General Information
Release Date: January 2026
Price Point: $27.99 (depending on retailer)
Retailer: General Release (Amazon, BigBadToyStore, Entertainment Earth, Target, Walmart etc.) - Preceding links are sponsor/affiliate links
Accessories: Spoiler halves x 2, Spoilsport Targetmaster Figure/Weapon
Official images and text in italics are from Amazon.com:
- AGE OF THE PRIMES TARGETMASTER SURESHOT: This Transformers Targetmaster Sureshot figure features deco and details inspired by the Transformers universe
- CONVERT BETWEEN ROBOT AND DUNEBUGGY MODE IN 25 STEPS: This Transformers toy figure converts between modes in 25 steps
- 5.5-INCH DELUXE CLASS TRANSFORMERS FIGURE: In robot mode, the Transformers action figure is 5.5 inches (14 cm) tall
- CONVERTING SPOILSPORT MINI ACTION FIGURE: Comes with a mini Spoilsport figure that converts into a blaster the Targetmaster Sureshot figure can hold
- ARTICULATED FOR PLAY AND DISPLAY: Age of the Primes Transformers figures feature articulation for display-worthy poses or action-packed play
- PART OF THE AGE OF THE PRIMES COLLECTION: Look for additional Age of the Primes figures (each sold separately, subject to availability) featuring characters like The Thirteen Quintus Prime and more
- GIFT TRANSFORMERS COLLECTIBLES: Transformers action figures make a great Christmas, holiday, or birthday gift for boys and girls 8 and up or anyone who collects Transformers toys
Experience the epic universe of Transformers robots with the Transformers Age of the Primes Targetmaster Sureshot toy! The 5.5-inch (14 cm) Deluxe Class figure converts from robot action figure to off-road dunebuggy mode in 25 steps and comes with a mini Spoilsport figure that converts into a blaster. With intricate poseability and attachable accessories, the Targetmaster Sureshot action figure makes an awesome addition to any collection. Look for more Transformers collectible toys (sold separately, subject to availability) featuring characters like Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Megatron, and more to create a lineup that is — More Than Meets the Eye. TRANSFORMERS and HASBRO and all related trademarks and logos are trademarks of Hasbro, Inc.
Background:
In 1987, Hasbro introduced a new group of Autobots known as the Targetmasters. Targetmasters were Transformers who were paired up with a weapon that could transform into smaller figures. The nature of those smaller figures varied depending on which fiction you looked at, but in the fiction outside Japan they were generally humanoids from the planet Nebulos. These "Nebulons" were organic, but then underwent dramatic procedures to re-engineer their bodies into a combination of mechanical and organics so they could transform into weapons (or in the case of Headmasters, the heads of Transformers characters). One of these Autobots was Sureshot, an Autobot sharpshooter (yes, G1 names were not subtle most of the time).
Believe it or not, this is the first Sureshot toy that has been made since G1! There hasn't even been some weird live action movie era redeco as this character. Sureshot's teammates Crosshairs and Pointblank have both received the Generations treatment quite some time ago, so fans have been very eager to see this version of Sureshot on toy store shelves!
Packaging:
Unlike the unique packaging design of Legacy, the Age of the Primes packaging is more aligned with the look of the Studio Series line. The boxes are now rectangular with a flap on top to hang on pegs. The background color is a flat black. The front features a new series of icons giving information about the figure. This is set to the left and is colored gold featuring a faction logo, calling out how many steps are in the transformation (25 in this case) and the age recommendation (8+ on this box). To the right is artwork featuring Sureshot holding Spoilsport in weapon mode. In between is the figure with a window cut away with the return of a plastic window! These had been removed the last few years but Hasbro heard the fan outcry (and probably got sick of figures getting damaged in box by vandals) so they're back and I'm really glad about that. Below the artwork is the "Transformers" logo now set horizontally for the first time in about a decade. Under that is the "Age of the Primes" line looking a lot less stylized than the Legacy logos of years past. The bottom features his name as "Targetmaster Sureshot" with Autobot symbol next to it.
The back of the box features the figure in both modes calling out the 25 step transformation. The bottom half features legal information in multiple languages and an "Authentic Transformers" logo. There is also a callout for Spoilsport in both modes. The box is definitely going for a premium appearance and it aligns the look more with Studio Series but it definitely does not feel as special or unique compared to previous years.
Accessories:
Sureshot includes three accessories: two spoiler halves and the Targetmaster Spoilsport figure.
Spoiler Halves:
The spoiler halves from the vehicle mode wind up as angled pieces that connect to the arms using ports on the back of the shoulders. The angled parts of the spoiler angles around to the sides of the arms, which introduces a new design embellishment that was not found on G1 Sureshot. The spoiler halves do not feature the engine details of the G1 spoiler section but instead feature some raised ridges so they don't look too plain. These pieces are made of orange plastic with no paint articulation. I would have liked some silver and black line details on the spoiler pieces to match the G1 figure to add some color.
Targetmaster Spoilsport:
Spoilsport's design is really interesting because it does not fully mirror the G1 cartoon "Rebirth" design or the original toy. I say this mostly with the head and shoulders. The head has a much more streamlined looking helmet than the original figure has. Also, instead of two separate eyes this figure has visor eyes. Moving on to the shoulders, he has cylindrical shaped shoulders with vertical lines etched into it. The head and shoulders actually remind me a lot more of Firebolt, Hot Rod's Targetmaster partner. The torso and legs however are very G1 Spoilsport including the shape of the feet and knee armor.
This figure is made out of red and black plastic with blue paint on the eyes.
This figure is very G1 in terms of functionality (mostly due to budget limitations). There is no real articulation in robot mode except for the hinge used for his transformation. To transform him to weapon mode, you swing the weapon barrels down, then swing the legs up. He has a 5mm peg that you can attach to the 5mm ports on Sureshot. Of course, I do wish at the very least the arms could move up and down, but I'll take this over Sureshot not having a Targetmaster at all. In weapon mode, you can attach Blast Effects to Spoilsport's weapon barrels.
Robot Mode:
Among the design decisions Hasbro and Takara Tomy had to make was which design they would follow. Do they follow the G1 toy? The G1 "Rebirth" design or the Japanese "Headmasters" design? All these varied slightly and the decision seems to have landed on the "Rebirth" design with a bit of the G1 toy sprinkled in.
The basic design of the figure is the vehicle cabin section forming the torso, blocky arms and legs with distinct knee armor. A lot of the smaller details originate with the G1 toy and carried over to the "The Rebirth" model. The chest in particular has three raised details in the middle that come right from the original toy. Many of the line details on his shoulders and forearms also come from the original figure. As part of the transformation, the rear wheels of the vehicle mode wind up behind his lower legs. This is likely out of necessity but also a nice nod (intentional or not) to the G1 toy. Where this figure borrows heavily from "The Rebirth" is the head design. The original toy's head (and the Japanese "Headmasters" design) featured a slightly more angular design with raised "ear" pieces on the sides. For "The Rebirth" however, the animators worked with a simplified head design that is more rounded in the helmet section minus the "ears". Also, unlike the original action figure and "Headmasters" series animation model, he features visor eyes versus two separate eyes. Given that "The Rebirth" version of the character is probably the one most fans are familiar with, I'm perfectly okay with this choice.
Sureshot is made up of yellow, red, orange and black plastic. Paint colors include yellow, grey, blue, silver and red. The color layout matches the animation very well, with yellow making up a lot of the upper body while red makes up most of the lower body. The face and windshield on the chest are painted grey and his eyes are blue. A red Autobot symbol is found on the center of his chest. I really like the small silver details on his waist area, which nod to silver stickers on the original G1 sticker in the same area. It is a simple, but striking color pattern.
There are twenty two points of articulation on this figure including five in each arm and leg. This is actually pretty great given the budget constraints that allowed him to include Spoilsport, I'm more than happy with it. Really the only point of articulation I miss are the wrists and that's not a big deal to me. There are eleven 5mm ports on this figure including one under each foot, two in each leg and three in each arm. You can also store the weapon on his back, but you'll need to swing the front wheels down a bit first.
Transformation to Vehicle Mode:
- Separate Spoilsport if attached and set him aside for now.
- Straighten out the arms and legs.
- Swing the arms up to the sides.
- Lift the panel the head is resting on up a bit.
- Pull the chest section forward.
- Pulling the chest section up, rotate the section with the chest panel, arms and head around.
- Swing the chest section up where it will line up with the front end of the vehicle mode (which was previously on the back of the figure).
- Swing the head back on the ball joint.
- Swing the arms back and rotate them so the spoiler halves come together to look like one spoiler (they don't actually connect however).
- On each leg, swing the wheel forward.
- Swing the feet back against the lower legs. They tab in place.
- Swing the lower legs up over the thighs and push them into place.
- Push the lower legs together.
- Rotate the lower body around.
- Swing the section with the robot arms/chest on it back and push it down into place.
- Rotate the forearms so the slots on the wrists line up with the tabs on the feet. Connect them together.
- Swing the rear wheels up and connect the pegs on those sections to the ports on the forearms.
- Flip the front wheel section forward then tuck it under the front end of the vehicle.
Vehicle Mode:
Sureshot transforms into a Dune Buggy style vehicle. The vehicle is roughly "V" shaped with a narrow front end that widens out towards the back. The rear wheels are large while the front ones are much smaller. The center features a grille in front, a raised section in the middle and a window covering the driver section. Towards the back are the two halves of the spoiler. Among other distinctive details are small horizontal fins in the front near the front wheels and rectangular sections sticking out on the sides. Overall the sculpt looks like a fantastic interpretation of the G1 design. The only thing that may bother some fans are some of the empty gaps on either side of the driver's section.
This mode features the same colors as the robot mode with a bit more black and orange plastic showing. The front section reveals red paint in the middle and on the vent in front. The sides of the wheels are painted yellow, a detail that comes from both the original G1 toy and his appearance in "The Rebirth".
There are five 5mm ports in this mode. Two are on the sides while another is in the middle in front. The connection point in front is a nod to where you would attach Spoilsport to Sureshot on the G1 figure. The vehicle can roll on all four wheels and the large rear wheels offer the parts on the underside of the vehicle with some good clearance so nothing on the bottom will get scratched up if you roll it on a smooth surface.
Final Thoughts:
I am so happy that the Targetmaster Trio of Crosshairs, Pointblank and Sureshot is finally complete (Pointblank came out in b>2022!). While some sacrifices were made in terms of some "waffling" of parts and articulation on Spoilsport, I am glad that the designers didn't try to say, give us a Sureshot figure with a non-transforming weapon. This figure looks cool in both modes, it has a unique transformation and Spoilsport does the job even without robot mode articulation. Recommended!
Pros:
- Excellent sculpt that reflects Sureshot's look from "The Rebirth".
- I'm very happy Spoilsport was included as a transformable figure.
- Bright, eye catching deco (honestly, we don't get a ton of yellow, red and orange 'bots nowadays).
- Good articulation.
Cons:
- The hollow parts that face upward in vehicle mode are going to bother some fans.
- While I understand why Spoilsport doesn't have articulation, I really wish he did.
