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View Full Version : Toy Review - TARN


GoktimusPrime
6th February 2023, 08:45 PM
Comic Universe TARN (a.k.a. Damus*, Glitch)
Series - Generations
Sub-line - Legacy
Hypo-line - Evolution
Size/class - Voyager
New/remould/redeco - New
Wave - Four
Released here - February 2023
Approximate Retail Prize - $58
Approximate Size - 16.5cm to top of head, 17cm to tips of back-mounted barrels
Allegiance - Decepticon
Sub-Group - Justice Division
Alt-mode - Cybertronian tank
Main Features/Gimmicks - Evo-Fusion compatibility with ancillary modular figures
Main Colours - gunmetal grey and purple with grey, clear blood red and gold highlights
Main accessories - tank turret base, x2 cannons

I'm listening to the Empyrean Suite (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7j5XguN8xw) while typing this review. ;)

https://i.ibb.co/vQ05Rsf/TL-tarn01.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/fDjqJT7/TL-tarn02.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/7GmfhvS/TL-tarn03.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/bBtrZSW/TL-scraphook05.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/RNhk3Dr/TL-tarn04.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/qxyt29g/TL-tarn05.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/gRFRv9d/TL-tarn06.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/WVMXsb7/TL-tarn07.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/ng1KnnV/TL-tarn08.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/1sxwyhk/TL-tarn09.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/QbhwzsH/TL-tarn10.jpg

Perfect is not a word that I use in my toy reviews... ever, but at a Voyager price point, this is really as good as you can get for a Tarn action figure. The sculpting and colours are absolutely gorgeous with an astoundingly high level of comic-accuracy. He even sports a golden Decepticon insignia, which is accurate to his comic book model. This is really as accurate as you can make a Tarn toy within a Voyager budget and have it be a functional and fun toy. :) It's just ticking all sorts of boxes; Mark Maher and Ōnishi Yūya have really poured in a tonne of passion into designing this toy... you can really see and feel the fan dedication here.

Flame Toys' Tarn does have a more comic-accurate robot mode, but of course, that toy is much more expensive and doesn't transform. For a relatively cheap mainline transformable action figure, this is a really spot-on Tarn toy. :cool: Highly recommended and then some.

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*Damus is the Latinised spelling of "dame," which means "woman." Obviously in English we still refer to any knighted woman as "Dame" (just as a knighted male is "Sir").
SharkyMcShark
7th February 2023, 12:31 AM
I just ordered this tonight and can't wait for it to get here. The only complaint I've seen people consistently levy is that the hands are oddly positioned in tank mode.
Deano85
7th February 2023, 11:17 AM
I just ordered this tonight and can't wait for it to get here. The only complaint I've seen people consistently levy is that the hands are oddly positioned in tank mode.

I doubt people are displaying their figures from the rear. If I had him in tank mode on a shelf I wouldn't even notice the hands.
Tha_Phantom
7th February 2023, 11:44 AM
If exposed rear hands are the worst thing people can say about it, then it's doing alright.
I have no interest in getting this toy, but as someone who is familiar with the character design I can see that it's been extremely well executed. IDW fans should be stoked.
GoktimusPrime
7th February 2023, 08:50 PM
The hands can't swing or slide in because of the way that the arm panels need room for the hinges as they swing across from one side to the other. Sure, it is technically a flaw, but not an unforgivable one IMO. And yeah, as Deano85 said, at least it's at the back where most people don't normally look.
Deano85
7th February 2023, 10:33 PM
The Gamesmen got some more Tarns back in stock

https://www.gamesmen.com.au/transformers-legacy-evolution-voyager-class-comic-universe-tarn
Deano85
9th February 2023, 02:02 PM
Tarn looking to take down some Autobots

https://dsm01pap009files.storage.live.com/y4mnjDwBEogB62iOi0nrX7rfwo-mhh1GvFJ6Ce6X1s-b9YToMqXKNpc-p8ymVL0g3H3jJXteP1QK6iqppUYYUay8ZskNE8jGssiC94gIY3 xStA5mNAv-k4MeaUawsheoWuPny6u9vZJpsZ_kU9g7SuArc12gKhWML61q20 6RcYUUFHjm0OpifUTLeTqQ24mON2J?width=871&height=1024&cropmode=none
SharkyMcShark
10th February 2023, 05:25 PM
Mine arrived a few days ago.

I really like it.

Robot mode is very characterful - paint is on point and it has killer proportions. I really like the various play options that the weapons afford as well (shoulder cannons, arm cannons, handguns).

Transformation is interesting. I really like the use of smaller slider joints to compress/expand a figure (also used on Velocitron Override). For the fact that the legs don't actually do anything other than fold over the back of the robot, it feels involved.

Vehicle mode is also pretty good. Compact certainly, but great looking.

My only gripe is that mine has some joints that are slightly loose. Nothing is floppy, but the back and forward hip joints, and the mid-bicep transformation hinge are on the loose side. The whole figure is held together with pins so I can't unscrew anything to tight the joints, unfortunately.
Autocon
10th February 2023, 11:25 PM
Alt mode reminds me of those connector space vehicle toys.

Nice to have something different
Paulbot
7th April 2023, 03:26 PM
He's a nice looking robot, and he stands out as something different in this G1-heavy era. Something not quite "Transformer" like about him?

Gave up trying to get him to tank mode, chest fell off and could not make sense of what the instructions were trying to say about how to make the arms work.

But his robot mode is the reason to have the figure so ok.
Lint
7th April 2023, 08:22 PM
Not the greatest transforming robot in the world but he is a work of art in all other regards. Sculpting is gorgeous, colours dangerous, poseability righteous and weapons system cool as frangelico,

Only petty criticism I can levy (asides from the dull transformation) is that I wish they worked harder to make that light piping catch more light as it looks divine when lit. Also some blast effects for those backpack "beam sabers" would have been awesome.
Deano85
7th April 2023, 09:48 PM
He's a nice looking robot, and he stands out as something different in this G1-heavy era. Something not quite "Transformer" like about him?

Gave up trying to get him to tank mode, chest fell off and could not make sense of what the instructions were trying to say about how to make the arms work.

But his robot mode is the reason to have the figure so ok.

Emgo has a good transformation video on youtube
https://youtu.be/NEvDuFCh0rE
GoktimusPrime
8th April 2023, 11:54 AM
Not the greatest transforming robot in the world but he is a work of art in all other regards. Sculpting is gorgeous, colours dangerous, poseability righteous and weapons system cool as frangelico,
This is always the problem when a toy is based on artwork, rather than allowing art to be based on toys. Masterpiece is all about ramping up the budget and prices to work around the limitations of non-toyetic cartoon designs. And it's no different with comic book designs.

I would still love to have a G1-accurate CHUG Rack 'N' Ruin and Xaaron figures, but I realise that those designs were never terribly toyetic. They did do a great job with Impactor though. There's a chance that they might just cleverly retool existing moulds rather than spending more money developing new moulds, especially as many of these characters have limited to no repaint potential. We've seen several examples of this, such as the Hero is Born Alpha Trion being retooled from Scourge, and the upcoming Devcon being a heavy retool of Blurr etc.

But given that Tarn is a whole new mould based on a non-toyetic IDW comic design, and limited to a Voyager price point/budget, I think that HasTak have done a tarn good job. :)