Transformers Studio Series 86 Steeljaw & Legacy United repaints review

2024 is starting to be the year that ruined its overall qualities as it starts being phased out. Between the unimpressive Core Class Concept Art Frenble mold, no Beast Wars Dinobot that the listings planned, and a Ramhorn now being packaged with a redecoed SS86 Perceptor for a Voyager. As part of the second-to-last listing of the Cores we have here, we have a pair of redecoes from Wave 1 and a new Cassetticon for the heavily unrepresented Steeljaw. Sounds good, right? No, not exactly. Let's find out why one of the repaints is the best of the three, why another repaint is average, and why Steeljaw sucks.

Here we have Steeljaw in his cassette mode. Why does it look incomplete? You have one side that has the spool and a bit of paint apps representing the reel, but then you got another half where it's unpainted, you have the lion heads visible, and it's the biggest form of asymmetry on a cassette that I have ever seen. The backside even has the faux spools painted on, which makes this feel like an afterthought overall. There's very little to say.

Steeljaw is compatible with Blaster, but he is far too snug and has to fit in a specific way. The Siege Micromasters meant for Soundwave and Blaster aren't always the best for compatibility, but this is even worse.

Do I need to point out the obvious with this alt mode's failures? And yes, that is the Rumble who comes with Legacy United Soundwave. More on him later.

Transformation feels somewhat cheap, with how tight the joints feel on a figure that is small and likely poorly designed. I worry on there being stress marks where the little bolts are connected, especially from repeated transformations. Steeljaw's lion mode is adorable, yes, and you do get articulation for the legs, but is it really worth having to make the figure's altmode be shit? I'm also unhappy with there being no proper integration for the winglets behind the mane, which would have helped the altmode. There is also a joint meant for the butt where the legs can be spaced apart...why?! It makes him look like he has a silver chrome anus!

The backpack can be removed if you want to use his other accessory to make him have an additional attack mode. That speaker can slide into Blaster's hand to recreate the moment where he fought like this in Auto Bop.

Meanwhile, on the side of better-quality Core Class figures, with Geocron on the right is what may look like a palette swap of Bouldercrash, yet apart from the replacement of burgundy with light brown and red with lavender, we at least have a few different placements for the paint apps on both toys here and there, which include the pistons near the front wheel and the bit of red on the front.

The main difference you'd get would be the robot head, which looks more like the rock monsters that were featured in the Headmasters episode My Friend, Sixshot. Hasbro did say that the monsters there were homaged along with the Rock Lords for the Infernac crew.

As for Energon Galvatron, this is the best saved for last. I already loved the original Energon Megatron, and seeing this with the purple and richer blacks was a treat. It isn't a direct color swap either, with the re being different paint app placements this time around. So for example, the angry black unibrow and the nosecone are replaced with the red guns near the cockpit.

I really love the original figure's robot mode for being faithful to the original, but this manages to be even better with the Energon Galvatron repaint. I hope we get a larger-scale version of this design, but until then, we can joke how Armada Galvatron shrank into his Energon form...or you could be boring and repurpose this as a G1 version of the character.

Overall, Steeljaw is the worst Core Class figure we've got yet, and I thought Concept Art Rumble was an awful toy. As for Geocron and Galvatron, the former is alright while the latter is awesome. I recommend you get Energon Galvatron. The ranking below represents the wave combined.

Steeljaw ranking: ⭐⭐ out of ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Geocron: ⭐⭐⭐ out of ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Galvatron: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Final ranking: ⭐⭐⭐ out of ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Transformers Masterpiece Movie Decepticon Brawl Review

Whether you know him as a Brawl, Devastator, or Decepticon Punk, this tankformer was reminiscent of the hard-to-kill enemies in movies where the heroes would struggle to take down until they find the weak spot. Though he had some of his weapons damaged by three of the five Autobots and the military initially, he didn't get taken down too easily; let's not forget that the other Decepticons popped up while Megatron killed Jazz and Optimus was late thanks to Bonecrusher (and presumably Barricade but he was last seen on the highway). Seeing the surprising teamwork of a crippled Bumblebee and Mikaela help the military take him down while Optimus and Sam had to contend with Megatron and the other Autobots were worn out from Starscream and Blackout was quite the treat, and easily better than the Decepticons going down too easily in The Last Knight or Bumblebee doing his own rage mode with red eyes his solo movie, ripping off Baymax and Iron Giant. Anyways, let's not talk about the two worst Transformers movies and instead cover a figure that is from one of the best!

Before we begin, Brawl comes packaged out of the box like this, with his tank barrel all bent up and his accessories placed in little baggies. It's better than having him come with cheap ass paper tissue wrapping, but I wish he had a plastic tray instead, or a styrofoam one like in the old days of  Megazord toys. Or hell, at least a better-quality cardboard tray reminiscent of the SWAT Megazord I got a month before Brawl.

Here we have Brawl with the tank barrel straightened and his missile pods added on the back, looking badass as hell. The figure's deco is somewhat monochromatic compared to prior toys, with richer shades of green or added color variety one would find from older toys to make them more eye-catching for kids; that being said, it is accurate to the movie as one would expect from the Masterpiece Movie line. Brawl's sculpted details are also faithful to the proper M1 Abrams tank, from the rivets to the treads underneath, and from the panel lines on the turret to the latches where the pilots would enter. There is also a hole where Brawl's head would be, but that is surprisingly accurate to the movie despite it somewhat revealing his head. Weird but it's something you'd never expect unless you remember the Leader Class toy. This altmode is also appropriately heavy, thanks to the die-cast bits as well as the somewhat denser plastic. 

The movement for the tank mode consists of the three barrels moving up and down, the two turrets rotating in their base with no issue, and the two missile pods also having rotation in their ports, allowing you to have them either at an angle or facing forwards as other Brawl toys did (except for Studio Series, which is rather limited).

There is some weapon storage at the top of the turret, which isn't too sightful yet is at least convenient nonetheless given how they, too, also have firepower in mind.

As for the blast effects, the main barrel, the twin turret barrels, and the missile pods can integrate these, blasting the Autobots and any unlucky military soldiers out of the way in Mission City. I love seeing these getting put to good use after seeing Blackout get his own blast effects, and Bonecrusher's flame effects were sweet, too.

For a tank comparison, here he is next to Combiner Wars Megatron from nearly a decade ago! Remember when that hunk of plastic got hyped up for being metallic silver and being Geewun enough for fans? Man does it hold up poorly as a Leader Class. Brawl manages to weigh more, have a lot more engineering comparable to an old ROTF Leader Class figure, but on a higher budget, and is not restrained by economy woes as seen with CW Megs. 

Here is Brawl next to one of the two Decepticons he mobilized with on the road, with Barricade appearing rather oversized. Obviously he is meant to represent a scale comparable to the Autobot Cars in the G1 Masterpiece line, but I can't help but feel that this comes off making Brawl look like he's the undersized one.

As for the scale with Bonecrusher, I feel that it works much better by comparison, with the two having a size more or less comparable to what was briefly seen in the movie when they mobilized.

For a comparison with the vehicles used in the movie, some could argue that Brawl could be narrower and taller to match up with Bonecrusher, though it may be an angle the camera recorded in. Barricade definitely doesn't match the Masterpiece toy, but you could probably use the Studio Series version instead.

And what is a review on a Movie Brawl figure review without having Jazz hop on and call him a Decepticon punk. Jazz does appear oversized in this, so perhaps using the Studio Series version may help with the size change once again unless we get an oversized Brawl.

Hot take: the 1986 movie may have been the originator of the scene, but the 2007 movie did it better. Sorry, Kup and Blitzwing.

Transformation is just as complex and Bonecrusher and Blackout, continuing the trend of the Decepticons we got after Beewun Optimus being intricate on a scale not seen with prior MPMs. With a design as heavily involved as Brawl's, HasTak ensured that the character model was done justice, something not done as well for figures like both Optimus Primes, Ratchet, and even Megatron. The resulting robot mode is the best Brawl has ever looked when it comes to official HasTak offerings. He's got the appropriate chunkitude without making his arms look undersized or etched within vehicle panels. I always liked how he felt reminiscent of G1 Bruticus in some ways, from the powerhouse proportions to the twin barrels on the back. Not to mention, he IS Brawl only now as a more independent 'Con. Also, he may not have the option to have his tank turret slung under him, Armada Megatron-style, but it's better than leaving it in place like with the Studio Series version.

The head sculpt is accurate to the movie, what with the bronze/copper paint apps as well as the small bit of teeth added in his mouth. The slight battle damage on the left side of his head is a nice touch, representative of his war torn nature. Hell, the tank treads surrounding his head are also painted to look dirty from being on all sorts of terrain. His articulation. Consists of a ball-jointed neck, ratchets at the shoulders moving front and back as well as in and out, rotation below the shoulders as well as the elbows, single-jointed elbows, slight wrist rotation, finger articulation at two points as well as the thumb. There is waist rotation, ratchets at the hips, rotation at the thighs as well as above the knees, ratcheted knees, and the ankles can pivot. The bulk makes him less dynamic to pose, but the weapons he has add to the look nonetheless.

The blast effects compliment the right arm's cannon perfectly, with his left arm instead doing all the slicing and dicing. I almost wish we got another missile pod effect part.

That being said, Brawl has additional display options that are moreso used against him, such as a severed left arm from when Ratchet's buzzsaw cut it off, or an explosion effect from when Bumblebee kept shooting him with Mikaela's help. Just pretend Bee's crippled and Mikaela is driving the tow truck.

For a size comparison, here he is with Bonecrusher, who manages to be somewhat shorter than our tankformer yet manages to be wider by comparison. 

And here he is with Barricade, with height difference that seems easier to stomach than their scale in vehicle mode. Obviously, Megatron, Starscream, and Blackout tower over Brawl.

Overall, this is a very impressive Masterpiece Movie figure once again, and the fact that Brawl manages to be in a consistent streak with Blackout and Bonecrusher makes me very happy to see how well he turned out. Sure, Jazz is about to break his missile pod off, but don't let that stop you from getting your hands on him. He should be easier to obtain since I've seen him in-person more often than with every MP figure that was a Target exclusive, but he's still a huge recommend regardless if you get him on clearance or not.

Final ranking: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Transformers Movie the Best MB-16 Jetfire review

If you recall, I previously reviewed Buster Optimus Prime, a figure that was made 15 years ago to celebrate Revenge of the Fallen. I teased that Jetfire was a figure that would get the spotlight after mentioning that my copy of Buster Prime was mouthplated yet came without a redecoed Jetfire. Another Takara premium Bayverse line, Movie the Best, aimed to make definitive redecoes of older toys similarly to the Movie Advanced Series of toys that showcase how much has changed between 2007-2011 engineering and 2014-2017 engineering. Jetfire was a Leader Class mold that I never got since I did have the original versions of Optimus Prime and Megatron (albeit in beat-up conditions). So while Jetfire isn't exactly the same Jetfire seen in the ROTF two-pack, it's still a release I'm willing to take regardless, and he shall be today's review.

Here we have Jetfire in his SR-71 Blackbird jet mode. Seeing this alt mode at a somewhat larger size than what I am more used to with the Studio Series version feels unreal, especially with how much larger Leader Class figures were back then. Sadly, the figure has issues with the kibble as expected for the undercarriage, and my copy has loose landing gear that likes reverting back to its retracted positions. Despite those issues, this alt mode has always been a favorite of mine, both in terms of its role in the real world as a stealth jet and from the handful of details present in the altmode, from the JTFR marking to the scratched-off Decepticon insignias, the skunks on the vertical fins, the intact Decepticon insignias with wings and 17972 underneath, the red lines between the turbines and text near the cockpit that reads "LT. COL. BRAWLEY WARNING THIS AIRCRAFT CONTAINS A SEAT CONTAINING AN EXPLOSIVE CHARGE SEE MAINTENANCE MANUAL BEFORE REMOVING." The tips of the turbines and the nosecone tip are made of PVC, though the former are fairly sturdy. Compared to the Studio Series version, the kibble management on the newer toy manages to be handled somewhat better, though the original version is noteworthy for having a rotary cannon in the front...something I don't think was ever present on the real-world Blackbird yet is something Jetfire would utilize. Oh, and there are new sound effects for this toy, mostly the re-recorded jet whoosh and transformation noises. Holding it down has him recite every single line of his from the movie, all of them in Japanese.

For a size comparison, here he is beneath Universe Ultra Class Silverbolt, a figure that would probably be released as a Leader Class by Hasbro by today's standards. You could probably make your own size joke, but this is just a reminder that there is no ultimate glory comparable to Jetfire's.

Transforming Jetfire is not as difficult as I thought it'd be. Annoying, yes, because the two ball-jointed panels come off far too easily, and the transformation sounds that play every time you budge the torso around restarting rather than letting them finish is far more annoying than Leader Optimus saying his name over and over again. As for the difficulty, it is nowhere near as bad as people said it was, keeping in mind that Revenge of the Fallen toys were notorious at the time for being complex for kids and more casual fans used to the Universe and Animated toys released around the same year (boy would we see even worse with the late-2010s Masterpiece line). Jetfire's transformation and parts of his robot mode, however, are not accurate to the movie design, mostly with the fuselage halves stuck on the forearms as well as the turbines strapped on his back; the former is supposed to be hidden within the torso since the CG model has sleeker arms, and the latter is supposed to make up the legs. That being said, the figure still looks marvelous, representing a truly elderly Transformer toy in a way we never saw with G1 Kup, Energon Bulkhead, or Animated Ratchet. The hunched posture, the constantly bent legs, and the walking stick in his hand add quite a level of personality that is further completed by his Yorkshire accent and his aging personality. Remember that his father was the first wheel and transformed into nothing. Also, the left arm can have the cannon clip on.

His head sculpt is also somewhat inaccurate, looking undersized and missing the mouth that ILM later added to make him more emotive. His eyes are also under-detailed somewhat yet they do have red paint apps. Also, my copy has a bit of plastic on the left whisker's hinge broken off, and I'm not sure if it came that way from the seller I bought this from (at modern Leader price) or if it was something that I did. Jetfire's articulation is limited due to his character design, with no proper neck movement, ratchets at the shoulders moving front and back as well as in and out, bicep rotation, hinges at the elbow, wrist rotation, finger articulation, ratchet joints at the hips in all directions they move, rotation around the knees, knees that don't straighten because of the character design, and slight ankle movement but nothing too dynamic.

The light and sound gimmicks consist of you pressing down a switch on his chest that makes his head move as he speaks in Japanese, allowing you to recite his lines from the movie one by one. The red paint on the eyes seems a bit redundant with the red LED, and he only has one LED in his chest because the right side instead has the button for the transformation. Removing a panel on the back reveals a secret button as well as the battery compartment. The button on the right side grants you more transformation sounds, walking noises, and the fried boosters sound, appropriately placed on his butt.

The original version of the mold seemed mostly consistent with the black plastic for the jet mode, but the figure has sand blue and light gray plastic instead of gunmetal-brown in order to make this toy less monochromatic for kids, a common thing done back then for Movie Transformers, like with the AOE Dinobots. The electronics, mostly the "Jetfire's mah name!" voice clip, were kept in the Japanese release of this toy and the Jetpower 2-pack that appears to be more-or-less similar to the Movie the Best version I own.

For a decade-separating  comparison, here we have Movie the Best Jetfire with the Studio Series version, amusing how the old Leader was brought back a year before the newer version came out. I love the way HasTak excels in making their figures closer to the movie, especially with Jetfire transforming closer to the movie and having better articulation. That being said, the original version is still a marvelous toy, and I can't say which one is better. Do you like your Jetfire with heftier plastic and electronic gimmicks, or do you prefer it with better CG accuracy and articulation?

And here he is next to Buster Optimus Prime, the one with the mouthplated and blue pinstripes so we technically have the complete Jetpower 2-pack! The size is not accurate between the two, but scale wasn't the main point about these two at the time. Instead, Optimus is about to take Jetfire's parts to gain a power he's never known, fulfilling his destiny after Jolt electrifies and transplants those afterburners.

Combining the two turned out to be a lot easier than I expected, though it was still difficult in making sure Jetfire would attach onto Optimus. Prepping them for the combination was easier since Prime had to open his backpack and feet while Jetfire had to be in mid-transformation. Attaching them, however, was not easy. You first have to latch the gray bits on Jetfire's chest onto Prime before attaching him with the pegs inside the backpack. Then you need to use a panel that attached to Prime's crotch as well as clip the stomach harness in place. Finally, Jetfire's lower legs clip onto Prime's feet, adding a bit of extra height at the cost of removing any leg articulation. That being said, this was just as awesome finally combining these two as it was seeing the sequence in the movie. It's obviously closer to a more traditional Optimus & other robot combination rather than Jetfire being reassembled as Prime's armor, but the effect is still close. You can still say that Optimus having parts of Jetfire attached as guns is the closest to the film, though keep in mind that Jetfire was designed differently in 2009 than in 2019. Sadly, Prime's articulation is limited at the legs, but there are ways to restore it without making him top heavy. 

Not only do I want to show how he looks next to his future Studio Series counterpart for a size comparison, but I also want to add a photo comparing the standard retail versions combined together in an alternate configuration. The size difference with the Studio Series version is due to Optimus being a Voyager rather than a Leader, but it does at least make him in scale with other toys in the line. Meanwhile, the regular version of the pair still looks fine, and maybe the non-premium paint jobs would make combining them less stressful. Overall, Leader Jetfire, whether he's ROTF or Movie the Best, is a reminder of what being a Leader Class figure used to be; rather than be a Voyager with Benefits, the size class represented a bit of a centerpiece treatment that made any Christmas or birthday exciting for fans back in the day. Yes, he isn't as articulated or as tall as Optimus Prime, but he makes for a unique design and gimmick that made Revenge of the Fallen a great and memorable experience, no matter how many people still bitch about the movie or the toyline it inspired.

Final ranking: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐