General Information:
Release Year: May 2006
Retailer: General US (Toys R Us, Target etc.)
Price: $6.99 (Depending on Retailer)
Accessories: Cyber Planet Key, Tail/Weapon
Difficulty Leve: 2

Images:

• On Card (Front)
• On Card (Back)
• Beast Mode
• Beast Mode (Side)
• Beast Mode (Back)
• Beast Mode (Posed)
• Beast Mode (Cyber Planet Key inserted)
• With Undermine (Beast Modes)
• With G1 and Universe Repugnus (Beast Modes)
• Robot Mode
• Robot Mode (Side)
• Robot Mode (Back)
• Robot Mode (Holding weapon)
• Robot Mode (Alternate Pose)
• Robot Mode (Planet Key inserted)
• With Undermine (Robot Modes)
• With G1 and Universe Repugnus (Robot Modes)

Tech Specs:
Among the very few places on the Jungle Planet not firmly under the control of Scourge are the fetid swamps in the valleys at the foot of the Steel Shard Mountains. Here, Repugnus rules. His subjects rejoice in the sinking slime they call home. He protects their freedom fiercely, using his intimate knowledge of the swamps to isolate and destroy any invaders. So dedicated is he to freedom that he even exiled his own brother - Undermine - for being in league with Scourge.

One of the best ways to distinguish a redeco of a figure from its predecessor is to change its allegiance. In the case of Repugnus, Hasbro took the Undermine and gave the figure a new deco and made him an Autobot. This review will focus on the changes made to the figure for this release. Check out Dino Shout and Undermine's reviews for more detailed information on this figure's mechanics and sculpt.

Each Cybertron Transformer comes with a Planet Key with a code printed on it. Repugnus' code is s48r (which interestingly is only different by one letter from Undermine's. Unlocking this at transformers.com only gives you a place holder link with his name so far. When the content is added to the web site it will be added here.

Beast Mode:
Repugnus was the name of a Generation One Transformer. Part of a group known as the Monsterbots, this insectoid critter fought on the side of the Autobots. More recently, a Transformers Universe homage was released in a two pack with Overbite. Cybertron Repugnus does not share the insectoid beast form of these previous two incarnations, but he does share two of the colors used heavily on both: red and orange. Unlike those two, he also has another primary plastic color: black. The contrast between the three colors is striking. While the red and orange contrast nicely, the black down the center (from the neck to the tail, the head is cast in gold but painted black) just hits you visually with great effect.

Another hallmark of a good redeco is the use of a different color scheme than the previous release. The sail on the back is prety much the same here, with the "thruster" section painted red and the sail itself cast in orange. The top curve of the sail is painted metallic silver. Each of the thighs is painted metallic gold, with a bit of metallic silver on the left leg. An Autobot symbol is painted over that.

The head is cast in gold plastic, but painted black to match the neck, body and tail. Open the mouth and you'll find the entire interior gold. The beast mode eyes are green, which is a bit surprising because in this form, that color isn't found anywhere else. The neck has several angled lines on it painted red. These were left solid colored on Dino Shout and Undermine, but here the red really helps break the potential monotony of the black plastic.

The Cyber Planet Key gimmick swings out the blade in his sail. The blade is sculpted in the same red plastic as the ankles and shoulders. I'm not sure why, it could be the quality of the spring, but when inserting the Cyber Planet Key, the mechanism bounces back a lot stronger. You have to give it an extra bit of a push to lock it into place. This is by no means a bad thing, it just sets it apart from the previous releases.

Robot Mode:
Whereas the beast mode centralized the black colors, they spread out here, distributed among the chest, arms, legs and weapon. The chest piece is black, with metallic silver paint details. The red lines painted on the beast mode neck serve as excellent detailing on his arms. The waist section has red deco on the center.

Some may feel that the color combinations are a bit too garish, and that's mainly individual taste. I personally feel the breaks in the colors work very well. The colors are distributed evenly, making one cool looking figure.

After three uses however, it seems a tiny bit of joint wear may be happening. The ankle joints are a bit more loose on Repugnus than on Dino Shout or Undermine.

Final Thoughts:
Aside for the aforementioned joints being a bit loose, this figure is excellent. I love the sculpt, and these colors really set it apart from the previous releases and makes him a neat G1 homage to boot. Highly recommended.