Alex Weaver 1/8/24 Alex Weaver 1/8/24

MYTH’S TOP 20 TRANSFORMERS OF 2023

Hi, there. It is that time of year again when everyone figures out their favorite figures of the year and my yearly tradition of going over my Top 20 figures I got this year. Let me tell you this year's top 5 is the CLOSEST ranking I have ever had and there is an easy argument for any of them to be #1. Honestly, this year was great for figures both in terms of release and acquisitions on my end, and on the whole, there are plenty of great figures that just didn’t make the cut that I thought were shoe-ins for this list when I got them. If you have read the previous year's posts you should know the standard rigamarole for my lists, the figures on this list didn’t have to come out this year I just had to acquire them within the past 12 months and it is not a Top 10 list because there are too many figures that I think deserve attention. Now then let’s get into it

#20: Shattered Glass Grimlock

The original Studio Series 86 Grimlock figure came in at #15 on my list two years ago and combine that with my love for Shattered Glass, this figure being on this list was a no-brainer. Sometimes all you need in life is a big plastic robot dinosaur that turns into a big plastic robot—pure simplicity.

#19: Universe 2.0 Powerglide

I have always loved this era of Transformers toys and Powerglide is such a good example of it. New designs for existing characters that have wack proportions, made of big chunky parts, and have tons of play value. This toy just oozes an energy that we just don’t get anymore, sure he doesn’t have the standard articulation we have now but he proves that it isn’t necessary to be a good toy.

#18: Alternators Miester & Wheeljack

I got quite a few Alternators this year so I am glad a couple of them made the list. Alternators are an incredible toyline that I don’t think we could get today and even if we did I don’t know if they would hit the same. This is a line of 1:24 scale model cars that just so happen to transform into, usually, recognizable Transformers characters. Wheeljack and Jazz here may be some of the more controversial picks for favorites, but Jazz has a really interesting transformation and Wheeljack is a toy I have wanted for a while, and he didn’t disappoint.

#17: Buzzworthy Origin Jazz

Not a figure I was initially planning on getting as I am pretty content with the 86 Jazz figure but I am really gald I did as this figure has no right being this good. He looks great in both modes, handles great, and transforms great. I don’t know how they managed to pull off this alt mode so well and have the robot mode be as good as it is.

#16: Legacy Evo Orion Pax & Senator Shockwave

This is a super weird set where neither mold really suits the designs they are going for but there aren’t any better options so this is what we got and I love it for that. Shockwave uses the Siege Seeker mold, which is always a win in my book, and wears it well. The new molding is good but I wish the wings were slightly bigger. Orion is the real star for me though as the Siege Hound mold is almost as good as the Seeker mold and it really shines here with the bright colors and new parts

#15: Legacy Evo Nacelle

This really shouldn’t be a surprise. Considering I just went over the other use of this mold that came out this year and that I had two versions of this mold on last year's list. This mold is a constant for these lists for me and I am not mad about it. Nacelle here is one of the best-looking of the bunch too. The only thing I wish he had was new wings with V-TOL blades, I am not complaining.

#14: Retro G1 Hound & Hot Rod

These two toys made me understand why the G1 toys are so loved. I grew up on the Micheal Bay movies and those are the toys that I grew up with so I had never really handled any G1 toys growing up, aside from a well-loved Prime and Soundwave, which were still great don’t get me wrong. But Hound and Hot Rod here are so good. They are fun, they are simple, and they are exactly what they need to be.

#13: Legacy Evolution Javelin

The original use of this mold was already phenomenal and one of, if not the best, female Transformers figure, and this version knocks it out of the park. I love the entire look of this figure, with the new colors and parts really enhancing the look. The customizable weapon is a big stand out for me, as it gives so much versatility and variety, but this entire figure is great and has not moved from my desk since I got her.

#12: Masterpiece Trainbot Suiken

Two MP Trainbots made the cut last year so of course at least one was going to make its way onto this year's list and Suiken is my new second favorite. The transformation on him is much simpler than the other 3 I have and he just feels so much more dynamic and clean compared to the rest and the train mode is just as incredible as the rest of the crew’s

#11: Shattered Glass Sideswipe & Hot Rod

As noted earlier, I am a Shattered Glass enjoyer so this pack was a necessity for me but man I was not expecting it to be this good. Hot Rod was already a great toy and the new head and Skywarp colors make it incredible but the real surprise here is Sideswipe. There are only 4 new parts on the mold itself plus the 2 new sword parts and it feels like a brand-new toy compared to any of the previous Siege/Kingdom Sideswipe variants, and then add the new mini-con and you get the full, incredible package.

#10: Legacy Evolution Metalhawk

The final instance of a remold/repaint of a toy that was on a previous year's list and what a toy. Metalhawk uses the phenomenal mold that is Kingdom Cyclous and it works so well. Both modes look super good and so and Metalhawk is just as fun to handle as Cyclonus, the only reason he loses points is that his alt mode is not as sleek and the colors are not clean, especially in jet mode

#9: Legacy Evolution Skyquake

Here is a toy that I’m surprised me it made my top 10, but after picking it back up I totally get it. This toy has presence, in both modes. The design is also such a good blend of the original toy and Prime iterations of the character, the easily best of all the “Prime Universe” figures we have gotten in Legacy. I am really hopeful we get to see this mold done up in more colors in the coming years as I am all in on a version in Classic G1 toy colors and Machine Wars Starscream colors.

#8: Legacy Evolution Tarn & Bludgeon

These two show off how good Hasbro figures can be, and how two, of what is essentially the same toy, can feel so distinct. Tarn is a toy nobody thought we would ever get in toy form, just because of the nature of the character, so his toy being this good is incredible. But then to get a reuse of the mold later in the year with Bludgeon who somehow wears the mold just as well if not BETTER than Tarn is something I never expected.

#7: Legacy Evolution Needlenose

Needles here is a surprise hit for me, I did not expect to like him as much as I do. He is a phenomenal fiddle figure, with a simple yet interesting transformation, all the various ports for the Targetmasters, and all while looking superb in all modes. Add to that the playability with Skyquake and you have a whole lot in such a small package.

#6: Studio Series 86 Ultra Magnus

I was always gonna get this figure when it came out as my last Ultra Magnus was the Siege version and I am not a big fan of that mold. This guy is the exact opposite; incredible looking in both modes, a transformation that is both interesting and not infuriating, incredible playability, and great accessories. This toy made me understand why the car carrier is such a great alt mode and why vehicle scale is so good.

#5: Haslab Deathsaurus

It may come as a surprise that the new Haslab is coming in this low considering last year’s was my figure of the year, but that just proves how stiff the competition is. On top of that, Victory Saber is more toyetic, with lots of combining elements, and just more fun overall to mess with. Deathsaurus on the other hand, while he has a lot of accessories and functionality, is just a phenomenal, premium figure which in the end, is all he needs to be.

#4: MMC Optus Prominon

As far as hyper-articulated Transformers go this is one of the best. He can pull off most poses extremely well, and all the accessories he comes with just add even more variety. On top of all that he looks great in both modes, my only gripe is that the transformation can be a bit of a pain in the ass, especially going to vehicle mode but considering everything he can do, that is a fair compromise.

#3: Legacy Evolution Armada Optimus Prime

I have always loved the Armada Optimus design so I am super glad this toy came along, as a good quality version of the original toy feels so far out of my price range, and boy does he deliver. The core robot is a blast on its own and then adding the trailer pants just adds so much pure presence that is hard to beat.

#2: Maketoys Contactshot

Everyone in this fandom has that one character who is essentially a nobody but they love them anyway, and for me, that is Pointblank. Needless to say, I have really wanted this guy for a while, and man I was not expecting him to be this good. Or this big. He is so much fun and such a beauty to pose and even just look at. The head and face options are a great addition, so you can mix and match to create your preferred Pointblank look. Transformation isn’t complicated and has some very interesting sections, specifically the legs, and the car mode is immaculate.

#1: Maketoys Striker Manus

This was a long-time grail figure for me, essentially ever since the original version was released back in 2016(I think), I have wanted it and now that I have it I have to say he doesn’t disappoint. This version in particular is the Premium Editions so it comes with all the extra bits and weapons from previous releases of the mould which just increases his fun exponentially. There are so many things I love about this toy, that there comes a point where it becomes derivative and the only thing to say is that he is phenomenal.

Once again my Top 20 Figures of the year list has 25 figures in it but really who’s counting? This is just a way for me to gush about a fraction of the cool robots I got this year for anyone who will read it. If you haven’t caught on this is the end of the list no honorable mentions or anything as that would take WAY too long and this is long enough already. Hoping to update this site more this year but I guess only time will tell, so in that case, I will see you when I see you.

Alex Weaver 1/7/23 Alex Weaver 1/7/23

MYTH’S TOP 20 TRANSFORMERS OF 2022

Hi, it has been a minute since a blog post. Let’s just get into this, though, shall we? Same format as last year, Top 20 because there were too many standout figures; the figures did not have to release this year, I just had to acquire them this year, and as always, this is in no way a definitive for anyone else, just me. Now without further adieu, let’s start

Hi, it has been a minute since a blog post. My posting, in general, on the website has been inconsistent this year, which is something I would like to improve upon next year, hell, even this post is late, but better late than never, I suppose. Let’s just get into this, though, shall we? Same format as last year, Top 20 instead of Top 10 because there were just too many standout figures; the figures did not have to release this year, although most of them did. I just had to acquire them this year, and as always, this is in no way a definitive for anyone else, just me, so if you disagree with some of my picks, that’s cool, let me know on Twitter what your top figures of the year are. Now without further adieu, let’s start with #20;

#20: Shattered Glass Jetfire

Starting off with a Big Boy. I never got the original release of this mold when it came out during Siege, it never really appealed. I am perfectly fine with the T30 Jetfire as my normal Jetfire. Still, when this guy was announced, I knew I had to get him, mainly because I wanted to complete the Shattered Glass line, but I was also curious about the mold. I am glad I did; Jetfire here is PACKED with features and accessories, and while his transformation isn’t anything special, his sheer size makes up for it.

#19: Selects Galvatron II

This is a figure I was unsure if I would pick up. I already loved the regular release from Kingdom, and while I knew I wanted the toy decos for Scourge and Cyclonus, I wasn’t thrilled with the pics of this guy. Obviously, I did pick him up, and he is just as good as the Kingdom/Legacy release, but this time with proper shoulders, a manga reference matrix, and some stickers for that extra toy look, even if those stickers aren’t very good, I appreciate the effort.

#18: Wreck ‘N’ Rule Collection Autobot Springer

It is wild to me that it took this long to get a repaint of this mold, but I won’t say no to a toy deco, and I knew I had to have this one as soon as I saw it. I absolutely adore the Siege Springer mold, and the toy colors for Springer are so good and this mold wears them perfectly. He is just as good if not better than the original release, and I couldn’t be happier about that.

#17: Studio Series KSI Sentry

This is a mold I have loved since Stinger came out in 2018, and I finally got KSI Sentry, who is just as good. The deep blue and black Pagani Huayra alt mode is absolutely stunning. And the added gunmetal silver in robot mode makes all the details in the molding pop, making up for the lack of weaponry.

#16: Revenge of the Fallen Knock-Out

The is a classic for anyone who grew up with the movie toylines. The Revenge of the Fallen toyline scouts are some of the best figures in the line, and Knock-Out is the epitome of that. Incredible colors, impeccable bike mode, and a remarkable robot mode design. Any version of this mold is excellent, but Knock-Out is the OG.

#15: Fansproject Protector & Fansproject Knight

We have come to the first of my ties with Fansproject Protector and Fansproject Knight. These are two very different figures, but both are great in their own rights. Protector has the classic look and charm of old school 3rd party figures and upgrade kits that is hard to rival. While Knight has a similar charm to him, his size and six modes make him a just as fun a toy to mess with.

#14: Premium Finish Optimus Prime (SS05)

I know this could be a controversial pick, I mean this figure is controversial. Most people question why this version of the mold and not the more accurate SS32 version. I am not most people. I have always preferred the SS05 version; I think transformation is less complicated, and I don’t care about the Jetfire compatibility as I never wanted Jetfire. This is just the perfect version of 05, and I couldn’t be happier.

#13: Studio Series TLK Hot Rod

This is a figure I hoped to be good, and it did not disappoint. I am one who enjoyed the original TLK deluxe, as flawed as it is, but this just blows it out of the water. The transformation and engineering is nuts, the car mode is excellent, and the robot mode is absolutely stunning. Plus, he actually comes with a gun this time.

#12: Legacy Blitzwing

Another controversial pick, but I think this guy is pretty fun. Transformations are simple yet interesting, and vehicle modes are flawed but fun. He looks great next to the rest of the Season 1 & 2 Decepticon cast, especially Astrotrain.

#11: Kingdom Blaster/Shattered Glass Blaster

I don’t think many people were expecting Blaster to be as good as he is. Essentially perfect looking in both modes, interesting transformation, not to mention the included cassette companion being better than pretty much all of the Decepticon ones. Just an all around great toy no matter what version you choose.

#10: Studio Series 86 Sludge

It is such a shame that the QC on this figure is so sloppy because he rivals Grimlock in my opinion. The transformation is interesting without being too frustrating. Visually he looks great and fits right in with the other two. It also helps that he doesn’t come with a weird squatting companion.

#9: Kingdom Slammer

The final of the WFC weaponizers and what figure to end with. He is a fantastic figure in his own right, but all the weaponizing parts are great and so much fun to use on other figures, and he has bonus functionality with T30 Metroplex if that is up your alley.

#8: Studio Series Bumblebee Thundercracker

This shouldn’t be surprising, considering Starscream made my list last year, and this figure is just as good. I talked about how much I loved this figure last year, but these colors are just as good, if not better. Now, all we need is a Skywarp to complete the trio.

#7: Premium Finish WFC Starscream/Shattered Glass Starscream

Another seeker mold and my favorite Seeker one to date. I have every version of this mold and will buy every version they release in the future and two of the best-looking ones released this year. SG Screamer does have rampant yellowing, I can’t excuse that, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t look stunning out of the box.

#6: Masterpiece Trainbots Shouki & Getsui

Every time I get a new one of these guys, I get even more excited for the rest of the components and for Raiden himself. Don’t let that overshadow the fact that these are excellent figures in their own right. The engineering is constantly surprising and interesting without being overly complicated and frustrating. On top of that, the licensed train modes are sublime especially for someone like me whose childhood was filled with trains. I can’t wait for the rest of the crew.

#5: Fansproject Sigma L & Browning II

The final 3rd party figures on the list and what figures they are. I love it when 3rd party companies redesign existing characters, and these two are precisely why; Great designs, interesting transformations, and oozing personality. I knew I was going to like Sigma L, but Browning II was a complete surprise, and I couldn’t be happier about it.

#4: Selects Cyclonus & Nightstick

If it hasn’t been established already I love a toy deco, and this figure is the best one so far. It was an already near-perfect mold, but include the Targetmaster and the perfect paint job and toy detail stickers. It doesn’t get much better than this.

#3: Legacy Jhiaxus

The complete surprise of a figure to pretty much everyone if I had to guess. No one ever expected this design to get a toy, much less for it to be this good. This is one of those rare times when Hasbro knocks it out of the park on the first try. Not much else I can say about this figure; if you haven’t picked one up, you are missing out.

#2: Legacy Motormaster/Menasor

I was not expecting to like this figure as much as I do, but the engineering is incredible, not to mention that the designers somehow managed to make the toon look for Menasor, the worst-looking combiner in the original show, look good, which is an achievement on its own. Combined mode aside, Motormaster on his own is great fun to play with and transform to the point where I recommend him on his own.

#1: Haslab Victory Saber

I don’t know what else to say about this figure that everyone else has already said. Exceptionally engineered, looks superb, and, most importantly, incredibly fun. All of the Victory Saber component figures would be on this list if they were sold individually from one another, but the whole package together is just something special. Some of the most fun i have had with a set of figures in a long time

And just like that, this list is complete; those are my top 20 figures for 2022. If you want to be technical about it, this is my top 25 figures of the year, but that’s semantics. All these figures are great, and I recommend all of them if you have any passing interest. I hope to be more active on this place this year, but only time will tell if that actually happens. Until then, I hope you all had a Happy New Year, and I’ll see you when I see you.

Alex Weaver 12/31/21 Alex Weaver 12/31/21

MYTH’S TOP 20 TRANSFORMERS OF 2021

Hi there, it has been a while since I have done a blog post, but it is that time of year where we take a look back at everything we got, did, and watched and then rank them because… why not. I would usually just do this on twitter but since I now have this space I can go a bit more in depth on each figure. Now If you know me, you know I like to rank things so this was a lot of fun for me and took a lot more time than I thought it would to finalize. Even now while writing this I am still moving figures around, which is a testament to how stacked this year has been for me in terms of getting figures. That is seconded by the fact that this isn’t a Top 10 list, it is a Top 20 cause there were just so many figures that deserve praise and recognition that I couldn't narrow it down to just 10.

Before we get into it I do want to set some general ground rules; First, this list is not limited to just figures that came out in the year 2021, it is any figure I got throughout the year. Second, this list is by no means definitive in anyway or to anyone other than me, I shouldn’t have to say that this is an opinion piece, but there are a lot of dumb people out there, so this is more of a precautionary measure than anything. This is less of a rule but if you couldn’t tell by the title, this is going to be a REALLY LONG blog post so strap in and let’s get started

20: Studio Series 86 Wreck-Gar

Starting us off is Wreck-Gar, who I imagine is going to be on numerous people's lists, because he not only looks excellent in both modes but also has tons of play value in either mode. In robot mode he has great pose ability and has his signature axe. On top of that his wheels can be placed in a variety of locations across his robot mode giving him quite a few display options. In vehicle mode he is engineered to be able to have figures ride him, which is way more fun than it has any right being. What really holds him back from being higher up is his transformation, while it isn’t complicated, I always get hung up on how everything folds, especially his chest.

19: Studio Series Dino

I don’t feel like I have much to say on Dino here. He is the first proper toy of a character we barely saw in Dark of the Moon, and it is wonderful. The transformation is neat, vehicle weapon storage is very cool, and just an all around fun figure.

18: Legends Blurr (+ Mold Mates)

I went from having none of this mold too having 3 of it within a month, and while it is a pretty simple mold, it is still very fun and I love all 3 versions pretty much equally but I think Legends Blurr would come out on top if I had to pick one just because of that color scheme alone. I appreciate that all 3 versions look different enough from one another, especially in vehicle mode, giving the mold their own personality.

17: Studio Series Bumblebee Starscream

I know I might get flak for this one considering how many people I see who dislike the alt-mode and head for this figure but as someone who loves both the Bumblebee movie aesthetic and Cybertronian alt modes, this is a hard one not to love. On top of that, the colors on this toy are absolutely perfect and just make me happy anytime I look at him. While I do have Thrust as well I don’t get the same level of enjoyment out of him as I do Starscream here.

16: Studio Series 86 Slug

This large lad is excellent despite some visual wideness and him being more complicated than I would have liked. That being said the transformation has some cool and interesting sections, like the way the rear dino legs compress and fold away for robot mode and how the robot chest compresses for dino mode.

15: Studio Series 86 Grimlock

Not much to say here, he just is a very good, very chunky G1 Grimlock, essentially a scaled down Masterpiece Grimlock. Just a simple and fun robot dinosaur that turns into a simple and fun aggressive murder himbo/dad

14: Generation Selects Deep Cover

Deep Cover is one of those characters that is essentially a nobody. He has never appeared in any media, at least not in this color scheme, but I love him all the same. That is mainly because of the colors, as black and blue is one of my favorite color combinations and he wears it well. The mold itself is just the Siege Sideswipe mode, which is pretty basic in and of itself. Not much else to say here, just an obscure character with a good color scheme on a good mold.

13: Transformers 2007 Stealth Bumblebee

This one is pure nostalgia for me. I was introduced to the franchise via the 2007 movie and had both the Cliffjumper and regular Bumblebee variants of this mold, so getting Stealth Bee was an absolute blast from the past. The color scheme of this guy is incredible and the car mode is absolutely stellar. When I opened him up I did not want to transform him into robot mode because I was so enamored with his car mode for a good 15 minutes. On a side note, Transformers should return to being packed in vehicle mode.

12: WFC: Kingdom Core Class Soundwave

Core Class was a pleasant surprise for me, I wasn’t initially going to get any of them but after I got Core Starscream(mainly out of spite) I was pleasantly surprised, and as much as I enjoy both him and Megatron, Soundwave takes the cake. He is the perfect little desk toy and the closest thing we have gotten to replicating the original toy in modern day. If you only get one core class figure make it Soundwave.

11: Titans Return Topspin/Twin Twist

These two have no good being as good as they are. From being some of the most simple G1 toys to these to being one of the best molds in the entirety of Titans Return, which was a line FULL of absolute bangers, especially at the deluxe size class. They are just a pair of absolute delights and the epitome of a “pick up and play figure”

10: Universe 2.0 Ratbat

This is a figure I was not expecting to love as much as I do. The transformation is simple but the way the legs become the wings is both ingenious and simple. The colors on this guy are ACE, and a jet mode that looks like some sort of evil future tech Batwing and is everything I love about cybertronian/non-earth alt modes

9: Generations Selects Shattered Glass Optimus Prime

If you know me then you know that I LOVE Shattered Glass, so obviously this figure was going to make the list. The colors and articulation are ace the the way they have miniaturized the MP-10 transformation for this mold is very impressive and shows just how far we have come in the decade since that figure came out.

8: Universe 2.0 Roadbuster

This guy is simplistic fun incarnate. The transformation is great, I love all the hidden missile pods and he feels good to handle. Just a good, chunky lad and sometimes that is all you need.

7: Reveal the Shield Lugnut

I really have no idea what to say about RTS Lugnut that hasn’t already been said by both myself and anyone else who has this mold. I highly doubt we will get a mold this good again, especially for this character. Just absolutely excellent.

6: Universe 2.0 Dirge

I don’t feel like I need to explain why this is a good figure, cause everyone should already know why this is a good figure, I mean it is the Cybertron Starscream mold. It looks incredible in both modes and then put Dirge’s royal blue and dull gold color scheme on it and you have a match made in heaven. Sure the arms may be hindered by the flip-out sword gimmick, but that is to cool a gimmick for me to not love.

5: WFC: Kingdom Galvatron

This is the best Galvatron figure we have ever gotten HANDS DOWN, and probably the best leader in the entire WFC trilogy. He just has this presence to him in robot mode that only he can have. He looks great next to anybody, whether that be Rodimus, Cyclonus and Scourge, or Optimus and Megatron. Transformation is interesting and alt mode is just this giant space cannon that looks as ridiculous as it does awesome

4: Universe 2.0 Nemesis Prime/Classics Ultra Magnus

This is a mold I have wanted for a while and I am so glad I got my hands on, not one but two versions of it. For a mold that is 15 years old, it holds up EXTREMELY well and is so much fun to play with. Posing it is a blast even if it doesn’t have the amount of articulation of a modern figure. The weapons look so cool and the way they store in vehicle mode is incredible and I am pretty sure there is not a single version of this mold that doesn’t look incredible. I think this is one of the quintessential Transformers figures and every fan should, at least, mess with it at some point.

3: WFC: Kingdom Cyclonus

On the topic of Classics figures, Kingdom Cyclonus is just Classics Cyclonus brought into the modern era. The engineering between the two is incredibly similar which I think is a testament to how ahead of its time the Classics figure was. Kingdom Cyclonus is proof that you don’t need complicated transformations or world class engineering to make a good toy, you know what they say, less is more.

2: WFC: Kingdom Rodimus Prime

There is not much I can say about this figure that I haven’t already said in my review. Rodimus’ price of admission may be high but he is absolutely worth it in my opinion. His engineering is incredible, he looks fantastic in both modes. He is so much fun to pose and the accessories just exemplify that. For a figure that I was not considering picking up when first revealed, I am so glad I caved.

1: Ocular Max Eris: Kultur

And so we have come to the final figure, my number 1 of 2021, and it should come to no surprise that it is Eris:Kultur. Similarly to Rodimus there is not a lot more I can say that I haven’t already said. Not only was this figure my first brand new 3rd Party figure but it also fits with my own personal canon, on top of that both modes are extremely good looking and all the engineering is simple yet intuitive. I knew as soon as I got her out of the box she would be my number for the year, and despite figures coming close it was never a question.

And that is all folks, that is my top 20 figures that I got in 2021. I do hope you enjoyed my little look back at the past year, and am curious as to what your favorite Transformers were that you got in 2021, so let me know on Twitter if you want. As for the future I still plan on doing galleries every week and I do want to get back to doing blog posts, they just take a while to write so they might not be as regular as they started out. I also want to expand beyond reviews and perhaps do monthly news roundups or top ten lists, maybe incorporate tier lists or brackets somehow, I guess only time will tell. Until then, Have a Happy New Year and I’ll see you when I see you.