 |
 |
General Information
Release Date: November 2025
Price Point: $31.99 (depending on retailer)
Retailer: General Release (Amazon, BigBadToyStore, Entertainment Earth, Target, Walmart etc.). Using the preceding links helps to support Ben's World of Transformers.
Accessories: Shifter/Mace
Official images and text in italics are from Amazon.com:
- HOT WHEELS x TRANSFORMERS BONE SHAKER CONVERTING ACTION FIGURE: This collectible converting action figure embodies the power, passion, and rat-rod style of the classic Hot Wheels car
- CONVERT BETWEEN ROBOT AND CAR MODE: This Transformers toy converts between awesome robot mode and Bone Shakerä car mode in 22 steps. A bold reimagining of the iconic Hot Wheels design
- BONE SHAKERä CAR MODE: In car mode, this Hot Wheels x Transformers toy features intimidating flame deco and an unmistakable skull-shaped grille
- 5-INCH DELUXE CLASS TRANSFORMERS ROBOT MODE: In robot mode, the Transformers figure is 5 inches (12.5 cm) tall
- ACCESSORY THAT ATTACHES IN BOTH MODES: Figure comes with a shifter that doubles as a mace accessory piece that can be attached in robot or car mode
- HOT WHEELS x TRANSFORMERS COLLECTIBLES: Look for additional Hot Wheels x Transformers figures (each sold separately, subject to availability)
- TRANSFORMERS COLLABORATIVE: Experience a whole universe of — More Than Meets the Eye — with converting Transformers toys inspired by favorite properties and characters
The epic worlds of Transformers robots and Hot Wheels® cars collide with the Hot Wheels® x Transformers Bone Shakerä converting action figure! The 5-inch (12.5 cm) figure converts from robot action figure to Bone Shakerä-inspired car mode. With intricate poseability and attachable shifter/mace accessory, this Bone Shaker action figure makes an awesome gift for boys and girls ages 8 and up or anyone who collects Transformers toys or Hot Wheels® toys. Look for more Transformers Collaborative collectible toys (sold separately, subject to availability) featuring fan-favorite mash-ups and create a lineup that is — More Than Meets the Eye. TRANSFORMERS and HASBRO and all related trademarks and logos are trademarks of Hasbro, Inc. © 2025 Mattel.
Background:
In 2024, long time Hasbro rival Mattel made history with its first transforming Optimus Prime figure. As a follow up in 2025 Hasbro announced transforming Hot Wheels cars as part of the Collaborative line! The vehicle modes are meant to represent pre-existing original Hot Wheels designs transforming into new characters. In this case the vehicle being represented is Bone Shaker, a Hot Wheels car first introduced in 2006.
Packaging:
I say without hyperbole that the Hot Wheels/Transformers Collaborative packaging is some of the best packaging Transformers has had in years. The figure is in vehicle mode on a bubble card, giving a retro feel to how the Deluxe Class was packaged in past toy lines like Universe and Armada. Just the format alone gives a strong nostalgia hit and I love it. The card art is dramatic, featuring both the Transformers and Hot Wheels logos and artwork of Bone Shaker in both modes speeding out of what looks like a gateway (or maybe a Space Bridge?). The Mattel logo is off to the upper right whereas the Hasbro logo is on a cardboard insert inside the bubble. The figure itself is set at a slight angle inside the bubble.
The back of the card is also beautifully laid out. The top and bottom have black backgrounds while the center section has a grey, hex background. The Hot Wheels logo is on top and off to the side is the Collaborative logo for this release. Bone Shaker is shown in both modes calling out a 22 step transformation. Interestingly, off to the side is a silhouette indicating the height of the figure (5 inches/12/7 centimeters). This is perhaps at attempt to demonstrate value and give anyone purchasing the figure an idea of its height in robot mode since audiences are mostly used to seeing figures in robot mode in box nowadays.
Accessory:
Bone Shaker's accessory is an original piece that is not part of the original Hot Wheels design. The accessory is an oversized shifter that doubles as a mace weapon. The handle looks like a Tesla Coil and the top is a round ball. The handle is 5mm while the very bottom of the handle has a small rectangular bit that attaches to Bone Shaker in vehicle mode. When you do so, the result resembles a "Rat Fink" car which sometimes featured oversized controls. The handle is made of silver plastic while the top is red plastic. A Skull & Crossbones design is printed in white on top of the ball with an Autobot symbol replacing the skull. This element is likely a homage to the original 2006 version of Bone Shaker which featured a "Skull & Crossbones" pattern on the doors. This is a fun accessory and fits with the character of Bone Shaker's vehicle mode. It looks retro and the "Skull and Bones" logo is awesome.
Vehicle Mode:
Bone Shaker is a Deluxe Class sized vehicle representing the Hot Wheels Bone Shaker car. The vehicle is a "Rat Rod" style car featuring a distinctive skull in the front, angled exhaust pipes sticking out the sides and an eight cylinder engine sticking up out of the hood. The rear wheels are larger than the front ones, giving it a very distinctive appearance. The cabin section is open (more on that in a moment) though there are variants of the Hot Wheels Bone Shaker vehicle where this part is covered.
The Hot Wheels Bone Shaker vehicle has been re-released multiple times over the years with a variety of decos. There is no deco that is a one to one match for this Collaborative version but it comes very close to the 2020 version which featured a black color and flames on the hood and sides. This vehicle mostly shows off black plastic. There is a lot of silver paint used on this figure which substitute for the vacuum metallized parts on the Hot Wheels version. Personally, I wish they had gone with vac metal but my guess is that using silver paint kept costs down. I'm not happy about that, but I get it. Meanwhile, the hood and the sides feature flame tampographs, though unlike the original vehicle the hood has a Hot Wheels logo on it instead of a skull. Brown paint is used on the seats inside the cabin section. Additional silver is used in the back and on the sides of the wheels. A bit of yellow is used on his headlights.
The shifter/mace accessory has a rectangle on the bottom that attaches to a slot in between the seats towards the front. It does not have any function beyond that. All four wheels are pinned and spin nicely.
Transformation to Robot Mode:
- Detach the accessory and set it aside for now.
- Swing the rear section of the vehicle back.
- Split the rear section in the middle.
- Swing up the rear sections of the vehicle (with the rear lights).
- Swing the seats down and back.
- Swing the bars on either side in. These pieces were behind the seats.
- Swing the sections with the rear lights down and push them against the lower legs.
- On the front half of the car swing the front wheel/exhaust pipe sections back.
- Swing the robot arms up and straighten them out.
- On each forearm, swing the fists out.
- Swing the panel with the skull forward.
- Swing the section with the skull down to reveal the robot head and form the chest.
- Swing the skull panel back up.
- Straighten out the arms.
- Set the front wheels on top of the shoulders.
- The mace weapon can be fit into either fist.
Robot Mode:
Unlike so many Transformers figures coming out nowadays, Bone Shaker's robot mode is an entirely original design. What I love about this design is that so much of the vehicle mode aesthetic carries over to the robot mode. He has big wheels with exhaust pipes behind them on the shoulders. The skull from the front of the vehicle mode winds up on the chest and it looks great. Even better? His head sculpt evokes car design elements such as some "antennae" looking just like the exhaust pipes from his vehicle mode! Interestingly, some elements of his head sculpt hint that this character may have originally been conceived as a Decepticon instead of an Autobot. The center crest with two points on top look like the ones from the Decepticon symbol, and the "exhaust pipe" antennae curve up in a similar way to the sides of the Decepticon symbol. His visor eyes and mouth plate have a rather aggressive look to them as well. Overall I really dig this design. It is original and has a retro design sensibility that I really love.
In addition to black plastic this mode reveals many parts made of silver plastic including parts of the arms and legs. In addition to silver paint, black, red and orange both make appearances here, likely a reference to the fire tampos from the vehicle mode. The distribution of colors looks great with bits of orange on the arms and waist area while the red and silver on the head look really bold.
There are twenty two points of articulation on this figure. This includes five in each arm and leg and a head that can actually move side to side and look up! The fists have 5mm ports, allowing him to hold not only his weapon but most of the ones from the Generations line.
Final Thoughts:
It's funny to say, but Bone Shaker is a bit of a nostalgia trip even though he is a new character. Having a Deluxe Class figure sold in vehicle mode on a bubble card harkens back to another time in Transformers history. On top of that, the amount of deco and the pinned wheels add another "retro" element to the figure. The design of the figure is super cool and unique and I love the choice of a retro styled car for the vehicle mode, evoking the G2 Laser Rods! The cost is a bit high for this figure given its scale, but given the licensing deal that helped this figure even exist, I can understand the price. Highly recommended!
Pros:
- Excellent sculpt in both modes.
- I am happy this is a new and unique character.
- Beautiful deco.
- Intuitive transformation.
- Good articulation.
Cons:
- I would have preferred vac metal on the exhaust pipes and engine.
