RRCo Review - POTP Optimus Prime

 - Ben Watson 



With a newly revealed Amazon exclusive Nemesis Prime coming from Power of The Primes, I felt it high time to finally throw the notes at the one figure that's been pushing my buttons more than any other in the line and... It's just another Optimus Prime...

Entering the Power of The Primes line in its first wave of Leader Class figures, (because what's a wave one without an Optimus?) Prime not only provides a suitably scaled Autobot leader to those looking for that sort of thing, he also figureheads the pricepoint's new gimmick. Your Leader money doesn't just get you a Big Optimus, but a not-exactly-small Orion Pax too! Behold the new "Evolution" feature! Arguably making more sense within the conceptual confines of the concurrent Rodimus Prime, this figure is at its core an illustration of a single story beat. That of the humble librarian/dock worker/cop Orion receiving the power of the Matrix, getting his swole on and stepping out of the subsequent light show as the most perfectly shaped G1 Optimus you've ever seen. But does all that work for the gimmick of a toy you'll be repeating ad infinitum? Hold on, things might get a bit meta in here today... 

Before attempting to begin untangling the very odd fictional knot this whole package represents, I can say I adore it. A perfectly sized, perfectly weighty, perfectly styled, perfectly articulated, perfect Optimus Prime. From the front. I won't try to make you think the faults this figure has impact on my love for it but in-keeping with the purpose of this exposition as a review, I will point them out. I couldn't care less that his arms are mostly grey, that his silver hands don't move or his back is a mess. The fact the alt mode is mostly a thin facade full of holes and bloated with extra robot mass is all up there with how his ankles are thin and his thighs are hollow. And there's stickers. Objectively, these are all glaring flaws that shout their presence at you from the screen no doubt. But in hand, it all melts away in the sheer radiance of the physicality of this figure. 

Apparently engineered by the designer of the original Star Saber(!), a certain pedigree of experience is instantly noticeable upon handling this Prime. It's sublimely efficient in everything it does, from range of motion in joints, to how each half transforms, to - especially - how the Prime mode comes together. This moment of (I hesitate to say "combination") completion screams "Star Saber". It veritably drips with the ink of that blueprint and somehow feels like an implementation of what the designer may have wanted to accomplish on that historic piece, but also all the refinements to his skills since that day. At its most basic, this figure is a smaller base form which curls up into a cuboid to be slotted into the chest of a larger body made from the surplus alt mode section. Sounds a bit Star Saber, no? 

While the action of pushing Optimus' pecs and head into place is supremely satisfying (a spring loaded catch secures the block in place, which is released by a switch on his backside), it's this motion that activates my over-analysis mode. Beyond a conceptual illustration of a single moment in the character's history rendered in a toyetic form, what's going on here? Are we meant to believe Optimus is just a super mode Orion regularly powers up into? Is this where the trailer disappeared to all along? Did we just never see Optimus' base form when he transformed like we never saw Ultra Magnus'? A very cool spin on the design to differentiate an nth Generations Optimus Prime quickly becomes a meta-textual minefield. 

It's much more easy to reconcile the fictional portrayal of this dynamic with Rodimus, because really, how long did Hot Rod stay that way? But when considering the cartoon play out of Orion's ultimate fate - a route I'm picking specifically based on the figure's incredibly Floro Dery Sunbow design look - every inch of him was rebuilt into Optimus Prime. Orion Pax essentially died, never to return. Yet here he is every time you want to make Optimus a truck. I dunno man, it's one of those things you can easily think too hard about and that's our modus operandi here at the Refined Robot Co. I'm trying to unpack my deeper confusion at this feature but really it's best to just sit back and enjoy playing with this figure because above all, it is fun in a way that makes me feel incredibly... serene. 

Punching straight to the heart of it, this is the only Optimus Prime I own with this particular set of iconic details. To me, it glows with the rightness of Don Figueroa's Dreamwave design. The only thing that comes close is MP-10, which I do own in the Year of The Horse version but y'know, it's gold and that... For a lot of people I can see this figure representing a kind of budget MP-10, a regular retail mass market Masterpiece Optimus. It's undeniable that it sings from the same hymn sheet as that figure but honestly, I think it improves upon its styling. That headsculpt is thrillingly perfect. The proportions are the exact kind of Action Hero fit. The fists, while immobile are sculpted in that power stance curl. Elbows and knees bend beyond ninety degrees. Ankles are afforded insane range to keep any pose stable. The whole figure feels more fluid than MP-10 or any of Hasui's recent designs. A hole in his back even allows the core of the Matrix to pipe light while in his chest! And that's just the Optimus mode. 

Disemboweling Prime leaves you with his entire body minus head and Matrix cavity and Orion in some kind of robot fetal position. It's this chunk that forms the truck's cab, eschewing giving Orion an alt mode we never actually saw in the cartoon. As a robot he is particularly toon smooth, bearing a look that  - quite honestly - I detest on screen. But here the robot feels really cool? Excellently articulated and full of presence he's certainly a hero robot. I especially love how his hip skirt pieces rotate with his hips rather than just folding upwards like on so many figures. A rote piece of Masterpiece level design we've seen many times that feels incredibly cumbersome in light of this piece of engineering. Overall, Orion Pax is a triumph simply due to the fact that by all rights, he should be one of the lamest Transformers figures ever, but he most certainly is not. 

All in all, Power of The Primes Optimus Prime feels like a truly definitive stab at the character in the Generations line-up. It may not make the killing strike but you've got to be made of stone to not have it draw blood. The most G1 feeling robot mode the line has ever produced at the perfect scale with a Matrix, an alt mode made up of cab and trailer and a bonus Orion Pax mode. Of course tiny points along the way allow Optimus to interact with the line's wider gimmickry but all this is truly negligible compared to the execution of the gimmick that sits at the core of this figure. Like some singularity it pulls you in past the event horizon where you could put it down and won't let you go. ...Or maybe this analogy would better suit the dark heart of the coming Nemesis repaint which I can already say without a shadow of a doubt will be one of the best mainline releases of the year. This Optimus is just... Prime. 


Follow Ben on Twitter @Waspshot23

Steel Knights, or Paper Tigers?

 -mantis nine nines

The Transformers fan is a unique creature in the menagerie of robot aficionados. Obviously in love with blocky and angular robotic design, but equally enamoured with an anatomically humanoid style and personality. Not content with unfeeling machines, Transfans require the flavor of sentience in their bots. It makes for a fun and lively collection, but sometimes I find myself in need of something less human and more mechanical.

Macross, Mospeada, Mechwarrior, Zoids, I find these purely mecha toys refreshing. And M.A.S.K. and Exo Squad scratch an itch with their sci-fi pilot/vehicle integration. All of these are fun in their own way but I always longed for something more. Which brings me to JoyToy and their Steel Knights line. A visit to the Show.Z Store website shows the Knights listed alongside a wide range of Third Party Transformers, and with the web of connections in that market I think it likely JoyToy is part of the same family. I don't know any facts, this is just speculation, but it seems highly likely.

Steel Knight HZ1287 on patrol

Truly this is a product produced for my tastes. The convergence of realistic Mecha designs, detailed paint work, highly posable human figures, and all at a scale so close to my beloved 1:24 it's indistinguishable. Everything that Exo Squad promised at retail, this delivers, albeit in an expensive straight-from-China manner.

 I'm no expert on Titanfall, but to ignore the similarities between these designs and concepts is impossible. What videos exist on YouTube have comment sections full of Titanfall fans ripping these as knock offs of the McFarlane BT-7274 or Play Arts Kai Atlas.

To be fair, Titanfall itself follows in a long tradition of power armor and mechs, so I would personally stop short of referring to these as KOs or rip-offs, but it's certainly in the eye of the beholder.

Top images from the Titanfall Wiki, photo above from the Show.Z Store

What is not open to interpretation is the QC I encountered. I wish I could say otherwise but there were some major problems. The packaging is awesome but once open I found the plastic bubble was ruined and accessories were rattling around loose. There was some small paint damage, but since it has a battle-worn aesthetic this is easily ignored. But due to that generous NECA style paint weathering, the left hip ball joint on my mecha was frozen solid. I boiled, froze, wiggled, used a hair dryer, nothing worked and it finally snapped. Thanks to my generous supply of Bionicle parts I was able to drill out and replace it, but if you aren't down for DIY you will need to ship it back.
The pilot figure had a snapped-off left leg out of the package, and the right soon followed it. Again I think paint lock is to blame.

Heavy duty outer box (L) inner box (M) and clamshell (R) give a premium feel and presentation.

 

Pilot has had a bad day. Note the paint locked, sheared leg joints.

When you play in the wild west of bootleg and non-mainstream collectibles you take your chances. Sometimes you score a great value, and sometimes you feel ripped off. This falls in the middle for me.

I must admit my enthusiasm for the line took a hit with the bad QC but I intend to try at least one more time. Unfortunately there are few reviews up anywhere so it's hard to judge if QC is this bad line wide.  

Perhaps it's my age showing but my appreciation of having this kind of stuff at this scale is too good to pass up. 

The mech is leader/ultra sized and very heavy. No diecast but thick plastic gives weight.

So what do you think? Anyone else out there collecting the Steel Knights? Drop me a comment or Tweet and let me know! Thanks for reading and keeping it #Refined

Contact Dan on Twitter @mantisninenines 

The Great Third Party Drought

 - Dorian MacQuarrie

The first quarter of a year is rarely booming with new releases from Third Party companies. Sure we'll see a handful of new releases but often these are delayed products, initially planned for the end of the previous year, delayed then caught up in Chinese New Year until finally, a toy planned for a fourth quarter release of the previous year finally sees release along with the first blooms of Spring. 

This year feels especially quiet.....

'Gaze upon my field of exciting Third Party releases and see that it is barren'

 - Wu Ming c.820 AD

Given the amount of Third Party companies it would be easy to think every month sees a swathe of new releases and teasers for upcoming projects but the current climate has seen more and more companies keeping their cards close to their collective chests. Gone are the days when we would be privy to the ongoing development of an upcoming release. With the ever escalating wars in the 3PMP game, it's only natural that companies and designers would want to keep their design secrets just that, revealing the truths of their works only upon final release, or at least a scant few months prior. The fallout of all this obfuscation is cold and disengaged sections of the collecting community. It is no surprise that my interest in transforming-robots-which-happen-to-look-like-Transformers often wanes around this time of year, the common cool-down period for many Third Party Companies. Without a fresh supply of releases or at least updates of upcoming products, it's difficult to stay excited. 

I know Fansproject set some early standards for the future of Third Party toys but that shouldn't extend to their communications.

Even with my recent change in collecting interests, I still like to keep up to date with upcoming releases and news within the world of Transformers, Hasbro/Takara and Third Party alike. With that said, I can't help but shake the feeling that the scene is especially quiet right now. Less releases, less chatter, less interest. 

2017 gave us some incredible reveals of what was to come. From Iron Factory's Decepticon Justice Division (which combine!) to Maketoys Cross Dimension and RE:Master releases, it was an exciting couple of months but it seems the furore has died down and the usual levels of updates from these companies and the subsequent discussion has all but vanished. 

C. TFW2005

C. TFW2005

C. TFW2005

Personally, I think a lot of the Third Party market is hype. Hype for upcoming projects, hype for a bigger and better 'Masterpiece scale' combiner. I enjoy taking part in the initial awe and early discussions surrounding an exciting reveal, even if it's just a grey prototype. It's exciting. It hints at what is to come and begins to inform future buying decisions and display options. Take that away and well, I find myself going into a long term Sleep mode, just waiting on some news from Maketoys on their latest Cross Dimension or maybe even, just maybe, the announcement of a new Third Party Liokaiser (Ah, TFC Hades, so close, yet so, so far). 

Maybe I'm just seeing things from 'the outside' as it were and it's only natural I would feel there is a lack of discussion and buzz about the Third Party scene as it stands. With convention season nearly upon us I hope we see not only a host of new reveals from a plethora of Third Party companies but more importantly, significant updates on those projects revealed last year. 

As always, keep it #Refined.

[Editor's note: Of course Fansproject would reveal the release of a long awaited set of repaints right as this article is published!]


You can follow Dorian @Vigadeath

Greatshot and The Super Robot Factor

- Ben Watson


I'm now the proud owner of a glorious Takara LG EX Greatshot and I felt it time to tackle a particular concept that he and very few other Transformers come hand-in-hand with: the idea of "The Super Robot". 

It's widely accepted Transformers are a breed of super robots, the term even acting as descriptor of what they are in the original Japanese series' title - but to what extent in this space year 2018? In the past thirty years (probably more like forty if you want to properly chart the rise of the Super Robot) many franchises have flared to life and faded away within the stable of the concept. Some much more noticeably "super" than others that - at least in my mind - contribute much more to the overall nebulous mental image than Transformers ever has. So let's explore the concept through my admittedly novice experience (Bowing to RRCo colleague Dan as Master) and see how it's intersected and influenced the long standing brand we're all here for down the years. 

To begin, what qualifies Greatshot as a Super Robot to me? If I had to put it into words, this figure exemplifies it more than most by its particular set of colours first. The heroic staple of red, white and blue sings its debatably dated song of freedom to the eye but this isn't necessarily any different to any Optimus Prime or Ultra Magnus - two robots who in my headspace aren't capital S Super (Unless we're talking about a super mode...). What really brings the *clench fist* oomph to Greatshot is - and I'm sure your eyes have already been drawn to it - his big gold on black chest motif. In a better age it would have been glittering chrome but that right there is what elevates Greatshot to greatness. That extra layer of bombast and over-the-top styling incorporating an oddly mixed visual message. Does he turn into a bird like the big insignia across his pecs? Hell no, but it looks cool and that's what the Super Robot is all about. 

Standing proud as an ultimate force for good, swathed in red and gold and generating a silhouette dominated by upper body spikes, the spirit of other Super Robos is conjured in my mind. GaoGaiGar, Thunder Gridman, Gurren Lagann, uh... one of the Gundams (hey that's a lot of G's) Greatshot joins the pantheon of these most mighty mecha and in doing so, kind of does himself a disservice... 

All of those "OG's" I listed are the central, most powerful and righteous robots of their respective series. The be-all-and-end-all of the protection of the innocent and spectacular destruction of evil. Is that Greatshot? Really? Arguably one of the most obscure Transformers characters of all time, one that I had no idea existed until about two years ago, he hardly fits the bill. Add to that a shady heritage (this figure's pack-in manga says he's just Sixshot? What?) and in terms of portrayal, Greatshot is really only a pretender to the mantle of Super Robot. 

But hold! Perhaps a redemption arc is in the cards for our hero, because like most of those G-men I named, I haven't actually taken in any of Greatshot's appearances in fiction. Yeah ok, I'll go and watch Brave but this is another facet of the Super Robot vogue for me. A veiling in mystery, a cladding of awe. Knowing that this particular robot I'm looking at right now looks really damn cool and I love what I'm seeing even though I know practically nothing about it. That's the only reason I bought Greatshot. I don't give a monkey's about... *checks the wiki* Victory or what he did in the episodes of it he appeared in. All I need to know is I want this robot in my house because he exemplifies all of that forceful aesthetic that only Japan could provide. 

Right now I'm realising how much that aesthetic really gets to me. If it transforms and powers up in a lengthy and detailed motion-line abundant stock sequence, I want to know about it. I'd go as far as saying I'd watch a show that was just that and thankfully, there does exist an animated short commemorating Gridman that I've watched over and over. Nothing quite like that distillation of pre-21st century mecha stirs the blood quite so. I could have been hunting for missing Armada figures on ebay recently but instead chose to track down every listing for Gridman toys because by god, Zenon is a robo I need in my life. But in the west such paragons of power are hard to come by in plastic. (Unless you're blessed with wherever sells those chrome-tastic KO's in the US... Like Dan is.) So to be present to watch a release come to fruition in the line my eyes are seldom not trained on, I simply couldn't pass up Greatshot, by virtue of everything I imagine he could be, rather than anything he probably is. . 

Yes, I will hold my hands up and say, it wasn't cheap. Being not only a Japanese exclusive figure but one exclusive to a particular store within Japan, Greatshot did come at a price approximately 1.5X the average Generations Leader. He is essentially just red Sixshot and I've been trying to enjoy that figure more than I do for a good year now. Greatshot does however have an advantage in-hand thanks to much better joint tolerances. Of course some parts are new and add a lot to push Greatshot far and away from his precursor, including new robot and animal mode heads and more ostentatious chest and shoulder adornments but all six of his modes (including "submarine") tell the same rote tale. While Sixshot's existence in Titans Return was an ultimate surprise, it was certainly foolish for any of us to expect a different six-changing mold anywhere in the vicinity of the next decade. At the very least however, this is of course G1 accurate and lets the figure play to that particular retro charm the original possesses in such a large amount.

Mild misgivings aside, I really feel like Greatshot will be one of the top figures of the year. Birthed in that limited foreign release mystique and filling a unique niche in my collection he's certainly a piece I'm very proud to have. Statistically speaking, few Transformers are released each year that really resonate with what I want my collection to be. Yeah, I buy em all the same but your RID Paralons and Legion Dragonstorms don't stand a chance in the wake of a release with this kind of mental heft. This robot is simply, super. 

What makes a robot "super" to you? Leave a comment and let us know!


Follow Ben on Twitter @Waspshot23 

Trading Money For Memories aka The Snausage Factor

-mantis nine nines


I almost died. My mom pulled into traffic and all I can remember is the slow motion impact of the car smashing into the side of our van right next to where I was sitting, back seat driver's side. I was about 10 and we were late to church. Mom ran the red light and BAM. Other than a concussion, sprained wrist, and some wicked bruising I made out with no broken bones or internal bleeding, a shock to all who saw the wreckage. Whatever else I may be no one can deny I'm lucky, a few inches over and the impact would have been through my legs. In my short time as an EMT I saw what that can do close up, so I truly understand how fortunate I am.

Our red Nissan minivan (known as the "Snausage") was not so fortunate. It was almost folded in half, shattered. But in my haze I still managed to salvage something very important: Tote. That little micromaster had been a staple in the van since we bought it, I spent many an hour while riding pretending he was ironhide, or that he represented the van I was in which was secretly a super mecha. All the fun a kid can hope for when stuck in a seat while your parents argue and listen to talk radio. That cute crimson robo was there for every minute.

I'm reminded of this story as I unpack my brand new MPP-27 oversized KO Ironhide. True I love it for it's 1/24 scale and perfect fit in my collection, but those are rationalizations. Deep down it's the emotion that matters. And by emotion I mean more than nostalgia. Nostalgia is a nice warm blanket feeling we all get whenever we experience that tune, that smell, etc. What I refer to are very specific attachments that leap to mind crystal clear. As awful as that car crash was it remains a pleasant memory in the way the details are so permanently and distinctly preserved. It is as close to time travel as any of us will ever experience.

There are a few bots for me that accomplish this. My G1 Soundwave was purchased by my father after taking me to the disaster that was the 86 movie. It will always carry a residual feeling of the comfort it provided after watching my favorite characters coldly executed and replaced. My original does not travel, but MP Soundwave substitutes just fine. 

There are so many different reasons people collect. Some have an interest in the puzzle play, some find it a way they can sooth a compulsive nature, or even (foolishly) seek future fortune off a complete set. Whatever the reason, we plunk down our hard earned cash and walk away with a little piece of plastic paradise. I would have never guessed one of my favorites would be one of the smallest as well.



Contact Dan on Twitter @mantisninenines 

Changing Interests: Lego Rising

 - Dorian MacQuarrie

As collectors, it's only natural that our interests will include a number of hobbies, brands, franchises etc. I imagine the bulk of Transformers fans will also collect other toy lines or maybe they're bang into their vintage spoon and plate collections. Today I will discuss one such extra-curricular interest I have recently developed and the unexpected affect it has had on my engagement with the larger community. 

2018 had a very strong start for my collection. Fansproject Pinchar, Maketoys Thunder Manus, GCreations Prowl and Takara LG Overlord and Slugslinger made their way onto my shelves, all amazing toys, most of them worth their own article. Yet even with such a magnificent haul, my eye was already straying away from transforming robots to an altogether different sort of toy. 

Last year I started to buy a few Lego Star Wars sets. Nothing too exciting, a Microfighter here, a small speeder or playset there. Recently though, I've tumbled fully into the rabbit hole. Buying bigger kits and spending more time looking through videos, tutorials and building bits orders, this innocent affair with the classic brick building system has now moved in and kicked Transformers to the kerb. 

If you would allow me a moment to gush about this Lego business... It's so much fun! Pure, unadulterated joy. Be it the joy of having a growing roster of Star Wars minifigures, the tactile experience of building a Lego set which taps into that sweet sweet childhood nostalgia (extra points for being Star Wars flavoured) or the even the appreciation I can have as an adult collector, not just for the design and construction of the Lego sets themselves, but even the clever way Lego organise their larger sets into sub-builds, gently easing you in with a few simple steps before going full Master Builder on you. Compare this to the fairly serious business of my bot-buying habits, it's a nice departure. 

During my adventures in a Galaxy Far Far Away...I've found my engagement with the larger collecting community has diminished greatly, initially at least. This, of course, was to be expected. My interests have diverged (albeit only slightly) from those I regularly engage with but it seems to go further still. To be frank, it also lessened my engagement with writing articles and taking part in toy photography, something I felt fairly aggrieved about. I enjoy the level of discourse articles bring and it was only recently that I started to put a little more effort into my toy photography. Be it self inflicted or just the nature of a new interest, it became an altogether solo pursuit outside of a few tweets and quick snaps for social media platforms. That's not to say there's a lack of community spaces for the Lego enthusiast, far from it, I just found that this was something which diverged from my normal hobby habits and therefore changed how I shared my purchases and activities with fellow collectors and friends. Similar to past jaunts with miniature wargaming, which would come along with an enormous reduction in community engagement as I worked away at my table, sculpting tools or paint brush in hand, my recent dalliance with Lego has seen me recede a bit from my usual position within the larger collector community.

Time which would normally be spent setting up photo-comics or planning future purchases is now spent researching kits to build or watching tutorials in anticipation of building my first MOC (My Own Creation). The mental capacity normally given over to engaging with the hobby of collecting Transformers and all its related activities has now gone into my current interest of Lego. 

Thankfully, the bonds of friendship remain strong and even when I might be outside the circles of conversation about the latest Power of the Primes reveal, I can still take part in the shared appreciation of new reveals or new purchases. The same goes for the communities reaction to whatever content I have posted in recent weeks. Even those who don't deal with Lego can still fire a Like or a comment my way for some pictures or posts. 

When the time comes for me to put down the bricks and step back into the world of transforming robots, I'll do so with fresh eyes and maybe a new intent for my collection. I think it's important to dabble in several different hobbies and expand your interests. 

Until next time, keep it #Refined


Follow Dorian on Twitter @Vigadeath 

How Cyclonus Saved the Decepticons

 - Becka of the Rated Thighs

“Once the Decepticons nearly held the quadrant through terror. Now we scrap like slargs over a few energon cubes. Is this how you honour the memory of Galvatron? Is this the fate of the mighty Decepticon Empire?” 

I’ve been a fan of Transformers for nine years this year, and for eight of those years I wrote off season three of the Generation One cartoon as something I wouldn’t be interested in after all of the deaths in the movie and the change of setting from Earth to Cybertron. (Hell hath no fury like an Ironhide fan being forced to watch him die in two separate films). However after deciding to give season three another go, I found not only that it’s now my favourite of the cartoon, but also that Cyclonus is the most important thing in it. 

Copyright Hasbro

Yes, ol’ lilac bunny ears himself.

Or, to put it another way, he’s at least more important than any of the Decepticons who preceded him: Megatron as the leader, Starscream as the backstabber archetype (looking at you, copycat Terrorsaur), Devastator as the first gestalt, Blitzwing and Astrotrain as the first triple changers…heck, he’s even more important than his own leader, Galvatron.

And yes, he would punch me for saying that. And yes, I would still say it. Why? Because Cyclonus broke the mold of what it meant to be a Decepticon in the most instantly recognizable of Transformers properties. (Before anyone can object with “but the Marvel comic!” yes, the Marvel comic is amazing. But to the average casual fan I’d put money on the cartoon being the more familiar).

In seasons one and two, the Decepticons were portrayed as borderline-idiotically evil, despising anything ‘good’ just because (“I hate nice things!” says Rumble in ‘Microbots’, perfectly summing up Megatron’s entire movement) and refusing to even allow something as meaningful as friendship enter their ranks. Seriously, they spend 90% of their day hating and sabotaging the Autobots, and the remaining 10% of that same day hating and sabotaging one another (see Astrotrain and Blitzwing’s attempted coup in ‘Triple Takeover’ for a prime example of how completely incapable of working together the Decepticons are at this point). But they’ve still got a leg up on the Autobots, so their pointless squabbling doesn’t really amount to much other than to maintain the status quo of Autobots = good and Decepticons = evil. 

Copyright Hasbro

And then the movie happens to them, and they lose everything they’ve spent the last couple of million years building up: their entire homeworld, and the only leader they’ve ever known. The only leader powerful enough to force them to work together. ‘Five Faces of Darkness’ opens with the remnants of the faction hanging out together (yet oh so apart) on a cold barren world, unable to achieve anything even as basic as foraging for energon (although Astrotrain tries, bless his cotton socks). They’re dispirited, desperate, and broken as a faction.

And then Cyclonus arrives, and with him change. Because Cyclonus is not an egocentric Decepticon who believes only in the superiority of himself, but rather the superiority of the Decepticon movement as a whole.
Within five seconds of being on planet Chaar, Cyclonus has the erstwhile morbidly depressed troops on their feet, cheering, and handing over their meagre energon supplies so that he can find Galvatron and restore them to their former glory. He inspires them in a way Megatron was never able to and Galvatron will never be able to; both versions of the guy led solely by fear, whereas Cyclonus’s natural talent for leadership comes from his own proactive nature. He identifies a problem and immediately starts thinking of ways to overcome it, rather than using the favoured Decepticon tactic of the first two seasons of either a) ignoring the problem outright, b) blaming the problem on someone else, or c) refusing to acknowledge the scale of the problem, refer to a) or b) to continue. (See: pretty much any episode from seasons one and two).

But beyond his complete lack of ego, Cyclonus is also totally almost selfless. The Decepticons of the first two seasons were greedy, desiring power for themselves above all else, but also just that slight bit too lazy and/or cowardly to fully pursue their goals. For example in ‘The God Gambit’ Astrotrain, Starscream, and Thrust discover an energon-rich planet and waste no time in conquering it and forcing its natives into worshipping them – all without contacting Megatron, because they would not wish to share this newfound wealth with their own movement? This is in sharp comparison to ‘Fight or Flee’, in which Cyclonus and Scourge discover another energon-rich planet. Do they do as Astrotrain and crew did one season beforehand? Nope. Cyclonus’s first instinct is to contact Galvatron and summon the Decepticons, recognising the planet’s strategic value in their continuing campaign. It simply doesn’t occur to him to keep the glory for himself. He is a warrior to his cause, and his cause comes above all else – even personal glory.

(Although, as an aside, it has to be noted that he carefully avoids mentioning that he and Scourge had their afts handed to them by the Aerialbots earlier in the same episode when speaking with Galvatron, so it is possible Cyclonus has pride that can be dented at times).

Finally, let’s consider his relationship with Galvatron. It’s fun to simplify it right down to a master and servant dynamic, but like the Depeche Mode song there’s a lot more going on that first appears. For example, I don’t think it’s right to say that Cyclonus has 100% confidence in Galvatron. He unthinkingly corrects him on a couple of occasions – such as commenting on his leader’s lack of strategy at the start of ‘Webworld’ – and also seems to spend the majority of his time acting entirely on his own imitative without any orders from above. In ‘The Big Broadcast of 2006’ he even outright ignores Galvatron’s warnings that the Decepticons are not interested in the Junkions’ rebellion against the Autobots and flies off with Scourge and the Sweeps to see how they could take advantage of the situation. Galvatron has decided against intervention, but Cyclonus deemed the matter important enough to override his master’s command – and drag Scourge and co. along for the ride. Cyclonus, then, is not totally blindly loyal to Galvatron – again, his interests are for the entire Decepticon movement, not the one person leading it. 

Copyright Hasbro

It’s also arguable that Cyclonus doesn’t even perceive Galvatron as a person in his own mind, but rather his own metaphorical figurehead. As already mentioned, Cyclonus has an innate ability to get people to follow him without a second thought and has both the brains and the brawn to back this up. Yet he always defaults back to insisting that Galvatron be the one in charge – and I will argue that this is not because he feels inferior to Galvatron, but rather because he recognises that one of them is good at sitting in a chair and yelling orders whilst the other one is good at actually flying off and making those orders happen. In other words, Galvatron must be in charge because Cyclonus is far too busy to lead and nobody else is suited for the role.

Another part of the Decpeticon mold thoroughly atomized.

If you want a neat summary of everything I’ve written above, I’d invite you to watch ‘Webworld’ – arguably Cyclonus’s most important episode. Cyclonus has enough of the Decepticons’ respect for both Swindle and Motormaster to warn him of the impending revolt against his master (Swindle, for goodness’ sake, does nothing without getting some kind of benefit out of it – yet here he is giving advice for free). Rather than allowing the revolt to happen so he can usurp power, as past Decepticons would have done, Cyclonus immediately sets about trying to fix the problem (albeit with advice given by Quintessons, but at this point he’s desperate). During the various ‘fixes’ on Torkulon he’s wise enough to not meddle in what’s happening – believing medical professionals to have more knowledge than him – but as soon as those treatments become harmful he immediately attempts to intervene. He then apologises to Galvatron, recognising that he has made an error in trying to force him to change, and guides the leader back onto his proper path of wanting to smash Autobots.

Now try to picture that episode happening with any other Decepticon, even Scourge, in Cyclonus’s shoes. It just wouldn’t happen – they would fly off the moment they discovered that the Torkulons are powerful enough to keep Galvatron prisoner and claim the Decepticons for themselves.

Cyclonus is also important because his colourful nature gives the Decepticons a flavour of believability. Even before season three and the excellently written Rodimus Prime and Ultra Magnus, the Autobots have always had the benefit of multifaceted characters; they had grumps (Cliffjumper, Gears, Huffer), they had naysayers (Sunstreaker in ‘Megatron’s Master Plan’), they had wildcards (Red Alert, Grapple, Hoist, and Ironhide at various points), and they had hubris (Optimus Prime, whenever they were doing badly). The Decepticons were just bad, period, and many of the new ones introduced during season three followed that same bland ideal. Cyclonus did not, and the season is all the better for him.

In closing: he’s a good lad whose positive attributes may have landed him on the Autobot side of things in another life, and showed television audiences for the first time that Decepticons could be more than bland villains hell-bent on the silliest world domination plans possible. And no, we’re not going to talk about what Headmasters did to him. 

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to rate his thighs.

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