Toy Review - Titans Return Brainstorm with Teslor (Exclusive single pack release)
Brainstorm with Teslor
Series – Titans Return
Size/class - Deluxe
New/remould/redeco - Remould/Pretool of TR Blurr
Wave - EX
Released here – Not yet, probably never
Approximate Retail Price - $35 from Premium Collectables
Approximate Size - 15cm
Allegiance - Autobot
Alt-mode – Cybertronian Jet/Starfighter
Main Features/Gimmicks – Headmaster feature
Main Colours – Teal, Gray, Cream
Main Accessories – Shield/Twin Barrel Cannon thingy, Rifle, Titan Master Teslor
http://www.prjkt.net/gallery3/var/al...6/IMG_7161.jpg
So what we have here today is one of the three Titans Return Brainstorm releases, the so called "Walgreens Exclusive" edition. For completions sake, the other two are the Takara Tomy release, that follows the Japanese Headmasters cartoon design, with a new face and cartoon accurate colours, and an SDCC exclusive three pack bundle that appears to be similar, but not quite the same, mainly lighter colour and changes to the feet. Jump on google if you'd like to see comparison shots.
http://www.prjkt.net/gallery3/var/al...6/IMG_7168.jpg
Brainstorm is reportedly a remould of Titans Return Blurr, although I'd hazard a guess it was more developed side-by-side due to the fact that they are both available about the same time. As such the transformation is noticeably different from the Thrilling 30 Voyager Brainstorm (which I've heard is very close to the G1 transformation.)
http://www.prjkt.net/gallery3/var/al...6/IMG_7162.jpg
http://www.prjkt.net/gallery3/var/al...6/IMG_7167.jpg
Due to this, I think TR Brainstorm actually has a much more cohesive alt mode. Everything is more streamlined, no more feet poking out the back and arms just hanging off the side, which in my view is a big win over the previous release. As he shares engineering with Blurr, he's even got little wheels that actually work. My only real gripe is that the cockpit window doesn't actually cover the entire gap, there's about half a cm or so that could do with being covered.
http://www.prjkt.net/gallery3/var/al...6/IMG_7164.jpg
Colour wise, the alt-mode is pretty bland, just the three major colours, with only a couple of bits of light grey and two Autobot sigils on the wings to break things up. The window is a slightly darker yellow to the T30 release.
Bot mode colour is a slightly more diverse affair, with tampographs on the wings and shins that hearken to the G1 toyalong with an orange mouth plate and blue eyes.
http://www.prjkt.net/gallery3/var/al...6/IMG_7165.jpg
http://www.prjkt.net/gallery3/var/al...6/IMG_7166.jpg
Great articulation for a modern era deluxe, easily a match to the voyager release with the exclusion of ankle tilts, but he makes up for that with rotating wrists.
http://www.prjkt.net/gallery3/var/al...6/IMG_7169.jpg
When compared to TR/LG Hardhead, he's got a very slim frame, very sleek - I can see how it suits Blurr. Has a little bit of a backpack when the front section of the alt mode is attached there, and the guns (non-moving this time) point down, not up, so this guy is definitely not your Dead Universe obsessed Lost Light weapons engineer, but fits perfectly with the rest of the Titans Return line.
Bottom line - is this guy worth it? Maybe - depends on how happy you were with the T30 release, whether you want one that'll scale with the other original Headmasters that are being released and if you can find one of the releases at an affordable price.
As for which one to get - I specifically grabbed this release over the Takara due to the face design and colour more closely matching the IDW comics and G1 cartoon, as I've never watched the Japanese G1 cartoons, however for those that have followed that show, and already have the T30 release, the Takara might be worth it as a point of difference.
