General Information:
Release Date: January 2023
Price Point: $19.99 (depending on retailer)
Retailer: General Release (Amazon, BigBadToyStore, Entertainment Earth, Target, Walmart etc.)
Accessories: Fusion Cannon Halves x 2
Official images and text below in italics are from Amazon:
- 2-IN-1 CONVERTING TOY: Easy Transformers conversion perfect for kids ages 6 and up. Convert Megatron toy from robot to armored aircraft mode in 11 steps. Comes with fusion cannon accessory
- 5-INCH MEGATRON FIGURE: Megatron figure is an impressive 5 inches tall!
- INCLUDES BUILD-A-FIGURE PIECE: Each Deluxe Class figure comes with 1 build-a-figure piece. Combine all the pieces to build a figure of Dr. Meridian “Mandroid”, the villainous half-human half-robot from the animated series! (4.5-inch figure does not convert)
- TRANSFORMERS: EARTHSPARK CHARACTERS: Megatron toy inspired by the reformed Decepticon leader from Transformers: EarthSpark, a co-produced animated series from Nickelodeon and Entertainment One!
- INSPIRED BY NICKELODEON AND ENTERTAINMENT ONE SHOW: Transformers: EarthSpark animated series 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!
Transformers: EarthSpark introduces a new generation of Transformers robots - the first Transformers bots to be born on Earth. Together with the human family who welcomes them in and cares for them, they'll redefine what it means to be a family. Deluxe Class figures bring Transformers robots to life from the television screen right to your home! Classic silver and black Megatron toy as seen in Transformers: EarthSpark animated TV series stands at an impressive 5 inches tall! Convert Transformers Megatron from robot to armored aircraft mode in 11 steps. Each Deluxe Class figure comes with 1 build-a-figure piece. Combine all the pieces by collecting all Deluxe Class figures to build a figure of Dr. Meridian “Mandroid”, the villainous half-human half-robot from the animated series. Build-a-figure scale is 4.5 inches (figure does not convert). (Each sold separately, subject to availability). Transformers and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro.
Background:
When we first meet Megatron in the EarthSpark series, he is imposing and powerful looking and it is a tense moment - until we learn that he is no longer a villain but rather an ally of the Autobots and humans. Under the banner of the military organization G.H.O.S.T., Megatron fights alongside Optimus Prime now to make Earth a home for humans and Cybertronians alike. Taking a cue from the successful Cyberverse Deluxe Class of figures, Megatron is one of the first Deluxe Class figures in the EarthSpark line.
Packaging:
The Deluxe Class packaging for EarthSpark traces its design lineage from the Deluxe Class figures of the Generations line. They are rectangular with an angle on one side (the left if you are facing it). The graphics however are unique to EarthSpark, featuring a combination of blues and purple tones in the background. The left side has artwork featuring several characters including Thrash and Twitch. Megatron's artwork is in the front, right under the open window where the figure sits. Since this is "Plastic Free Packaging" (as called out in the corner) there is no plastic window protecting the figure. A blue Transformers logo is set to the right and above that is the G.H.O.S.T. logo in purple. The box also calls out the "Build A Figure" feature. In this case Megatron includes Mandroid's left arm.
The back of the box features Megatron in both modes, calling out an 11 Step transformation. Again there is a G.H.O.S.T. symbol and inside of it is a smaller Decepticon symbol. Below Megatron is a diagram of how the Build A Figure parts for Mandroid map out to Deluxe Class figure releases. The breakdown is:
- Right Arm: Bumblebee
- Left Arm: Megatron
- Head/Back Frame: Twitch
- Left Leg: Optimus Prime
- Left robotic arm: Shockwave
- Right Leg: Grimlock
- Torso: Nightshade
At the time of Megatron's release in January 2023, the Grimlock and Nightshade figures have yet to be leaked or officially revealed.
Accessories:
Megatron includes two pieces that form his Fusion Cannon. Instead of the traditional tube shaped cannon with a larger tube in the back, this one has a more complex design, featuring a rounded section in the back and an angled, thinner one in the front. There are a lot of mechanical greebles on this cannon, giving it a very robust, powerful and complex appearance. Both pieces are made of dark grey plastic. These also serve as "engine covers" for his rotors in vehicle mode.
The other "accessory" of course is the left human arm of Mandroid for the Build-A-Figure. The arm itself is black with the hand painted a light flesh tone. The ball joint is grey plastic.
Robot Mode:
In EarthSpark, Megatron has altered his form from the familiar G1 blocky design to one that calls back to the 80's while having more sleek and modern lines. This figure manages to feature a lot of the design elements from the animation model including:
- Head: The head design is based on the TV show featuring the familar angled helmet with sharply defined cheeks and a small chin piece.
- Chest: The chest is wide featuring a faux cockpit in the middle and the G.H.O.S.T. symbol above it.
- Shoulders: Megatron's distinctive shoulders feature large "L" shaped panels on the show. The "L" shaped pieces are there, but they look a bit smoother due to them being integrated into the front halves of the vehicle mode.
- Hip Rocket Packs: On each hip is a rocket pack, featuring three rockets sculpted into them. These actually call back to a similar design element on G1 Megatron (minus the rockets).
- Legs: While not a perfect match, the legs do feature vents from the vehicle mode under the knees just like the animation model.
While this figure does use the animation model as its foundation, there are inevitable compromises in the design. The most dramatic one here are the vehicle mode rotors hanging off the forearms. If this were a Warrior Class figure I think I'd be fine with this, but in a Deluxe (especially one where some Target stores are asking $24.99 USD!) I would have hoped these could be tucked away or folded up. Instead they just sit there and look kind of awkward and they pop off rather easily.
Some talk has popped up online about how this figure is a bit small (especially given the price point). It is hard to compare this to Generations Deluxe Class figures because they themselves are all over the place in size and even weight. When I held him up against my Generations shelf he wound up being slightly smaller than Studio Series Blurr so I weighed both. Megatron comes out to 2.2 ounces while Blurr is 2.7 (including all accessories). I think if this were Bumblebee or Thrash I'd be okay with it, but Megatron looks so powerful and robust in the show I found this figure a bit too skinny and small to fully capture the "feel" of the character when he is on screen.
Megatron is made up of silver and dark grey plastic, matching with the animation model's primary colors. Silver, red, metallic blue and purple paint are used to fill in details. Most of the paint winds up on the head and torso. The red in particular pops beautifully against the silver.
There are fifteen point of articulation on this figure. I was particularly disappointed to find that he does not have waist articulation but the transformation keeps that from happening (I would have preferred an alternate transform scheme). Because of the huge shoulders, if you try to do a pose with him pointing the cannon out to the side it looks a bit awkward to me. The articulation is "okay" in my book but could have been better. Each fist features a 5mm port and you can attach his Fusion Cannon (or other 5mm peg weapons) to the sides of the forearms.
Transformation to Vehicle Mode:
- Detach the Fusion Cannon and split it in half.
- Pull the lower body down. This will pull the robot head into the chest.
- Swing the shoulder pieces up and snap them together in the middle.
- Swing the hip/rocket pods up, rotate them around and tab them into the slots on the sides of the torso.
- Rotate the panels on the forearms around (be careful with the rotors as they pop off easily).
- Swing the forearms out, then swing them back, tabbing the forearm panels into the back.
- Swing each foot back.
- Rotate each leg so the back of the lower legs face out to the sides, then swing them up over the thighs.
- Attach the Fusion Cannon halves to the top of each rotor section on the wings.
Vehicle Mode:
Megatron's vehicle mode is a fictional Tilt Rotor aircraft. The main body of the vehicle is thick and looks almost more like a spaceship or some retro steampunk aircraft than anything you'd see in the skies today. I like the design for how unusual it is. The front part especially looks great, and the Fusion Cannon halves sticking out on the back of the rotor sections looks cool too (note: the animation model does not have this detail). Where more design compromises happen is the rear section, which is very wide here but is thinner on the animation model. The rear stabilizer fins almost get lost in the design, which is unfortunate.
All the colors from the robot mode carry over here along with a metallic dark grey used on the wings. This is fairly accurate to the animation model so no criticisms here.
The wings each have 5mm ports on them to attach extra weapons and the rotors both spin. That's about it in terms of action features for this mode.
Final Thoughts:
I have to confess that I was not super stoked for this particular figure based on the initial photos. I had hoped once I had the figure in hand it would exceed my first impressions but nope. It pretty much confirmed my concerns. I don't want to say this is a bad toy. It isn't. It represents the character from the show, it has a fun transform and the scupted details are nice. However, as a whole package the size of the figure and complexity does not do the character justice in my opinion. This is only mildly recommended and I would definitely not pay full price for it. Wait until you have a coupon or there is some kind of sale.
Pros:
- Nicely sculpted details.
- Good deco.
- Good looking vehicle mode.
Cons:
- The figure is a bit small to represent the character properly.
- I wish the figure had more articulation given it is a Deluxe.
