Transformers Buzzworthy Bumblebee Origins Jazz review

Back in 2021, Origin Bumblebee gave fans a surprising addition to various shelves as he made for a unique interpretation of the character's history, being the first-ever version of the guy to receive a Cybertronian alt mode that is none other than the flying saucer. While the idea of putting new molds in a store as an exclusive feels annoying to tolerate, at least the quantity is plentiful for fans that worry they'll never get a copy of the toy readily available. This has been the case for Jazz as well, especially for fans that wanted a Cybertronian equivalent of the character after only getting his Earth mode in SS86 but not a possible Siege equivalent. So with all that said, let's take a look at the newly released Buzzworthy Bumblebee Origin Jazz!

Here is Origin Jazz in his vehicle mode. It looks like a handheld vacuum cleaner what with the design and the color layout, but it is meant to be his Cybertronian altmode. I know that's what it looks like, but come on! The front portion and the spoiler don't help with the comparison! At least having some wheels would make it a little more like a car, but that's for the Season 3 cast! That being said, the toy does feel flatter in terms of sculpted details and not as reliant on paint apps, so it won't fit in with the WFC toys as well. That being said, I like that we got a version of him that was never done before.

The weapon storage is typical for a Deluxe, with the gun pegging on top while the smaller weapon (the grapnel hook) is stored in the bottom. I like that approach if you ask me. And yes, he has a faux car grille for the chest.

For a vehicle mode size comparison, here is is next to fellow Origin bot, Bumblebee. They both fit well with one another as being strictly based on G1 Season 1 Episode 1 Scene 1's alt modes on Cybertron rather than being fully compatible with the Siege line-up. It is amusing how for a second time in a row, we have Cybertronian altmodes that get made after the Earth modes (in contrast to Siege characters getting Earth modes in either Earthrise, Kingdom, SS86, and Legacy/Evolution).

Transforming Jazz is like the SS86 toy, but with more panels tucking away, a bigger backpack, and a faux chest this time around, a rarity for Jazz toys that are used to the Porsche altmode. Not much else to say beyond those points, though do be wary of the clear plastic once again...the robot mode is more proportionate this time around for the character, which I think would almost make fans want to swap thus for a robot mode display had it not been for the altmode kibble. No parts were reused from SS86 Jazz, though be warned on the chest's paint chipping off.

Head sculpt is pretty accurate to the cartoon, which is typical for the Legacy line and the WFC trilogy so let's move on to his articulation. Head is on a ball joint, shoulders move front and back, in and out, biceps swivel, elbows bend, waist swivels, hips move front and back as well as in and out, thighs swivel, knees bend, and ankles pivot.

His gun pegs in his right hand as one would hope, but if you flip the other hand away (both hands do the same), you can give him the two-piece grapnel hook so he can either be displayed with it pre-launch or without it to use another weapon.

For a robot mode size comparison, here he is in-between his SS86 counterpart and Origin Bumblebee. You can see how much wider the design looks on the previous Deluxe compared to the one we just received. And as I stated before, fans would almost have this guy in their robot mode display had it not been for the alt mode kibble attached to his body. Same thing going for Bumblebee. That being said, Origin Jazz makes for a pretty good version of the character that I don't think fans would want to miss out on, even if they already got the SS86 guy while they put this new toy with the Siege figures. I bet we'll get a Wheeljack at some point.

Final ranking: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐