Review – McDonald’s Commandrons Commander Magna (1985)

After recently running across the McDonald’s Commandrons toys (mentioned here) I did the only reasonable thing: I tracked down and bought the toys. I also located a McDonald’s Commandrons button, but I know for a fact that it’s really the toys you guys want to see.

So here’s one of the four. Say hello to Commander Magna!

Multiple Releases

The above photo shows Commander Magna in the McDonald’s Canadian box, McDonald’s US blister, and the 1986 Super Alternators package that doesn’t include any McDonald’s markings at all. Both of the McDonald’s packages also include the Tomy logo; the Super Alternators packaging mentions Tomy in the copyright block and nowhere else.

I’m focusing on the Canadian Commandrons Commander Magna in today’s review. The toy photographed and shown here is from that Canadian box. Are there differences between the three versions of the toy? Unlikely, but we won’t really know unless I rip open those other two versions and compare them very closely to this design.

Maybe later I’ll do that. Maybe.

(Subscribers to the BattleGrip Direct email newsletter were sent photos of the other packaging styles. Subscribe today!)

Jet Mode

The jet mode is fairly decent. Commander Magna is a bit bulky and squat — yes, even in jet mode — and looking at the toy’s jet mode reminds me of the 1984 Maladroid Volcan toy (review here). They look nothing alike, but it’s the cute and deformed style of the two that makes one remind me of the other.

Commander Magna includes a friction motor that allows the toy to roll nicely across the floor (or, in my case, desk; I’m not putting this on the floor where the kitties can get it). Friction motors: Are there any better inventions in toys of the last century? Probably not.

Robot Mode

Standing just under 3-inches tall, Commander Magna suffers from the same terrible robot fate that makes so many GoBots toys look weird: No robot face/head! The transformation design is simple — pop out the arms, fold out the hands, and fold the nosecone down — but that simplicity leaves the robot with a jet nosecone and cockpit for a head and face. Weird!

One great trick is that the toy’s friction motor also allows it to walk in robot mode, meaning that Commander Magna can advance on enemy forces all on his own. He does look a tad silly when he walks, though, so don’t let the enemy see him coming or they’ll collapse in a fit of laughter.

Closing Thoughts

A fairly fun and well-constructed cheap transforming robot toy, the McDonald’s Commandrons Commander Magna is a better design than I was expecting. It’s clearly superior to the later Changeables toys from McDonald’s, but I suspect that’s because this was a Tomy toy design that was brought over to the US.

Information on this line is pretty tough to find online, so anyone with info on the history of the Commandrons is encouraged to comment here. Please. I am sure all of us want to know more about this silly toys.

Thanks!