Generations Combiner Wars Leader Class Ultra Magnus - Pictorial Review

Now, a release that fans had been craving for so many year, the one and only, the legendary and iconic, Ultra Magnus!

Pic Credit : Web

Ultra Magnus was first introduced in Transformers : The Movie in 1986, an elite soldier that was entrusted with the Matrix by Optimus Prime in his death bed (but the Matrix chose Hot Rod). Ultra Magnus was one of the main cast in the season 3 and 4 of US G1 series, all the way to G1 Headmasters. 

G1 Ultra Magnus
Pic Credit : TFWiki

 

Ultra Magnus's G1 toy is actually a white version Optimus Prime with a convertable trailer that becomes his armor. This indirectly the reason why several version of his toys afterwards are a white repaint of Optimus Prime. Some, not all. There are few series where Ultra Magnus were designed uniquely such as in Robot In Disguise/Car Robot, Animated and also Transformers:Prime.

Dreamwave Ultra Magnus

In Dreamwave Generation One continuity, Ultra Magnus IS actually a white Optimus Prime. Ultra Magnus shed his armor in the episode Countdown to Extinction after he was shot down by Shockwave.

Pic Credit : TFWiki

In IDW Generations 1 continuity, Ultra Magnus is not just one bot. The 'immortal' lawman was close with Orion Pax, Skids and Delta Magnus where he fought alongside them in countless wars, witnessing a lot of historical event. However, after his death (the cause has yet to be revealed), Chief Justice Tyrest who was inspired by Magnus's legend, fashioned a suit of armor cast in Magnus's image and bestowed it upon a succession of other robots. Currently, Minimus Ambus is the mastermind under the suit of the legend.

Alt Mode

He's finally here! 

Ultra Magnus comes in a box with the same design as the previous three Combiner Wars Leader Class figures (after Megatron, Armada Megatron and Thundercracker).

Might not be big but the artwork of Ultra Magnus is clearly based on IDW version of the character.

Generations Combiner Wars Leader Class Thundercracker - Pictorial Review

Now, a repaint that no one saw coming but inevitable, Generations Combiner Wars Leader Class Thundercracker, third repaints of Jetfire mold after Hasbro and and Takara Jetfire. This review is courtesy of MyToy.

MyToy

Pic Credit : TFWiki

A character that is frequent in both the cartoon series and in the toyline. Thundercracker, along with the other Seekers (Starscream and Skywarp), was one of Megatron's warriors that participated in the attack of the ark. The character ended after the attack on Autobot City where he was gunned down by Optimus Prime and later thrown out into space only to be reformatted into Scourge by Unicron.

This is the 3rd mold ever used for a Thundercracker in CHRUG line, after the first classic seeker mold and then the FOC version. BUT, if you consider all the repaints and variants, it's another story. For instance, for the first classic seeker mold, there are 4 variants which are Botcon 2007, Henkei, Generations and United 3-Pack version (5, if you count the Shattered Glass version).

Review of Generations Leader Class Jetfire can be found here.

In Package

Let us get started, shall we? Thundercracker comes in a black box with his artwork on the lower left corner.

Iron Factory IF-EX05 Windsaber - Pictorial Review

Now, let's take a break from Dinobots, Combiners and whatnot, be it official or 3rd party releases. Here's something out of the ordinary, a legend-size figure by the third party company, Iron Factory. 

EX-05 Windsaber (Windblade) is the fifth release after EX-01 (FOC Grimlock Add On), EX-02 Turrets and Manacle (Scramper and Slammer), EX-03 Sonictech with Bassrhino and Leotrible (Blaster with Ramhorn and Steeljaw) and EX-04 Fortress/City Commander (Ultra Magnus).

Review of the original figure, Hasbro Windblade can be found here.

Windsaber review will be brief considering how simple the figure is but will have a lot of pictures for your viewing.

In Package

Windsaber comes in a small box with japanese-style patterns on the right side. The overall design is different compared to EX-01, EX-02 and EX-03.

Back View

The design at the back of the box is pretty simple with the top-half containing silhouette of Windsaber standing on top of what appears to be HasTak Titan Class figure, Metroplex, with caption "I'm Standing On The Shoulders of Giants) on the bottom left side.

Toyworld TW-D02 Muddy - Pictorial Review

Time for another Dinobot, this time the second figure from Toyworld lineup, Muddy (Not-Sludge). TW-D01 Muddy is one of four Not-Sludge released for CHRUG line (the other 3 are Fansproject's Columpio, Planet X's Neptune and the most recent, GCreation Thunderous, which I will be reviewing afterwards).

As of now I only had the chance to review Fansproject's version and can be found here.

Review of previous Toyworld Dinobot, Roar (Not-Snarl) can be found here.

In Package

Muddy comes in a black box with the nice artwork of the character on the front, just like TW-D01 Roar.

Mastermind Creations R12 Cynicus - Pictorial Review

Now, let us venture into another subgroup in IDW continuity, the infamous Decepticon Justice Division (DJD).

Decepticon Justice Division
Pic Credit : TFWiki

The DJD is a small unit in the Decepticon army, consisting small number of bots carrying Decepticon's 'justice'. Being Megatron's enforcer, they act based on the The List, containing names of traitors, deserters or transgressors that opposed the Decepticon's cause either directly or indirectly. The known members of DJD are

• Helex
• Kaon
• Tarn (Leader)
• Tesarus
• Vos

There are also 2 others associated with DJD

• Nickel (medic, first female Decepticon in IDW)
• The Pet

Most of the names are codename based on the early cities the Decepticons conquered. The codename will will be used by new member in the event any of the current member dies.

DJD Vos
Pic Credit : TFWiki

The current Vos is at least the second bot that took the codename. Vos is a scientist and a linguistic purist, speaking only in Primal Vernacular instead of Neocybex, the modern Transformers language. Vos transform into a sniper rifle and wielded by other DJD members (and on occassion, Megatron himself).

In Package

Generations Combiner Wars Defensor - Pictorial Review

To continue my previous review, here's Combiner Wars Protectobots combined form, Defensor.

Pic Credit : TFWiki

Always went head-to-head with the Combaticons, Defensor can be considered the exact opposite of Bruticus, focusing primarily in safeguarding the civilian while repelling the Decepticons' assault. Other than his combat skills, Defensor also equipped with the ability to generate a forcefield (which sometimes failed).

G1 Defensor
TFWiki

G1 Defensor was released in 1986 both separately and and as a giftset. Later he was repainted as Guard City in 1992 and released in Japanese market.

Review of TFC version of Defensor, Prometheus, can be found here.

Also here are the reviews for Combiner Wars Stunticons and Menasor.

Combiner Wars Protectobots

Generations Combiner Wars Protectobots - Pictorial Review

Now, time for Combiner Wars. The Protectobots are released under the third wave of the line with different approach as before. Unlike the Aerialbots and Stunticons, all members of the Protectobots are all released in the same wave.

G1 Protectobots
Pic Credit : TFWiki

Aside from G1/G2 version (and comic books), the Protectobots (as a team) were never included in any other newer Transformers series unlike Constructicons, Aerialbots and Combaticons for instance, that made appearance (an iteration of them) in the Energon/Superlink series among others.

Some back stories of the characters and a third party version of them by TFC can be found below

• TFC Gumball (Not-Streetwise)
• TFC Warning Line (Not-Groove)
• TFC Hydrant (Not-Hotspot)
• TFC Red Cross (Not-First Aid)
• TFC Verti-Aid (Not-Blade)