's not saying much. Their Earthrise figures do look good though, not great, I think Runamuck should have had Orange somewhere in the colours to help break up the white plastic and white paint, but that's a minor complaint. I love the fact though that they can pull of the G1 toy accurate robot modes though, very nice touch.
  
  
  
  
  
• Generations Selects Rotorstorm: Why has it taken this long to get a new Rotorstorm? The original toy is one of the coolest looking Helicopter Transformers I've seen, the fact that it took a repaint of Siege Spinister to get a new Rotorstorm is absurd! Still, love the Spinister mold, and once I found some 3D printed blasters that replicated his Turbomaster canons, he just got better. This doesn't excuse the fact that this is a repaint, maybe someday the Turbomasters can get new toys. Maybe Hasbro are waiting for all the Thunderclashes to be destroyed by Gold Plastic Syndrome...
  
  
  
  
  
• Studio Series Kup: Though I wish the front of the car that made up his chest poked out a bit more in robot mode, I don't have many complaints about this guy. Head looks great in person, I love the accessories he comes with, I just wish a Battlemaster Flintlock existed so I could give him his Targetmaster.
  
  
  
  
  
• Masterpiece Hound: So... funny story behind this one, I won it as a raffle prize drawn New Years Eve on a Facebook group I'm a part of... Though I didn't get a choice in prizes as my number was the last one called in the Skippie, so I got last dibs on prizes, some how I've ended up with one of a few MP Hounds that is still in one piece. How that happened is beyond me, though a part of me still wishes I got that Blackarachnia... oh well, at least Kingdom will give me some exposure to the Beasts outside of Transmetal Primal.
  
  
  
  
  
• Earthrise Quintesson Judge: All I can really say about them is "how did this get green-lit to go into production?"
  

 And for the best figures I got in 2020...

1. Studio Series Scourge and Hot Rod: 

 

I couldn't decide which was better, both are amazing interpretations of the characters for two different reasons. I love the engineering that went into Hot Rod, along with how effortless he is to pose. Being perfectly honest, he's the main reason I hope those rumors of a Commander Class Rodimus are fake, I just don't think we need a Rodimus that's that big (or more accurately, I don't know if he needs a giant trailer that fits the Leader class sized bot part, can't it be a Leader that turns into the car and trailer like what DX9 did?). Tangent aside, those Scourge is the lesser of the two in terms of complexity, he always has a strong presence to him, so much so that I'm actively considering getting more of him to make a Sweeps squad of that mould, even though I still have a Titans Return Scourge, and 5 of the Generations Bomber (thank you to whoever it was on Facebook selling all of those bombers in a cheap lot). It makes me really excited to get Kingdom Cyclonus, and see what Galvatron will eventually look like. 2021 looks to be a exciting year for Transformers.

 I plan to catch up on proper 2020 reviews, mixing them in with reviews of the 2021 figures, hopefully this year won't be as barron content wise as the last. Coming up though as the next review? A look at a mould that many consider one of the worst of Earthrise... Surf's up?