Every two weeks, Seibertron.com brings you a Top 5 list related to all things Transformers written by me, your fellow editor. Nathaniel Prime also joins us this week. These are our opinions 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 10 Best Shockwave Transformers ToysThe last time we looked at Shockwave was in February 2016 and while it might only be 3 years, it feels like an eternity for this character since it was just a few months later that the floodgates opened for Shockwave toys unlike we had ever seen. With the MP line going full gear the year after followed by both two toylines betting it all on G1 right now, we are getting more of Shockwave than we probably need (or are we?). Point is, lots has happened for that character since the first list so we are doing another one. But to still keep it fresh, we are now doing a top 10 instead of just 5. So let's go!
10. Transformers Alternators Shockblast (Laserwave)A nice retool that works way better than plain white Jazz IMO. Plus the colors, chunkiness, and the cannon are all there, and he has nice articulation too. -Nathaniel Prime
9. Transformers Energon Shockblast (Laser Wave)Now this is a fun figure and a nice new take on Shockwave. He has all that you would expect from a Shockwave figure such as a gun arm (the biggest he has ever had!), a perfect headsculpt, and a hexagonal chest. This is a solid figure where everything perfectly clicks and fits together just fine. What I really love is how his cybertronian cannon mode has his head and chest visible (since as with most Shockwaves, the alt modes are rearranged robot parts with no new alt mode detail) but the angle of his head is flush with his shoulder making a smooth uninterrupted surface, hiding the head in plain sight. The robot chest also blends well by being mirrored on the back, adding a nice sense of symmetry and integrating the chest as the alt mode’s body. This figure is an interesting study of contrast between symmetry in the alt mode and asymmetry in the robot mode. It’s like Shockwave himself, perfectly logical, but dark and twisted. -William-James88
And for fun, he also has a 4th fan mode that works ok.
8. Takara Transformers Cloud ShockwaveWhat impresses me so much about this figure is how it is a straight redeco (all the parts are the same) and yet he totally owns that Whirl mold he is from. Shockwave always had this cold creepy mad scientist vibe to him and the tall lanky bot mode just works so well for him. He ends up with the same perfect headsculpt which is very reminiscent of Energon Shockblast and the claw hands (reminiscent of Animated Shockwave) lend themselves perfectly to this bot who is always known for having odd appendages. He is also a great scale if you want a slightly taller Shockwave in your collection of updated toys from the G1 era. -William-James88
7. Transformers Combiner Wars Legends ShockwaveCombiner Wars Legends Shockwave is a perfectly fine legends class toy and deserves some praise. His alt mode can be both a space ship or a gun which fits in the hands of Combiners, like Bruticus, letting fans recreate a favourite G1 scene. - William-James88
6. Transformers Cyberverse Ultra / Warrior class ShockwaveThe general concensus behind the Cybrverse line is that while this gimmick heavy line is far more for kids, there could be one figure that transcends it all: Shockwave (both the Warrior and the Ultra figure).
The colour, is a nice full grape colour. Not too dark ala G1 toy but still very full. The deco is pretty great, with a nice use of panel lining. There are some neatly painted pink highlights across the figures, as if to give a sense of the energy coursing through him. While the alt mode is new for Shockwave, a spider-tank, the desgners did keep gun barrel element from the G1 design on his legs. It's a nice touch. Check out the images below to see how well he can fit in anyone's collection (particularly RID for the warrior class one).
5. Transformers Dark of the Moon Voyager ShockwaveSay what you want about the Bay movies, the design for Shockwave was pretty spot on for that world. He looked like a badass sci fi robot. The portrayal is another story, but the movie design translated perfectly well into the toy, who looked a bit smoother than the usual movie figures up to that point. -William-James88
One of my favorite Bayverse designs that works well with the figure. I really like the inclusion of the rubber hose too. -Nathaniel Prime
4. Transformers Animated ShockwaveThis toy is unlike any other Transformer ever designed by Hasbro. Spoilers for the Transformers Animated series abound. The idea behind this toy is for it to be Shockwave disguised as an Autobot who looks completely different with a different alt mode. The real fun is converting him from small stocky Autobot Longarm into the Decepticon Shockwave. The little hands turn into claws, the normal looking autobot face loses his mouth, nose and eyes for only the red cyclops eye to remain and the stocky limbs lengthen to reveal a tall and lean creepy silhouette. Speaking of height, this is a tall voyager figure, just look at that picture of him next to Megatron. I can’t think of that many Transformers which had as much value as this one. Definitely one of the best Transformer toy designs of all time. -William-james88
Animated Shockwave is one of my favorite Animated figures. I love his proportions and his look. Longarm is pretty cool too, and I really like the tank mode in my opinion. - Nathaniel Prime
3. Transformers G1 1985 Shockwave (Laserwave)The G1 toy is still an amazing toy. Any lack in articulation is offset by the playability factor and heft. It's an awesome space gun that turns into a cool looking robot, the argument stops right there! -William-James88
It still holds up and I really like how he looks, his articulation, and his lights and sounds. - Nathaniel Prime
2. Transformers MP 29+ Shockwave
This is THE Shockwave anyone could ask for. I love that they just modernized his transformation, and added more articulation from his G1 toy. However, the + version is much nicer IMO, I like that purple and grey more. I personally find this to be the best Shockwave figure we have. -Nathaniel Prime
1. Transformers Siege ShockwaveI love how unlike the Mastepriece version, this being a definitive Shockwave figure was just a building block to build more upon. To me this is not the Shockwave figure to own if you can't own the MP (ala POTP Leader Prime). Instead it is simply THE Shockwave to own. - William-James88
He has everything a Shockwave could have in a CHUG size package( properly voyager size too). I really like his extra bits he comes with, and some of his combinations with them are really cool. I really like his superstarship mode, but come on, he finally gets a gun mode in this size, even if he has to Sixshot his way for one. Did I mention his colors and articulation are perfect too? -Nathaniel Prime