Here we have Doubledealer in his vehicle mode. This is the Autobot choice of vehicle mode he takes the form of a missile carrier. Might be a little out of place for an Autobot, but it works well as a land-based theme for most of them. Aside from the tiny wheels, this guy looks pretty sick in terms of design, wat with the look of firepower that he has. The missile alone looks pretty mean on him, and it'd easily make anyone shut up about his non-militaristic color scheme. It can be raised up as well as have two stabilizers placed on the back and an A.I.R. Lock System ramp for any pieces that want to connect to him. The machine gun, radar pod, and missile pods are nice inclusions for any military vehicle like this.
Turning him into his bird mode is more than just putting him upside down and unfolding the wings and head. I like how the shoulders work in this mode as they make use of the attached bird feet, the way the wings work at least gives them a bit of a span is quite good for this modern toy. The missile is now on his back, which is a bit better than the enemy penis he would have had like with the G1 toy. Admittedly, the bird mode is not 100% perfect but it does give him a bit of an emphasis on being a cool alternate mode for this guy. I do love that the bird head is kind of expressive while the wings have a good amount of poseability.
Transformation into robot mode is quite involved, and that's not a bad thing for me! He feels quite unique compared to the other Transformers in the Earthrise line, especially considering how most of them were been-there-done-that by comparison. While the chest transformation is a little boring, at least everything else feels pretty refreshing. The robot mode of this figure is quite beefy if you ask me, which is more befitting of the Leader Class price tag than the Voyagers with big accessories that try to be Leaders. The design is obviously similar to the G1 version, but I do appreciate that it works well for a character like him than, say, repainting Blitzwing's body and getting faulty shoulders. The design of the figure looks even beefier than the G1 toy was, but it works well for his vehicle mode as well as his pure power. Admittedly, he does have the proportions of a cartoon beefcake character, but I don't mind. I especially love his lower legs are done up like how they should be.
Head sculpt looks like how it should, though it gives me a Decepticon Sideswipe vibe. While the baby blue face does seem a little too reminiscent of the Allspark Power highlights (even though this toy was made before the subline was made), but I have to admit it works for him! And if the face looks weird, at least he's got red, piercing eyes. As for the articulation, the noteworthy aspects of him include double-jointed elbows and wrist swivels, though the rest of the articulation is the same as everything else in the Siege line.
Here are the accessories he comes with. Aside from the two pieces that make the missile, he's got the missile pods, machine gun, radar pod, and a jet pack!
While not technically accessories, he does have the option to display him with either Autobot or Decepticon shoulder insignias. As you saw earlier, he had Autobot insignias on his shoulders rather than the Decepticon insignias, and the display options enable you to depict him with either faction given his Mercenary status, a trait that is further developed in recent media and will be shown in the Netflix WFC series.
You can give him a jetpack with small but serviceable wings. They're fine and fit in with the rest of the feather wings, but Buzz Lightyear's wings they ain't!
He can use his machine gun and radar pod on his shoulders....
...and his missile pods can be placed around his legs.
With the missile front on his shoulder and the back portion as his big cannon, he looks badass! Sad thing is he's missing the tightness for the elbow joints since the cannon's a lot bigger than the norm.
Now it's time to compare him next to two other Leaders in the Siege line. He's certainly taller and beefier than Optimus Prime, and while he's shroter than Magnus, he already has the beef that needs no additional armor like with Magnus. Now I can't wait to see Beast Wars Megatron and G1 Grimlock get the proper Leader Class treatment.
But there's one thing worth mentioning: his belly engine is a faux Powermaster block, which comes off and leaves him with an outie. This chest opens up to allow the Micromasters made for Soundwave to be compatible with this toy. That being said, he comes with none like Siege Soundwave and Walmart Soundblaster did. While you can get Laserbeak, Ravage, Rumble, and Ratbat to work with him...
...these partners are made specifically for him...or at least the first two. They are Skar and Knok, who are moldmates with the additionally included Rumble and Wingthing, who are Soundwave's partner. While I complained that Soundwave needed these partners, I think Doubledealer is still recommended without them. Sure, they'd better justify the proper Leader price tag, but he at least has more value for money than Soundwave wished he did. Definitely get Doubledealer if you see him, and even reunite him with his partners while also getting Soundwave's minions!
Final ranking: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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