Transformers News And Belated Cute Post

My apologies for missing last night folks. While I run ahead on the Tuesday/Thursday articles, Saturday/Sunday articles get done on the day. Or not, in this case. I double-booked, sorry. So here's a a little something to make up for it, with a promise of better stuff next week.

Source: Ahon Sarkar

Now, on to want I want to talk about. Hasbro dropped a few bombshells this week regarding Titans Return, next year's toy line. As I have previously indicated, people are rather excited about that line, and now they are more so. Presenting: Exhibit A

My inner 7-year-old got rather vocal about this. That's a modernised version of Powermaster OptimusPrime, the first Optimus I ever owned, and the version of the character I associated with the Marvel comic series. Basically, Optimus died and came back to life, this not being as much of a cliché at the time, and eventually was rebuilt with a new body, a bigger trailer, and a lot of guns. The toy was awesome, but it was also a brick, so I'm glad to see them take another swing at it. I am also pleased to see my suspicions about Ultra Magnus were correct. I am less keen about the hollow forearms though, that's looking to a line-wide flaw. Then they finally confirmed this dude, having teased him in slides.

Fortress Maximus was of course the holder of the “World's Biggest Transformer” title, and something I have coveted in the past. He lost that title to Generations Metroplex, whom is now being retooled into Fortress Maximus. At least, in so far as we can tell from this art and leaked images. I may need to write a bit more about this phenomenon, but at least his signature gimmick is there. 

The other big thing is going to a vote, via facebook post, to select a toy to made in 2017. The options are Skorponok, rival to Max above, Trypticon, rival to Metroplex above, and Omega Supreme, rivalry with the Constructicons. In full Titan scale, too. So, gigantic. This is kinda awesome, but given the investment of time and money a Transformer actually needs, I find myself honestly surprised. Makes me wonder if the moulds are all ready to go, or if there's a lot of shared parts going on. Still cool. Go vote on Tuesday.

Toy artwork and images Copyright Hasbro. Source: BWTF and Hasbro Pulse.

A Concise Review of Generations Brainstorm In 500 Words Or Less

Pricepoint/Vintage: Voyager, 2014.

Modes: Robot and Spacefighter.

Transformation Style: Standard with Headmaster.

Play Patterns: Robot and aircraft, 5mm weaponry, Headmaster with Tech Spec Gimmick.

Points of interest: Based on the art of Nick Roche, first new, mass market Headmaster in yonks.

The Good

Brainstorm's robot mode is basically fantastic. Visually, he's a nearly ideal representation of the MTMTE comic version, and looks nice from all angles. The gaps and hollows that so often afflict Generations are almost unnoticeable. G1 purists will enjoy the tech spec gimmick in his chest as well. Posability is brilliant, with 23 joints, the head being noteworthy for being balljointed and extremely expressive. While ratchet heavy, he has ankle tilts and excellent balance. The skirt armour is even articulated, and there's a port for a figure stand. Play value is also high thanks to his two guns, which can either be duel wielded or left on as shoulder cannons. The vehicle mode meanwhile has a certain R-Type/Thunder Force/Star Fox appeal to it, with an opening cockpit, and front landing gear.

The Bad

Quality control and testing was utterly abysmal for this toy. The curiously unnamed headmaster pilot has been the subject of many horror stories where it came apart, leaving its own head in the socket due to misapplied paint. My example avoided this, but the spring-loaded tech spec gimmick is on a hair trigger, the left wrist was loose, and the paintwork sloppy. If possible, either handle this toy before purchase, or look for a boxed example where the head is secured with rubber bands, as this supposedly addresses the headmaster problem.

The Mediocre

Even assuming the pilot does not disassemble itself, he's not hugely impressive, with some odd proportions and minimal articulation. He can sit in Brainstorm's vehicle mode, which is fun, but the area is undetailed. The spaceship mode is similarly unimpressive, with the robot mode limbs not really going anywhere. Not to say the form is bad, mind you, I still made pew-pew noises, but its not that convincing.

The Alternatives

As Brainstorm is unique just now, the only true alternatives involve G1 toys and third parties. However, if all you want is a excellent voyager, look at Sandstorm and Springer from the same line.

The Verdict

Brainstorm is pretty typical of the Generations line and its voyagers. The robot mode is nigh-perfect, but the vehicle mode is rough, and there's some definite QC/design issues going on. While the headmaster gimmick is technically an advancement, as he gets a decent neck joint out of it, I can't help but feel this toy would have been better without it. If you like Brainstorm, you probably won't mind too much, but I don't think you'll be transforming him much either. As for the rest of us? Well, take a good hard look first.