I'm probably the only person buying Transformers Ultimates from Super7. I finally got Megatron and Grimlock from Super7 direct. They are pretty much what you'd expect, though there were some things I didn't expect, both positive and negative.
Grimlock is MASSIVE. if you have other S7 Ultimates, think the size difference between Mumm-Ra the Everliving and the Thundercats, or Mon*Star and the Silverhawks. The package was nearly three times the size of Megatron's (which is slightly narrower than Optimus Prime's). He's in dino mode, which is what I'd prefer and why I ordered him. Standing straight up, he's a full head taller than Megatron and Prime, but at least double the bulk. I just put away my MP Grimlock, but I think he might actually be the same size!His sculpt is very basic, and faithful to the anime design. He has a fair amount of articulation, including jaw hinge, head ball/swivel, base of neck swivel/hinge, waist, ball/swivel tail at torso, ball/swivel tail at tip, ball/hinge hips, hinged knees, hinged front and back toes, swivel hinge shoulders, elbows, and wrists. Range of motion isn't awful. He comes with a ton of accessories, including a pair of straight claws and grip claws for a drink tray, six glasses, a big fish, a cloth goods apron, a crown, a helmet with a long hose attached. Of course, I won't use any of these and they went straight into a bag.
Megatron is about the same size as Prime, though a tiny bit shorter, and somewhat more lithe, but not by much. His proportions, like Prime's, seem a little odd, with heads just a bit too big. He has a double ball/socket neck, hinge/swivel shoulders, elbows and wrists, ab crunch, hinged chest plate, swivel waist, hinge/swivel hips, hinge knees, hinge/swivel ankles with limited movement. He has no bicep swivels, which is annoying. He does have a swivel below the elbows, which I thought was superfluous on the left arm, but on the right, it means he can reposition the cannon so it's atop his arm. The cannon is easily removable, but I wouldn't count it as an accessory. He comes with a pair of grip hands, a pair of wider clutching hands, a hand holding a half empty Energon container, a grinning head with Energon dripping from the corners of his mouth, a helmeted head (after all of the Megatrons I've bought, you'd think by now I'd know what that purple helmet is for, Kremzeek, some kind of mineral element, a chemical flask, a ball and chain, a static ball and chain, an energy sword, a pistol. Again, those all went into a bag, though I did swap from the stoic head that was already attached to the grinning head, after removing the dripping Energon. However, the acetone removed his face paint as well, revealing plastic of the same color. I still repainted the areas because it was a subtle but bothersome difference.
I'm not sure why I wanted these anymore. I do have the Hasbro RED non-transforming figures, and they're fun, but also SO MUCH MORE AFFORDABLE. These are stupid expensive for what they are. At least I paid the same price for Grimlock as I did Megatron, which seems like a steal, considering how Mumm-Ra and Mon*Star are at a premium for their size. I think it's really the wait between ordering and receiving that bothers me most. This whole model is bound to fall apart soon. I mean, it doesn't seem like there's any interest in the Transformers license in this format. I do have Soundwave and Starscream ordered at BBTS, but it'll be a while before they show up. At least I can cancel. I ordered these from S7 direct for some reason, and will never do that again.
Oh, totally forgot: Grimlock comes with a preposed Wheelie. It's not as bad as the one that came with SS Grimlock, this one has swivel shoulders, wrists, hips, but the hips are worthless. The figure is pretty worthless in general, since I'll never display it either.
Thanks for posting. I have Prime and was very curious about how Megatron turned out. I really, really wanted to like these but it sounds like there are too many issues for the costs.
I grabbed the Prime on sale from BBTS when wave 2 came out, so grabbed Megatron as well. I wasn't expecting to like Prime as much as I do. He's a solidly chunky version of the characters, who stands over most of my 1:12 figures in my random display. He can point, and look like the cartoon, so I'm pleasantly surprised by him. Megatron, less so. He's a little wobbly (standard S7 at this point), and I really wish they had made the big dumb purple helmet removable because I like that face better than the standard. I've also debated painting the grinning face because it's just so much better than the standard head which is pretty bland. He's got a gun arm, and a ton of accessories that will live in a bin for the rest of their life until I sell him in a few years (also standard S7 at this point).
The question for me is whether I'll grab Starscream and Soundwave when they're released, and whether they'll ever make more Action Masters like Treadshot. Can I please get a Treadshot?
I'm all for non-transforming Transformers, so I was very interested in this line at first. But yeah, the RED line is much cheaper and gives you pretty much the same thing at a smaller scale, with even better articulation. And the MDLX line gives you premium non-transforming Transformers that are pretty much perfect. They are a bit more expensive than the Ultimates, but I think they're worth the price. Ultimates are stuck in this weird middle ground where they're charging premium prices but offering basic figures. They're not really offering anything other than random easter eggs like a surfboard or a basketball. It works for ThunderCats Ultimates because there are no other options for fans of that IP. But for Transformers, we have a ton of options for both transforming and non-transforming figures.
I do dig the aesthetic of these figures. I like that they are meant to look like the cartoons, and they totally do. But look good is about all they can do. Posing is not up to today's standards. And there's really no excuse for that. They include so many accessories that wind up in a bin. Maybe that's my fault for not considering them some kind of priority? Not valuing them in a way that makes me feel like I've gotten my money's worth? Honestly, I'll be happy to finish this off with the Soundwave and Starscream that I preordered. They're part of the magnificent seven anyway, or whatever they call the most recognizable TFs. I supplement the line with RED Bumblebee, so I've got a decent core group once I get the other two Decepticons. But this line really has no legs. Handsome, you have a point with other licenses like T-Cats and S-Hawks being the only game in town, but there are SO MANY better options for Transformers to spend money on.
I just got Grimlock from the BBTS sale. It's my first Ultimates Transformer and while I'm very pleased, the joints are a little loose and that's getting old with this overall line. I LOVE the apron and will probably display him with it along with his tray of drinks. It's so stupid and fun at the same time. I think Wheelie will have a permanent spot on his back too. I know he doesn't match the apron look, but I have a lot of Grimlock figures and this one doesn't need to fit in any specific display.
Meanwhile, I impulse-purchased Pinky and the Brain from the BBTS sale, and they're absolutely adorable. Technically speaking, they're also probably actual-sized.
They're more articulated than I expected, but at the same time lack a foot swivel that would help them stand more solidly.
I picked up ReAction Ultra Magnus, Wreck Gar, and Quintesson Judge from Target today. They were on sale, but also started off overpriced at 20.49 or something stupid. Sale brought them down to $16.30 something. Not sure why or what sale they were qualifying for, but I picked them up anyway.
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