Apelinq Continues his Comeback Tour in the Transformers Swapticon Line

Posted by william-james88 Jan 25, 2025 at 7:04pm CST 41,688 views

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We have great images of the upcoming Swapticon 5 pack. This one is Beast themed with both Optimus Primal and Megatron Gator. We also have Scorponok, Skullcrncher and Apelinq who is continuing the comeback he started in Rise of the Beasts. These are fidget toys where you can merge any of the two together to create an altmode. This set has already been found in Indonesia which is also where the images in this article come from. Below is the official description of this 5 pack:

INTRODUCING SWAPTICONS:

Transformers Swapticons are fidgety fun mini action figures that twist to combine together into unique alt modes! 5 TRANSFORMERS ACTION FIGURES: This action figure set includes 5 mini Transformers figures. Each robot action figure is 2 inches (5 cm) tall—easy to bring on the go!

TWIST TO COMBINE INTO JUNGLE BEAST MODES: Press 2 of the figures’ heads together and twist to combine into awesome alt modes! Mix and match Optimus Primal, Apelinq, Skullcruncher, Megatron Gator, and Scorponok to create powerful beasts

COMBINE WITH OTHER SWAPTICONS TOYS: The fidget toy fun doesn’t stop there! All 5 mini figures can be combined with any Swapticons figure (sold separately, subject to availability)

IMAGINATION POSSIBILITIES: With Swapticons sets, kids can combine 2 favorite bots and imagine a super-powered alt mode, or create wacky match-ups between Autobots and Decepticons GIFTS FOR KIDS 5 AND UP: Transformers toys like Swapticons make a great gift for boys and girls who love fidget toys, robot toys, and toy cars Dimension (L x W x H) : 25.4 cm x 4.9 cm x 20.3 cm Weight : 117 gram SNI : 2-136-131-242892-1

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Re: Apelinq Continues his Comeback Tour in the Transformers Swapticon Line (view post)

Comment by meanguns Jan 25, 2025

Dang. Those dumb faces are winning me over. I don't need them, but I want them.

Re: Apelinq Continues his Comeback Tour in the Transformers Swapticon Line (view post)

Comment by Emerje Jan 25, 2025

These are really neat and I love how Skullcruncher suddenly became regular reappearing character thanks to Cyberverse (yes, we got him in Titans Return, but we got all the Headmasters then).

I'm curious what we're supposed to do with Scorponok, he's the only one so far that doesn't have a partner. I get that we're supposed to be mixing and matching, but I wonder if there's a Sandstorm or Doublepunch (or G1 Scorponok) coming in another set.

We're long over due for the Kingdom Primal figure to get an Apelinq repaint.

Emerje

Re: Apelinq Continues his Comeback Tour in the Transformers Swapticon Line (view post)

Comment by Flashwave Jan 25, 2025

Emerje wrote:I'm curious what we're supposed to do with Scorponok, he's the only one so far that doesn't have a partner. I get that we're supposed to be mixing and matching, but I wonder if there's a Sandstorm or Doublepunch (or G1 Scorponok) coming in another set.

Emerje

From the looks of it, my guess is his entire purpose is to kiss be Gatortron's spare butt.

Agreed on the Universe repaint

Re: Apelinq Continues his Comeback Tour in the Transformers Swapticon Line (view post)

Comment by Whifflefire Jan 26, 2025

Fantastic headline.

Re: Apelinq Continues his Comeback Tour in the Transformers Swapticon Line (view post)

Comment by william-james88 Jan 27, 2025

Whifflefire wrote:Fantastic headline.

Glad you liked it

Re: Apelinq Continues his Comeback Tour in the Transformers Swapticon Line (view post)

Comment by william-james88 Feb 3, 2025

Pixelmaster posted a pictorial review about the new Swapticon 5 pack what includes Optimus Primal, Apelinq, Gator Megatron, Skullcruncher and Scorponok.
We also have additional pictures from Cybeast.

Only set of Swapticons that came out in retail here. It goes for 199 HKD here (25.54 USD in the exchange as we speak), but for some magical reason there was a discount so I only paid 139 HKD (17.84 USD). As the gimmick suggests, this is just a kiddy version of the deleted Baboon-cat hybrid scene in Cronenberg's The Fly.

Megatron's gator head and Skullcruncher tails requires a one time assembly, and Scorpy needs to partsform his tail from his robot mode back to the bottom of his feet every time you "transform" him" (aka laying the toy downwards) from robot to half beast mode. The tail is molded in Maroon, with the grey being painted over and are in 3mm flight stand peg. The only articulation for these toys aside from the head are the arms that can swivel up and down. Apelinq is a hybrid of his original toy and the ROTB design (the arm blades are sculpted), whilst Primal seems to draw from the Beast Combiners art colors wise (or maybe the other authentics Primal). Aligator Megatron's head reminds me of Botcon Megatron from the Breakdown ?

The intended combination is (front to back) Apelinq + Primal, Megatron + Skullcruncher, with Scorpy unforunately third wheeling the couples.

The mechanism works by slotting the spring loaded heads together, then locking it in by rotating it with the 3 L locks on the sides and back. This means that you can combine them in the wrong direction.

Overall they are fun distractions. Recommended if you're a fan/ curious of the concept, but don't expect it to be life changing or be impressive.

Gimmick video:

Re: Apelinq Continues his Comeback Tour in the Transformers Swapticon Line (view post)

Comment by truegrit Feb 6, 2025

Oh, these are quite a bit bigger than I thought they'd be. Looks like they could be a fun addition to the kiddo's collection.

Re: Apelinq Continues his Comeback Tour in the Transformers Swapticon Line (view post)

Comment by Jelze Bunnycat Feb 6, 2025

Again, Micromaster Combiners Revisited :lol:

Re: Apelinq Continues his Comeback Tour in the Transformers Swapticon Line (view post)

Comment by Cyber Bishop Feb 10, 2025

Might be fun for kids but they look like garbage to me. To each his own.

Re: Apelinq Continues his Comeback Tour in the Transformers Swapticon Line (view post)

Comment by william-james88 Mar 13, 2025

The Transformers Swapticons fidget toyline has been found in Walmarts across Canada. They retail for $9.97 CAD. While they are sold under the Transformers brand, they are more fidget toys than they are transformers, and have a lower age range (5 years old), so that's what they should be seen and judged as.
These have been purchased by me, your news editor, and they work very well for what they are intended to be. Both my 2 year old and 7 year old really like them. Though the locking mechanism does require some control of motor skills that a 2 year old does not have, hence the age recommendation being 5+. I have made a review showing what these entail and how they can combine together in all sorts of ways using Cheetor, Tigatron, Optimus Prime and Ultra Magnus.