Rise of the Beasts Optimus Prime & Chainclaw

Prelude: Who thought it was a good idea to give Movie Optimus Prime a chainsaw? Come on, the guy already uses his in-built axes to chop off faces wherever he goes, Primus alone knows what he’ll get up to when he has a wolf-shaped chainsaw at his beck and call. Well, here’s hoping the Decepticons will get the hint and stay out of the way. Let’s look at Rise of the Beasts Weaponizer Optimus Prime and his Beast Battle Master Chainsaw. So shield your faces and let’s say go!

Optimus Prime: As a big fan of the Beast Battle Masters, I was a bit dismayed that I could only acquire Chainclaw together with a rather superfluous Optimus Prime figure (I went through that once before). So the Optimus Prime figure here is okay for what it is, nicely articulated, decently detailed, and looking pretty good for its price point in both robot and truck mode. Given the deluge of Optimus Prime figures, though, this one hardly stands out from at least half a dozen others and I doubt too many people will buy this set because they really want this specific Optimus Prime figure. So bottom line here: he’s good, but in no way spectacular. Let’s move on to why we’re really here.

Chainclaw: The general design of this Beast Battle Master here is somewhat similar to Battle Master Cheetor. We have a four-legged animal, a wolf in this case, who transforms into a bladed weapon. Chainclaw in wolf mode has four articulated legs, so some basic walking/running poses are possible. The detailing on the wolf body is nicely techno-organic and pretty well-done for the size. The wolf lacks a proper tail, the poor guy apparently got his docked. A horrible practice, by the way.

Transforming into weapon mode mostly involves unfolding the long chainsaw from the length of the wolf’s body. The legs fold in and a 5mm handle flips out from the wolf’s chest. You’re done, you got a chainsaw. Thanks to the 5mm handles it can be wielded by most Transformers figures. Personally I think it looks best when wielded upside down (see pictures no. 18 and 20), but that’s a personal thing, of course.

Bottom line: not the best of the Beast Battle Masters, but he’s the only Transformer ever made to transform into a chainsaw, I believe (well, him and a Botbot). That’s good enough for me. 

Remarks: In case you haven’t noticed it by now, I’m a big fan of the Beast Battle Masters from the Rise of the Beasts line. The fact that some of them were only available together with some bigger figures I had no need for doesn’t much lessen my enjoyment of them. Barring a repaint of Cheetor, Chainclaw completes my collection, so I’m happy.

So if you’re like me and simply enjoy the absurdity of techno-organic animals transforming into weapons for their bigger peers, then Chainclaw is for you. And the little Optimus Prime figure he comes with isn’t that bad, either. Maybe there is a kid in your family who’ll enjoy him.

Rating: B