Bumblebee Transformers - Studio Series 86 Transformers Studio Series 86 Deluxe Class Toy Item No.: Asst. G0183 No. G0220 Manufacturer: Hasbro Includes: Backdrop, blaster Action Feature: Transforms from not-VW Bug to robot Retail: $24.99 Availability: July 2024 Other: Probably at a Big Box Store Near You
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Essential? More or less - Hasbro has made most cartoon updates of Deluxe Bumblebee somewhat difficult to find, and so far this one seems to be no exception. Maybe more will turn up, but previous models have been exclusives or parts of box sets, and not the widely-available main line action you might expect. This one is part of an "A"-class assortment with One Optimus Prime which means if they hit big box stores in big numbers, they should be common and a massive hit. But will they? I don't know.

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$25 for a small figure will probably make you angry, and also delight you. It's a good robot with his signature cartoon blaster, with lots of articulation and parts because they had the budget to do such a thing. Transformations is a lot more complex than the original toy, or most toy Bumblebee figures, so be sure to consult the instructions for the panel flipping and whatnot. The head is a little round, just like in the cartoon, with things like Volkawagen-esque feet that are probably close enough to make you say "it's just like the cartoon!" It's really close too - nothing can be 100% thanks to the magic of mass-shifting, but he has an abundance of arm joints, tilting ankles, and the same kind of cartoon sculpting we've come to like with most of this line. While he's not quite the banana yellow of the Netflix toy, and some fans may lament the reduction in accessory count given we don't have the bazooka, it's a perfectly good robot figure with lots of articulation. It's not a Masterpiece Edition, but it's $25 and scaled to fit with your other toys. You could do a lot worse for the money.

Some things are unavailable, like a backpack, or the yellow paint not quite 100% matching the yellow plastic, but that's where we are right now. He can hold his blaster in his rotating wrists, he has an Autobot symbol on his chest, and if you told me he would have thigh swivels and rocker ankles back in the 1990s I would call you a liar. It' easy to dismiss this toy as an incremental upgrade - and in fairness, it is - but it's leaps and bounds better than Titans Return Bumblebee, which stands shorter as a robot and has a car mode that's only slightly smaller.

Transformation is not difficult as such, but it's not like the other Bumblebee toys - there are a lot more jumbled bits to cram him in a much smaller car mode. It's not difficult, but you might need some actual guidance, and it's worth noting the blaster mounts on the back of the car for storage.

I found the car mode to be a little bit gappy, but maybe you'll have an easier time wadding him up. This time he's about the size of a husky Hot Wheels truck with opaque windows and some nice wheels with an actual metal pin holding them in place so they don't look super cheap. It rolls, it's cute, and like on the cartoon it doesn't do much. If what you want is an authentic licensed Volkswagen alt mode, though, you'll want to hang on to your Netflix-era toy. Each version offers something distinct that the others don't, so no one toy stands out as the absolute champ. But that Netflix toy is going to probably be your favorite car mode, while this one is potentially going to be the best robot mode.

I was considering skipping this toy, but it's Bumblebee, so I got it - there have been some other upgrades of toys I already have and like that I skipped, like Comic Grimlock or Studio Series Springer... but Bumblebee is special. You might be perfectly happy with one or more of the toys that you have, but if you aren't? Give this one a look. I don't think it's going to be the last word on the toy in this line or size class, as refining the car mode could probably give them a reason to try again - but it might be a few years. I would recommend this figure to anyone without a satisfactory Bumblebee, but maybe not younger kids or people who have all the Masterpiece toys and still say "not good enough." You'll need to wait some more. For the average person wanting a nice robot figure, this is a worthwhile use of $25.

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