I’m trying to get the last couple Transformers Prime figure reviews up before the next wave starts to hit. This poor Vehicon got put on the back burner for a couple weeks while I worked out some of the newer figures. But it’s finally his turn.
The Vehicons are an interesting enigma in the TF Prime-verse. You’d think they were mindless drone soldiers, like Battle Android Troopers. But they’ve been shown fighting with competence, displaying cowardice, and even questioning Starscream’s leadership. This is much more individuality than I expected from a bunch of robots who all look the same.
Sentient being or not, I was interested in the Vehicon figure because he looked cool and would make an excellent grunt to help pad out my Decepticon ranks. Unfortunately, like most of the First Edition Prime figures, Vehicon was impossible to find in the US. In fact, I don’t even think Canada received any. Instead, I had to procure mine from Takara’s release in Japan.
Vehicon’s robot mode looks pretty accurate to the character design. His limbs are given a nice amount of bulky armor from the panels of his car mode. But his body is still thin and angular like most of the Decepticon’s designs on the show. I really love his blank emotionless face, long three fingered hands, and his tall spiky shoulder pads. All of which help make him more menacing.
Vehicon’s biggest issue in robot mode is the huge amount of kibble hanging off his back. I don’t mind the shoulders and legs so much. Like I said, they do a good job or resembling armor. The entire top of his car mode covers his back like a poorly constructed shell, or a short cape. Luckily, his body hides most of it from the front. But from behind it’s hard to tell you’re even looking at a robot.
Vehicon’s vehicle mode has this great Fast and Furious meets Batmobile feel to it. The design is sleek yet still very dangerous looking, like these Vehicons could easily chase you down. One thing I did have a problem with is how low it sits to the ground. Every time I push him around my desk it feels like he’s scraping the undercarriage instead of rolling smoothly. Continue to page 2…
That car mode looks nice, and my first thought on scrolling down to the pic was “Very Batmobile-ish!” but I’m just not feeling these Prime looks.
I did notice the local WMs are knocking the Bayformers down to ~$8 to clearance the months old stock out. The Arcee wave seems to be hitting here, too.
I found the Vehicon wave today (with Hot Shot, Knock Out) and at first glance, the chests are the only similarity besides vehicle mode, but on closer inspection, even both of those different! If you do a RID review, be sure and compare the two!
btw, RID head appears to be on a ball joint, but mine seems stuck as if he’s looking at something to the right? He’s also designed for light piping, but the eye slit is tiny and painted over? LOL (oops, just broke the head loose! it’s all good now! LOL)
wow! A TF prime figure that actually looks good to me..the world must be ending!
Great review! maybe its time to start watching TF Prime on netflix now
I think Vehicon will be the rare exception where the RID figure will be better than the FE version. I’m planning of buying at least two, but wouldn’t mind building up a little squad if I find some BOGO sales.
Great review, excellent pics. Yet another neat toy I’ll probably not own. This ain’t so much sour grapes over the fact that England generally gets diddly-squat in terms of toys, and by the time I find out about a product online, it’s sold out. (Bitter? Oh, a tad.)
No, apart from the very nifty vehicle mode and the coolness of the robot, the Prime figures mostly look too spindly and fragile for my liking. And I’m a bit too ham-fisted and clumsy these days. If this guy comes out in a sturdier Classics / Universe style, though, I’d be all for that. Like in a case assortment split down the middle, half Sweeps, half Vehicons.