Combiner Wars Megatron gets a deep audio review from John DeLuna and Exvee, who both have the figure in hand. They rate the tank mode, the oversized robot mode and the head sculpt. They also cover the controversial fusion cannon that will not fully collapse. Exvee is not sold on the sticker sheet’s white-backed logos over silver paint. They wrap with ideas for the mold’s future, from Overlord to a Decepticon Justice Division team.
The Blackjack Axe Mystery
John asks why Blackjack’s axe is not the handle for Menasor’s sword. Exvee has no answer. He suspects the spoiler-cannon part points to a planned Rodimus redeco and wishes it could mount on the arm or back. John wonders if one design was updated and the other was not. Exvee calls Blackjack a great little Legends figure, and John grew fond of him through Battle Tactics.
A Sticker Sheet That Picks No Lane
The sheet lets fans make Megatron an Autobot, following the IDW comics. Exvee says the opaque white backing is needed to cover the factory faction logos. The swirl stickers share that white backing, and on silver paint they look bad enough to skip. Exvee accepts stickers on Metroplex for cost reasons and likes optional sheets like Whirl’s and Roadbuster’s. John admits he is obsessive about straight faction symbols and terrified of applying them on a Masterpiece.
Tank Mode
Exvee has no problem with a tank Megatron and likes this one. He still favors the Classics Ultimate Battle two-pack tank. The rubber treads skid instead of turning, and Exvee calls Armada Scavenger’s treads the gold standard. John finds the back of the tank a little funky and the barrel splitting the turret odd, but praises the tight fit and premium metallic silver paint. Both doubt Takara can do much to improve the Hasbro version.
Robot Mode
Both praise the intuitive transformation, which they see as a theme across Combiner Wars. Exvee finds the treads limit knee bends and the waist armor blocks the hips. The legs look much better in person than in stock photos, with pistol-grip grooves nodding to the original toy. Neither host can explain the sliding gray shin pieces. Both love the head sculpt, the helmet depth, the neck joint and the red accent color.
Chest, Shoulders and the Fusion Cannon
Opening the chest reveals a spark chamber door shaped like the one from the Beast Wars episode where Megatron takes G1 Megatron’s spark. The shoulders slide out for range. Exvee says that is the only way the blocky arms could raise outward, comparing them to FansProject’s City Commander. The fusion cannon does not fully collapse. Exvee thinks it is meant to flip backward, so the flared end faces forward for this Megatron and the other way for the Armada version. John likes that the cannon flips clear, leaving a working elbow on both arms. A rifle that splits into two guns rounds out the accessories.
Where the Mold Goes Next
Exvee suggests a single-piece Overlord with a new chest, head and blue paint. John floats IDW characters such as the Decepticon Justice Division, and Exvee says a Tarn would be easy with a new head and double cannon. Exvee finds Megatron a bit too big next to other figures, but the size would suit Overlord. Both give Megatron a thumbs up and wish the sticker sheet had been done better. Exvee guesses the deco team never got the memo about the factory logos.
Contributors: John DeLuna, Exvee
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