The Energon Pub

I just opened my Straxus (Darkmount) and surely he's the best figure in the Classics line. A great homage to the comic character (especially the way the panels fold away from the chest to show the red triangles, which wasn't strictly necessary), so much articulation including a wrist that bends towards the 'pinky' (something all figures with blade weapons need but always lack) and as many accessories as a Masterpiece!

OK, enough of singing his praises, I want to go and play with him some more!

Got mine last weekend and I'm over the moon with him. Got his machine gun and missile launcher on the shoulders and smoke launcher on the leg, I'll probably go for a different arrangement when I get hold of Skullgrim.

On a serious note though, this was an even longer wait than Unicron!

Now, to wait for a more comic accurate Jhiaxus or track down the Universe(1) version?

Will get him probably later, but he is in my top 5 must get.......the United version that is.

fenrir72 wrote:Will get him probably later, but he is in my top 5 must get.......the United version that is.

I've seen that in person. Not as cool as the pictures made it look. You should pick up a Generations one while it's still around to be on the safe side. Worse con to worse, you only spent $10 (or thereabouts) and can actually take him back to the store if you don't like it. Just saying.

fenrir72 wrote:Will get him probably later, but he is in my top 5 must get.......the United version that is.

Go with the Generations version, far superior IMO.

Thanks for the advice kimosabes but in this regard, my local supplier has multiple stocks of him. So I'm safe in this regard if it's got any QC problems.

fenrir72 wrote:Will get him probably later, but he is in my top 5 must get.......the United version that is.

I'll add another vote for Hasbro's Generations version.

I have nearly the entire United line; and this is the only figure where I clearly prefer Hasbro's version. The biggest problem with the United version is the use of a lighter gray non-metallic plastic. It keeps the figure from looking as sinister as Hasbro's version.

So, yeah... Go ahead and get him while he's still cheap.

The Generations version is arguably more comic accurate. If that means anything to you.

I think the United one looks more menacing as he has the darker head and is darker in general but the Hasbro is comic accurate(ish). They still need that gold chest to be red though.

i think what suprised me the most about the mold in general was the ankle articulation. the pictures just dont do it justice imo he stands remarkably well and has a great range of motion. definitely one of the best homages weve gotten

I got mine when it came out, and aside from the back kibble, it's great. I am a huge G1 Marvel fan, and this was a must. Didn't get the Skullgrin version, though. I still might, my Walmart has a bunch of them.

Straxus is awesome, yes. Great articulation and I love his head. the pickaxe is a pretty awesome weapon, too.

What I love even more is with Skullgrin, just a few little mistransforms and he looks very different from Straxus.

Hmm, then I might have to get him. Though Skullgrin wasn't comic-only, he did have a prominent part in 2 story lines.

RK_Striker_JK_5 wrote:Straxus is awesome, yes. Great articulation and I love his head. the pickaxe is a pretty awesome weapon, too.

What I love even more is with Skullgrin, just a few little mistransforms and he looks very different from Straxus.

Care to show us a pic?

I've got the United one and have to say I think his paint job is better than generations. He's a great figure whichever one you get thought wish he wasn't so short.

I actually agonized about whether to get this guy; it's so tempting to pick up some brushes and repaint him with the darker shades that I remember from the comic, but now I'm glad that I did buy him, if only to clip the little weapon thingies on Reveal The Shield Windcharger like so:Ahh yeah.... those gadgets are looking more groovy

Straxus/Darkmount is an excellent figure.ditto for Skullgrin.highly recommended too.

Still need to order the United version of this guy, which from pics ive seen looks alot better.....especially the souless black eyes!!

Mykltron wrote:

RK_Striker_JK_5 wrote:Straxus is awesome, yes. Great articulation and I love his head. the pickaxe is a pretty awesome weapon, too.

What I love even more is with Skullgrin, just a few little mistransforms and he looks very different from Straxus.

Care to show us a pic?

Well, I... don't own a digital camera, and I don't really know how to operate my webcam. So lemme just describe it.

1. Straxus has the chest bits folded in for more armored appearance.

2. His 'tread wings' are also closer to the body, while Skullgrin's are more out and separated for a winglike appearance.

3. I removed Skullgrin's clip-on weapons.

It's small stuff, but enough to differentiate between the two and make them unique in my eyes.

RK_Striker_JK_5 wrote:

Mykltron wrote:

RK_Striker_JK_5 wrote:Straxus is awesome, yes. Great articulation and I love his head. the pickaxe is a pretty awesome weapon, too.

What I love even more is with Skullgrin, just a few little mistransforms and he looks very different from Straxus.

Care to show us a pic?

Well, I... don't own a digital camera, and I don't really know how to operate my webcam. So lemme just describe it.

1. Straxus has the chest bits folded in for more armored appearance.

2. His 'tread wings' are also closer to the body, while Skullgrin's are more out and separated for a winglike appearance.

3. I removed Skullgrin's clip-on weapons.

It's small stuff, but enough to differentiate between the two and make them unique in my eyes.

I also mis-transform Skullgrin's weapon, I leave it turned up so it looks like a 2 pronged pitchfork kinda thing. It fits better with him, IMHO.

EDIT: PICTURE TIME!!

Ah yes, they do look quite different. You could increase this by using one elbow joint for one figure and the other elbow for the other figure. That places the wheels on a different part of the forearm.

Removing the knee things on one would help more.

Good picture, B. And good tip there, Mkkltron. I love it with the head swap and some of the later molds have really cool options for making them different.