Ko Generation 1 G1 Red Autobot Beachcomber Decepticon Hellcomber Review

  As you go through page after page on Ebay you sometimes come across something cool looking. An item that brings back the awe and amazement you had as a kid when you first got into Transformers. Back on September 2nd, this figure brought back the feelings of yester yore to me. It made me want to buy it!! It will be mine I said to myself in my best Megatron voice. I sounded more like Shirley Temple straining on the throne I am told by my wife. Ehh close enough. So I waited excitedly.

That's not nice! 

And sucker you wish you sounded like me!

Week one comes and goes I am still giddy. Yes, grown men can say giddy dang it!! Week 2, Week 3, Week 4 and I shave my beard and eat some Chinese food. As all old people do I eventually forget about even buying the dang thing. I go to my mailbox today and see a package from China and wonder to myself uhhh "What the hell is this?!?! " I put it close to my ear to make sure it wasn't ticking. I shake it a few times and quickly throw it away as far as possible. Fire in the Hole!! Hmm no boom. I dunk it in water and wait for any sparks to come out. Nothing!! Then it hits me! Wait I'm not a Special Secret Super agent, or am I and just forgot again, and I never called out Hillary Clinton in PUBLIC. So who would want to rub me out? What am I so scared about? I open it and the warm belly tingling feeling of awe returns!! IT is finally here. So let's check this guy/gal out?!?

You just had to go there...

Vehicle Mode

Hellcomber transforms into a Red and gray 1982 M1040 Chenowth "Hellfire" Fast Attack Vehicle. Yes, it's an actual vehicle! I googled it dang you.

Just like it's G1 Autobot counterpart this Cybertronian has all the original touches that made it an awesome figure so many years ago. Rubber Dunlop tires that give you great traction on most surfaces. And smell ohh so good. What? Don't judge me you know you smell them too! At least I don't lick the tires like some folks I know. Roll test was a full 2 tile squares which puts most bayverse bots to shame. The black roll cage and light gray lights and body really make this sand buggy pop. All around win for this beautiful bugger.

Dramatic Exit in 5...4..

Robot Mode

Red is so sexy!

Pull out the arms, flip the front hood around to form her legs and flip the head up and you have Hellcomber. Decepticon Mistress of the dunes.

Decepticon you say?!? Nay, Nay sir! Ay, Ay I say. Why is this bot a Decepticon? Simply put the rub symbol on her is of the Decepticon variety. It's a life choice dammit. Don't ya just love easy simple answers? Articulation is limited to her arms turning a full 360 degrees. Hey, it's a Ko based off a toy from 1984. What technological marvel can we honestly expect? Joints on the figure are tight for the most part except for her head which tends to want to fold back down onto her chest. Maybe we can get her to spell attic next time she looks down that way? This issue is something the original figure suffered from as well, though. This copy of the mold is a variation. It is based on the one with "Hasbro" stamped across the left arm (removing half the "mesh" pattern). This figure is a nostalgic scream of greatness to the past. A simpler past where Alyssa Milano was still my secret girlfriend and didn't have so many restraining orders against me. I love you, Alyssa!!

Stop calling me!! STALKER!!

Wow, real rubber tires.

A-T-T-I-C...... I don't get it?

Overall

I'm Dancing!

  $15, that is how much this figure cost. $15. I have to say it's well worth the cost. The plastic on this con is spot on to the original official figure. It doesn't feel cheap, fragile, or greasy like some ko's. The rubber tires feel like the originals. If I wasn't 98% sure that beachcomber wasn't released in a red color scheme this figure could have passed as an original 1984 released product. It is quite amazing how far ko's have come. If anything it makes me wonder why they haven't made all the Huffer repaints from Mexico, Spain, Argentina, Guadalajara, and where ever else they released Puffer at. I want my Puffer dammit. I recommend this con to anyone. Well worth the wait. Well worth the cost.

Make us Chinese Ko makers!!

Cause we are Awesome!!

Score 
5 out of 5 Carltons

You sure this is how it goes?!?

Much Better

So dear time to get that Autobot emblem!

Stop Trying to control me!!

Can you and I be friends?

YAY!!

HELLCOMBER

Dean Loves me!!! Dance Time!!

What I can Dance too!! You ain't Special!

Apparently, there has been a red Beachcomber character named Buggyman. Thanks a lot Ronald you ruined the hopes and dreams of poor Hellcomber by forcing a label onto her!! If she identifies herself as Hellcomber she should be allowed to stay as Hellcomber. Decepticon Mistress of the dunes!! J/K Ronald thanks for the info. It's cool to learn something new in the Tf verse.

For the stricklers here is Buggyman AKA Hellcomber

Oh and a Picture of a Hot Shirley Temple Cause we all need a Shirley Temple in our lives!

Unique Toys Mania King Not Transformers Decepticon Galvatron Review

Ahhh Unique toys..... the company that gave us CHUG versions of Predaking, albeit not very good versions, but hey, they tried, right? When I saw their version of Galvatron the pics appealed to me. The bad taste of the quality of the Predaking figures stopped me like a punch to the gut. A failed search for the Botcon "Fireguts Convoy" figure at a cheap price instead showed me a loose Mania King for $60 shipped, so I took that leap off the jagged edge onto the rocky pit of 3rd party greatness.He has finally arrived, so lets see if he was worth the jump!

Read this Review Mortal!

For those of you who only know Galvatron as the bad lego truck that fell apart to "transform" in the last Transformers movie, I have news for you; he was first introduced as a BIG ass laser cannon in the original and better Transformers the animated Movie. Yes folks, it's still better than any of the Michael Bay movies out there. Galvatron was voiced by the late great Leonard Nimoy. Freaking Mr. Spock himself! Nuff said! May he rest in peace.  Ok now with that out of the way. Let's start this review:

Weapon Mode

Beware the sodawater can cannon of death!!

Mania King (aka Galvatron) is a big purple and white laser cannon. A cannon with tank threads, baby!!  The old G1 Decepticon Commander look and feel just oozes out here kiddies, but... isn't this is supposed to be an updated version of this figure? Unfortunately some of the aesthetics of the cannon fail to push "update/upgrade". The weapon looks like an old motor oil can with a spout rammed into it. Okay, did I just show my age?

Yes, folks we had to do this....

Maybe if the barrel was larger it would have given the weapon a more streamlined feel? It just feels wrong and dated, and not a good dated like a redhead with big brains in a nurses uniform. Then there's the whole arms sticking out the back thing. The arms were not incorporated in any way that would explain why the hell they are back there. When I look at it I see a "SEAT". Add in some handles a view screen and Cobra forces could ride this thing like a tank. And yes I NOW know I mis-transformed it a bit by not putting on the back of the laser canon. Damn You, Japanese instructions with terrible pics!! But just imagine a seat and view screen here folks!! It would even work for those tiny crappy movie human alliance figures. I need to also ask why give a figure tank threads if they don't have wheels in the bottom to let the vehicle freaking roll. The original had wheels and that was made in 1986. Come on, pop some wheels in there, damn it!

Check out my butt! You know you like it!

Robot Mode

Whats that to my left? No it's on my Right!

Mania King's transformation is a little weird or wonky as Davestator stated, but once you get it down it is awesome. Not Disco Duck awesome, mind you, but at least Ms. Jackson awesome. The figure is very clean and compacted once done.  No real kibble sticking out of him, an amazing feat for a voyager sized figure. Disco, Disco Duck!!

Enter Funny Comment here!
No really please do...

Articulation wise: the head is on a ball joint. shoulders and waist are ratcheted. Elbows, upper biceps, knees, and hips are on a static joint. Weird thing on the hips is that it looks like it could have been a ratchet joint but they chose to go in a different direction. Sadly, Unique Toys dropped the ball on one area where a mushroom joint would have helped immensely; the hands. The action figure's hands are set in place, which forces the figure's arms to be set in a side position so that the hands look correct. The limited usage of the hands just hinders this cool figure. A simple swivel joint on the upper arm or wrist of this toy would have helped considerably. Instead of making it look like the figure is begging for more....

Can Mania King some more sir?

The cannon, while cool looking, is a sad excuse for a cannon. Why not pop a clear yellow cannon and LED in there and make it awesome? Hell, the cannon is big enough to fit one of those cheap dollar store LED flashlights in there. Just WEAK, Unique toys, WEAK!!

OVERALL

 Unique Toys, you have come a long way. Mania King is a testament to that. Unfortunately, there are still a few slight stumbles that have hindered this figure. The biggest one is the hands. The colors rock. The articulation is "good enough-ish". The plastic is several levels above the stuff used for your Predaking guys. Improvements all over. This Decepticon shows that you care enough to make your product better. Are you there yet? Do you belong to the upper echelon of 3rd party creators. No. Can you get there? I think you can. Now, can I recommend him? Yes, this figure is awesome enough to warrant the purchase. He belongs right in there with your CHUG collection battling the heroic Rodimus Prime and his Autobots. Just be aware he will have limitations and things a good customizer can fix.

I give him 4 out of 5 Carlton. Would have been 3.5 but I didn't have it in me to cut poor Carlton in half dammit. I'm sure it would hurt him. And we all love Carlton too much to do that!!

You can get your own here:

Come here,... No really Come here!!

The Plane Boss!! The Plane!

I can destroy you with any arm I want dammit!
I am ambidextrous!! 

Check out my metallic booty!!

Vote Decepticon! 

Cause all the Human candidates suck!

Remember Guys!

You only get old when you stop Playing!!
So Play On!!

One for Mr. Spock!!