Blog #425: Toy Review: Botcon 2013 Starscream & Depth Charge

Botcon 2013 Starscream & Depth Charge

If you haven’t read my full review of Botcon Toys, Merchandise, and news from Botcon and San Diego Comic Con, click here.

I really like the Machine Wars concept this year.  I’m not crazy about the inclusion of Strika and Obsidian because I really never liked them as characters and they have nothing to do with Machine Wars.  If they had to be included, I would have preferred they be Decepticons instead of Autobots.  Since the toys are both molds that I really like that doesn’t bother me too much though.

What does bother me is ridiculous coloring on some of the toys.  Let’s be honest, the reason Machine Wars was created was so that Hasbro could maintain trademarks.  Some names like Optimus Prime, Soundwave, Hoist, Hubcap, Skywarp, Thundercracker, and Starscream hadn’t been used in several years.  The toys were all reuses of existing molds (though a few had not been seen before due to the cancellation of G2).  The art was all reused and didn’t match most of the toys.  I don’t see how you can conclude that it was anything other than a bunch of random toys and art thrown together to maintain the trademarks on the names.  This being the case, it’s clear they didn’t put much thought into the color schemes.  That’s why we have toys that do not match the characters color schemes in any way.  (Even if they are supposed to be different iterations of the characters, they should still have had the correct colors.)  What Fun Publications really should have done is make the “second wave of Machine Wars toys” match the proper color schemes for the characters rather than continue to do them wrong.  Two wrongs don’t make a right.

Mold Used: Transformers Generations Deluxe Terradive (Repainted with no mold changes.)

First off, as shown above, they did a carded version of the club membership figure this year.  I am hoping to god that this was just because the voice actor for Beast Wars Depthcharge (and TF Prime Shockwave) was at the con.  I mean, come on, it’s not like there are plenty of other toys for people to get signed, right? (Read that as sarcasm).  Of course then Fun Publications wouldn’t make any money on those.

Click here to read my full review of Depth Charge.

The Terradive mold was great for Starscream.  His head has just enough similarity to Machine Wars Starscream to work, and they did a great job painting it.  The only problem is that the green plastic they used on his trident is too soft, causing you to be unable to lock the trident in the open position.

Carded Depth Charge Grade: Pointless

Starscream Grade: B+

Thanks for reading!