 Darkmount
Blue Tank Decepticon Warlord
Transformers Generations Deluxe Figures Wave 2
Item No.: Asst. 98452 No. 19819
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Includes: Blaster, engine
Action Feature: Transforms from robot to tank-like thing
Retail: $11.99
Availability: September 2010
Other: Marvel Comics' Straxus
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Standing about 6-inches tall, Darkmount is a tank that turns into a robot based on his comic book appearances. In case you were curious, he debuted in Marvel's Transformers #17, which is why he says M17 on the side of his tank mode. His coloring, according to the Transformers Wiki, was the result of Hasbro getting a look at a piece of art from a fan publication given to them by the great and powerful Monzo, a super-fan who's a really nice guy if you get the chance to speak to him. But I digress.
The toy is technically a triple-changer of a character you don't know with a really great robot mode, a top-notch vehicle mode, and a sort of a base mode thing that's about as much of a wonderful creation as taking a dump in a sack of M&Ms. Sure, you can do it, but why? The halftrack vehicle mode is, as most vehicles, just fine. There aren't any firing weapons or anything kooky, but the toy does have a series of small bars which allow the use of clamp-on guns or other weapons. If you're into it.
Darkmount's robot form is slightly more impressive. It has a lot of things that toys this size generally don't, like articulated fingers, wrist joints, double elbows, double shoulders, and other odds and ends to create a more poseable Decepticon dictator. There are a bunch of nice sculpted bits and while not a dead ringer for his comic inspiration, he certainly fits the bill of close enough. Oh, and he has a giant pickaxe thing as a weapon, which means he's either a zany gold prospector or a serial killer. Or both! The axe becomes the tank's cannon, and the fairly involved transformation process yields a solid vehicle and a great robot without pieces popping off and curse words being thrown about.
It's not entirely known why Hasbro elected for "Darkmount" as a name over "Straxus," but the fans figured it out and this guy seems to have made many fans a-tingle. This is why, in 2010, it seems Hasbro can largely do no wrong. While not as blocky as most G1 characters, this Generation 1-inspired toy is indeed bulky but has a load of articulation to make him more fun to play with.
I should also note this toy has a ton of weapon "bars" which can be used with any of the three clamp-on weapons included in this set, or ones from other toys. (In the picture, i've got Breacher's gun on him.) It's a nice bonus feature, but I think it might actually have been a better toy were it not covered in these particular details. Having said that, it's totally worth your twelve bucks.
...repaint fans, Skullgrin uses the same mold with a new head and came out in November 2010. The deco is really sharp, and I would indeed suggest buying both toys even though they're basically the same thing.
--Adam Pawlus
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