General Information
Release Date: October 2024
Price Point: $59.99
Retailer: Amazon exclusive (with a limited number sold on Hasbro Pulse)
Accessories: Bludgeon - Sword, Cannon Barrels x 2, Tank Turret Base/Ruckus - Shoulder Cannons x 2, Blaster
Official images and text in italics are from Amazon.com:
- DOOM ‘N DESTRUCTION COLLECTION 2-PACK: The Mayhem Attack Squad set includes Decepticon Bludgeon action figure and Decepticon Rukus action figure
- 2-IN-1 CONVERTING TRANSFORMERS TOYS: Decepticon Bludgeon and Decepticon Rukus action figures convert between robot and vehicle mode
- MAYHEM ATTACK SQUAD FIGURES: The Voyager Class Decepticon Bludgeon action figure is 7-inch 17.5 cm) in robot mode. The Deluxe Class Deceptiocn Rukus action figure is 5.5-inch (14 cm) in robot mode
- AWESOME ACCESSORIES: The Doom ‘n Destruction Collection Mayhem Attack Squad pack comes with 7 blaster accessories that attach to the figures
- ARTICULATED FOR PLAY AND DISPLAY: Transformers figures feature articulated heads, arms, and legs for action poses
- CELEBRATE THE LEGACY: Transformers Legacy United honors 40 years of Transformers animated history! Collect other Legacy: United figures to unite your collection (each sold separately, subject to availability)
- GIFT TRANSFORMERS COLLECTIBLES: This action figure toy 2-pack makes a great collectible figure gift for any Transformers fan
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 the 7-inch (17.5 cm) Voyager Class Decepticon Bludgeon action figure that converts between robot toy and tank toy, and the Deluxe Class 5.5-inch (14 cm) Deceptiocn Rukus action figure that that converts between robot toy and car toy. Gear them up for battle with the included blaster accessories. The Transformers figures feature articulated heads, arms, and legs for awesome action poses. 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 new versions of the Decepticons Bludgeon and Rukus (aka Grabuge or Ruckus), both of whom were members of the Mayhem Attack Squad at different points in Transformers history. Bludgeon is a redeco and retool of...well, Legacy Bludgeon (who in turn was based on the Tarn figure). Rukus is an extensive redeco and retool of Legacy Beachcomber. You'll definitely want to check out those reviews first. This review will focus on the changes made to the figures for this release.
Packaging:
Bludgeon and Rukus are 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: "Decepticon Bludgeon" and "Decepticon Rukus". 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 both 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. Bludgeon is listed as having 27 steps while Rukus has 9.
Accessories:
Bludgeon includes the same accessories as the single release of Legacy Bludgeon. Here's a rundown of his accessories:
- Cannon 1: This is not the official name, but since he comes with two I have to distinguish them somehow. This cannon is (presumably) the back half of the larger cannon when you combine the two into a super weapon. The rear of this weapon features a rectangular section while the rest is a cylinder. This piece is made of green plastic with gunmetal grey paint. This piece features a 5mm peg on the back and bottom and a 5mm opening in the front.
- Cannon 2: Again, not the official name but I am calling it this to differentiate this accessory from the other. This cannon has a design that is distinct from Cannon 1. This cannon is mostly a cylinder with a raised, angled piece on top towards the back and the barrel narrows towards the front. This cannon is also made of green plastic with gunmetal grey paint on it. There are 5mm pegs on the back and bottom while the front has a 5mm port.
- Tank turret base: The two cannons can attach to a turret base piece. This is what allows the cannons to attach as a dual cannon to the figure in either mode. The top part of this piece is gunmetal grey and the bottom piece is a mustard yellow. The top part has a 5mm port on top and two ports on either side. The bottom features a 5mm peg. The reason there are two pieces is so the turret can turn in tank mode.
- Sword: The sword accessory is an addition to this set. The design is based upon the one carried by Bludgeon in the IDW Publishing comic books. The sword is made out of gunmetal grey plastic with silver paint on the sword blade. The handle is 5mm and thereis a 5mm peg on the side of the hilt to attach it to his back in robot mode for storage. I love the addition of the sword as it calls back to his appearances in the G1 comic books where he was shown wielding a sword even though the G1 figure did not include one.
Robot Mode:
This Bludgeon is a redeco and retool of the Legacy Bludgeon figure, which in turn was a redeco and retool of Legacy Tarn. When the Tarn figure was turned into Bludgeon, only the head sculpt was changed. This time out however the designers went the extra mile more than just the head. Here's what's changed:
- Head: This figure features a different head sculpt than the previous Bludgeon figure. That head sculpt was based more on his G1 appearance. This one however is based on his appearance in the IDW Publishing comic books. The helmet section is similar to the previous one, resembling a Samurai armor helmet. The face is the big difference. Instead of having a regular looking mouth area, it looks like the plate that makes up his face was cut in half, leaving his mouth area open with a series of wires extending out of it. It is a very distinctive design and gives the character a unique appearance.
- Chest: The chest panel has been replaced with one based on his IDW Publishing appearance. This panel is flat and has a couple distinctive sections including one that looks like a hinge on the sides and two lines that come to angles in the middle with rows of vertical lines inside. The lower part of the chest has a rectangular section flanked by two circles.
- Waist: The waist panel has been replaced with a new one. This piece has a distinctive trapezoid piece in the middle that was present in the comic book. Like the chest plate, it is very different than the previous Bludgeon so it helps make this figure look distinctive.
Overall I'm very glad the designers changed these parts. Otherwise it would have felt a rather redundant to have folks buy one Bludgeon only to have to buy another later to get the Rukus figure. At least this way there is a bit more incentive to do so.
Not only does this figure feature new parts, but it also has a very different color scheme than its predecessors. In the IDW Publishing series, Bludgeon's appearance changed over time but he began with a color scheme mostly made up of green, yellow and grey plastics. To that end, this figure is made up of green, yellow and gunmetal grey plastic. Paint colors include yellow, green, gunmetal grey and red. While not exactly laid out the way they were in the comic book, using these colors offers a figure that definitely has the visual spirit of the comic book model.
The joints on my copy of this figure all feel just as tight as those on my solo release of Bludgeon. The weapons also attach to the 5mm ports and fists without a problem.
Transformation to Vehicle Mode:
- Detach the accessories and set them aside for now.
- Straighten out the arms and legs.
- Swing the cannons on his back down.
- Pull the back plate out, then swing it down and rotate it around.
- Rotate the head around, then swing it back and down.
- Lift up the chest plate.
- Pull the shoulder/treads out a bit to the sides.
- Rotate each arm up.
- Swing the inner tread on each arm back at an angle.
- Swing the chest plate up more, connecting it to the tab on the piece attached to the robot head.
- Push the lower legs together.
- Point the feet down.
- Rotate the shoulder/tread section so they are aligned with the main body.
- Push the back panel with the cannons on it down.
- Swing the lower leg armor back a bit.
- Rotate the forearms so the dark grey forearm armor faces the bottom of the vehicle.
- Rotate the fists so the fingers are facing the same direction as the bottom of the vehicle.
- Swing the forearms in, with the elbow joints at an angle, then connect the forearms to the sides of the thighs using the tabs on the thighs and the slots on the forearms.
- Swing the forearm armor up.
- On outer shoulder sections, swing the panels on the sides out. Then swing the tread sections back, then swing the panels up.
- Swing the lower legs up and down, connecting them to the tabs on the back panel and tank tread sections.
- Attach the tank barrel base with cannons to the slots to the slots on the lower leg sections towards the back of the tank.
- The sword can be attached to one of the ports on the side of the vehicle.
Vehicle Mode:
In G1, Bludgeon's "inner robot" transformed into a tank, so this figure's vehicle mode was perfect for the character. Unlike the previous version of this mode the colors are mostly centered around green and gunmetal grey with some yellow sticking out in the front and back. From a sculpt standpoint everything remains the same as previous versions. I think it looks good and definitely different than the previous versions of this sculpt.
Accessories:
Rukus includes three accessories, two of which are new and one is carried over from Beachcomber.
- Machine Gun: Rukus has the same hand held weapon as Beachcomber. This piece is a machine gun with a compact body and a small barrel sticking out in front. This piece serves a dual purpose. In robot mode it acts as his weapon, but in vehicle mode it serves as his grille so it has a design featuring bars running across on the top section looking a bit like a “cage” in front of the vehicle. This weapon features two 5mm pegs, one on the bottom and one on the left side. The barrel is able to accommodate Blast Effects. This piece is made of beige plastic with black paint on the body of the weapon.
- Shoulder Cannons: In a callback to the original G1 Ruckus figure this figure features two shoulder cannons. These attach to the new torso/back pieces on the figure so they can swing back and forward, a nod to G1 Ruckus' action feature (though on this figure you have to manually move the weapons up and back). These cannons are rectangular in shape with targeting scopes sculpted onto them, a nod to the original Ruckus' cannons. These pieces can detach from their shoulder mounts and be used as hand held weapons by Rukus thanks to 5mm pegs on each weapon. The barrel ends each feature attachment points for Blast Effects. These cannons are made of beige plastic with no paint applications.
Robot Mode:
In the past a retool usually just meant a new head slapped onto previous figure's body. That still happens but Hasbro and Takara Tomy have really elevated their "retool" game over the years. Rukus is a brilliant example of this. While this figure is a retool of Beachcomber, there are a ton of new parts. All that is left of Beachcomber are the shoulders, hips, pelvis and PVC/rubbery wheels. Here's a rundown of the new parts:
- Head: The new head on this figure is based on Ruckus' G1 head design. The head features a helmet section with a thin crest on top, horns sticking out to the sides and a face with a distinctive chin piece.
- Torso: Most of the upper body on this figure is new. The front has layered details based on the G1 figure's design. This includes designs on the chest that almost look like wings. The back piece features details calling back to G1 Ruckus including distinctive ridges/vent details on the back. The back piece is also what contains the mechanism that holds his shoulder cannons. As mentioned above you have to manually move the blasters but I appreciate the nod to G1 Ruckus.
- Forearms: The forearms are new pieces featuring sculpted details that are made to resemble the sticker details on G1 Ruckus. This includes details on the top of the forearms and on the sides. More on that in the vehicle mode review.
- Legs: Rukus' legs are a really interesting part of the figure as they are not only brand new parts, but they are also designed to make Rukus much taller than Beachcomber! Put Beachcomber and Rukus side by side and you'll see a significant height difference, something I did not expect. This extra height also allowed the designers to create leg pieces that look like G1 Ruckus' legs. This includes the top half of the legs having "spring" details in them (a carry over from stickers on G1 Ruckus) while the lower half of the legs have the vehicle mode windows on them.
The retooling of Beachcomber into Rukus is top notch work. I love how many new parts this figure features and he looks exactly like what you'd expect of Generations update of the character to look like.
Rukus is made up of beige, dark purple and black PVC plastic. Paint colors include silver, teal, yellow and red. The silver and teal used for detailing on the arms and legs that call back to stickers on G1 Ruckus. His face is painted yellow with red eyes. A Decepticon symbol is tampographed onto his chest. The color are all based on G1 Ruckus' figure and stickers and they look fantastic.
There are twenty four points of articulation on this figure. This includes five on each arm and six on each leg. I'm also counting the shoulder cannons moving forward and back. There are five 5mm ports for accessories: the fists, the forearms and one on the back. The shoulder cannons can be detached for Rukus to hold in hand.
Transformation to Vehicle Mode:
- Detach the hand held blaster and set it aside for now.
- Straighten out the arms and legs.
- Swing the heel pieces down.
- Tab each arm into the torso by using the tabs on the insides of the arms and their corresponding slots on the torso.
- On the back of each leg, swing the purple panels out.
- Push the legs together.
- Swing the legs up at the hip joints (this helps give you clearance for the next step).
- Swing the legs back to form a bulk of the vehicle mode. Parts on the legs should wind up covering up the robot fists.
- Swing the purple panels from the legs back into place.
- Attach the blaster to the front of the vehicle.
Vehicle Mode:
Rukus transforms into a dune buggy, the same as Beachcomber but he does not look like him at all in this mode. Instead of having an open passenger section in the middle, his is enclosed. He also looks more angular and "scifi" than Beachcomber does. The front is low leading to an angled cabin section and then a rear section that is positioned higher up. The sides feature his wheels and cannons which are partially hidden by the arm panels on the sides. You can swing them up to look similar to how they appeared on the G1 toy. Overall the vehicle mode looks fantastic.
The colors for this mode all carry over from the robot mode. Perhaps the most dramatic details are the sides, which feature the silver and teal painted details along with a purple Decepticon symbol. These details are inspired by the stickers on G1 Ruckus and they look great.
This mode gives you three 5mm ports to attach additional accessories: one on top and two on the sides. He rolls on the PVC wheels without a problem.
Final Thoughts:
I really dig this two pack, mostly for Rukus (who is an amazing retool/redeco). I am happy to see the effort made in redoing the Tarn sculpt again for another Bludgeon. However, how much joy you get out of this set may depend on whether or not you bought the previous Bludgeon (or how big of a Bludgeon fan you are). Highly recommended but tempered by whether or no you already have Legacy Bludgeon in your collection.
Pros:
- Rukus is an amazing retool/redeco with many new parts and significant color differences from Beachcomber.
- Bludgeon features more new parts than the previous version and a significantly different deco.
Cons:
- If you already own Tarn and Legacy Bludgeon it may temper how enthusiastic you are for this set.
