Ranking EVERY Transformer Subscription Service Figure

[@ToaArcan]

Krok being a flying vehicle is a long-held fandom theory, based on a few factors: 1) Most Action Masters were designed with vehicle kibble, and Krok had what looked like the cockpit windows of a larger aircraft on his chest. The character art from Dreamwave added what might be air-intakes. The arrangement of the windows on his chest is startlingly similar to the ones on the B-2 Spirit, or at least T30's approximation of one. 2) IDW then added jet fins to the top of his shoulders. The T30 figure can also do this, kind of. 3) One prominent fan-theory was that he turned into a UFO, which got official acknowledgement when SG Cosmos was given Krok's colour scheme. The B-2 neatly splits the difference, being a plane that looks like a UFO. Based on all that, I'd say the T30 Megatron mold is a pretty perfect fit for him.

[@GrimmysReviews]

to add to point 1, standing the Club Krok next to the Actionmaster, the resemblance is just uncanny

[@Undrave]

Could have been a submarine :p

[@thatonebritishidiot3037]

I always interpreted it as a manta shaped submarine as krok, the colours lend to that idea for me

[@Jethammer117]

Thank you, I was going to comment this

[@walterlopez5054]

3 main things that bug me about sg Starscream 1: the Sunstorm he was originally supposed to be was a much more appropriate choice. 2: he was redundant. Funpub already made an sg screamer. And Thundercracker. But no Skywarp? 3: no other Sg combiner limbs or torso to pair him with. Making him a man without a country.

[@myoldhandlewasmadewheniwas9]

Tier lists are always great, love hearing your thoughts on different topics. Don't be afraid of the long-form stuff, man, I and many others will watch as long as we can

[@LanceTheAutobot]

Ultra mammoth is one of the darlings of my collection particularly due to the fact I love ultra Magnus and beast wars

[@TheBowserPrime]

The only one I'd say I don't agree with is Bludgeon because I honestly do quite like what they were doing with him. Rather than go for the samurai look that every other figure has done, they went with what he actually looks like without the Pretender shell and I think it's an interesting idea. That and while the swords are really big, I'm not opposed to the idea of a Decepticon dual-wielding these massive swords. Adds a level of silliness with a bit of badassery in there as well.

[@NightmareZerogbs]

In my opinion, Krok was a very inspired choice, the chest IS very similar to how his G1 toy looked, not to mention that due to sheer coincidence, the crocodile Arms Micron can combine with the Fusion Cannon, further incorporating the Action Master gimmick, but I do admit that it can look a bit too much like Megatron.

[@nashthomas1843]

I mostly agree with you, except for Krok and Ruckus. Krok despite his name, has far more things with his design over the years that actually do point more towards a flying vehicle, and honestly, I think T30 Megatron works very well in pulling off not only his robot mode, but also a flying vehicle that suits his details rather well, more than the skull cruncher repaint. As for Ruckus, I don't think it's as weird a repaint for off road as it may seem, If memory serves me correctly Ruckus actually was who that mold was originally intended to be , they even originally intended for the figure to have Ruckus's original buggy mode, but in the end they decided to make it a new character and give it a new vehicle mode because they realized Ruckus would be a weird edition to the stunticons and the name wasn't available, because if you look at the shape of off roads chest, his head, and the details on his legs, and look at the original Ruckus you can notice clear references to Ruckus design in off road. So, while the figure may look weird in vehicle mode as Ruckus, I still have a close fondness to it and an appreciation of it and the subscription service for taking off road and giving us what his robot mode was actually based on and what was originally intended to be, even if they did have to do some stretching for the alt mode.

[@RetroRobotRadio]

The Pretender Optimus Prime ape was colored like the one of the two decos for the cancelled gorilla shell. Oilmaster was the other deco.

[@Ohmygodiamonfire]

The Counterpunch is made even MORE redundant by the fact that we had the fantastic POTP version that came out like a few years later too.

[@walterlopez5054]

Fss Counterpunch was already redundant when he first came out. As funpub had already made a Punch/Counterpunch toy (out if the 2008 sideswipe mold) that retained his doublespy gimmick (by switching between the sideswipe and sunstreaker robot modes)

[@KRBrickBot]

Personally, I can't really justify dropping aftermarket prices on any Botcon super-exclusives that are obscure recolors of retail toys, even at conventions.

[@RetroRobotRadio]

The story for Counterpunch was fun though. He was discovered and the Decepticons who nearly killed him as Punch. The medic could only save him by fixing him into Counterpunch mode during the rebuild. The Punch parts were destroyed.

[@RDPendleton]

It's ironic that you don't think Ruckus fits that mold since that mold was originally designed to be Ruckus before they made it a new character.

[@diegodankquixote-wry3242]

Circuit is awesome. It was on btts forever and it was 100% worth getting considering how popular the rotf lockdown mold was. Rampage, depthcharge and transmute are also quite awesome.

[@Undrave]

29:08 You're right, the lack of this figure being a retail release is BS. It's SO obvious... and the Laser Prime toy felt stupid rare on my end and I don't think I ever saw it more than once in a shop???

[@Maximal_Denn]

Because it's something you haven't really talked about outside mentioning it in other botcon videos, you should do a tier list of the pre-FunPub Botcon figures. So basically Botcon 94 to OTFCC 2004.

[@RetroRobotRadio]

With the upcoming Shattered Glass Ultra Magnus, I wouldn't mind seeing a video on BotCon exclusives that are no longer the best toy for that character. For instance the BotCon Thrust, Dirge and Thundercracker have Superior versions of the toy with the Earthrise hold. The modern SG Blurr is usually considered better than the BotCon Blurr. BotCon Chromia isn't much compared to the Generations Deluxe. What else from BotCon is no longer the best version of that character?

[@mattr75]

There were some pretty clever ideas FunPub had for some of their exclusives.

[@adrianjames1557]

Another great, thought provoking ranking! I always have a lot of fun with these. I think the reason I got excited about Nacelle and Carzap-we haven't seen a lot of new characters out of Hasbro for decades. These were a deep-cut AND a way to give us some fresh blood. And have to also give a nod to TFCC for bringing back homages to old Botcon and club figures. While some worked better than others, it's still a chance to give fans the character when the originals are hundreds (or thousands) of dollars. BUT, have to say for the most part I agree with everything you did up there. Props!

[@elijahhaynes216]

This was great! Personal favorite is Lio Convoy(I’m pretty sure he was part of the subscription service), he rocks the mold imo.

[@toysmostwanted]

I love Nacelle because it is a way to get that unique BotCon wing mold for the Classics Seeker and the name reminds me of Star Trek.

[@theamazingbrave]

If ONLY people hated Circuit, then I could actually afford him maybe.

[@RetroRobotRadio]

My problem with the Fractyl toy is that he should have been a Maximal pre-Beast Wars. He was turned into a Predacon with a shell program.

[@walterlopez5054]

Bludgeon's swords are ridiculous when scaled for Bludgeon. But when they're wielded by the combined mode, Thunder Mayhem, they look fine.

[@walterlopez5054]

Funpub's club store exclusives and subscription freebies could make a pretty good tier list if you wanna keep this train chugging.

[@XPproductions365]

It would be cool if we got a video ranking the botcon souvenir/collectors club store toys. There are a ton of interesting figures in those categories and I’m curious to see what your opinions of them are.

[@smitty_863]

There has to be something said about the surprise content everyday. I love it! Most channels are predictable. I'm digging this. What will Mr Omega have on the intenerary today?

[@cartoonfan5943]

The reason why Krok was a stealth bomber is that his action master figure had stealth bomber kibble.

[@RetroRobotRadio]

I am a big fan of the combiners and pretenders from the tfss. I wish I had ordered the Thunder Mayhem wave.

[@masterfarr8265]

thank god we have generations selects

[@kamensp1der]

i love that tj was like "oh fuck yeah, a dude named Serpent that turns into a flying wing, that whips ass" and then very next toy is also a reptile-named flying wing man and he's like "noooo, the name makes u think croc, the alt doesn't work!"

[@KumoriBlackPhoenix]

Barricade's first appearance wasn't in the movies. his first appearance was as a micromaster part of the race track patrol. he was a blue and magenta ligier js31 formula-1 race car.

[@DaPopeANata]

The G1 character was the first use of the name. But if we're talking the first use of the character (in this context), I think TJ had it correct. Decepticon police car is so different than the G1 Barricade that it's clearly supposed to be an entirely new character that happens to share a name with an earlier one.

[@samuraidrift.]

Nacelle is a pretty Obscure toy, I'll do you one Better Enemy

[@Ojunix]

Jackpot did get a new head mold that wasn't on any of the previous uses of the Animated Jazz mold, so I think that was atleast a upgrade for him.

[@walterlopez5054]

Thrustinator was inspired. And I kinda wish Funpub had found reasons to use the other 3 Cyborg Beasts.

[@serPomiz]

wait' so that's where they took the EarthWars model of Impactor from, I didn't realize untill now!

[@lilithofthevoid4922]

Wonder if we'll get a Gen Selects Toxitron out of legacy Motormaster, and just not include the trailer

[@javivaki]

I would personally move Chromedome a bit higher because those colors perfectly matches with how he looks in the comics. If it weren't for the fact that he is a Wheeljack repaint, this would easily be one of the best idw inspired figures out there. Hopefully Rewind and his brother can tag along.

[@vriderch1360]

A Fractyl repaint of Kingdom Terrorsaur is coming! Current rumors say he's part of an Amazon-exclusive Wreckers sub-line.

[@Ranma_Leopard]

Extremely enjoyable video

[@ShockUzer]

Thrustinator and Tarantulas are top tier, for me. Too bad I couldn't get a hold on them.

[@sabregunner1]

still wish we got a seeker mold Red Wing. hoping we get one in the new toyline. I agree that nacelle is to bright for a g1 type seeker. that being said, i like mine. I wish they did a different mold for slipstream

[@Alexisilver]

The only two subscription toys I have are Scourge and Ultra Mammoth, But I'd be lying if I said I'm not dying for my own Thrustinator and Tarantulas

[@TheSharkKing45]

On the discussion of Toxitron, I wish he'd get a mass retail figure, as most of his figures were exclusives.

[@dimsamuser4330]

Any chance you can do something for the BotCon figures that came before FunPub took over? Like the figures from '94 - '04, and the international and OTFCC cons too?

[@zoesoundglave3897]

i hope you do a ranking on botcon because i want your thoughts on the single toy of lyzack

[@bradensmith8682]

I hope we one day get a modern retail Needlenose. For that poor guy at Hasbro of course!

[@imtiredofthisfarce]

i feel like some subscription based transformers were missed

[@chriscarpenter3370]

"fistitron... don't make the joke" too late :D

[@Martynde]

G2 Starscream being the second Starscream of all time? What about Pretender and Action Master Starscream?

[@LapisBlock]

I'd argue the scourge is pretty weak in retrospect because just a couple years later takara came out with a version without the giant G2 symbols on the doors that makes it look cleaner. It's also, depending on the time and where you look, cheaper than the TFCC version

[@PunchCounterpunch_Lizzy]

I have a few of them and I really like them

[@DragonicMK0126]

Was cheetor using the animated blur mold apart of the subscription service

[@DragonicMK0126]

@TheDragonDAFan Ok

[@tydieofficial7712]

11:43 Um....I think you mixed up Ruckus with Crankcase there...

[@Kylorin235]

Is it strange I still really want a combiner wars G2 starscream to make a Supreme Starscream combiner?

[@soundblaster1987reviews]

Why was Generations Scamper used for Scorponok? Surely a heavy retool of RID 2001 Grimlock would have been more appropriate...

[@walterlopez5054]

Id use generations 2014 Hoist. By plugging the towing arm into his lightbox in bot mode you can evoke his scorpion stinger.

[@soundblaster1987reviews]

@@walterlopez5054 not a bad idea, but the forearms on RID Grimlock already look like claws and his excavator scoop is already a scorpion tail in robot mode.

[@Megamanlanprime]

My question is where are the TFCC ones like Dion, Ramjet (Armada), and others? I’d like to see the Freebee and other TFCC Exclusives in this list.

[@Megamanlanprime]

@TheDragonDAFan I would argue they should be kinda considered as apart of the same line as while you didn’t get them as apart of the Subscription Service, you got them by joining the Service and TFCC did eventually sell them as well.

[@walterlopez5054]

The club freebies and boxed figures could make.forna decent tier video on their own. The figure sub service was already fairly packed due to having 5-6 figures per year over the course of 5 years

[@Megamanlanprime]

@@walterlopez5054 maybe? But generally I consider them all together for the most part as you did need still need to sign up for TFCC to get either of them.

[@gannondollins]

what about sideburn, rampage, runamuck, dion and such? I got them from the subscription service.

[@gannondollins]

@TheDragonDAFan do they bot count tho?

[@RialVestro]

Personally I aways say B'Boom as BW Ultra Magnus. I feel like they did Big Convoy just for the pun name rather than the mold actually being a good fit for the character. Scourge is a Holy Grail for me. I wish Hasbro had done a retail version. I mean the one Fun Pub put out has the cartoon accurate Upside Down G2 Autobot insignia on it. I have the original Scourge toy Hasbro did which actually has Decepticon insignias which are not accurate to the cartoon but it's what I had and I was hoping they'd put out a retail version with the Decepticon insignias so it's still different from the Fun Pub one and gives people another option for getting a Scourge. Anyway every time I see a G2 Laser Rod Optimus Prime I keep waiting for the Scourge repaint which never seems to happen. Thrustinator... as an homage to his final form in Beast Machines... no... That was actually a Beast Machines Buzzsaw with Thrust's head in place of the wasp head which still doesn't have an official toy even though the mold for it already exists. That said I still love Thrustinator. I wish they had made the other two in the same style. I could see Max-B working as Silverbolt/Jetstorm. Though would have to use TM Rhinox for Rhinox/Tankor. Tarantulus... I do actually like that mold as Tarantulus... I didn't like it when it was originally announced only because I don't think it fits in with the other Dawn of Future's Past characters that were all molds from Cybertron. And as a Pre-Beast Wars Tarantulus I still don't think it works. He just doesn't look Cybertronian, he looks too much like he landed on Modern Day Earth and scanned an Earth based vehicle mode. But as an alternate take on the character in a different continuity I think the design works really well. I also love that Junkion mold, I own four of them. He looks like he would fit in with the Shattered Glass Junkions with the way they're colored. That BW Scorponok by the way feels like he was thrown in just to complete the Darksyde crew. That mold doesn't really fit the character at all, it is the worst Pre-BW figure they've ever done. I wish they had stuck with the Cybertron molds for the entire set so they actually matched but at least the other molds actually work for the characters. I just hate that Scorponok. I don't even care about the rest of them. Not bad I just don't care about those characters.

[@bennopelka5082]

Astrotrain is awesome as well as slipstream

[@akumaking1]

Are any of them available for sale anymore?

[@HiperPivociarz]

I don't get the fact that he hates when Fanpub comes up with new characters, but loves legacy Fanpub characters (who usually have much uglier color schemes). What's the difference between Nacelle and Packrat?

[@TJOmega]

1: Packrat is Pre-FunPub by 8 years, from a time when they couldn't homage past characters with existing, current molds, and had to create original characters. He's not a legacy Fun Pub character, and I really like when they bring back the classic Botcon characters that typically only get one toy. 2: Marketing. When Packrat was an exclusive, it was special just because it was a toy you could only get at the convention. Fun Pub typically marketed their releases as "fan favorites" who never had toys before, while using the most obscure, unknown, uncared for characters or non-characters as their inspiration and acting like it was a big deal. 3: Packrat was only the second use of that mold, while FunPub's Nacelle was version 30 of the Classics Seekers mold, still being sold like it was special. From using an overused mold, a color scheme I personally don't like, and an inspiration too obscure to even know of, I just never liked Nacelle.

[@HiperPivociarz]

@@TJOmega You're being needlessly pedantic, you know what I meant. I'm not saying FunPub figures always work, there's a lot I find ugly, but there's nothing saying they can't make OCs like Botcon did. The thing I like about FunPub toys is there was no strict guidelines, it was variety. Obscure characters and well known characters. And original stuff. It's kinda what Animated and Cyberverse did with their character roaster. I like that variety. You act like it should be gap fillers for people's collections, when they never promised that. Dislike Nacelle all you want, more power to you. I just can't behind the reasoning of "It's an OC" or "It's based on an obscure source". It being an overused mold, or an ugly color scheme, I can get behind. Tho personally I feel stuff like Spinister and IronFist has way uglier colors.

[@walterlopez5054]

@@HiperPivociarz tj makes good points. And this video is an opinion piece. Not intended to be the Gospel of an Objective God. Though I do disagree with his stance on Nacelle and Carzap. I think a collector targeted exclusive item absolutely should be super obscure, bottom of the barrel nothing characters that only the most obsessive Alpha Level Nerds would know about.

[@HiperPivociarz]

@@walterlopez5054 You make good points. I guess I was needlessly nitpicky.

[@Knightswords]

Thanks to Takara's Gobot repaints of the Minibots, that catalog page was well known in the community by the time Nacelle was released. The reason it was considered special was it used Funpub's Thrust parts and was done to finish off the "Welcoming Committee" set that they had done for the 2013 Botcon.

[@imaclappedboy2804]

Where does Animated Cheetor rank?

[@DJKCP]

What about the Soundwave B.A.T. that came with old snake?

[@GrimmysReviews]

that wasnt a Subscription Service figure

[@RKStrikerJK5]

Some of these are good and interesting. Others... not so much.

[@tgiacin435]

Did anyone else think Archer when they heard Fistitron?

[@matthewelliott7294]

I was just laughing the moment TJ said Fistitron.

[@tgiacin435]

@@matthewelliott7294 that too but the first thing I thought of specifically was when they mentioned Fister Roboto, and he doesn’t just fist

[@dylanphilpott8698]

Jeez that needlenose stuff didn’t age well