Gasaraki's Transformers Classics - Photography, Reviews, & Musings

[Gasaraki]

OK, I got something a little different about this figure to share, so before I get into season 1 Transformers proper, here's something recent:

Fall of Cybertron Deluxe Brawl

I have to say I really don't like this figure. What is with those feet? A half-arsed effort from a kid would've resulted in better and more stable feet than the pretty much non-existent flaps this guy has. Rear kibble could also have been handled better, and the way you're forced to show the hollowed out forearms is another bad point in a terrible figure.

With United Brawl and Movie Deluxe Brawl

Both the other figures here do a better G1 color impression than FoC Brawl. So maybe color isn't all that important, but why is it that Movie Deluxe Brawl, who is 5 years older, craps all over FoC Brawl? Movie Brawl is not without his own issues, but he's got more articulation than many many Deluxes, and is way way better looking IMO. United Brawl isn't a great figure either, but I think coupling United Bruticus with the Fansproject repaint figures make FoC Combaticons obsolete in my collection.

Vehicle (really?) Mode

What is this meant to be?? OK, it's a rhetorical question - I know it's supposedly a Cybertronian hover tank, but the thing I really wonder about is this: if you have the ability to 'cheat' with a fictional alt-mode (i.e. not being constrained to a real world design), then don't you have an easier job creating a good Transformer?

Are there any good points? Well, I do like the turret articulation and the integration of the hand weapon into it. It's almost as if the whole turret construct is really to facilitate a non-official mode, which I think ironically is the best thing this figure's got going for it:

Spider Tank Mode

I haven't seen anything like this as yet, but this spider tank mode seems a really obvious alternative to me, and is what I will leave this guy in when he is displayed!

Ratings:
Character importance 4/10 - Brawl was never a big character in G1, and 2007 film had about 2 words from him. IDW's given him some page time recently though.
Toy 3/10 - Only got him to 'Build Giant Robot'. Maybe 5/10 counting the spider tank mode.

"Die in your shame, you sorry excuse for a Combaticon!"