Transformers Studio Series 86 Kranix review

The term "glup shitto" gets thrown around a lot for an obscure character that somehow gets a huge following or is heavily obsessed by a specific fan. That is usually thrown around in the Star Wars fandom, or at least the Disney shills who would parrot the "EU was never canon" claim while gassing up any character from whatever slop gets made under their favorite corporation. In the case of Transformers, people like to say that about certain background characters or ones who have a bit of a need for a certain toy like Devcon from DOTM, but how different were the G1 characters, really? I'd argue that while those who were reoccurring in either the show, the Marvel comics, or at least had a toy around in the original G1 line would mostly be saved from that term, the same can't be said for the likes of G1's own Devcon, the female Autobots beyond Elita-1 nowadays solely for her attachment to Optimus (on top of replacing Windblade and Arcee as the main female lead for recent media) and possibly Chromia, and the unlucky sucker known as Kranix. You may know him best as the dude who was crying to his oomfie, Arblus or whatever his name was spelt, about Unicron coming to kill them all. Now we have a toy of an actual glup shitto, so let's see if Kranix deserves to exist in the line compared to anyone else who should have been here sooner (cough Twins).

Here we have Kranix in his scrapped spaceship mode. While it could have easily been labeled a "Concept Art" release, this was actually used in the Marvel adaptation of the 1986 movie where he did transform into his own little shop. Obviously, he never had to use this when he rode an actual spaceship, but even with the knowledge that this was a thing in a version of the film, this altmode feels unbaked compared to the Cybertronian altmodes we got in later media. He looks like he is pretending to be either a glider or a torpedo. Maybe both but with a duck bill. What a piece of quack.

For an alt mode comparison, he makes for a good companion piece with a Sharkticon, especially one like Gnaw because look at how much better and cooler Sharkticons generally are.

Transformation is more like a readjustment of limbs while tucking the duck bill away so it won't be that visible in robot mode. As for said robot mode, it looks about as basic 80s drone with beige and some gaudy coloring as you can get. He's like a the love child between a robot with round joints for better rotary joints, a basic ass design that is more plain than G1 Ironhide, and it's clear this was always going to be a lesser robot than the Cybertronian species. One positive is that he's not hollow, but with a design like this, he would be better off as a Blokees figure or remain as that one WFC Trilogy figurine that came in the Pit of Judgement set.

Head sculpt looks like it the waitress droid from Dexter's Diner was made during the Original Trilogy. With that dual pink hairdo and mustache, maybe he could be comparable to some receptionist with a hint of a news reporter thanks to his mustache. Articulation consists of a neck swivel and hinge, swivel shoulders for moving front and back, hinges for moving in and out, bicep rotation, hinged elbows, waist rotation, universal hips, hinged knees that can bend forwards, and barely any ankle pivot as significant as his weapon.

Here he is with Gnaw once again. I bet the Sharkticon with a name would make fun of him for being a virgin plain robo while he is the chad chunkster in comparison. 

Overall, I can't say to much for a dude as plain as Kranix. While he isn't a downright terrible figure, he is far from a great one. There is just so little to say about a character like this who was solely made to demonstrate how hungry Unicron was. Worst part is that he gets to have a toy while more important characters are set to the wayside. I demand Hasbro make an apology tour for shoving the 86 movie nostalgia down our throats while also only recommending this figure at clearance. He is no Astrotrain, but then again, anything is better than that choo choo turd.

Final ranking: ⭐⭐ and a half out of ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐