Every two weeks, Seibertron.com brings you a Top 5 list related to all things Transformers written by me, your fellow editor. These are my opinions (just like movie or game reviews hosted by sites are still just the opinion of one person) so what matters most is what you guys think of the topic or list, and I hope to see your own lists or comments on omissions and ranking. Let's have fun! All previous lists can be found
here.
Top 5 Best Female Transformers (Fembot) ToysWe had covered the top 5 female transformers characters a looooooong time ago. And it was suggested we also cover the best Transformer toys made for female characters. Now, I was a bit apprehensive because, from my memory, that would be a very short list. But we've come a long way from the days where the gender was only decided in the fiction after a non gender specific toy was done. We've even had 2 fully female combiner teams. So let's have fun and get to it!
5. Transformers Animated ArceeWe often get sleeker versions of earth based cars (like Cybertron Hotshot) that don't capitalize on the potential of designing vehicles from other worlds. This one totally fits the bill though. Unlike so many other alt modes, it bravely crosses the line between being a futuristic design to a full blown cybertronian one. It is a great homage to G1 Arcee which is followed through in robot mode and I like the added massive spoilers in the back. That detail gives it enough variation from the traditional Arcee model. Too bad it has exposed hands in vehicle mode though. Props go for it having that signature Arcee backpack without going the easy route and making this a shellformer. - William-james88
4. Unite Warriors Mega Empress (central element of Megatronia, Takara's version of Victorion)While this is a retool of Hotspot, the new chest, hands, combiner bits and head completely change the identity of the mold. The chest manages to be subtly feminine, the headsculpt is excellent with its classic finned helmet and noble, elegant face, and the hands are definitely female whilst still looking powerful. The holdovers from the original mold work well too, with the massive shoulder pauldrons making her look suitably imperious and her gauntleted hands and booted feet looking properly brutal. On top of that, you can fold the "ladder" over her shoulder or under her arm to form her railgun, which is a feature she does in the fiction.
Megaempress is decked in a very Megatron silver, black and red colour scheme with hints of dark grey and some magenta for the combined mode.
Her greatest triumph, however, is that she takes the old chestnut of "What if (insert character here) was a girl?" and makes it work! The toy looks great, is a lot of fun to play with, AND she's a combiner torso- and a damn good looking one to boot! All Hail Megaempress! - Black Hat
Transformers Generations Combiner Wars Victorion GalleryTransformers Generations Combiner Wars Pyra Magna Gallery3. Transformers MP-46 Masterpiece Blackwidow (Blackarachnia)This is easily the best representation we've ever had of Blackarachnia, who I find to be the best female character in the entire Transformers franchise. The paint is sublime and I can see where all my money went since the robot mode is perfect. However as a Transformers toy, it falls a bit short since there isn't much to the transformation and the beast mode is nothing to write home about. But all around, it is still a toy I am happy to own in my collection and I recommend it to any Blackarachnia and fembot fan. -William-james88
2. Transformers Legends Arcee/Nightbird ShadowIt is great to see a deluxe come with so many accessories and different places to store them in both robot mode and vehicle mode (the vehicle mode storage where Arcee’s robot hands hold a gun into place is really clever). While this is not a masterpiece, it looks exactly like the G1 cartoon model. Especially with the softer Takara deco which looks like it is made of delicious candy. For those who don’t know, this is the only toy from this line (Thrilling 30) to be designed partly by Takara instead of simply Hasbro. Since this is the very first toy of G1 Arcee, Takara felt it would be a disservice for it to be an update to her G1 self, which is the theme of the Generations line (and all the other “classics” lines.) So they stepped in and made her design reflect her G1 self as much as they could. That dedication and passion makes this toy extra special.- William-james88
1. Transformers Beast Machines Blackarachnia (Black Widow)Even with the MP out, this remains one of the better Blackarachnia figures. I really like the transformation, which gives us a great spider mode even though the details don't match up perfectly with the show. And it gives us the multiple eyes gimmick in robot mode too. I find it the best toy done for a female character, emphasizing the different body type a female Cybertronian could have. It's just a well done toy all around, conveying the essence of the character and the biotech theme of the show, regardless of its accuracy. - William-james88
Honourable mention:
Takara Transformers Adventures TAV-52 Strongarm and Sawback (Battle Pack Strongarm from Robots in Disguise)I really like Strongarm's design. While she is female, she doesn't have the typical fembot physique, and instead is more in line with the classic boxy image of Transformers. And doesn't that make more sense? While her warrior class toy was not one of the standouts in the line, her two smaller toys were pretty great. Her Legion toy was
already on our top 10 list for that class and now I would like to highlight her Battle Pack class toy. Especially the Takara version which had the best deco of all Stong Arm toys. In a line that fans first feared to be simpler, these Battlepack toys had the perfect articulation and complexity to go with the size. I find it remarkable how the designers were able to achieve the same bot and alt mode in this smaller scale.