Man, I’m kind of annoyed with myself that I somehow saved the BotCon toys I like the least for last. I was on a pretty good roll of “Woo”s and “Yay”s, and now we’re in this rut where it feels like I hate everything. That’s not true! It’s just that we’re to the stuff I didn’t want to talk about immediately.
Shattered Glass Ultra Magnus I’m not unkeen on. He’s a new character! And he uses the mold’s second head that Hasbro hadn’t used yet. It’s a translucent skull, because, yo, bad ass. Reportedly this is an “evil Optimus Prime” noggin that Hasbro would have attached to their eventual Nemesis Prime use of the mold. It’s a pretty villainous head, so it works well for SG Ultra Magnus. The Diaclone Powered Convoy colors work well here, too. Red and blue are usually heroic colors, but with their specific hues and with all the black and gray, it comes off as evil enough.
Guess SG Prime shrunk in the wash.
My only complaint is the relative tininess of the toy. He’s plumped up in the comic, because his opposite number is Treadshot, the huge Deluxe Jazz mold. It feels uneven. The smallness is something I complained about with the original use of the mold, and it’s relevant with Magnus, too. But not as relevant as it is with BotCon’s other use of this mold.
Geez, Shattered Glass Optimus Prime! I dunno what BotCon’s historical fascination is with upgrading their guys as less impressive toys, but yikes. SG Prime used to be a Voyager. A good Voyager! One of my reluctant favorites of the 2008 set. He was the centerpiece of my Shattered Glass Autobot shelf. When I eventually put this new version of him in his old toy’s place, you wouldn’t even be able to see him. Bumblebee can see over the top of his head. It’s just not a great upgrade.
Size aside, the toy is decoed marvelously. There’s paint washes everywhere. But I’d rather his new toy had the presence of the old toy.
Now, Optimus Prime only appeared in the comic as a head on a screen, so my brain hasn’t really registered yet that he’s this body now. So I’m probably good to keep the old one on the shelf until he eventually appears in a future story and reminds me. Let’s hope that’s a long way off.
It bothers me that his cracked window switched sides.
What I find funny is the fact that this is a new body for Prime, and his Bio states he’s confinced that he is completely incincible in it and immune to all damage. So that’s all well and good, but isn’t it already covered in it? I mean cracked windows and scraped up paint sure fall under the damage category in my book. I mean SG Prime is supposed to be a bit loony, so maybe to him it doesn’t qaulify. Or perhaps he just painted himself that way and installed a pre-cracked window because grunge is his thing; like the Cybertronian equivalent of buying jeans with holes in them already.
Or it shows he’s that delusional. I love that battle damage though, it looks so good!
Still waiting for a Machine Wars Optimus Prime use of this mold.
And they better have a window-covering chestpiece for it!
Well, I have to say, your concerns are all true Willis, but I love these two so hard. I mean, I don’t have the original SG Prime and I’m not paying the absurd asking price for him, so I’m thrilled to have at least this representation. And I thought I was going to have Magnus a LOT, the story drew me in and now I think he’s all kinds of radical. But yeah, they’re small. I have Treadshot and Magnus posted fighting and it sure is off a bit, but I made it work. I like that Magnus has the Terminus Blade and Prime has a G-Metal Blade.
ahem, *hate*. I thought I was going to *hate* Magnus. The only “gripe” I guess I have for him is I wish they painted the face silver like in the comic, and not clear.
yeah, I’m pretty sure the point of this Prime isn’t an upgrade for people who own the original, but an alternative for people who can’t afford the original. Cos boy is that thing expensive on the aftermarket, even beyond Botcon aftermarket precedent.
as for Magnus, he matches the colors of the “battle tanker” unlicensed addon set surprisingly well, so you could use that to beef up his height. I love Diaclone Magnus colors and the new head sculpt, so unlike you I was looking forward to him
“Last”?
what about the Junkions?
You are entirely too literal.