Further Proof

I got the the end of the strip before even realizing I forgot to add Larry into the photos, so I hope his one line makes it up to him.

Traitor in Our Midst

Megatron Monday



Seeing as how I'm a rabid Megatron collector and already have a Megatron comic strip going, I thought I'd start a new feature on here where I do a weekly review of someone from my collection.  I'll try to stick mainly to the toy, since I haven't followed every series and some toys have no specific story anyway, but I'll throw in some cartoon or comic personality stuff whenever it pops up.  I'm missing quite a bit of Megatrons though, so these won't be totally conclusive, and I'm hardly an expert on engineering, though I'm trying to learn.  I just like Megatron and enjoy when he's well represented.  And when he's not... well, we'll get to that.

For the first review, I'm going to focus on War for Cybertron Megatron.  Kinda fitting, you know?  It's taken me ages to find (okay a month, but that's a long itme for toy collectors) and there's no way I'm not showing that sucker off.  Well, not mine specifically, my camera's not working at the moment, but later reviews should have my own crappy photography.

ROBOT MODE



It's hard to believe how beautiful this toy is.  I've never played the game myself - all I have is the Wii and the game looks pretty disappointing - so I can't compare it to the game model, but I don't care.  I love how sharp and powerful this guy looks.  His headsculpt is spot-on for Megatron, and I especially like how pointed his chin is - I mean, it practically juts out of the helmet.  The only problem I have, which I've seen on a bunch of other guys, is his eyes being painted over.  Why the hell would you make his head light-piping just to paint over it?  And not even that well, since I can see a tiny slit of purple eyeliner on his right eye. 

Hi articulation is great, and probably has the best I've see in the leg.  Sure some of it is the transformation letting the lower leg fold into the thigh, but it lets him kneel down (Megatrons do not kneel, we conquer!).  And I do appreciate the added tilt to his feet.  Those things are huge and it would be a let down if they had to sit at an agle when his legs are spread.  The same thing goes for his elbows which can bend up against his shoulders.  I wish I could rotate the forearms toward the chest - how can Megatron look introspective if he can't touch his chin?  Speaking of his farearms though, I've got to mention the hands.  I gotta say, I like them like this.  I don't think we saw them before Animated, but since then, I've really taken to them.  They're so much more emotive than molded fists - imagine him touching his chin with those hands, it would make Prime shit his pants!  Or something!  I have one other probalem with his articulation though - his waist.  They've got a ton of room there to though is a rotation, but they missed it.  Oh well. 

I'm also glad to see the return of his arm cannon.  I know RotF had a big cannon on his right arm, but it WAS his right arm.  He can't even scratch his ass with that.  But this Megatron can... okay, that's a bad anology.  Anyway, I'm glad it's back to a regular arm with a plug-in cannon.  The detail on it is great too, with the back end looking either like a launching mechanism or a gun barrel.  And the button to launch isn't obviously a tiny little button.  It's details like that I'm in love with here.

TANK MODE

Megatron's back to his almost classic roots as a tank.  It's obvious the robot mode was the priority here and the alt mode just fell in behind, but at least it's not as bad as Animated Cybertron mode.  Everything still looks like it fits together well though.  I read a lot of reviews that give credit to this guy for having tank treads instead of just leaving him as a hover tank, but I'm not buying it.  Yeah it's great they put the thought into it, but the implimentation is a little weak.  The tread sections are too small for the rest of the tank and his hands are right out there in the open.  I wouldn't have as much of a problem with them if they'd at least snap into place, but as it is, they move around way too much.  I'm more comfortable just folding them under and keeping him a hover tank.

Still there's a couple great features on here.  I like the claws in the front - reminds me a lot of Armada.  Glad they don't move though.  I wish that panel under them folded back instead of staying flat and leaving an open spot behind it.  The two extra lasers on the cannon and the left front give Megatron a little extra firepower (like he needs it).  I do wish the cannon here had some kind of rotation or tilt.  But if you're a hover tank, it's not hard to move everything.

Overall, this guy is a great figure.  He gets a lot more points for robot mode than his alt mode, but I don't hold that against him.  He's definitely a threatening-looking guy.  Wish I could see him in action, maybe I'll go get the game.  And a PS3 to play it on, I'm not getting that Cybertron Adventures crap.

Galvatron's Regret