General Information:
Release Date: March 2023
Price Point: $33.99 (depending on retailer)
Retailer: General Release (Amazon, BigBadToyStore, Entertainment Earth etc.)
Accessories: Blasters x 2, "Titanium Saber" Sword
Official images and text below in italics are from Amazon:
- CELEBRATE THE LEGACY: Transformers Legacy Evolution celebrates the last 40 years of Transformers history. The Metahawk action figure is inspired by The Transformers
- 2 EPIC MODES: Transformers action figure converts from robot to jet mode in 18 steps
- AWESOME ACCESSORIES: This Metalhawk toy for 8 year old boys and girls comes with 2 blasters and a sword accessory that attach to the figure in both modes
- EVOLVE THE BATTLE: Transformers toy robots are upgraded with Evo-Fusion battle features! Evolve the battle by combining the 2 blaster accessories into a double-barreled blaster accessory
- REVEAL TECH SPECS: Scan the code on each package to reveal character tech specs! Collect other Transformers figures to discover facts and abilities (each sold separately, subject to availability)
The battle is evolving with the Transformers Legacy Evolution Metalhawk action figure! Metalhawk is the fearless leader of the Autobot Pretenders, tirelessly fighting to spread freedom throughout the universe. Transformers toys are upgraded with Evo-Fusion technology! Experience the evolution and combine the 2 blaster accessories into a double-barreled blaster accessory to prepare for battle! Celebrate the last 40 years of Transformers history with Transformers Legacy action figures for boys and girls. Transformers Legacy opens the portal to a whole new universe of -- More Than Meets the Eye, bringing together every generation of Transformers like you’ve never seen before. Collect and combine different characters to create your ideal Legacy lineup.
Packaging:
Metalhawk is packaged in the standard Legacy Evolution Voyager Class box. This rectangular box features angles on the top and left side (if you are facing the box). As part of Hasbro's "plastic free" packaging there is a window in the front of the box showing off the figure from the chest but, but there is no plastic window. The Transformers logo is set vertically to the right and the Legacy logo is also on the front towards the bottom. The figure is sitting on a cardboard tray in robot mode with an illustration of his vehicle mode with his weapons attached. The left side features artwork of Metalhawk in robot mode. The back shows off Metalhawk in both modes calling out an 18 step transformation and the "Evo Fusion" ability of his weapons to combine. The QR code to scan for Tech Specs is located on the top of the box, though as of late March 2023 the tech specs have not yet been posted on Hasbro's site. It is likely this figure was not intended for release this early in the year. When they eventually add the tech specs they will be added to this review.
Background:
In 1988 a Japanese exclusive Transformers series debuted known as Masterforce. Among the main characters in this show were characters based on the Pretenders toys released that year. Most of these had counterparts outside of Japan, but one character was unique to this series: Metalhawk. In this show he was the leader of the Cybertron/Autobot Pretenders. For years, the G1 toy was the only version of the character, but later there would be two new versions of the character created and another that paid homage to him in Power of the Primes:
- Timelines Metalhawk
- Titans Return Metalhawk
- Power of the Primes Vector Prime with Metalhawk Decoy Armor
This figure is an extensive retool and redeco of Kingdom Cyclonus so it's worth checking out that review to get background on the figure. This review will focus on the (many) changes to the base tooling for this release.
Accessories:
Metalhawk features all new accessories and does not have Cyclonus' gun. Each of these is based on an accessory from his G1 incarnation:
- Sword: Metalhawk's "Titanium Saber" sword features a "V" shaped section on top and narrows in the middle before connecting with the hilt. There is also a tube sculpted into the sword that connects the blade to the hilt. These design elements are direct callbacks to features on the original Metalhawk's sword. This piece is made of light silver plastic with no paint applications. The sword has a 5mm peg handle, a 5mm peg on one side (for weapons storage in robot mode) and tabs on the other side for storage in vehicle mode.
- Blasters: The two blasters in this set are also based off of weapons from G1 Metalhawk. Each features a vertical and horizontal stabilizer fin connected to a weapon barrel. Each weapon features tabs on the sides to connect to the vehicle mode and each blaster end can fit a Blast Effect. These are both made of the same silver plastic as the sword with no paint applications.
Robot Mode:
When I say this figure is a retool/redeco of Cyclonus, I don't mean they just did a head swap. If you just take a quick glance at the two figures side by side, they look like completely different toys. It is actually more expedient for me to note which parts carry over from Cyclonus because everything else is new. Doing a side by side comparison of the two, the Cyclonus parts that carry over to this figure are the shoulders, elbows, fists, thighs, back panels on the lower legs and feet. Many of the new parts are inspired by Metalhawk's animated appearance including:
- Head: The head sculpt is right out of the animation, featuring a curved helmet section with two antennae like pieces on either side of the head.
- Torso: The entire torso and waist pieces are new, with a design heavily based on G1 Metalhawk's toy and animation model. This includes distinct a set of angled details forming the chest, then a narrowing towards the mid-body before widening again at the hips. The top of the chest features a raised, collar-like area as well. Also, the area on either side of the head features an air intake, similar to the G1 Seekers.
- Wings: These pieces are interesting. Technically they are not totally new. The middle section of these wings are the same as the ones on Cyclonus but they removed the part of the wing on the hinge and instead attached a larger wing piece on top of it to match the appearance of Metalhawk's wings from the Masterforce animation. It is not often this type of grafting is done on Transformers parts.
- Lower Legs: The front and sides of the lower legs are new pieces, designed to both accommodate the blasters in vehicle mode and resemble the one from the animation. The most distinct feature is the knee armor, which is a vertical piece which extends over the knees and part of the thighs.
Overall, Metalhawk looks like the cartoon character jumped out of the screen into plastic form. Sure some parts are still very "Cyclonus" (the shoulders in particular) but enough has been changed that he totally works as a new version of the character.
Metalhawk is made up of blue, metallic yellow, light silver and red plastic. For the most part the color layout of the plastic matches up very nicely with the animation model with only the arms featuring significant differences. In the animated model his elbows are red and fists are blue. However, I prefer how this figure looks with the light silver elbows and fists breaking up the blue color. Paint colors on the figure include red, blue and light silver. Some of the nicer details include the Autobot symbol and red lines on his chest (which is a callback to the animation model) and the light silver around the top of the lower legs that is directly inspired by the animation model. The deco looks great and I really love the look of this figure.
There are twenty two points of articulation on this figure. This includes four in each arm and six in each leg. There are nine 5mm ports to connect extra accessories. This includes two on the bottom of his feet, one on the side of each arm and leg and a port on his back to store his sword weapon. This also includes on 5mm port in each fist, allowing him to hold his weapons.
Transformation to Vehicle Mode:
- Detach all accessories and set them aside for now.
- Straighten out the arms and legs.
- Swing the fists into the forearms.
- Swing the torso panel forward.
- Swing the arms back.
- Swing the back panel out.
- Swing the robot head down then swing up the nosecone and snap it into place.
- Swing the torso and back panels back into place.
- On each lower leg swing the back panels out then swing out the rear engine thrusters.
- Swing the feet up into the opening on the lower legs.
- Push the lower leg panels back down.
- Push the two lower legs together.
- Rotate the section with the arms attached.
- On each arm, swing the wings out, then attach them to the sides of the arms.
- Swing each arm down on the silver hinged piece, then connect the rectangular slots of the forearms to the large tabs on the silver section.
- Push the lower legs up and connec the rear part of the vehicle to the middle.
- Attach each blaster to the sides of the lower legs in the back of the vehicle.
- The sword can attach to the top of the vehicle either using the tabs on the sword or the peg.
Vehicle Mode:
The G1 Pretender vehicle modes were not particularly complicated, even by G1 standards. That said, Metalhawk's was better than most and looked more like an Earth-based vehicle than most. While there are parts shared between Cyclonus and Metalhawk, the vehicle modes look completely different. Whereas Cyclonus is a futuristic scifi spaceship, Metalhawk looks more like someone modified an F-15 Fighter Jet. The key parts that create this look are:
- Cockpit: The front of the vehicle features a traditional Earth-based jet cockpit and nosecone. An early photo of Metalhawk seemed to show that this section was shortened (and it looked bad) but I can tell you this part looks in proportion with the rest of the figure. I suspect that photo was edited improperly.
- Wings: Metalhawk's wings are one of his most distinct features. They sweep back and feature cylinders at the ends of the wings that look like blasters. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the front and back of these cylinders feature points that can fit Blast Effects.
- Stabilizer Fins: The back of the vehicle features vertical and horizontal stabilizer fins formed by the blaster weapons. This feature is a direct callback to G1 Metalhawk's toy which did the same thing.
- Additional Fins: On the figure itself there are two additional vertical stabilizer fins. This may seem like an odd design choice since the blasters already provide a pair of vertical fins, but this is a direct homage to the way G1 Metalhawk's robot feet were positioned in vehicle form, essentially creating an additional set of stabilizer fins!
Overall the changes made to the Cyclonus sculpt not only dramatically change the robot mode, but the vehicle mode as well. Metalhawk does a fantastic job of looking like an update to the character from the 80's.
This mode mixes up the various colors discussed in the robot mode. Newly revealed parts include the cockpit/nosecone section which is blue plastic with red paint on the cockpit window. The main body of the vehicle shows off blue and silver plastic while parts of the wings and "extra" vertical fins feature red paint on them. I do wish the wings had the blue and white designs from the G1 toy, but to be fair those details were not featured in the cartoon.
One last note on functionality: the engine thrusters in the back feature new pieces. Unlike Cyclonus, these feature four pegs to fit Blast Effects so you can make it look like Metalhawk is blasting off at high speed!
Final Thoughts:
Metalhawk is simply spectacular. Once upon a time, a redeco/retool meant "Let's give this figure a new head and paint and call it a day" but this change is so extensive that this is basically a brand new figure even if it does share parts with Cyclonus. I love the look of the newly sculpted parts and it is great to finally have a true Metalhawk figure available at mass retail outside of Japan. Highly recommended!
Pros:
- Excellent retool featuring an extraordinary number of new parts.
- Several design elements call back to G1 Metalhawk from the head to the torso to the weapons.
- Good deco.
- Fun and intuitive transformation.
- First time this character is being offered at mass retail (remember, Power of the Primes was not technically Metalhawk).
Cons:
- I would have totally accepted a Deluxe sized, articulated Pretender Shell with a Legends Class sized Metalhawk inside, but that's just me. That's my way of reaching for a "con" by pointing out there is no Pretender shell. I know, reach!
