General Information:
Release Date: January 2020
Price Point: $9.99 (depending on retailer)
Retailer: General Release (Amazon, Target, Walmart etc.)
Accessories: None
Official images and text in italics below are from Amazon.com and Hasbro.com: The war between heroic Autobots and evil Decepticons continues on the Transformers Bumblebee Cyberverse Adventures animated series! Discover the unique powers and skills of each Cyberverse Adventures character, and see how those powers will be used to defend Earth… or threaten it.
Experience the excitement of quick conversion with figures that change between modes in a few easy steps! Simply convert Autobot Whirl figure from robot to helicopter mode in a few easy steps. Conversion reveals the figure’s Autobot Turbo Talon Action Attack move! The move can be easily repeated.
Kids can collect other 1-Step Action Attackers figures, each sold separately, to discover the signature attack moves of favorite characters from the Cyberverse series -- one of the best ways to introduce young kids and new fans to the exciting world of Transformers!
Transformers and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro. Hasbro and all related terms are trademarks of Hasbro.
- Includes Autobot Whirl figure and on-box instructions
- 4.25-INCH AUTOBOT WHIRL FIGURE: 4.25-inch 1-Step Changer Autobot Whirl Action Attackers figure inspired by the Cyberverse animated series.
- REPEATABLE ATTACK MOVE: Convert the heroic Autobot Whirl figure to reveal his signature Autobot Turbo Talon Action Attack move. Fun attack move can be easily repeated.
- 2-IN-1 CONVERTING TOY: Easy Transformers conversion for kids 6 years old and up! Convert Autobot Whirl toy from robot to helicopter mode in a few easy steps. Makes a great gift for kids!
- TRANSFORMERS CYBERVERSE CHARACTER: Classic blue and yellow Autobot Whirl toy robot inspired by the reckless Autobot air commando from the Transformers Cyberverse cartoon, as seen on Cartoon Network and YouTube.
- INSPIRED BY CARTOON NETWORK SHOW: In the G1-inspired Cyberverse series, giant Transformers robots from the planet Cybertron engage in epic battles, activating signature abilities known as Action Attacks! Kids can imagine unleashing this special power with this Action Attackers figure!
- Figure scale: 4.25 inches
- Ages 6 and up
- Warning: Choking Hazard - Small parts may be generated. Not for children under 3 years.
As the cast of the Cyberverse cartoon grew, fans were introduced to a new incarnation of a G1 character: Whirl! The original Whirl was a "Deluxe Autobot" back in the G1 toy line. Years later there would be a Transformers Universe version and not too long ago there was a Voyager Class figure based on his G1 appearance. Out of all these figures however this Whirl is the first figure to represent an animated version of the character.
Packaging:
Whirl is packaged like most standard modern day 1-Step changers. The figure itself is in vehicle mode attached to a bubble. This is in turn glued to a card back that folds around the bubble. This figure uses the "Cyberverse: Battle for Cybertron" logo with Whirl's illustration behind it. The background is purple with the "Transformers" logo set vertically on the right against a yellow background. The front of the cardboard piece shows Whirl using his "Turbo Talon" action and calls out the 1-Step transformation. One thing I enjoy about the 1-Step figures are the way the packaging features two illustrations for the characters.
Vehicle Mode:
Whirl's vehicle mode is a futuristic (or Cybertronian) helicopter. This is roughly based on G1 Whirl's vehicle form which includes an angular cockpit section and a weapon mounted next to it. His robot feet stick out in the back, but overall most of the robot parts come together well to form the body of the vehicle.
Whirl is made up of light blue and dark blue plastic. Most of the paint is concentrated on the front where the cockpit is painted yellow and outlined with black. The top of the cockpit features a red Autobot symbol. Meanwhile the vents in the front and the front o fhis cannon are painted silver. He looks pretty good. I do wish there was some paint somewhere on the back, but given that this is a 1-Step Changer it is no surprised there is not a ton of deco on here.
Transformation to Robot Mode:
- Push the cockpit section down and this will unfold most of the figure.
- Fold half of the rotor blade over so the rotor forms a "V" shape.
- Swing the tail of the helicopter up to hold the rotors in place.
- Swing both feet forward.
Robot Mode:
This version of Whirl takes inspiration for its design from two sources: the original G1 toy and his later IDW Publishing comic book incarnation. From G1 he inherits features like a head with a single eye, the helicopter cockpit on his torso, his "weapon pod hand" and his claw hand. From the IDW Publishing version he has a somewhat bulky upper body and thin legs set in a "chicken walker" position. His also has bulky forearms with fans sculpted into them. I appreciate this nod to the original and perhaps the most popular version of this character. It makes for a nice homage to two different generations.
The same colors seen in vehicle mode carry over here. This time out however you get to see black and yellow in the robot face and a bit more dark blue plastic via his hands and waist area. He also features silver paint on the forearms. Except for some tiny accents, this is actually fairly close to how the character was colored on the show so it looks good and close to screen accurate.
Whirl has two points of articulation: the arms. This is pretty standard for 1-Step Changers so no surprises here. His action feature is the "Turbo Talon" which involves pushing the tab on the top of his forearm forward to open up the claw. Pulling it back closes the claw. It is a neat little feature and it fits the character.
Final Thoughts:
As 1-Step Changers go, Whirl is a fun one. He looks great in both modes and his transformation is actually a bit more involved than just "1-Step". Recommended if you dig the character or 1-Step Changers.
Pros:
- Cool sculpt in both modes.
- Nice homage to two different versions of Whirl.
- Good deco in robot mode.
Cons:
- Limited articulation.
- Needs a bit more paint in vehicle mode.
