It's no secret to Transformers collectors that the Masterpiece line is something of a mixed bag. The series has always had a pretty loose mission statement, with changes in style and even scale constantly frustrating collectors as they try to create a "definitive" collection. The lack of coherence has led to a booming third-party market where fan-favourite characters like Brawn, Blaster, Jetfire and the Insecticons can only be acquired by taking the third-party route, many having long since given up on Takara getting around to them.
The Masterpiece Conundrum
I looked back recently on my Masterpiece Bumblebee review, and recall how crestfallen I was at Takara's poor engineering, cheap materials and high price point. I swore then I'd leave Takara behind me, but clearly my Masterpiece Hound review shows I caved and gave the company another chance to impress. While not as awful as Bumblebee, I wasn't overly happy with him either, and only Arcee has restored some of my faith in the Japanese giant. I certainly wasn't too keen to replace an existing figure in my collection, so it's nothing short of a miracle that yet another Takara do-over has landed on my desk; Starscream 3.0.
A remold Megatron? Time makes all things possible... I can wait!
I never much cared for Starscream, with his irritating voice, cowardice and penchant for killing everyone in the comics. I will say by the time the Unicron saga had rolled around at Merry ol' Marvel, I had warmed to him somewhat, and the UK stories always made good use of him.
I think it says more about my desire to spend money than genuine excitement at another Starscream, but having received the toy - and I can scarce believe I'm typing this - I love this figure.
Returning to form?
I will preface the following gushing with this; I know from forums that there have been QC issues with this figure. Cracks, dodgy ratchets and paint issues. I have been fortunate not to have any of these, but that doesn't mean I'm not aware of the problems, and should you decide to buy this figure based on my delighted rambling, please use a supplier who can help you should you get issues. Kapow or TF Express are solid, UK companies with excellent support.
Let's start with the jet mode. The iconic F15, all purposeful and beautiful, is wonderfully represented here. The matte grey of the paint is a terrific fit for the aircraft, and features such as the radar-in-nosecone and foldaway wheels are all present and correct. The only fly in the ointment is the extra kibble underneath the cockpit, which hides the fake canopy chest. It's unfortunate but doesn't ruin the alt-mode. From the top it is nothing less than stunning.
Yes, this is the official image - I'd already transformed mine before the review and I'm lazy!
You may notice that the bombs for placing under the wings are not present in the packaging, only the character's arm-mounted "Null Rays". However, the clever bods at Takara have ensured that even here, there's more than meets the eye - lift a flap, swivel the cannon and it turns into a missile! Simple, elegant, genius.
Transformation wasn't that bad either. These days I've become averse to the 30-minute transformation slog that most MP-scaled robots require. They aren't fun, I'm usually worried about scratching paint or snapping panels, so the joy of the toy's signature play feature has long since faded into memory. Starscream though... he's not that bad. Some clever moments, a few slightly worrying ones (anything to do with the wings!) and then, when it's over, it's quite the feat. From the front, this looks like an action figure, so smooth is the outline and well-hidden the kibble. True, the air intakes take some fiddling with to sit on his shoulders, but they're solid once lined up correctly.
Everything in place, let's dance!
When it comes to articulation he's no slouch - double-jointed everything, lots of movement in the wrists, decent ankle tilt and a waist crunch. But no swivel. That'll irritate a few people, including me, especially when Newage managed to achieve it on a Legends class figure which, If I'm being honest, isn't that far behind this Masterpiece offering. That's more to the credit of Newage than the detriment of Takara, but blimey you think the Japanese company might have managed it.
One common complaint I've heard is that the head is too big, but I don't agree. Look at the face and tell me that's out of proportion with the body. The helmet might feel bulbous, but so do all helmets. Honestly I think it's spot on, and certainly preferable to some third party efforts where his head looks tiny. But of all the criticisms one might throw at the figure, this one is the most subjective.
In terms of expression, each finger is articulated, so no need for custom hands here. A lot of a figure's expression comes from the hands, and the ability to find more natural poses is a great feature for this toy - photographers will certainly appreciate it. You get 6 faces, of which the stoic, smiling and open-mouthed smiling mugs are easily the best, capturing the character perfectly. It's a hit from a company that has a lot of trouble with getting faces right (Hound, Bumblebee and Sunstreaker are all a bit ugly).
The expressions available provide a wide variety of options to recreate your favourite scenes
In comparison to the previous model, this is a far cleaner looking sculpt, with a lot more charm. The older version is still a fine figure, certainly more akin to the original Diaclone toy than this Sunbow look, and for that reason it's probably a better bet for Hasui-era enthusiasts. All of the moulded detail is gone with this new effort, eschewing the technical greebling for smooth, anime lines and a stunning matte paint job. It really makes the figure look its money.
finally, from the back, there's a lot of lines and panels compacted into the wings. From early photos I wasn't impressed, but let me tell you, in hand I think it's my favourite thing about the figure. The way in which the tailfins slide between the main wings is a great bit of engineering, and I actually really like the way it looks. No, it's not as flat and clean as the front, but that's what draws me to it. On some level I want some indication that this toy transforms, and the back is just so damn clever I marvel at it every time I see it. The upcoming third party Seeker from Deformation Space looks to have less rounded proportions and a cleaner overall look (especially from the back) but I don't think it has the charm of this figure. Time will tell.
several accessories are included - blast effects for the guns, thrust effects for teh jet engines, a couple of items that were used in single epsiodes (claw, drill) and a Megatron in gun mode that he can barely hold. You would think after all this time Takara could create a gun the figure can hold properly, but no. Muppets. He also has a stand, with scary tolernces in the clips that made me discard it almost immediately rather than risk damaging the figure.
Oddly loving the technical details and panels on the back. Can't wait to see it in black and purple!
So it's not a complete slam-dunk I'll admit. The acceossires are a bit hit-and-miss, but the figure is the main event and mostly it's a beautifully expressive piece with great lines, a lovely finish and bags of character. I'll be interested to see if Thundercracker and Skywarp can stand out given their simple, thuggish characterisation in the show.
My MP Starscream cost me £150 including shipping from AmiAmi, and that's a price I'm very happy with. Most UK retailers were closer to the £200 mark, and that'll be VAT and the cost of shipping to their warehouse mostly. This is certainly worth what I paid, though it's on the edge of being worth it for anything higher than that. In a world of increasing costs for collectors, the time might be coming when we all have to start picking and choosing more objectively, and while this is a sharp, beautifully painted rendition of the popular schemer, I don't consider it essential unless you want the cartoon aesthetic. But it must be said, he pairs wonderfully with MP Megatron.
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