Welcome to what I hope to maintain as a regular feature on my blog. (Right now I'm thinking monthly, but who knows, maybe it'll be more regular than that). And first up is a figure that I'm both proud of and impressed by. This is the 20th Anniversary Optimus Prime figure released to commemorate the 2 decade span of the Transformers line. This figure is supposed to fit into the Alternators/Binaltech line, which merges classic Transformers characters with modern vehicle modes. Although Optimus Prime maintains his classic semi-truck trailer mode, this figure is completely different from past incarnations. The figure itself is highly detailed, made to mimic an actual semi-truck much more so than any of his previous counterparts. Actual rubber tires and spring-loaded strut suspensions give this vehicle a very smooth, as well as realistic feel, as it moves along. This is a pretty large and hefty figure, Optimus transformed stands at about 13 inches, and weighs about 3 pounds. He's a combination of both plastic and metal, and he is extremely poseable. (Well, compared to past Optimuses? Optimi? Is that right?) One really cool feature is his chest compartment. It opens up to reveal the matrix of leadership, which is cool in itself, but it also lights up the matrix, bringing to life one of the Transformer's mythos most awe-inspiring visuals. Optimus comes complete with his classic ion blaster, Megatron in pistol mode (which he can hold!), and an energon axe. He's got a communicator on his arm that flips open to reveal a small screen with an image of Bumblebee. Although the process of transformation is a bit more complex than previous versions, it is well worth it for the visual aesthetics of the final product. My only real complaint is that the classic Optimus Prime trailer was not included. Sure, the Japanese model included a cardboard mock-up of the trailer for display purposes, no such thing was provided for the American collector. At $50, the figure is a bit pricey, worth every penny, don't get me wrong, but I would have paid up to $100 for it if it just included a fully rendered version of that classic grey trailer. 9 out of 10. Up Next: The Dark Lord of the Sith Speaks...Stay Tuned.
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