We all know by now who this guy is. He's the Legends Class (small scaled) figure of the year, and designed to be a partner piece with CW Bruticus as a homage to the G1 cartoon. He transforms into his classic space gun and can be wielded by most other figures. So what seems to be the trend with Hasbro, we get a deco based on his G1 toy going nice and dark with their purple choice. That along with the top notch mix of solid and clear purple plastics make him a fantastic entry to this threesome.
Now this guy has a different story. Also released by Hasbro, he is only available with the Combiner Wars Bruticus Collection Pack. The set is themed on the EXTREME 90's Generation 2 line and is quite brilliantly done actually. This Shockwave is actually based off his Action Master predecessor, which wasn't actually a part of Generation 2 but in fact at the tail end of Generation 1. It's pretty crazy that Hasbro recognized something this obscure and gave us a repaint of it. For what he's representing, he is absolutely perfect. But I do miss the bits of clear plastic found on the other two Shocky's. Speaking of....
The last entry comes from TakaraTomy's Legends line, LG-24 Shockwave and Cancer (we'll get to the Headmaster in a bit). What's now become standard for Takara (going G1 Cartoon accurate) this version is a much lighter purple. This isn't a first for them, and they often receive criticism for the shades they choose. Unbeknownst to me (until making this review) he is even lighter than the recent MP-29 Shockwave! But the amazing paint apps and return of clear plastic make this fella truly great.
Have a look at the three of them side by side!
Wait. Let's go back a step, I mentioned LG-24 came with a Headmaster? Right! Cancer, known in the Titans Return line as Titanmaster Crashbash. The paint job on Cancer is just outstanding, especially considering the small stature of the figure. But Hasbro's Crashbash is great in his own right, and comes with a partner piece allowing him to transform into a t-rex and some type of... flying creature. But there is a serious amount of fun packed in this small package.
What's the logical choice? All three are brilliant figures, each representing something different. It's extremely difficult to choose, but twist my arm and I'd go with Takara's, but I've always been very forgiving of their magenta's and periwinkle's. Which Shockwave did you land on? Join us in the Pub and let us know!
Still interested in this mold and want to venture further? Have a look at Botcon's 2016 set, Reflector, in one of the latest Seibertron Galleries!
