Transformers: Ectotron and Gigawatt - Ghostbusters & Back to the Future

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Michael takes a look at two Transformers that we dreamed of as kids in the 1980s, but how do they actually stack up in 2021 now that we finally have these Ghostbusters and Back to the Future tributes of Ectotron and Gigawatt from Hasbro?

[@guyveromega27]

Personally I'm glad they didn't make Gigawatt a giant version of Marty. That was one of the mistakes they made with the Star Wars Transformers. Instead of making original characters they made robot versions of existing characters.

[@shockwave75]

That's due to the nature of the licensing. If Hasbro had made a TIE fighter that turned into Starscream (for example), Lucasfilm would've owned the rights to Starscream. And Hasbro wasn't about to do that!

[@jamesdlin7]

@guyveromega27 I totally agree. Making human characters transform into robots makes zero sense. Pretending that iconic vehicles were actually transforming robots in disguise is a far more sensible and appealing concept.

[@groorg24]

The eyes are a nod to the scene where Doc sets up the model of the towns. He’s wearing the goggles.

[@cujoedaman]

I was thinking the same thing. I think he's being waaay too harsh on Gigawatt considering what they released for Top Gun and X-Men.

[@jaypeterman9721]

Just because Marty uses the Delorian, it’s always tied to him and Doc Brown always seems to get the shaft, despite the time machine being his invention

[@veganguy74]

@@Charok1 that would have been perfect!

[@TheSonOfRyan]

Gigawatt feels like sideswipe because he's a pretty heavy retool of siege sideswipe. Ectotron is a retool of combiner wars hot spot/onslaught/pyra magna

[@mr.d6486]

The upcoming figures in the JP set have the Trex as a direct repaint of kingdom Megatron(Beast wars) and not entirely sure if the park cruiser is a retool of a recent skids or someone else

[@TheSonOfRyan]

@@mr.d6486 he appears to not be a retool, but does share engineering with some cyberverse figures

[@dedalionarts6077]

@@TheSonOfRyan considoring how he look's. It looks like a bit like an remold of either Earthrise, or Cyberverse Prowl.

[@JONNYSORENSEN_AU]

@@mr.d6486 there is no skids yet, but i m confident the jp vehicle will be a pre tool for something next year, hopefully skids.

[@xavierwalko4175]

@@mr.d6486 Update: NOPE. Also Power Rangers one next? Or Gundam (Takara X Bandai)?

[@kharvey00]

Nice review! I got the vibe that Gigawatt’s face was inspired by 1955 Doc Brown’s safety goggles. Perhaps they should have given him the mind reading helmet too!

[@jeremysmith4620]

There is no question that if these 2 toys came out when their respective properties launched they would have been right up there in my favorite Transformers that I had to take on vacation trips. As an adult I don't collect Transformers, but both of these releases did make stop for a split second and think about them. I assume many collectors pulled the trigger because of dual hit of cross nostalgia endorphins that tickles that part of their brain just right and their shelves will look that much cooler for it. But I have to agree, the DeLorean's robot mode could have used an interpretation of a puffy red vest to hit just right.

[@J-T-A]

I was not prepared for a Working Girl comparison.

[@bdaspny]

Michael is always full of surprises lol

[@IsiahTomas]

I was waiting for that "Working Girl" reference the moment you said Weaver.

[@MultiStormywaters]

Counterpoint: Gigawatt's a decenf figure. Being based off of siege sideswipe means he's Solid in both modes, has great transformation, good weapon storage. Mr fusion canister fits on my figure just fine, and also works on top of the gun as well as the back. The only thing that's not great is that the hook is quite rubbery and awful. Ectotron however, is a mess. A giant hole left in the vehicle mode if you don't attach the backpack. The rubbery hose stuff gets in the way and is a pain during transformation and in robot mode. The figure's overall transformation and modes are kind of janky because they're originally designed for a three-mode vehicle/robot/combiner torso figure, and still feature a lot of those compromises without any benefit. The back of the vehicle mode is awful and visibly hollow, and backpack also is very prone to fall off in robot mode. The only things I felt really stood out and worked well were some of the deco in robot mode, and the backpack, which was a really cool gimmick to have transform from the roof rack equipment to the backpack.

[@NerdiconPrime]

Not to mention Ectotron was a retool of combiner wars Hot Spot. So the big shoulders and chonky look are a byproduct

[@MultiStormywaters]

@@NerdiconPrime Yep, hotspot, onslaught, and inferno.

[@Bt3615]

Both are constricted by the fact that they are retool of other figures. Gigawatt is a retool of Siege Sideswipe while Ectrotron reuse the body of the rather old Combiner Wars Onslaught. Interestingly enough the latter is also the best of the two despite being an older mold created for the core of the combiner Bruticus.

[@andrewgrant2990]

This is news for me. Are there any comparison video or shots?

[@Bt3615]

@@andrewgrant2990 It was widely knew from when they were individually announced. Most reviews from dedicated TF channels have comparisons. Check Optibotimus review of Ectotron or Emgo for Gigawatt. Both are heavy retools (the combiner ports were removed from the Onslaught/Hot Spot/Megatronia mold in the Ectotron retool), but the transformation scheme and articulations are the same. Notably the reason why Ectotron is bigger than it should is because the Combiner Wars molds were antecedent to the current War for Cybertron era in which the figures of everything in G1 that's not a Titan are made to scale with each other in robot mode. Also Transformers of that era generally lacked ankle tilt, a feature that's now a standard for the line.

[@andrewgrant2990]

@@Bt3615 Thanks I'll check that out. I knew Gigwatt was a retool, but had heard Ectotron just look like it. The internet can go both ways, so thanks again.

[@hgc7000]

Good catch on Gigawatt and Sideswipe. The Gigawatt toy takes its base parts from the War For Cybertron Sideswipe with larger chest-piece and door placement. Steer clear of the Maverick F-14 crossover figure. It is disappointingly below average, which is a shame since the F-14 Tomcat is such an 80's jet icon.

[@MrDrokkul]

As a kid I was obsessed with the Coyote from Hardcastle and McCormick!

[@michaelthomas5433]

When will we get the Enterprise Transformer from the Star Trek/Transformer cross-over comic? When??

[@mechamanblade8465]

I like both Ectotron and Gigawatt. Both are the best Crossover figures thus far. You forgot to show that the DeLorean has the flight mode.

[@retroblasting]

I didnt forget. I chose not to. It wasn't important to me.

[@Mat-tg4fk]

Its always a treat when transformers are brought up in your vids. One thing to note about how hasbro handles designing these crossovers: Because the star wars transformers were uncanny trauma fuel that looked like cyber zombies these modern crossover bots will be original character designs not directly ripping from the human characters in their IP. I think there are even tie in comics that treat ectotron and gigawatt as characters but don't quote me. With the upcoming Jurassic Park crossover this is still the case too.

[@ToyKennections]

Enjoyed this - the comparisons with the figures to the G1 and modern classics/generations gives people a great idea of what to expect with these figures. Thanks again Michael!

[@Grindhead_Jim]

I had no interest whatsoever in collecting the newer Transformers line until now. You did it AGAIN, Michael. Jeez.

[@minipainting_dad]

Great video. Thx for all your great content!

[@ryanspengler4877]

@8:25 Wait, Marty McPrime was FAN artwork? That's awesome! I got that on a red LootCrate shirt a few years back. Pretty awesome if a fan got their piece put on such a cool shirt like that. Another great video by RB!

[@Loremastrful]

One detail I'd like to add is on Gigawatt the tires can fold in giving the vehicle mode a hover conversion look. It comes with pros and cons. Pros: hover mode. Con: can get fiddlily and possibly break off.

[@AL-ws5yi]

I didn’t even know this existed…

[@RoninCatholic]

An alien robot who fights ghosts. I love it.

[@venture790]

You crack me up dude! Keep up the good work!

[@makishepard]

Good job as always, Man. Good review.

[@PJdraws277]

Nice transformers collection, Thanks for heads up.

[@scottstalcup6980]

4:04 Another cup of coffee out the nose from laughter. Another drenched keyboard. It's my own damned fault. Brilliant as usual, Michael. Deadpan perfected.

[@collectorcanine96]

Gigawatt is just a recent modern toy of G1 Sideswipe with a different car shell and new head sculpt, hence him feeling very similar to Sideswipe. All of the Transformers crossover toys that have come out in the past two years have been pre-existing figures modified in some way.

[@jamesdlin7]

It wouldn't make sense for Gigawatt to look like Marty McFly. Gigawatt and Ectotron are separate characters, as if the corresponding movie vehicles were secretly sentient robots. Ectotron looks like a Ghostbusters character because he's a separate member of the team with a matching uniform.

[@jblackout06]

They made a Top Gun, Jurassic Park and X-Men Transformers as well! I love the Gigawatt!!

[@kirbymarchbarcena]

KID: Hey, dad! Mike's got a lot of toys from the '80s that you've been craving. DAD: He probably used Gigawatt in going back to the past to buy those.

[@mrrictus]

I am surprised that there hasn't been a He-man universe themed Transformer yet. I can imagine Battle cat or Panther as maximal and predacon respectively.

[@jamesdlin7]

That seems highly unlikely given that Hasbro and Mattel are rivals.

[@shockwave75]

Just wait till after 2023 when all the MOTU rights go to Universal. Then Hasbro can apply for a licence to make MOTU toys.

[@mrrictus]

@@shockwave75 I can honestly believe that will occur. 1980's nostalgia is a big money generator if done correctly.

[@jamesdlin7]

@@shockwave75Scott Neitlich isn't a lawyer, so his interpretation of IP rights might not be correct (and has been disputed).

[@LordOden1]

Seriously, you can’t see Doc Brown in the face of gigawatt?

[@retroblasting]

You're assuming I care.

[@steveralston8837]

I have also seen a Top Gun F-14 Transformer.

[@mr.d6486]

So happy to see retro blasting reviewing modern transformers. Are you going to be getting the jurrasic park set?

[@retroblasting]

Possibly.

[@TorontoJon]

1:45 Marty McFly, "Doc, are you telling me...that you built a Transformer....out of a DeLOREAN?" ;)

[@mgeorge4347]

Ok Retro, I must critique your usage of G1 toys in regards to first comparisons. These ARE sized to fit with current generation sizes. Sure the G1 comparison is fine but it would have made more sense with "siege" toyline. The presentation looks awkward. Since I know the difference it could have been better.

[@rexremedy1733]

It needs to be said: I like your videos the way they are. Heck, I don’t even own all these toys! But your videos are entertaining high quality stuff. Stay the way you are, and do whatever you want to do. I know something good will come out of it anyways. Greeting from Germany.

[@JackieWohlenhaus]

Having the capacitor on the chest plate was a nod to the Headmaster figures tech spec displays. Still not wise in a battle, but not done without thought.

[@wallaroo1295]

I would like to see someone 3D print a new head for Gigawatt, that has *Doc's* face - with his Part I ending/Part II future glasses. Big eye shield, like Michael states, that would be right in the G1 pocket. The "hair" would be a little, hmm - Bay-ish? - or maybe the hat with gizmos on it from Part I... I dunno, those 3D printer types are very creative, they'd make it look cool. And, I think an "action expression" head, with his panic gasp from when the little model catches fire and burns! "GAHHH!" 🤣 And, I think it is more *appropriate* for the DeLorean to be Doc - he *created* it. I get the marketing with Marty being on the poster, but... missed opportunity.

[@hadleighford]

After seeing the Delorian doors being sculpted accurately on Gigwatt it makes me wonder if a MASK/Transformers crossover is imminent? Could make a mean Thunderhawk?

[@slickmanfonzthatanti-troll]

Can't wait for them to do an Ecto-1A Ectotron & a Transformer that transforms into the creepy Tanker truck from the 1971 movie Duel.

[@bleeneo101]

Would have waited an eternity for them. Love them both 👌

[@jasonw3414]

im not usually a fan of lights and sounds on a transformer, but if a toy ever needed them its ectotron. that wouldve been an epic figure and i might have bought it

[@DegeneragentX]

Gigawatt should've had a sculpted watch on his wrist as EVERYBODY posed him looking at his wrist.

[@joe3019772008]

i bought both of these for my lil sister who got married last year. gave them to her as wedding present and she keeps them on display in her office. if my mom was still around she would have said how i turned my lil sis into a nerd just like me. lol.

[@tnndll4294]

*Not perfect toys, but those would make great gifts.* The Flux Capacitor on his chest is bad-ass. impractical, but still bad ass like Metallo's Kryptonite chest.

[@SkageXL5]

For Gigawatt the Mr Fusion fits into his wrist, so it can be the wristwatch. Ectotron is a retool of a toy that had been retooled at least 4 times already, and clearly had a larger budget. Gigawatt is a newer base, but didn't get enough investment.

[@Bt3615]

Gigawatt is a retool of Siege Sideswipe.

[@SkageXL5]

@@Bt3615 totally, and Ectotron is the Combiner Wars Hotspot buck, they put so much work into Ectotron that Gigawatt just feels lesser.

[@MrDrokkul]

Maybe with the round eyes on Gigawatt they were trying to mimic Doc Brown's goggles. If that is the case they should have gone full tilt and sculpted the shocked open mouth too from when the rags catch on fire. You could pretend its the face Gigawatt makes when Optimus Prime kicks the bucket.

[@jedipoodoo]

Love these figures! Already a fan of Transformers, and being famous 80s vehicles they are right in my wheelhouse. Fortunately I got lucky and received Gigawatt as a Christmas present last year, and the Target version of Ectotron as an anniversary present from the Mrs. They're a great concept, and I found they fit in with the 1/32 Jada diecast Hollywood cars too.

[@tardiscommand1812]

After all the troubles that time machine caused, it certainly is no Autobot. All Hail Megatron! All Hail Megatron!

[@jackofallclaws6672]

Instead, I’ll let Mr. French know that Gigawatt IS actually a retool of Seige/Earthrise Sideswipe, so his silhouette similarities are somewhat intentional.

[@cartkart1]

these two are retools of generations figures, Combiner Wars Onslaught and Siege Sideswipe respectively

[@batangbatugan]

I totally didn't expect THAT Sigourney Weaver comparison LOL!

[@PlasticGeek]

If you plug the mr fusion upside down into the peg hole in the arm, it can look like a wrist watch.

[@AndyZoric]

I read the recent Transformers Back To The Future crossover comic book, and I had no idea there was a toy based on that comic. Which begs the question was Gigawatt the comic book character design created before the toy was designed or vice versa. Also the comic is a fun trip back into 2 franchises I hadn't visited in a while. For a crossover of unrelated franchises it was better than most. All 5 issues are out if you can find them at your local comic shop.

[@scrinbot]

Imagine Transformers Ecto-1 in the upcoming Ghostbusters movie

[@shockwave75]

They have made a new version that looks like Ecto-1 from the new movie. He's got "rust" paint apps and the roof rack and head are slightly different.

[@scrinbot]

@@shockwave75 Nice

[@power-upstudios794]

I'm yet to find the gigawatt but plan on getting it

[@gialanamoon5094]

You could also stick the entire white stump of the Mr Fusion into the forearm and bam: wristwatch.

[@hotwheelsbrothers687]

I like the Gigawatt character (And I have him!)

[@YouvegotmailAKAEP1C_GHOST]

When you realise that Hasbro own all the rights to your favourite toys from the 80's Ghostbusters, Star War, Power Rangers, Transformers, G I Joe, My little Pony. Its like they hold some sort of Monopoly on you childhood. Damn they even own Monopoly......

[@jeffreywho]

To be fair it’s a nostalgic to have two things combine, it’s pretty cool

[@MagnusLootCrate]

I have my Ectotron hanging out with my Hasbro Plasma Series Ghostbusters.

[@darktoylord]

Remember wen Ectotron showed up in an episode of The Goldbergs as if he were an actual toy from the 80's?

[@retroblasting]

Really? Wow, such poor attention to detail.

[@jamesdlin7]

@@retroblasting Next thing you know they'll start claiming that there were Ghostbusters toys when the movie came out...

[@alanblanks]

Appreciate the review. I really have been impressed with Eck and Gigawatt. The other figures in the line are neat but these were the ones I was really excited about. The tie in comic for Ghostbusters was pretty good. It was like a collision of 80s greatness. I haven't read the BTTF crossover yet sadly.

[@gannondollins]

I'm dying for a kit, and a decepticon themed christine. That would be amazing.

[@gerainthorton8980]

Ectoron and Gigawatt might be the main event I was more thrilled to see the black transam matchbox car at 0:34. I still have mine from my childhood although its pretty beat up. Pretty sure I had a friend with that small Knight Rider matchbox sized car and launcher.

[@charlesweinert4116]

I was today years old when I learned that was supposed to be brushed steel. I totally thought they failed to smooth out the surface of the 3D printed rapid prototype and steered clear accordingly.

[@NelsonVlog66]

Now we need Fast & the Furious, Herbie the Love Bug, and Speed Racer's Mach 5 Transformers. Throw in ZZ Top's Eliminator car, too

[@astroscosmania4218]

gigawatt is a retool of sideswipe! so that comparison works quite well.

[@benjovi356]

I'm almost surprised they didn't make a life pipe or light up TRON themed transformer that turns into one of the Tron bikes...They could call it Voxlighter or Phase-Sark or something.

[@Klonoahedgehog]

I think there was a third one of these crossover transformers based on a ship from the Xmen, but i dont remember the details of it.

[@GundamWarrior1]

I hope for Crockett's Testarossa from Miami Vice to make it in this crossover series. A long shot I know but there is always hope.

[@darktoylord]

8:06 I think those round eyes are meant to pay homage to the goggles that Doc Brown wore.

[@skabcat242]

LOL I love the Working Girl reference.

[@tntsk868]

Michael Mercy did a good review of this too!

[@chillcyberman7435]

8:09 the eyes looks similar to the goggles 50s doc during the model lightning experiment

[@cujoedaman]

And then Hasbro killed it off with the Top Gun and X-Jet figures... ugh.

[@diegodankquixote-wry3242]

Dracula and jurassic park have yet to come.

[@jackofallclaws6672]

I’d mention that Ectotron’s eyes can sort of be seen under the bottom part of his goggles…but Michael’s probably already seen it.

[@MrColuber]

Oh God. Someone made a Turbo Teen toy.

[@warpartyattheoutpost4987]

Saw JAWS in a drive-in when I was 3, terrifying... later (after the Dinobots) I drew some schematics with my friends of a shark Transformer.

[@weemadangus1834]

The Ecto-1 also comes with a comic and another blue ghost with slimer. In the UK I think Zavvi is the cheapest at £42.99.

[@retroblasting]

My version didn't come with those things.

[@weemadangus1834]

@@retroblasting Aye its different. They have put out a newer one out.

[@Astrotrain78]

@@retroblasting The Ectotron with the comic is a different version of the figure. It's the Ecto-1 from the new movie Afterlife.

[@Jshaw71]

I'm surprised you didn't mention giggawatts under carriage and all the robot bits sticking our any display, or even play value for the item... I've never seen two tribute peices different in design and execution...

[@johnofark]

Finally another Transformers video

[@_Only_Zuul]

IMO it still would have been cool to have those two iconic cars as transformers WITHOUT the obvious association to the films on the packaging or marketing... just "here's a delorean/59 cadillac meteor and it transforms"

[@ztomas1]

Have you every done a retroblast of "The Kid Super Power hour with Shazam"?

[@krimsonkoolaid9755]

My Ectotron came with a comic book and the latter was mounted on the wrong side of the car. Packaging was different too, yours was packed in car mode mine was in robot mode. I like yours better.

[@shockwave75]

That's because yours is the second version made to look like Ecto-1 from the new movie.

[@ranwolf76]

Wasn't there supposed to be a Top Gun crossover toy as well?

[@Jag2045]

Really hoping they do a Ninja Turtles Party Wagon and a Batman '89 Batmobile as Transformers!

[@douglasbrownell2704]

I think you forgot to cross over there. You hit the giggle vault and the ectotron, but you forgot the Ghostbusters Optimus prime crossover. How about talking about that next time.

[@retroblasting]

Not in our collection

[@douglasbrownell2704]

@@retroblasting why do you not consider the Optimus prime Ghostbusters a true crossover? It's got the colors of Ghostbusters it's got the symbol of Ghostbusters. It's got the gear of Ghostbusters.

[@camortie]

It might have been cooler on gigawatt if they had put the visor doc was wearing at the end of the 1st movie on it

[@TheKiman2]

Certainly not G1 quality but I actually like the flux capacitor as a chest piece.

[@philiptangatue]

Somehow Gigawatt's eyes remind me of Judge Doom's eyes, but Blue

[@oansun]

The round eyes are supposed to be Doc’s goggles

[@IsiahTomas]

I'd like to see an alt character trim of Gigawatt based on Marty's Vulcan disguise in the first film with a Walkman attachment.

[@ninedragons1]

Gigawat should've had the helmet of Marty's hazmat suite for the head.

[@BobbyLCollins]

Now I yearn for a Batmobile that transforms into an Adam West robot! Ectotron reminds me of a Robots in Disguise (or Car Robots) figure, but I can't remember which one.

[@marvinmorehead210]

Mister Fusion pegs into his arm upside down to make a wristwatch fyi

[@xazylsclubhouse]

The flux capacitor is exposed in robot mode, sure, but I like the level of detail they gave it at least. I'm not sure where else they could have put it. I guess it serves as an homage to the faction symbols. I do agree that the doors would have looked way cooler if they were wings for robot mode.

[@KyletheKollector]

I wanted Gigawatt until I saw how windshield showed too much interior

[@kevindavis8938]

Gigawatt is awesome in the comic book

[@freakshowfilmfestival3591]

Are you going to be this mean when it's Jurassic Park's turn? 😭😭😭😭

[@retroblasting]

If you think this is _mean,_ you need to toughen up.

[@freakshowfilmfestival3591]

@@retroblasting I'mma creepy clown, I've seen some things, man. 🤡😈