| 12.28.2019 – There have been notable characters presented in the War For Cybertron: Siege and then there are those gems that made the mythology interesting. Not all character appeared in the G1 cartoon series, but there are popular ones that had a tremendous spotlight in the comicbooks that defined who they are in the narrative.
Spinister, a Double Targetmaster is one of them and with spinning sinister name you bet there a mystery behind the character more than meets the eye. There have been several iterations of Spinister and toy form, but none captures the character based from its original G1 toy and how he was defined in the graphic novels. |
To go back to the early days of the character Spinister was an underdeveloped persona. You can only find about the character through the tech specs bio at the back of the toy’s packaging. There’s not much backstory until he was introduced in Marvel UK (separate publication from Marvel comicbooks in the US).
But what made the character gained its appeal is through Dreamwave’s published Transformers Armada storyline “When Worlds Collide” that crosses the Armada characters with the G1 Decepticons. Although Spinister’s role is small that’s where he was first seen being the only surviving Transformer in an alternate Cybertron that was about to be devoured by Unicron.
Then his backstory is fleshed out through the comicbooks published by IDW Publishing where he first appeared as one of the audience during Megatron’s gladiator matches. He was a member of the Scavengers that features Misfire, Krok and Crankcase in Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye #45 published in September 2015, where the final panel on the "recap" page, showing the Scavengers turned into toys, was taken by Maziar Shahsafdari using the original Generation 1 Spinister, Crankcase, Krok, and Misfire toys.
|
|
Packaging: Spinning Sinister
Spinister was released in the final wave for War for Cybertron: Siege Deluxe Class assortment along with Crosshairs (a retooled Ironhide/Ratchet figure with a new head) that will be released in Japan on 25 January 2020.
It is packaged in window-type box featuring details of Battle Masters that can be used with this figure along with the blast effects. The product is awesomely rendered and inside the inlay box shows more Cybertronian Hieroglyphics.
There are no biocard unlike the previous toyline with Power of the Primes, but the packaging lives up to the quality Hasbro and Takara Tomy has put together in bringin this toyline with an impressive line-up of figure with this as the final wave for the Deluxe Class assortment.
|
|
Robot Mode: Mister Spinistery
There’s no colourful Decepticon unlike Spinister like all Siege figures you get this vile villainy in Robot Mode and comes with two weapons: the "NFM Dual-Fusion Cannon", and a "Spin-Blast Particle Beam Cannon", based off of his Targetmaster partners' weapon modes. He features battle damage paint applications in the form of silver dry-brushing on the center of his thighs and a brownish paint wash on his arms.
The engineering on the articulation is remarkable with his shoulder joints not using ball-joints but had wide array of movement. Spinister can perform the one foot kick test that can see it stands with good balance and performs some of the cool poses that some figures are challenging to have him do some awesome action pose.
Spinister’s spinning rotor sits in place in robot mode thanks a small fin-tab on his helicopter tail ending up sitting against the rotor-base in robot mode, nestled in a small divot in the base.
Featured Articulation:
● Wide Range of Shoulder Movement
● Swivel Elbows
● Rotating Waist
● Hip and Knee Joint
● Limited Head Movement
Transformation: Melancholy of Reactions
In an effort to reconcile the fact his G1 box art has the appearance of a complete cockpit for each shin, only one of Spinister's legs forms his alt mode's cockpit and nose, while the other is stored away, leaving him with another, identical cockpit section in his undercarriage.
There was a mixed reaction to this figure upon transforming Spinister from robot to chopper mode and there was some minor challenges on the lower part of the body as the instruction manual is not clear on explaining every detail. The connection of tabs locks up and stabilizes the vehicle mode with the forearm and foot part.
Vehicle Mode: Sinister Chopper
Taking inspiration to vintage Spinister this modern take of the character transforms into a rather busily-coloured Cybertronian-type of AH-64 Apache attack helicopter. The translucent window on the pilot cockpit shows some impressive details, but gives you mixed reaction when you see the undercarriage.
The second cockpit underneath won’t be hardly noticed when the helicopter is landed and the front landing gear is unfolded. But when it takes into the skies you’ll notice that bothersome engineering and to add some nitpick, the robot hands are easily noticed as the arms just folds and there’s no way to hide them
Helicopter Features:
● Rotating Blades Freely Spins
● Rear Propeller Spins
● Front Landing Gear Folds
● Translucent Pilot Cockpit
Overall Spinister was an impressive character in the comicbooks and graphic novels, however the modern take on the classic for this Siege version has flaws in vehicle mode due to the design on how the pilot cockpit done with the second one, which was the other leg hides as an undercarriage.
It was also a missed opportunity for the design in hiding the robot fists/hands, but what is bothersome is the way it hides the second cockpit. In its entirety Spinister is a favorite, no doubt being the one being picked immediately than its wavemate Crosshairs out of the shelves.
But for those who haven’t gotten this figure and finds out it flaws can shift the choice to rather get Crosshairs instead unless you own an Ironhide or a Ratchet. But if you’re a fan of the character or have owned the original G1 version looking to upgrade this one’s for you.
War For Cybertron Siege | Deluxe Class Spinister is now on available in general retail across Australasia and Southeast Asia. This was acquired at Toy Kingdom in Lucky Chinatown Mall in Binondo, Manila retailed at:
₱ 999.75 Pesos | $ 28.17 AUD | $ 19.67 USD ^^
Product Rating:
Transformation (Difficulty): B+
Aesthetics: 10
Quality: 8
Robot Points: 8.5
For more news and local updates LIKE Transformers Philippines on Facebook and follow on Twitter: @TransformersPH
Some of the Product Description Courtesy of TF Wiki
** - Philippine to Australian and US Currency Conversion via Google.com
No comments:
Post a Comment