Transformers Bumblebee Studio Series Optimus Prime

Megatron must be stopped! No matter the cost!

The only way the Transformers Bumblebee Studio Series Optimus Prime could be better is if he were made of die-cast metal.... and was bigger. Paging 3rd party groups!

We enjoyed the Bumblebee movie - although how it fits into the Bayverse is beyond us. Personally it would have been way better if they just admitted that this was a re-boot.

As you can probably tell, we loved Optimus Prime's cameo in the film, and we particularly loved how Travis Knight created an Optimus Prime that was closer, truer to his appearance in the G1 cartoons. Something Bay utterly failed to do - not that we didn't like the updated Optimus Prime look, but... if this was possible why wasn't it done in the first place?

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Takara TLK-15 Calibur Optimus Prime

The Shield of Optimus

The Takara TLK-15 Calibutr Optimus Prime is the toy maker's way of saying to its fans: "I see what you did there."

When the Transformers Age of Extinction Optimus Prime came out, both the Takara and Hasbro and Takara versions had these use backpacks. This heralded the age of the personally despised "Shell-former." We hated it because it smacked of laziness.

Even our beloved Takara Armor Knight Optimus Prime came with a backpack.

Then the internet started filling up with a simple user solution: "Get rid of the backpack." Which we didn't do because - even if it was just one pin - getting rid of the backpack also  meant getting rid of his thigh armor - his skirt - which made him look downright anorexic.

This: the Takara TLK-15 Calibur Optimus Prime, is Takara improving on that simple user's solution.

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Takara God Ginrai - Optimus Prime - Super Ginrai & Godbomber

Upgrades

God Ginrai - the product of the Takara LG-42 Godbomber upgrade - is the kind of upgrade that we’ve been waiting for, for a long, long, looong time.

And that's saying a lot.  If you go through this blog you'll find countless 3rd party upgrades. And we dare to state that, in terms of playability and sheer joy, the 3rd party upgrades have given us far, far more  happy-happy-joy-joy than their legit counterparts.

Check out some of our 3rd party upgrades by clicking here. 

Then the LG-42 Godbomber came along. 

We're glad that the toymaking gods are finally listening to their worshipers. 

For Part 1 of our Takara LG-42 Godbomber review, do click here. 

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Transformers Takara Titans Return God Ginrai Part 1: Godbomber

Godbomber doesn't talk

Takara's Titans Return Godbomber is one of THE nicest non-3rd party upgrades you'll find in the market today. A must have. 

To the uninitiated, this is the Transformers Godbomber. He is the result of the "Bomber Project" and was created by humans who worked in a British Motors factory in Canada.

God Bomber was meant as an enhancement for the Transtector Super Ginrai - Optimus Prime -that would further increase his power and allow him to fly - who was getting his butt handed to him by the two Transtectors that formed Overlord.

Godbomber gained sentience when he somehow heard "The cry" in Super Ginrai's heart. Before that he was pretty much a drone.

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Transformers G-Studio Ultra Maxmas Optimus Prime

Yeah I look good

The G-Studio Ultra Maxmas - Optimus Prime - Transformer is.... an acquired taste.... a very acquired taste.

So basically this is G-Studio's take on IDW comic's Optimus Prime. It's not the first take on this particular Optimus Prime that we've seen or is in our collection. If we're right it's the fourth right after the 30th Anniversary Transformers Generations Optimus Prime, Toyworld's Orion, and the SND-01 Primo Vitalis upgrade for the Combiner Wars Optimus Prime.

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Transformers Takara Leo Prime

Bend before the ways of Heavy Metal! 

The  Takara Leo Prime is a regal, kingly, headmaster that sadly fails to be an inspiration in his alt modes.

If we understand his history correctly - which we really don't - this is the main protagonist of the comic book series Beast Wars: Uprising.

This is Lio Convoy, AKA Leo Prime, the Guardian of Order and keeper of the Energon Matrix. He becomes disillusioned with the new caste system of Cybertron and kicks off the Grand Uprising AKA the 4th Cybertronian War. Dubbed a terrorist, Leo Prime would battle the forces of the Builders - the descendants of the Autobots and the Decepticons.

Sometime towards the end of the war, he would sacrifice himself to defeat his arch nemesis, Galva Convoy, and would be rebuilt into the triple-changer you see here.

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Perfect Effect PC-15 Optimus Prime Upgrade

I can see you

The TF Perfect Effect PC-15 LG-35 Ginrai Power-master (Head-master) Optimus Prime Upgrade Kit is a must have, and a fine teaser for what is to come. 

We are such big fans of Takara's LG-35 Powermaster Optimus Prime that we forgave them for making him a Headmaster - especially since the smaller Optimus Prime head formed by Ginrai is virtually useless.

Frankly we were not too keen about modifying a Takara, but Perfect Effect made him better, so.... here he is (And we absolutely hate the Hasbro version) with PE's Perfect Combiner - 15 (PC-15)

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Sonokong Big Convoy Mammoth Optimus Prime

I'm not a Shellformer, this is all armor

Welcome to a review of the Sonokong Big Convoy AKA the Mammoth Optimus Prime from the Super Life-Form Transformers Beast Wars Neo (Is it just us or do the Japanese - and Koreans - really like long names?)

Before Hasbro got lazy and created a modern generation of Transformers "Shellformers", there was this guy.

The literal king of kibble.

This is what it means to be a "Shellformer"

To the uninitiated, Sonokong's Big Convoy is also known simply as "Big" or "Slammoth". He bears the title of Supreme Commander of the Maximals (It's a military title). But unlike other Supreme Commanders who are level-headed and friendly, Big Convoy is a "One-Man-Army" with teamwork issues and a penchant for simply destroying what is in front of him with his Big Cannon.

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Iron Factory IF EX-14 Ultimate Commander God Ginrai / Optimus Prime Review

THERE'S SOMETHING ON MY BACK!!! GET IT OFF!!!!

Welcome to a quick review of the IF EX-14 Ultimate Commander - not God Ginrai or Optimus Prime depending upon the mode - from Iron Factory.

The early release packs of the Ultimate Commander from Iron Factory came with a nice bonus: IF EX-16A Alleria, The Lady Commander - AKA Elita One (Only NOT Elita One :) ) And not to be confused with their just announced EX-016 Pink Assassin which looks sooo coool) which is a very nice bonus from Iron Factory.

Iron Factory built the IF-EX04 City Commander figure. Feedback for this NOT-Ultra Magnus was favorable because Iron Factory built him to be compatible with the Transformers Generations Metroplex.

So they went and built an Optimus Prime. 

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Takara Super Ginrai Powermaster Optimus Prime Review

Optimus Prime - yet not Optimus Prime

Welcome to a review of the Takara Super Ginrai - Powermaster Optimus Prime!

To the uninitiated: In the cartoon series Super-God Masterforce, Ginrai refers to a human  - not a robot (though later the robot gains sentience and uses the name Ginrai) who is a GodMaster (AKA PowerMasters) - not a Headmaster - who had the ability to combine and power a Transtector - or basically power-armors used by the original Cybertronians (Who were tiny).

Super Ginrai is what happens when Ginrai first combines with his Transtector, then the Transtector combines with his trailer.

There's one more upgrade coming that we're looking forward to called God Ginrai where Super Ginrai combines with another Transtector called the God Bomber.

Shortly after gaining sentience and leaving Ginrai, the Transtector Ginrai would become so wounded that he submitted himself to a rebuild where he would become the lion-bot Victory Leo.

If you want to see the original Transformers Super Ginrai to God Ginrai, click here. 

If you want to see Xovergen's version of God Ginrai, click here.

Cousins

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SND-01 Primo Vitalis Optimus Prime Upgrade Kit Review

Primo Vitalis Optimus Prime

Welcome to our SND-01 Primo Vitalis Optimus Prime Upgrade Kit Review!

First of all Merry Christmas to you and your family!

Please do also check out our Primo Vitalis Upgrade Kit Assembly Guide by clicking here.

To the uninitiated, this particular "look" of having a split chest and shoulder pads was conceptualized by IDW Comics for their Transformers Title.

We've since seen this design incarnated into the Legends Class Transformers Generations Optimus Prime, and; into Toyworld's Orion.

Neither Hasbro or Takara have come up with an official IDW Split-Chest Optimus Prime, but we're sure it's just a matter of time. Til then we have Shigeru Ningyo Do (SND) to thank for their Primo Vitalis Upgrade kit for the Transformers Combiner Wars Optimus Prime.

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SND-01 Primo Vitalis Optimus Prime Upgrade Kit Assembly Guide

SND-01 Primo Vitalis Optimus Prime Upgrade

Welcome to an assembly guide for the SND-01 Primo Vitalis Combiner Wars Optimus Prime upgrade kit.

We had the chance to discuss the SND-01 with several other Transformers collectors and the consensus seems to be universal that this is without a doubt one of the best upgrade kits ever to be released in the market.

However a lot of collectors are overwhelmed by the a) Suggestion that the Primo Vitalis is less of an upgrade kit and more of a kit that creates a new toy, and; b) Idea that doing so means that you have to deal with the "exploding" joints of the Combiner Wars Optimus Prime.

Both ideas are true. Unlike car upgrades, most Transformers upgrades can be reversed or removed. While the SND-01 Primo Vitalis can be reversed, it would require a hell of a lot of work. And a quick trip to YouTube to watch some people bully through the instruction manual will show just how explosive the hip joints of the Combiner Wars Optimus Prime can be.

Hopefully this assembly guide will help.

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Transformers the Last Knight Teaser Trailer

Transformers the Last Knight has finally released a trailer that is not just filled with explosions. Sadly the trailer is quite confusing and is open to a lot of speculation and guess-works. Highlights include:

• Optimus Prime flying off into space alone turned out to be a pretty dumb idea.
• A dystopian future Earth?
• Unicron?
• Nemesis Prime?
• The Autobots (Bumblebee) versus some kind of Walker (Drone?)
• Bumblebee versus Optimus Prime/Nemesis Prime - as if he stood a chance.

Maketoys Striker Manus - Optimus Prime

Maketoys Striker Manus

Presenting Striker Manus, a 3rd party version of Optimus Prime from Maketoys.

His official designation is the Maketoys Cros Dimention Striker Manus MTCD-01.

Maketoys was kind enough to provide a backstory for him.

Basically Manus begins as just plain Manus - who looks just like a regular G1 Optimus Prime and was recently awarded the Rubicon (Autobot Matrix of Ledership).

In a battle on the planet Sybernomica (Cybertron) with  Despotron (Megatron), leader of an un-named group of "shifters" (Transformers) who are out to overthrow the council, Despotron is able to distract Manus enough to punch through his back and grab the Rubicon (Quite a disconcerting image). Despite having a gaping hole in his chest, Manus continues to battle Despotron, it explodes. The energy washes over Manus, everything fades to white and he wakes up alone, rebuilt in a new form (Striker Manus) in an unfamiliar environment.

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WFC Optimus Prime ITF01 Abyss Red

One shall stand, one shall be cut in half!

Presenting ITF01 Abyss (Red variant) - a knock-off (KO)  of the War for Cybetron (WFC) Optimus Prime.

We had a discussion with a fellow collector a few weeks back about why we never reviewed the Weijiang KO Optimus Primes. We said that we actually liked them, but there was just something... fake about them - despite the fact that they were really well made. They just felt fake.

Happily we had a great experience with the Alpha Pack Spark Toys ST01 War Within Optimus Prime and even the Toy World Botcon Exclusive Orion both of which do not "feel fake" at all, or we would have given up completely on 3rd party Transformers.

So here are our thoughts on the ITF01 Abyss - red variant - knock-off of the War for Cybetron Optimus Prime.

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Ori Toy Hero of Steel Optimus Prime

Ori Toy Hero of Steel Optimus Prime 

Presenting Optimus Prime, Hero of Steel from Ori Toy.

A few months ago we were having an interesting conversation about Optimus Prime and 3rd party Transformers.

Check out some of the Optimus Primes were reviewed by clicking here. 

We were wondering just how in the world both Takara and Hasbro could allow 3rd party companies to get away with, - what would seem perfectly obvious to any casual observer - complete trademark rip offs of their products. 

Not that we're complaining - since we, too, gobble up the 3r party products like there's no tomorrow, but.... seriously?

It turns out that all a 3rd party manufacturer has to do is remove the Autobot or Deception logos from their "products" (They can't call them Transformers) and they are considered distinct enough not to be copies of the Transformers owned by Hasbro and Takara. 

That's just not right.

So we were wondering how Ori Toy got away with this because that Autobot logo on Optimus Prime's shoulder is not something we had to add on, and Ori Toy is using the name "Optimus Prime" 

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Titanium Series War Within Optimus Prime vs the Alpha Pack ST-01

Transformers War Within Optimus Prime and Son

Presenting a size comparison pictorial between the Transformers Titanium Series War Within Optimus Prime and the Spark Toys Alpha Pack ST-01 War Within Optimus Prime.

We're still on a writing hiatus and debating whether or not we shut this blog down, but we had a wonderful conversation with a fellow collector a few weeks back and he said that he encountered a few friends who did not believe that there was a smaller version of the Alpha Pack ST-01 War Within Optimus Prime.

So to his friends, here he is: The Transformers Titanium Series War Within Optimus Prime.

Father and son.

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Combiner Wars Optimus Prime Perfect Combiner PC-08 upgrade

Combiner Wars Optimus Prime PC-08 upgrade 

Presenting the 3rd party Perfect Combiner PC-08 armor, hands and feet upgrade kit for the Combiner Wars Optimus Prime.

We should probably point out that this version of Optimus Maximus is also backed by Reprolabels

To read more about our Reprolabels upgrade, click here.

This is our 3rd review involving the Combiner Wars Optimus Prime. All three past reviews involved complaints about how unstable, unsightly and ungainly his hip area was.

If you want to see our past reviews for the Transformers Combiner Wars Optimus Prime, click here

So when the Perfect Combiner PC-08 upgrade came out in the market, we had to have it for Optimus

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Spark Toys Alpha Pack ST-01 War Within Optimus Prime

Alpha Pack ST-01 War Within Optimus Prime

Presenting Alpha Pack ST-01 the War Within Optimus Prime from Spark Toys.

We're not real fond of 3rd party Optimus Primes. Both the MO1 and MPP10 Optimus Primes recently joined the Dungeon and quite frankly - despite the fact that they were well made and were quite durable - there was just something.... fake... about them. So we never even bothered to review them. Never even transformed them. They went straight to the shelf.

Then there are the 3rd party Optimus Primes like the Xovergen which is extremely hard to play with and is quite fragile.

For more about our Xovergen God Armor Optimus Prime, click here.

So we were pleasantly surprised when we opened up the Alpha Pack ST-01 War Within Optimus Prime from Spark Toys. Despite the box saying it was made out of 400 laser print molded parts, it did not feel cheap, fake or wrong.
It felt like an Optimus Prime.

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Transformers Takara TAV-33 Supreme Class Optimus Prime

Transformers Takara TAV-33 Supreme Class Optimus Prime

Presenting a Takara TAV-33 Supreme Class Optimus Prime from the Transformers Robots in Disguise or Adventure toyline.


Not sure why the Japanese felt the need to localize the name. If we understand it correctly, they also added content to the American cartoon.

Anyway since we don't read  Japanese, this is the Supreme class Optimus Prime. In the Transformers Robots in Disguise or Adventure animated series, Optimus Prime has retreated to the dimension of the Realm of the Primes to train under a mini-bot named Micronus to face an unnamed coming darkness.

The "Darkness" arrives in the form of Megatronus, but Optimus Prime is not ready yet, so he begs the Primes for a portion of their power.

And here he is.

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