If you were to tell me in 2012 that we'd get a Masterpiece line devoted to the Bayverse Transformers, I'd never believe you! Between the mainline nature of the series and the priority of the Masterpiece line being the G1 cast at the time, it was not something we'd expect to happen in any way, shape, or form! Plus, also, additionally, they only did two repaints for the bigger fellas of Hunt for the Decepticons, like how they kept repainting premium versions of the ROTF Leader Optimus! But five years ago, the subline was brought back months after we got releases meant for Beast Wars, and it was very exciting to see what we'd get out of the non-G1 guys, especially when Bumblebee turned out to be a spectacular reveal! And fast forward to today, we have had 10 new releases to enjoy overall, so why not we rank them from worst to best? This will be my personal list, so keep that in mind.
Let's get these two out of the way. At the bottom of the barrel is the MPM-02 version of Bumblebee. This guy isn't a bad toy, per see, because Battle Ops Bumblebee feels like a smaller yet more refined version of the Ultimate Bumblebee figure. That being said, however, the toy is more reliant on gimmicks that don't quite make it qualify for a Masterpiece release. Between the lack of wheel integration, the right arm having the articulation hindered by the gimmick, and the general use of lights and sounds that fit for a Leader Class toy more than a Masterpiece, he just feels like he's a Masterpiece in name only. Lots of nice paint apps, but definitely the weakest (not worst because the toy doesn't suck) of the line.
Next, it's the MPM-01 version of Starscream. The figure is a repaint of the already impressive Hunt for the Decepticons Leader Class figure in the MV1 colors, which is already awesome because the previous version was in the Revenge of the Fallen tattoos. The jet mode lacks the color variety of the ROTF figure but the MV1 version has the better-painted robot mode. That being said, he still ranks at the bottom of the list because in spite of being more of a Masterpiece than Battle Ops Bumblebee, he's still a Leader Class figure first and was meant to be as such. Sure, he and ROTF Optimus are worthy of the titles, but they don't have the same amount of steps, engineering, and articulation that would make them make the cut.
Those last two releases have their own category of toys that were made for one line in mind. I do own Leaderscream and did play with Battle Ops Bee, and while they were good toys, they aren't proper Masterpiece releases. But these next guys do as we're about to delve into. Up next, it's Optimus Prime from the Bumblebee movie, 2021's only Masterpiece toy. I'mma be honest and say that this guy is the worst of the new molds, and for plenty of reasons! One reason revolves around the way his transformation and alt mode line up with the robot mode. For a tl;dr version of it, most of the Cybertronian designs didn't have altmodes nor transformations made so they had to come up with them. Optimus Prime, however, did have a Studio Series figure that used a transformation and a truck mode that, while never shown on-screen for the former and is inaccurate for the latter, at least made for a successful toy. This guy, in spite of all the premium bells and whistles, is inferior to the mainline Transformer! Sure, the robot mode's closer to the CGI model, but the transformation is too easy for a figure of this price, and the truck mode not only looks like a 75% complete result but is riddled with design problems, like the gap for the sun-visor, the clunky rear portion, and the cat ears, but it's all around WORSE than the Studio Series version! Also, we get a Matrix of Leadership included yet I'd sacrifice that for a better-engineered toy.
The only other guy released in the Bumblebee movie so far is, well, Bumblebee. This guy's not the best-looking in robot mode, as he certainly feels more rushed compared to Optimus, as the two of them have different forms of duality. Optimus Prime was pretty much a take on the G1 design with the movie influence but the robot mode was the only priority they had to the point where they forgot how to make the transformation and vehicle mode share the synergy needed. By contrast, Bumblebee's vehicle mode and transformation already make sense, but the robot mode is inaccurate in terms of proportions and design traits, especially with the door wings and wheels being more obvious here than they ever were on the Studio Series design. That being said, Bumblebee's got a few nicer features than Optimus does, from the weapons he comes with to the surprise addition of the chest missiles that better fit a G1 Seeker. They didn't have to include that because it's for the transformation but hey at least it's nonintrusive to the budget compared to me wishing they'd sacrifice the Matrix in favor of a better transformation for MPM-12. So this guy is still not perfect but he's a decent addition.
As you can probably tell from the Beewun duo, I do not own those figures yet. I mean, I wanna, but I don't have the interest in them right now because of the aftermarket prices and them not being worth the money they're going for. I'll talk about how much I got each figure with each character, but these next guys have photos taken by me because I own them! At number 8, it's Barricade, everyone's favorite Decepticop! The proportions, design traits, and screen-accuracy are much better done here than before, and he's certainly got all of the details that make him capture his look wonderfully. HOWEVER, there are a few things that push him back from being the best, from his inner parts of the arms not having any indents or tabs if you were to move them down. I also don't like how his flail weapon integration is half-assed. At least everyone else either had nice tabs or would replace the hand one way or another, but this is worse than any other version of Barricade because of the left hand floating in the back as well as the gap of the forearm left by the windshield. And he could definitely come with a Frenzy minifigure. I know there's a chance he'd be a static figurine that can't fit in his chest, but at least make him a transformable gun! That's what DNA Designs are doing, and I'd appreciate it if Hasbro did the same! Still, he's a remarkable addition to the collection in spite of those issues. I got Barricade as a birthday gift by Illiniguy34 along with Generations Selects Deep Cover and NECA King Kong.
Up next on the list is Ironhide, on the Number 7 spot. This guy is certainly the best-looking Ironhide, and while the Studio Series version is second-best, I'd say this guy gets the proportions right in addition to not having the bumper on the bottom. I love the way he turned out in terms of the visuals, though the transformation is kind of fiddly at times. One problem, however: his stability for the forearm panels and the chest pecs is very poor! The forearms don't tab with the panels that well, the cannons feel loose on the posts, and the chest doesn't like to remain in place. Those are what make the Studio Series figure better overall, even if he's a little less accurate than the Masterpiece. One minor nitpick but I do wish he came with effect pieces since he was released around the time the Siege line began. If you got this guy for a cheap price like $25 at Ross, then you got yourself a Masterpiece figure that cost you less than a Voyager at regular retail! A perfect bargain, though I paid for a little more online, it's a decent deal nonetheless.
And here we now have Megatron at the Number 6 spot, with a pretty solid figure to go over with some things I don't quite like here and there. We've gotten ourselves our first even toy based on the original Megatron design after years of constant redesigns, and while he is one of the two best iterations of that design, he's not without flaws. The brown plastic is a little out of place, and it makes more sense for a mainline Leader Class toy when they wanted to make the gray Decepticons less monochromatic back in the old days. There are things I like about his transformation, like the way the nose cone flips out and the wingspan of the wings, but I'm not a fan of how half-assed the chest transformation feels. And I do wish he didn't feel on-par with the engineering of a Commander Class or older Leader Class figure. I'm sure there's more that can be done to make his transformation and possibly jet mode even better. That being said, he's a big boy at a taller height than most Leaders, rivaling a Combiner Wars/POTP Gestalt, has quite the amount of articulation, and has some sweet accessories, from the fusion cannon to the whip and even the Allspark! He's quite the heavy lad, too, with tons of die-cast all around! So yeah, he's still a worthy buy if you get him for either $35 or at least waaaaaaay less than $150 (I paid mine for the same price as a commander), though I will admit that the Studio Series figure wins on having a less bulky backpack in addition to the higher use of silver paint and a more unique transformation.
After that, we're in the top 5 stretch, with Ratchet taking up the spot! He's got a solid base to go around with, especially when he's got no engineering borrowed from any previous toy, which was kind of an annoying case for when it came to his Studio Series release being a taller yet cheaper-feeling version of his DOTM toy. This guy's transformation and part-layout feel much closer to the movie design, and thank God, because I was dying to have a more definitive Ratchet at a larger scale. The accessories are nicely done, too, and the paint apps that we do have are appreciative! That being said, I don't like the way most of the alt mode just folds up into a backpack, because while the legs are perfectly proportionate, he ends up being kinda cluttered in the upper torso. Ratchet does have a fairly busy design on his upper body, but not to this extent. And annoyingly, those fenders on the front move around when not tabbed in, and when they are, they inhibit the arm articulation. I thought of wedging them onto the front of the vehicle mode's brush guard, but that ends up scraping some plastic if not done carefully, and I'd rather not do that. In any case, Ratchet is the best version of the character from HasTak, and I don't mind the coloring not being 1:1 to the movie, but I know there's room for improvement.
At the number 4 spot is the Autobot leader himself, Optimus Prime. Honestly, I'm still happy to own this guy in spite of some of his problems. Like, I know he's not the best at capturing his CG model in terms of accuracy and proportions, and the transformation is kind of complicated even when using the ROTF Leader as a base, and the truck mode is kind of inaccurate, but to tell you the truth, there are just as many good things that he brings to the table. From the leaner design to the cleaner backpack, and from some of the new steps added into the mix to the paint job being so good, it makes for a great breath of fresh air for those who might have been tired of the ROTF Leader getting too many repaints. I even like the ideas of the integration of the accessories. The face swap gimmick is a little mixed for me. They're nicely detailed for what they are, but I will admit that they could be replaced with heads that can be swapped if you would just use the neck brace as the base while the heads are on ball joints for a more expressive toy (in addition to having the mouthplated and exposed face options). So yes, not a 100% perfect toy but he's more worthy of a Masterpiece title than his Bumblebee movie counterpart would, any day.
At number 3, it's Starscream! The original HFTD Leader was already an impressive toy to delve into, but the fact that this guy goes a step further in making a more accurate robot mode is brilliant! He's much closer to the CGI model in terms of proportions and part layout, he's got nice paint applications throughout him, and the accessories are wonderfully done all around. The problem is the execution for some of the things that plague this toy. The figure not being entirely painted? No problem. It looks good enough as it is. The butt panel that was fixed on the KO? Sure, it looks a little bad, but it's okay. The transformation, though, is a lot more complex than it really needed to be! It's fine that they made it worth the money but why did it have to be a little too complex for its own good? Granted, not as much as, say, Thunder Leader or MP-52 Starscream, but it's still not as tolerable without instructions. The accessories are very cool to use, but they weigh down the arms because the ratchets aren't as reinforced as they should be. Speakest of the arms, they don't have bicep swivels. HOW?! Why can we not have those on the Masterpiece while the Leader Class figure from a decade ago does?! So a nearly perfect release all around, and I expect to have those new biceps.
At the number 2 spot, it's Jazz! One would assume the Human Alliance guy would win as the definitive experience, but this guy takes it to a whole new level. Firstly, the shiny silver paint looks exquisite with the choice of gray plastic as well as the improved proportions and accuracy compared to the Human Alliance and Studio Series releases. His gun integration's awesome, the transformation is done up quite well, and the visor options is always a great touch. I even like the option to remove the legs from the body with a really neat lock that keeps everything in place solidly. You even get a nice little piece that The Sam Witwicky figure, while a neat addition, is a little random for someone like Jazz, and he'd better fit Bumblebee overall. I do feel that some parts have a small bit of fragility to them, but it's helpful enough if you're aware of how to transform him. Another nitpick may be the visor not being black, but I think it's at the fault of the gang-molding used for the clear parts. Maybe the windows being a smokier tint would make it work. But either way, an amazing Jazz that amusingly exists while a G1 version doesn't have a proper release.
And at number 1, it's the guy who started the rebirth of the subline! It's everyone's favorite yellow fellow, Bumblebee! This guy does everything right from the start compared to his subsequent line mates. He captures the design perfectly, he possesses a great number of articulation points, his transformation is balanced wonderfully, and he has very few traits of inaccuracies throughout him. Sure, the shade of yellow might be a little too bright, and the rims are a darker shade than they should be, but that doesn't stop him from being the definitive Bumblebee from not just the Movies but in general! The two Masterpiece figures of the G1 guy each had their strengths and weaknesses yet felt a little hindered in some areas (though in the case of the 2.0 version, severely), so it was a miracle that this guy not only made for a slam dunk of a release, but he also presented new features that other Bumblebees would make note of over time, from the new leg transformation integrating the wheels rather than leaving them slapped on the outer sides of the ankles to the mini wings that no other toy of the character attempted until now. The Human Alliance and Battle Blade figures are trumped by this guy so easily.
And that covers the Masterpiece Movie gang. It's kinda weird how only Optimus Prime was the 2021 release we got when we could have included Blackout, Brawl, or Bonecrusher to feature a Decepticon. Maybe 2022 will give us that, and hopefully, they're more than just Studio Series upscale with enhancements. I haven't seen much about Dream Factory's Bonecrusher so we'll see what happens. Now then, time to find the BB movie duo for cheap prices on eBay.
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