If the Transformers universe has a resident fanboy, It’s Ironfist (or Fisitron, as he is sometimes known). Ironfist is the Wreckers biggest fan, so much so that he’s dedicated a good chunk of his life compiling the elite crew’s history, and he managed to create a bit of a name for himself in the process. Originally a little-known G1 character, Ironfist hit the big time when James Roberts made him an integral part of the seminal Last Stand of the Wreckers, which put him on the radar of many Transformers fans. Hasbro themselves recently released an updated Ironfist figure as part of their 2014 subscription service, but, unfortunately, he’s a repaint of the Fall of Cybertron Swindle, which is not the greatest figure to ever hit the shelves.
Fortunately, Mech Ideas, the team that produced the simply awesome updates of Topspin and Twintwist, saw the potential in the character and has given us what will likely be the definitive IDW Ironfist figure. Their figure is called “Gauntlet,” and it was originally supposed to be released by a completely different 3rd party team. Their plans fell apart, but Mech Ideas was there to keep the project afloat, and we’re all the better for it.
So let’s take a look at Gauntlet/Ironfist and see if he’s a worthy addition to our Wreckers displays!
Check out the below video for a transformation demonstration and some additional thoughts!
Gauntlet’s (“Ironfist” going forward) packaging is about as minimal as it gets. The only images at all on the box are what we see below. The rest of the box is completely devoid of any images, which is kind of weird to see. “Demolition Crue” is what Mech ideas is calling their version of the Wreckers, and I can’t wait to see more entries in this series.
Ironfist may be in contention with Swerve and Tailgate for the “cutest Transformer figure of the year” award. He’s kind of adorable and he looks spot-on to his character in the IDW comics. The sculpt is awesome and his colors really pop.
I’m happy to report that his plastic feels to be of top-notch quality. Too often, 3rd party Trnsformers feel a bit on the delicate side, but not Ironfist here. His plastic feels even sturdier than most of what Hasbro and Takara are putting out these days.
His only accessory is his pistol, pictured above. It’s a simple-looking gun, and for some reason its being cast in yellow is really doing it for me. I can’t explain why. I guess I just like yellow guns.
His articulation is about average for a modern Transformer. He’s got a good range of motion in his arms and legs, but he could do with some ankle articulation. The breakdown:
- Ball head, shoulders, elbows, wrists, and hips
- Swivel thighs
- Hinged knees and ankles
His feet are permanently posed in this “heroic” stance, but is my only nit with this figure. I wish his feet were more fully developed to allow for more poses.
In terms of size, he’s a bit small, but he should be. Springer towers over him, and he’s only a little bit larger than a legends-class figure (see video for a comparison with Swerve). His size works for him and makes him feel like pure hand candy.
His alt mode is a little armored transport that is almost as cute as his ‘bot mode. It’s clean-looking and well executed. Like everything else about him, its simplicity works for him. All the panels fit together well, making for a convincing alt mode.
This figure is available wherever 3rd party transforming robots are sold, and if you’re a fan of the Wreckers, I’d say he’s a must-have. At $30, he is on the pricey side for what you get, but I’m completely happy to have him on my shelf. Now if Mech Ideas would give us a Rotorstorm and a Guzzle, I’d be over the moon.
