The Thirteen Alchemist Prime Why Not? Transformers Age of the Primes Deluxe Class Item No.: Asst. G0474 No. G1026 Manufacturer: Hasbro Includes: Lenses Action Feature: Converts from robot to SUV Retail: $24.99 Availability: July 2025 Other: Draw one, draw two, draw three, four glasses of Energon
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Technically the third toy of this character, The Thirteen Alchemist Prime borrows from existing toys. He looks a lot like the build-a-Maccadam figure, but is colored like The Covenant of Primus version - with some of his proportions, but not his posture. The toy stands upright, and moves the Lenses from his face to separate clear accessories.

Also nobody will support my theory but I'm not entirely unconvinced that this robot is meant as a not to comedian/literary agent John Hodgman.

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Given most fans have no concept of a "correct" Alchemist Prime, I have no reason to deny that this is a good one.

If you've got a Hound, this robot is a lot like him. He's dark green, there's a helmet, there's a silver face. He's a bit shorter than many Deluxes, with a wider body. Hasbro mostly filled in the gaps with various panels, leaving you with a robot action figure with what I guess now qualifies as below-average articulation. While you get rocker ankles, there are no wrist joints. As with most Transformers these days, this robot-first figure has good articulation and a generally cohesive body.

The figure's head has a little beard and mustache, plus glasses. The Lenses are a separate clear blue accessory and are not affixed to the figure's head. Circles on the forearms of Maccadam are brought over to this figure, as are some hexagons on his knees. I don't know why, exactly. They wouldn't be missed on the robot mode, and they stick out like sore thumbs on the vehicle mode.

The Lenses feel like a throwback, but one with some nice hidden secrets. The clear blue plastic accessory feature symbols for Ancient Autobots as well as Blentrons - the reason for this, I don't know, maybe just to get the trademarks in circulation - as they're tiny clear symbols in the corner. Blentrons from Beast Wars Neo are a faction whose logo is rarely used outside of Japan. Heck, this might be the first toy for the non-Japanese market to feature it. (I haven't opened the newish Overcharge yet, but the e-Hobby version had it.)

In short, it's a nice robot figure but doesn't bring new toy features to the table. If you need magnifying lenses for your toys or are building out the Thirteen, though? It's essential. And I like the robot head a lot.

Shifting forms isn't too hard - explode everything, and it goes back together without much of a fight. While the knees are on the sides and the fists are partially visible from the back, it's otherwise a pretty tight conversion and the vehicle holds together pretty well.

I'm kind of surprised we got a clear windshield, but given they no doubt had room on the sprue for the Lenses, it's sensible. You can even see little circuit patterns in there, so it reminds me of some of those Siege vehicles from a few years ago. The wheels roll, and you can mount the accessories on top. There are no specific vehicle action features to be deployed, but there are a ridiculous number of little greeblies. There are so many vents, panels, and other designs that I can't find much reason for them. Heck, maybe you can. There are lights painted silver on the front, and it generally looks pretty good - like a Jeep meets a Warthog. I don't know that it makes sense as an ancient alien vehicle, but maybe it's perfect for a modern alien robot vehicle with Earth influences in its reformatting?

Like some of the other Primes, I doubt you're going to leave this one in vehicle mode very much. It's probably going on a shelf with the other characters from the Thirteen.

If you like adding a new group of robots to your toy boxes, this has been a pretty good one so far. It's a finite sub-collection, with minimal duplicates, depending on if you want to collect all the artifacts or maybe are happy with what you've got. (Alpha Trion, Vector Prime.) I don't know that this is a must-buy figure in and of itself, but it's a spectacular figure as part of a larger pantheon of legendary robots. Also, we don't get enough robots with glasses and facial hair.

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