Skydive is another Transformer that makes up the Autobot combiner Superion. This is the third figure being covered by the Fwoosh for Hasbro — we did Silverbolt and Firefly, and now it’s time for Skydive. The original Skydive first appeared in 1986 as part of the Generation 1 series of Transformers, and over the years he’s made a number of appearances in the comics and cartoons. Originally an F-16 fighter, he’s made appearances as an A-10 Thunderbolt and airfare cargo jet. Skydive typically makes up Superion’s right leg.
As with most of the Aerialbots, there isn’t much to say about him as a character. It seems that many of the combiners after Devastator were somewhat boring in that they were only developed for their combined robot form, and there wasn’t much interest in them as individuals. I imagine knowing that your only reason for existence is to be a body part for a larger robot must be pretty discouraging. IDW is currently in the midst of their Combiner Wars series and there should be some decent development in those comics.
Skydive is another simple yet effective figure in his robot mode. Like Firefly, his bot mode really pops and does channel the Generation 1 look while getting that “IDW” update that many love. He’s got a serious V-shaped body, making his shoulders look really wide and his waist narrow — a look that is different from the boxy Silverbolt and Firefly. There is a ton of great detail on the sculpt, like panel lines and raised surfaces, that make the figure pop on shelf. It’s nice to see the days of boring, flat-surfaced robots has gone away.
The articulation is great and you can get a number of poses out him. However, I am very biased when it comes to articulation, all you need to include is swivel biceps and swivel wrists and I am sold! This figure has both as well as hinged elbows and knees and ball shoulders. There isn’t any articulation in the ankles, and, as I mentioned before, that can be forgiven considering the amount of other joints in the figure. I’m smitten with these modern Transformers as they can pose and move in ways that my Generation 1 Transformers never could.
The plane mode is odd, it’s an ugly cross between an F-16 and F-18, the front of the plane bearing the resemblance to the F-16 and the back being the F-18. The reference to the F-18 is the size as well as the two stabilizers on the back of the plane — the F-16 only had one. I’m not certain if this was a way of avoiding trademark infringement or if the designers at Hasbro/Takara just got lazy and went with a design they thought was cool, but it looks off to the armchair airplane design dude.
I love the paint on these figures. I know that most of them are molded in the colors that they have, but there is some serious paint being thrown on these figures. The gold on the wings pops like crazy and the red chest and bronze face really stand out. I had to triple-check the chest to make certain it wasn’t die-cast as it looks like an old painted die-cast action figure. And the blue Hasbro is using for the eyes is fantastic.
This figure comes with a weapon and part that can make up a foot or hand. I like that Hasbro took the time to make the hand or foot be either and still look good. The old Energon combiner figure had really crappy parts for the hands and feet that made you want to buy the 3rd party (still don’t own) conversion kit. This is no longer needed.
Finally, he makes a great leg — and he should. He’s looking sharp down there as a shin and foot and is ready to do some serious damage as a key part of Superion. The other arms and legs are on their way and we’ll get a final review of Superion in for y’all before long.
You can still pick up Skydive at:
