Patriot Prime Reviews 1989 Transformers G1 Pretender Longtooth

[@RetroRobotRadio]

I made some 3D printed harpoons designed after the ones Longtooth carried in the Marvel comics. They look great.

[@DoctorOfSpice]

Pretenders were just ahead of their time for 1988/1989. I'd love to see one made with today's engineering,. Thanks for the review!

[@fullarmourtracksuit4023]

I don’t see how they were ahead of their time. Everything about the line is consistent with that period.

[@DoctorOfSpice]

@@fullarmourtracksuit4023 The technology wasn't there to make the concept work the way it needed to, causing what we did get to be very limited in articulation and complexity.

[@fullarmourtracksuit4023]

@@DoctorOfSpice Yes. Exactly.

[@PatriotPrimeReviews]

I agree.

[@dubuyajay9964]

Modern Hasbro cuts too many corners. Most of their transformers are hollowformers nowadays.

[@FyreCat3454]

I had Longtooth as a child, and I think I might still have it stored somewhere... He was my stand-in for G1 Kup. I wish he appeared in more fiction because he's got a very distinct appearance.

[@daverage4729]

Great looking shell. Loved these guys back in the day. They didn't do a lot but they were a fun idea and looked great.

[@RetroActionUK]

One of my favourite Autobot Pretenders as he’s the only one that isn’t a human and I love the look of the Pretender Shell. He’s a nightmare to find complete though as the front of the vehicle is always missing and so is his gun. I love the amphibious vehicle mode for how unique it is and I like the robot mode a lot too, mainly due to the colour-scheme, but the biggest downside to the Small Pretenders is that to form the vehicle mode an additional part is required.

[@RetroRobotRadio]

Some people suggest that perhaps Hasbro swapped affiliations for Longtooth and Stranglehold... Longtooth being the only Autobot monster Pretender while Stranglehold is the only Decepticon human Pretender.

[@Gametester110-qf8vs]

Pretenders have always been my Favorite TFers gimmick.

[@dialNforNinja]

They'd be a way of integrating "human" characters into a production without being useless plot-sponging deadweight again, at least. Idiot Hollywood writers would probably have them be all "Wow I never felt emotions like this before!" because giant space robots, though, even though that has very obviously never been true in any version of the franchise aside from a few specific characters... okay, mostly Shockwave; even Teletraan-1 displayed fear, anger, or outrage sometimes. That his tech specc bio calls out being emotionless as an unusual trait only underlines the point, though.

[@seankelly9541]

09:35. I suspect that Longtooth and Strangleholds shells were faction swapped. Maybe Bludgeon and Pinchers alt modes too

[@PatriotPrimeReviews]

I agree

[@xhairstargetmaster6338]

I loved those as they had leg articulation with knee bends lol just like the mini cons lol the main line had brinks or the some but those little guys had the best out of most of the TF line lol

[@roycephelps7444]

I honestly loved the Pretenders cause you get two for the price of one. I wish they got more fame/screen time, tv, games, something cause these guys are great. Metalhawk, Bludgeon and all the various Decepticons (guide a few) are great successes. I'm still envious of you getting the car part (the last piece).

[@IoriMinaseKana]

I only own 2 Pretenders Bomb Brust and Classic Bumblebee. Make that 3 I forgot I also have Classic Grimlock as well.

[@Firetox]

The coolest autobot pretender, just funny he's a small one considering what he is. GREAT REVIEW AND AWESOME BROTHER FIND

[@PatriotPrimeReviews]

Thanks for watching!

[@hgc7000]

The inner alt mode looks like a Space Version of a 70's conversion van! Still, that doesn't detract from the amazingly odd, but cool vibe Longtooth gives off.

[@AntiDecepticonCampaign]

They better start doing these Pretenders as Voyagers or larger. Octopunch would be cool… “hearts of steel”/cthulu themed would be nice.

[@UnkleKlumsy1353]

I never hated the pretenders, per se... But I've always liked the idea of them getting a generations reset that drops the pretender aspect, like they did (twice now) for Skullgrin

[@fatenabu1]

Also why can't we have real modern pretenders... Imagine what they could do now..

[@chrisvellner3922]

My prediction is, a deluxe scale robot with several 5mm ports that included "Armor" pieces made of soft plastic that would attach. So instead of a static shell the figure would still has articulation in the Pretender (form) armor.

[@fatenabu1]

@@chrisvellner3922 I would have the little bot be just a guy. Make him head master size, give him armor for armor suit to make him core class. Then more attachments to make him deluxe sized. Then again I like Masterforce better than Marvel Pretenders

[@MCDJACDC]

Awesome review and character in the og comic

[@JRJohnson1701]

I think these Pretenders would be great for a third party to do the shell and a more posable deluxe size figure, so they can all be the same size

[@the_dark_braga2190]

This was the craziest character to gave his own single comic issue: he was an Ishmael-like character having an adventure.

[@keithenzmann3709]

I love pretenders! Pincher and Octopunch are my personal favorites. Bludgeon is also up there. GREAT REVIEW AS ALWAYS!!!

[@PatriotPrimeReviews]

Thanks so much.

[@dialNforNinja]

Octopunch is the one I really want to see an update of like we got with Iguanus, Blood, and Dauros, though mostly Dauros since Core Class is getting sorta retired. I've spent a lot of time thinking about how to get from his distictive huge-helmet shell with tentacles to a crab, and while the best I have so far for the pincers would be to fold the tentacles up to form them, the crab legs could actually be that huge helmet, laced together like when you lace your fingers together to twiddle your thumbs. They'd have to be pretty static for stability/durability, but maybe a ball joint at the base of each one in leg mode/around the collar? The bot legs would just fold along the sides of the torso to make it wide like a crab's body. The real question would be how to pitch it to corporate, since they want to be able to get two or three uses out of everything and crab TFs are not exactly common. BW Rampage and Razorclaw are the only others I can even think of...

[@xeroxero9541]

Love to see this guy as a core class in the Legacy line! (still waiting on a Submaurader too). Sounds like your brother has the same hunting luck as my buddy, he always finds the best deals on retro games when we used to go to citywide garage sales. I'm curious what Sectaurs characters he found since it was my favorite toyline as a kid. Nice review as always!

[@chrisvellner3922]

It looks like both LONGTOOTH and SKULLGRIN both buy their belts at HOT TOPIC.

[@NinjabillReviews]

Just amazing, I have never seen a completed version, and as completed as your copy is all my life, just awesome my friend. I hope you can source a weapon for him, or have one printed to make it even better.

[@andrewgrant2990]

This gut is so awesome & I was thrilled to get mine back in the day! You're right he's all about presentation & style! I can't help but think he was designed to fit in w/ other toy lines, like He-Man & Thundercats. Heck, if you squint he'd fit in w/ TMNT (& mutants were the rage). Great find & an even more awesome bro!

[@simonwestwood1879]

What do you think of the theory that Longtooth was originally planned to be a Decepticon and was swapped during production with Stranglehold? Explains the matching skull belt with Octopunch.

[@PatriotPrimeReviews]

I agree 100%. Maybe they felt a Warus monster was more friendly looking

[@penge01313]

I feel your pain, Patriot. Some years back, I managed to get Octopunch in great shape and almost complete. The only part missing was (what else?) his small gun. I was able to get it, but yes, it's crazy what some will charge for that one small missing piece. 😬

[@RiceDaddy07]

This reminds me of that Thundercats Walrus guy figure (Turmagar the Tulsa).

[@LunaticPrime]

I want a new version of this figure/character since PotP. I loved the robotic style of the decoy suits and Longtooth in that style would look great and like the IDW version of him (before 2019). The Legacy style would work great for him, too, imo. They should do more Pretenders in the Legacy style anyway. Autobots, as well. I think we are getting a Carnivac as a retool of TR Wolfwire.

[@RazyelKayneReviews]

I think pretenders were a good idea, but limited by the technology of the time. Today, they it's could do amazing things with pretenders, but I think they would cost a lot more than what we are prepared to pay. Great review!

[@Dalton791000]

Definitely one of those situations where the shell was designed based on cool idea and not conformity

[@DarkAlex1978]

I like the concept behind the Pretenders, but Is not a very toy friendly one: they try to be two different kind of figures at the same time with mediocre results in both cases, due inevitable cost cuts. It's a costly concept to produce in toy form, It can't be helped

[@aaronmp8]

Good review. The Pretenders are Ok. I have Splashdown complete, butt he needs a new sword. Someday, I will own Finback.

[@PatriotPrimeReviews]

Splashdown is pretty good.

[@seanclapper9965]

Koo koo katchoo!

[@fatenabu1]

Hmm my kids had mine out a while back and it rolled... It looked like it wasn't lined up just right when you had it in vehicle mode

[@dialNforNinja]

I coukd see him done as another Dauros (Skull... -face? I can only ever remember his Masterforce name) partial, though a new mold entirely would be better of course. He's got a similar hunched posture to the shell as Gilmer and the front end of Gilmer's sub doesn't look that far off from Longtrooth's truck without the backpack piece, , so maybe something could be worked out that way, doing the back of the truck like the big tarp/shield on Legacy Bulkheag, then remove the wheels and replace that part with a handful of guns or something for the Gilmer version.

[@marcbrunson6986]

I have a couple of Pretenders. I have Waverider and Jazz. I can't stand Jazz. I always wanted Vroom. Aside from not liking the Pretender Jazz, I do like them and the idea of them.

[@PatriotPrimeReviews]

Jazz's bot mode is so bad.

[@chaunceyhaworth4884]

Do the knees look like rubber ducks? Maybe it's just the water motif.

[@PortalBricks]

Sometimes Patriot Prime cassually reviews a pretender no one talks about

[@BIGLARRY100]

I assume ur a pro but try 2 bend beyond straight the other way & why it's super hot/soft immediately dunk it in ice water while holding it in shape for a few minutes. Doing it 2-3 times will fix it. Never has failed me. Good luck brother! Hope it works 4 ya

[@PatriotPrimeReviews]

I appreciate the tip!

[@ionacustoyreviews857]

Long tooth is all presentation. And not a lot of anything else. How many G1 transformers till the collection is complete?

[@rellko3900]

Be careful with the hood hinges, apparently they’re fragile

[@trash44gzgigasmashkaza50]

I hade bumlebee snarler and dino force comander loved pretenders best transformers figs gimmick 2 toys for the price of one