This is the $10 nearly-Voyager-scaled Family Dollar budget version of Grimlock. It's released four to a case, with one Optimus and two Bumblebees. He comes carded: With instructions on the back: The dino head and torso need to be attached to the figure, which is pretty easy although the attachment is tight (that's a good thing). Articulation is good: Ball jointed neck, shoulders, elbows, hips. Hinge jointed knees. Swivel joints for the dino arms. Dino mode is decent. No head or jaw movement, with just the arms being able to swivel. Legs are fully movable. Comparisons with Sludge. Parting notes: This isn't for everyone. It's aimed at the budget/discount store market, not collectors. These are designed so kids with lower means can have the characters they see on TV or wherever without paying Generations prices, and to be gateway toys for future collectors. If you don't like these, that's fine. For those of us that appreciate the simplistic engineering and nice designs, this figure is a winner. Note: there is an issue some have with the torso wings not moving enough for transformation. Easily rectified by angling the shoulder joint up and out. The wings slide right over without popping off. Now, some simple answers to the typical hater comments: Yes it's not the same build quality of mainline stuff. Yes it's somewhat hollow from some angles. Yes it doesn't have all the articulation of a standard Voyager. No, no one is forcing you to like this and no, this isn't a sign that Hasbro is "dumbing everything down". Whew. Anyway, I hope you liked this review.
Will probably get this when it comes out. The Dino head is very IDW. The hollowness of the legs in bot mode looks like the biggest downside for me but let’s face it, I love this line, so it will be mine.
Alas not in the UK. It’s still only the smaller ones in the Megs/OP that the online import stores have in.
I actually like it better than the PotP Voyager. I may transplant the dino head from that one onto this, though.
That actually came out really nice. Might have to start hitting up Family Dollar and see if I can grab one. Well articulated and with a simple but logical transformation. Thanks for the writeup! I know the poster below me is being sarcastic but it does make me laugh at the double standard the fandom has. Assembly required on a $150 figure? Totally normal, no issues here. Assembly required on a $10 figure? Aaaa friggin hasblow killing the brand!
That's pretty damn amazing for $10. It'd be even better if they could have given the dino head a working jaw, but even as is it makes me feel like the "regular" Transformers are a bit of a rip off, heheh.
I'd love to see someone like Cheetimus or other amazing customizer work their magic. I'm sure they could make the toy look awesome. Anyway, space is an issue for me now. Even though it may be cheap and its of a character I like, I still wouldn't get it. I have to be picky about what toys I buy now since most new ones are going in a drawer beside my bed.
Yeah... I'm kind of planning some custom work for this, and unlike others, I'll be able to get it done within two years...
Can't tell because of the glossy black plastic, but does he have teeth/some sorta mouth instead of the normal G1 faceplate?
I'm excited to find this. This will end up being the toy I transform when I use the Hascon Grimlock MTG card.
Thanks for the review. I'll admit that this toy looks fine from the front, despite I'm not really interested in this "Authentic" line. One thing that is a deal-breaker would be the extremely hollow lower legs which just looks terrible. If you have other Grimlock figures like POTP Voyager Grimlock or FOC Voyager Grimlock, can you make a comparison? To bit a bit fair, this Grimlock is a Voyager sized figure that retails for only $10, which puts it near the price tag of the Legends/Scout class figures; Consider that this figure has a limitation in terms of budget, there's no way the figure itself could came out with no compromises. That still doesn't quite justify the hollow lower legs, however.
It’s a G1 Grimlock, all that’s missing is the tail folding away, I’m not really sure what else you can do to make a voyager size $10 budget option much more than that. As to the well constructed comment, all initial reviews have said the plastic quality was fine. For $10 in today’s market these are more than adequate.
