Generations Combiner Wars Menasor - Pictorial Review

The review of Stunticons wouldn't be complete without reviewing the combiner himself, the mighty Menasor.

Dreamwave's G1 Menasor
Pic Credit : Web

Decepticon's 2nd combiner after Devastator, Menasor is the name of the combined form of the Stunticons. The Stunticon's ability to match the Autobots dominance of the road is the not the end of Megatron's secret weapon. Unveiling their combined form when they were confronted by the newly created Aerialbots, Megatron predicted his genius Plan B to be smart and foreseeing the end of the Autobots, only to be matched Superion, the combined form of the Aerialbots.

G1 Menasor
Pic Credit : TFWiki

Combiner Wars Stunticons

Generations Combiner Wars Stunticons- Pictorial Review

Sorry for being late doing this review, these 3 months had been extremely busy with work. Not only that I'm currently in the middle of moving to a new house.

For the Combiner Wars releases, I'll be doing 2 parts of review for each team, the first as individuals and the second will be on the combined mode. Basically, this review will only focus on the team members of Decepticon's Stunticons.

Pic Credit : TFWiki

The Stunticons were Megatron way of breaking Autobots' dominion over the road/land, created from various stolen human vehicles and customized. The Stunticons were given life by Vector Sigma with Megatron special request, 'to fill them with hatred for the Autobots and everything they stand for'. But before they were granted life, Megatron brought them for a 'test drive' via remote control, forcing them to do all kind of 'stunts' from summersault, flip to bashing through forests. They are the arch enemy of the Aerialbots.

G1 Stunticons
Pic Credit : TFWiki

In this review, I'll do them part by part, starting with in-package image of all the members, then alt mode and finally robot mode. The combiner mode and the combiner itself, will be done in the next review.

Transformers Cloud TFC-A03 Hot Rodimus - Pictorial Review

Transformers Cloud is a Japanese toyline that started in 2014 with the Decepticons are exclusives to e-Hobby while the Autobots are exclusives to TakaraTomy Mall. Main title of the series are called Spacetime World:Guardians Of Time (GOT).

Each Cloud releases comes with a comic book, starting with TFC-A01 (Optimus Prime), TFC-D01 (Megatron), TFC-A02 (Brawn), TFC-D02 (Starscream), TFC-A03 (Hot Rodimus), TFC-D03 (Shockwave) and soon to be release in March, TFC-A04 (Roadbuster) and TFC-D04 (Hellwarp).

The story began with multiple universes existing as product of the mysterious omnipotent being, the Creator. Realizing that all the universes needed order, the Creator selected a universe called "Cloud World" and dispatched an emissary, SARA to guide the inhabitants keeping the peace across the multiverse.

Guardians of Time

As part of the task, SARA can open dimensional gates allowing the Transformers to travel all across the multiverse and asking in return, for them to gather surplus energy from various sources in different universes. Cloud World Autobots are seen to travel in various other continuity for that purpose, like 33rd HM Spacetime (which refers to the 33rd episode of The Headmasters, Duel on the Asterois) and 24th BW Spacetime (refers to 24th episode of Beast Wars) where both episode involves significant energy surges.

As of now, I've owned 4 Cloud releases which are TFC-A01 (Optimus Prime), TFC-D02 (Starscream), TFC-A03 (Hot Rodimus) and TFC-D03 (Shockwave) as only these 4 out of 6 uses original CHRUG mold, plus the upcoming TFC-A04 (Roadbuster) and TFC-D04 (Hellwarp).

Pic Credit : TFWiki

Hot Rod was first introduced in The Transformers : The Movie (1986) as a young Autobot stationed in Autobot City. He was the first to suspect something is wrong after Daniel pointed out a hole on the Autobot Ship while they're fishing (yes, fishing). He was present during Optimus Prime's dying moment after bravely fighting Megatron (many would argue Hot Rod's interference in the fight was the cause of Optimus Prime's death but I personally think Megatron would've done the same with him being close to the gun) and caught the Matrix when it was being passed to Ultra Magnus (which many would also argue that it's the reason why Magnus can't open it during an attack afterwards. To me, it's been decided by the Matrix beforehand)

What do you mean it doesn't "make any sense"?
Pic Credit : Web

During the battle against Galvatron inside of Unicron, Hot Rod was overpowered by the new leader of the Decepticons before he manage to tap into the power of the Matrix with the most epic soundtrack playing at the background.

Arise, Rodimus Prime!

In Package

Transformers Cloud series comes with a box with character artwork on the front, in this case Hot Rodimus. The artwork combines with its pair with the Autobot character facing towards the right and the Decepticon (in this case, Shockwave) facing towards the left.

Pic Credit : Seibertron.com

Generations Legends LG-09 Brainstorm - Pictorial Review

For most fans, 3rd Party releases are always better than HasTak. That, to me is not the case. But, there are some releases that most fans will agree that HasTak did better jobs. One of it would be Generation Springer. Now, for another one, Brainstorm. 

For G1 Brainstorm back story and also review of Toyworld's take on the character, please click here and here. This figure however, are of a more darker Brainstorm, the IDW version.

IDW Brainstorm
Pic Credit : Web

In Package

Brainstorm's box design follows the same design as the previous Generations Legends releases. The box is quite big as you can see the extra spaces inside.

The artwork follow the design of IDW Brainstorm but with less detailing.

Back View

TFC Prometheus [Project Prometheus] - Pictorial Review

*Just noticed that the setup of my camera went haywire, sorry for the quality of the pictures*

It has been almost a year since Gumball was released, and now; Project Prometheus is reaching it's end. For those who missed, below are the reviews of the 5 members of Prometheus chronologically.

• Gumball (Not-Streetwise)
• Warning Line (Not-Groove)
• Hydrant (Not-Hotspot)
• Red Cross (Not-First Aid)
• Verti-Aid (Not-Blade)

Pic Credit: TFWiki

Defensor's existence revolves around the safety of others, specifically to safeguard human life. Yet, in return it becomes his weakness, taken advantage of by his rival, Bruticus and the Decepticons. 

G1 Defensor
Pic Credit : TFWiki

Group Shots

To recap, the journey so far;-

TFC Verti-Aid [Project Prometheus] - Pictorial Review

A figure that I've been looking forward to, but mostly because he's the last component of TFC Prometheus. To be frank, when TFC revealed their version of First Aid and Blades months back, only Red Cross (First Aid) really caught my attention while Verti-Aid seemed a bit underwhelming. So, we'll find out whether my first thought of him justified.

Pic Credit : Web

In IDW Generation 1 Continuity, Blade was part of Autobot security force, on duty in the city of Kaon. The force was given task of hunting down the renegade operators of the gladiatorial contests held in the slum areas of Cybertron, which they succeeded. Among the captives, the soon-to-be-known-as Megatron.

Pic Credit : Web

Blade's G1 toy transform into a rescue helicopter that really looks like a Bell UH-1V Iroquois. Despite being a Scramble City-style combiner limb, Blade normally form Defensor's right arm.

Previous TFC Not-Protectobots' reviews can be found below

• Gumball (Not-Streetwise)
• Warning Line (Not-Groove)
• Hydrant (Not-Hotspot)
• Red Cross (Not-First Aid) 

In Package

The last release of TFC that will be using this design. Personally, I like that every TFC combiners has their own theme but keeping the overall look and feel of the packaging.

Unlike other members of Prometheus, I don't really like the artwork of Verti-Aid as I don't really feel the connection between him and Blade.

Back View

Generations Combiner Wars Leader Class Armada Megatron - Pictorial Review

Comes together with Generations Combiner Wars Megatron is an unexpected pair (well...not if you saw the news back then), a repaint of Megatron, Armada Megatron!

Pic Credit : TFWiki

Armada Megatron is the main antagonist in the cartoon series Armada, the first installment of "Unicron Trilogy", before Energon and Cybertron. In the continuity, the war between the Autobots and the Decepticons escalated resulting both enhancing their power with the small race of Transformers called Mini-Cons. Believing that they made the conflict worse, the Mini-Cons seek help from the Autobots to escape Cybertron. The attempt almost fail due to an ambush by the Megatron and the Decepticons resulting the Mini-Cons, in their damage starship warped and crash-landed on earth.

Armada Megatron
Pic Credit : TFWiki

In Package
*Please take note that I won't be going into details for this review as it's a variant of Leader Class Megatron previously reviewed.

The fourth CHRUG Leader Class figure after Jetfire (Hasbro and Takara) and Megatron, Armada Megatron comes in the same Combiner Wars box as Megartron.