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Top 5 Best Transformers Toys with Easy Transformations

Date: Saturday, August 12th 2017 8:14am CDT
Categories: Site Articles, Editorials, Top Lists
Posted by: william-james88

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Views: 77,665

Every two weeks, Seibertron.com brings you a Top 5 list related to all things Transformers written by me, your fellow editor. These are my opinions (just like movie or game reviews hosted by sites are still just the opinion of one person) so what matters most is what you guys think of the topic or list, and I hope to see your own lists or comments on omissions and ranking. Let's have fun! All previous lists can be found here.

Top 5 Best Transformers Toys with Easy Transformations

While many fans loved the complexity of the Revenge of the Fallen line, parents were not as enthused and eventually, the Age of Extinction Toyline came with a publicized push by Hasbro to simplify the transformation process of Transformers toys. They claimed it was both to bring it back to the brand’s basics and to be more appealing to kids and this idea of toys being simpler has stuck in he current collector landscape. While I love my complex transformations as much as the next fan, I actually thought this was all smoke and no fire. Not simply because complex and articulated Transformers didn’t disappear, and not just because we’ve had one step Transformers since G1’s Twintwist and Topspin, but because I believe easier Transformers can sometimes yield great designs that are just as hard to pull off as more complex transformations. An easy transformation doesn’t necessarily mean that the engineering is lacking and sometimes overcomplicating a transformer can yield terrible results (which is what the majority thinks of Universe Galvatron). All I want to show with this list is that there can be great style and a lot of fun resulting from easy transformations and I wanted to give the best examples of that. My only rule here is that it had to be less than 5 main steps (not including posing) to see the robot mode. This isn't necessarily about simplified toys or one steps, that could be another list of its own. Here, I was looking for awesome toys that you could transform extremely fast that even a young fan with a small attention span would appreciate and marvel at.

5. Transformers Animated Activators Seekers

These are one step transformers, for the most part, and are a lot of fun. The seeker mold has the best robot mode of this class, which makes up for the sub par jet mode, and it is loaded with articulation for that size. It really reminds me of the spring loaded Best Wars Basics which had just as much articulation as the deluxes. With all the lovely ball joints, this seeker mold even puts more recent attempts at Legends sized seekers to shame in terms of the amount of articulation and poseability.

4. Transformers G1 1984 Optimus Prime (Convoy)

When Hasbro said they were taking the property back to basics, I thought of what that meant and looked at my G1s. I could totally see what they meant. Transformer toys of the past were far easier than what they became in the ROTF line (hyperbole, right? But that’s the point) but I think they still look great in their own way. I grew up with the beautifully articulated Beast Wars figures and yet I can still see the great style of G1 and appreciate them as the fun toys they are. Blocky maybe, but it really sells the robot esthetic and even better, the robot in disguise aesthetic with the great alt mode integration of the early licensed diaclone toys. Optimus Prime (Battle Convoy) is the best example of this, and he transforms in just 4 steps (which includes part forming).

1.Bring down the legs and feet
2.Pull out the arms and shoulders
3.Flip the head
4. Plug in some fists (if you still have them)
And voila!

It’s simple but really smart, especially the arms taking part of the front of the truck with them, giving Optimus a slimmer figure in the abdominal area that lines up with where the legs begin. And while he looks like a blocky robot, the alt mode is impeccable with no notion of robot kibble (it helps that his hands are just accessories). Also, let me reiterate, less than 5 steps!

3. Transformers Beast Wars Terrorsaur

To be frank, I could have picked any of the basic beast wars figures since they are all as good and as smart, so feel free to substitute this entry with your favourite of the basic spring loaded beast wars one step figures. Terrorsaur is a tad more special than the others to me since he was my first Transformer and, along with Rattrap, this was the only class to have a toy of the show character. And while I did complain about the size as a kid, I didn’t complain about the transformation (and no one complained about the show accuracy in the beast wars line, it wasn’t part of the fandom’s lexicon yet and I was just glad my Terrorsaur didn’t have a mutant head). The transformation was actually pretty smart and I believe it even beats the more recent Pretodactyle mold we got, Age of Extinction’s Strafe. Unlike Strafe, Terrorsaur’s head isn’t visible in Beast Mode even if you flip him to see the undercarriage, and the robot hands are hidden as well, transforming into the beast mode feet. I still find that hand transformation ingenious to this day. It’s so simple how the beast mode feet are panels that just flip onto the forearms and disappear in robot mode. You can count that as a step if you are so inclined, since it’s a great step, but he is principally a one step transformer since the entire robot mode comes to view once you unhook the beast mode head and let the spring do the work.
And voila:

Transformers Beast Wars Iguanus (Crazybolt) Gallery

2. Transformers Beast Wars Cybershark

He was my favourite to transform as a kid because I marveled at how fast it was to go from these two totally distinct beast and robot modes. Unlike Terrorsaur above, there wasn’t a spring involved, this was a deluxe, and neither his arms nor legs appeared in robot mode. His fully articulated limbs only appear in robot mode and you get there in just 3 steps once you remove his tail (which you also must do with the three step Robots in Disguise Grimlock).
1.Open the shark’s underbelly/shell
2.Flip the newly revealed legs to the front end of the toy
3.Flip the shark head down
And voila:

A beautiful robot mode with some decent alt mode integration (the shark’s head!) with one of the best headsculpts and decos of the beast era. He is also full of weapons and hidden projectiles (the sharks’s head!). This is by no means a design that lacks engineering, or inventiveness, especially considering that the beast mode is a realistic shark that has no arms or legs. And yet it’s super simple and fun to transform. I didn’t feel cheated then and I sure don’t feel it now. For a simple comparison, the Transmetal II version was made far more complicated to transform and the result doesn’t hold a candle to the initial cybershark who is far more sleek, giving him the look of the swift, sharp and skilled killer he is (or was in my imagination).

1. Transformers Cybertron Hot Shot (Excellion)

This figure is astounding compared to today's toys in terms of heft, deco and sculpting. It's a deluxe class figure with an excellent amount of articulation, but do you know how many steps it takes to transform it? Only four. Five if you have to turn his head for it to face the right direction.
1. Pull the rear of the car back.
2. Flip the rear vents up to form the robot feet.
3. Swing the sides of the car out while pulling them down, splitting the front of the car.
4. Rotate the cockpit, and accompanying top of the car, 180.
(5. Turn the robot head around if it's not facing the right way)
And voila!

This can be performed in 10 seconds, with no hyperbole. And that's it. The transformation is so simplistic and elementary, yet results in an impressively articulated figure with some fun non-inhibiting gimmick features. The simplicity in the toy is a result of the robot mode using the very same parts from the alt mode but in a way that the kibble is no longer visible, giving way to a robot mode with detail that was never found before.
Just look at how little of the alt mode shows up in the robot mode:

And yet, the robot mode uses parts from the car mode, making him still sleek with a nice amount of bulk and heft. This toy simply amazes me. I love the alt mode being a Cybertronian Lambourghini. Design is two fold; it is the look of the figure as well as its engineering. And this guy works that way. The simple engineering means you can have a swift conversion from 2 modes that look nothing like one another. Think about it guys, this is what Hasbro is trying to hard to achieve right now with simplistic transformation. But this is it done right. It is truly a figure for all ages (it's my 11 year old cousin's favourite toy, she usually finds transformers too complicated).
And the style of the figure is something to behold. Speaking of head sculpts, this is probably one of my all time favourites, there is so much detail and sculpting. You have four colours playing off one another on this head design with different kinds of plastic as well, giving it a unique look while also hearkening back to a very old school robot look. And speaking of hearkening back, his gimmick is that he becomes an homage to Hotrod.

Sure, he isn't perfect. He has a big buttflap, the doors don't retract across his arms and the legs are quite bulky but to me this is just part of the design and intention to make him quick to convert while using as much as the kibble as possible in the robot mode (ie the legs ad doors).
This was the last line before the movie happened, and the very last states side line which used Takara for design and not just engineering. It was like a last hurrah for the classic transformer design, yet flipped on its head (or upside down, as is the case with this toy). It's just great.

And once again, check out that headsculpt!

Top 5 Transformers Toys With Best Weapon Storage

Date: Saturday, July 29th 2017 9:09am CDT
Categories: Site Articles, Editorials, Top Lists
Posted by: william-james88

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Views: 42,831

Transformers Legends Arcee Gallery

4. Transformers Cybertron Vector Prime

Vector Prime is a Transformer toy that just keeps giving and giving. Never mind him having an intricate design and excellent paint, and being a great toy all around, he also has really awesome weapon storage. His minicon is also a spaceship/blaster and there is a perfectly shaped indentation on his vehicle mode to store him. The best part though is the sword. It is big and can be stored on the side of the spaceship. The little detail that just brings it over the top is how his sword has a nice artisinal hilt to drive home the ancient theme and it sticks out of the side of the ship when the sword is lokcked in. For this not to look out of place, there is a molded in hilt detail sticking out on the other side of the ship, completing the uniform look and totally hiding the sword since that extra hilt detail now becomes a detail of the ship.

3. Transformers Generations Scourge

Scourge is known for his big wings and Hasbro gave them a lot more functionality with this toy, by having them open up to store his two weapons. I also like how you have to transform the weapons a bit to have them fit properly within his wings. It looks even cooler on the translucent versions of this mold where you can see the guns there as if he is passing through an airport scanner.

2. Transformers Beast Wars Rhinox

I had this toy as a kid and the weapon storage was the best part of Rhinox. I loved how it makes you become a mini MacGyver taking random bits from here and there and then putting them together to give him a chaingun of doom. It was even more fun than actually transforming the figure. Plus his tail became a weapon as well.

1. Transformers Beast Wars Optimus Primal (Beast Convoy)

This monkey the Boss when it comes to weapon storage, bar none. He's got two swords stored in his back, heightwise, and two springloaded shoulder cannons that spring out from his backside. These cannons have missiles, which are also stored inside the figure's back behind his head. But that's not all, he has more weapons up his sleeves, literally. One of his forearms has a springloaded double barreled blaster and his other forearm stores a mace shaped like a skull! This Maximal leader is a one man army all on his own and if he gave in to his Gorilla Warefare side we all know the Predacons would have been history and the beast Wars would have been over quite early on.

Honourable Mentions: Lots of Beast Wars; Dinobot, cheetor, all do it very well but it's nothing compared to Rhinox and Optimus Primal

Top Five Transformers Characters That the Comics Did Better

Date: Saturday, July 1st 2017 9:28pm CDT
Categories: Site Articles, Editorials, Top Lists
Posted by: Optimutt

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Views: 62,253

Every 2 weeks, Seibertron.com brings you a top 5 list related to all things Transformers, usually written by william-james88, but for this special list of which characters are better in the comics than the G1 show, it was best to call on a friend to these lists, fellow Seibertronian Optimutt (Rob Queen). These are opinions of one person, so what matters most is what you guys think of the topic or list, and we hope to see your own lists or comments on omissions and ranking. Let's have fun! All previous lists can be found here.

Top Five Transformers Characters That the Comics Did Better

This is a list that looks at certain Transformers characters from the G1 era that appeared in cartoon form but were not done “right” until the talented writers of the TF comics (of both past and present) got them in their word processors. Many of these characters have reached almost a cult-ish following thanks to these comic representations.

I would like to give special thanks to Bob Budiansky, Simon Furman, Michael Higgins, Eric Holmes, Mike Costa, Shane McCarthy, Zander Cannon, Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, Flint Dille, John Barber, James Roberts, Mairghread Scott, Chris Metzen, and every other writer who has contributed to these comics for the fun ride. May we keep on rolling.

5. Thundercracker

In the cartoon, his thunder booms gave Starscream a headache. In the comic, he wrote a screenplay. In the cartoon, he was proud of Megatron using his weapon. In the comic, he had a pet dog. In the cartoon, he got put in his place by Starscream. In the comic, he got shot in the face by Skywarp. In the cartoon, he was turned into Cyclonus (or was it a Sweep? Or the Armada?). In the comic, he declared humans as unworthy of Decepticon attention and took an atomic bomb into orbit, saving the day. Ultimately, though, IDW turned this generic, one-step-above-a-Rainmaker into a quirky, earthling lover with aspirations that take him far outside the simple world of Autobot! Versus! Decepticon!

4. Skids

You must have blinked. That was why you don’t remember seeing him in the original G1 cartoon. With his whomping three minutes of screen time, Skids was essentially the overlooked Autobot car. Yup, that guy who, in issue 20, was totally interspecies relating to the Human named Charlene, was a total nobody in the cartoon. However, this spotlight issue of interspecies love was nothing compared to what the member of Autobot Diplomatic Corps and outlier is doing on the Lost Light, in the more recent comics. In fact, Skids has become so popular that he even got a fancy new toy that blows people away with its arsenal of “hidden” weaponry!

3. Scorponok

The concept of Binary Bonding was deeply explored with this mighty Decepticon. When he first appeared in the Headmasters limited series, he was a true villain, who enjoyed beating up Autobots so much that he trekked across a galaxy for the chance to crush his nemesis, Fortress Maximus. Once there, he agreed to Binary Bond with Zarak, an ambitious politician. In the later issues of the comic, however, he found himself on Earth, struggling with the duality of his being: the frailty of his Nebulon brain, and the invincible warrior of his Cybertronian self. During this time, he was able to set aside his reservations and create a truce with Optimus Prime so that he could die heroically in the battle against Unicron. If you were able to read his death scene without shedding an eye, you were made of sterner stuff than the eleven-year old I was. And his role in the cartoon? Big city. But at least Zarak made his cartoon version a bit more interesting than the bore that Chromedome was. Hence his spot in the list as opposed to the out-of-continuity Honorable Mention that poor ‘Domey gets (spoilers).

2. Shockwave

In the original cartoon (which he later reprised in TF: Animated, much to the delight of fans around the world), Corey Burton portrayed Shockwave as a cold, emotionless monster who got to rule Cybertron while Megatron was comatose on Earth. And boy was his voice awesome! What puts Shocks so high up on this list is the fact that as awesome as he was, the comics made him even better. Bob Budiansky must not have liked Megatron much, because following Shockwave’s first appearance in issue 4, the traditional Decepticon leader was relegated to second fiddle to the stone-cold tactician of a brute called Shockwave. Until Megatron blew himself up (to Cybertron, as was later revealed), the pair regularly came to blows for leadership, and boy was it satisfying to watch the two at each other’s throats. Since then, the comics have just kept making him more and more compelling, to the point of even having him be a Cybertronian Senator.

1. Grimlock

Anyone who has ever read anything by Simon Furman knows of the author’s love for this conflicted Autobot (is Furmansession a word? It is now!). The original cartoon established him early on as being stupid, with a certain arrogance that sets him apart from most other Autobots, but as time went on, the grammatically-challenged Dinobot Leader was relegated to comic relief. Sadly, it seemed that the comic version of him would follow suit, too, with his run as an ineffectual leader. Thankfully, Furman was able to channel every fan-child’s love of this T-Rex and dove headfirst into what Grimlock could be. Over the last thirty issues of the original Marvel series, we saw him go from restless PTSD sufferer, to rebel with a cause, to a bot who managed to replace guilt with a completely different kind of guilt, to Autobot savior. Quite simply, he became exactly what fans of the cartoon were hoping for with their Grimlock: a three-dimensional badass that could munch Trypticon’s head as easily as he could lead the Autobots to salvation following the inevitable destruction of Cybertron. And it is exactly because of this fan demand that Grimlock wins out.

Honorable mention: Chromedome

In the Japanese Headmasters cartoon, Chromedome was the de facto main character. He was hotheaded and impulsive, and ostensibly young. Basically, he was every Hot Rod, Cheetor, Side Burn, Hot Shot, Bumblebee (Animated), Sideswipe (Robots in Disguise), and Smokescreen (Prime) that there ever has been. Despite being a lame duck plucked for a Beijing feast, at least he was far less annoying than Kicker and Ironhide (remember them? Mean of me, wasn’t it?) Thankfully, James Roberts got his fingers in him and made him forget what a tool he was. And how was it possible to do so? Mnemosurgery! Sure, being able to inject psychological failsafes in Overlord’s mind is cool and all, but that is nothing compared to just what Chromedome represents within the story: an emotional ship sailing the turbulence that comes from absolute commitment to emotions. It takes quite a special ‘bot to say the Big Three Words, and there is no way the impetuous youth from the cartoon would even consider them, let alone vocalize them.

There are many other characters from the G1 cartoon that really got their moments of glory in the Marvel Transformers Comics rather than on the screen and you wouldn't believe how much of a real bad ass Ratchet and Blaster are until you read them. It just shows you how rich the Transformers fiction can be and what awesome potential all these characters have. There are some phenomenal stories out there with the characters you always wished to see more and if you are new to the comics or have any questions, don't be shy to visit our comic forum and ask the community.

Top 5 Best Grimlock Transformers toys

Date: Saturday, June 17th 2017 12:40pm CDT
Categories: Site Articles, Editorials, Top Lists
Posted by: william-james88

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4. Transformers G1 1985 Grimlock

The Dinobots are some of the crown jewels of any G1 collection and while their poseability is nothing to brag about, they will always looks great. Grimlock especially with his massive shoulders and decorative wings, adding to his upper mass. His T-Rex tail become the legs brings equal mass to his lower area, offsetting any top heaviness. The colours are also just great, with that gold just popping. It was a smart transformation and one that keeps getting carried over through different iterations over the years, even the movie toy covered above. And that biologically incorrect T-Rex mode adds to this toy being a time capsule of the 80s era while also giving him a more stylized mechanical dinosaur look, turning something dated into a timeless design.

3. Robots in Disguise Grimlock Battle Pack

The Robots in Disguise Warrior Grimlock came out with little fanfare. It was the same size as a deluxe, so out of scale with Bumblebee and the gang, his elbows had a breakage issue and he didn't even come with any weapon. But then Hasbro fixed all that, at a smaller scale. The Battle Pack Grimlock is similar in size to a scout figure of old. He has all the complexity of the warrior but in a smaller bot which makes him have a nice high parts count for his height. Plus they fix some of the transformation from the warrior and he no longer has the breakage problem. Also, unlike the warrior, he ends up in a nice scale with the smaller Legion bots and looks good next to the battle pack prime (who is a beast on the show). And lastly, the clear plastic weapons are perfectly fine. They give him an awesome homage to the AOE Grimlock when worn as armour and they connect to become a dino head which can plug into his arm for him to have some BW Megs action going. So all the pluses of the warrior, no downside and great accessories. I call that a winner.

2. Takara Battle Grimlock and AOE Silver Knight Grimlock

Lipstick on a pig is an expression fans throw around when there is a deeply flawed Transformers toy that Hasbro or Takara tries to amerliorate with a paint job. It doesn't always work and usually the toy ends up remaining just the same, but with lipstick. However, these two are some good examples of times when it worked, especially he Takara Batle Grimlock which uses the same base mold as Fall of Cybertron Grimlock but totally refurbashes it and amelioates it by repurposing it into Robots in Disguise Grimlock. The shoulders which were once a mess are reworked and made simpler and less frustrating, and if you didn't know the mold existed before you would think this was made just for this character. They reworked a lot of pieces from the original and give it a faithful colour scheme. Here is a quick example to show how it keeps the base mold yet reworks it.

1. Transformers Masterpiece Grimlock (Grimlock (MP-08))

What can I say at this point that hasn't been said? This toy is nearly flawless. It has an imposing robot mode and a smooth Dinosaur mode that looks exactly like the show but with the extra shine of the G1 toy. The Transformation is well executed as it replicates the G1 transformation while taking modern engineering into account. Plus he is fully poseable. This is without a doubt the best Grimlock toy of all time and I don't see it being beaten anytime soon.

Top 5 Worst Cases of Undercarriage Among Transformers Toys

Date: Saturday, June 3rd 2017 1:02pm CDT
Categories: Site Articles, Editorials, Top Lists
Posted by: william-james88

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Views: 56,446

Every two weeks, Seibertron.com brings you a Top 5 list related to all things Transformers written by me, your fellow editor. These are my opinions (just like movie or game reviews hosted by sites are still just the opinion of one person) so what matters most is what you guys think of the topic or list, and I hope to see your own lists or comments on omissions and ranking. Let's have fun! All previous lists can be found here.

Top 5 Worst cases of Undercarriage among Transformers Toys

This list is all about the most poorly disguised robots. We are talking here about the Transfomrer toys which wish to remain inconspicuous (so of course, no random cybertronian spaceship) but have just a bit to much robot showing which removes any illusion. That protruding robot kibble usually sprouts from under the robot and while I would never knock against kibble that can only be seen when a car is flipped over, I am really not fond of when I see so much undercarriage from the sides. Here are 5 examples of the worst cases of that:

5. Transformers G1 1989 Vroom

While the articulation of today wasn't present, the G1 era will always be a place for great design in my book. They are probably the best era (aside from Masterpiece and Alternators/Alternity) for the most realistic vehicles with well disguised robots. However, that specific era I am referring to encompasses the first few years of this rather expansive era we now call "Generation 1". The alt mode wasn't always prioritized and by the end it was a line made up of gimmick after gimmick. Case in point Vroom. He sure looks like a fun goofy toy but the alt mode doesn't try hiding the fact that there is a whole man under there with his hands hanging out the side and a big belly as the undercarriage. The motorcycle becomes simply a mode of transport (like Transmetal 2 vehicle modes) rather than an actual disguise. Why this guy takes the cake though is because his underside is all organic and doesn't mesh with the mechanical motorcycle which makes the undercarriage really distracting.

Transformers G1 1989 Vroom Gallery

4. Transformers Revenge of the Fallen Voyager Ironhide and Transformers Dark of the Moon Leader Ironhide

Ironhide kept the same voyager mold for a long time (as did Ratchet) and while it was always the same, different versions worked depending on how they handled the underside. Movie Ironhide having a real life recognizable GMC truck alt mode would make any extraneous kibble look really off. It just so happens that the voyager mold has his arms hanging there in the undercarriage. Certain versions hid them well by placing weapons on either side but the ROTF version just let it all hang loose for all to see and for the disguise to fail. The leader figure, while quite good in my opinion, went for a very streamlined and efficient transformation, meaning that most of the bot is already there under the vehicle. As you can tell from the pictures, it isn't hid very well either.

Transformers Dark of the Moon Ironhide Gallery

Transformers Dark of the Moon Ironhide Gallery

3. Transformers Age of Extinction: Generations Strafe

It really pains me that this toy did not take any cues from any Pteranodon transformer that preceded him when it comes to handling his robot arms. For crying out loud, the G1 toy hid them better and all that was done there was have them compact within his chest (which G1 Divebomb also did to an even better result). A transformation I fnd quite brilliant was the Animated Swoop where his robot arms were in plain sight in Dino mode but merged with the wings to become the arms of the Pteranodon. AOE Strafe did none of that. The robot arms are just right there spread far and wide, under the wings (which feature their own dinosaur claws). It's not just the arms you see, but practicaly the entire robot. The chest doesnt transform at all from dino mode and the head just nods a little for you not to see the eyes. It looks like he's got four hands and three heads.In the end, the dino mode look more like a robot playing peek-a-boo than a legitimate attempt at a dino mode (I do find the robot mode quite nice though).

2. Transformers Revenge of the Fallen Jetfire Gallery

If it wasn't for number one, who is a very special case, this guy would take the cake for most extraneous undercarriage. There is absolutely no one kidding themselves that this is just a jet and not some mechanical alien hidden under it. It's a very weak and cheap way to make a toy and what's worse is that while the design is lazy and the transformation is overly simplistic, they made it one of the most annoying transformations on the planet (unlike say, AOE Leader Optimus who is also simplistic but not annoying in any way). I don't know why they wasted so much time putting all the necessary panels needed to make the top of the jet look ultra lifelike. It just makes the panel forming more frustrating when you know the end design wont benefit from any attention to detail since all we are paying attention to is all that kibble underneath.

1. Silverbolt, (almost) all of them.

Oh man, this is the ultimate poorly disguised robot, with a heavy undercarriage loaded with all the robot kibble possible. What I find quite funny is how the fact that this was the case in the G1 era seems to give it a free pass for designers to continue imitating it. Quite frankly, I think it is a rather easy way out when supporting design. Silvebolt is one of the most iconic jet transformers (he is at least surely the representative for the concord jet in this brand) and yet perpetually suffers from his whole body being under the jet. I think he deserves better, and should at least be disguised better.

Transformers G1 1986 Silverbolt Gallery

Transformers Universe - Classics 2.0 Silverbolt Gallery

Transformers Generations Combiner Wars Silverbolt Gallery

And I know it's a different character, but it just fits so well here as the most poorly disguised robot, here s another Silverbolt with very exposed kibble in his "undercarrage":

Transformers Beast Machines Silverbolt Gallery

Honourable Mentions:

There is one toy I want to mention here that should be on the list as well but I don't feel is fair. You see all toys above have an undercarriage as a consequence of converting between two modes that dont share the same pieces but of course are connected to eachother. There is one toy out there with an egregious undercarriage isn't stuck to his undercarriage though, Gunrunner.

It's a robot that only turns into a "jet" because you plug a jet body on top of it. So you end up with a jet with a robot plugged under it. An odd toy indeed.

Top 5 Best Disguised Robots Amongst Transformers Toys

Date: Saturday, May 20th 2017 11:50pm CDT
Category: Top Lists
Posted by: william-james88

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Views: 59,303

Every two weeks, Seibertron.com brings you a Top 5 list related to all things Transformers written by me, your fellow editor. These are my opinions (just like movie or game reviews hosted by sites are still just the opinion of one person) so what matters most is what you guys think of the topic or list, and I hope to see your own lists or comments on omissions and ranking. Let's have fun! All previous lists can be found here.

Top 5 Best Disguised Robots among Transformers Toys

I made a list of the Transformers toys which look least like the robot can transform into something else and this is pretty much the opposite. Transformers have always been called Robots in Disguise and some toys really pushed the disguise angle. There are some Transformers that one would never guess are anything more than their alt mode. Of course, the important factor here is that we are talking about their alt mode and not just a pretender shell that hides the robot. I am sure it was assumed, but I am mentioning it just in case. A brick wall would definitely help hide a small robot standing behind it, but what I give you today is the list of Transformers toys who's alt modes provide the best disguise!

5. Transformers G1 1984 Bumblebee (Bumble)

Most G1 figures are great examples of well disguised robots since the alt mode was the one that was emphasized in the two main lines contributing to Transformers. The idea was to have toy cars and real life objects that could blend in with others but also hide a robot. However, for the Diaclone cars at least, the illusion only lasted until you looked under the car and saw some flashy robot mode stickers. I wouldn't count the jets or Optimus Prime either since their robot mode kibble was detached and it wouldn't be a fair comparison. The most well disguised traditional G1 figure, to me, then ends up being good old Bumblebee. The head flap being hidden by a tire detail is very smart and he is super clean underneath, aside from some sculpting for the fists (but its not emphasized in any way, helping the illusion). He just looks like your average little toy car that any kid from the previous decades would have a bunch of. It must have been awesome for kids in the 80s to show their friends that theirs actually turned into a robot.

4. Transformers Revenge of the Fallen Deadlift

While G1 were an early hay day in alt mode realism, that came back full circle with the movie lines which went all out with the licensing and trying to give us faithful alt modes. You got some great results, alt mode wise, but aside from the human alliance figures, you could tell there was a robot hiding there either with the massive undercarriage, the great amount of panel lines or when you would peer inside the windows. There is one toy though which I feel really looks like it isn't hiding a robot and that is Deadlift, the forklift Transformer (and the only Forklift Transformer mold we have ever gotten in the history of the brand). The forklift alt mode is so distinctive that it distracts us from thinking this actually transforms especially since it is so compact and has so many dedicated part for the alt mode. There is also the very open nature of the the forklift with the cockpit being clear and empty with a nice steering wheel and unoccupied seat.
This version of the mold also happens to be an homage to Gobot Spoons so that scores even more points in my book, but even if you didn't care about that, the fact that this version is a nice burnt orange rather than neon green makes it look more grounded in reality.

3. Transformers Masterpiece Grimlock (MP-08)

The reason for his inclusion here is because this toys defies everything else really. Someone knowing you like transformers would assume any car you present them, or is spotted in your home, transforms. You also would probably have them in robot mode if taken out of their nice boxes. BUT this guy is a whole other story. In fact my brother commented on how awesome my Mecha Godzilla toy was when he saw my MP Grimlock on my shelf. Speak of an amazingly disguised robot. Unlike any of the others on this list, this toy in alt mode looks complete and accomplished, with the idea that this toy would sell as a non transforming separate entity to the Transformers brand. It is functional with it's own gimmicks and is probably kept even more in this mode than the robot mode. Unlike the G1, you can't even spot his robot hands under his feet, the robot is fully hidden (in plain sight too!). His amazing, detailed and unique alt mode distracts anyone from thinking that it can also transform into a robot.

2. Transformers G1 1984 Megatron

G1 Megatron realism has caused so many problems in the past, to the point that Hasbro can never release a realistic gun Megatron again. I myself had my own problems importing it from Japan. It was held up at customs for over a month until the Canadian government opened the box and inspected it.

Better yet, this toy was involved in a 3 hour standoff in Windsor Canada (of all places) when a 25 year old man who was just fed up of his life, held his neighbours at gunpoint... using g1 megatron in gun mode. They even had to lockdown a nearby school due to the gun scare. This is a quote from the actual news article:

The three-hour standoff forced the lockdown of a nearby elementary school, and drew a police response that included tactical officers, body armour, submachine guns, sniper rifles, a police dog and the mobile command centre.

All this due to how well disguised G1 Megatron is.

1. Transformers Alternators Grimlock

The alternators series brought it back to the G1 days where autobot cars had interactive and somewhat detailed cockpits, and were meant to resemble other toy cars. This series went for that very same idea, having alt modes that resembled licensed car models perfectly, with visible motors, detailed dashboards, opening doors, everything you'd expect from a high quality model car. Except it also transfomred into a robot. The alternators are all great replicas of licensed cars but the mustang model went an extra mile by having an entire piece cover the bottom to give extra detail and hide more of the robot. This gives the robot a whole lot of shell but also an amazing disguise. No one can guess this guy Transforms unless they know exactly what kind of toy it is.

Honourable mentions:

Transformers Revenge of the Fallen Optimus Prime

The big factor here that distinguishes this mold from other releases of the movie Peterbilt truck is the back of the cab section that removes any holes giving hint that this is more than just a truck. The view from the bottom gives nice symetrical pannels that hide the head and most of the robot kibble.

Transformers Classics Megatron

There is not one single angle or part that would make anyone think this is more than a kid's toy gun. There is even a crosshairs in the scope and the trigger gives a satisfying click. The main reason it didnt make it is due to the less realistic nature of this alt mode.

Top 10 Best Transformers Animated Toys

Date: Saturday, May 6th 2017 1:39pm CDT
Categories: Site Articles, Editorials, Top Lists
Posted by: william-james88

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Views: 77,963

9. Transformers Animated Optimus Prime

This guy is just solid and absolutely perfect. The transformation is a perfect homage to the g1 transformation revamped to fit the new style. I also love how the axe and gun fit perfectly in the back and fill out the cab.

8. Transformers Animated Jazz

It's great to see that while the entire line is ultra stylized, the designs, and thus toys, kept very traditional themes like having the front of the car be the chest, just like Jazz' g1 faux datsun self. He becomes this world's version of the prototypical autobot body and it's a great take on the classic transformation. Oh and before I forget, nunchuck exhaust pipes anyone?

7. Transformers Animated Ultra Magnus

Not since Beast wars did we get a Optimus character who wasn't leader of his faction. And now with Animated, it was the classic Optimus Prime character not being the leader of the Autobots (and voiced by Beast Wars Megatron

). The leader was Ultra magnus and it gave us a look at what Magnus as the main prime in G1 would have looked like (if the freaken Matrix was nice enough to activate for him) and it doesn't dissapoint. Firepower coming out of all sides, the beefiest posture possible and a hammer as his main signature weapon, which would become a staple to the character going forward. I really love all the hidden cannons and how the hammer's automorph gimmick. Plus, lest we forget, this was during the golden age of quality and value in Transformers toys and he came with electronics and just feels so hefty. The only problem I have with him and the other Animated Leader toy is how the limited ratchets on his hips don't give him the best standard standing pose.

6. Transformers Animated Megatron

Same nitpick as above with the legs but aside from that BLOODY AWESOME! I will always be impressed with how effective that simple transformation is. The helicopter looks like the animation model and he looks well disguised. But just do a few simple steps, and BAM! You get the master of Destruction in his glorious robot mode. With great homages to both G1 AND Super Megatron. For some reason, toy designers always have a problem with the cannon's proportions either being too big or too small, but they knock it out of the park here, he looks perfect. And the helicopter rotor becoming twin swords is genius too. I don't know if I will ever make a list of the best Leader Class toys, but he would surely be on it.

5. Transformers Animated Oil Slick

This awesome and distinctive design was loved so much, hasbro just had to give the fans what they wanted and include him on the show for a bit. And you can see why, you can't just create a design like this and not use it. It is eerie how humanoid this one looks, especially the head, but it works well with the evil scientist vibe. And that alt mode is something else. It is a combination of the Dodge Tomahawk concept motorcyle and a Big Dog motorcycle, so it's really the designers pulling all the stops to give us the most innovative and distinctivie design possible. And the best part is that it's a good toy too. The transformation is fun and he looks amazing and distinctive in both modes. I couldn't want more.

4. Transformers Animated Bulkhead (Ironhide) (Voyager)

I just love how neat a package this toy is. It does something I just adore where the pieces found in robot mode are right there in plain sight and yet the vehicle mode looks like it cannot transform. I once made a list of Robot modes which look like they can't transform and this is the opposite. Its just a cute army vehicle that any kid would love to just roll around. And yet it also turns into a robot. The transformation is really fun with springs and mechanisms for head revealing action, making it a distinctive robot that now utilizes those same vehicle mode parts for his hands and chest which look like that is what they were always meant to be.

3. Transformers Animated Lockdown

Now we are getting into the cream of the crop. If you want the best transforming toys the Transformers brand has to offer, you can't go wrong with collecting the Animated line (if you can handle the aesthetic) and now that we get into the top 3, we are getting into some of the best Transformers toys ever released. These are all better quality toys and more ingenious engineering designs than most of what has been available on the market since. We start with Lockdown, a true legend among Transformers toys. Excellent mean looking alt mode which turns into a monstrous voyager sized asymmetric beast. The transformation isn't the most elegant though, with bits that are easily detached, but it's still an incredible feat what this toy can pull off with such varied designs and mass shifting made reality.

2. Transformers Animated Prowl

He's the best motorcycle Transformer ever, and I doubt anyone would say otherwise. Almost no kibble in either mode, yet two distinctive modes, excellent articulation, full alt mode integration and yet the sleekest designs you could find. Oh and you can unhook transforming ninja stars from his wheels.

1. Transformers Animated Rodimus Minor (Rodimus)

This toy should be really examined whenever Hasbro or Takara think of making a new Hot Rod because it still reigns supreme as the best toy out there to give the theme justice with the right proportions and all. The bot mode and alt mod are just as sleek with minimal kibble, even though a lot of the vehicle mode is not seen in robot mode. That always results in crazy huge backpacks but not with this guy. Everything is smooth. Plus, I love how he hides the front wheels, which effectively hides more alt mode kibble and gives a sleeker robot mode. I also love how they design the separate exhaust port pieces to align in vehicle mode, giving the illusion that they are a continuous design. And he is the only sleek Hot Rod toy to not have the silhouette with the spoiler obstructed by anything. The pics below will show what I mean. In the end, Hot Rod will always be a hard design to pull off simply because the robot and vehicle share so little parts. But this guy pulls it off better than any toy before or since and is a true joy to play with and transform. it,s the best Hot Rod figure, the best figure of cybertronian vehicle and the best figure from the Animated line, making the year he came out, 2010, my favourite year for toys.

Honourable Mentions

The whole line is really good. When it comes to the quality and inventiveness of the toys, I would even say this is the very best line to complete and fully explore. There are certainly more amazing toys than there are duds and I can't really think of one terrible toy, at least in the more collector oriented classes. All that to say that I like most toys in the line and the ones I didn't mention could still be very much enjoyed. The one toy I would like to bring to your attention most is Shockwave. I do stand by the notion that every toy in this list is better than him, but that's only because none of them (or no other toy ever) was as ambitious as Animated Shockwave. Animated Shockwave has 2 distinct robot modes which each have their own alt mode. For a toy to accomplish so much, something had to give, and in this case it's the two alt modes which are not much to write home about. It's basically the robot lying down on his belly and face with a tank cannon that automorphs into a crane. But the transformation of one robot into the other, especially the face changing, is something to behold and I do still recommend anyone to experience this toy.

Transformers Animated Shockwave Gallery

Top Five Rivalries in Transformers Fiction

Date: Saturday, April 22nd 2017 12:29pm CDT
Categories: Site Articles, Editorials, Top Lists
Posted by: Mindmaster

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Views: 56,730

Every two weeks, Seibertron.com brings you a Top 5 list related to all things Transformers. This list is written by Mindmaster with some help from D-Maximus Primal and Kurona and edited by Seibertron and myself.and I would like to thank him for having taken the time. These are his opinions (just like movie or game reviews hosted by sites are still just the opinion of one person) so what matters most is what you guys think of the topic or list, and I hope to see your own lists or comments on omissions and ranking. Let's have fun! All previous lists can be found here.

Top Five Rivalries in Transformers Fiction

A franchise rich with characters isn't complete if it didn't have intense rivalries. After all, who doesn't like watching two characters with an intense hatred for each other fight to the death? Mindmaster here (Seibertron staff allumni and fellow board member) and this week on our "Top Five" list, we're taking a look at the fiercest rivalries seen in the history of the brand!

5. Star Saber and Deathsaurus

For Star Saber and Deathsaurus, nothing says "bitter rivalry" like two childhood friends who swore themselves to differing factions (or at least, that's what happened in the Victory manga). Star Saber and Deathsaurus were kids with a friendship, but that changed many years later, as they became the leaders of their respective factions. While the "childhood friends" part was never explored in the anime, their rivalry was clear one. -Mindmaster

Transformers Victory Deathsaurus (Deszaras) Gallery

4. Arcee and Jhiaxus

If your robo-junk got cut off and you were forcibly experimented on to introduce gender to your species, you'd be pretty miffed yourself. Bent on gaining her vengeance, the being who would call herself Arcee devoted herself into hunting down ancient mad-scientist Jhiaxus, who was also responsible for IDW's equivalent of Micromasters and this universe's first combiner, the destructive Monstructor. This rivalry ended with Arcee finally getting the enjoyment of killing Jhiaxus (who was close enough to the Dead Universe to come back to life) again... and again... and again... and again... and again...
-Mindmaster

3. Animated Ratchet and Lockdown

Lockdown and Ratchet became rivals in the Transformers Animated Cartoon (which is also where Lockdown originates from). The way the story goes, Lockdown permanently scarred Ratchet during the war, both physically and psychologically. He also took his best medical tool, and then when they met again, Ratchet beat the scrap out of him out of Revenge, going so far as to rip the EMP right off Lockdown, along with Prime's grapplers. And then the Revenge of the Fallen line made their rivalry known in the toy bios and how weapons from one are compatible with the other, just like animated. And then Lockdown was the one to kill Ratchet in the live action movies, keeping their rivalry going into movies.
Not to mention the initial rivals were a war weary old medic against a ruthless spiky bounty hunter with no allegiance.
-D-Maximus

2. Depthcharge and Rampage

The rivalry of Depthcharge and Rampage is an intense one: after Rampage killed all save Depthcharge on Omicron Colony, Depthcharge became dangerously hellbent on tracking down the criminally insane murderer, apprehending him after killing and apparently eating Starbase Rugby's inhabitants. Fast forward (or rewind, technically speaking) to their debut in the Beast Wars cartoon, where while Rampage and Depthcharge nominally belonged Predacon and Maximal respectively, both tended to disobey their orders and go after each other. This bitter rivalry ended in the crossfire of the battle to stop Megatron from destroying the dormant Autobots, with Depthcharge piercing unstable Energon into Rampage's exposed spark, with the fiend cackling all the while, either embracing oblivion to end his tortuous life or because he was bat-s*** insane.
-Mindmaster

Transformers Beast Wars Metals Rampage Gallery

1. Optimus Prime and Megatron

Alright, you knew this was coming, and of course it would. This is not only the most iconic rivalry in Transformers lore but also one of the most iconic rivalries in pop culture. Optimus and Megatron have been at each other's throats for over thirty years since their debut in 1984, whether one was a fan of the other (Generation One's episode "War Dawn"), a librarian and a miner who shared views on the oppressive caste system (Prime's "One Shall Stand, Part One"), or even blood brothers (as established by the live-action films). This is a rivalry that will brew for many, many more years to come. -Mindmaster and William-James88

Transformers G1 1984 Megatron (Reissue) Gallery

Transformers Revenge of the Fallen Megatron Gallery

Transformers Prime: First Edition Megatron Gallery

Honorable mentions

Armada's Hot Shot and Wheeljack

The rivalry of Hot Shot and Wheeljack is similar to that of the manga version of Victory's Star Saber and Deathsaurus, but with differences: imagine having been friends for a long time, but an ill-fated mission separated the both of you. Your friend tells you that he will come back to help, but never returns. On the verge of losing hope, someone finally comes to help, but it's not your friend, but someone completely unexpected: it's your enemy faction's leader, Megatron, who convinces you that your friend abandoned you! Having been rescued by Megatron and sworn fealty to the Decepticons, Wheeljack was emotionally torn apart by Hot Shot's "betrayal" (technically not true, as Hot Shot was prevented by his senior officers from going back and helping him), and swore to hunt down the Autobot and gain vengeance. Years later, both parties met again on the battlefield on Earth, as the war for the Mini-Cons raged on. Having discovered the Hot Shot was mentoring an even younger Side Swipe, the embittered Decepticon took this personally. Thankfully, unlike the rivalries previously listed, this one took a turn to Happy Ending Avenue: after both factions united to fight Unicron, Wheeljack seemed to forgive Hot Shot for abandoning him. -Mindmaster

The Wreckers and Squadron X

Another bitter rivalry comes in the form of the Wreckers and their Decepticon counterparts, Squadron X, depicted as flashbacks in IDW's wildly-popular-to-this-day miniseries, "Last Stand of the Wreckers". During the war, Wrecker leader at-that-time Impactor became dangerously obsessed in bringing down the ruthless Decepticons, with both groups engaging in a final clash on the planet Pova. Having dealing a humiliating defeat to Squadron X, Impactor was told the unthinkable; to prevent a political incident between the Autobots and the planet's inhabitants who declared neutrality, Impactor had to free their prisoners. In response, Impactor promptly executed each member of Squadron X, earning him a cozy cell on the ill-fated penal colony of Garrus-9. Impactor would later blame his lieutenant-now-Springer, who testified against him in his court martial, for not agreeing with Squadron X'a demise. -Mindmaster

Rung vs. Froid

One of the many ways in which IDW separates itself from other series in the franchise is by having many other forms of warfare and rivalry than simply punching and firing lasers at each other; and no finer is that represented than in the rivalry between the two psychologists Rung and Froid in MTMTE. Their story coming in right before the comic's multi-part finale, ample time is devoted to their history together - including plagiarism; diverging views on psychiatry methods; and a dark spot in Rung's very long career. Very different to your typical Transformers story, but it is nonetheless a rivalry that gives way to many story paths and even sheds light on the past of a certain Theoretician. So while this list contains battlefield tales that no doubt make for some amazing action, never forget the much more subtle and down-to-Cybertron battles concerning the psychological health that is just as important as the physical. -Kurona

Top 10 Best Transformers Characters From Generation One

Date: Saturday, April 8th 2017 2:01pm CDT
Categories: Site Articles, Top Lists
Posted by: william-james88

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Views: 65,860

Every two weeks, Seibertron.com brings you a Top 5 list related to all things Transformers written by me, your fellow editor. These are my opinions (just like movie or game reviews hosted by sites are still just the opinion of one person) so what matters most is what you guys think of the topic or list, and I hope to see your own lists or comments on omissions and ranking. Let's have fun! All previous lists can be found here.

Top 10 Best G1 Characters

Oh yeah, we are going there, sparing no one, just like the writers of the original Transformers movie. If anyone cares about the criteria used (probably no one for this list), the way it was decided was by the G1 centric characters that had a greater impact on me and made me either keep coming back to the brand. This isn't a badass meter, but instead, it is a list about the characters from this era that inspire you or haunt you as you go about your day. The G1 title doesn't necessarily refer to the show (although it is usually a big factor) but instead to the era and the prominent characters stemming from it. We will keep specific modern day interpretations (like IDW) for another time though. Let me know which G1 characters you like best once you have finished reading the list. Now let's get to it!

10. Grimlock

The leader of the Dinobots needs a mention on such a list. While not the sharpest tool in the shed, in the show at least, what he adds to the fiction is huge. Firstly, he brings a more beastial warrior aspect to the War in showing how sometimes brute force is what is needed to win with him and the Dinobots essentially being weapons created by the Autobots. He then evolved from being the leader of a team that can take down Devastator into being an actual equal to the other autobots, going on their adventures (and creating Computron). I also love how he still has a nice air of childish wonder, like the War is part of his life but he can still be innocent and full of wonder within it, like when he just wants to hear more of Kup's stories. And of course, in the comics he became Leader of the Autobots.

Transformers News: Top 5 Best Transformers Characters From Generation One

9. Starscream

Always a fun character but for crying out loud if you want to be Leader of the Decepticons do something instead of saying you will do it. It gets infuriating sometimes to wonder why Megatron keeps this guy around but then you see what he adds, both in wit and firepower, and you can see how Megatron weighs in the pros and cons. Starscream can definitely make the difference in the War, without him we wouldn't have Bruticus. His brotherly rivalry with Megatron is also very entertaining (hence the thumbnail) and he just has great presence! Also, he has an incredible design that is, to me, even more iconic than his superior. But that will probably be for another list.

8. Ironhide

Older transformers add so much to the Transformers mythos. They give the notion that different generations of robots exist and fight together. This adds a lot of diversity to the team, in both the show and the comics, by having contrasting opinions on certain situations depending on a soldier's experience. Ironhide, to me, is akin to DC's Wildcat from the JSA. He keeps what he saw to himself while offering as much wisdom as he deems necessary for a situation. He also always seems to have just the right weapon or tool handy, which makes for an amazing array of accessories for his masterpiece toy. I like to think it's all due to his experience that he has so many tricks up his sleeves. This is the kind of guy I want by my side if ever I would end up on the battlefield, no doubt about it.

7. Shockwave

Shockwave is just stone cold evil and his intelligence is one of the two greatest assets the Decepticons have (the other will be mentioned later) in the cartoon and in the comics. Megatron may be the leader, but it is Shockwave who ended up being the local leader of the Decepticon cause on Cybertron. While I understand that Shockwave did not do that much in the show, his appearance, demeaner and voice did stay with most of us and his G1 comics appearance really showcased the sadistic and cold bast*rd that the show only hinted to.

6. Kup

As I said above with Ironhide, these kinds of characters add a lot to the show and a lot of what I said about Ironhide applies to Kup as well. While we lost Ironhide in the show, Kup came in to take over that role but in a very different way. Kup is more of a R Lee Ermey type, who takes pride in commanding his troops and making a play. He also has awesome war stories that I always want to hear more of (me Grimlock love Kup stories).

5. Megatron and 4. Optimus

Both are very important and iconic characters, and are both as awesome as Chuck Norris riding an armoured Pegasus through the gates of hell to confront Satan (with some Blind Guardian playing in the background). However, they are also quite one note since they are more like archetypes for good and evil. Optimus has a few more nuances due to his paternal side and that gives him the edge over Megatron as far as being a great character. I still love both of these guys though and their rivalry is as iconic as can be (that will be another list, stay tuned for that).

3. Rodimus Prime

Now I am not saying that Rodimus is a better leader than Optimus was or that he was more badass, but I am far more impressed with how he kept his team morality high and how the writers actually succeeded in making him a decent leader on the show. He had an uphill battle to gain the trust of both his troop and the fans and I am impressed that the character always seems to keep his cool. Also his voice and tall stances quickly make you forget he was fishing with Daniel just a few moments ago. I can see how so many have him as their favourite.

2. Soundwave

You know who the baddest mofo in the room is when there is an earthquake and he is the only one keeping his calm (this is an analogy, not a reference to a specific scene). This is what this guy is but as a villain. His efficiency and loyalty is the other greatest asset the Decepticons have (well aside from a giant robot made up of six smaller robots). Megatron may be the leader, but it is this guy I want to mess with the least. Plus he has all his awesome friends who are just as loyal to him as his is to the cause. Decepticons Forever!

1. Galvatron

You would all be surprised as to how easy this was to pick. Megatron is my favourite for his design and legacy, but Galvatron is just INSANE! I love how the writers pulled off an incredible feat of having him be both new and old at the same time. You can tell he was Megatron once (in the fiction where that is the case), but this is a Megatron that was thrown into the Lazarus pit to be reborn unhinged. While Megatron was evil simply because that seems to be what his circuits dictated, Galvatron revels in his own evil and the chaos that he can create. I just feel this character ups the stakes so much and brings the TF world something no one else can. The Webworld episode is a true testament to that.