TF Reviews

Ready to blow your mind (up)

I like big bots and I cannot lie.

But that is not to say I think small ones are bad by default.

Case in point: Combiner Wars Bombshell.

-What’s this? A figure that’s under 5 years old? You sick bastard!

…

He’s a modern Scout sized iteration of the classic part-time leader of the Insecticons.

He has an attitude of one of those loudmouth hyperactive kids you just want to punch out from the moment you see them.

Exactly how I think the Insecticons are supposed to be, scurrying between the legs of the bigger bots, kicking Autobots in the shinplate and hightailing it while cackling maniacally.

Now Bombshell has the added bonus of being able to deploy what are called “cerebro-shells” from the antenna-cannon behind his head. With these, he is able to control the mind of any poor sucker unlucky enough to be hit.

Bad times will be had.

In all honesty I’ve never been an actual fan of the Insecticons. Oh, I like them, sure enough, but that about covers it.

This little guy made me appreciate them a bit more, though, because he’s pretty good.

He’s very articulated with ball joints galore and the classic purple, black and stark yellow colorscheme.

I feel the only things that betray the presence of an altmode are the bug's legs on his shoulders and lower legs and even then they can be folded out of the way. So, other than that he’s just a stocky little bot.

Now, being little means some sacrifices have had to be made in the sense of details.

Yes, this is the bit where I bitch.
The BitCh.

...I shouldn't do puns...

Alright, for starters his head doesn’t move.

At all.

But that's hardly a unique feature.

See? SEE?

No, I feel the weirdest part is in his hands. They have the regular 5mm holes and it looks like at one point they were supposed to be just standard 5mm opened fists, but then the idea of a 3^rd mode (I’ll elaborate on that) was accepted and they just had gun barrels clip* through the hands.

His main transformation (the 3^rd is coming, calm down)  is simple, but effective, befitting a Scout:

Fold the black thingy down over his head, and point the antenna up.

Fold out the insect’s legs on the legs, snap the legs together and then fold the legs all the way back. After that you leg the leg towards the leg leg’s leg.

Turn the waist 180 degrees and then clip the arms together underneath the insect-mode’s abdomen.

That oughtta do it: the mechanical Rhinoceros Beetle we all know.

Can I keep him?

NOW! For the enigmatic (look ma, I learned a word!) 3^rd mode.

To justify him being part of the label "Combiner Wars", he should, well, combine with something, right?

Pew! Pew! Pew!

Well, allow me to elaborate:

If you paid a wee bit of attention to the main picture above you might have noticed the pegs on his knees. Now, these end up near and underneath the beetle-mode’s rear end. Here, you fold out one of said pegs of your choice, fold out the robot’s arms and stretch them forward.

Now it’s a double barreled cannon.

Other Transformers can hold him now.

Done.

Combined.

Happy?

I know, me neither.

This mode seems somewhat forced and just unnecessary.

Because, as you well know, toys are, of course, a vital component of your existence.

Whatever, I like the robot-mode and I like the Beetle-mode so I’m a happy little camper with this little guy.

[*Clipping: a term stemming from videogames and commonly refers to an event when two supposedly solid objects inexplicably move through each other. You uncultured swine.]