Crowbar Transformers: Dark of the Moon - Studio Series #03 Transformers Studio Series Deluxe Class Toy Item No.: Asst. E0701 No. E0741 Manufacturer: Hasbro Includes: Clubs, Display Backdrop Action Feature: Transforms from Chevy Suburban to robot Retail: $19.99 Availability: April 2018 (preview launch in February) Other: Retool/rework of Berserker
PREVIOUS	RSS	NEXT

I really didn't like last year's Berserker [FOTD #1,700], one of the Dreds from The Last Knight. Crowbar basically takes the robot's shell, transformation scheme, and basic look while giving it a lot of new robot parts and a sturdier, more stable transformation. And some minor deco tweaks - they're both basically the same SUV with different robots.

Considering the two toys were supposed to be very similar - and indeed they are - it does a good job improving on the older toy. But it gave it a G1 Decepticon symbol on both the toy and on the box, so clearly someone wasn't paying attention. (Fun fact: this happens a lot.)

The robot is good, and while it seems to be drawn from the same strokes as Berserker, it ain't. The head has articulated dreadlocks and there are weird braids hanging off the back of the figure. The claws hands have some orange on them, but they transform differently. The legs are posed similarly, but transform differently with a different sculpt. It's amazing just how much worth Hasbro and Takara-Tomy put in to making a similar toy look different, no doubt understanding that a run of the same toy with new head would be a snooze. Articulation is good and it's a lot sturdier than it could be, but I'm having a hard time getting beyond that hair.

I waited to open this toy because I hated Berserker's transformation as parts would pop off - but Crowbar didn't give me any trouble. The hair is a little tough to get right, and it sticks out the car's butt, but it works. You can get it shoved together without a big fight, and I appreciate that. Between the two "brothers," this has the better quality control and just plain works better. He's got fangs and a truly alien looking head, which helps him stand out a bit from his not-quite-a-robot-Predator sibling.

The car is good! The vehicle is compellingly authentic with a Chevrolet symbol on the front and back - painted, to boot. There's a spot for a license plate sticker should you want to add an aftermarket label, and the wheels are unpainted - it matches the Berserker toy nicely as you can see. The red lights on top are a little darker, and the Decepticon symbols are G1 now for some reason. Not just on the toy - but on Stinger, and the packaging too. Starscream is correct for some reason. There's no in-the-car weapon storage as far as I can tell, so they have to hang out on the doors. It works, but it's ugly - and that's how weapon storage is on all of Studio Series so far.

I was expecting to tell you to skip this figure, but instead I'll just say it's a great toy with wonderful engineering and iffy deco. If hair streamers bother you, you won't like this - but it brings you Berserker's toy with some improvements. You might just want to add some stickers to it to make a few correction if that sort of thing bothers you. I'd rather have seen an all-new toy, but seeing how Hasbro gave us a great robot mode that's truer to the movie I'll just be happy we have this.

Additional Images

Click here to see more Hasbro figures in Figure of the Day.

Click here to see more Transformers figures in Figure of the Day.

Want to buy this figure? Check Transformers availability at our sponsors:
Entertainment Earth

Featured Toy Video