The Energon Pub

[D-Maximal_Primal]

Throwing this out there, Pulse got a surprise restock of Siege Prime, if anyone still wanted him.

[Till-all-R1]

I finally opened Jetfire today to display with the rest and, WOW, I was really taken aback by his size. I knew it was a fairly sizable Bot clocking in at around 12" tall but until you actually see it standing next to the other Autobots you really don't get a sense of scale. I mean I'm flabbergasted that he's considered a Commander Class and sells for under $100 when he truly feels closer to Titan size, especially when your previous experience with Commander Class has only been Rodimus that barely stands 2" higher than Hot Rod.

It really drives it home that either one was very overly priced or under priced, and for me anyway, it was Rodimus that was over priced and I'm glad that I only paid $60 for him.

After this revelation maybe it's a good thing I was never able to get Omega Supreme as I don't know if I have a place to even display him!

[Emerje]

I finally opened Jetfire today to display with the rest and, WOW, I was really taken aback by his size. I knew it was a fairly sizable Bot clocking in at around 12" tall but until you actually see it standing next to the other Autobots you really don't get a sense of scale. I mean I'm flabbergasted that he's considered a Commander Class and sells for under $100 when he truly feels closer to Titan size, especially when your previous experience with Commander Class has only been Rodimus that barely stands 2" higher than Hot Rod.

It really drives it home that either one was very overly priced or under priced, and for me anyway, it was Rodimus that was over priced and I'm glad that I only paid $60 for him.

After this revelation maybe it's a good thing I was never able to get Omega Supreme as I don't know if I have a place to even display him!

Do you have Sky Lynx? He's another commander that takes up a bit of real estate wherever you decide to put him (in pretty much every direction) and I suspect Armada Prime is will be similar to Jetfire and Menasor, though he's quite a bit shorter, maybe 10". Ultra Magnus will probably the same height, Rodimus is definitely the odd one out at this class.

Emerje

[Rodimus Prime]

That's because Rodimus is all rear end in vehicle mode at least.

So far, I rank the commander releases as follows, considering all aspects:

1. Sky Lynx
2. SG Jetfire
3. Motormaster
4. Siege Jetfire
5. Rodimus Prime

Once he's out, I suspect Armada Prime will take the #1 spot, and SS86 Magnus will take it from him, if indeed we're getting one.

[D-Maximal_Primal]

I sold my Jetfire a couple weeks ago, he's good, but I decided to keep my T30 one as my Jetfire, and I have the mold as SG Jetfire, so I am good with that.

In terms of Commanders, I rank the ones so far as:

1) Rodimus Prime
2) Sky Lynx
3) SG Jetfire
4) Motormaster
5) Jetfire

[Rodimus Prime]

I sold my Jetfire a couple weeks ago, he's good, but I decided to keep my T30 one as my Jetfire, and I have the mold as SG Jetfire, so I am good with that.

Ditto. Except I sold mine a couple years ago...

In terms of Commanders, I rank the ones so far as:

1) Rodimus Prime
2) Sky Lynx
3) SG Jetfire
4) Motormaster
5) Jetfire

I would have both Rodimus and Motormaster at the top of my list if we're only considering the robots themselves. But ranking them as a whole, for me the trailers bring the ranking down, especially for Rodimus. Motormaster's trailer at least has a better function. Even though im kinda souring on my Menasor as well. Otherwise the robot components are top-notch for both of them.

[-Kanrabat-]

For me, Commander Jetfire is so good and so perfect that I feel no need to get the MP nor any "MP-ish" 3P ones.

[sol magnus]

That's because Rodimus is all rear end in vehicle mode at least.

So far, I rank the commander releases as follows, considering all aspects:

1. Sky Lynx
2. SG Jetfire
3. Motormaster
4. Siege Jetfire
5. Rodimus Prime

Once he's out, I suspect Armada Prime will take the #1 spot, and SS86 Magnus will take it from him, if indeed we're getting one.

Yikes. I have Rodimus Prime at 1! I also think overall, he;s the best WFC figure, period!

5.SG Jetfire (not that he;s bad, just that he;s a repaint)
4. Sky Lynx
3. Motormaster
2, Jetfire
1. Rodimus Prime (i own TWO)

Honestly, they're all great and picking the places was kind of hard - EXCEPT for Rodimus. Is it his size that has him that low for you?

[Rodimus Prime]

That's because Rodimus is all rear end in vehicle mode at least.

So far, I rank the commander releases as follows, considering all aspects:

1. Sky Lynx
2. SG Jetfire
3. Motormaster
4. Siege Jetfire
5. Rodimus Prime

Once he's out, I suspect Armada Prime will take the #1 spot, and SS86 Magnus will take it from him, if indeed we're getting one.

Yikes. I have Rodimus Prime at 1! I also think overall, he;s the best WFC figure, period!

5.SG Jetfire (not that he;s bad, just that he;s a repaint)
4. Sky Lynx
3. Motormaster
2, Jetfire
1. Rodimus Prime (i own TWO)

Honestly, they're all great and picking the places was kind of hard - EXCEPT for Rodimus. Is it his size that has him that low for you?

It's the trailer. To me it's dead weight. I understand the purpose for it, it's an update/homage to the G1 figure and the trailer make it accurate. But function-wise, to me the trailer is practically useless, unless I'm displaying him in vehicle mode. The robot mode is top-notch, like I said, but my ranking is for the overall figure, and it's just not that much fun to deal with the plastic brick.

On 2nd thought, Roddy and Jetfire could probably trade places

And I ranked SG Jetfire higher than Siege due to the paintjob being better.

[Till-all-R1]

For me both Rodimus and Motormaster chould have been Leaders, and I'm glad that I paid Leader class price for them. Now I get that at least Motormaster needs the trailer to create Menasaur, thus you couldn't technically have a "Voyager" release of him. And to an extent same for Rodimus because of the alt mode and you don't tend to see him without the trailer. But personally I'd have been fine just buying him for the bot only to display as I don't plan on interacting with the battle platform.
Another "space issue" here. But for Motormaster I may actually build Menasaur once I "collect them all". I just feel Commander Class was a bit much for these two, personally. Especially compared to a behemoth like Jetfire, I just don't see where the "extra" resources were put into Rodimus when Leader Prime and magnus both came with trailers.

As a kid sure, I would have played with them for hours and enjoyed utilizing said trailer but now all I do is display them in Bot mode and the trailer is stored away if not sold off.

I would definitely place Jetfire at the top for Commander releases, with SG version a second because of the coolness factor of that deco! And he'll probably stay there for a very long time if all they do are Rodimus Prime types of releases, basically a Voyager bot with extras. I mean Technically Springer should have been a Leader being that he's a triple changer and stands almost as tall as OP.

Do you have Sky Lynx? He's another commander that takes up a bit of real estate wherever you decide to put him (in pretty much every direction) and I suspect Armada Prime is will be similar to Jetfire and Menasor, though he's quite a bit shorter, maybe 10". Ultra Magnus will probably the same height, Rodimus is definitely the odd one out at this class.

Emerje

No, I did have him as a kid and thought it was neat back then all being electronic walking. lol
But I outgrew that aspect and the character overall just isn't really my thing as I tend to stick with non creature type bots. I honestly don't even remember why I got him as a kid considering he was one of the more expensive bots and finances being tight for my parents, maybe form the grandparents who didn't really know much about them.

[D-Maximal_Primal]

I have Rodimus Prime at 1! I also think overall, he;s the best WFC figure, period!

My man! He truly is the best!

[o.supreme]

I understand that that the process behind development of Transformers has changed. Class is no longer equal to physical size. However, I was a bit disappointed since Jetfire and Skylynx came out so wonderful, that they decided to just use CC to make more detailed version of smaller characters. Oh well.... Hopefully that will change next year with Tidal Wave being a CC. A big character (but not Titan Big) as he should be.

I'd rank them:

1. Jetfire
2. SkyLynx
3. Motor Master
4. Rodimus Prime

As amazing as Jetife is, I never had a need for a SG version, and I wont be getting Armada Prime, so that's all for now.

[ZeldaTheSwordsman]

For me both Rodimus and Motormaster chould have been Leaders

12 years ago, they would have been. But with what Leader-class has become... Rodimus could maybe have scraped Leader with a simpler transformation and a worse camper, but no way in hell could Motormaster have gotten away with it. Needed both the size and the ability to have multiple sets of heavy ratchet joints due to how they did Menasor, as well as for extra parts for the cab alone to turn into a G1-accurate robot when the G1 robot mode was made of both cab and trailer. As a bonus it means he's a full cab and trailer... without being a dwarf truck when next to the other Stunticons like the G1 toy was.

Now I get that at least Motormaster needs the trailer to create Menasaur, thus you couldn't technically have a "Voyager" release of him. And to an extent same for Rodimus because of the alt mode and you don't tend to see him without the trailer. But personally I'd have been fine just buying him for the bot only to display as I don't plan on interacting with the battle platform.

Well, that sucks for you and makes it a pity there wasn't an option to buy without. But I think it's better he have it.

Another "space issue" here. But for Motormaster I may actually build Menasaur once I "collect them all". I just feel Commander Class was a bit much for these two, personally. Especially compared to a behemoth like Jetfire, I just don't see where the "extra" resources were put into Rodimus when Leader Prime and magnus both came with trailers.

Optimus came with a watered-down, stretched-thin miniscule JOKE of a trailer more suited to the Classics Deluxe (which FYI is smaller than the G1 toy!) than to the Optimus it came with. It's really a glorified Micromaster platform and only shines as part of that play pattern.
Magnus' trailer looks and sizes better, but that's largely due to it being a car carrier and thus being able to be more open and lattice-y (though it also helps that the cab robot has a simple transformation), and the parts are fairly hollow.
Rodimus' camper is both significantly bigger and substantially more solid, with a fully-articulated turret that's its own full unit, a hinged rear door with simulated support hydraulics, a ramp separate from that, a hinged forward compartment for storing accessories, and a pull-out drawer for storing his blast effects. Rodimus himself has a complex transformation and a good bit of heft to him, and went above and beyond by having a full independent vehicle mode without the camper instead of being, well...


...this.

As a kid sure, I would have played with them for hours and enjoyed utilizing said trailer but now all I do is display them in Bot mode and the trailer is stored away if not sold off.

Then why do you even still buy the transforming versions at all? It's kinda sounding like you no longer value that aspect.

I would definitely place Jetfire at the top for Commander releases, with SG version a second because of the coolness factor of that deco! And he'll probably stay there for a very long time if all they do are Rodimus Prime types of releases, basically a Voyager bot with extras.

I don't think Motormaster really counts as that considering he forms the lion's share of Menasor (in fact, he can basically be a standalone version with skeletal limbs that stands as tall as Jetfire), and Armada Optimus sure as hell doesn't count as that. I also wonder if you'll still feel that way when they give us a Commander-class G1 Optimus and with it a trailer that blows the Earthrise joke out of the water.

I mean Technically Springer should have been a Leader being that he's a triple changer and stands almost as tall as OP.

Except no. Springer's engineering isn't as overdesigned as Optimus' (or Legacy Blitzwing's), nor is he as dense or as armed as Astrotrain, nor does he have any other sort of accessory that would drive him up to Leader. As for standing almost as tall as Optimus... that's more because WFC Optimus is shorter than he should be. I stuck with Combiner Wars Optimus instead of getting Siege or ER (not that I ever saw SIEGE on shelves lol) for that very reason.

[-Kanrabat-]

I was glad that Commander Rodimus was TRULY complete.
Especially compared to ER Optimus who effectively included a "joke" trailer. I had to pay a freaking fortune with the Centurion set and Shapeway parts to truly complete it.

I'm looking forward to a Commander SS86 Optimus. And I'll be laughing my ass off if end up making a "K.O." of the "voyager sized" MP-10 that is MP10-V.

[Emerje]

I may as well rank the Commanders myself, but I'll preface this with saying I love all of them and have no regrets owning them.

5. Rodimus Prime
4. SG Jetfire
3. Motormaster
2. Jetfire
1. Sky Lynx

As far as I'm concerned none of the Commanders could be repacked later as a Leader with the exception of Rodimus. RP, while a great figure, could be given a simpler trailer (trailers are just glorified accessories) and be sold as a Leader. SG Jetfire is a great looking figure and the first "villain" to get a CC figure, but he's still just a Jetfire repaint. Motormaster makes a take on Menasor that I never thought we'd get. It's not cartoon accurate, but it's a great interpretation of the cartoon look and gave us one of the best combiners we've ever had at retail. Jetfire is the Skyfire figure I've always wanted since he first appeared on the cartoon and this figure knocked it out of the park!

And then there's Sky Lynx. As a kid I didn't own one but I knew a kid that did and as a fan of combining robots then as I am now I just found the idea of two combining beasts mesmerizing! The CC figure took all of his best features and improved on them, replaced the walking gimmick with great articulation, AND added a new base/launch platform mode. To me he's the ideal use of CC, taking what's old and making it new and then going beyond that. In my eyes he's perfection, truly magnificent!

Emerje

[-Kanrabat-]

As far as "ranking" Commanders, I just can't. Because they all do things completely differently from one another. They are all "mini MP" that are so good, I don't feels any needs to get their MP versions, official or 3P alike.

My friend, who is not a member of this forum (and never will be on any forums) usually HATES beast-formers and LOVES combiners.
But he despise Legacy Menasor with a passion (he much prefer the Scramble-City combiners) and he just adore Sky-Lynx for a reason he just can't get himself.

[sol magnus]

I mean Technically Springer should have been a Leader being that he's a triple changer and stands almost as tall as OP.

Except no. Springer's engineering isn't as overdesigned as Optimus' (or Legacy Blitzwing's), nor is he as dense or as armed as Astrotrain, nor does he have any other sort of accessory that would drive him up to Leader. As for standing almost as tall as Optimus... that's more because WFC Optimus is shorter than he should be. I stuck with Combiner Wars Optimus instead of getting Siege or ER (not that I ever saw SIEGE on shelves lol) for that very reason.

I was with you until you got here...There's nothing wrong with Optimus Prime's height...at all. He's a head taller than Starscream and Soundwave and roughly the same height as Megatron. The Autobot cars look correct next to him. Who are you judging him against? The only larger figure who is out of scale at that size is Blaster, who is too tall!

[o.supreme]

My friend, who is not a member of this forum (and never will be on any forums) usually HATES beast-formers and LOVES combiners.
But he despise Legacy Menasor with a passion (he much prefer the Scramble-City combiners) and he just adore Sky-Lynx for a reason he just can't get himself.

Your "Non-Forum" friend shares almost my exact same opinions... . Although, while I prefer UW/CW Menasor to Legacy (especially for the classic compatibility with other combiners). I dont *Hate* Legacy Menasor, I was just frustrated by it's existence.....

Normally I am all about animation accuracy, but this toy just put me in a weird place. Making me question things about how and why I collect I guess, and my pattern of collecting.

Legacy Menasor looks great on my shelf, no doubt, but he definitely sticks out among all other combiners from 2015-2020. I understood the fans desire to get a "proper" Menasor, but really, we dont need to update ALL the classic combiners all over again (and this coming from someone who's favorite TF's are combiners), just keep chipping away at the ones we haven't got modern updates for. (see my signature list)

As for Skylynx. I always liked the character. I got an OG toy when I had my collection as an adult, but sold it off with all the rest. ER is just about perfect, even the new "Base Mode" is pretty neat. As a rival to Predaking, I had to have him, I just wish some 3P would hurry up and make a scaled down PotP Predaking.

[Till-all-R1]

I was with you until you got here...There's nothing wrong with Optimus Prime's height...at all. He's a head taller than Starscream and Soundwave and roughly the same height as Megatron. The Autobot cars look correct next to him. Who are you judging him against? The only larger figure who is out of scale at that size is Blaster, who is too tall!

IDK, to me Blaster seems very close to the right height. At least every time I've seen him on screen he's been almost neck to neck with Optimus, which always seemed very odd to me since he's a small tape deck while OP is a Semi Truck. He might be a tad taller than he should be but it's not as noticeable as some others, then again I guess it all depends which episode they were in. lol

[sol magnus]

I was with you until you got here...There's nothing wrong with Optimus Prime's height...at all. He's a head taller than Starscream and Soundwave and roughly the same height as Megatron. The Autobot cars look correct next to him. Who are you judging him against? The only larger figure who is out of scale at that size is Blaster, who is too tall!

IDK, to me Blaster seems very close to the right height. At least every time I've seen him on screen he's been almost neck to neck with Optimus, which always seemed very odd to me since he's a small tape deck while OP is a Semi Truck. He might be a tad taller than he should be but it's not as noticeable as some others, then again I guess it all depends which episode they were in. lol

Blaster does have some size inconsistency on the show (in far away shots in The Key to Vector Signa he's roughly the same size as Optimus), but he's the exact same height as Soundwave in episodes they face of against each other. He's shoulder height to Megatron in Blaster Blues.

Mark Maher wants to do a 'larger' Soundwave - and while it might be a more enjoyable size, it would be totally inaccurate to the show, which scale is primarily based on. Blaster being taller than the show is forgivable as the figure isn't so out of scale that it just seems 'wrong', but it is wrong.

[Rodimus Prime]

My thing with Legacy Menasor is that I don't love the combiner (still miles ahead of the CW failure), but the individual bots are almost perfect. So I lean towards displaying them as a group, but the 2 problems I have are space and what to do with the unnecessary MM trailer.

[Overcracker]

Honestly, I think Hasbro did a great job with the Commander's.

I do love Roddy to bits and Menasor won me over.
Still missing Breakdown and Wild Rider though.

I’m definitely expecting a commander class G1 Prime for the 40th anniversary, along with a new Megs.

CC Prime is easy to predict. Earthrise + Centurion set is pretty much commander price already.

What do I expect?

Everything Earthrise alreqdy does, plus:
A larger cab,
articulated hands like Rodimus
, a larger matrix.
Maybe if we are lucky some lights and sounds, but probably not.
From the trailer, I expect it to be much larger
. With all the accessories.
Large ion blaster,
axe,
jet pack,
roller,
repair bot.
Maybe Sparkplug and Spike

[Rodimus Prime]

I would love a CC Powermaster Prime for next year. With a trailer that looks seamless in vehicle mode, but still combines with Prime. Kinda like the PoTP leader, but obviously the combined form looks different.

And what would a new Megatron be like? I mean, it's pretty obvious the mold we got in WFC is what they want to keep using. He's staying a tank, so any new figures would be a variation of that.

[Sabrblade]

I would love a CC Powermaster Prime for next year. With a trailer that looks seamless in vehicle mode, but still combines with Prime. Kinda like the PoTP leader, but obviously the combined form looks different.

And what would a new Megatron be like? I mean, it's pretty obvious the mold we got in WFC is what they want to keep using. He's staying a tank, so any new figures would be a variation of that.

There is still that rumored SS86 Megatron toy.

[-Kanrabat-]

And what would a new Megatron be like? I mean, it's pretty obvious the mold we got in WFC is what they want to keep using. He's staying a tank, so any new figures would be a variation of that.

I'm pretty sure that with a leader budget, they could make a perfectly looking G1 Megatron in bot mode with no tank kibble visible, (appart the cannon) that would transform into a tank. For that to be a reality, it would need a brand new mold.