Transformers Furai Model Kit - WINDBLADE!

Transformers Furai Action Model Kit - Windblade - D4 Toys/Flame Toys 2022

The recent announcement of the pre-assembled figure releases of the Flame Toys Arcee and Windblade made me realize that I never posted a review of the original 2022 (unassembled) Windblade model kit - despite having photographed the figure three years ago. I love a good kit. There's not many opportunities to combine my toy hobby and my puzzle obsession (outside of assembling Ikea shelves for my displays) so it is a super gratifying experience. Windblade has become such a popular character and has had at least 11 action figures in 12 years. She's pretty great, and you know she has reached A-List status when the import companies start making sexified versions. Only the most popular ladies get objectified in plastic (not saying it's right, just a consistency I've observed). These Flame Toys models are definitely within that arena, but I give them a pass since they still look mostly robotic and combat-ready. I'm very curious to see if any other characters will be made. Let's check out Windblade below!

Transformers - WINDBLADE!

Transformers Legacy United - Windblade (Cyberverse Universe) - Hasbro 2023

I just realized that it's been five years since we've had the last official Windblade figure. Since her debut in 2014, she was quite the fan favorite. In four years she had eight action figures, appeared in several animated series and games, and was the titular character in two different comic mini-series. She was just everywhere. She was so prevalent for so long that I didn't even notice that she was taken a step back until right now when I realized her last official figure was in November of 2018. The current Transformers Legacy line (and all its sub-groupings like Evolution and United) combine characters and designs from various chapters in Transformers history under a unified style. I can admit I was a little hesitant to get behind this idea, but after the recent Strongarm, Shadow Striker, and now Windblade, I can really see the appeal. I'm really curious to see who might be next. It seems like the sky is the limit and there are a ton of cool potential characters. Let's check out Windblade below.

Fans Hobby - WHEEL BLADE!

3rd Party Transformers - MasterBuilder MB-12B Wheel Blade - Fans Hobby 2020

This is a really fun exclusive variant. The Fans Hobby Athena (Minerva) figure came out earlier this year and I was immediately hoping the body would be reused for another fembot, but I wasn't expecting something so soon. I realize a flightless Windblade homage may seem a little strange, but if Arcee can be a motorcycle or giant spider and no one bats an eye, I think anything is possible. This figure was exclusive for the TFCon 2020 (a virtual event this year). It was limited to 800 numbered pieces and only available through The Chosen Prime. I've been ordering from The Chosen Prime for years (I've bought 16 figures through them!) I originally chose it because the price and stashing policy was the best (although nearly identical to TFSource if I remember correctly). But since then I've come to appreciate the company for their customer service and all-around good vibe. So I was really happy that an exclusive I specifically wanted was a joint venture with them. Let's check out Wheel Blade below!

Iron Factory - WINDSABER!

3rd Party Transformers - IF EX-05 Windsaber (Windblade) - Iron Factory 2015

Windsaber was the first of Iron Factory's 3rd Party 3" fembots back in 2015. At the time, I wasn't familiar with the world of 3rd Party collecting and the price really threw me off. She was around $25 at a time when similarly-scaled Hasbro figures were only $5. I just didn't understand the appeal. But now that I'm a fully-indoctrinated fan, I can assure you that the sculpt, paint, plastic quality, packaging, and engineering is almost always top notch. The price is still an obstacle, but I can always budget for my must-haves. And coincidentally, my interest in 3rd Party figures has revved up my purchasing of official Hasbro and Takaratomy products more than ever before. A rising tide floats all boats as they say, and fan-made collectibles help raise my interest in fembots across the board. An interesting fact about this Windsaber figure is that, although unofficial, she is the second Windblade figure ever released. And considering how prolific she in the toy aisles these days, that's very impressive. Let's check her out below!

Transformers Warrior Class - WINDBLADE!

Transformers: Cyberverse - Warrior Class Wave 2 - Windblade - Hasbro 2018

I'm really excited for the Transformers: Cyberverse line. It's only been hitting the shelves three months, but I already have several great new animated-style female figures (Ultra Class Shadow Striker, Scout Class Windblade, and this Warrior Class Windblade), plus two more on the way (Scout Class Shadow Striker and an Ultra Class Slipstream). The only unfortunate thing is that there has only been one female character announced in this Warrior Class scale so far. This scale is the ideal version in my opinion. It's large enough to have great details and articulation, but small enough not to be clunky (like the larger scale animated figures tend to be). They also fit in very nicely with the typical "Deluxe" Transformers scale. I'm really hoping that the two remaining first-string female characters (Shadow Striker and Slipstream) get the Warrior Class treatment eventually. As seen in the group pic below, Windblade has really become an A-list character in the Transformers world. Let's check out this newest incarnation below!

Transformers Scout Class - WINDBLADE!

Transformers: Cyberverse - Scout Class Wave 2 - Windblade - Hasbro 2018

I love little tiny Transformers. These Cyberverse Scout Class figures are so little and cute. They are slightly larger than the Legion Class figures and slightly smaller than that Strongarm from the Battle Packs. She's actually the same size as the Power of the Primes Legends figures (Slash and Cindersaur), but the animated style makes them look different. The scale lends to good articulation and detailed sculpting, and they display very nicely. That's one problem I'm currently having with my burgeoning Transformers collection. They are generally bulky and tricky to display (especially the winged characters like Windblade). I really enjoy this scale and I'm excited to get the upcoming Shadow Striker Scout Class. There is a Slipstream in this same wave with Windblade, but she is literally just a purple and teal Starscream repaint. I was really disappointed that the first real Hasbro release of Slipstream was such a cop-out figure. Hopefully she gets a better figure down the line. Let's check out Windblade below!

Titans Return - WINDBLADE!

Transformers: Titans Return Deluxe 5 - Windblade & Scorchfire - Hasbro 2017

It's very impressive that a mere three years after her introduction to the Transformers toy line, the fan-created character Windblade has already received three unique full-sized figures, one small Legion Class and Tiny Titans figure. And that's not even counting the repaints. The Generations figure got a Takara redeco and an SDCC gold-highlighted repaint. Then the Robots in Disguise figure got a black-masked redeco and a gray SDCC exclusive. Now I'm fully expecting some interesting versions of this new Titans Returns figure. But before I'm distracted by the eventual slew of repaints, there are so many more cool figures on the horizon. Recently we've seen leaked photos of Elita One and Moonracer (both of which look great!) And I'm most excited about the Novastar (aka Firestar) which we haven't even seen yet. It's an awesome time to be a collector. Now I'm naturally going to push the envelope and start wishing for a Beta figure. If don't get anything if you don't ask. Let's check out Windblade below!

Robots in Disguise Deluxe WINDBLADE!

Robots in Disguise - Deluxe - Mini-Con Weaponizers - Windblade - Hasbro 2016

It took me a long time to realize that this Windblade figure is completely different from all the Windblade figures we've already seen. I'm so used to seeing repaints in the Transformers line that I barely even glanced at the solicitation images. It was only when I saw an early review of the 2016 SDCC Transformers Titan Force Boxset and noticed that the gray Windblade was a completely new figure. It's funny that the variant was released months before the standard version hit the shelves, but she was worth the wait. I like these animated-style Transformers. My aesthetics always trend toward more simplified designs and brighter colors. Plus these are significantly easier for me to transform. I don't watch the Robots in Disguise cartoon, but I just researched the characters and discovered a few really cool females that would make great toys: Glowstrike, Filch, and Zizzo especially. Plus a random Decepticon that looks like a yellow Arachnid. I'm hopefull! Let's check out Windblade below!

Robots in Disguise Legion Class WINDBLADE!

Transformers Robots in Disguise - Legion Class Windblade - Hasbro 2016

Just when I thought my tiny Transformers collection was complete, they had to go and introduce Windblade into the current season of the Robots in Disguise cartoon. This Legion Class figure is the second of three figures representing this character's role in the show. The first was the Tiny Titans figure reviewed last week, and the third will be a Animated Deluxe Class figure due out later this year. That is a lot of traction for a character who first appeared less than two years ago. I guess Hasbro figures since she was designed and voted-on by fans than she's unlikely to be a shelfwarmer. And from what I've seen so far that is very true. She is very hard to come by in stores. I heard rumors that Season 2 would be the final season of Robots in Disguise, but I can't seem to confirm that anywhere. What ever the next iteration of Transformers may be, I hope Hasbro continues with this scale.  I think it's a lot of fun and they hardly take up any space on my shelf. Here's hoping for many more tiny fembots!

Tiny Titans - CHROMIA, WINDBLADE & STRONGARM!

Transformers: Robots in Disguise - Tiny Titans Series 05 - Hasbro 2015

These awesome little figures were a complete surprise to me when I discovered them a few weeks ago. I was excited about the prospect of the Tiny Titans figures when series 01 first started showing up in the stores a little over a year ago. The token female of the Robots in Disguise animated series, Strongarm, was included in the blind bag first wave. I found her pretty quickly, but wasn't impressed at all. I didn't even think she was worthy of a review. I noticed a pretty quick succession of a second and third wave. No ladies were included so I pretty much just stopped paying attention. Then I stumbled across images of wave 5 which surprisingly had three really great looking fembots (including a second version of Strongarm that is vastly superior to the first). The fact that a G1 Chromia was included makes me super hopeful about interesting characters in futures waves. Arcee is a given, but my fingers are crossed for Elita-1, Firestar and Moonracer. Let's check out the three Wave 5 ladies below!

Transformer SDCC Exclusive COMBINER HUNTERS!

Transformers Generations Combiner Hunters 3-Pack - SDCC Exc - Hasbro 2015

This review is long overdue. I've had this oversize 3-Pack stored under the end of the coffee table in my man cave until last week. I kind of dread reviewing Transformers because I always try to transform them with little or no luck. I'm normally great at this kind of stuff. I'm kind of an origami prodigy and I'm the go-to person to decipher Ikea instructions.  But something about these plastic transformations foils me almost every time. This Combiner Hunters 3-Pack was a great way to re-release three of the amazing female Transformers that graced the shelves in 2014: Arcee, Chromia, and Windblade. All three characters have pretty dynamic repaints and new accessories. It's crazy how much my Transformers collection has grown in the past 18 months. It went from practically non-existent to taking up several (small) shelves. Hopefully there will be some more. I've decided to skip Victorion, but I'm looking forward to the female character in Rescue Bots! Fingers crossed for Toy Fair! Let's check out these three below!

Transformers Generations WINDBLADE!

Transformers Generations Deluxe Class S02 - Wave 10 - Windblade - Hasbro 2014

The season of the fembot begins!  This Windblade figure is an amazing addition to the sparse, but soon to be not-so-sparse collection of females in the Transformers toy line.  A long-awaited Arcee and Chromia are due out in the next few weeks, but leading the pack is the mysterious and exciting Windblade.  Windblade has the unique distinction of being the first official fan-created Transformers character.  Her name, color palette, gender, vehicle mode, weapons, every single detail was determined by the fans.  Adding to that interesting origin was her actual storyline which was unveiled in an unheard-of female-centric solo comic series.  Windblade is Cityspeaker from Caminus.  In her solo series, she is an outcast on Cybertron charged with communicating with the injured and dormant Metroplex.  Maybe I just haven't read enough Transformers comics lately, but I was really impressed with the history and mythology unveiled in this story.  She's a great new character that I already love.