Transformers Masterpiece MP-36 Megatron/Infinite Transformation Emperor of Darkness review

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of Transformers engineering would have to be making G1 Megatron look good in his robot mode while also turning into a convincing pistol. G1 Megatron may have the best gun mode, but his robot mode shows its MicroChange heritage clearly. On the other hand, Hasbro made him as a Nerf gun for Classics and then made a Legends Class figure with slight transformation deviations for Reveal the Shield. As for TakaraTomy, they failed miserably with MP-05's horrible robot mode, flimsy transformation, and oversized gun mode without any additional accessories for the gun mode. It's been 7 years since MP-36 won fans over, but is my copy an official version or a knockoff? Let's find out!

Here we have MP-36 in his gun mode, which is about as faithful to the Man from U.N.C.L.E pistol that inspired the Micro Change/G1 toy as much as it could. I honestly feel surprised at how much space it takes, what with the stock and silencer taking up so much space and requiring me to photograph this elsewhere. Despite being thicker in proportions and having a ton of panel lines throughout it due to transformation, this alt mode manages to be accurate to the real-world equivalent. To denote this from the official version, keep in mind that the knockoff doesn't have the cartoon-style insignias on what looks like the robot chest, the matte gray paint that goes over the bare gray plastic, and stability for the silencer. The stock and scope slide into their parts just fine, but the silencer is loose as hell in there. Ironic since many fans complained about the overly tight tolerances.

Megatron's standard pistol mode better illustrates how he looks a little bulkier than the actual gun, especially since the accessories make it less noticeable. I guess the top part looks fine, but the handle is twice the width of the original toy. The numerous panel lines have been reported to not tab in as well as they should, but it is fixable. You can adjust the hammer and safety catch like on an actual gun.

Here is a comparison with his G1 counterpart, specifically the Chronicle version I got in 2021. The proportions, panel lines, and overall coloring are different, though it's obviously due to toy engineering and how their robot modes end up. My Megatron, being the Chronicle version, lacks chrome and thus has a warmer gray than the usual look he has.

Transforming Megatron into his robot mode is extremely complex. And it's no better when doing the reverse. The way so many parts are rearranged from one extremely unusual choice of an alt mode to a cartoon-accurate robot is astounding. And after what we had with the shitty MP-05, I am happy to say the end result is worth it. That being said, the tolerances of the knockoff vary depending on your copy, and some (but not all) are fixed by me. The resulting robot mode is definitely accurate, what with the leaner proportions that most G1-style Megatron toys don't usually have, a more subtle use of red than what was exposed by the G1 or Combiner Wars toys, and a slight two-tone mix of gunmetal gray and black on the legs. Apart from the panel lines on the thighs, unusual elbow joints, and the shins, the robot mode looks very clean. The back kibble is what looks compromised due to there being nothing to cover it, leaving the toy to be 95% complete. We can fix that AND the lack of an insignia for the chest (two signs you are getting Emp of Destruct instead of the official version).

Megatron's head sculpt is spot-on to the cartoon model, what with the better integration of the bucket head originally made from.a bit of the gun mode as well as the use of a whiter gray to make his face pop without using silver paint. I also love the metallic red paint for the eyes. The top of the helmet has the slightly sparkly matte paint that the rest of the gray is missing. Megatron's articulation, though not used at its full potential here, consists of a ball-jointed neck, ratchets for the shoulders moving front and back as well as in and out, hinges for additional range (which could be tightened on my copy), bicep rotation, deep elbow hinges that bend past 90 degrees, wrist rotation, thumb joints with movement at the base knuckle only, index fingers that straighten at 2 points, and the subsequent fingers are fused together. There is an ab crunch due to transformation (but only going forwards), a waist swivel, hips that ratchet front and back as well as in and out, thigh rotation, ratchets in the knees as well as in the ankles moving up and down while the pivots are the usual hinges.

There is a back piece that covers the kibble from the gun mode to make it look more cohesive. It fits like a glove and makes me wonder if Takara planned to make something like this but chose not to. In addition, a blue Kremzeek is included, which is random if you get either this, the traditional yellow one, or a purple one.

The gun accessories can be used in two ways: with the silencer opening on the back and sliding it through the gun barrel on the back, or by sliding the fusion cannon on the silencer to give him a face gun a la AOE Lockdown. Be sure to rotate the silencer so the ridges have the usually arm-mounted weapon to cover the face. It should be worth noting that my copy's fusion cannon doesn't work with the electronics, but the official version would have transforming noises, inaccurate fusion cannon sounds, and reused Japanese voice clips from the 2005 G1 Galvatron reissue; the knockoffs add Chinese voice clips from the cartoon that sometimes replace the Japanese voice clips, but it is unknown how many have Frank Welker voice clips. The fusion cannon also has proper fusion cannon sounds from the cartoon.

The stock also doubles as a flight stand that goes up his butt, and I appreciate that it is something done to make the accessory a little more unique amongst the usual play features from the scope and silencer. And of course, you can combine his gun parts into a battle platform reminiscent of the original toy's play pattern, something I never experienced with Chronicle Megatron since he didn't have those accessories.

Now it's time to cover the other accessories in the set, but first, I shall add an insignia for his chest because the blank space is starting to bother me! Look at how happy he is with the swappable face plate!

You have two options for the mace, with either an actual chain to connect the Shockwave-like punch dildo and spike ball, or an articulated chain made from the same clear plastic for better display options. The length is slightly different between either option, but it should be mentioned that my copy had the pegs glued in place, requiring me to use enough force to break the pegs free from the glue. Nothing broke thankfully, but goddamn was it annoying to do that just to see how it'd look with the regular chain. Megatron is also here with his angry face.

The helmet he used to control a fake Optimus Prime is present, and it slides on pretty well without using any tabs that would affect his appearance. I have to admit that the episode this accessory was based on is stupid as hell. Megatron also has the purple lightsaber from the 1986 movie that predates the one Samuel L Jackson wanted in the Prequel Trilogy (or the stories of the Expanded Universe that predated the prequels). I wonder if this movie inspired his dream of having a purple lightsaber, but Mace Windu did it better than Megatron.

There is also a Key to Vector Sigma made out of die-cast, but no ball included to put this into. Good thing both Megatron and Optimus can hold it.

Speaking of Optimus, you can use the blade from Megatron's lightsaber and repurpose it as a blast effect. I don't have a Masterpiece Hot Rod, so don't expect me to do all those photos recreating the scene.

Well apart from this one where Megatron is about to kill Prime and traumatize 80s babies everywhere. Rumors say it still traumatizes 80s manbabies and womanbabies. Aka Geewunners if they aren't busy bitching about Michael Bay for the 1,986th time like the unoriginal twats they are.

Megatron's battle damaged face plate captures the "It's over, Prime!" scene, with cracks, dents, and Energon bleeding from his wounded face. A damaged chest plate is also included, but even it lacked an insignia, so pray the sticker doesn't peel off overtime with the way the chest is sculpted. Whenever the face and chest are removed, sculpted details representing the inner workings of Megatron are displayed. These are based on his reformatting into Galvatron from the 1986 movie. Speaking of which, we have 3 Season 3 Autobots, so when will we get any Decepticons, Takara?

As far as reuses are concerned, we only got the toy-accurate version made a year later, ditching the cartoon and movie-specific accessories and giving him chrome as well as a warm gray plastic that matches the Encore release. He also ditches the battle damaged details in favor of having a toy-accurate face and chest plate with the "hairs". If the knockoff companies did this version, I'd get it ASAP. Only issue is that the front of the forearms has the red sections instead of the inner sides due to the transformation. Also, the Decepticon insignias on the gun handle end up on his ass in robot mode.

For a comparison with some other G1 Megatrons, here he is with the vintage toy and the Earthrise release. The former shows how far we've come with Megatron having a weird body type to his normal physique, while the Earthrise figure reveals how wide his proportions are. Not a bad thing perse, but it has me interested in seeing how the SS86 version would look.

And here he is with the Combiner Wars version. For the longest time, many would use the 2015 Leader Class figure as a stand-in for the character, and while I love the silver paint and the idea of Megatron being a tank instead of a gun, that toy felt like an upscaled Deluxe by comparison to what we had before with the size class. Of course, many third party attempts have been made to keep its height comparable to MP-10 or adding articulated hands, but the Masterpiece figure reigns supreme by comparison. And that is something I highly recommend if you want to get a KO for it. Sites like TF-Safari and ShowZStore should have it available, and that is something I greatly recommend. He may be complex and the KOs might have worse QC, but at least you end up paying more than half the Takara price. Just be on the lookout for stuff like the yellowing plastic.

Final ranking: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Marvel Legends Doctor Strange & Blade (Mindless One BAF) review

It's about time I got these two in a proper review after so much time has passed. Suppose you need to become more familiar with these two characters. In that case, Doctor Strange should be obvious if you've seen the two MCU movies or saw more of his content before 2016, where he's had numerous adventures that deserve recognition. As for Blade, you may know him best from the Wesley Snipes trilogy that deserves a re-release instead of a reboot set in the MCU that is going NOWHERE! Both characters should be familiar if you've seen them in the Fox Kids Spider-Man series; you may want to check out their respective adventures such as Into Shamballa for Strange, while Blade has both pre & post-Wesley Snipes comic runs such as Tomb of Dracula for the former and MAX for the latter. I recommend checking them out...after reading my review of these Marvel Legends figures.

We'll start the review by release date order, which gives Doctor Strange the spotlight. This figure uses mostly new tooling, though I have a hunch the cape and legs might have been reused from an earlier figure. Doctor Strange's classic costume has been seen in a light similar to Steve Ditko's work on Spider-Man, where they're both given this unique attribute to help them stand out from other superheroes with added details you wouldn't normally find on other superhero costumes. With Spider-Man, it's the combination of the color layout, the web pattern, and the lenses that make him an iconic superhero design. With Doctor Strange, the more fantasy-driven elements of his stories give him the two-tone Cloak of Levitation, with a majestic collar implemented over the blue robes, with sleeves rolled up to reveal snazzy cheetah-pattern gloves with a skirt-like area separated by a yellow belt and an abstract symbol that could have been more visible. The black legs being skinnier than the rest is a reminder that Strange isn't as muscular as other Marvel superheroes, which is fitting for someone who uses magic instead of strength. While there is no shading in the figure, it doesn't look as plasticky as other Marvel Legends figures tend to be; somehow, it's a feat that a character wearing primary colors and black avoided.

His head sculpt is done marvelously, capturing the silver/bronze age aesthetics of the character without reusing any Tony Stark heads, especially since Stephen Strange himself has his own unique hairdo and facial details that aren't the exact same as the billionaire inventor. He even has the gray hair streaks commonly found on Mr. Fantastic. The praise this figure gets for the face sculpt should be a reminder that Hasbro tends to excel the best with their faces, even on some weaker figures of late; this version of Strange is a better toy than a good chunk of recent Hasbro Legends, though. His articulation consists of the standard ball joint and neck hinge combo (which is fine for this figure), shoulder rotation, outward arm movement, bicep rotation, double-jointed elbows, wrist rotation, wrist hinges, an ab-crunch, a waist swivel, ball-jointed hips with decent range within the skirt, thigh rotation below the hips, double-jointed knees, and ankle hinges as well as rocker joints. Popping the wrists off and attaching the reused magic effect pieces adds one of the few display options possible for this version of Strange; while they're not new pieces, they are at least fitting for the character and are in a fairly new color scheme. They also fit well with the spellbinding hands, which are thankfully not reused from a Spider-Man figure.

His other accessories include an alternate head with his eyes closed, likely for when he needs to focus while preparing a powerful spell. His left hand can be swapped for a fisted hand, adding more character to this toy. Alternatively, his right hand can be swapped to hold one of his two accessories, with it having a so-so grip on the Wand of Watoomb, a signature attribute of his as a sorcerer, and a blue mask head that may have people think is the fourth comic book Blue Men Group member (joining TASM2 Electro, Watchmen's Dr. Manhattan, and Mr Freeze from Batman & Robin), but it is from a time when Strange wore the blue mask to hide his identity during a time when his identity was stolen, requiring him to conceal his face and defeat Asmodeus. People would think of it as a weird thing for him to do, but it is a reminder that the earlier days of comic book writing weren't the exact same as they are today. Though there was less corporate interference and poor handling of politics back then.

The Axe of Angarruumus is badass as hell, and fitting for someone who utilizes magic given its witch crypt origins. Sadly, the grip on it isn't that great, either. Annoyingly, Hasbro does yet another big mistake by using a bare skin hand and molding it in the same colors as his gloves. You can just barely see the fingernails on there, and it's annoying since the other gloves look like they're fine as they are!

Alternative versions of a comic Strange depict the one on the left being his appearance in the 90s Spider-Man animated series, and the one on the right being part of the 2016 Dormammu wave Doctor Strange, depicting him in a more modern costume with outdated face printing and sculptwork compared to the version released in 2022. I personally like the 2022 version the most given how it color scheme fits Strange the most. The 2016 version definitely felt like a second-rate priority for Hasbro given their tendency to prioritize the MCU figures, while the recent animated version of Doctor Strange feels weird as hell. And as much as I love the 1994 Spider-Man series and its depiction of the character, I always felt the use of lavender was a bit weird. I should mention that this aforementioned version is included in a 2-pack with Morbius, probably a reminder of when they both had movies in 2022...and the fact that one got memed on and the other felt way more studio-interfered than Spider-Man 3.

Final ranking: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

As for Blade, this figure was released in the Mindless One BAF wave. It's no secret that his appearances of late steer more to the Wesley Snipes portrayal, a feat that predates the way Marvel always makes their characters match the MCU versions in both design AND roster; that being said, Blade's defense is at least not due to corporate-approved evergreen artwork that isn't recycled 60s comic art, instead utilizing Snipes as inspiration to make the character more interesting. Obviously not 1:1 to the same portrayal due to it being a comic figure. The figure reuses the torso from the previous version of Blade while the arms are from X-Factor Havok. The trenchcoat I feel may be reused from an existing figure, and the legs may be new to better fit the character design of Blade. The torso reuse does make sense given how the armor became a signature design trait of Blade, but the arms, combined with the jacket being a stiffer material, cannot go all the way down. As we'll get to, they're also really annoying to pose due to these factors. The rest of the figure does look presentable at least, especially with the black plastic not requiring too much shading or brushwork.

His head sculpt is an open mouth expression flashing his vampire fangs, which is done much better than I expected. I also appreciate that the shades are molded in place, since I bet Hasbro wouldn't do this facial expression justice if his eyes were exposed. That being said, I wish he came with an alternate head for a neutral face with the mouth closed. His articulation is about the same as Strange's, though the aforementioned arms aren't as as easy to pose compared to the legs. He can hold his katana decently in his open hands, though the glaves and stakes, fitting for a daywalker, stay held in place in varying degrees.

This version of Blade comes with the head and effect part of The Mindless One, allowing you to display this BAF with or without the smoking red effect piece. I don't plan to complete this BAF right away, so this head may be from when Blade was the sole Midnight Sun to kill the specimen. By the way, anyone played Marvel Midnight Suns? How was it?

The prior versions of Blade made by Hasbro are not the exact same as this figure, with the one on the left being the 2017 Man-Thing BAF wave version ditching his trenchcoat, and the one on the right being a chase figure that WAS to replace the Punisher in the Epic Heroes wave before it was canceled for reasons unknown. The former was where the torso was originally from, though the ret of the figure was reportedly criticized due to its proportions being somewhat wonky. As for the latter, I don't know why Hasbro didn't even give it an international release as some of the other chase variants had in the Epic Heroes waves. For anyone wondering, the term "Epic Heroes" comes from a brief moment where Hasbro didn't include BAF parts and instead had generic display bases. This one did come with guns that both of the later Blades should have come with. As for the one we recently got, it is good but there is room for improvement, mostly with the accessories and the shoulder articulation.

Final ranking: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐