Review: #839
Name: Bumblebee A.W.E. Striker with Lonzo "Stalker" Wilkinson
Brand: Transformers
Allegiance: Autobot
Line: G.I. Joe x Transformers Collaborative
Year of Release: 2023
Size Class: N/A
Mold Status: new
PACKAGING AND CONTENTS:
Released as part of the Collaborative line, this one featuring G.I. Joe and has one of the most popular Transformers characters, Bumblebee.
The packaging is huge, and it has some really nice artwork on the front, and normal stock photos at the back. It's in a slip case though, so it is a slightly odder type of packaging than what we're used to.
STALKER:
The pack comes with a G.I. Joe figure, being Stalker, itself in its own separate packaging.
Taking him out of the packaging and Stalker is supposed to be a modern replica of his 1984 toy and you can feel this.
It has a simpler kind of detailing, and the proportions and jointing are average.
He comes with a display stand that you can peg the foot onto, so that he will be stable.
He also has a machine gun that he can hold in his hands. Articulation is average, with a few hinges for his head, shoulders, elbows, hips and knees.
BUMBLEBEE (VEHICLE MODE):
The star of the set is of course Bumblebee himself, and he transforms into an A.W.E. Striker vehicle.
It's a striking vehicle, and is designed to look like the original G.I. Joe toy.
Perhaps most surprising is how big he is, above is a size comparison against a Leader and Voyager Transformers toy.
There are plenty of details too, from the open cage featuring proper seats, to the large wheels and painted detailing.
Although to be honest, this vehicle feels a bit cartoony / toy-like, and the huge size makes you expect him to be heftier, instead he feels light and the plastic used feels softer and cheaper.
Bumblebee has a ton of play value via interactions with Stalker (and other G.I. Joe figures). Stalker can sit in the driver's seat...
Or stand out to the side...
Or man the gun at the back. There's a lot of options.
Bumblebee roll very well thanks to his large wheels.
The gun can angle up and down for a bit, and you can swivel the antennas as well.
While it can be a bit simplistic feeling, it has so much play value that you can forgive it.
TRANSFORMATION:
Transformation is probably the weakest aspect of the figure. It felt like it wasn't designed by veteran Transformers designers as it feels sloppy and inelegant. The back is the robot chest, with the front unfolding to become the legs. There is a strut that runs along the vehicle that ends up collapsing to form the robot torso and that's the biggest weakpoint as it doesn't properly click into place so it flops around like crazy with everything else attached to it. The arms are from the sides of the vehicle.
BUMBLEBEE (ROBOT MODE):
Bumblebee's robot mode looks good at first glance but has a few key weaknesses that leaves a lot to be desired.
He carries a momentous amount of kibble, it's crazy how much there is. The roll cage as well as the big wheels, and various panels, just creates a mess of a robot mode.
The head sculpt at least looks very good, and the more angular helmets gives Bumblebee a very heroic look.
A quick size comparison in robot mode again and he's a little bit shorter than a Leader, but you can see that he is bulky.
Articulation is okay, with joints for his head, shoulders, elbows, hips and knees. However, with all that kibble and weight, it's not fun posing him, as he can flop around.
His weapon is the gun from vehicle mode, that he can hold in either of his hand.
Stalker can also stand in his back to main the gun, which looks pretty cool. Bumblebee loses the other places that Stalker can stay on though compared to vehicle mode.
As mentioned, this robot mode is flawed as he feels unstable and too simplistic. If more effort was made for some of the kibble to fold away, it would have been a lot better. As it is, Bumblebee feels awkward.
The worst part is his torso which doesn't properly clip into place, so this is one for display rather than play.
OVERALL:
For the high price, the set is not worth it that much. Even on steep discount, you can still feel a bit ripped off at times gives the unstable robot mode. The vehicle mode is probably the best part of the figure with how much interaction it has with the G.I. Joe figure.
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