Not all that long ago, Transformers celebrated their 30th Anniversary with a slew of great figures, including my favorite player in the 1986 movie, Springer. On the eve of the 35th, I’m pleased to say we’ve got another, and he is once again kicking ass and taking names in all his triple-changer glory.
Springer comes our way via the Transformers Siege line, which has been ramping up something fierce since launching the first of the year. In just six months, I have a pretty great roster of mainline Autobots and Decepticons, with some nice sleeper characters thrown in. Like before, Springer is a voyager, and joins Prime, Megatron, Soundwave and Starscream- him being the only other Autobot in the class. Now, the last Springer was also a Voyager, but where that one was a taller, slimmer IDW build, this one is a stalky, spittin image of his G1 self.
In robot mode, he has high shoulders, a helmeted head, and a good squared off chest. One big thing that grabbed me right away were the great colors- even the yellow, that doesn’t always work on Transformers came out really strong. The style is truly an updated take on the G1 toy, which was also his comic look. The cartoon version has some similarities, but the original (and this figure) definitely favor the boxy stylings over the more cylindral ones. This gives him some good size, almost as tall as Optimus and just a little thicker. Springer comes with a pistol and dual swords, with a rotor hub that can pinch hit as a blaster if you like. There’s lots of options for storage on his back, but not a ton of weaponizer points. I think it’s sufficient, but just so y’all know.
Unfortunatley, he and Magnus kinda outclass the Hot Rods and Kups currently available, so hopefully they get Siege upgrades too. Still, other than that paint scuffs (which I like,) These two could work in a mixed setup. His articulation is very good, with deep knee and hip joints, good arm and shoulder range, and some really open pivots. This guy is great fun to pose around.
Now transformation threw me for a loop a bit at first, but I’m getting better with it. It reminds me a lot of some third party transformations- proof positive that Hasbro has definitely learned from the competition. Going from car to helo mode is no big deal, it’s just some changes in the tail section from back wheels from to tail boom. Like the robot mode, it’s built much like the toy’s car mode, which is a plus or minus, depending on your camp. It’s very faithful to the G1’s cybetronian style, since it already fits right in with the other figures in the line’s aesthetic. It does what you’d expect, it rolls, and you can fit the blaster on the roof, but I haven’t found a satisfactory place to stow the swords in this mode.
Helo mode keeps most of the car’s size and style, with the addition of the rotor, of course. The pistol can store on the underside, though it’s a little hard to pose, on account of his lack of landing gear or skids. Still, of the two, I like this one better.
I wasn’t able to chase my other voyager Springer down in time for review- lost in storage hell, no doubt- but I do feel like the vehicle modes were stronger. But, again, very IDW, so it really comes down to taste. And because of that, I think there’s really room for both in a collection. But if you’ve been getting any of the other Siege figures, Springer is a great boost to your Autobot ranks. Recommended.
