Power of the Primes Starscream

 

Robot Mode: Remember Animated Starscream and his truly humongous chin? Well, this Starscream here tries to outdo him with his truly, epically humongous feet. Can we call him Bigfoot Starscream? Epic Boots Starscream? Super Feet Starscream? Anyway, Starscream has really big feet, it’s pretty much the first thing I noticed about him. Second thing to notice: he basically carries his jet mode on his back, very little of the actual robot becomes part of it. The jet cockpit on his chest is faked, too. Which isn’t a bad thing in and of itself, mind you, but not a good start, either.

Overall Starscream is a somewhat strangely proportioned robot, but not quite so much as to appear comical. As usual he has his null ray cannons on his upper arms (or shoulders rather), which can be removed and held in hand, too, If you want. The fact that they’re affixed to the shoulders instead of the upper arms somewhat limits the possible shooting-poses, but it’s not a big thing. Additionally Starscream carries the two feet for his combiner mode (see below) with him, each of which can also serve as a container for a Prime Master or the so-called Seeker Enigma Starscream also has as an accessory. The Feet-Matrix-Holder-Guns can also attach to Starscream’s shoulders and have the weapons plugged in, allowing Starscream to give a pretty good Galaxy Force Starscream cosplay.

Overall the robot mode isn’t bad, but not particularly good, either. I was very much looking forward to a Voyager-sized G1 Starscream (we never had one of those before), but the robot mode is mediocre at best. Probably not the reason to buy this figure.

Alternate Mode: Unsurprisingly Starscream once again transforms into a jet. It still vaguely resembles his classic F-15 Eagle mode, but looks somewhat rounded and a bit stunted. And then there is the underbelly. Now there are jet-mode Transformers with very little underbelly (only very few), jet-mode Transformers with some underbelly (most of them), and then there are jet-mode Transformers where pretty much the entire robot mode just hangs there underneath the jet, barely disguised. Sadly, this Starscream here is one such jet-mode Transformer.

Well, as long as you look at the jet from the top, it looks pretty good. It has a front landing gear, too, though the need for a rear landing gear is removed by the fact that Starscream’s humongously huge and epic feet are still there in this mode, easily serving that function. The guns from his robot mode remain plugged into his shoulders and are now somewhat under the wings. Of note: Starscream’s sticker on the jet note reads D-22 – his original G1 Takara ID number – and on the wings you can read “Ghost Attack”, referencing Starscream’s time as a ghost.

Bottom line: one of the worst jet modes I’ve ever seen outside the 1-Step-Changers and other super-simplified toy lines. Definitely not a reason to buy this figure.

Combiner Mode: The redeeming feature on this figure (and the one NOT advertised on the packaging, interestingly enough) is that he can become the torso of a Combiner Wars style combiner. Starscream basically does a handstand with his jet mode wings, cockpit, and robot mode legs forming the chest of the combiner. A new head flips out from his chest, wearing the crown we remember from the 1986 animated movie. And speaking of movies, the resulting combiner torso bears a strong resemblance to the general design of the live-action movie Starscream, being a very broad, powerful-looking guy.

To my knowledge the Starscream combiner does not have a separate name (likely Starscream’s ego would not allow it to be called anything but Starscream or possibly King Starscream), nor a fixed team. In the pics above he has Dreadwing as an arm and Darkwing, once I get him, will form the other one, but use whatever legs tickle your fancy. Combiner Starscream can also carry either the Seeker Enigma or a Prime Master in his chest, simply open the panels above his cockpit. So bottom line: Combiner Starscream looks really good. This is the reason to buy this figure.

Remarks: Nothing much needs to be said about the character of Starscream, I believe. He is so famous that he’s got his own TV trope named after him (the treacherous second-in-command of the evil boss is ‘The Starscream’). So after sitting out Titans Return (and getting but a repaint in the preceding Combiner Wars), Starscream now returns for Power of the Primes with an entirely new mold.

As toys go, though, this Starscream here is a mixed blessing. The jet mode is one of the worst in a long time, the robot mode is only so-so. What saves this figure is the combiner mode, which looks pretty cool and manages to be a multiple homage at the same time, too. So in closing I can only say: if you want a Starscream combiner, then this figure is for you. If you are merely looking for a good stand-alone Starscream figure, though, there are better options for you to look at.

Rating: C