A barrage of leaks are hitting us this morning from across the web! First up, R.E.D. Grimlock! This new non-transforming action figure seems to be based not purely on the cartoon like some other R.E.D. toys, but is a more stylized design possibly incorporating G1 toy elements.
Check it out and let us know what you think on the boards!
Oniconvoy
Why is it crazy? This doesn’t need to have the parts count required to transform. Of course it can be larger and cheaper as a result.
It certainly doesn’t mean that it’s any good.
sardonicRenegade
Crazy how the 25 dollar figure is larger than 35 dollar voyagers and even 50 dollar leaders
Johntimus Prime
Which makes it even weirder because the Walmart exclusive Toxitron line featured an obscure character based on an unmade toy who was an homage to a VERY raunchy sci-fi comedy.
TF Hot Rod
Why is because it’s a line they use only the big names of to get people in or casuals thay go down the isle. Nothing lesser known like A3 or Transmute, pretenders or that Hound hologramn.
Johntimus Prime
I mean granted I wish ML Spider-Men had Revoltech level articulation but even those feel more impressive than these.
Idk if Walmart had a strict budget demand to keep things cheap enough to make a tidy profit but that seems a likely culprit
sardonicRenegade
It's supposed to have more or less the same articulation as Hasbro's other 6-inch figure lines, and it definitely succeeds in that. It's definitely nowhere near revoltech, but it's on par with Marvel Legends
Johntimus Prime
Speaking of, I'm really kinda baffled Transmutate didn't get a toy in RED. I mean she's one of the better-known non-TFing characters and her last BAF toy goes for absurd aftermarket prices.
WishfulThinking
*pulls out the old meme*
I mean, the last time we got non-transforming figures at retail were those build-a-figure swapable limb guys – and TF Club Heatwave showed up.
Johntimus Prime
Yeah, Super7 did Bludgeon. I really would be cool with Pretender shells being made as non-converting toys in a fashion such as this, that way we can still get figures of those since that's what people remembered as opposed to the generic, interchangeable core robots
If I recall, the Robot Replicas from TF 2007 were better than this refuse.
Oniconvoy
Because this is a line of pure nostalgia candy to catch the eye of the random adult walking past the toy aisle. They need the big names to sell.
Pitch the random background characters that all of three hardcore fans will buy to Super7. That’s their turf.
Johntimus Prime
I really don't get why they haven't tapped the potential goldmine of characters who either didn't transform or wouldn't get toys otherwise. Autobot-X is the most obvious; I think another cool one would be the Centurion Drone since those never transformed and hey, easy money since they're army builders!
It's weird.
WishfulThinking
I'm assuming corporate (Walmart) owned molds are less likely to end up KOed?
Johntimus Prime
Yeah, that's the thing, likely a cost-cutting measure, and translucent plastic probably wasn't in the budget.
For a line that's supposed to offer what's basically akin to Revoltech or Figma, these…are nowhere near that. And for something Hasbro boasted would have superior articulation, effin' Studio Series Grimlock pantses this hunk of crap.
The red chest makes it look like a weird Chinese bootleg…hell I'm surprised this line hasn't been KOed, at least to my knowledge
Q Prime
But on the flip side of that coin, they may not have out in that much thought as to there being multiple versions of the character on the shelf.
WishfulThinking
I doubt they put that much thought into it.
Q Prime
The only other Grimlocks out right now are the G2 version (which would look nothing like it) and Earthspark Grimlock, which while somewhat similar would still be significantly different from a G1 accurate Grimlock.
RodimusRex
Gangmolded with a sword or unseen accessories like fire effects is my guess.
WishfulThinking
Considering it's a WalMart exclusive toy line, I'm sure they have a say in what gets produced. Somewhere along the way, an account executive must have said "We need a RED Grimlock but don't make it look too much like the other Grimlocks on the shelf."
chuckcjc
No Sir I don't like it.
GoldDeadEnd
Between this and giving Primal realistic fur after cranking out a show accurate Cheetor, I'm actually starting to believe they're trolling us. IF we get a Prime Bulkhead resembling his Legacy figure, all remaining doubt will vanish.