General Information
Release Date: July 2024
Price Point: $34.99 (depending on retailer)
Retailer: General Release (Amazon, BigBadToyStore, Entertainment Earth, Target, Walmart etc.)
Accessories: Blaster, Cannons x 2
Official images and text in italics are from Amazon.com:
- 5.5-INCH VOYAGER CLASS COMBATICON BRAWL: This Transformers figure is 5.5 inches (14 cm) in robot mode and features deco and details inspired by the Transformers universe
- CONVERT FROM ROBOT TO TANK: This Transformers toy figure converts in 23 steps
- COMBINE WITH OTHER COMBATICON FIGURES INTO BRUTICUS: Look for all 5 Combaticon action figures (each sold separately, subject to availability) to create the Bruticus figure
- DOUBLE CANNON AND BLASTER ACCESSORIES: Accessories attach in both modes
- ARTICULATED FOR PLAY AND DISPLAY: Age of the Primes Transformers figures feature articulation for display-worthy poses or action-packed play
- PART OF THE TRANSFORMERS AGE OF THE PRIMES COLLECTION: Combaticon Brawl, descended from Megatronus, is a force on the battlefield
- 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 Combaticon Brawl toy! The 5.5-inch (14 cm) Voyager Class figure converts from robot action figure to tank mode in 23 steps, and can be combined with other Combaticon figures (each sold separately, subject to availability) to make Bruticus. With intricate poseability and attachable accessories like a cannon and a blaster, this Transformers action figure makes an awesome addition to any collection. Look for more Age of the Primes Transformers collectible toys (sold separately, subject to availability) featuring characters like Maximal Big Convoy, Amalgamous Prime, and Junkion Wreck-Gar 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 1985 Hasbro released teams of Transformers who would go on to be called Combiners. Each featured several characters coming together to form one larger robot. These teams generally centered around themes. One team was known as the Combaticons. As their name suggests, their alt modes were mostly military vehicles (except for Blast-Off, the Space Shuttle). One of these team members was Brawl, who transformed into a tank. This is not the first time this character has appeared in the Generations toy line. In 2012, a version was released as part of the Fall of Cybertron line and later that year there was a G2 themed redeco of the same figure. More recently (read: ten years ago) Hasbro released Brawl as part of the Combiner Wars line. Unlike all these previous versions, this figure aims to use the animated series as the foundation of its design.
Packaging:
Combaticon Brawl is packaged in the standard Age of the Primes box design which moved away from the more dramatic designs of the Legacy era to more "standardized" rectangular boxes, similar to Studio Series. The background is mostly black. The front features a now horizontal Transformers logo with the Age of the Primes logo under it. A large open window is present allowing you to see the full figure. This is thanks in part to the return of plastic windows, something fans have missed for a few years now. To the right of the figure is Brawl's artwork in both modes and to the left is an oval shape with icons indicating a 23 step transformation and labeling him as "3 of 5" in a silhouette of Bruticus' head.
The back of the box features Brawl in both modes calling out his 23 step transformation. On the upper right is a box calling out his Combiner feature by saying "Collect to Combine" in multiple languages. The silhouette of Bruticus' head appears again with the "3 of 5" in it next to the Combiner's name. The background behind the figure is a blue space background with a hint of the wheel featuring the symbols of The Thirteen off to the right.
Accessories:
Brawl includes three accessories:
- Blaster: Brawl's handheld blaster is a relatively small one. Its design features a rectangular section in back with some ridged sections towards the middle. Then the barrel narrows from the middle to the front where it comes to a very small point. This is not based on the design of the weapon that came with Brawl's G1 toy, but rather was a design created for the cartoon and comic book models in the 80's. This piece is made of grey plastic with no paint applications. the weapon features a 5mm peg at the bottom and a tip that you can use with Blast Effects.
- Cannons: The original Brawl action figure came with an accessory that featured two large cannons. These would be attached to him in vehicle mode to add to his (imaginary) destructive capability. These cannon accessories call back to that G1 accessory but they used the cartoon/comic book model for them. Instead of one piece, these cannons are now two individual pieces. Both cannons are cylinders with a flared piece in the front. Each is connected to a base piece with tabs that allow you to attach it to the turret on the back or sides. These pieces are made of grey plastic with no paint applications.
Robot Mode:
Any honest review of this figure needs to address the elephant in the room: the scale. Brawl is a Deluxe sized figure in height, standing at about 5.5 inches (about 13.97 cm) but he is sold at a Voyager Class price point. In an era when prices have gone up after years of relative stability, many fans feel an extra sting because of this. At $42.99 USD, he is only about $8-10 away from the old Leader Class price point so you'll be forgiven for feeling sticker shock. So what gives? For a clue, we can look back to 2020's Studio Series 86 Hot Rod which was also a Deluxe sized figure sold at the Voyager Class price point. What it comes down to is complexity and what the figure has to do in its various forms. While Brawl's transformation is not quite as complex as Hot Rod's, he has to transform into three forms: vehicle, robot and Bruticus leg. On top of that, the leg has to also be able to support the relatively heavy Bruticus "frame" and three of its team members who will form the upper body of the Combiner. Given that, this figure is more complex than your typical Deluxe Class figure nowadays and that extra bit of engineering definitely contributes to the price point. On top of all that, cost of production has gone up, adding to the price. I'll talk more about this at the end of the review.
Brawl's basic silhouette is true to his G1 design . He's very blocky with angled arms and legs, the front of the tank forming his torso and the back of the tank forming large, blocky legs. His head is rectangular in shape and sticking up from his back is the tank turret. He also features a lot of smaller details that come from the G1 model including:
- Head: The robot head is rectangular but has a distinct shape with a crest in the middle, an indentation on either side and then panels on either side. The shape originates from the "Scramble City" type heads used on G1 Combiners. He has visor eyes and a distinctive mouth plate with a raised section in the middle.
- Chest: The chest is formed (in part) by the front of the tank mode. Two of the most distinct details are two rectangular indentations towards the top of the chest.
- Mid-Body/Waist: The middle of the robot mode features a trapezoid shaped detail in the middle and the waist area features raised tube-like details based on details from the animation model.
- Legs: The lower legs are bulky and feature tread sections on the back and in the front there are circle details with vents under them, all details seen on the animation model.
Overall this figure looks amazing. There are a ton of mechanical details sculpted into every section of the figure and I believe this is the closest we have come to a "cartoon accurate" Brawl in the Generations toy line.
Brawl is made of olive green, gunmetal grey and a darker grey plastic. Paint colors include orange, red and gunmetal grey. The head features the red and orange paint, offering a bright burst of color on an otherwise dark figure. Gunmetal grey is used for detailing on his arms and legs. His left forearm has a purple Decepticon symbol on it, a detail carried over from the animation model. I was surprised to see the thighs are actually a different shade of grey than the hips and shoulder joints. I appreciate the color variations on the figure.
There are twenty two points of articulation on this figure. That includes five in each arm and leg. I left out his turret in that count. If you count that you can add two more (the turret and the cannon). If you attach the cannons to the turret, you can rotate it around and have the cannons swing over his shoulders. There are five 5mm ports in this mode: the fists, the forearms and one on the back. Brawl feels really solid. All his joints are nice and tight and when you transform him everything feels secure with nothing feeling loose or floppy.
Transformation to Vehicle Mode:
- Detach the weapons and set them aside for now.
- Straighten out the arms and legs.
- Swing the inner panels of the forearms out.
- Swing the front panel on the chest open.
- Push the head down into the chest.
- Swing the panel back into place.
- Swing the chest up. The arms will move with it.
- Rotate the lower body around.
- Swing the front panel on each lower leg up.
- Unfold the treads in the lower legs and straighten them out.
- Push the green panels that form the lower legs together.
- Swing up the tread sections and connect them to the tabs on the sides of the robot mode's mid-body and the two green tabs on the sides of the chest.
- Swing the turret up a bit to get it out of your way.
- Swing the leg panels up and collapse them down to form the rear of the tank.
- Swing the robot arms back.
- On each robot arm swing the small tread piece up.
- Swing the robot arms forward and push them in to form the sides of the tank.
- Swing the arm tread pieces back so they connect with the larger tread sections.
- Push the tread back and down.
- The handheld blaster attaches to the turret.
- The cannons attach to the back of the tank. If you want them more spaced apart, they can also be attached to the back of the turret.
Vehicle Mode:
The original Brawl figure based its vehicle mode on a fictionalized version of the Leopard 1. Of course, that design would then be modified a bit for the animated series and comic books. Still, parts like the shape of the turret and the raised section on the back of the tank show some influences from that original design still remain. Like the animation/comic book model, the cannons are on the back of the vehicle, pointing forward at angles and his blaster is mounted on the turret. Unlike the animation/comic book model, this figure has a lot of beautifully sculpted details including small indentations running along the side of the vehicle and small lights sculpted into the front over the treads. Overall this vehicle sculpt looks fantastic!
All the colors from the robot mode carry over to this mode, with green making up most of the vehicle. The treads and cannon are grey plastic while the blaster and rear cannons are the darker metallic grey. The only "missing" deco is a Decepticon symbol on the front of the tank, which is a shame.
This mode has some fun play features. The turret can turn side to side and the cannon can move up and down. The rear cannons can also move up and down. The sides of the tank have two additional 5mm ports.
Final Thoughts:
Brawl is a solid figure that beautifully represents his G1 animation and comic book model. He has good articulation and features cool accessories that are true to the character. He also looks fantastic in both modes with a lot of wonderfully sculpted detail. His deco is not perfect, but it comes very close. All that said, some fans are going to have issues with it due to the value proposition. The $42.99 USD price point is going to be a tough pill for some to swallow, and I get it. However, if you're looking to complete your nu-Bruticus, this guy will be a must. Is he worth it? I say yes, but just barely and I'm taking into account the current economy in that statement where everything from eggs to cereal are more expensive than ever. Highly recommended, but I get it if the price turns you off.
Pros:
- Excellent sculpt in both modes.
- Excellent articulation.
- Good deco.
- Fun and unique transformation.
Cons:
- The price point is going to turn some fans off.
- I really would have liked the Decepticon symbol on the front of the vehicle mode.
