Vinyl is Retro....Once again!

In a previous review I discussed Series One of The Loyal Subjects vinyl figures. Since that review was first posted I have added to the collection by finding Megatron, Optimus Prime, and Starscream (via a trade with Cybertronian Beast go check out his YouTube channel) and I am still impressed with them. Recently my local comic book shop had the newly released Series Two. Only seeing photos from conventions they appeared to be similar to Series One and so I had no hesitation at all in my mind in grabbing a couple.

With their first release there were a couple of items that could be improved on and to my surprise they have and I will first start with the packaging. With the first release the box was perfect for the G1 feel but with some figures once their accessories were added to them, say their wings in the case of the Seekers, you were not able to place them back inside. The boxes in Series Two are larger and yet they still give the impression of the classic G1 package albeit with a more of a decided Decepticon look. Still a blind pack with no part or product numbers on the outside, so it is a complete gamble on which figure you receive. The box art does include drawings of the figures that are available. In case you are wondering, in Series Two you have Slag, Shrapnel, Thrust, Ramjet, Shockwave, Mirage, Sideswipe and Prowl (the highlighted ones I received) Along with 3 mystery figures that are scattered throughout the cases available, one of which is a talking Optimus Prime.

Once the box is opened you are greeted with a foil bag further adding to the mystery of these blind boxes. Rip open into that foil and you finally get your first look at the figure you received. Inside that bag you also have any additional pieces and weapons along with a G1 style techspec card. When you first remove the figure from its foil prison you start to see the list of improvements that were made after Series One.

The first will be the improvement in poseibility. The head, waist, hips, shoulders and hands are on a ball and socket joint. When I first removed Prowl from his packaging the socket on the waist had popped apart but it was very easy and simple to pop back into place, but be a little careful as they joints can weaken. Those socket joints allow for greater movement over Series One. They do have joints in their waist, neck, shoulders and wrists but overall those joints they are more or less a few pieces of vinyl blocks. Series Two in my eyes would be considered the Generations toyline upgrade to the classic G1 figures that have inspired them.

Continuing with the idea that Series Two being an upgrade to Series One is that they are just slightly larger. For people wishing to add to their already current collection you might be disappointed in that fact, Having them side by side, I cannot line and say I am not disappointed that Thrust does not match up all that well with Thundercracker and Starscream but yet it is those differences make me glad they selected the Coneheads over Skywarp.

Well I brought it up so why not talk about Thrust?  The first improvement you can see is the weapons. The seekers in Series One have a very generic blaster where as Thrust actually comes with null rays on his arms. The post that holds them into the arms needed a dab of glue to hold them in place but in the end that is a small price to pay for the great improvement in the look. Just like in Series One, the figures in Series Two have very sharp paint apps that just scream back to their traditional counterparts. Now to get to the largest and most appreciated upgrade between the two series and that would be the way the wings attached to the back of the figure. Series One had a very flimsy and very tiny peg system. Both Thundercracker and Starscream had an issue where the two tiny pegs would not or could at all fit into the corresponding holes in the back, causing them to bend or snap off. The wings for Thrust use a larger peg to plug those parts into the back, greatly improving ease of installation and stability as well as adding additional details. 

Moving onto Prowl, where I was fortunate enough to have a couple other version of a seeker to compare Thrust to, I shall use the closest representation in Series One being Jazz. Side by side you can once again see the slight size difference and the socket joints. If you look to the paint job you can clearly see the details that were taken direct from original figures to bring the G1 feel out in these figures. Much like the comparison between the seekers the improvements are the same. The door wings on Prowls back attack the same way as the wings on Thrust connect with even the additional moulded on inside car door panels. Like Thrust there is a great weapons upgrade. With the small blaster Jazz has looking like a deformed look of his original blaster where Prowl is equipped with is an almost exact copy of the original G1 and Masterpiece figures. The next improvement would be the handle of these weapons, with a smaller peg placing them into the figures hand is easier, add to that the additional shoulder and wrist movement the figure can easily aim the blaster.

Two down and six to go in Series Two. Will I get more? Now that is a silly question to ask, of course I will. I enjoyed all heartily Series One and Series Two surpassed everything I was expecting considering I was thinking they would have the same build as the first releases. I have had some awesome luck with the first series of blind packs, and for Series Two I am 2 for 2 with one Autobot and one Decepticon. When I do get more I will be posting those photos on my Facebook page so you to have have a closer look. To keep up with my future purchases click the link below and like my page, as well you can follow me on Twitter.

TheRealRonin
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Vinyl is Retro

I teased these little guys in my first entry so why wait any longer? I know, I know suspense would make a great entry but I have not been one for suspense and besides the more I handled these guys the more I was enjoying them. I present to you The Loyal Subjects 3" Vinyl Figures Series 1 of some G1 classics.

Now I do not have the complete set (as of yet) but 4 out of 8 is not that bad. I found these figures at my local comic book shop, Heroes Comics and it was the package that instantly drew me to them. They are packaged in a simple box with graphics that channel the original G1 toys that these Super Deformed (SD) are inspired by. Red and Black with a grid, classic fonts and artwork depicting one of 8 possible figures inside.

Inside each box there is a foil bag making this a complete mystery on which figure you will receive. In the complete series you have Optimus Prime, Megatron, Bumblebee and Starscream and the in addition to the four have. Soundwave, Jazz, Thundercracker and Grimlock.

Each figure comes with a weapon, in the case for Jazz has a very simplic representation of his G1 toy gun. Thundercracker it appears they didn't even try on his weapon, but the addition of the wings is a nice touch. Now be careful with those wings as they are attached to the back via two small pegs. Take your time attaching them, even though the material they used is not cheap, they can bend easily and from my experience if it bends too much it may break.

Now we come to the stars of the show in regards to weapons. Soundwave has his iconic cannon that can be held in his hands, sadly there is no mounting point for an additional shoulder cannon, as there is just no room beside the larger head. Grimlock surprised me the most. Not only does his come packed with his double barrelled gun, he also comes with his sword. I dare you call him a bozo now.


The paint application on these figures is sharp and the placement is spot on. Jazz has his Number 4 and Martini logo with the lettering replaced with Loyal 1, as well as tail lights on the his back, and yes the paint apps do make up for the lacklustre weapon. Thundercraker chest is representative of a Seeker with the traditional pin striping and Decepticon logos on the wings. Grimlock's gold chest is actually lost with the multiple colour on him, but on each hand are small dino claws. Soundwave has all his buttons painted along with a Descepticon logo on the tape door and shoulders. Going back to the original toy versus the cartoon series he also come with yellow eyes.


The quality of these still impress me. They are hollow vinyl but they don't feel like a dog's chew toy and surprisingly there are articulation points! The head and waist swivel, now show me a dog's toy that does that. The arms could move a full 360, but the large heads on these figures prevent that as well there is an upper arm swivel that makes holding the weapons easier.

The most impressive little addition to these blind packs is the inclusion of a bio cards. They are inside the foil bag and that process does place some slight bends in the cardboard which is easily resolved by placing them under a flat, heavy weight. A brief bio on the character along with tech specs that make you want to look for an old G1 decoder to read. The backs of the bio cards show the Autobot and Decepticon leaders.

With Series 2 right around the corner, I honestly cannot wait. The completionist in me would like to complete the Series 1 set but there are a few gems in Series 2 that I would rather have over yet another Bumblebee. The new release should include Shockwave, Dirge, Ramjet, Thrust, Prowl, Mirage. There also appears to be a Optimus Prime with an Energy Axe, a new Grimlock with T-Rex Arms and Dino head on his back and he appears to be joined by Snarl and Slag (or Slug or Snarl, oh wait they have a Snarl) Sideswipe, Sharpnel and possibly Skywarp.

Now this information is purely based on photos I have seen from the latest round of Toy Shows, so we all know that the details are subject to change. If there is only a small chance some of the above mentioned bots are released, in my opinion with the quality and surprises of Series 1, Series 2 will be the one to get.

TheRealRonin
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Opening the Matrix.

Greetings fellow Cybertronians,

This is my first entry in what I hope (I know famous words on a blog) of a weekly review of various Transformers related toys. Every week I plan to bring to you my take on Hasbro and Takara releases, Third Party figures and add-ons as well anything that may have an Autobot or Decepticon faction logo.

A little about myself, I have been collecting figures, both big and small and pretty much anything that grabs my attention. That being said I shall be working from my own personal collection, but if given the chance I will review items that have been donated to me for the purposes of a review.

I have a few ideas in mind that may just set me apart from other reviewers. I am by no means attempting to outshine them, but just bring my own take on things to the plate. Now what to select first? A new figure or an old one? A small one or large one? Domestic or Import? Legit or Knock Off? The choices or almost endless.

With 2014 starting in full swing and with the coming release of Transfers 4 The Age of Extinction along with it's toy line, I am almost certain the amount of material that will be flooding in will be almost endless.

In the meantime, here is a little something I have recently picked up at my local comic book shop (no names unless I get sponsorship, that is how the world works, right?) The photo shows you The Loyal Subjects vinyl figures of Generation One, Grimlock, Soundwave, Thundercraker and Jazz.

From Left to Right: Grimlock, Soundwave, Thundercracker, Jazz

Now perhaps one of those little guys will be my first review. Only one way to find out and that is to keep posted on what will be appearing in the coming weeks.

TheRealRonin
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