10 of 2022 - Share with us your Top 10 Transformers Purchases of 2022
Friday, December 30th, 2022 1:29PM CST
Categories: Site Articles, Top ListsPosted by: D-Maximal_Primal Views: 118,809
Topic Options: View Discussion · Sign in or Join to reply
Welcome all. My name is D-Maximal_Primal, your friendly neighborhood Seibertron.com Admin, and today, I'd like to take you all on a journey through the year.
This journey is called the top 10 Transformers figures of 2022. It's a simple journey: I am going to talk about the Top 10 (or so) figures I personally bought and received during the 2022 calendar year, and in doing so, I hope to prompt you, dear reader, to share you own 2022 Top 10.
The top 10 is only limited to buying this year, not release of this year, and the terms of what makes your favorites are up to you. Me personally, I am going to talk about the 10 toys that brought me the most joy and that i like to handle the most.
Sound like fun? I hope it is! So let's go!
10) LEGO Optimus Prime
Boy oh boy, what a way to start this list off. I adore legos, always have, since I was a little boy. Seeing such a nice big lego set of Optimus Prime himself come to life was such a gift. It took a good while to build him, but the result is so very nice. The fact that this thing transforms so competently is a sign of how much love went into him. They nailed this one, well done.
9) Legacy Jhiaxus
I have always had this weird soft spot for Jhiaxus, and it wasn't even necessarily because the G2 comics started me there. I became weirdly attached to him during the IDW2005 run, and then properly bought and read G2, where I fell in love with this berserker. And then this toy comes along and kills. This toy is so very good, it deserves a lot of praise, and a lot of people deserve the chance to get to handle it. It's great.
'8) Transformers Animated Waspinator
Waspinator was one of those toys I was hunting down for a while, but always seemed a tad expensive. Well, good thing I waited, because not only did I get one for a decent price, but the one I got was signed by Derrick J. Wyatt himself. That signature alone made this guy worth every penny and every minute of waiting. Thank you to Grimlockimus Customs on Twitter for this guy, he is treasured here.
7) Transformers Cyberverse Battle Call Optimus Prime
This figure was a total surprise to me. He showed up in an Ollies near me, so I decided to give him a go, since I do love Cyberverse. Wow, was he a pleasant surprise. He is both very posable and also very fun, with a strong build that can take some punishment but still throw some great shapes. The spark armor and entire 2nd head that is a posable as the main head was such a cool touch. This is a really fun figure, and fun figures make for great figures to talk about on lists!
6) Robots in Disguise 2015 Legion Heatseeker
Speaking of fun figures, check out this little knucklehead. Heatseeker was one of those legion figures that were skipped over in many parts of the world, which is a shame with how good he is. I lucked into this one after a friend on Twitter just kindly threw him in a package to me. What a great surprise! The RiD2015 legions were a fantastic little era of robots, and Heatseeker lives up to the joy they brought.
5) Black Big Convoy
Speaking of eras, lets go back to the beast era, and check out this guy. I lucked into this guy at what is essentially a large pawn shop, and following some haggling, coupons, and more, I got him for a great price, especially considering his vintage and exclusivity. I love Big Convoy, and to get this gleaming black and gold version was a treat. He looks so nice, and is a joy to have. And he also sparked a journey I am now on to own all the Big Convoy repaints. Just 3 to go I think!
4) Dark of the Moon Deluxe Leadfoot
As a movie fan, there are some figures that were very limited that you just wish you could get. And early in the year, I got super lucky with a chance to finally get the only live action Wrecker mold I did not own: Leadfoot. This guy was a bit of a white whale for me, given how rare and expensive he is, given how his release went. And to now have him properly, and to have a full and proper set of original deluxe Wreckers, it feels so very good.
3) Transformers Animated Blackout
As someone who loves Animated, there were some figures that I had not had the chance to handle and add to the collection, though that number is slowly dwindling. But Blackout was a huge grab this year. I got really lucky with the deal I got made, and it feels great to have the bruiser in the collection at last. He is a fun toy, not the best, but still very fun, and the exclusivity of him coupled with how long it took to get him makes him feel extra special now.
2) War for Cybertron: Kingdom Rodimus Prime
I had passed on this figure initially, and then part way into the year, I felt a pang of regret, especially as I began to realize Rodimus might actually be one of my Top 3 favorite Transformers characters. So I corrected a mistake, and I am glad I did. There is no doubt in my mind this toy is the best WFC toy released, and he can do so much while looking amazing at all times. He is truly a great toy, one I am more appreciative of after almost missing him. He is positively great.
1) ThreeZero Revenge of the Fallen Jetwing Optimus Prime
Anyone who knows me knows how much I love the movies. They are my bread and butter. And in the course of the live action movies, there have been a select few that have truly captured my imagination more than any other.
Jetwing Optimus Prime, the fusion of Jetfire and Optimus Prime at the climax of Revenge of the Fallen, is one of those. No release had ever done the design full justice. Such small details like the extra facial armor to the inner leg guards had never been done before. But then, ThreeZero went and did it. They gave us the perfect, be all end all Jetwing Optimus Prime. Getting this guy this year was the true highlight of the year, and was always going to be #1. I am beyond the moon excited that this is something I get to hold in my hands now. I will always treasure the moment I fully finished the combined mode. It is a sight to behold.
Honorable Mentions:
I just wanted to highlight a couple of other figures that were standouts this year, but didn't quite make the cut.
Beast Wars II Moon was a fun grab, and one I bought after reading IDW's Last Bot Standing. So thank you, Nick Roche, for finally counterpunching me into this adorable little wabbit.
Beast War II Thrustor was a necessary evil, as I have had his 3 Cyborg compatriots for a couple years now. To finally get him and complete the set of lackeys for Galvatron feels so good.
Legacy Transmetal II Megatron will also join this list, mainly because he is so very good. He is such a great figure, he really turned out great despite the questionable early looks. They did him good.
Legacy Metroplex is the figure I determined was figure of the year for 2022 on our Seibertron year in review article, but Given how much I will gush about him there, I felt like he could sidestep here, especially given how personally important some of the rest of the list are to me.
Studio Series Premium Edition Megatron was so close to making the list, as he is so very good and so rich in beautiful paintwork. But I decided ultimately that he'll just be shy of the list as I have splurged a lot about that mold before. But he was still worth mentioning again.
And with that, that is a wrap on 2022! I hope you all enjoyed this article, and I hope you find time to share you own Top 10 of 2022!
Until we talk again, Happy New Year!
News Search
Got Transformers News? Let us know here!
Most Popular Transformers News
ROTB Optimus Prime Lead Designer Discusses Why the Face Looks Similar to the 2007 Movie
56,999 viewsMost Recent Transformers News
Posted by Overcracker on December 30th, 2022 @ 3:08pm CST
To this day I kick myself for not picking up Universe Nemesis Prime when I saw him at Target all those years ago. He was $29.99 and I should have pulled the trigger. Never saw him again for a decent price.
Hmm... for things I got this year...
#10 SS Wheeljack
I'm a big fan of Wheeljack and this one is a pretty decent mold to have. Even if transformation is not as satisfying as it could be, both modes are solid and fun to play with.
#9 Legacy Laser Optimus Prime. As much as some deride this mold, I think it's a lot of fun. Yes it has some issues which is why it's so low on the list, but it still a fun mold and a good update. Owning all the other attempts. at Laser Prime in some way, this one is still the best with only the original mold being better and still holding up to this day.
#8 SS-86 Sludge. Despite its issues with the ratchet joints, it's a solid Dinobot all around. I also like the fact that I can recreate the Dinosaucers BrontoThunder dinovolving with him.
#7 Golden Disk Collection Tigatron. Love the mold. Love the mutant head, love the traditional orange and black, and even though I also own the Kingdom version this one made the list for being more unique.
#6 Re-Issue Beastwars Ratrap. Never owned any beast warrs figures when it was on, since I was in College at the time it aired and wasn't collecting then but Ratrap I always wanted fro some reason. Have since picked up a few Including Telemocha SP DX Primal and Telemocha Cheetor. Finally was able to get Ratrap with the re-issues to add to the other 2.
#5 Legacy Dragstrip. Great way to start the Menasor combiner. Very unique mold and gimmick for combined mode. This one is the entire opposite of Breakdown. The least said about him the better.
#4 SS-86 Coronation Starscream
Yes, yes, it's a rather expensive set, with some pointless accessories, but I had not picked up the original Earthrise SS, and this one was on sale for 35% off at Amazon, So I went for it. And yes, it's great, looks awesome next to my other Earthrise seekers and recreates an iconic if short lived sequence in the Movie. Jet mode is still top notch in my book.
#3 SS Brawn
From the BB movie SS figures Brawn is the best one. Cool looking alt mode, an incredibly satisfying transformation and a great looking robot mode, plus excellent accessories makes this my top SS purchase of the year.
#2 Legacy Motormaster.
As much as I complained about the skeleton design choice, it's turned out to be one of my favorites figures. It's a ton of fun to for the Menasor body,. Motormaster does some really interesting things himself, and overall it's a great use of the commander budget. I think the only knock against it is the hollow gun. Everything else is top notch.
#1 Selects G2 RamJet.
Having been unable to get the Conehead 2-pack due to never actually finding it anywhere, I settled for the G2 repaint of Ramjet and he's excellent. Seeker mold is still awesome. Color scheme is fantastic. Just a ton of fun all around. Looks great with my other seekers. Now If only Hasbro would like to re-release Thrust I'd be happy.
Honorable mentions:
1. Golden Disk Puffer and Road Rage. A fun set. With a unique retooling between them.
2. Legacy Blitzwing. As bad as his jet mode is, he's still fun to mess around with, and his tank and robot modes are very solid.
Happy New Year everybody!.
Posted by Cyber Bishop on December 30th, 2022 @ 4:14pm CST
It is a nice list but not a true list of "The Top 10 Transformers Figures of 2022", that would include the BB, SS, legacy lines, etc released this year..
Posted by The_Cryptid_Person on December 30th, 2022 @ 4:25pm CST
Cyber Bishop wrote:The title of this article is completely misleading, I initially thought this was a list of top 10 figs released in 2022. You should change it to cause less confusion. And yes I know you explain it once you click on the news icon or forum link.
It is a nice list but not a true list of "The Top 10 Transformers Figures of 2022", that would include the BB, SS, legacy lines, etc released this year..
Agreed. This was a nice quick read but kind of laughable compared to the Seibertron Year in Review articles of the past, which this at first seemed like it was replacing.
Posted by -Kanrabat- on December 30th, 2022 @ 4:42pm CST
Regardless, on their own, each of these entries are damn solid.
Especially that sexy, sexy Black Convoy. Too bad the price is too nope for me.
Posted by NeonPrime on December 30th, 2022 @ 6:34pm CST
My top 10 of 2022 in the order I purchased them:
#1 SS Grindor
Loved the mold but didn't want to risk breaking/wearing out my Blackout figure.
#2 SS 86 Slag
#3 SS 86 Perceptor
Still not crazy about the periwinkle blue but at least he's not a Head Master.
#4 SS 86 Sludge
#5 SS 86 Arcee
I was super pissed with the Earthrise version I paid $27 from an online retailer (amazon
never had it in stock) but now I feel vindicated.
#6 SS Galvatron
#7 Legacy Jhiaxus
#8 Legacy Velocitron Cosmos
The 2022 figure I wanted the most but NEVER thought I'd actually find at Walmart. I did
and he's awesome.
#9 Legacy Velocitron Override
Picked her up on a whim with Cosmos and she's awesome! So much so that I was inspired to
finally, complete my Unicron trilogy after 14 years.
#10 SS 86 Ironhide
Here's hoping a Ratchet repaint happens and it's not a Walgreens/Walmart exclusive.
I agree that a "yearly best of" should ONLY include official Hasbro/Takara releases. That said, my honorable eBay/amazon mentions are:
MPM-8 Megatron
Snagged this amazon warehouse deal for $60. The box was dented and had ship stickers but
the figure was minty. I had a $20 gift card so got him for $40 free and clear. Like Blackout
2007 Megatron was iconic and I wanted one I could play with.
Alternators Rodimus
Yet another Hot Rod/Rodimus figure I never thought I'd be able to own because the after-
market prices over the years were absurd. Say what you will but this guy is pure 2007 fun.
Fanstoys FT16 Sovereign (original 2016 version)
FINALLY completed my Galvatron collection without paying after-market prices.
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on December 30th, 2022 @ 7:01pm CST
But, I guess the current crowd must not have read these before or paid really any attention to the trend over the years, so the title was changed to clarify.
Posted by -Kanrabat- on December 30th, 2022 @ 8:33pm CST
#1 is VICTORY SABER.
Posted by Stormshot_Prime on December 30th, 2022 @ 10:07pm CST
Second place goes to Kingdom Iguanus, love that funky little lizard man.
(Hasbro, proper Pretenders PLEASE)
Posted by Cyber Bishop on December 30th, 2022 @ 10:31pm CST
10. SS Arcee
9. Mirage (from the amazon 2 pack, got him this year)
8. Elita-1
7. SS Sludge
6. Dragstrip
5. SS Perceptor
4. SS Rumble
3. Jihaxus
2. Cosmos
1. SS Ironhide
SS pretty much took up half my list this year.
Posted by Spider5800 on December 31st, 2022 @ 12:46am CST
2. Kingdom Tigatron. Surprisingly good figure.
3. SS86 Arcee. Excellent retool of the T30 figure.
4. Legacy Tarantulus. Does exactly what it needs to do.
5. Kingdom Terrorsaur. Actually a perfectly fine figure, but I'm dinging it points for being a pain to get.
6. Legacy Inferno. It's fine, but I wish they hadn't combined his gun and rocket booster, and it still bothers me that he has faux insect legs in robot mode along with all the other legs dangling everywhere.
7. Kingdom Scorponok. This one was just bad. I thought the transformation was neat, but the joints on all the red parts were super loose on my copy and he just keeps flopping to pieces. Awful.
Think that's all I got this year, split my money between Transformers and GI Joe Classified figures so didn't get as much as I normally do.
Posted by blackeyedprime on December 31st, 2022 @ 3:53am CST
10.wfc sky lynx
It's not as good as G1 but having a space shuttle on a toy shelf is kind of a must.
9.ss grindor
Looks really good, not something I've felt like transforming though
8.red cheetor
Fits really well with MP primal with out having to spend mp money and goes well with earthrise deluxes that would have been originally small beast war figures.
7.red but not red, cog
Fun to play with even on his reuse.
6.kids logic sdf devy
Comparing to prices of other official licenced products (Iron studios, flame toys etc) great bot and not ugly as some of the other licenced Sdf things can be (funko etc).
5 to 3.buzzworthy 4 pck mainly gold bug and ransack but bonus points for all the extra heads for the other figures too. Even if I'm not keen on the Scorponok mold it didn't feel like it included a bad egg.
2.wfc runabout
Mainly because its nice to finally have them both and robot modes better than most recent car formers.
1.yots omega
Something I'd wanted for a long while and it's more fun with yots prime and having the original energon prime to mess about with.
Other mentions would be black zarak but I got him December 2021 and I think any use of skids mp would have been on my list if I'd bought any of them.
Posted by Emerje on December 31st, 2022 @ 9:50am CST
I might do a list myself, but it might take a while since I imported so much stuff at the start of the year.
Emerje
Posted by RodimusPrimeUkraine1 on December 31st, 2022 @ 11:10am CST
Posted by TulioDude on December 31st, 2022 @ 11:40am CST
Posted by DeathReviews on December 31st, 2022 @ 1:21pm CST
Death's BEST Transformer purchases of 2022:
- Kingdom Blaster/Eject: Rock solid figure, definitely worth the effort of tracking down.
- Studio Series 86 Sludge: Don't like that hollow spot under the belly, but generally they've been knocking the Dinobot figures out of the ball park each time.
- Legacy Motormaster & Dragstrip: The remaining deluxes have been disappointing, but they definitely put their creative energy behind the first two components for Menasor.
- Legacy Creatures Collide set: Four deluxes in one box, and priced reasonably. Repaints yes, but good ones for a change.
- Legacy Tarantulas: Both modes are surprisingly fun and creepy. If they'd ball socketed the leg joints where they join to the body, he'd have been perfect.
- Legacy Skullgrin: I thought this one would be boring, but the placement of the 5mm ports mean you can turn his generic body into a jet or a tank. Won me over with sheer versatility.
- Studio Series 86 Wreck Gar: I couldn't stand the G1 figure, but this voyager Bike-former seems to have fixed everything they originally got wrong. The fact that he can serve as a working bike for other figures is icing on the cake.
- WFC Kingdom Ark: He's got some problems, but it's still one of the best Titan figures so far - mostly because they set him up with only two solid modes, and didn't waste engineering trying to throw in a 3rd 'base' mode.
- Lego Optimus Prime: Yes, agreeing with everyone else who got this, and largely for the same reasons...
- WFC Kingdom Rodimus Prime: I dislike Rodimus as a character, but even I liked this representation of him. Excellent figure with lots of accessories and playability.
Death's WORST Transformer purchases of 2022:
- Legacy Blitzwing: Count me among those who think they SHOULD have 'fixed' original G1 issues, like the cockpit sticking out front of the tank mode. And then there are new issues like those horrible energon 'glove' accessories...
- Legacy Wild Rider & Dead End: Maybe they raised expectations too high with Dragstrip and Motormaster. But I think we were all expecting better with the remaining deluxes. There's nothing really 'wrong' with them, but there's nothing really GOOD about them either. They're just... average.
- Kingdom Arcee: I got this one on clearance, and even THAT was probably too high a price. Such a good character, such a horrible figure...
- R.E.D. Shockwave: I gave the R.E.D. line another chance. It didn't work. Seriously - every figure they've made for this line has been a disappointment. The materials are incredibly cheap, and they don't have any more articulation than normal transformers - which I though was supposed to be the whole point for this line. BOO!!
- Studio Series 86 Spike Witwicky: This could have been a great figure, but they skimped on many parts, and reduced it to something lackluster.
- Legacy Bulkhead: There's a reason why everyone seems disappointed by the Legacy remakes of the Prime figures. It's because we know what the Prime figures look like, and these aren't it. I didn't get Arcee at all because I knew I'd be disappointed. Bulkhead has some redeeming features, but in the end, he's just not... "bulkheady" enough.
Posted by -Kanrabat- on December 31st, 2022 @ 1:43pm CST
RodimusPrimeUkraine1 wrote:Probably haven't even purchased 10 this year
Posted by RodimusPrimeUkraine1 on December 31st, 2022 @ 1:49pm CST
-Kanrabat- wrote:RodimusPrimeUkraine1 wrote:Probably haven't even purchased 10 this year
Posted by Starseeker on December 31st, 2022 @ 2:33pm CST
A loooooot of purchases this year for me once again. Hard to narrow it down to just ten.
-Titans Return SDCC exclusive 3-pack of Sentinel Prime, Brainstorm, and Windblade.
-Titans Return Soundwave
-Titans Return Blaster
-Earthrise Scorponok
-Kingdom Terrorsaur
-Selects Black Zarak
-Legacy Metroplex
-SS86 Slag
-SS86 Sludge
-MPM-8 Masterpiece movie Megatron
Honorable mentions that easily could make the top ten:
-Jurassic Park mash up set
-Both Street Fighter 2 mash up sets
-Creatures collide 4-pack
-Studio Series TF 07 anniversary 5-pack
-Studio Series Megatrons (TF07, ROTF and ROTF battle damaged, DOTM)
-Studio Series Grindor
-Studio Series DOTM Soundwave
-Legacy Galvatron
-Legacy Laser Prime
-Velocitron Scourge
I can go on and on. This is why I never have money lol.
Posted by o.supreme on December 31st, 2022 @ 4:15pm CST
Haslab Victory Saber was by far the most awesome toy I got in 2022. I do feel for all those who received theirs with QC issues, hopefully Hasbro will make things right and get everything you need to have the toy as intended.
Legacy Black Zarak was a close 2nd. I love this retool of ER Scorponok.
Botcon 2016 Flash Sentry only approximately 100 of these in existence. a Holy Grail item I got to cross off my list, for about half what I expected to pay! Huge thanks to Toy De Jour in Chicago! Coincidentally purchased around the same time as their "Toy Store Near You" episode dropped on Amazon prime.
MPG 01 and 02 Definitely LOT of mixed reviews of these two, but I think they are amazing Definitely ned to be handled with care, but that seems to be par for any MP. Sure I would have preferred standard Generations releases, but I look forward to having the completed Raiden this time next year.
Biggest Regrets:
#2 Legacy Velocitron Galaxy Shuttle. When this first dropped I was beyond excited. Super hard to obtain, and my copy at least has weak knees. Thank you to Kanrabat for offering a solution at least. I hope to have time to work on this in the new year:
#1 Legacy Titan Cybertron Metroplex.... Ugh, After stacking coupons with Target, I only ended up paying around $117 (USD), the least I've ever paid for a Titan, but the shoddy assembly shows. While this was praised by many for having super tights ratchets. The one (above all) that probably should have had the most support (the waist) makes this toy basically unable to get into any pose other than standing straight up (or not holding his weapon). Definitely my least favorite Titan by Far. T30 Metroplex which started it all may have lots of criticisms, but nearly a decade later he is still stable, unlike this floppy piece of junk.
Posted by Burn on January 1st, 2023 @ 3:50am CST
Two do stand out for me though.
G1 Hardhead - Incredibly mint condition, all weapons and headmaster. $50AUD made it even better.
G1 Soundblaster Jr. - Banged up, missing his weapons and battery cover, but I figure he's pretty rare in this part of the world, heck I didn't even know he existed until I saw him listed on Facebook!
There'd be others too from Legacy (though I've been picky about what I pick up there) like Clampdown and Netflix Deep Cover, I didn't get the Sideswipe mold but I did pick up these two and they're more fun than they should be.
All in all, it actually was a good year for collecting, and having spent a few hours in my collection room today, I may have to slow down on purchases as I'm rapidly running out of room.
Posted by M. Spector on January 2nd, 2023 @ 9:07am CST
Selects Black Zarak
This guy came as a gift in early December. In very early 2022 I found the Ark on sale at a meijer for a song and while thats technically my first "Titan", Zarak or Dark Scorponok as im calling him really feels like a proper Titan. The plastic is hefty, the joints are good and the colors of the red and gold just pop like nothing else. Plus the Headmaster gimmick is so well intergrated
Dragstrip
Not sure I can say anything that everyone else hasnt already chanted, but hes pretty great and in my opinion should be in the running for top 10 Deluxes of the decade just for how fun and clean both modes are and the process for going between them
Blaster
Looking at this figure it might initially be hard to understand why hes so great but thats probably exactly why. There is such a straightforwardness to the presentation and transformation its hard not to be charmed by it, and also, the fact that this is one of the few toys that comes with a big accessory like a transforming Eject and DOESNT feel like it cut into the budget or quality of the main figure is amazing
Coronation Starscream
Think I got this guy on sale, yes mainly for the throne, I'd already had experience with the mold via Selects Sandstorm (whom is great by the way) so the thought of having another with Screamer wasnt high on my lists of desires but gosh dang. The extra pant apps, the articulated hands and *of course* the crown and stuff, really one me over. I still think that the mold is too chunky for Starscream but as far as being a definitive G1 version of the character, I dont feel Ill ever have to get another in that style
Buzzworthy Kup
Something just started calling to me about this figure, maybe it was curiosity about the transformation. This was also a situation where I didnt want to replace my Thrilling 30 Kup, but having both in hand the each serve a different purpose. So I'd certainly recommend the Buzzworthy version if you can still find him
SS Sideways
I'll keep it short and sweet here, this is easily one of the better SS carformers. Besides some loose ball joints in his legs, which was an easy enough fix, theres really not much wrong
SS Bumblebee Arcee/Wheeljack
Had to put these two together, Arcee might win out slightly just for having a more unique look to her but both I found enjoyable. Wheeljack wins the transformation battle tho, just because he loses more of the robot mode into the vehicle
Posted by Galvamaximus on January 2nd, 2023 @ 11:42am CST
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on January 2nd, 2023 @ 2:15pm CST
Emerje wrote:Wow, D-Max, I can't believe SG Ultra Magnus didn't even get an honorable mention out of you for how many pictures you took of him.
I might do a list myself, but it might take a while since I imported so much stuff at the start of the year.
Emerje
I thought about him a good bit, but I just couldn't put him in the top 15. If I had stuck to the old format of "22 of 2022", he would have been on the list for sure though.
Posted by ZeldaTheSwordsman on January 2nd, 2023 @ 2:37pm CST
As for mine, let's see...
10. Robots in Disguise (2001) Rollbar.
Such a small, cheap purchase. But he's on the list for a reason.
And that reason is that it was incredibly satisfying to FINALLY replace the stupidly brittle and increasingly degrading bootleg Greejeeper I'd been putting up with since 2011.
9.Robots in Disguise (2001)/Car Robots Railspike (J-Five), Heavy Load (Build Typhoon), and Wedge (Build Boy).
These were purchased as a single lot, hence them all being under the same entry. It was satisfying to expand my RiD collection, especially snagging one of the Takara bullet trains (and I again want to slug past me for selling J-Four/Midnight Express). It was great value, too, around $60 IIRC.
8. Vintage Beast Wars reissue Optimus Primal.
Optimus Primal is a really cool toy. But the one I initially snagged at the end of 2018 was incomplete, so I wasn't getting nearly the full play value, and dealing with that was proving slow (and was gonna be costly, barring 3D print replacement parts; there was also one thing I'd have to fabricate). I was quite happy to get my hands on a complete one via the reissue, even if the launchers (especially in the arm cannon) could use more powerful springs.
7. Studio Series '86 Sludge.
The SS86 Dinobots are cool, and I was quite happy to manage to snag Sludge and not miss my shot at a good price on him (I still need Slag x.x). He's a pretty fun toy, very well-executed and he has a nice presence to him as well. I need to finish the sword I made for him.
6. Legacy Motormaster.
He was a guarantee for this list. It was quite satisfying to fit him into my budget even with everything else I bought, and to pick him up from Target. I look forward to getting a CW arm adapter for him (still on the fence about getting Legacy Stunticons other than Drag Strip) so I can complete Menasor. And I know just from what I have with him and DS that he'll make for a much more playable Menasor than CW Motormaster (because the CW Optimus mold is such a bad torso). Buzzworthy Terrycloth is fun, but not counting him for the entry.
5. Robots in Disguise (2001) Scourge
Complete except for the disks, and I won him for a steal (at least, as this guy's price tends to go). He's an excellent toy, and the only downside (shared with his Takara counterpart) is the light feature getting dropped. He looks great and he plays great too, and has plenty of presence. He's a major milestone for my RiD collection. The Velocitron version pales in terms of features, size, and show-accuracy.
4A. Armada Powerlinx Jetfire.
He's a pretty cool toy, and getting him was what pushed me to finish cleaning my Armada Optimus off and getting him back together (Although sadly I messed up the wiring disassembly... and then damaged the wiring of the replacement cab when cleaning its contacts... so I have an Armada Optimus but currently lack the autotransformation X.X). And of course the combined mode is great. Now if I could just get hold of Comettor and the shield for non-argh prices...
4B. Armada Overload.
Managed to snag Overload, too; had to import him from Canada to get the best price. I love the the big guns and the combined vehicle mode. But I don't like one more than the other wrt him and Jetfire so they're tied.
3. Cybertron Jetfire, Energon Treadbolt, Armada Starscream
* Armada Starscream is neat. The mold is nice, as I know from having Thundercracker & Skywarp, but I didn't have Screamer yet (although I bought my mom one as a birthday present, to make up for the T30 one I bought her in 2018 getting savaged by dogs). Although given the need to restore this one and the repro parts not including firing launchers I've been considering repainting him and whomping up an original Mini-Con
* Energon Treadbolt is neat. She's my first time having the Armada Scavenger mold, and it's honestly pretty gun.
* Cybertron Jetfire is the real star here. He's one of the major characters from the show that I didn't have yet, and managing to snag him was quite the score. Almost put this lot in the #1 slot because of him.
2. Transformers x Jurassic Park set
This is a really cool set, easily the crossover set I wanted the most. I've always been a big fan of Jurassic Park, loved both the dinos and the vehicles (not to mention the characters). And so I was delighted to be able to snag this for myself courtesy of a gift card and a discounted Amazon listing. I'm very much enjoying both figures, and I hope to see more done with this crossover.
1. Black Zarak
Felt I had to put the Titan at the top. Everything that was good about Scorponok, enhanced by the color scheme and the Tyrant Spear. And I was able to snag him without dealing with markup like I endured with Scorponok. I haven't gotten to play with him as much as I'd have liked, due to various factors, but I'll work to make up for that this year.
And now for the honorable mentions:
Selects Turtler:
Glad to finally have a start on the Seacons, late though it is. I do hope there's another run of them though, considering the prices of some X.X He almost made the list, but was beat out by Rollbar. He's a way cooler toy than Rollbar, don't get me wrong... but he's also sans team for the moment, plus I haven't been dealing with a fragile bootleg of him for over a decade.
Vintage Beast Wars Scorponok:
BW Scorponok's original toy is cool, with lovely play features, so it was very nice to be able to get my hands on the reissue. Was not looking forward to having to budget for or part together an original.
Hunt for the Decepticons Leader-class Starscream (#2):
I already had HFTD Starscream, have had since late 2018. But that one was headless, and apparently asking someone with a complete one to temporarily wrap the head of theirs in modelling clay was either too demanding or too incomprehensible.
It was thus very satisfying to get my hands on one that did have a head. Now I can make my own clay impression to fix up the other one with, and as an added bonus this one has the US electronics.
Posted by Whifflefire on January 2nd, 2023 @ 5:31pm CST
My vintage list:
10) Cybertron Lugnutz - I had very few Decepticons from the show originally, so Lugnutz was a great addition to balance out my Cybertron cast, although his backpack does make him a little fiddly.
9) Beast Wars Razorclaw - A neat little Predacon to bolster the ranks against my non-show Maximals. I like his crab mode, too. Seafood is my favourite.
8 ) Cybertron Leobreaker - Nice to finally have another main cast member, an imposing design even if the execution was compromised.
7) Movie Payload - I finally reunited with this figure after my original broke long ago. Great looking robot mode that blends really well with the aesthetic of the films. Good range of posability and an uncommon altmode.
6) Cybertron Mudflap - Another Cybertron Decepticon, and an excellent figure with great gimmick integration and playability. The unique transformation is very fun to do.
5) RTS Windcharger - This guy was great to finally get my hands on. It has been high on my grail list for so long. The superior modern-day Windcharger. Fits in well with WFC-onwards figures.
4) Cybertron Crumplezone - Not only another core 'Con from the series, but the final Velocitron-themed character from the cast now in my collection. Barium Bazookas are really satisfying to deploy and the vehicle mode is weighty so that it actually rolls really well.
3) Cybertron Crosswise - Another long-time grail item checked off of the list, and completely unexpectedly, too! Great design and really cool looking toy in both modes.
2) RTS Perceptor - Perceptor's one of my favourite characters, and his G1 toy is one of the best. As other modern-day takes on the character have basically retraced the G1 figure, Reveal The shield's unique take on his design and altmode continued to stand out to me throughout the years. Finally getting him this year was an absolute treat. He's a great figure.
1) Cybertron Soundwave (and Laserbeak!) - Besides the Cybertron Leaders, this was the highest item on my holy grail list. I finally sprung for him at the beginning of the year. It was a dream come true to finally handle this figure in person. It's so extravagantly detailed and a perfect example of bringing something new to a classic design. The altmode is nice and hefty and fits the character so well. Laserbeak is also by extension a great take and one of the best iterations of the condor. Definitely went straight up my list of favourite figures of all time and owned the top spot on this list from the moment he arrived.
Honourable mentions - Beast Wars Reissue Cybershark and Wolfang - I really like both of these figures, and I think it's great the reissue line is giving people the chance to own older figures that aren't just the cast. As reissues, though, these technically aren't vintage purchases
I'll keep my best of 2022 list for the year in review article, but I will say that this has been the greatest year of collecting for me both in terms of the quantity of TFs I got (45!) and the magnitude of the ones I did get. I doubt I'll be able to match the extent of collection growth and completion I achieved this year, but I'm still looking forward to what 2023 has in store.
Posted by Sowndwave76 on January 2nd, 2023 @ 6:02pm CST
10. Legacy Galvatron
Between liking the character and getting the fixed shoulders, scrapping the battle damage paint apps, and the fact that I scored this figure for just over $30, even unopened this guy makes my list.
9. SS86 Wreck-gar
I don't even love this character, but this is one of those figures that's so well done imo, specifically the bot mode, that he deserves making the cut.
8. Legacy Wild Rider
Most TF figures have some sort of issue with the bot proportions. But not this guy.
I also think his vehicle mode was really well done.
7. Legacy Kickback
He's my least favorite of the 3, but I've waited so, so long to get deluxe scale Insecticons; I still remember how excited I was to get this guy in-hand. He may never make another top 10 list for me again, especially once Shrapnel and Bombshell join my collection, but for now, he's definitely in.
6. Legacy Jhiaxus
Out of nowhere came this badass figure... Sure, his ship is borderline clown vibes, but his bot mode is incredibly good. He is right up there with Kingdom Cyclonus for me in terms of quality and just a solid, well done figure. If I had any real love for this character, he'd be top 4.
5. Legacy Blitzwing
Even with a janky jet mode, I look at this guy's bot mode, and it seriously makes me happy.
I think the tank mode is plenty good, and I personally love that they followed the weird animation model. But on bot mode looks alone, I love this figure.
4. Legacy Motormaster
I still remember how excited I first was about the UW version... I could easily look past the proportion issues and never really expected anything better. Hats-off to Hastak on this figure; considering it basically has to be a well-functioning triple changer, this guy should be on everyone's top 10 list.
3. SS86 Slag
He has issues. He's missing a portion of his tail, and I really dislike it being compromised for weapon storage. Yet the bot mode (even with a couple issues) is another one that just makes me happy to see. This is also one of those where I've been waiting for a legit, animation accurate, in-scale figure for what feels like a ridiculously long time.
2. SS86 Sludge
He also has issues. A lot of the dino mode isn't great. But again, the bot mode (of course as we know with a couple QC issues) in terms of appearance is so on point. With each one of these SS86 Dinobot releases, I'm just more excited for the next.
1. Maketoys Reflector
Not even one of my favorite Decepticon characters. But after being unhappy enough with the Siege versions to pass on those, and never having these guys in my collection, they are really sweet figures. It helps that they compliment my favorite figure so well. It was also really nice to get these from TFSource on a major sale. Love these 3 little guys!
Honorable Mentions (in no real order):
SS86 Ironhide: even though I don't have him in-hand yet, I've watched enough reviews to know I'm down with this version over the others.
Selects Behold Galvatron: This variant makes really good use of a monochromatic color scheme, as well as the tiny painted accent lines.
SS86 Kup: Surprisingly much better than the original version, and is what an SS86 figure should be.
SS86 Cliffjumper: Same reasons as Kup. The animation accurate paint job is glorious.
SS86 Arcee: Still unopened, but I really slacked off initially in even trying to see the improvements. And they're definitely there. Glad I got her on sale, but a solid addition for sure.
SS86 Junkheap: Also still unopened. But in some ways, I like this mold better than Wreck-gar's.
SS86 Perceptor: Overall just really well done. It's not that I love him, but he's definitely good enough to where I'm very glad I have him.
Velocitron Cosmos: Can't believe I forgot about this guy... It's partly because he's not opened yet. This is partly because yeah, he's pretty rare. But I love that this guy is different from all of the other Autobots that are cars and trucks, and the icing is that he was done well.
Posted by Giant Purple Griffin on January 2nd, 2023 @ 6:50pm CST
G1 Computron
Legacy Motormaster
Lego Optimus Prime
Jada RC transforming Optimus Prime
Holiday Optimus Prime
SS core DotM Laserbeak
SS86 Coronation Starscream
HISS Megatron
Wreck n' Rule Impactor
Honorable mention: AWE Striker Bumblebee, G1 Scourge, G1 Gnaw, G1 Targetmaster Blurr w/Haywire, Siege Reflector three-pack, Super7 Ultimates Ghost Starscream (on super sale)
Posted by ShadowBlaze on January 3rd, 2023 @ 12:48am CST
-SS Soundwave (Bumblebee): True, the alt-mode is rather lackluster, but the robot mode is a really nice translation of the G1 design through a real-world lens. I also prefer the bulkier limbs over the slimmer extremities of his recent WFC toys.
-SS86 Arcee: After a few almost-but-not-quite attempts, HasTak has finally produced a G1 Arcee that actually transforms AND manages to retain visual accuracy.
-Shattered Glass Wheeljack/Decepticon Slicer: An inspired deco turns a bland mold into a versatile and legitimately fun toy.
-Wreck'n'Rule Diaclone Twin Twist: I actually encountered the original TR release a handful of times, but the muted colours made him a pass. I love the vibrant red and navy deco, and he's a bittersweet reminder of how substantial Deluxe figures felt just a few short years ago.
-Legacy Tarantulas: Simply perfect. Makes me want a Transmetal version REAL bad.
-Legacy Armada Starscream: I loved the engineering of the Deluxe figure from 2014, but I always hated that Hasbro cheaped out and gave us a wall of reddish orange instead of the animation-accurate deco of Takara's much pricier release. While I prefer the missile launchers of the Deluxe, the new Voyager is a huge visual improvement over its predecessor.
-Legacy (Core) Shockwave: I'm a just a sucker for Shockwave. I was more than satisfied with the Legends-size TR figure, but I really like the scaled-down version of his Leader-class Siege form.
-Velocitron Speedia 500 Override: For all its drawbacks, I really liked the old Cybertron Deluxe, and I'm thrilled that she got a modern update. I'm hoping for a repaint in her GTS colours at some point down the road.
-Velocitron Speedia 500 Clampdown: Not the most exciting deco for this mold, but after picking up all the other WFC releases of Sideswipe, Red Alert, et al, he was a must-have. Given his status as a short-packed exclusive, finding him in-store made me appreciate him all the more.
-Selects Black Zarak: Regal and imposing, and a very cool update to one of the line's rarest and most valuable figures. As a matter of money and space, I typically don't bother with the Titans, but I got him for a discount at San Diego Comic-Con. I'm still not sure what to do with him (he doesn't fit in my display), but I couldn't be happier to have him.
Posted by AcademyofDrX on January 3rd, 2023 @ 8:28am CST
The other toy I'll call out is Earthspark Twitch, who will hopefully land on others' 2023 lists.
Posted by Lockdown'sCrew on January 3rd, 2023 @ 2:01pm CST
10)Henkei Sideswipe (ugly hollows in the legs, fiddly transformation in some parts and some parts do not tab anywhere when this is supposed to be the thing)
9)2007 Allspark Power Crankcase (already had Cannonball, but still pretty nice)
Siege Crosshairs (some mould degradation)
7)ROTF (Back Road Brawl) Mixmaster (A LOT of mould degradation, like 18 lose joints I had to fix, but very cheap price for only missing the missile)
6)DOTM Specialist Ratchet (a childhood favorite, always wanted the normal version though but it is fine)
5)Cybertron Menasor (with Heavyload included) (really meh transformation and Heavyload's plow pops off incredibly easy)
4)HFTD Leader Class Optimus Prime (It's here because of the condition of it, but I desired it so much that I was satisfied anyways)
3)Siege Impactor (hollowness on his legs and the waist peg being too tight for me)
2)Siege Voyager Class Optimus Prime (Alt mode isn't bad, but I prefer others more)
1)DOTM Deluxe Class Topspin (Practically, my biggest childhood dream come true)
Posted by sol magnus on January 3rd, 2023 @ 2:20pm CST
Posted by Papa_prime on January 3rd, 2023 @ 4:27pm CST
9. SS Brawn.
8. Velocitron Override.
7. Legacy Tarantulas.
6. SS Perceptor.
5. SS Sludge.
4. Pipes.
3. Blitzwing. Don't like the goofy hand things, but the figure itself is great.
2. Slammer. Best weaponizer, in my opinion.
1. Velocitron Cosmos. My favorite figure of 2022!
Posted by kuhlio on January 6th, 2023 @ 11:36am CST
10) Velocitron Scourge- What can I say- I am a HUGE fan of 2001 RID. Its always nice to add a new "black convoy" but even better when you get to see Scourge unleash that Sword of Fury!
9) Hero Optimus Prime (G2)- I lucked into a a set of Prime and Megatron with all of their air powered greatness! Its always fun to revisit the older series!
8 ) Leadfoot (Amazon Wreckers)- Again- giving us characters we haven't seen in forever. I was super happy to add him to my classic shelves.
7)Hero Is Born 2 Pack- great remolds of solid figures. I'm still so impressed with how Scourge turned out to Alpha Trion, but I'm super happy I picked up this set.
6)Red Cog- Its nice to get a little buddy for my Grand Maximus. I know he was a troop builder in the Netflix show, however this one is dedicated to Grand.
5) Black Zarak- A repaint of Scorponok, however its nice to know I have one without worry of it crumbling into dust (yet)
4) Starscream (Micron Legend Mega SCF)- This one was filling that open hole in my Mega SCF collection. It took patience, and I was happy to finally find him at a price I was willing to pay.
3)Motor Master- Commander Class continues to impress. This guy is the first time that I got a central bot for a gestalt and was happy to display without his additional limbs!
2) Optimus Prime (Lego)- This came out of left field when it was released. I had been disappointed by the Hasbro building block efforts but was blown out of the water with this self contained- transforming beauty!
1) Car Robots God Fire Convoy (Clear)- This guy has been a grail of mine since I started to collect. He was always just out of grip, until November when he finally came home with me!
Posted by adamage1 on January 6th, 2023 @ 7:11pm CST
1.) Legacy Motormaster
2.) Studio Series Sludge
3.) Legacy Dragstrip
4.) Legacy Dead End
5.) Legacy Blaster
6.) Studio Series Ironhide
7.) Legacy Kickback
8.) Legacy Wildrider
9.) Studio Series Rumble (Blue) (on preorder)
10.) Legacy Breakdown (on preorder)
Posted by sol magnus on January 6th, 2023 @ 11:03pm CST
Posted by Emerje on January 6th, 2023 @ 11:35pm CST
kuhlio wrote:1) Car Robots God Fire Convoy (Clear)- This guy has been a grail of mine since I started to collect. He was always just out of grip, until November when he finally came home with me!
I heard your story on the show and I have to know, does it have any sign of yellowing at all? These show up on Mandarake all the time and the clear parts are always yellowed. I assumed this was part of the aging plastic, but it would be nice to hear that this isn't the case. This is the only retail released version of FC and GM I don't have.
Emerje
Posted by GeekyGamer Gal on January 10th, 2023 @ 9:30pm CST
Kiddo has kept me busy, tired, and kinda out of the loop.
I did make some rather notable purchases, and many more I haven't even gotten around to opening.
Opened that I've had a chance to mess with:
1] G1 Megatron - complete in pretty great condition.
2] ASTRO Magnum - complete, and never thought I'd find one in one piece for what I paid for it
3] G1 Ultra Magnus - got him at the same place as ASTRO Magnum.
4] G1 Blaster - got the Walkman and the boom box now.
5] G1 Metroplex - complete and a steal.
6] G1 Ironhide
7] G1 Inferno
8] G1 Ramjet - completed my set of coneheads with this one.
9] Masterpiece Soundwave - got to get all the pieces, but getting a good condition Soundwave for under $40USD is nothing to complain about.
10] G1 Blurr - missing his gun, but has an unbroken shield.
What I haven't had time to mess with:
Legacy: 4/5 Menasor, Transmetal 2 Megatron, Predacon Inferno, Tarantulus, Kickback, Elita-1, and Terrorsaur
Speedia 500: G2 Roadburn
Takara Nightbird
I'm probably missing a few, but I need to get some zZzs before teething kicks back in.