Toy Review - BUG BITE (Generations Selects)

[GoktimusPrime]

MIGHTY MACHINE MEN
Series - Generations
Sub-line - Selects
New/remould/redeco - Repaint of Earthrise Cliffjumper (http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php/27028-Toy-Review-Earthrise-Cliffjumper) with Bumblebee (http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php/27535-Toy-Review-War-for-Cybertron-Trilogy-Bumblebee-(Netflix))'s head.
Wave - N/A
Released here - November 2020 (EB/Zing exclusive)
Approximate Retail Price - $40
Approximate Size - 0.1m
Allegiance - Mercenary
Alt-mode - 1980s style sports coupe
Main Features/Gimmicks - same as Cliffjumper
Main Colours - white, black
Main Accessories - 3 piece bazooka which can divide into smaller guns and skis for car mode

https://i.ibb.co/KjyprLx/bugbite01.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/f0yxc92/bugbite02.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/GdYgRm9/bugbite03.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/KLJDsMC/bugbite03a.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/8PkFhfm/bugbite05.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/w78L4VN/bugbite06.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/qC6xJRn/bugbite07.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/MZqT9hL/bugbite08.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/Ks8FrFT/bugbite09.jpg

[Kyle]

It bugs me that his vehicle mode is not a bug :)

[GoktimusPrime]

I suspect that it may be due to VW licensing, as in VW not wanting their vehicle to be attached to a "villain" character. We know that it took a jolly long time for HasTak to persuade VW to even grant the licence for Bumblebee due to their disdain for having their vehicle affiliated with war, so I reckon this might be why they wouldn't allow VW to be used for Bug Bite. Just a theory.

On the upside, it does mean that Bug Bite is, strictly speaking, neither Bumblebee nor Cliffjumper but a blend of both. I would prefer to see it have a new source-accurate head as they did with Hubcap, but I suspect that that might provoke Bandai, who still owns the rights for Machine Robo. Hasbro might be able to get away with a Gobot-accurate head, but TakaraTOMY wouldn't - and given the whole brand unification thing, I'd say that they needed to develop a product that could also be sold in the Japanese market.

[Tha_Phantom]

I would prefer to see it have a new source-accurate head as they did with Hubcap

Yeah, I'm disappointed neither Ehobby or Gen Selects went with a red face.
https://i.ibb.co/Bj5y7FN/92576247-2860402934045095-7017300155854487552-o.jpg (https://ibb.co/DkH96Tp)