G1 Jazz Review

U.S. Name: JAZZ Jap. Name: MEISTER

Cartoon First Appearance: Episode #1: More than meet the eye P1, Season 1, Sept. 1984

Marvel Comic First Appearance: The Transformers #1, Sept. 1984, $0.75

Dreamwave Comic First Appearance: G1. Vol. 1, Issue #2, May 2002, $2.95

Toy Catalog Number: 06

A quick history: Back to G-1: Review A-IV Teletran-1

This is my first Jazz toy and I bought it on Jul. Xxiii Mmii from Image Anime which cost me $XXX. I had always wanted to own him when I was a pup, now it's becoming a reality.

Affiliate: autobots | Subgroup: none | Function: special operations agent | Alt. Mode: porsche 935 turbo |

Jazz's motto and tech specifications:

| STR 5 | INTL 9 | SPD 7 | ENDN 7 | RNK 8 | CRG 9 | FRPW 5 | SKL 10 |

"Do it with style or don't bother doing it."

Jazz loves Earth culture. Always looking to learn more. His knowledge of Earth makes him the indispensable right-hand man to Optimus Prime. Takes most dangerous missions. Very cool, very stylish, very competent. Equipped with photon rifle, flamethrower, full-spectrum beacon, 180 db stereo speakers. Creates dazzling, disorienting sound and light shows. Versatile, clever, daring, but prone to be distracted..

These images were all photographed and scanned by me. If you're a Transformers fan, this will definitely bring back some reminiscences.

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R-1 Jazz in its Original Condition:

1 - Jazz in its brand new condition from the box.

2 - Here's how the content looks when you opened the flap or cover revealing the figure through an opening window.

3 - These are all the contents that were included in the box/ package/ card: "1"sport car, "1" gun, "1" missile launcher, "3" missiles, "1" instruction sheet, "1" Jazz trading card, "1" sticker sheet, "1" miscellaneous text sheet, "1" 1984 world art, "2" data files (image of Jazz and Optimus Prime), "1" TF episode guide #1 to #9, and "2" Dreamwave art with toy catalog (feature: Optimus Prime, Hound, Wheeljack, Sideswipe, Red Alert, Jazz, Mirage, Bluestreak, Prowl, Inferno, Bumblebee, Windcharger, Cliffjumper, Huffer, and Brawn).

R-2 Pre-Applied Decals/ Stickers:

There are 6 Pre-Applied sticker that had been applied onto Jazz. The first two are located on either side of his car door. It's his trademark number 4 sticker. The third sticker located on the top of car roof, it's that red, blue, and cyan sticker. The fourth sticker located on top of the car front hood just below the window shield also contain that red, blue, and cyan colorings. The fifth sticker located just below the pervious sticker, has that Jazz trademark number 4. The last pre-applied sticker is the Autobot Rub Sign logo located just on the left side and onto of the car front hood.

Sticker Sheet:

There are 19 registered numbering of stickers on the sticker sheet. These registering numbering do not include the Pre-applied stickers.

NOTE: There are some texts/ brand name alterations regarding Jazz Sticker Sheet, see R-6 on Special Note for more info.

R-3 Jazz in Vehicle Mode:

Although the Jazz character is cool in the cartoon, the toy is actually a disappointment. First of all he is very un-sturdy. Fortunately, the alternate mode doesn't suffer much stability problem as in the case of the robot mode. The biggest problem with Jazz is that his roof and the rear window or back seat part doesn't join properly. Instead, there is this 1/8" gap between the two members which cause the rear window to collapse on the body car itself. Jazz roof doesn't have the little tab to support the rear window like Prowl, Bluestreak, or Smokescreen. Third, I though the Rubsign location was poorly executed, they should've placed on top of the roof.

R-4 Jazz in Robot Mode (Instruction Sheet Version):

According to the Instruction Sheet transformation, Jazz door should be extended out just like the Prowl, Bluestreak, or Smokescreen not fold in or hidden like the cartoon. The other change is the wheel is above his shoulder and exposed out. In robot mode, Jazz is only good for displaying that's because he tends to fall backward. The missile launcher is also done poorly too since it always fall off especially if you move Jazz too much. Finally, Jazz transformation is very complex so don't lose his instruction sheet.

NOTE: Maybe the original Jazz mold was damaged, this reissue Jazz face is based on the 1993 Generation 2 Jazz face. The original Jazz has a chin on his face. The G2 and Reissue has no chin.

R-5 Jazz in Robot Mode (Cartoon Version):

It is possible to transform Jazz just like his cartoon counterpart by simply fold the door inward instead of extend out as seen in R-4. Also, Jazz doesn't have any wheel on his shoulder exposed out. This problem can be slightly fixed by positioning the shoulder wheels to visible from the back not from the front or top.

R-6 Rémy's Jazz toy review:

Manufacturer - Takara.

Line, Series/ Wave: Generation 1 Line, Transformers Collection - Box #1.

Year Issue: [2002 Reissue] - The original toy was released in 1984.

Made: [China] - Of all the reissue, Jazz is the only one that doesn't seem to match its original especially in term of quality. Unlike the original, the most noticeable feature in the reissue is his face. The reissue Jazz face appear to be flat and does not have any chin like the original.

Scale: [N/A]

Box or Card Dimension In Inches: [LxWxD] - Approximately 8 10/16 X 6 3/4 X 2 5/16 - Box.

Packaging Method: Mint In Seal Box. Contents were packed with the following procedure:

Taped down and sandwiched between two clear plastic trays are: "1"sport car, "1" gun, "1" missile launcher, and "3" missiles (on tree).

On the back of the card board and not inside the clear plastic tray, a taped down bag which contained: "1" instruction sheet, "1" Jazz trading card, "1" sticker sheet, and "1" miscellaneous text sheet.

Mounted onto the front cover of the box are: "1" 1984 world art, "2" data files (image of Jazz and Optimus Prime), "1" TF episode guide #1 to #9, and "2" Dreamwave art with toy catalog (feature: Optimus Prime, Hound, Wheeljack, Sideswipe, Red Alert, Jazz, Mirage, Bluestreak, Prowl, Inferno, Bumblebee, Windcharger, Cliffjumper, Huffer, and Brawn).

Box Special Note: Front Box: Jazz box art. Back Box: No box art, showed Jazz contents and other reissue TFs ads. Used Book style format, that is, the flap or cover opened revealed the toy through a window opening.

Box Point or Robot Point: [3] - This number can be found on the right side flap of the box. You have to open the box to see it. It contains number and either Autobots or Decepticons insginia depending on which faction you are getting.

Approximately Toy Dimension In Inches: - Height Up To The Head: 4 1/4 Maximum Height: 4 1/4 (not including launcher) Width from shoulder to shoulder: 2 14/16 Maximum Width: 2 14/16 Dept: 2 1/4.

Toy Stamp/ Fine Print Location: - Can be found underside of Jazz feet.

Transformation Of Difficulty: [Hard] - Transforming him from robot to car is a little bit complicated but not vice versa.

Material Durability: [C] - Average...could be very fragile if drop especially his roof and window shield.

Toy Materials: Die Cast Metal: Portion of car front hood (chest) and portion of the rear (feet). Chrome Metal: Mid section of the belly, feet plate, gun, missiles. Rubber: Wheels. Plastic: Main material. Clear Plastic Window: Front, side, rear of the window shield.

Stability: [-C] - Not so stable...only good for display.

Fun Toy: [+B] - It's an okay toy.

Negative Drawback - The missile launcher that suppose to connect onto Jazz neck is very weak since the darn thing just keep on falling off. Also, the rear window and his top roof in car mode doesn't connect. Last but no least, his leg tend to fall back into car position whenever you reposition him.

Articulations: Head: Cannot be rotated. Shoulder: Can be swung at a 360 degree. Arm/ Elbow: can be bent at a 90 degree angle. Wrist/ Hand: Can be rotated at a 360 degree sideway, hand can't be hidden. Hip/ Waist: Cannot be bent or rotated. Leg: Cannot be ben... Knee: Cannot be bent. Ankle/ Feet: Cannot be bent and no sideway movement.

Rub Sign Logo: [Yes] - The autobot's rub sign located just above his headlight.

Robot's Cartoon looks alike: [-A] - He looks pretty much like the cartoon.

Vehicle's Cartoon looks alike: [A] - Cool vehicle mode.

Special Notes: Here are the "4" notes which I thought you should know:

1 - Unlike the original Jazz due to car realty license problem, the new Jazz decal has the following text changed: "Agent Miester" (Original: Porsche Martini), and "Miester" (Original: Porsche). Other than these texts, the stickers are exactly identical.

2 - Missiles launchers came with spring so missile can be fired out so check for spring.

Overall Grade: [+B] - I just hate his connection...they are so un-sturdy. But overall it's still a cool toy.