Toy Review - Bulkhead (Legacy)

[Lint]

Poll please, sir?

Always forget! Fixed

[Trent]

I'll throw my support behind this guy too. When he was announced I was one of those in the camp grumbling about how a Prime character was being "Gewunned", but it works. He's a lot of fun and is my son's go-to TF for play when the Autobots need a heavy hitter.

[GoktimusPrime]

Well, I finally caved and got the regular Legacy Bulkhead; $25 from JB Hi-Fi. It was already in the clearance bin for $29, but I had them price match Amazon.

Store-accurate configuration.
















I'm pretty much going to echo much of what Lint already said in his review of the Wreckers Collection version of this toy. It is a major improvement over its forerunners (both Animated and Prime). Being his own original design instead of trying to slavishly look more like TF Prime Bulkhead has really allowed it to shine. The downside is that he doesn't look much like TFP Bulkhead, which I understand is a dealbreaker for some TFP fans. But I personally prefer superior design and engineering over visual source likeness... because if I want a toy to look like TFP Bulkhead, I'll play with my TFP Bulkhead! And before someone points out the fact that I'm a child of G1 and didn't grow up with TFP (which is true), I will point out that I also feel the same about G1 CHUGs too. This is why I still have my 2006 Classics Optimus Prime, Bumblebee etc., which in some ways I still prefer over their more recent counterparts. The "Poor Man's MP" style of recent/current G1 CHUGs does lend itself to certain drawbacks, although typically no 'unforgivable' flaws (i.e. these are flaws that we accept for the sake of visual G1-likeness). I still prefer Classics Mirage over Siege or Earthrise Mirage (the latter of which I don't even own; although I do have the mould as Crasher and Leadfoot).

I can see how Bulkhead's wrecking ball accessory inspired the wrecking ball accessory for Rise of the Beasts Battletrap. It's a neat idea and allows for Bulkhead to not require hollow forearms (as his fists don't fold in for transformation). The downside is that this wrecking ball is designed so that it can only be held in Bulkhead's right hand; he can't go southpaw with it (this is something that was improved for RotB Battletrap who can hold his wrecking ball on either hand). I also do like the inclusion of the mini-gun; it's weird that the original TFP Bulkhead never had guns. Not a huge fan of the gun being clear blue though, but I get that this is a theme that they've got happening with Legacy. I also do like how the gun can be hand held or shoulder mounted. Neat!

As much as people like Lint and I appreciate or even prefer the originality of this mould, there is also no denying that it does seem to have hurt the sales of this toy, which alongside Arcee, has become the big shelfwarmer of Legacy. I think Arcee suffers from a current market saturation of Arcee toys (which will only be exacerbated once Rise of the Beasts Arcee hits major stores). There isn't a glut of other Bulkhead toys out there; even Wreckers Collection Bulkhead is a limited exclusive (just as well). And there is also an argument that you've got a TFP-accurate Bulkhead head atop a G1-esque body, and the two kinda clash. It is something that, aesthetically speaking, I don't love about this toy... I do wish he had a more G1nified head ot match his G1nified body; and I think that Hasbro has realised this, given that the upcoming Legacy Animated Prowl toy has a G1nified design from head to toe.

I think that Legacy Bulkhead is an underrated toy, but it's also kinda Rise of Skywalkery in terms of trying to appease both G1 and TFP fans and in doing so, aesthetically please neither camp; leading to the current shelfwarming and bargain-binning of this toy (which I've totally explolited).