Review – Transformers Prime Vinyl Megatron Figure

Earlier this week I posted a review of the vinyl Transformers Prime Shockwave toy (review here). I tried to be 100% clear in that review about one thing: This line is fantastic!!! But just in case that earlier review failed to make my opinion known I’ve decided to dive right in and share this Megatron vinyl figure. At only $6 this was a great buy; why are you still here and not out buying one of your own?

Titan Series?

Following last year’s SDCC exclusive Titan 5-pack*, these new retail Transformers vinyl toys appear to be classified “Titan” series toys. That is a bit confusing to me since I thought “Titan Hero” was the name Hasbro was using for their 12-inch scale Kenner-style action figures. Searching the tags included with Megatron and Shockwave I couldn’t find any subline branding, so I cannot truly tell you what these are called beyond “fun toys!” But that’s probably enough to go on, right?

What is this thing?

Just in case you missed my recent Shockwave review I want to run down what you’re looking at. This vinyl action figure stands about 6-inches tall and features only four swivel joints — each shoulder, the neck, and the waist — and the toys are displayed in stores by hanging them from the pegs. There’s no box. There’s no card. There’s simply a hangtag with barcode and a little identifying text. Seeing the line hanging in the grocery store brought back memories of seeing all of those Bandai vinyl toys on display in Hong Kong, and I hope we see more of this sort of thing here in the US.

Why is it awesome?

A few reasons that I am just loving this series of Transformers vinyl toys:

• Price – Whenever I buy a designer or Japanese vinyl toy of this size I expect to pay $20 and up ($50 isn’t uncommon), so the $6 price point on these guys feels like a bargain!
  
• Design – With no transformation feature to deal with the toy designers can focus on the character, giving us some remarkable-looking representations of Transformers characters.
  
• Display – Posing these toys with the figures from the Titan 5-pack* only makes me appreciate all of them even more. As a single toy they’re neat; in a display they are incredible!

Closing Thoughts

If loving these non-transforming vinyl Transformers toys makes me less of a fan then I simply do not care. Hasbro has embraced vinyl with these designs, and by taking a page from Bandai’s approach to merchandising the toys they keep costs down and have given us some of the lowest-priced Transformers toys we have seen in years. They may not transform, but as inexpensive action figures for kids and adults these almost can’t be beat.

Now to hope that Hasbro starts making Star Wars action figures in this style. These may be better than the 12-inch scale “Titan Hero” toys . . . but I’m not yet ready to state that as a final decision. Both lines are great and I need time to decide which is the best approach to inexpensive and fun toys in today’s market.