The Energon Pub

Seibertron wrote:I've always liked the Action Masters. They're a great side line. As a kid, it was great getting new versions of characters that I loved. They've gotten a bad rap over the years, which is understandable since they're part of the main line but ... they don't transform.

As Kick-Off says, "Alt-modes are for wimps!"

Action Masters are kinda pointless today, with the articulation most modern figures are capable of.

On the other hand, if you like the playsets and accessories, those are making a comeback in the Cyberverse DOTM line.

I personally liked Megatron, Soundwave and Gutcruncher.

Were Action Masters geared for pre schoolers? They have more in common with PlayMobile figures than Transformers. Action Masters are the dark ugly past that Hasbro would like to hide. Much like Sean Connery's performance in Zardoz...

http://waxturds.com/blog/?tag=zardoz

Maybe it's because I dabble in other giant robot stuff, but without Transforming, giant robots are just another contender in a long and vast line of robot shows/merch.

Having a character that actually convert/transforms is really important. Without that, I may as well get into Gundum or something similar. That's why I feel that Action Masters were a betrayal of all that was good about the franchise.

Now, as a set aside, stand-alone line...I have no problem with it. But as it is, Action Masters are a part of G1. Can fans of the modern movies accept the idea of those Screen Replica figures somehow integrating their lack of transformation into the films? Is that even a comparable argument?

I actually find the whole thing very difficult to debate in regards to whether these are worthy G1 toys. Not to be simple about it, but it has always broken down to Transformers toys that don't transform are not Transformers. They may be TF related, but they aren't Transformers.

SJ21 wrote:I don't own any. I hate gimmicky ideas. Just give me a transforming robot.

One has to assume that irony is lost on you. I own a few. I have Soundwave, Treadshot, Skyfall, Rad and Optimus Prime complete (minus the original figure, I have the one included with New Year Convoy). Always wanted the Megatron but never really bothered to get myself one. Prime seems like the best possible example for what the line could do. I only wish Reprolabels made stickers for it. The toy itself is fine, stickers are knackered.

I'm always curious that Actionmasters are so reviled when the Robot Heroes were so loved. I'm on the other side of the fence. I loved Actionmasters and hated RH's which I thought apart from being small, were too cute. But then I've never understood the appeal of the seemingly popular Legends class and Mini-cons.

But I digress. I love Actionmasters. My first was Soundwave. My best friend had bought it for himself but upon realising my birthday was a few days later, gave me the unopened toy for myself. Shame we've drifted in the years since.

I actually got Megatron for that birthday so I loved having Soundwave to go with him. Since this was pre internet, you could still be pleasantly surprised by the new toys on the shelf. I was lucky back then because the new stock for Christmas always came out the week b4 my birthday when I'd pick out my presents. I remember being amazed when I saw him. My only criticism was his size. I had a G1 Prime but ended up getting the AM version since the Diaclone was twice the size of Megatron.

Even as a kid, I was funny about scale and wouldn't mix the Combiners with the Diaclones. The Actionmasters actually helped with the scale issue and looked nice with Menasor, Defensor and the rest.

I also thought the Firecons and Triggercons looked nice with the AM's. After reading the UK classic, the Fall and Rise of the Decepticon Empire, I liked flanking Megatron with Ruckus and Crankcase as bodyguards. Now and again, Shockwave would have the Firecons stage a coup.

As a previous poster said, the AM's allowed those of us on this side of the Atlantic to get the likes of Shockwave and Blaster which we couldn't b4.

We got some nice new characters too like the bounty hunter Axer and the vengeful ex-gladiator, Kick Off, nicely portrayed in LSOTW.

Personally, I'm not a fan of Skyfall. Just feel mouthplates make the TF's look generic and unrelatable. He does have the coolest partner ever though.

To all of you who feel Devestator seems too small, I say remember the Micromaster version.

And to all of you who still think Actionmasters aren't cool, have a look at this site:

http://custommasters.com/

Finally, my only problem with revoltechs? We never got Blurr!

I've only got two right now, Banzai-tron and Mainframe. I'll be picking up a complete AM Prime on Easter weekend. A local shop has one on hold for me. They want 89.00 for it, but the manager was nice enough to put it on hold for me until their Easter sale, so I'll get it for about 50.00.

One more thing. The Actionmasters came out after the Pretender Classics who apart from Bumblebee had terrible inner robot modes. Actionmasters Jazz and Grimlock look a lot cooler and they fit into their respective shells.

Hmm, got AM Starscream last year and I haven't tried him with his shell yet. Must pull it out of storage.