General Information:
Release Date: July 2023
Price Point: $24.99 (depending on retailer)
Retailer: Walmart Exclusive (with limited quantities on Hasbro Pulse)
Accessories: Blaster, Rocket Launcher (non-working), Blaster/connector piece
Official images and text in italics below are from Hasbro Pulse
Unleash a storm of toxic destruction with the G2 Universe Autobot Jazz action figure! This converting Transformers action figure for boys and girls is inspired by the original color designs from the G2 toy line in the ‘90s. The bright color scheme of this Transformers toy is sure to stand out in any fan’s collection. This G2 Universe Autobot Jazz toy makes a great gift for Transformers fans and collectors. Look for more Transformers Legacy toys to add to your collection (each sold separately, subject to availability).
Includes: Figure, 3 accessories, and instructions.
- TOXITRON COLLECTION: A collection of Transformers robots has risen out of the Toxic Sludge Swamps of Cybertron! Toxitron is unleashing radioactive mayhem with a team of toxic warriors
- G2-INSPIRED DESIGNS: These action figures are inspired by some of the unreleased color designs from the original G2 toy line. Featuring bright neon color schemes, these figures will stand out in your collection
- 2 EPIC MODES: Transformers action figure for boys and girls converts from robot to racecar mode in 20 steps
- AWESOME ACCESSORIES: This G2 Universe Autobot Jazz toy for 8 year old boys and girls comes with 3 blaster accessories that attach to the figure in both modes
- CELEBRATE THE LEGACY: Transformers Legacy Evolution celebrates 40 years of Transformers history. Collect different characters to create your ideal Legacy lineup (each sold separately, subject to availability)
Figure scale: 5.5-inch. Ages 8 and up
Background:
In July of 2023 Hasbro and Walmart released a new Capsule program (i.e. a set of exclusive toys with a theme) based around the character of Toxitron. Inspired by an unreleased neon green and purple Optimus Prime redeco from Transformers Universe Hasbro decided to do something particularly wacky and base an entire capsule around the idea of wild and bright colors on both the action figures themselves and their packaging. The idea is that all the Autobots and Decepticons with crazy color schemes emerged from a Toxic Sludge Swamp on Cybertron, explaining their decos.
In the latter days of Generation 2, Hasbro had many ideas for redecos of existing toys to release as part of the toy line. Those ideas would largely be abandoned to launch Beast Wars Transformers, but when the "Transformers Vault" book was released fans were treated to the sight of a very amusing mock up of Jazz's package art in fiery orange and yellow colors. You can see this artwork below. It is this artwork that became the basis of this figure.
This figure is a redeco of the Studio Series 1986 Autobot Jazz figure with some extra accessories (more on that below). This review will focus on the changes made to the figure for this release.
Packaging:
The Toxitron Collection is technically part of the Legacy Evolution sub-line of Generations so it takes a lot of its packaging design cues from that line including the angled shape of the box, the giant “Legacy Evolution” logo and the use of the character’s alt mode in front of the box. However, the designers decided to really go with the 90’s G2 inspired theme and color the packaging as if it were a neon “black light” poster. The background is very dark while Sideswipe's illustration (both robot and vehicle modes) feature him in bright, neon colors. It’s a really fun, creative way to make the packaging distinctive for this capsule program.
The back of the box shows Jazz in both modes calling out a 20 step transformation. It also features a design that looks like sludge with a “toxic” symbol with a G1 Autobot symbol in the middle. The packaging also specifically calls out Sideswipe as being from the G2 Universe (complete with G2 Autobot symbol) in case anyone had any doubt if this release was a homage to that era of Transformers toys.
Accessories:
Jazz includes three accessories. One is the same rifle the Studio Series 86 version came with (made of red plastic and painted silver). In a callback to his G2 toy (which came with extra weaponry), this Jazz also includes extra weapons. Specifically, he includes an extra blaster and a non-firing rocket launcher. These two accessories are interesting as they actually come from a Generations Hound figure that was leaked last year, yet Hasbro has yet to acknowledge its existence publicly. They have however revealed its redeco in a recent Pulse stream as the upcoming Legacy Detritus, so go figure. Anyhow, if these accessories look familiar it is because they are basically Hound's shoulder mounted rocket launcher and his "hologram gun" with its distinct wide barrel. Both weapons are made of orange plastic and the rocket on the launcher is painted silver. If you combine these weapons, you can approximate the look of Jazz having a shoulder mounted rocket launcher, a key element of the concept art that this figure is based on!
This reuse of another figure's weapon is most welcome and definitely adds value to the figure, but unfortunately Jazz's relative lack of 5mm ports means in vehicle mode there's nowhere to put all the weapons unless you connect them together in an awkward "U" shape that frankly just looks very silly. Still, I am super happy the designers added extra accessories to this set.
Robot Mode:
Generation 2 is often reviled and revered for its use of bright color schemes (though they are not as prevelant in the line as you may think). So when the artwork that inspired this figure was first revealed years ago, many fans were highly amused by the orange, yellow and red color scheme that made Jazz look like he was on fire or coming out of lava. This figure wholeheartedly embraces this deco and does its best to follow what is seen in the artwork. This figure is largely made up of orange and red plastic with the wheels done in black plastic. While garish in their own way, the colors do alternate, so we get some nice breaks. For instance, the thighs are red while the lower legs are orange and the wheel wells on the sides are red and black. This helps keep the figure from looking monotonous. Paint colors include yellow, black and silver. These colors also follow the package art, with silver on his lower legs and feet, yellow on his face and black painted on his vehicle mode grille (which shows up on the chest in this mode). There is also orange paint used on the torso. It is a wonderfully garish color but it matches up with the orange plastic nicely. It's not perfect, perhaps one shade darker but it looks good.
The back panels on Jazz are made up of translucent orange plastic, and I know this will make some fans nervous. There have been reports of Studio Series 86 Jazz breaking and snapping during transformation because of the translucent parts. I am sure this happens, but after several transformations I have yet to see this happen on my Studio Series 86 Jazz. I transformed this figure a couple times for this review, and as far as I can tell there are not any cracks or stress marks on the translucent orange plastic. I grant this could change in time as plastic can become more brittle over many years, but for now this figure holds together well during transformation.
If you want to create the illusion of Jazz's shoulder mounted rocket launcher, attach the "holo-gun" to Jazz's back, the connect the rocket launcher to that and angle it a bit so it goes over one shoulder. I love this small detail and I am glad the designers found a way to work it into this figure's release.
All twenty two points of articulation on this figure are nice and tight. The 5mm port on his back still holds any 5mm peg weapon nice and snug so no worries about quality control issues from me.
Transformation to Vehicle Mode:
- Detach the accessories and set them aside for now.
- Straighten out the arms and legs.
- Swing each fist into the forearms.
- Swing the back pack up, swing the doors out and then pull out the rear window.
- Swing the rear wheel wells on the lower legs up.
- Point the front of each foot down.
- Swing the chest up.
- Push the robot head down, then swing up the middle panel under the chest that will fill in the gap where the head was located.
- Rotate the lower body around.
- Rotate the chest around.
- Swing each lower leg up over the thighs, then push the two lower legs together to form the rear of the vehicle.
- Swing the robot arms back, then swing them in so they wind up under the front of the car.
- Rotate the forearms so the small tabs on them face outward.
- Push the windshield/cabin cover section down and swing the doors in, connecting them to the tabs on the forearms. The blasters can be attached to the top of the car.
Vehicle Mode:
The vehicle mode consolidates the various panels that form the vehicle mode, and what this gives us is a look at the deco of this figure in its full glory. My absolute favorite paint work is the front half of the car where orange paint fades into red near the windshield via a beautiful spray op. A yellow G2 symbol graces the front of the hood and the grille is painted black, offering some welcome contrast against the orange color. The doors each have orange, triangle designs on them that are directly inspired by the G2 artwork. These designs also extend to the spoiler. I love the colors on this figure and the paint work is fantastic. Having the very 90's-esque triangles on the doors and spoiler are fun reminders of that time as well.
Jazz only has one 5mm port on the top of the vehicle, so you will either have to pick one weapon to attach or connect them together to create a weird looking weapon that looks like a big U sitting on top of the car. I personally prefer just picking one weapon at a time to attach to the vehicle.
Final Thoughts:
This is a figure that I can see being very divisive. If you love the garish decos from G2 then this one's for you. If you think this is just eye searingly bad, then you'll want to skip it. The base sculpt itself is a fun toy and one of the best Jazz sculpts in the entire Generations line. Recommended!
Pros:
- Excellent sculpt in both modes.
- Unique deco that calls back to an unreleased Jazz figure.
- Good articulation.
- Fun and intuitive transformation
Cons:
- The translucent hinges are a concern (mine are fine, but I would be remiss if I did not bring it up).
- The rather bright color scheme may be off putting to some.
