General Information:
Release Date: June 2018
Price Point: $5.99 (depending on retailer)
Retailer: General (Toys R Us, Target, Wal-Mart etc.)
Accessories: Tentacle weapon, Octopunch Decoy Armor
Official images above are from Hasbro. The official text below in italics are from Amazon.com:
The Autobots and Decepticons use Prime Masters to wield the incredible powers of the legendary bots who shaped the universe: the Primes. The Prime Master of Solus Prime grants bots the ability to forge mystical weapons and artifacts. How will the Autobots and Decepticons use this weapon-making power? Anything is possible and everything is at stake when the Power of the Primes is unleashed! Transformers Generations Power of the Primes Prime Master figures are 1.5-inch-scale figures that work with other figures. Attach this Prime Master figure to a Power of the Primes Deluxe, Voyager, or Leader Class figure (each sold separately) and imagine that bot wields the power of Solus Prime. Figure Specs: Solus Prime Prime Master 2 Modes: robot, spark Converts in 1 step Comes with Octopunch decoy armor -- the Prime Master figure hides inside Decoy armor converts to weapon Works with other Power of the Primes figures (each sold separately) Transformers and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro.
The trilogy that began with "Combiner Wars" concludes with "Power of the Primes". This line focuses on the original 13 Primes themselves returning. However, instead of gigantic beings storming the battlefield, the Primes have distilled their essence into Sparks that can be used by Transformers to gain all new powers. Depending on which Spark the Transformer takes on, they are powered up in different ways. From a play value standpoint these figures are an extension of the Titan Masters from last year. Instead of coming with beasts or vehicles, these mini-figures now come with "Decoy Armor" based on the designs of G1 era Pretender shells. The idea is that the Primes do not want just any Transformer to take their power, so they infuse these characters with their essence and are "pretending" to be other Transformers, a wonderful play on words and concepts.
Generation One Octopunch was released during a time when the Transformers toy line was fading in sales and popularity. There was no cartoon to support the current product so it fell to the comic books (and Japanese exclusive cartoons) to keep the fiction of the line alive. Octopunch could have easily fallen into obscurity, but thanks to his appearances in the comic books as part of the "Mayhem Attack Squad" the character would go on to be known among Transformers fans for years to come. A version of the character would later appear in both the "Timelines" and "Robots in Disguise" toy lines (granted the latter was just a PVC figure). Now as part of the final wave of Prime Masters in 2018, Octopunch appears again as the "disguise" for Solus Prime.
Packaging:
The packaging for the Prime Masters is similar to last year's Titan Masters. The figures are in a blister attached to a small card. Unlike last year however the card art on the front features Solus Prime in her Octpunch armor underwater (complete with bubbles!). This is a far better choice than last year where Fortress Maximus' head was on all the packaging for the Titan Masters. The back of the packaging shows a CG render of Solus Prime and how she interacts with the Decoy Armor. On top it shows the weapon mode. The side shows a cosell of Megatronus.
Robot Mode:
The basic structure of the Prime Master figures share the same core design as the Titan Master figures. They have the same tab on the back that allows you to attach them to vehicles and playsets from "Titans Return" and "Power of the Primes". The heads are also square in shape and while these figures do not form heads, you can attach them to the larger figures from "Titans Return".
Keeping with the premise of Solus Prime "pretending" to be Octopunch, her robot form is based on G1 Octopunch's "inner robot" figure. Among the design elements the two share are:
- The head features a round helmet section with visor eyes and a mouthplate.
- The chest features two panels with indentations in the middle and raised details in between them.
- The sides of the waist area have thin indentations on them.
- Each shoulder features a raised panel on the middle.
- The lower legs each feature a series of angled lines with a raised section in the middle for the feet.
The main detail that is unique to this figure is the symbol of Solus Prime symbol on the back. The symbol looks almost like the "Power" symbol used on electronic devices nowadays. This is appropriate for a character who created devices for the Primes.
This figure is cast in green and purple plastic. The green makes up the torso and lower legs and the purple makes up the rest. These are not the colors of G1 Octopunch's inner robot. Instead these are the colors of the "Pretender" Decoy Armor so it makes sense this figure was cast in these colors. The face is painted yellow (a callback to G1 Octopunch) and the Solus Prime symbol on the back is painted a beautiful light, metallic blue.
The Prime Masters all have five points of articulation. This includes the head, arms, hips and knees. The legs move together since they are fused together. The joints on my copy of Solus Prime are nice and tight with no issues.
Transformation to Spark Mode:
The Prime Masters all transform in the same fashion as the Titan Masters from "Titans Return". Swing the hips up and fold the lower legs in.
Spark Mode:
The Spark mode is basically the same as the head modes from last year's Titan Masters. Instead of a "face plate" however, there is panel with Solus Prime's ancient Cybertronian symbol (discussed above).
The Prime Master Spark modes are designed to attach to Voyager Class figures directly or connect to the "Prime Armor" included with Deluxe figures in the "Power of the Primes" line. They can also replace the various Matrix accessories included with figures such as Nemesis Prime.
The Octopunch Decoy Armor is based on the design of G1 Octopunch's Pretender shell. This Decoy Armor has many of the key elements of that shell's design. These include:
- The head is designed to look like a large, round diving helmet complete with a round face plate. While G1 Octopunch had a frightening monster head, this is just a flat panel with no facial details (a callback to how he was sometimes drawn in the comic books).
- The torso features breathing tubes hooked up to machinery, including a contraption in the middle with two raised circles.
- The belt buckle features a human skull.
- The forearms feature a curved band of armor around them.
- The thighs have thin, almost organic looking horizontal lines running from the top to the knees.
- The knee armor comes up to a point at the top and overlaps the lower legs.
- The back has a tentacle accessory on them. These are a callback to the tentacles that were a part of G1 Octopunch's arms.
- The back features some details borrowed from G1 Octopunch, most notable a thin, rectangular opening with curved sides.
- The feet each have two pointed tentacle-like "toes".
Taking its color cues from G1 Octopunch, this Decoy Armor is cast in green and purple plastic. The purple is sort of a replacement for the more dark red details on G1 Octopunch. This may be inspired by the way the character was sometimes colored in the comic books versus how the toy looked. The head has a white Decepticon symbol on top and the face plate is painted yellow. The torso is painted a light sea foam color, then the tubes and machinery on top are painted light blue. The waist area and knee armor are painted grey while the thighs are painted green to match up with the feet. Overall this is a beautiful recreation of G1 Octopunch in a smaller form and I think it looks spectacular.
The Decoy Armor has two points of articulation: the arms. The weapon accessory included with the figure can be held as a tentacle weapon or attached to the back for storage. Interestingly, the fist holes are 3mm, allowing you to attach Cyberverse weapons too!
Transformation to Weapon Mode:
- With the weapon attached on the back, swing the tentacles forward.
- In between the feet, swing the peg down.
- Attach Solus Prime in Spark mode to the small pegs in the back.
Weapon Mode:
I confess at first I was not sure what to make of this weapon mode. With four tentacles sticking out in four different directions, it looked like some type of weird, bladed melee weapon. However a closer look reveals a pointed arrow in front. What I think the designers were aiming for here is a crossbow weapon, with the tentacles being analogous to the "limbs" (or lathe) on a crossbow. This mode also reveals yellow detailing on the weapon in the middle of the section with the tentacles, adding a nice splash of color.
The 5mm peg in the back allows most modern day Transformers figures to hold this weapon, but it is likely he will be more stable with figures from Deluxe Class and up.
Final Thoughts:
I have had a deep affection for Octopunch since Generation One. He was one of the first Pretenders I bought using my own money and as part of the "Mayhem Attack Squad" he was one of my primary Decepticons for years on many adventures. Having this (sort of cute) modern day version of the character is fantastic. It's even better that it's actually a "Prime" in disguise! Excellent work and highly recommended!
Pros:
- Both the Armor and inner robot are great homages to a G1 character.
- The sculpt of this figure leans more towards an "organic" appearance than earlier Prime Masters which serves as a nice G1 callback.
- A wonderful modern take on the Pretender concept that some considered goofy in the 80's.
- Takes a relatively obscure character and gives it a nice, modern incarnation.
Cons:
- If you are not a fan of the Pretender concept, this likely won't change your mind.
