The best Transformers of 2021

 Another dreadful year of higher up control. But let's recap this year of my favorite Kingdom, 86 Studio series, and whatever figures I opened up this year. This year was a little different due to the fact Kingdom consisted mainly of Beast wars figures (I'm not into BW), so to make a top 5 out of that category was going to be fairly slim and difficult. Same for the 86 line since I didn't get everyone. I do have a Sharkticon 86 review but he will have to settle for a 2022 post and possibly a re-edit "best of" post if the character warrants such a change. 

Transformers Kingdom

Inferno

The mold was made for him. Colors are vibrant. He looks good and plays well overall. An improvement over Grapple. 

86 Studio Series

Grimlock

Sweep

Grimlock is a 86 masterpiece done well plus Sweep whose lighter colors doesn't detract any value from the original Scourge figure. In fact, the wings are tightened and not loose as in comparison to Scourge. Despite being a repaint of Scourge, Sweep is still a pretty good figure. 

Legends and Netflix

Topspin and Twintwist

Octane

Megatron

Soundwave

I started to open up some of my figures late. Topspin and Twintwist were simply amazing figures. Lots of replay value for Octane thanks to the ghost Starscream gimmick. Megatron with his nicely painted scheme is a robust looking figure (thanks to Darkonen for supplying me this bad boy). Lastly, Soundwave, immaculate as always stands out in this category as the true last years release (my version is the Japanese NF released that year). 

Honorable mentions: Improved outlook







Sunstreaker who is arguably the blandest looking character in the ER line from 2020 had the most improved look thanks to the upgrades Nonnef supplied. Not to mention, he also supplied Smokescreen's shoulder canon stacks making the figure more G1 looking accurate. 

Thank you folks. 2021 turned out pretty well. Most of the figures were great. Don't get me wrong but these were the ones that stood out to me. Anyhow, thank you once again and I'll see you next time. 

Update: 5/5/22

Kingdom Rodimus Prime

Despite the fact I opened him up earlier this year, he was released back in 2021 so I'll give him that much. Although I feel he is overpriced due to his trailer, he is made with high quality plastic. Fun to play with overall. 

Nonnef Earthrise Sunstreaker upgrades and Nonnef Earthrise Smokescreen upgrades versus classic comparisons

 Earthrise Sunstreaker vs Henkei Sunstreaker (Team Sunstreaker)

Earthrise Smokescreen vs Universe Smokescreen (Team Smokescreen)

I think the ER versions are my definitive versions of both characters though the classic versions still have some redeeming qualities such as the nice mustard yellow of the Henkei Streaker and I dig the alt version of Smokescreen (also has the correct number). I'll let the pictures do the talking. Take care folks and Jesus loves you. 

Transformers Toys Generations Kingdom Battle Across Time Collection Deluxe Class WFC-K42 Sideswipe & Maximal Skywarp. Amazon Exclusive review Earthrise/Kingdom Sideswipe comparisons with Siege Sideswipe.

 

Vax or unvaxxed, we stand united against Tyranny!

Aloha folks, today we look at another Amazon exclusive: WFC-K42 Sideswipe and Maximal Skywarp. Without delay, let's get started!

Boxing

The box is fairly small. They are only deluxe figures after all.

Nonnef upgrades for Earthrise Sunstreaker, Smokescreen, and 86 Studio Series Grimlock

 After a brief hiatus, I am back with some TF photography. This time we look at the upgrades for Earthrise Sunstreaker, Smokescreen and 86 Grimlock. Without anymore delay, let's get started!

Sunstreaker w/ Metallic Silver

Finally, Streaker is armed. The barebones release Hasbro allowed led people to scouring the web for additional weapons. Thankfully, some companies such as Nonnef came through for the fans. In this review pack, Sunstreaker undoubtedly got the best of the upgrades. For the metallic reveal, he was given a rifle, a handcannon, and spoilers. The pics explain everything. Streaker is ready for battle. The only quibbles I have here is that the metallic paint can strip fairly easy. Look at the last pic here in this category. Some of the paint has dribbled into his shoulder stack hole.  Also for this set, his riser, which can house his spoiler was sold on the non-metallic sets. So I had to spend a little more dough for extras.

Transformers War for Cybertron WFC E-36 Sunstreaker review Transformers Toys Generations War for Cybertron: Earthrise Deluxe WFC-E36 Sunstreaker

 

Fighting Draconian measures one at a time.

I'm on a row. Just getting off my butt to do these shoots and review. Without delay, let's get started.

I don't seem to see a location name for his map piece like Trailbreaker. Anyhow, that is your box and contents.

Standing tall

I noticed I put the engine on his back wrong. 

Ankle tilting

This was one of the figures that I contemplated of getting due to me already being impressed with Henkei Sunstreaker. Not to mention, I really loved the mustard yellow the Henkei version sported. However, Hastak decided to scale figures so that really threw everything out the window had you invested in any figure prior to the Siege line. 

First off, ER Streaker looks decent. I too share the complaints of some others on why he has different shades of yellow- namely his chest piece (canopy) and both his forearms. Both these areas are colored with a very light yellow while a darker shade of yellow and some blacks fill out the rest of the figure. Why? I don't know. 

Then the 2nd complaint comes with his choice of weapon. Truthfully, he has none. For this release, the engine is his supposedly weapon of choice. However, he could barely hold on to it. It pegs well on his back, his forearms or even his mini shoulder stacks ( a feature that visually defined him in the G1 toys and cartoons, though over here it looks very small and obscured from certain angles.). The lack of an actual weapon is possibly the most disappointing aspect in this figure.

Last but a novel gesture, he has ankle tilting. I guess for more array of poses. Not too bad to have at all really.

Alt mode

This is where the lighter yellow is more evidently noticed and it makes you question the consistency even further. I mean what was Hastak thinking? Perhaps, like what my TF buddy would say, they probably lost the budget to paint him entirely and give him proper weapons. Worst off, Streaker is missing a wing/spoiler.  I guess they really did run out of money. Another minor gripe was that his front window is halved off due to the bottom half of the window stemming from his heels. Why they decided to make it like this once again is beyond my understanding. So there is literally the jigsaw effect on his front window. There is a good thing or two and that is it is easy to transform from robot mode into this alt mode, I'll give this figure that. Plus, the design doesn't look bad overall. 

With Siege Sideswipe

"I have weapons to spare"

The Lambo brothers together. As you can see, Nonnef's extra weapons came to save the day. Streaker was really happy to fire off Sideswipe's guns. Even Sideswipe had difficulty grasping the engine weapon Streaker came with. It fit well on his biceps though. Worst off is that I couldn't attach any of Sideswipe's weapons on those two empty ports of Streakers alt mode. However, I was able to mix and match a few of their weapons on one another on the canopy area. Use your imagination. 

Conclusion: 

Streaker is a very simple figure. However, he really feels barebones- lack of a real weapon I say? He also looks very simple in comparison to Sideswipe, whom I was wowed by his close resemblance to his G1 look. The choice of yellow baffles me as well. Because of this, he feels so random at times. I'm pretty sure we'll get him mainly just to scale with the current line of WFC figures and complete your season 1 ark characters. Just wait for Nonnef to save the day on the lack of weapons. Er Sunstreaker is possibly the closest Streaker figure to G1 if you missed out on his previous incarnations. Toodles.