This is the paint marker I used on MST Shockwave and I think it turned out awesome. Interested to see how the gold looks, however.

 

None. I'm still digging my way out of MST Menasor orders.

 

NewAge Shockwave arrived today. I really liked the Magic Square Shockwave, but after a couple of transformations and posing a bit, I think I prefer the NA version a little more. I thought the MS was a pretty good toon representation, but next to the NA it immediately become quite a bit more blocky looking, particular in the lower half. The NA also has a better looking backpack to my eyes, where MS looks a bit unfinished (I dislike the cover for the MS, so it stays in the box). Transformation feels similar but NA has simpler leg transformation and is smoother to flip between the modes. Gun mode looks about the same to me, with strength and weaknesses for each.

A few random thoughts on the NA Shockwave:
-They made the same mistake as MS on the light piping for the mono-eye, where the neck ball-joint blocks most of the light coming in from the back. Unlike the MS I couldn't disassemble it so I'll probably skip painting it.
-The surface finish is great, per usual for NA. It has a nice sheen to it and looks premium.
-Joints all feel pretty good. There are only two ball-joints in the figure (shoulders), which is nice.
-I was concerned about the giant hole at the base of the gun grip, but it actually looks fine from most angles. Only when viewing the hole directly does it look a bit unsightly, but most of the time I'm not going to look at the gun from that angle so it's not an issue.
-I wish it had some sort of a heel spur to provide more stability, but I'm not sure how it could be done with the design as-is.
-Independent front skirt armors is pretty nice at this size.





Comparison with Magic Square:







Other than this particular angle, the hole at the base of NA's grip isn't actually too bad.

 

MST Shockwave is how he looked 4mil years ago, before the lack of energon on Cyberton.

NA Shockwave is how he looks today, totally slimmed down.

I always thought Shockwave should have slimmer legs (minority view here), so NA legs are spot on to me.

 

Nice review-- you should put these in the comparison thread  

 

Nice looking Shockwave, with great looking paint and barrel transformation design, as I've said earlier. Aesthetically I like the MS version better, NA is too small and slim for my taste and there are other things I don't like, but that's just my personal preference, not bashing.

Glad people who prefer the NA version finally have a solid Shockwave to mess with  

 

Feels like there is a lack of reviews for this guy. Probably due to everyone getting the EX edition.

 

I ordered the EX so as to have something that looks different enough from my MS. With this though I think I will be done double-dipping on both NA and MS versions of the same character. Did that with Megatron, Soundwave, and Shockwave and I'll be glad to have each respective trio to hang out together.

 

For those who shop the North American retailers, Toy Dojo did get the normal, ex, and black versions yesterday, while TCP also got the normal version in yesterday as well.

 

Just got mine, light piping is much better than Magic Squares, I think its a better figure stylistically, quality is great.

However.... his size and proportions seem very slightly off, like its a youthful teenage version of Shockwave. Also the clear wrist for the hand seems lazy and weird.

Even though I prefer the Newage version in terms of a figure its the Magic Square which I will keep as presents more gravitas and is more "Shockwave" with the figures I keep around my desk. (Note I collect a mix of what figures appeal to me, I just seem to have MS cycled in on the desk atm)

 

Ugh, stop making Shockwaves! Shit, EX and Shackwave are still coming...

And yeah, why does the NA have translucent purple on that wrist :|

 

is that EX version in the first pic?

 

No sir, base model both pictures

 

Got my regular in today. I definitely like the EX more but they are both fantastic. The EX looks and feels more premium to me.

 

Here's the ex version. It's not metallic, just darker purples. Looks fantastic.

 

That's the stuff right there!  

 

Looks fantastic, glad I went with EX. I never really understood why light purple is the default, he always looks darker in the cartoon. There’s the one image of the character model that shows as light purple when you google G1 cartoon Shockwave, everything else is dark purple. He’s always been darker purple to me.

 

Thought I'd give this a shot using a cheap paint marker I found at target. I think it looks pretty solid all things considered, not sure why newage didn't paint it to begin with

 

It's nice to have a little color variety on the shelf, but that aside, dark shocky is the best shocky!

 

Somewhere between NA and MS aesthetically would be my ideal. I need to figure a way to paint his eye, but otherwise I’m going to roll with NA.

is the translucent eye piece removable?