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General Information
Release Date: October 2024
Price Point: $9.99 (depending on retailer)
Retailer: General Release (Amazon, BigBadToyStore, Entertainment Earth, Target, Walmart etc.)
Accessories: Loudspeaker, Loundspeaker Base, Backpack/wings
Official images and text in italics are from Amazon.com
- THE TRANSFORMERS: THE MOVIE STEELJAW: This Transformers Studio Series Steeljaw action figure is highly articulated for posability and features movie-inspired deco and details
- TRANSFORMERS TOYS STUDIO SERIES CORE CLASS: This 3.5-inch (8.9 cm) collectible action figures is highly articulated for posability and designed with specs and details to reflect the Transformers movie universe
- 2 ICONIC MODES: This Studio Series Transformers toy features classic conversion between lion and cassette modes in 6 steps
- AWESOME ACCESSORIES: Transformers figure comes with a loudspeaker accessory and a connector piece to attach in lion mode. Also comes with 2 wing accessories and a connector piece to attach to the figure’s back
- ARTICULATED FOR PLAY AND DISPLAY: Transformers figures feature articulated heads, arms, and legs for action poses
- COMPATIBLE WITH AUTOBOT BLASTER: In cassette mode, this figure can fit inside the tape deck chest of the Transformers Voyager 86-25 Autobot Blaster toy (sold separately, subject to availability)
- COLLECT STUDIO SERIES MOVIE FIGURES: This action figure toy makes a great collectible figure gift for any Transformers fan. Look for more Transformers Studio Series toys to build a collection (each sold separately, subject to availability)
Bring the epic action of the Transformers movies from the big screen into your collection with the Transformers Studio Series Core Class Steeljaw action figure, inspired by The Transformers: The Movie! Transformers Studio Series toys are collectible action figures that feature movie-inspired details and accessories. Convert the Studio Series Transformers action figure from lion to cassette mode in 6 steps and pose with the included wing and loudspeaker accessories. Look for more Transformers Studio Series collectible figures to build a movie-inspired collection (each sold separately, subject to availability)! TRANSFORMERS and HASBRO and all related trademarks and logos are trademarks of Hasbro, Inc. © 2024 Hasbro.
Background:
In the first and second season of the original Transformers cartoon the Decepticon Soundwave would often use members of his personal "cassette" team to do his bidding. Ravage and Laserbeak frequently appeared in episodes along with Rumble and Frenzy. While Blaster did show up in season two of the show, fans would have to wait until the 1986 "The Transformers: The Movie" theatrical film to see Blaster use his own cassettes! One of these cassette warriors is Steeljaw, a mechanical lion. While the Kingdom/Legacy Blaster came with an Eject figure, this is the first time Steeljaw has been made into a figure for Studio Series.
Packaging:
Steeljaw is packaged in the standard Core Class Studio Series box. The box is rectangular with a flap on top. The box portion features an open window to show off most of the toy. There is no plastic window. Below the window is the "The Transformers The Movie" logo. The background on the box is black while the Studio Series logo uses light blue colors. The vertical Transformers logo is on the right and the top flap has the character's artwork showing him in beast mode.
The back of the packaging mostly uses shades of red. The figure is shown in both modes calling out an 6 step transformation. Steeljaw is also shown with his speaker accessory attached to his back. Below that section is a ton of legal information in multiple languages.
Accessories:
Steeljaw includes five accessories:
- Backpack/Wings: I'm compressing three accessories into this section because really, the three pieces are meant to connect together forming the back, tail and wings/weapons on Steeljaw. Yes, that means he's a bit of a partsformer in beast mode. This piece has a yellow mechanical base piece with a tiny tail sticking up at an angle in the back. On the sides are small 3mm ports that allow you to attach his gold wings/weapons. Then this piece attaches to Steeljaw's back via a 5mm peg/port system.
- Loudspeaker: The Loudspeaker included with Steeljaw is actually not so much for him but actually intended to go with Blaster. This piece is based on the Loudspeakers that Blaster attached to his hand in the G1 episode "Auto-Bop". Each piece is round with a cone shape and a smaller circular section inside. There is a point in the middle allowing you to attach a Blast Effect. This piece is made of yellow plastic but is mostly painted gold.
- Loudspeaker Base: The designers wanted to give Steeljaw a way to use the Loudspeaker so there is a base piece that the loudspeaker can attach to, then that piece can attach to Steeljaw's back in place of his base/wings pieces. The base is yellow plastic with gold paint on the sides. It looks like it is intended to look similar to the other base piece but with "shrunken down" wings on the sides. Frankly, Steeljaw looks absurd with the loudspeaker on his back but hey, better that than not having him be able to use it at all!
Beast Mode:
Steeljaw is a mechanical lion in beast mode. This design takes a lot of cues from the original G1 version of the character. Among his most distinctive features are the large, angular "mane" around hisn eck area and his distinctive "wings" on the sides. G1 Steeljaw had his wings and weapons all combined into one accessory on each side. However, on this figure the wings are separate from his hip mounted blasters (though the wings have a tiny weapon barrel on them too). I do confess I'm a tad disappointed in the legs because they only move at the top, but not in the middle (something the G1 version could do). That said, his mane and head can move up and down and his weapons can also move up and down. Altogether this gives him even points of articulation (if you don't include the wings). You can also put him in a sitting pose that I have to admit looks pretty adorable.
This figure is mostly yellow plastic with gold on the wings and weapons. His eyes are painted blue while the inside of his mouth has a red tongue and white teeth. The sides of the mane show grey paint on the cassette drums and the left side has a red Autobot symbol. Overall Steeljaw's deco pays homage to the original G1 figure nicely.
Transformation to Cassette Mode:
- Detach any attached accessories and set them aside.
- Swing the front legs back.
- Swing the rear legs up.
- Point the weapons forward.
- Swing the halves of the mane/head out to the sides.
- Push the halves of the beast mode head down.
- Swing the mane/head section down and flatten the halves out.
Cassette Mode:
Steeljaw's cassette mode looks good - depending on which side you look at. On one side you see the small "tape drum" details from the beaset ode and a 5mm attachment point, so it looks kind of like a jumble of parts. On the other side however he has very classic looking "tape drums" complete with a rectangular "window" in the middle showing "tape" inside of it (via paint applications). It is cool to see these details, but some fans may not love how both sides have beast mode parts in the mix (but frankly, at a Core Class price point I'm not convinced it could be helped).
Steeljaw is mostly yellow plastic with gold plastic used for the blasters on the side. One tape drum is painted grey and the tape "window" is painted red and black.
Here is where there's a problem. When I tried to slide this cassette into Blaster's chest compartment and it required a bit of force to fit in. That said, the TFWiki recommends a specific position for the cassette in the door which you can see here. Steeljaw's head should be on the left side and the blasters on the right. Even then, the fit is way too tight for my comfort.
Final Thoughts:
I don't think it's unfair to say that Steeljaw could have been better. I wish his legs had more articulation and It is kind of a bummer that a significant chunk of the beast mode involves "partsforming". I'm also concerned about the odd fit of the cassette mode in Blaster's chest. All that said, I think it's a cute little figure and it does add one more to Blaster's roster of Cassettes. I cannot whole heartedly recommend this figure, but I don't hate it either so let's go with it being mildly recommended.
Pros:
- Some nice sculpted details including the tape drums.
- Good colors.
- The loudspeaker accessory is fun.
Cons:
- Could have used more deco (like the second tape drum).
- Could have had more articulation on the legs.
- The tight fit in Blaster's chest is a concern.
