General Information:
Release Date: December 2019 (Estimated Arrival Date)
Price Point: $19.99 (depending on retailer)
Retailer: General (Amazon, BigBadToyStore, Entertainment Earth etc.)
Accessories: NFM Dual-Fusion Cannon and Spin-Blast Particle Beam Cannon
Note: I received this figure during Hasbro's 2019 unboxing event. Unfortunately the packaging was tossed out and official photos of the packaging are not on any major retail sites associated with BWTF yet so I will post those images once they are available.
Official images and text below in italics are from BigBadToyStore:
Recreate the ultimate battle with Transformers War for Cybertron: Siege toy figures. Siege plunges fans into the epic fight to survive on the final day of the Autobot and Decepticon battle to control Cybertron. The Decepticon resistance army and the Autobot counter-resistance fighters are equipped with the C.O.M.B.A.T. (Cybertronian Omnifuctional Modular Battlefield Assault Tech) System, the universe's most advanced modular weaponry.
The Deluxe Class WFC-S48 Spinister figure comes with NFM Dual-Fusion Cannon and Spin-Blast Particle Beam Cannon weapon accessories. Figure features multiple C.O.M.B.A.T. System weapon ports to attach weapons, enabling custom configurations in bot and vehicle modes.
In 2018 the "Power of the Primes" line finished off the "Prime Wars Trilogy" which had begun with "Combiner Wars". To kick off a whole new G1 inspired series of "Generations" figures, a new line known as "War for Cybertron: Siege" started in late 2018 (with a planned wide release in 2019). The traditional Deluxe Class of figures continues in "Siege".
Spinister is an interesting character. Originally released in 1988, he made some appearances in the G1 Marvel Comic book, but he was not necessarily considered a "top tier" character. Still, over the years he would appear here and there such as the "Armada" comic book. Later he would appear in the IDW Publishing comic books. On the toy side, Spinister has popped up now and then since G1. Here's a rundown:
- "Generations" as a "Micromaster/Targetmaster" style weapon for Legends Nemesis Prime
- "Timelines" Spinister (2012)
- KREO Spinister (2012)
- "Combiner Wars" Spinister (2016)
This figure represents the first time in a while that the character has been given a brand new sculpt.
Packaging:
Taking a cue from "Studio Series", the Deluxe figures in "Siege" are packaged in boxes instead of the traditional bubble card used for Deluxe Class figures. These boxes are beautiful featuring an unusual shape with one flat side and one angled side. While elements of previous packaging are still found on the boxes (ex: the vertical Transformers logo, the "Generations" logo, a largely black background etc.) there is a lot more added on. First, the background is not solid black. There are designs on it that look like sparks or perhaps embers from flames On the angled side is the character's package art. In Spinister's case he is shown running and firing his weapon on the battlefield. The figure itself is in robot mode behind a clear plastic window. To the left is a chevron with the character name. Below that is the "War for Cybertron: Siege" logo.
The back of the box features Spinister in both modes indicating a 27 step transformation. It also shows him holding Caliburst. Caliburst and Smashdown are also cosells.
Accessories:
Spinister includes two weapons, much like his G1 counterpart. However, they are not Targetmasters but rather single plastic pieces like more traditional blaster weapons.
One weapon is the NFM Dual-Fusion Cannon, a dual barreled blaster. It is roughly based on the G1 Targetmaster, Singe. The main body of the weapon is rectangular with two weapon barrels that look almost like missiles. The sides feature a series of vertical lines sculpted in. It is a vague resemblance but it works. This piece is cast in dark teal plastic and features a peg on the top and bottom.
The other weapon is the Spin-Blast Particle Beam Cannon, based partially on the G1 Targetmaster, Hairsplitter. The body of the weapon is mostly unique, but the weapon barrels look like gatling guns similar to G1 Hairsplitter. This piece is cast in purple with 5mm pegs on the top and bottom.
In a fun homage to G1 Spinister, the two weapons can be combined by attaching one on top of the other to form a weapon reminiscent of the "Dual Targetmaster" weapon from G1. Now, some fans may not be satisfied with these weapons and Hasbro has accounted for that by releasing Singe as an individually packaged Battle Master and "Shrute", the new name for Hairsplitter along with the "Phantomstrike Squadron". If you get these two guys, you can team them up with Spinister to get the G1 gang back together again!
Robot Mode:
Spinister's robot mode appears to largely be based on his appearance in the IDW Publishing comic books. At the same time, that design takes a lot of its own inspiration from the G1 action figure, so you wind up getting the best of both worlds with this figure. Here are some of the key design elements from those two sources that made their way into this figure:
- The head sculpt features a very pointed crest with angled panels on either side. His face includes a mouthplate featuring a flat plate in the center and two angled ones on the sides.
- The tail of the helicopter and the rotor blades wind up on the back.
- Each shoulder features a set of angled line designs.
- The torso has a distinct shape, with parts near the elbows featuring raised, horizontal lines while the center sticks out a bit, featuring layers of horizontal lines. Interestingly, the stickers from G1 Spinister have been worked into the sculpt including a series of vertical lines surrounded by a silver outline and a series of details that look like control panels in the waist area.
- The lower legs are made up of sections that look like the helicopter cockpit (but in reality, only one leg forms the cockpit).
Overall this sculpt looks fantastic. It has a very dynamic appearance and its proportions call back to the character's IDW Publishing appearance.
Spinister's colors take inspiration from his G1 counterpart. His upper body is mostly pink, purple and grey plastic with black on the head. The lower body is mostly the darker teal (almost green) color. The "cockpits" on his legs are translucent light blue plastic. These colors are a wonderful example of late 80's Transformers color schemes and they look great.
The paint colors on this figure include yellow, teal, silver and gunmetal grey. These are used largely to call back to the colors on G1 Spinister and his stickers. The finishing touch is a Decepticon symbol tampographed onto the chest. A bit of the Siege style battle damage is found on the legs in gunmetal grey. The deco looks great.
There are twenty four points of articulation on this figure. This includes five in each arm and six in each leg. Thanks to the way the articulation is laid out, you can really strike some fantastic poses with this figure. All the joints are super tight on my copy of Spinister. In between the legs is a port allowing you to attach the figure to a Bandai stand to pose him like he is in mid-air. There are ten 5mm ports to attach weapons and accessories in this mode. This includes two on the back, two on each arm, the fists and one on each lower leg. This gives you a lot of ways to attach weapons to arm Spinister up. Like most Siege figures, Spinister has 3mm hard points to attach Blast Effects to make it look like he is being hit with weapons fire. One is on the right shoulder and the other is in the abdominal area.
Transformation to Vehicle Mode:
- Detach the accessories and set them aside for now.
- Straighten out the arms and legs.
- Straighten out the rotor blades on the back.
- Lift up the back panel.
- Pull the helicopter tail up and out, snapping that section over the robot head.
- Connect the black panel to the base of the tail section.
- Rotate the waist section around so the right leg (with the landing gear) is towards the front.
- Swing the leg with the landing gear up. Swing the panel with the landing gear open.
- Rotate the leg so the cockpit cover faces down.
- Swing the foot out to the side, then swing it up, connecting the tab on it to the corresponding slot on the ankle joint.
- Swing the lower leg over the thigh, then swing the panel with the landing gear back into place.
- Rotate the remaining leg so the faux cockpit section points towards the back.
- Swing the back panel on the lower leg out.
- Swing the foot out to the side, then rotate it around and tab it into the ankle joint.
- Swing the lower leg over the thigh, then tuck it in to form the underside of the helicopter.
- Swing each forearm up against the shoulders, connecting the tabs on the shoulders into the slots on the forearms.
- Connect the sections formed by the arms to the tabs on the feet (now the wings).
- Attach the weapons to the wings.
Vehicle Mode:
Spinister's vehicle mode is meant to be a Cybertronian helicopter, but it borrows a lot of details from the more Earth-based G1 Spinister's vehicle mode (a Boeing AH-64 Apache). Like that vehicle it has an angled cockpit section, two wings to mount weapons, two main rotor blades and four smaller ones in the back. The helicopter mode still has some bulkiness to it thanks to the robot arms on the sides, but overall it looks good and slightly futuristic.
All of the colors from the robot mode carry over to this one, with the main "new" deco being a large tampographed Decepticon symbol on the right side of the tail. This is a direct callback to a sticker on G1 Spinister. The deco looks wonderfully retro and eye catching and I love it.
There are six 5mm ports in this mode, allowing you to attach extra weapons. However, the two on either side are very close to one another, so you will have to find thin weapons to be able to stack them. The other ports are under the wings, allowing you to attach weapons in a similar fashion to G1 Spinister!
Final Thoughts:
Spinister rocks. The figure has two solid modes and a really fun transformation. Yes, it's a bummer he doesn't have his two Targetmaster partners included, but you can get them elsewhere in the line and that's super cool. Highly recommended!
Pros:
- Excellent sculpt that pays homage to G1 Spinister while bringing in lots of new detailing (read: not stickers).
- Great articulation.
- Fantastic deco that grabs your eye and calls back to G1 Spinister.
Cons:
- Some fans may prefer that Spinister come with transformable Targetmasters.
