COUNTDOWN: 9 decade-old Masterpiece designs that are still worth a look!

As we’re in an anniversary year for Transformers – and a highly significant one at that – it’s impossible not to take stock of the past.

After all, with forty years of history behind the brand, there’s plenty to discuss, especially concerning the ongoing (though retitled) Masterpiece line, which remains the longest-running robots in disguise roster. Given it all kicked off by coinciding with the franchise’s 20th anniversary back in the day and how much the focus of the line has changed in recent times, it’s not surprising to see that some of the older toys are all but forgotten about nowadays, even being somewhat superseded in the eyes of many collectors.

Yet there’s still plenty to admire from the Masterpiece ranks of decades gone by! So today, let’s talk about nine toys over ten years old that still deserve your attention.

#9: MP-13 Soundwave

Some will tell you they’re pining for a Masterpiece Soundwave re-do, mainly because 2013’s attempt is now somewhat at odds with the heavily cartoon-inspired aesthetic of more modern designs. It’s true; MP-13 is undoubtedly a product of its time, with its blocky feel, a greebly finish and blended influences all being quite apparent once you set it next to anything after MP-36 Megatron. Even elements such as the design of the hands make it stand out. Yet there remains plenty to admire about this figure, especially the *gorgeous* MP-13B Soundblaster repaint, as it so superbly captures the essence of what makes a great Soundwave toy in a surprisingly elegant fashion. A second stab at the character seems likely at some point, but MP-13 still deserves its accolades.

#8: MP-21 Bumblebee

Of all the toys on the list, I vehemently proclaim that perhaps none are so egregiously overlooked these days as this. Ever since a second attempt at Bumblebee dropped in 2019, the original MP-21 has been notoriously absent from all too many displays and collection photos, shunted into irrelevance in favour of the new overhaul. Except here’s the thing – MP-45 is not nearly as enjoyable a toy, nor as solid a representation of the character, in this humble writer’s view. Sure, it’s more cartoon-accurate, yet it might also be the ultimate indictment of how such uber-faithful adherence to the screen doesn’t always yield preferable results in 3D form. MP-21, meanwhile, is super cute, majorly fun to fiddle with and boasts a significantly more enjoyable transformation. Reject modernity, return to Bumble v1, we say.

#7: MP-20 Wheeljack

This car mode is hotness personified. And looks great with Transformers GT too! pic.twitter.com/hewqwFkybn

— Sixo (@SixoTF) February 17, 2024

Like many Masterpiece collectors, I was all in on the round of ‘+’ carbot repaints that began with MP-12+ Lambor in 2017. After all, who wouldn’t want lush new anime-inspired paint jobs for such banger designs? And here’s the thing, those overhauls were all pretty exceptional in their own right. However, they also came with a fair note of compromise: the vehicle modes generally looked a little less “real world” than how we’d previously known them. In most cases, that wasn’t a bad thing, especially as it only meant a rather attractive baby blue windscreen as the most notable change. However, in the case of Wheeljack, it took the heavy livery and eye-catching thrills of the classic Lancia Stratos and boiled it down to an almost uniformly white and grey affair with barely a hint of green stripes on the bonnet. Gone were the sponsor logos and the detailed dual-colour design that adorned the previous version, to say nothing of its striking red wheels. The thing is, MP-21+ is no slouch despite its plainer looks, and the robot mode certainly benefits from the additional paint provided by the makeover. Yet, if we’re talking top-drawer vehicle forms that deserve a prominent position on your shelf? It’s hard to argue with the original.

#6: MP-5 Megatron

OK, hear me out! Yes, MP-5 is absurd. The 2007 attempt at a Masterpiece, Megatron was a notorious affair for many reasons, not least because it was designed in just twelve days, which some critics would argue is fairly evident in the final product. It’s ungainly, awkwardly proportioned, ridiculously complex and altogether just a bit of a bizarre experience. However, it was also a highly ambitious project and does boast one of the best-looking and most cohesive attempts at the Decepticon leader’s infamous Walther P-38 alternate form we’re ever likely to see. Taking it all into account, I don’t doubt few would be prepared to stand up and say they thought MP-5 is a legitimately amazing toy or a must-have for any collection, but that’s not to say it is without its rather bizarre charms all the same, and especially the outlandishly OTT gold repaint from 2014. It dials up the tacky to just the right degree, and I can’t help but admire that.

#5: MP-1 Convoy / Optimus Prime

Well, if we’re going to talk about MP-5, then naturally, we have to mention the Grand Poobah of the MP line, don’t we? Yes, the toy that many Western collectors will know as ’20th Anniversary Optimus Prime’ is still an undeniable masterpiece (little ‘m’) even twenty years on and has set the template for so much of what has followed during that time. Despite being largely overshadowed now by the two subsequent attempts at the Autobot leader under this banner, it doesn’t mean the original has lost any of its lustre or that it’s no longer worthy of a dedicated spot in your collection. Besides, with so many versions to choose, you can always go slightly off-piste and pick one of the unusual repaints created from the mould, including the ridiculously handsome (and rather haunting) MP-4S Sleep mode, which is still the best attempt at a ‘dead Optimus’ we’ve ever seen done in toy form.

#4: MP-22 Ultra Magnus

Nowadays, you’ll find most collectors are all hopped up on the new hotness of the Studio Series take on Ultra Magnus, which is fair considering how well it renders the classic character. Yet it’s worth winding back ten years (yes, it’s been that long) to remember just what an audacious achievement the Masterpiece take was too, delivering the kind of complexity and engineering that felt ambitious even for the high-end TakaraTomy line in what might be its most popular era. Sure, some had nitpicks – if you were even a little bit online around the time of release, you will surely remember the ‘buttflap’ discourse! – but even in spite of those quibbles, I maintain that MP-22 is a pinnacle of Masterpiece, showcasing all the reasons people love these toys to begin with. Boasting too many magic transformation moments to keep track of and proving to be exceptionally fun to handle considering its size, this is a Magnus you will want to deal with right now.

#3: MP-9 Rodimus Prime

It doesn’t take much to get me endlessly extolling the virtues of MP-9 Rodimus Prime. In fact, whilst this may shock many a collector familiar with the toy’s almost pervasively poor reputation thanks to botched production, I rank it as one of the all-time Masterpiece greats and one of my personal faves from the line. You see, whilst it is true that MP-9 is mired by many a QC error (with every new version bringing its own fresh drama to the proceedings), the inherent design is one for the ages and sits amongst the most ambitious Transformers releases I can currently think of. Plus, it’s a superbly faithful take on the Rodimus character in his souped-up Matrix-powered form, slotting in surprisingly well even amongst significantly more modern fare. If you can find a good copy, this is a strong recommendation from me.

#2: MP-28 Hot Rodimus

OK, I’m cheating here. I said these toys would all be at least ten years old, and MP-28 dropped in 2016. List fail. And yet, I’m willing to sacrifice a smidge of thematic cohesion because, honestly, this design most certainly does not deserve the often far-too-harsh reputation it has earned. Is it perfect? Course not, and I can legitimately imagine another stab at the character popping up eventually to easily surpass it in many regards. Yet it remains a fun figure to pick up and play with, and the transformation between modes is eminently repeatable to boot. Sure, the proportions are a little odd, but pose him properly and it’ll more than compensate for that. The fact is, MP-28 is hot stuff.

#1: MP-10 Convoy / Optimus Prime

And finally, we come to what may be the ultimate example on this list. Although there’s been a new version of the Autobot leader since (and many, many unofficial attempts besides), there really is nothing anyone could say to convince me the MP-10 mould isn’t still a hugely enjoyable and excellent take on Optimus Prime that deserves to be celebrated. We’re in strange waters these days where a new toy can somehow render an older attempt obsolete, as though there can only ever be one ‘definitive’ spin on each character at any one time. Yet, MP-10 surely shows how unnecessary this thinking can be – good toys are good toys, at the end of the day, and there’s certainly room enough for this fabulous design to co-exist versus any of the more cartoon-accurate attempts you may care to name. Whether it’s the TakaraTomy original, the brighter-blue Hasbro version, or any of the gorgeous subsequent repaints, this remains a top-tier take on everyone’s favourite robodad.

So that’s our list!

TTFN