COUNTDOWN: Checking out the new Generations reveals (part 2)

Do you like new toy reveals? Well then, you’re in for a treat because a load of new Transformers stuff just dropped at this week’s San Diego Comic-Con! Wake up, babe, etc.

Anyway, some fascinating stuff is on the horizon, so let’s dive right in and see what it’s all about!

Be sure to check out part 1 before continuing below.

#4: Legacy Skullgrin

Well, we had an inkling there’d be more Pretenders on the way in Legacy, and so it has come to pass! Skullgrin joins Iguanus in significantly overhauling the gimmick of the original toys, merging both outer shell and inner robot mode into one rather unusual hybrid. That also means this nightmarish lad turns directly into a tank.

It’s a far cry from the 1988 vintage specimen, where the robot mode looked very different to what we now see in Legacy. Still, the organic casing is the bit that has typically become thought of as the character’s prominent appearance, especially as it’s more frequently portrayed in fiction!

The Transformers #45, artwork credit: Budiansky / Hunt

The character was represented in the Japanese cartoon series, Masterforce, although under his Takara name, Dauros. In terms of Western stories, Skullgrin made a very memorable turn in the Marvel comic of the time, even going on to become a famous movie star at one point! Yes, really. Hoist, eat your heart out.

#3: Alpha Trion

Another new reveal is a 2-pack release featuring Alpha Trion and Orion Pax (below), both of which are heavily modelled after their G1 cartoon appearances from the ’80s. In Alpha Trion’s case, the new toy is a retool of Studio Series ’86 Scourge, albeit with a new noggin to bring him further in line with his animation portrayal. It makes this, by far and away, the most screen-accurate transformable take on the character so far!

Alpha Trion first appeared as an original creation of the Sunbow Transformers cartoon. He was portrayed as a wise old Autobot and the creator of Optimus Prime (well, he rebuilt Orion Pax). First known as A-3, he led the resistance against the Cybertronian’s Quintesson masters and continues to be a prominent figure in the fight against the Decepticons. He ultimately sacrifices himself by merging with Vector Sigma (told you we’d get there!), an ancient supercomputer responsible for giving all Transformers life. For this reason, the new toy comes with a plastic representation of Vector Sigma.

It’s certainly not the first time we’ve seen Alpha Trion brought to life in toy form down the years. However, most of those releases have either been non-transforming (given we don’t see him turning into anything during the original cartoon) or bear little to no resemblance to his original portrayal.

#2: Orion Pax

The second part of the 2-pack is Orion Pax, who, as many will know from either the classic cartoon or the more-recent IDW portrayal, is the original form of Optimus Prime. The new toy is a retool of Studio Series ’86 Kup, again given a new head to bring it more in line with Orion’s cartoon appearance.

In the ’80s cartoon, Orion Pax is a friendly but relatively naive dock worker who is injured by Megatron at the start of the war with the Decpeticons. He is rebuilt by Alpha Trion and goes on to lead the resistance and, well, you know the rest, I’m sure.

It’s not the first time we’ve seen an Orion Pax toy, nor the first time it’s been a repaint of a former Kup mould, either! The first time this happened was back in 2005 when a Takara Collector’s Edition release reimagined the character by using the classic Kup mould from 1986 (albeit complete with its 1987 Targetmaster upgrade)!

#1: Legacy Transmetal 2 Megatron

Finally, enter the dragon! Yes, no doubt one of the most thrilling new toys to be unveiled was another Generations take on Beast Wars Megatron, although this time in his souped-up Transmetal 2 form! This is a guise that is sure to delight many fans, especially as it’s so fondly remembered even to this day.

The first figure was released in 1999 and entirely overhauled the character’s appearance from both his original toy and the subsequent Transmetal version. Gone was the Tyrannosaurs Rex beast mode to be replaced with that of a large bright red dragon form, which made quite the impression at the time, let me tell you!

Naturally, this new body was heavily featured in the third season of the accompanying cartoon, first appearing in the episode Master Blaster after Megatron infuses himself with the spark of his dormant G1 namesake. There have been surprisingly few takes on this guy in toy form over the years, so I can only say the Legacy figure is long overdue!

So that’s our list! Which of the new toys are you most excited about?

TTFN