Cy-Kill

The Black Sheep of the Mecha Family

Tonka Challenge of the Go-Bots Line, 1983

It’s a pretty simple equation that if one thing is popular, a lot of it should be even more popular. After all, look at all the games in the wake of Pokemon, vampire books in the wake of Anne Rice and now Stephanie Meyer. The list goes on and on and on. And such was the case in the 80s with Transformers and the cheap knock-off, Go-Bots.

Background

There’s not a lot that can be said about the Go-Bots, except that they were such a blatant rip-off of Transformers, its little wonder that they didn’t last. Moreover, they weren’t even that good of a rip-off. MASK was kind of a rip-off of GI Joe, but a good one. Inhumanoids was a rip-off of…well, I don’t know. HP Lovecraft and Centurians maybe? But Go-Bots was the gas station boxed wine to Transformers’ Crystal. There just wasn’t much a competition.

A few characteristics of the story do still standout, however, one of which was their bad guys’ leader Cy-kill. I’m pretty sure there were others, but like Leader-One (the leader of the good Go-Bots), he’s about all anybody remembers. So, seeing as how I reviewed Starscream last week and that was the third Transformers review, I figured it was time to give these guys a shout-out.

Appearance – 3 out of 5

Cy-kill looks very much like he did in the cartoon, with the exception of the menacing scowl (here replaced with a vacant generic robotic look). Otherwise, the proportions are very well preserved and the character looks like he did in the show.

Construction – 4 out of 5

Somewhat similar to other die-cast mecha toys, this one is part metal and part plastic. However, unlike some of the Transformers, the joints and limbs are plastic whereas the main body is metal. This makes the toy feel a little better balanced and sturdier. There’s a pretty admirable amount of texture included in both the plastic and metal parts and some details (such as the machinery-looking details inside the main headlight) that really stand out.

Movement – 2 out of 5

The die-cast trunk pretty much seals the fate of any joints on the body (there’s no waist or neck joints, so you can forget about turning Cy-kill’s head). There are simple joints for the shoulders, hips, and knees, but with the exception of the shoulders, these provide only enough mobility to allow for the transformation process. This translates into a bare-minimum amount of motion for an action figure.

Extras – 1 out of 5

Zip, zero, nilch, nada. This toy comes with no weapons, add-ons, side-cars riders, nothing.

Packaging – 2 out of 5

I can’t score the packaging effectively because, quite simply, I can’t remember what it looked like. Considering that I can vividly remember subtle details about just about every toy I’ve ever owned – including the packaging – that leads me to believe the packaging was less than remarkable. I recall the packaging for other Go-Bots figures and recall it being stark, hand-drawn imagery keeping with the cyberpunk-esque era of art that was popular in sci-fi in the early to mid-80s. Giving this toy the benefit of the doubt (and because I need to give it a score), I’m defaulting to below-average but not awful score of 2.

　

Overall – 2 out of 5

This is a very sturdy toy that does represent the character that inspired it, but unfortunately that’s all it has going for it. The lack of meaningful mobility and utter absence of any kind of extras really keeps this as sort of a sub-par figure. The toy has little personality (and certainly nothing that would indicate the character from the show) and it isn’t even clear (his name aside) if he’s a good guy or a bad guy. This review may seem kind of half-assed, but in my opinion that reflects the spirit of this toy line that will forever be remembered (and rightfully so) as the ugly and nerdy cousin of Transformers that nobody wants to talk about.

Cybertronian Starscream

The Original Backstabber In His Original Form

Hasbro Transformers: Titanium Series, 2006

In the beginning, Hasbro made their Transformers toys using die-cast steel. And it was good. Then, they moved to the cheaper and more manageable plastic. And it was…meh. And then, on a glorious day, they released a Transformers line based around using the beloved die-cast construction. And it was good. Very, very good.

Background

For the four of you who aren’t familiar with the background of the Transformers (and I am referring to the animated series, not the live-action movies; the live-action movies are generally regarded as, at best, really ambitious fan fiction, with all the preferences and prejudices that go along with that designation), the Autobots and Decepticons were damaged in their crash landing onto Earth and were given the forms of earth vehicles (jets, cars, trucks, etc). But in the first episode of the animated series, ‘More Than Meets The Eye’, we got a glimpse of a few of the Cybertronian forms that they original held, forms there were quite appropriately alien.

Probably none of these forms has been more popular than the ‘flying pyramids’ that would become the Decepticon jets. And there is probably no Decepticon, jet or otherwise, more notorious than Starscream. The eternal opportunist, Starscream’s propensity to run his mouth is rivaled only by either his cowardice or his ability to back up his smack-talking (his abilities varied WIDELY from episode to episode in the animated series). However, given that he openly and frequently told his superior (Megatron) about he was going to usurp power from him – and still lived to tell about it – it’s considered canon that he could backup his smack more often than not.

Starscream has been a perennial favorite, arguably as popular as any other character with the exception of Optimus Prime, and has been a prominent figure in just about every incarnation of the series. So when the fans had a chance to get a die-cast toy of him in his original Cybertronian form, well, that was just too good to pass up.

Appearance – 4 out of 5

This a visually compelling piece, no doubt about it. It quite clearly harkens back to the original depiction of Starscream (from the generation one animated series) with the color scheme and overall design. The fact that it’s metal is almost immediately apparent and adds some credibility to this toy’s appearance (as the robots themselves are – shocker – metal).

There are some problems however, not the least of which is the transformed version (the vehicle mode) looks only remotely like the flying pyramids from the animated series. Aside from an overall triangular aesthetic, the vehicle form bears little resemblance to what we saw in the show.

On top of that, I have one personal complaint and that is the toy’s face. While the head is nicely detailed and well-sculpted…it just doesn’t look like Starscream! It looks…I don’t know, like Starscream’s inbred twin brother or something. I know it’s a small complaint overall, but come on guys!

Construction – 5 out of 5

The toy is very well put together and, since it’s die-cast, it’s pretty much the very definition of tough. Seriously, you could sharpen this toy into a knife if you wanted, and if you continued to call it Starscream, it would be the awesomest knife ever. In all honesty, this toy is practically the yardstick of durability and ruggedness. It does have a critical flaw, however, which is discussed below.

Movement – 3 out of 5

Scoring the movement category is a little tricky because while the toy is overall quite mobile (elbow and shoulder joints, rotating wrists, hip, knee, leg, and toe joints; hell, even the head turns), the joints don’t really feel too sturdy. This is because while the toy is constructed of mostly die-cast, some parts (namely the joints) are necessarily made of plastic. The problem with this is that the plastic is not nearly as strong as the metal and its there that we learn an ugly little truth about mecha in real life. In order for the joints to support the weight of the limbs, they have to be remarkably strong (read: rigid). This means that in order to move the joint, a great deal of strength has to be used (read: force). And that amount of force means that you constantly feel like you could snap a limb off at any time. This is really the only flaw in the toy, but unfortunately, it’s not a trivial one.

Extras – 2 out of 5

The toy comes with a small stand that is identical to every other toy in the series, save for the nameplate that’s unique to each figure. Other than that, there’s nothing. No clip-on weapons, no handheld weapons (since the hands are closed fists, that probably goes without saying), nothing.

Packaging – 4 out of 5

The packaging for this entire toy line was very well done. It emphasized the die-cast element and gave us a quick bio for the character. Franchise and narrative history was lacking, meaning that this toy was clearly meant for collectors and long-time fans, but that does little to detract from the packaging. Each package as distinctive and it was quite obvious even without seeing the figure inside to tell whom it was that resided within.

Overall – 4 out of 5

This is a really great toy that is very sturdy, tactilely very satisfying, and is overall just a beautiful product. The joint strength is really all that keeps this from ranking higher because even if the vehicle form doesn’t look exactly like the flying pyramid, this is still a fantastic toy for fan and non-fan alike to enjoy.

Ken Masters

Player 2 Goes Nowhere

Jazwares, 2004

It’s not clear to me why the action figures of fighting game tend to have such a terrible track record, but boy do they. Going back to the Street Fighter II line of GI Joe action figures, the entire genre of figures seems cursed to look terrible, handle terrible, or just generally be full of teh Suck. It doesn’t really make sense, because it seems like tangible incarnations of action video games – and especially fighting games – would be absolutely rife with opportunities to make some kick-ass toys. Sadly, the theory rarely pans out to reality.

Background

Ken Masters began as the palette-swapped second character in the original Street Fighter video game. Hailing from the US, he naturally was white and had blonde hair. Dressed in red, he was identical to the first player option from Japan, Ryu. With the arrival of the now-legendary Street Fighter II, Ken began his gradual evolution to becoming his own distinctive character, separating himself from Ryu in the annals of gaming history.

In the Street Fighter narrative, Ken is the wild ‘brother’ to Ryu, both having trained under the same karate master. Ken is generally seen as an exceptionally well-rounded character, with solid offense and defense options as well as a wide repertoire of maneuver options. He’s usually a little more flashy and high-risk/high-impact than his more conservative counterpart.

Appearance – 3 out of 5

This is a nicely colored toy with good texture and a solid representation of the character that inspired it. Ken’s almost comically stereotypical ‘American’ appearance is held strong with the blonde hair and dark eyebrows, the solid jaw, and rippling muscles. The detailed folds and creases of the red karate gi he wears are also quite well done.

Construction – 3 out of 5

This is a very sturdy toy, made out of solid plastic. Nothing about it feels haphazard or unable to stand the rigors of play. Even the black belt that Ken wears feels sturdy (at least for a comparatively thin strip of plastic). The obvious joints and seams, along with the blind-person-can-tell color discrepancy between the face’s coloring and the rest of the skin, is what keeps this toy from ranking higher in the construction department.

Movement – 2 out of 5

What the toy gains in construction, it loses sorely in mobility. The figure can barely move. The shoulder joints move on one, slightly angled axis, with only the rotation of the upper arms and the extension of the elbows giving any real mobility. The hands are both clinched into fists and do not rotate at all. The neck rotates, but with very little range. There is no waist and while there are clearly hip joints, the sturdy plastic so praised in the construction portion of the review hampers all but the smallest amount of movement. The knees bend slightly and the feet rotate (for some reason) but do not extend. The character is largely impossible to pose and is saved from a ranking of One in this category solely because of the arms’ rotation.

Extras – 1 out of 5

None. This toy comes with nothing. Not a stand (even though there are openings in the heels to place the figure on pegs), not a cap to go onto the fist to simulate Ken’s flaming dragon punch (for which he’s known so well), not a fireball attachment, nothing. This is nothing to say about other colors of karate gis (this is intentional as at least one repaint of the character exists as a ‘Player 2 figure’) or even other costumes.

Packaging – 2 out of 5

The packaging is nice, but completely uninspired. There’s very little to distinguish from one figure to another aside from the name on the front plate. The back is identical between all characters and offers no explanation as to the story, the character bio, or anything useful.

Overall – 2 out of 5

In a lot of ways, this isn’t a toy but a statue that can be posed ever so slightly (and ineffectively). Seriously, the legs might as well not even move and the arms’ movement is incredibly awkward. The figure looks good, yeah, but not impressively so. And when you take into account that this character is from a fighting game, the lack of any accessories hurts but it’s really the utter lack of any meaningful mobility that really is just unforgivable.

Astro Boy

The Icon Of Anime Gets A Toy

Bandai, 2004

For starters, let me wish all of you a happy Cinco de Mayo. As I’m updating this in the mid-morning, I’m pretty sure at least a few of my readers are already three sheets to the wind. Good job, boys! Make me proud!

Now, with that out of the way, let’s discuss today’s toy which is a rare gem in that it is not part of a larger series. The AstroBoy toyline was produced by Bandai shortly before the release of the CG adaptation of the classic anime and manga series, no doubt in an effort to drum up interest in the newest generation of fans of robot superheroes. Why I consider this a rare gem is because this toyline disappeared about as quickly as it appeared, and with little fanfare going or coming. But what we were left with is a fantastic toy that will hopefully stand the test of time.

Background

If you don’t know who AstroBoy is, you probably aren’t an anime fan. AstroBoy is to anime what classic M&Ms are to candy, Lost in Space is to science fiction, and Pong is to video games. The series, created by Osamu ‘the Grandfather of Anime’ Tezuka, is of the same ilk as Gigantor and Speed Racer and was released in the United States alongside series like those as well as Johnny Quest and Space Ghost (the original, not the talk show).

AstroBoy is a Pinocchio-esque story about a young boy who is a robot with phenomenal superhuman powers (such as the ability to fly, super strength, etc). Much of the series focuses on his efforts to understand humanity as it is his combating the forces of evil. As one of the first manga series (and subsequently one of the first anime series), it established a lot of the characteristics and traits that anime would follow to this day. The series ended in Japan with AstroBoy’s death in an effort to save the world. It goes without saying that in the United States, the final episode was not aired.

Appearance – 4 out of 5

This is a beautiful toy that really stands out. The action figure looks just like the character from the show, from the colors to the expression on his face to the style of his hair. The proportions are well preserved and the anime look (notorious for not transitioning too well to ‘real’ depictions) is done very well with this toy. The lack of textures is a small issue because, like in the manga and the series, a stylized simplicity takes precedent.

Construction – 3 out of 5

The toy is well constructed and sturdy, but there is little to stand out about the figure. The plastic is above-average in its durability, but is far from remarkable. There is some heft to the figure but nothing that’s really worth mentioning. The inclusion of obvious joints and seams is what keeps this score from being a bit higher.

Movement – 5 out of 5

At first glance, it would appear that this toy is extremely mobile. With hips, shoulders, and elbow joints, this figure looks like it can take on the world. Upon closer inspection, though, it’s revealed that each limb has a fairly limited range of motion. The arms can only swing up and down, from the sides to over the head (180 degrees range of motion). But because the arms are angled, it feels much more natural. The hips likewise have a limited range of motion that is saved by the unique angling. The knees, though, can not only bend but can also rotate, granting the legs the appearance of a far greater range of motion than it first seems. These little tricks to feel more ambulatory than the figure actually is makes it all the more intriguing to handle and play with. This kind of cleverness in the design is almost more interesting than true mobile versatility.

Extras – 2 out of 5

There isn’t really much extra to this toy, but that’s in keeping with the concept of the character (AstroBoy doesn’t have many gimmicks like ray guns or the like). There is a small set of cards that are meant to activate AstroBoy’s different powers, but the cards are simple cardboard and the powers work regardless, so their inclusion is moot.

What extras there are happen to be built into the toy. AstroBoy’s shins open up to reveal chrome mechanizations. His chest opens to reveal his heart (which lights up with sound effects). His left hand shoots off. He has rockets built into his feet (yes, they fire), and when you turn his otherwise immobile head to the left, his eyes light up. As cool as these little powers are, however, it would be nice to have some additional pieces.

Packaging – 4 out of 5

This toy has some beautiful, if simple packaging. It’s distinctive, colorful, and it gives you all the information you need: the history of AstroBoy the franchise, the history of AstroBoy the character, a layout of his various powers and features, everything. While there’s nothing groundbreaking, the packaging in general is just a fine example of doing everything right.

Overall – 4 out of 5

This is a fantastic toy. It’s a little basic, what with the lack of extra parts and the unremarkably good construction, but it’s a blast to play with, has a lot of little features, and is sturdy enough to survive years of play. Plus, it’s just fun to handle and pose, which often times makes for the best toys of all. This is a great toy that enjoyed a limited run, but will hopefully be remembered by fans and collectors alike.