General Information:
Release Date: October 2019
Price Point: $19.99 (depending on retailer)
Retailer: General (Amazon, BigBadToyStore, Entertainment Earth, Target, Wal-Mart etc.)
Accessories: Blaster; Harpoon
Official images and text below in italics are from Amazon.com:
- BUILD THE ULTIMATE BATTLEFIELD: Discover an expansive ecosystem of collectible figures and weapon accessories with Siege figures. (Each sold separately. Subject to availability).
- CUSTOMIZABLE WEAPON LOADOUT: Autobot Impactor figure comes with 2 weapon accessories. Multiple C. O. M. B. A. T. weapon ports on figure enable weapon accessories to attach in custom configurations in bot and vehicle modes.
- EXPANDABLE WEAPON SELECTION: Fans can build bigger mission load outs by compiling an arsenal of additional weapon accessories from other Siege figures. (Each sold separately. Subject to availability).
- G1-INSPIRED CYBERTRONIAN ALT MODE: Deluxe Class WFC-S42 Autobot Impactor toy features classic conversion between robot and Cybertronian vehicle modes in 14 steps.
- ADD BATTLE EFFECTS: Attach Fire Blasts accessories (not included. Included with Battle Masters figures. Each sold separately. Subject to availability) to the ends of weapon accessories to simulate blaster fire coming from weapons.
Build the ultimate battlefield with Siege figures. Siege plunges fans into the epic fight to survive on the final day of the Autobot and Deception battle to control Cyber Tron. The Deception resistance army and the Autobot counter-resistance fighters gear up with the C. O. M. B. A. T. (Cybertronian Omnifuctional Modular Battlefield Assault Tech) System, the universe's most advanced modular weaponry -- including the formidable Autobot army captain and wrecker, Impactor. The Deluxe Class WFC-S42 Autobot Impactor figure comes with a hook hand replacement and an HP Energon Mine blaster weapon accessory, and features a non-detachable shoulder cannon. Figure features multiple C. O. M. B. A. T. System weapon ports to attach weapons, enabling custom configurations in bot and vehicle modes. Transformers and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro.
The 1980's Marvel UK comic book series was known for telling many tales that were not told in its US counterpart. Among those tales were ones that involved the "Wreckers" Autobot team. When the team was introduced, they were led by a rough and tough Autobot named Impactor. The character was not in a lot of stories, but he made enough of an impression that many years later fans would still remember him, leading to a different version of the character appearing in the IDW Publishing comic books.
Despite his relative popularity among hardcore Transformers fans, the character did not appear in toy form until the Fall of Cybertron line in 2013. Then in 2016 he was released as a Transformers Collector's Club exclusive. Both times however the figure was a redeco/retool of a pre-existing figure. This time out, Impactor is a brand new sculpt all his own.
Packaging:
Taking a cue from "Studio Series", the Deluxe figures in "Siege" are packaged in boxes instead of the traditional bubble card used for Deluxe Class figures. These boxes are beautiful featuring an unusual shape with one flat side and one angled side. While elements of previous packaging are still found on the boxes (ex: the vertical Transformers logo, the "Generations" logo, a largely black background etc.) there is a lot more added on. First, the background is not solid black. There are designs on it that look like sparks or perhaps embers from flames On the angled side is the character's package art. In this case it shows Impactor standing on the battlefield, seemingly surveying something in the distance. The figure itself is in robot mode behind a clear plastic window. To the left is a chevron with the character name. Below that is the "War for Cybertron: Siege" logo.
On the back of the box, Impactor is shown in bothmodes and holding a Battle Master with Blast Effects attached. His cosells are Aimless and Caliburst.
In a fun extra, shining a black light on the packaging will reveal Cybertronian glyphs. Input them on Hasbro's "Teletraan-1" web site and you get a translation. In Impactor's case it is "WRECKERS", referring to Impactor's tough team of Autobot warriors. Enter that into the Teletraan-1 site and it a wallpaper featuring his package art and his location as being in the "Sonic Canyons" with the blurb "Area known for deafening sound and dangerous environment. Possible coded message received: Wreck and rule. Communication analysis in progress.".
Robot Mode:
When he was originally introduced in Marvel Comics, Impactor was a fairly simple looking robot. He was a collection of boxy parts kind of slapped on top of one another. His most distinctive design elements were a shoulder cannon and a harpoon in place of his right hand. Over the years, many artists refined his appearance giving him more rounded out detail. The resulting design is what Hasbro based this figure on. Here is a rundown of the key design elements inspired by the comic books:
- The head sculpt is heavily based off the G1 Marvel Comics design, featuring a blocky helmet section with a thin crest in the middle and a very serious looking face.
- The cannon his shoulder has a six sided barrel and looks very flat compared to most weapons on Transformers figures. A part of me always wondered if the artist was inspired by Shockwave's alt-mode when drawing this weapon.
- The chest features two square sections with vent lines in the middle. This originated with the Marvel design and was later refined by artists on the IDW Publishing titles.
- The knee armor and lower legs have distinct shapes sculpted into them. Simplified rectangles and trapezoids were used on the Marvel Comics version of the character in the same areas.
- Each shoulder section features designs that appear to be inspired by Impactor's appearance in the Transformers: Requiem of the Wreckers mini-series.
- The waist area has two rectangular sections that stick out a bit. These appear based on details from the Marvel Comics version of the character.
- The right hand can swing in to reveal a 5mm port. This allows you to attach his harpoon accessory to match the character's 1980's and current comic book incarnations.
Overall, Impactor looks awesome. He retains the basic form of the Marvel and IDW Publishing models, but he also has lots of small, intricate details that are unique to this action figure design.
Impactor is cast in purple, orange and silver plastic. This is not the most common color combination for a Transformers figure but they are inspired by his appearances in the comic books over the years. Silver, black, yellow, purple and red are used to paint in details. The silver shows up on the face and the sides of the legs. The yellow is used for detailing on the head, chest, mid-body and lower legs. Purple is used to paint the crest on the head and his eyes are red (instead of the usual "Autobot blue"). The deco is not super complex, but it doesn't need to be. As originally introduced (and even later in the IDW Publishing comic books) the character had a very simple and straightforward color scheme so this works just fine.
There are twenty four points of articulation on this figure, and wow, they are solid. I know this is a new sculpt and all, but I was very pleasantly surprised at how stiff many of the joints felt. Everything locks in place well and he even has ratchet joints at the hips! Between his shoulder cannon, back, arms, fists and legs he has ten 5mm ports to attach additional weaponry. In a neat feature, you can swing his fists in to reveal two additional 5mm ports in his wrists. This allows you to attach his harpoon accessory to give him a more comic book-based appearance. Impactor also has seven attachment points for Blast Effects (three are in a row on the back of his shoulder cannon). I love how much potential play value there is with this figure.
Transformation to Vehicle Mode:
- Detach the accessories and set them aside for now.
- Straighten out the arms and legs.
- Swing in each fist into the forearms.
- Swing the back panel open.
- Turn the head around and swing it down into the open slot, then swing the back panel back into place.
- Swing the chest panel up.
- Rotate the forearms around so the parts with the raised circles are facing front.
- Swing the arms up, then swing them down at the shoulders. As part of this movement, attach the blaster weapon to the two 5mm pegs on the forearms.
- Connect the tabs on the chest panel into the corresponding slots on the forearms.
- Swing the front of the feet back.
- Swing the upper body forward, using the hinge at the mid-body.
- On each leg, swing the feet out at the ankle joints.
- Rotate the panels with the treads on them back.
- Swing the robot feet in to hold the back of the tank mode together.
- Push the two halves of the tank's front end together.
- Attach the harpoon to the top of the shoulder cannon.
Vehicle Mode:
Transforming into vehicle mode was never really something Impactor got to do in the original comic books. A letters page once speculated he transformed into a drill tank, so it seems Hasbro and Takara Tomy ran with that and gave Impactor a tank mode. Given the character's rough and tough personality combined with his leadership role, it makes sense for him to have a mode that gives off a sense of power. You can easily imagine him crashing through a wall, leading the way for the Wreckers with his weapons blazing!
Impactor's tank mode looks like it was built to do serious damage. Layers of detailing look like it has several layers of armor on it. The front has claws that look like they were made to tear apart obstacles and Decepticons alike. His blaster forms his central cannon and the shoulder cannon offers more firepower on top. Need more firepower? The side of each tread section has dual blasters while the harpoon weapon can also act as a blaster. The result is one mean looking vehicle!
Of course, being part of Siege, you can add a lot more weaponry on if you wish. The sides of the tank each have a 5mm port and the wrist ports from the robot mode stick out in front here, allowing you to add more weaponry to the turret. Want to add more weaponry? Go ahead and add on more firepower via the port on the back of the turret! There are a lot of potential weapon combinations in this mode and it is super fun. In terms of his own weaponry, Impactor's cannon and harpoon weapon allow you to attach Blast Effects. If you want to attach other Blast Effects to make it look like he is being hit with weapons fire, you have two on the sides and two in front. On top of all this? The turret can turn! This is something that is often neglected or eliminated with Transformers tank modes so I was very happy to find the tank could do this.
The colors in this mode largely divide up the yellow to the bottom half and the purple to the turret. Silver paint details are revealed on the claws and treads, with a bit of "battle damage" at the edges in front and on the sides. The treads themselves are painted black. The yellow deco from the robot mode carries over here, offering up some nice contrast to the purple on the turret.
Final Thoughts:
Do not get me wrong, I really appreciated the previous two Impactor figures. Hasbro really tried to dig a bit deeper into lore with the Fall of Cybertron version and the Fan Club version was spectacular but it is about time the character was given an original design in a mass release. That said, this figure absolutely rocks. It looks great in both modes, has fun play value and the Q/C on it is solid. Highly recommended!
Pros:
- A character from a bit deeper in Transformers lore than many others in Siege.
- Excellent sculpt.
- Nice and unusual deco.
- Fun play features.
- The figure and its joints feel solid.
- Intuitive and fun transformation.
Cons:
- Could use a tad more deco.
