chuckdawg1999

As the last Core Class figure from Kingdom, Hot Rod ends not only the Class on a high note but the whole of the Kingdom line. Transformation is involved but intuitive, much like Core Class Starscream. I should mention that like most Core sized car Transformers, the ease of Hot Rod's transformation will factor on how tight the ball joints are, as that can make things easier or harder. Overall, Hot Rod is a fine figure and a great addition to your Core Class collection.

With Blaster the Kingdom line is going out on the right foot. Transformation is intuitive and fun with the result being another mini-masterpiece, Blaster looks like he just walked out of the cartoon. Not everything is perfect though as Eject, the included microcassette is almost made entirely of translucent plastic, what's the over/under on how long it lasts? Blaster is a must-have for any collection and I would say the definitive version of the character.

Pipes is the expected repaint/retool of Huffer that's a fun figure and a nice change from Huffer. Puffer and Road Ranger are nice homages to interesting periods in Transformers history. Puffer's deco is based on an international release of the G1 Pipes toy, while Road Ranger is an update to an Ehobby GoBots tribute release from the early 2000s. While all the figures are fun, if you're just looking to experience the molds, the Golden Disk Collection release is a great way to sample the tooling.

It's ReAction Optimus Prime decked out for Christmas! Merry Christmas everyone!

The Artfire is one of the rarest Transformers from the G1 era. It's a Japanese exclusive repaint of Inferno with an added Targetmaster, Nightstick. While not re-released during the Book-Box days or the Encore line, there have been a few updates to Artfire using more recent Generation and Masterpiece figures. This version of Artfire uses the Kingdom Inferno mold with the addition of the Siege Firebolt mold as Nightstick. While I would've preferred a Targetmaster with a new barrel, something closer to the original, or an entirely new mold, I really can't find any fault with this release. If you're into Transformers history or a fan of the Inferno mold then this figure is worth the pick-up.

Bumbleswoop is a fun figure in combined mode, but the individual robot modes are lacking, not that I was expecting much. Swoop in particular is a little floppy and the spring is on a hair-trigger. I recommend getting Wheelgrim or Slugtron first to experience the combiner gimmick better.

Got mine today, I did a thing

There's really not much to say about King Starscream, ReAction figures are boutique toys that cater to a very niche audience. If you enjoy the 5 POA figures like Retro Star Wars figures and some of the kid-friendly Marvel figures you'll enjoy this, although the price might be a bit restrictive. In the end, the look is nice and Starscream fans will get something out of it.

If you thought you would hit the Jackpot with this figure set, you'd be wrong. While the mold is fine, a repaint of SS86 Jazz with a new head, which is the issue. Somewhere, either in development or in assembly, the head was put together wrong, causing an eyesore when looked at dead on. I cannot in good conscience recommend this figure, hopefully, they'll be a second run that fixes the issue, and then it might be worth the pickup.

The Honda City mold is the BEST Masterpiece figure I've handled in a long, long time. I haven't enjoyed transforming a figure this much since Masterpiece Bumblebee 1.0. If I have to pick one to recommend, Skids is part of the G1 cast so it's a necessity for a Masterpiece shelf. Then again both are very affordable so if you can, both are great additions to any collection.

Dead End is a fine Warrior Class figure, not my favorite but close. Transformation is simple but satisfying, I enjoy seeing a small robot change into a smaller car. The action gimmick is actually not that intrusive and with a little care, Dead End can get into some nice poses. A perfect toy for the holiday season.

At first, I was really excited for this set, having it in hand though has tempered my enthusiasm. Tyrannocon Rex is a straight repaint of BW Megatron with a new head, if you like that figure you'll have no problem with this version. JP93 is where most of my issues lie. As of right now, this is an entirely new figure. As such, I think the QC could've been handled a lot better. Straight out of the box JP93 is just this shy of being a floppy mess and it's only to get worse over time. Transformation is smooth and intuitive which leads me to believe we'll see this mold somewhere down the line. I really can only recommend this set for the die-hard Jurassic Park fans.

There's a lot going on with Hot Rod that's fun, unfortunately, there's quite a bit that's going wrong. Might be my copy, might not. When the entire point of a toy is the gimmick transformation you kinda need to make sure that works, all the time. If you're a fan there might be something here for you but I definitely can't recommend this for younger fans.

Going into the specials that will end the Cyberverse series, we were shown the animated version of Volcanicus. The toy representation presented here doesn't combine, but it does transform into some form of a dragon. Something that wasn't shown in the first special that's now available on YouTube. Articulation isn't much to write home about, and the spinning transformation gimmick doesn't always work the way you'd want it to, but as of right now this is the only representation of the character.

WheelGrim is another fun Dino Combiner to be released in the Dinobots Unite subline. Wheeljack makes a great pair of pants while Grimlock becomes the torso and they blend well. While it will never win awards for transformation and articulation, it is a fun figure that will make some people happy.