General Information
Release Date: October 2022
Price Point: $9.99 (depending on retailer)
Retailer: General Release (Amazon, BigBadToyStore, Entertainment Earth, Target, Walmart etc.)
Accessories: Blasters x 2; Axe
Official images and text in italics are from Amazon.com
- TRANSFORMERS G1-INSPIRED DESIGN: This Transformers: Legacy 3.5-inch Bomb-Burst robot toy is inspired by the animated series, The Transformers, updated with a Generations-style design
- UNIVERSES COLLIDE: Universes continue to collide with Transformers: Legacy! This epic line of Transformers toys brings together fan-favorite characters from across the Transformers multiverse
- 2 EPIC MODES: Action figure converts from robot to Cybertronian jet mode in 9 steps. Comes with 2 wing laser blaster accessories
- HARNESS THE POWER OF ENERGON: Gear up with the most powerful substance on Cybertron, Energon! This Transformers Bomb-Burst figure comes with an Energon axe accessory
- SCAN THE CODE: Scan the code on each package to reveal character tech specs from across the multiverse! Collect other Legacy figures to reveal their character tech specs (each sold separately, subject to availability)
Harness the power of Energon with the Transformers: Legacy Core Bomb-Burst robot toy! When darkness falls, Bomb-Burst is the ultimate terror. He swoops down and drains the fuel from his victims with his sharp fangs. Universes continue to collide! Transformers: Legacy brings together fan-favorite characters from across the Transformers multiverse. Figures feature deco inspired by their universe with an updated Generations design. In honor of the almost 40-year legacy of Transformers entertainment, the fandoms come together from across the Transformers multiverse, all in one toy line. Transformers: Legacy action figures are more than just kids’ toys. They’re exciting collectibles for fans of all ages! Transformers and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro.
Background:
Pretenders were introduced to the Transformers toy line in 1988. The conceit revolved around partly organic armor that would fit the entire Transformer as a disguise. When the robot inside left the armor (or shell if you prefer) that Pretender shell could act as an independent fighting unit controlled by the Transformer. At first it was pretty simple with Decepticons using "monster" shells and Autobots using human-like shells. Later there would be all sorts of variants including vehicles and animals. Despite dominating the Transformers line for a couple years in the 80's, the concept never really quite took off in the same way the toy line had in the early 80's.
Reviving Pretenders has been attempted on and off over the years. The widest attempt was done back in the Power of the Primes line where several Pretender "shells" were used as the vessels that "hid" the essence of the 13 Primes. The original 80's Pretender Bomb-Burst was used as the design foundation for the vessel that contained the essence of Megatronus! This Prime Master figure was the last time we saw Bomb-Burst in the toy line in a meaningful way.
As a follow up to the release of fellow Pretender Legacy Ignuanus, the Core Class figures in Legacy Evolution included a Core Class Bomb-Burst. Like Iguanus, the designers took elements of the character's Pretender shell and inner robot and mashed them up into a new (but familiar) form.
Packaging:
Bomb-Burst is packaged in the standard Core Class box with a square shaped section holding the figure and a flap on top. The flap on top has an illustration of Bomb-Burst in vehicle mode while the figure is below in an open window (with no plastic film over it). The "Legacy Evolution" logo is under the window and below that is Bomb-Burst's name. The vertical Transformers logo is set to the right. The background on the entire box is a blue, metallic looking pattern. The back of the box shows both modes calling out a 9 step transformation. Overall it is really beautiful packaging and something that will be missed as we go into 2025 getting more minimalist box designs for both Studio Series and Age of the Primes.
Accessories:
Bomb-Burst includes three accessories:
Axe
This weapon is a distinct design featuring two curved "blades", a longer one on top and a shorter one towards the middle. This is based on the design of the weapon that was included with G1 Bomb-Burst. It has a 3mm peg so he can hold it in his hands. This piece is made of grey plastic with no paint applications.
Blasters
The two blasters included with Bomb-Burst take elements of both the original G1 Bomb-Burst blasters and the Pretender shell and blend them together. For the most part they look like the G1 blasters with mechanical bits all along the weapon, but the "wing" parts that stick out on the sides have bone-like detailing on them that is inspired by the small wing armor on the original Bomb-Burst's Pretender shell shoulders.
The blasters each feature a 5mm peg at the back, and 3mm peg in the front and a 5mm port on the side. The 5mm peg lets larger figures with 5mm ports use these weapons. The 3mm port in the front allows the figure to hold the blasters like axe weapons or you can attach Blast Effects. The 5mm port on the sides allow you to attach the weapons to his forearms or to begs on the cockpit section on the back to call back to he "winged shoulder armor" of the G1 Pretender shell. While this is a fun nod to the original, you have to swing the cockpit out a bit to make it really work and it just winds up looking a tad awkward. Had the design of the weapon or cockpit been changed slightly it would be able to fit properly with the weapons pointed down and the bone-wings facing forward. These weapons are made of blue plastic with grey paint on the bone-wings.
Robot Mode:
The previous Pretender-inspired Core Class figure was Iguanus, and that figure did a good job incorporating elements of the G1 Pretender shell and robot into one form. This time out, Bomb-Burst's robot mode is almost entirely a reimagining of the Pretender Shell as a robot. Key features include:
- Head: The robot head looks very much like an organic bat head, complete with large ears, a snout and sharp looking teeth.
- Chest: The chest panel is shaped like it is protecting organic muscle underneath thanks in part to the way the panels are curved. On both the top and bottom of this panel are claws "holding" it in place.
- Lower Body: The pelvic area has very distinct armor on it in layers with organic looking shapes. This is a riff off the design of the belt on G1 Bomb-Burst's Pretender shell.
- Legs: The legs look mechanical but the curved design feels like a homage to G1 Bomb-Burst's organic shell design. Also, the lower legs feature a layer of armor that wraps around the knees and then extends down tot he ankles.
- Back: The back of the figure has the vehicle mode's cockpit on it and under that you'll see hover fans. These are all details from the G1 Bomb-Burst's inner robot carried over onto his figure.
- Feet: The feet on this figure look mechanical, but they have distinct "claws" sculpted into the front. While the feet on the G1 Pretender shell were organic looking, the homage is clear here.
Bomb-Burst is made up of light grey, dark grey and blue plastic. Paint colors include grey, red, blue, white and gold. The red paint is mostly used on the chest plate but there are bands on the wrists that call back to similar designs on G1 Bomb-Burst's Pretender shell. Blue paint is used on the ears and the eyes are painted gold, a distinct design element carried over from the G1 toy. A small Decepticon symbol tampo is found on the left side of the chest. Overall the deco does a great job of evoking the original Bomb-Burst.
There are twelve points of articulation on this figure. This includes two in each arm and three in each leg. This may not sound like a lot, but most of these articulation points are ball joints, so his actual range of motion is really good. The figure has a 5mm peg on each forearm to attach his blasters. You can also store them on his back.
Transformation to Beast Mode:
- Detach the weapon and set it aside for now.
- Straighten out the arms and legs.
- Push the feet and heels together.
- Swing the cockpit up and over the back of the head.
- Rotate the lower body around.
- Swing the legs up and push the tabs on the back of the lower legs into the slots on the chest.
- Push the arms into the sides. There is a small tab and notch on the shoulder joint that should line up.
- Attach the blasters to the arms.
- The axe can be stored under the cockpit.
Vehicle Mode:
Bomb-Burst's vehicle mode is very much a new iteration of the original figure's vehicle form. Many of the Pretender inner robot alt-modes were basically robot parts folded up and back and then vehicle mode bits slapped on and this is exactly that and I mean this as a compliment! This vehicle mode has many of the design elements fond on the original Bomb-Burst including two hover fans in the middle of the vehicle, a large cockpit in the front, winged blasters on the sides and even a small vertical bit sticking up behind the cockpit. This sculpt does a fantastic job of nodding to the original.
This mode mostly shows off blue and grey plastic. Paint colors include dark grey and red. I really love the way essentially flipping over the figure gives you a very distinct color scheme than the one in robot mode. The blue and grey colors also match up to G1 Bomb-Burst very nicely. In a fun bit of design, you can swap out the weapons to either have the blue sides of the wings facing up or the grey "organic" sides to change the look of the vehicle.
Final Thoughts:
I was always a fan of the Pretenders, so any homage to them is always welcome in my collection. In lieu of having full blown Pretenders with outer shells and so on I do dig these "mash up" versions with shell and inner robot bits in one. Bomb-Burst looks great and is fun to play with on top of his G1 inspired aesthetics. Recommended!
Pros:
- Excellent robot mode sculpt.
- A creative way to blend elements of a Pretender's "shell" and inner robot into one figure.
- Good articulation.
Cons:
- I wish a bit more tinkering had been done with the cockpit design on the back of the robot so the blasters (and the "wings" on them) would attach and hold while sitting flush against the back.
