Transformers Classics Retrospective look! Transformers Universe Prowl (2008)

At this point, I started to buy TF figures mad-like crazy! I was shopping at Hasbrotoyshop.com and came across SDCC 2010 Blaster, Universe Prowl, and Universe Smokescreen. I also had Henkei Skyfire at this point, though awkwardly, I was opening random figures and not opening them in the fashion and order that I buy my figures.  Guess what? Its four years now and Universe Smokescreen is still MISB in my collection. I eventually opened up Skyfire though it probably wasn't until a year later. On a side note: SDCC 2010 Blaster is also MISB as well.


So i couldn't pass up on Prowl since he had a pretty close resemblance to his G1 figure. Here are pics of his vehicle mode and boxing. Once again, pics were taken in the past before I learned to really pose with them.

Classics Prowl

Looking good so far. Let's open him up.

Transformers Universe Prowl car mode

Modified Nissan 350z (source: TFWIKI)

Ok. So not bad. Prowl looks really decent for a police car. The brown windows on his back looks alright, though I would had preferred black overall. Before I go on, I guess I was getting the TF toys that had some degree of defects. Henkei Sunstreaker was missing a streak of paint on his chest. When I examined this Prowl carefully, it did seemed like he had some minor black paint scrubbed on the white side of his doors (where it says Highway patrol). At this time, I realized some fans who picked up this figure said the first wave released had "tacky" paint resulting of the black paint smudging on the white spots. Keep in mind that the figure was released in 2008 and I picked him up in 2010. By the time then, he probably should had been sold out. I'm guessing that some people returned their Prowl figures and had Hasbro fixed this "tacky" paint issue. Prowl was probably refurbished, repackaged, and resold in retail once again. However, this is a conjecture I am making. I probably got a returned and refurbished Prowl because I can see the once smudged black paint even though mines wasn't tacky. Once again, just a guess.

Now for his alt mode.

Yeah, he is kneeling.

I know Kung fu!

The Prowl/Silverstreak/Smokescreen mold has been seen as a disappointment to most fans. I share their sentiments for the most part because this figure feels and looks incomplete. The head sculpt is decent, but Prowl doesn't seem to have much of a body and his thighs and arms look like generic white plastic. It looks as if an animal chewed off the sides of his stomach. His acid blasters on his shoulder could really use some paint because it looks really dull. The Henkei version which was also released in late 2008 had some improvements though most fans abhorred the usage of chrome on the blasters. Can't win em all I guess.

I might as well do this for continuity sakes:

Differences between Universe Prowl and Henkei Prowl:

- Prowls Gun, spoilers and acid blasters are chrome in the henkei version.
- Prowls autobot insignia is more reddish in Henkei. His universe counterpart is more orange for a reason.
- Prowls light bar (on his back) is significantly different than his universe counterpart.
- White paint seems more refined on the Henkei version.
- Henkei has trading card and comic book. Universe: Nada. 
- Some fans who own both say that the Henkei version is slightly taller (don't quote me on this).

Henkei Prowl image:
http://tfwiki.net/wiki/File:Henkei_Prowl_toy.jpg

Final words:

Well, I got Universe Prowl for $10 at the time, so no qualms there. I'm going to say that the Henkei version looks slightly better, but overall the mode is fairly disappointing. As I am writing this, they released a masterpiece version of him not too long ago. That one looks really good though it wouldn't go on scale with my classics figure. Universe Prowl, okay figure, must-have of course for completion purposes. Mahalos.

For some more pics go here (pics taken around 2010-2011):

https://plus.google.com/photos/101893291391798205172/albums/5575639341343023073?banner=pwa