OPTIMUS IS HERE!
A DOTM Optimus with the jetpack is probably
the thing I've wanted from Transformers since 2011 with DOTM (my favorite movie and favorite look for Optimus). There was the ultimate Optimus (which was really only accurate in vehicle mode), and there was the remold of the ROTF leader with the jetpack (which was cool, but I never got a hold of it), but there was no really good representation of DOTM Optimus.
Until now.
It's late news at this point, but because I skipped SS-32 I didn't realize until now just how much remolding there was between this and SS-05. SS-05 was really fun, but was inaccurate in a lot of ways. This new Optimus retains all the fun of that mold but upgrades it into the most accurate voyager Optimus we've ever gotten (Battle Blades does win in the vehicle mode category, but I'd give literally every other category to this mold. Transformation, stability, fun, robot mode accuracy, all of it.).
With the exception of the shield, the weapons are decently scaled, and I can't believe they included as many of them as they did. I thought the axe was too small at first, but looking at screenshots of it next to Megatron's head it doesn't seem too off. The weapons stand is an awesome bonus, and if you combine it with the jetpack as the base it helps fill it out and make it look closer to the movie.
Can we talk about the gold fade for a second? It's a really important paint app that's been long-neglected by movie Primes (even the MPM to an extent), and I'm super glad they included it here. It helps solidify this Optimus that much more as my definitive Optimus Prime.
I'm super excited to get to painting Prime up (keep an eye on the customs forum around Christmas!), but in the meantime I packed a small upgrade kit a couple months ago to add to the figure. I included SS-05's legs (which are actually just a little bit shorter than the legs that come with the figure but have the folding pieces that really help), some smokestacks (although SS-32/44s smokestack stubs are actually wider than the ones on SS-05, so I'll have to find a new alternative later this year), and a painted up Tribarrel gun from Shapeways that helps complete the look! The silver windows surprised me - I'm not a big fan of the silver windows in vehicle mode (I'll be painting them gloss black later) - But I actually like them in robot mode.
(I'll bet the reason they didn't include a tribarrel gun with this prime is because they're saving it for an SS Evasion Mode Prime down the road)
Anyways, DOTM Optimus is without a doubt in my top 4 Studio Series figures (along with Ironhide, Starscream, and 76 Camaro Bumblebee), and may possibly be my favorite of the line so far! It's everything I've wanted since 2011, and it was worth the wait.
. . . Now I just need a Shockwave for him to fight!
hahaha
)
