General Information
Release Date: October 2024
Price Point: $59.99 (depending on retailer)
Retailer: Amazon Exclusive with limited quantities available on Hasbro Pulse
Accessories: Blaster, Insect Feet/Blasters, Insect Feet (Barrage), Blaster, Insect Feet/Blasters, Insect Legs (Chop Shop), Blast Effects x 2 (Malleus Minotaurus)
Official images and text in italics are from Amazon.com:
- Epic Transformers Collection: Immerse yourself in the thrilling Mayhem Attack Squad set, featuring the iconic Chop Shop and Barrage action figures from the Transformers Legacy United series.
- Metamorphic Mastery: Witness the awe-inspiring transformation as Chop Shop and Barrage seamlessly convert between their robot and beetle modes, unleashing their formidable forms.
- Micromaster Madness: Amplify the excitement with the inclusion of the Micromaster Wrecker Malleus Minotaurus figure, a dynamic addition that transforms from robot to hammer mode.
- Unleash the Firepower: Prepare for intense battles with the six blaster accessories and two clear blast effects, empowering your Transformers figures to dominate the battlefield.
- Articulated Awesomeness: With articulated heads, arms, and legs, these action figures are primed for dynamic poses, allowing you to recreate epic scenes from the Transformers universe.
- Collectible Legacy: Celebrate 40 years of Transformers with the Legacy United series, honoring the rich animated history and inviting you to unite your collection with other figures (sold separately).
Unite your favorite characters from across the world of Transformers robots into your collection with the Transformers Legacy United Doom ‘n Destruction Collection! The Mayhem Attack Squad set includes Chop Shop action figure that converts between robot and beetle mode and Barrage action figure that converts between robot and beetle mode. The set also includes Micromaster Wrecker Malleus Minotaurus action figure that converts between robot and hammer mode with 2 clear blast effects. Gear up for battle with the included blaster accessories. Chop Shop figure and Barrage figure feature articulated head, arms, and legs for awesome action poses. Malleus Minotaurus figure has articulated arms and legs. Celebrate the last 40 years of Transformers history with Transformers Legacy action figures. Transformers Legacy opens the portal to a whole new universe of -- More Than Meets the Eye -- bringing together every Transformers generation like you’ve never seen before. Collect and combine different characters to create your ideal Legacy lineup. TRANSFORMERS and HASBRO and all related trademarks and logos are trademarks of Hasbro, Inc. © 2024 Hasbro.
Background:
The Mayhem Attack Squad was originally introduced in the G1 Marvel Comics as a counterpoint to the Autobot Wreckers. Back in 2022 Amazon released an exclusive capsule featuring the Wreckers, now two years later they have released a series of figures as a new incarnation of the Mayhem Attack Squad in the guise of the title "Doom 'n Destruction"! One of the two packs released in this series features two G1 characters ("Deluxe" Insecticons Barrage and Chop Shop) and one new character (Malleus Minotaurus). None of these characters have been members of previous Mayhem Attack Squads but hey, like the Wreckers the roster can always change. What's important is that we are only one figure away from having a modern day set of Deluxe Insecticons!
Barrage is a redeco and retool of Legacy Evolution Bombshell while Chop Shop is a redeco and retool of Legacy Evolution Shrapnel. Meanwhile, Malleus Minotaurus is a redeco of Siege Smashdown. Check out those original reviews for my thoughts on the base sculpts for these figures.
Packaging:
This set of figures is packaged in a rectangular, closed box. The front features a space background with a dramatic purple and blue light pattern as a background. To the right is the vertical "Transformers" logo while the "Legacy United Doom 'n Destruction Collection" logo is on the lower left. On the upper left is a box saying the names of the characters: "Wrecker Malleus Minotaurus", "Chop Shop" and "Barrage". There are tentacles reaching out from the corners which unintentionally connect it to Mayhem Attack Squad member Octopunch and the Walmart exclusive Pirate collection (which includes figures like Filch). Artwork for all three characters is featured in the middle. The top of the box shows off the Mayhem Attack Squad logo which was introduced in the IDW Publishing "Treads and Circuits" series. The faction symbol is surrounded by the aforementioned tentacles. The back of the box shows off all the figures in the box. Malleus Minotaurus' transformation is listed as 4 steps while, Chop Shop's is 11 and Barrage's is 10. On the lower left is the 40th Anniversary logo.
Accessories:
Barrage includes the same accessories as Bombshell plus two insect legs:
- Blaster: This blaster weapon is based on the design of Bombshell's G1 weapon. It has an angled base with a small flat panel set vertically on top. This leads to a barrel that includes two small cylinders connected to the end of the weapon. It is a very distinct weapon and looks cool. The weapon has two 5mm ports and the end can fit a Blast Effect. This weapon is made of green plastic with no paint details.
- Insect feet/weapons: One of Bombshell’s more distinct features were insect legs attached to his forearms in robot mode. The designers have taken these insect legs and turned them into blasters. Each features a 5mm peg in the back and an attachment point in the front for Blast Effects. These weapons are made of green plastic with no paint applications. On this figure the designers added two new insect legs so you really don't need to use these as insect legs but they can still be attached to the sides of the blaster, representing the old “Evo Fusion” play pattern.
- Insect legs: Okay, I'm not repeating myself. There are two new insect leg pieces included with this figure. These "L" shaped leg pieces come attached to the forearms. Each has some nice detailing including a hinge piece and a section that looks like a coil. These pieces are green with no paint applications. They feature a 5mm peg to attach to the 5mm ports on the forearms.
Robot Mode:
Barrage features several new pieces to create the Deluxe Insecticon. This is not a simple head swap. Here's a rundown:
- Head: The head sculpt features a design based on G1 Barrage's head. Unlike most Transformers heads, there isn't really a "helmet" and "face" section. Instead, the whole head is just one piece that features a central crest, angled eyes and a mouth plate with a raised section in the middle. On the back of the head are parts of the beast mode horn. The horn piece is a bit shrunken down compared to the one on the G1 figure but it still looks great.
- Beast Mode Horn and Eyes: I know this is the robot mode review section, but this is relevant to this mode because the newly added horn and eyes make up a significant section of the torso. The designers did something really fun here. Barrage's torso is actually formed from the back of Bombshell with new parts attached! The new horn and beast mode eye pieces wind up on Barrage's chest, a callback to the design of the G1 figure. The horn piece is particularly cool with a vertical piece in the center with the ends of the horns expanding outwards on the chest. The beast mode eyes are small spheres on either side of the vertical section. Overall this looks great and I love the creative reversal of the upper body to make it look distinct from Bombshell.
Barrage is made up primarily of green, yellow and translucent green plastic. Paint colors include red, white and yellow. The center of the chest has a Decepticon symbol tampographed on it. The deco layout is very much inspired by the G1 figure and it looks great.
There are twenty two points of articulation on this figure. There are eight 5mm ports to attach accessories including the fists and one on the bottom of each foot. Here's something I neglected to mention in my Bombshell review. It looks like the translucent panel on the back can open, but it is in fact kept in place by a tab at the top of the clear piece. If you want to see how the figure could be modified to allow the panel to open you can check out this thread on TFW2005.
Transformation to Beast Mode:
- Detach all the accessories and set them aside for now. You can leave the insect legs on the forearms attached.
- Straighten out the arms and legs.
- Swing the horn on the chest forward, then pull the entire piece up over the robot head.
- Swing each fist into the forearms.
- On each leg, swing the front panels out.
- Point the feet down.
- Push the lower legs together.
- Swing the legs up.
- Swing each arm down.
- The tabs on the forearms should snap into the slots on the hips.
- The weapons can be attached to the top of the beast mode.
Beast Mode:
Barrage's beast mode is mostly made up of the same parts as Bombshell with some minor changes. First you have the head which is now made up of the robot head's "horn" section and the "horn" and "eyes" from the robot mode torso. Then on the sides the "L" shaped insect leg pieces stick out to the side and sweep back which is different from Bombshell whose rear legs were on the bottom of the beast mode.
The colors from the robot mode all carry over to this one, but you see a lot more white paint in this form via stripes on the sides that go from the front all the way to the back. This is a key detail from G1 Barrage and it looks great here. A detail unique to this figure is the Mayhem Attack Squad symbol on the top towards the back. Between the retooling and the colors this figure really looks very distinctive from Bombshell.
The main articulation in this mode is the horn in front and the front and rear legs. That said, plenty of 5mm ports are exposed in this mode so you can attach plenty of accessories.
This is not the first time Chop Shop has appeared in the Generations line. Back in 2013 he appeared as an accessory for Legends Class Megatron (which would later be given a different deco as Beet-Chit. Then in 2015 there was a Legends Class version as part of Combiner Wars. This is the first Deluxe Class version released in Generations (and in many ways is the version many fans have been waiting for).
Accessories:
Chop Shop includes the same accessories as Legacy Evolution Shrapnel:
- Blaster: This weapon is based on Shrapnel's G1 "gamma ray detonator" weapon. Fun fact: in G1 the original Shrapnel action figure actually had two weapon variants. This weapon appears to be based on the variant with extra details on the front and back of the weapon featuring extra details on the back and the front of the barrel. This piece is made of orange plastic with brown paint on it (except for the tip and the handle). The weapon has a 5mm peg on the bottom and two 5mm ports (one on the back and one on the bottom). The end of the barrel has a tip that allows you to attach a Blast Effect.
- Insect Feet/Blasters: These two identical weapons are roughly shaped like mechanical feet, intended to call back to the "feet" sculpted into G1 Shrapnel's arms. These pieces are made of brown plastic with no paint applications. Each has a 5mm peg on the bottom and the front of the weapon barrel has both a 5mm section and a smaller tip that allows you to attach Blast Effects.
You can attach one of the Insect Feet/Blasters to the back and the other to the bottom to form a "super weapon". This is a carry over feature of the Legacy Evolution "Evo Fusion" play pattern.
Robot Mode:
Chop Shop features a few new parts to turn Shrapnel into the Deluxe Insecticon:
- Head: The new robot head is based on G1 Chop Shop's head. It features a round "helmet" section with antennae on either side ending in a small sphere. The face features angled eyes and a small mouth plate with a small piece extending out the middle. It looks fantastic!
- Mandibles: While these are beast mode parts, they also make up a prominent part of the robot mode. The mechanical looking mandibles from Shrapnel have been replaced with more organic looking ones complete with two large teeth on the inside. These are based on similar details from G1 Chop Shop and they look great.
- Hind Legs: Chop Shop includes two new leg pieces that form the rear legs in beast mode. Each features two "L" shaped legs leading to one central section with a 5mm peg that attaches to the forearms. These pieces are brown plastic with no paint applications.
The rest of the figure uses the same parts as Shrapnel, but thanks in part to the deco it looks completely different. The main plastic colors on this figure are brown and orange. The panel on the middle of the torso is translucent brown with (what appears to be) mechanical details behind it painted silver (or some metallic color). Paint colors include red, orange, brown and white. The middle of the torso has a purple and silver Decepticon symbol on it. These colors are all inspired by the G1 figure and they look great.
If you count the mandibles over the shoulders, this figure has twenty four points of articulation in this mode. This includes four on each arm and six on each leg. There are nine 5mm ports on this figure including one on the back, one under each foot and one on each forearm. All the joints on my copy of this figure are nice and tight.
Transformation to Beast Mode:
- Detach all accessories and set them aside for now.
- Straighten out the arms and legs.
- Swing each fist into the forearms.
- Push the brown pieces on either side of the head in to cover up the face.
- Swing the mandibles towards each other.
- Raise the arms out to the sides.
- Rotate the lower body around.
- Swing the front panels on the lower legs out.
- Point the feet down.
- Swing the lower legs forward so they overlap with the thighs.
- Push the two lower legs together.
- Swing the robot arms to the sides, using the tabs on the forearms to connect to the lower legs.
- On the bottom of the insect mode, swing the insect legs out.
- The blasters can attach to the ports on the top or bottom of the figure.
Beast Mode:
In his Stag Beetle mode, Chop Shop's mandibles are really prominent in front, looking quite threatening. I love how the small antennae from the robot head peek out in the front. The new leg pieces stick out the sides and really hold him up well since they are solid pieces with no articulation.
All the colors from the robot mode carry over here. A bit more white shows on the back via a stripe in the middle. You'll notice the robot mode shoulders are painted red on the sides. This is intended to represent his beast mode eyes and it mirrors a similar detail from G1 Chop Shop.
The only points of articulation in this mode are the mandibles, which can swing in and out. This mode features three 5mm ports with one on the bottom and two on top of the rear section.
Accessories:
Malleus Minotaurus includes two Blast Effects. One is the "smash" effect that was first released in Siege. The other is a square "energy field" piece that can wrap around one end of Malleus in weapon mode. This piece was originally created for Siege but did not see release until now. Both have pegs that allow them to attach to the end of Malleus in weapon mode.
Malleus Minotaurus is aptly named as he is a redeco of Smashdown who is a robotic Minotaur. No tooling changes were made to the figure. The figure is made of silver plastic with some blue deco on the eyes and the top of the head. On top of the head is the symbol of Solus Prime. This is because he is meant to be a helper of Solus Prime's who is kidnapped and must escape Chop Shop and Barrage. That's a fun bit of story for this set and also acts as a bit of a prologue to 2025's Age of the Primes line which will feature a Solus Prime figure.
The weapon mode is all silver with some of the blue deco peeking out where you can see the robot head.
Final Thoughts:
This set is fantastic. Since we got Ransack in 2022 I've wanted to see more the Deluxe Insecticons in Generations and here we go. This set leaves only one more to go: Venom! The addition of Malleus is fun, adding some Thirteen Prime lore to the set. Highly recommended!
Pros:
- Excellent retools of the Bombshell and Shrapnel figures.
- The decos on the Insecticons are beautifully done.
- Malleus is a fun addition as both a toy and a bit of lore.
- Beautiful packaging.
Cons:
- I would have liked a bit more deco on Malleus.
