General Information
Release Date: August 2024
Price Point: $24.99 (depending on retailer)
Retailer: General Release (Amazon, Target, Walmart etc.)
Accessories: Blaster, Hook, Tow Arm
Official images and text in italics are from Amazon.com:
- EXCITING 2-IN-1 TRANSFORMERS TOY: This Chaos Terran Aftermath action figure converts from robot mode to tow truck mode! The easy Transformers conversion is fun for kids ages 6 and up
- CONVERTS BETWEEN MODES IN 21 STEPS: This interactive toy can change from a robot toy into a tow truck toy in 21 steps. Kids who love fidget toys will love the satisfying conversion!
- 5-INCH ROBOT ACTION FIGURE: In robot mode, Chaos Terran Aftermath figure is 5 inches (12.5 cm) tall
- TOW TRUCK MODE: Imagine epic battle scenes with Chaos Terran Aftermath in tow truck mode! Wheels really roll for storytelling fun. Great for kids who love toy trucks
- 3 ACCESSORIES: This robot toy comes with 2 blaster accessory pieces and a tow hook accessory piece that can be attached in both modes
- TRANSFORMERS: EARTHSPARK CHARACTERS: Inspired by the powerful Chaos Terran bot, Aftermath, from the Transformers: EarthSpark animated series
- TRANSFORMERS ACTION FIGURES FOR BOYS AND GIRLS 6 AND UP: Transformers toys like the Deluxe Class Chaos Terran Aftermath make great gifts for boys and girls who love robot toys
The Transformers: EarthSpark Chaos Terran Aftermath Deluxe Class figure converts from robot to tow truck mode in 21 steps! Fans of the animated series will love imagining epic adventures with this 5-inch Chaos Terran Aftermath figure in robot mode, then changing it into a tow truck and zooming into battle! This 2-in-1 toy also comes with blaster and tow hook accessories that can be attached to the figure. Look for more Deluxe Class Transformers figures (each sold separately, subject to availability) featuring popular characters from the Transformers: EarthSpark show, an animated series that centers on two human kids as they forge a connection with Transformers robots like never before and work alongside fan favorites like Optimus Prime and Bumblebee! Interactive toys like the Deluxe Class Chaos Terran Aftermath make cool gifts for boys and girls ages 6 and up. TRANSFORMERS and HASBRO and all related trademarks and logos are trademarks of Hasbro, Inc.
Background:
The second season of the EarthSpark cartoon involved Terrans and Decepticons searching for Emberstones, artifacts of Quintus Prime. These crystals were able to produce new Cybertronian life. One of these was a "Chaos Terran" known as Aftermath. While it would be easy to identify this violent robot as a Decepticon, in reality he is just very violent and enjoys destruction with no particular ideology. In late 2024 Hasbro released a Deluxe Class version of this character as part of the tail end of the EarthSpark toy line.
Packaging:
Aftermath is packaged in a standard EarthSpark Deluxe Class box. The background of the box has a swirling light blue and dark blue pattern. The Transformers logo is set vertically on the right with a Decepticon symbol above it. The middle features a small window that allows you to see the figure's upper body (there is no plastic window). Below that window is artwork of the character in robot mode. Off to the left side is artwork showing other characters from the cartoon including the Malto siblings and Twitch. This is also where he is listed as "Chaos Terran Aftermath". The back of the bows shows Aftermath in both modes calling out a 21 step transformation.
Accessories:
Aftermath includes three accessories:
- Blaster: Aftermath's blaster has an unusual triangular barrel leading to a base piece in the back. This weapon is made of metallic purple plastic with silver painted onto the barrel. The weapon has three 5mm pegs, two on the sides towards the back and one on the bottom.
- Hook: Aftermath's hook weapon is a separate accessory from the towing arm on the back of the vehicle. This hook piece is designed with a blunt hook end for safety reasons so it doesn't look as thin as the one on the show. It is made of metallic purple plastic with no paint applications. The hook features two 5mm pegs at the base, allowing Aftermath to hold it in his hand or connect to his forearms.
- Tow Arm: This is probably not the formal term for this part but I'm using it as a bit of shorthand to refer to the section on the back of the vehicle that you can connect the hook to. This forms the mechanism that Aftermath would use to tow other vehicles. Most of this piece is gunmetal grey with a metallic purple piece at the end where you can attach the hook. This piece has a 5mm peg at the base, allowing you to attach it to his back, fit in his fist or attach to his forearm.
Robot Mode:
Aftermath has a very classic Transformers design with the front of the vehicle becoming his chest, the arms partly formed by the front wheel wells and the rear wheels winding up on his legs. However, some of these details are tailored to Aftermath specifically and they are reflected on this figure. These include:
- Head: The head design comes right from the animated series including a thin, high crest on top of the head and a very small, triangular face featuring angled eyes and a prominent chin piece.
- Shoulders: Aftermath's animation model has huge shoulders with the claws from his "cow catcher" in vehicle mode on top. This design is reflected on this figure as well as the "sunburst" style patterns in front.
- Chest: The chest is made up of the front of the vehicle, which is large and curved with a grille in the middle.
- Legs: Aftermath's legs are big and chunky, which lines up with the character's overall design. Like the animation model he features knee armor with a series of horizontal lines etched into them and both the rear wheels forming a chunk of the lower legs. In the show the two wheels come together but here the designers sculpted tire-like designs in between the wheels to complete the effect.
Aftermath features some beautiful plastic colors including metallic purple, gunmetal grey and silver. All these metallic plastics give him the appearance of a being made of metal and I love to see shiny bits on any Transformers figure. Paint colors including metallic purple, silver and red. You'll see these colors used heavily on the head and shoulders with some other paint applications on the legs. The headlights are painted red. The only color detail I wish had carried over from the show involves the grille. In the cartoon, his grille lights up in a deep, red color. Here it is just black plastic but that is a small quibble. Overall I really love the colors on this figure.
There are sixteen points of articulation in this mode. This includes two in each arm and five in each leg. The arms may sound like they are super limited, but they are not since the shoulder and elbow joints are both ball joints. Each fist has a 5mm port and each forearm has a 5mm port on the side. In the show his hook and blaster attached to his forearms so this does not just only give you play value but it also makes it more show accurate.
Transformation to Vehicle Mode:
- Detach the accessories and set them aside for now.
- Connect the hook to the tow arm (if not attached).
- Straighten out the arms and legs.
- Swing the fists into the forearms.
- Lift the truck cabin section on the back of the figure up.
- Swing the chest up, pushing the head down so it is on the underside of the vehicle mode.
- Rotate the back panel with the truck cabin section around.
- Push the truck cabin section down over the hole on the chest.
- Bend each leg at the knees, extending them out using the knee joints.
- On each leg, swing the wheels on the insides of the legs out.
- Move each foot to the inside of the the lower legs.
- Push the knee joint in so the tabs on the sides of the thighs connect to the slot on the middle wheel panels.
- Push the legs together, then swing them forward to begin forming the rear of the vehicle mode.
- Rotate the forearms around then swing them up.
- Swing the arms down with the cow catcher "claws" pointing forward, then swing the arms in and connect the halves of the vehicle's front end together.
- The forearms tab into the side of the cab and the front wheel wells.
- Connect the forearms to the silver tabs on the middle wheel panel.
- Attach the tow arm pieces to the top of the vehicle in the middle.
- The blaster can be attached to one of the 5mm pegs in the back.
Vehicle Mode:
Aftermath's vehicle mode is really interesting. While the EarthSpark cartoon has its very exaggerated character designs, for the most part the Transformers themselves are very straight forward with Optimus becoming a very "regular" looking truck and Bumblebee becoming a sports car. This robot mode looks like a very cartoon-ish tow truck with exaggerated proportions. This is especially true of the front end which has a lot of curves and is rather tall. The front end looks a bit "squished in" yet somehow it works. The cow catcher claws in the front and the high tow arm really make the vehicle look distinct.
This mode shows off all the plastic colors nicely. The front half is mostly metallic purple while the rear half is mostly silver. Gunmetal grey appears mostly on the tow arm and the front. The wheels are all black plastic. All the same paint colors from the vehicle mode carry over here including black on the windows and gunmetal grey on the smokestacks. This mode has a fun, unique look and I really like it.
This mode features two 5mm ports in the back. The hook attaches to the tow arm in the back. The vehicle can roll on all six wheels.
Final Thoughts:
Aftermath is a really unusual looking and fun figure. He reminds me of something we may have seen back in the Animated days. I love how bulky and powerful he looks in both modes and the deco is beautiful. Highly recommended!
Pros:
- Excellent sculpt that reflects the animation model nicely.
- Really beautiful colors in the deco.
- Fun play features and accessories.
- Intuitive and fun transformation.
Cons:
- The shoulder articulation could have been done in a way to make the arms move a bit better but I think this would have been out of range for the budget of this figure.
- A few more paint applications would have been nice but this is a minor quibble.
