Robots in Disguise - Scourge

Ah, at last, we have our Scourge. For those who didn't want to spend upwards of $60 - $80 on Black Convoy, or who couldn't afford the $100 or so Laser Prime sets you back, Scourge is the answer to all your problems. Small history lesson, he's a recolor of Laser Optimus Prime (or Octane Prime as he's sometimes called) who was released late in the flop of a G2 line. The laser rods and cycles were among the very first poseable Transformers, leading up the innovative stuff seen in Beast Wars and Beast Machines.

He's packed in vehicle mode, as is often the case. It's a pretty cool looking mode as well. Rather than the garish and even sort of cheap colors Laser Prime had, Scourge is a lot more sleek and less random looking. Very nice. Since he's essentially two parts, I'll review the cab and then the trailer.

The cab is a lot bigger than I was expecting (one of the few times I've said that about a Transformer), and rather heavy as well, even with the lack of electronics. Sadly the wheels are plastic, which is a bit of a let down after the large amount of rubber tires in the RID line, but you make due with what you got I suppose.

Colors are pretty much all black with some metallic blueish green details and gray showing on the underside of the cab a little. The sword stores under the rear of the cab (between his robot shins, with the base of the sword sticking out like a bright red tail pipe). His windows are a dark transparent red and there are Decepticon symbols on the doors (there are reports of Scourges with those missing). The button that used to light up the LED in Laser Op is still there, but it doesn't do anything aside from, uh, getting pressed. Cab mode alone is very cool (not worth $30 of course, not even $20 the ultra size warrants, unless the LED was restored, but $15 would be a good price I'd say). But wait, there's more!

Okay, the trailer (or tanker really) isn't much to behold in this mode. It's all vac metal silver and black, with the silver being the most prominent. The top houses a disc shooter (reminds me of Depth Charge, even though this one came first) which spins and even tilts a bit. Very cool. Sadly the launcher doesn't have a frickin cover, which isn't so much of a problem now, but becomes annoying for transformation. On the back there's a solo sticker that says 'Scourge' and 'D-012' is under it. Pretty neat that they left the D-012 there, as that's the box number Black Convoy had in Japan.

Cab transformation is pretty simple, and the way his head folds out of his stomach grille is pretty neat. The robot mode is a little back heavy, with the seating area of the cab being backpack (a little longer heal spurs might have helped) and is in dire need of some thigh swivels (OpOp syndrome), but otherwise he's quite cool. Despite the lack of a swivel, he has ratcheting universal thighs, ratcheting hinge knees, swivel and hinged shoulders (hindered a bit by the large shoulder pads) a bicep swivel and hinge elbows. Very cool.

For those wondering, the colors on the spychanger version are pretty much dead on, if you need to compare. The glowing eyes are the same red as the windows and sword. Ah, and he also has a ratcheting waist, which is interesting considering it's not even necessary to the transformation (not often does that happen, TM Cheetor is another example).

The trailer becomes nifty when it transforms, too. Pop the front off, press a button on the front and tada! The springs are actually strong enough to snap it in position from the regular stance as well. Very neat. Once you do that it's a matter of positioning the disc shooter and the missile launcher and folding down the rocket launcher. Oh the gimmicks! The rocket launcher is especially cool as it fires the buggers really far with the right aiming and force. There's also a light piped gun that mounts on the top of the base mode and can be held by Scourge. The missile launcher can also be held in his hand if you are so inclined. All in all, very cool.

The major problems lie in the storage of everything. For some reason he comes with ten missiles, which is five more than the launcher can hold, so you are forced to store five in the launcher which will bend the springs out of shape a little (added stress and all). The rocket launcher has an even worse problem. One rocket stores in the side of the trailer (similar to the extra missiles), leaving the other one stuck loaded in the launcher. Not a problem, except the rocket is too long to be folded into place, so the tip of it (which is soft rubber) gets bent and is subject to permanent warping I'm sure. Also the hose for the air, uh, thing gets all kinked up in storage. Still, everything has a spot in both modes (well the sword only sort of in robot mode), which is always a plus. The battle station is very excellent.

Of course this is a Toys R Us exclusive, but it's priced $29.99 instead of the $31.99 the other supers are (amidst the Primes and Magnuses), which is a plus. He may have lost the LED lights, but he gained a better color scheme (in my opinion). If you don't own Laser Op or Black Convoy, then pick this guy up as soon as you can. If you own Laser Op, it really depends on how much you like the new colors, as he has little to offer over the original. If you have Black Convoy, there's really no point in getting him that I can see unless you're a completist. Cool toy all around.