I reviewed this mold a while ago when it debuted as Powermaster Optimus Prime [FOTD #1,667], but Optimus Prime and Shreddicus Maximus is pretty amazing. While fans have likened it to Nucleon Quest Super Convoy, really all they have in common are being black repaints of a Powermaster Optimus Prime mold. The highlights are different and this one has exclusive bonus gear related to skate company and Hasbro licensee Primitive. Why did they agree to this? I have no idea. But it's really cool and the price was right for a convention item.
On almost every level, this is the perfect convention exclusive because it's cool, but not something you may miss had you not known it existed. It's not like Optimus has appeared in these colors on TV or in an ad, and the bonus accessories aren't a part of the lore. This makes it a unique addition and a welcome take on a character that has had his share of black repaints over the years. The silver and gold striping are really nice additions that highlight a mold we've seen a few times already, giving it a retro quality that recalls other, older decades. Functionally it's just as good as the previous toys, but now the base mode is a skate park.
You can make it a battle station if you wish, but the new pieces can serve multiple purposes - you can plug them in the battle station mode, or make a ramp, or make them a big giant blaster. The plastic is softer than the other pieces, presumably for safety or manufacturing costs reasons, but they match nicely and look just as slick as everything else. The silver weapons seem to be molded in a very hard silver plastic, so be careful with these over time. The board itself clips on the rail, which is nice for posing and stunt purposes.
Shreddicus Maximus has more paint than Autobot Apex, including copious head detailing. Hasbro held back on the head mode face, though, with plain black plastic making up much of the figure. I like the added emphasis on the tiny robot's face, and really the big face doesn't need more than the blue eyes decorated.
The company's logo appears in multiple spots - the hoverboard, the side of the truck, and the top of the cab. If you're anything like me, this is the most exposure you've ever had to the brand because you're too old to skate and you haven't been "with it" possibly ever. The stripes and logos look really cool and give the somewhat fanciful and heavily armed truck a design that looks like something you might actually see on the highway or outside a mall doing some sort of touring exhibition. The blue windows are sharp, and I love the silver grille. The logos on the side of the truck make this a great alt mode to display in any city diorama you may be building, and the gun coloration is pretty nice no matter which mode you use.
I had a weird Comic-Con in the sense of none of the items being five-alarm fire must-buys, but everything being good or better than an alternative product. I appreciate this, although it's a shame they broke the two-year tradition of giving us new Windblades. I don't think anyone started the year demanding a toy like this, but the name Shreddicus Maximus took off with fans in a way that Pan-Handler didn't. It's a nice take on the black repaint conceit, and priced to move. I can't say it's an improvement on my life, but as a souvenir goes it's pretty sharp. Get it if the price tickles your fancy, and note that the window box is nicely textured. You can really feel a different, rough printing on the sides that will delight your fingers.
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