Transformers Cyberworld - AIRACHNID!

Transformers: Cyberworld - Armor-Up Cyber Changers - Airachnid - Hasbro 2026

Transformers: Cyberworld is a YouTube web-series that began in 2025 and currently has 36 five-minute episodes (with a Season 2 premiering sometime this year). I've personally only ever watched these episodes in preparation of posting a review for the toys, so I don't have a lot of context for this toyline. Both the toys and the show itself are heavily geared towards young kids. Not necessarily preschool (like Rescue Bots), but not quite the audience for the G1 cartoon or other recent (slightly more mature) iterations either. Despite it being a YouTube show with a very limited cast of characters, there have been at least 23 Hasbro action figures so far, including Elita-1 and now Airachnid.  Plus I recently noticed a collection of Cyberworld figural keyrings from Monogram. So this show is definitely getting  peculiar merchandising push. I hope the upcoming Season 2 introduces more female characters, because a this point they've made toys of everyone. Let's check out Cyberworld Airachnid below!

Transformers: Age of Extinction - KSI WIDOW!

Transformers Studio Series - AOE Concept Art KSI Widow - Hasbro 2025

In 2014's Transformers: Age of Extinction film, a nefarious company called KSI has manufactured their own Transformers by reverse engineering scavenged debris and downloading the consciousness of slain robots from the battlefields of the first three movies. Mixed into this melting pot was the consciousness of Megatron, who was resurrected as KSI's main weapon, Galvatron. In several scenes, Galvatron has taken control of other KSI Transformers and is controlling them like drones. Several of these only ever appear in vehicle form, and that is when Hasbro had the idea to take some unused concept designs for a character named Widowmaker and merge them with one of these background character (cars) retroactively. Whatever the convoluted origin, I am obsessed with this toy. She reminds me a bit of Marvel's Danger, with a dash of Shatter and the BM Blackarachnia mold. Her headsculpt and and color palette are unlike anything in my Transformers collection. Let's check her out below!

Transformers Earthspark - SPITFIRE!

Transformers Earthspark - 1-Step Flip Changer - Spitfire - Hasbro 2024

In Season Two of Transformers: EarthSpark, there is a fun storyline where new Terrans are created from shards of the Emberstone that have been corrupted. The resulting Terrans look just like the existing heroes, but they are actually polar opposites (dubbed the Chaos Terrans). I'm always a fan of this type of storytelling trope. Star Trek's Mirror Mirror was the first example I was exposed to. But even recently there has been Mirrorverse's Fractured characters, and flipped Miraculous characters. This is smart for merchandising too, because a simple repaint can be embraced as a wholly new character. In EarthSpark, the Chaos Terran version of Twitch is named Spitfire and was a surprise character when her first toy was solicited back in May (she didn't appear in the cartoon until June). I especially like her look because minty-green Transformers always remind me of Moonracer, who was my favorite of the original female Autobots from The Search for Alpha Trion. Let's check out Spitfire below!

Transformers - FILCH!

Transformers Legacy United - Star Raider Filch (Robots in Disguise) - Hasbro 2024

In 2015, a single appearance-character named Filch was introduced in the Robots in Disguise episode S1:E7 "Collect 'em All!"  Filch is a gigantic robotic magpie who is single-mindedly obsessed with all things shiny to collect for her nest. The situation gets serious when she steals a conductor from an electrical tower and a metal beam supporting a bridge. I will state again that she is big.. roughly three times the size of the Autobots she encounters.. and animalistic, exhibiting almost no human-like traits. She reminds me of a blend of the G1 Insecticons with their all-consuming hunger and Nightbird with her single-episode fame. She is also monosyllabic, only uttering the phrases "Shiny!", "Mine!", and "Not shiny." I think she's amazing. This action figure is a fantastic retooling of the Kingdom Airazor figure. I never expected to see a one-off character like this get the full action figure treatment, but she is glorious. It gives me hope that other blink-and-you-miss-them characters could get toys someday.

Iron Factory - WING GUARD!

3rd Party Transformers - IF EX-27G Wing Guard - Seeker Trio - Iron Factory 2023

It's amazing to think that it's been six long years since the last (non-bishoujo) female Iron Factory release. Back in 2015-2018, it was these cool little fembots that first got me into the 3rd Party Transformers market. They were relatively inexpensive, very well made, tiny, and just a little bit cute. (Not so cute to be considered "cutesy" though). I got hooked pretty fast and had hopes that I would see all my favorite characters in this line. Once we got a great Elita One, I thought for sure Chromia and the rest would be coming. But no, the last new lady was 2018's Shrike's Feather (Slipstream) and then fast forward to 2023 when that Slipstream mold was reused in this awesome 3-Pack of female Seekers. I know Slipstream is considered a female Starscream, but seeing an actual properly-colored female Starscream is very cool. (This concept should totally carry over into the mainstream Transformers). I hope to see many more females in this line after the hiatus. Finger crossed! Let's check out the Wing Guard trio below!

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts - NIGHTBIRD!

Transformers Studio Series #104 - Rise of the Beasts Nightbird - Hasbro 2023

Nightbird was a very interesting choice for a villain in the 2023 Transformers: Rise of the Beasts movie. The mute female robot was introduced in the 1985 Transformers episode Enter The Nightbird as a creation of human scientists. She was quickly stolen by the Decepticons and used as a weapon against the Autobots. I was obsessed with this episode as a kid and am so shocked that this single-episode character has had such a legacy. This is actually my tenth action figure of her (mostly third-party homages though). In Rise of the Beasts, she is quite reimagined. She is a Terrorcon under Unicron who transforms into a muscle car and tries to thwart the Autobots and Maximals. I honestly don't remember her talking in the movie, but she is voiced by MJ Rodriguez, so I guess she is no longer mute. I had some issues with the cinematic redesign initially, but it has really grown on me (although the copper-colored details still baffle me). Let's check out the Studio Series Nightbird below!

Transformers - SHADOW STRIKER!

Transformers Legacy Evolution - Shadow Striker (Deluxe) - Hasbro 2023

Sometimes it seems nothing is cooler than a villainous female Transformer. Modern Transformers fans are faced with an abundance of female characters. So many that it makes the history of gender arguments within the fanbase seem even more ludicrous than it did back then. But still the majority of toys we see are pastel heroes - often ultra-feminized to counterbalance the blocky robotic aesthetic. But where the heroes tend to be pink and feminine, the villains are conversely sinister and purple. Shadow Striker was a character I was unaware of until 2019's Transformers: Cyberverse show which gave us two toys of her (as well as multiple toys of Slipstream and Windblade). I assumed Shadow Striker was a new character for the show (and she kind of was), but I just learned that she was based on a 2003 exclusive retool figure sharing her same name (but looking vastly different). This new figure blends details of the two figures and finally bridges the design gap. Let's check out Shadow Striker below!

Transformers - KASKADE!

Transformers Legacy Evolution - Deadeye Duel 2-Pack - Kaskade - Hasbro 2023

This Deadeye Duel Amazon-Exclusive 2-Pack is an interesting new direction for Transformers toys. There has been an explosion of female Transformers figures in recent years. In fact, these two ladies mark my 14th and 15th new release purchases of 2023 - and I know of at least 6 more on the way before the end of the year. Of course, almost all of these figures can be categorized as either classic characters or modern TV/Movie characters. But what has been largely left out of these releases has been characters from the modern IDW comics. The comics are very popular with an overwhelming number of new female characters in those pages. And with the exception of Nautica, Windblade, and Victorion, they have been largely (and shamefully) excluded from the toy world. The designs of the characters in the comics is diverse and colorful and I hope this is only the beginning of a new wave of product based off those titles. I have a lengthy wishlist. Let's check out Kaskade below!

Transformers - AXLEGREASE!

Transformers Legacy: Evolution – Axlegrease (Deluxe Class) - Hasbro 2023

When rumors started late last year that a female Junkion figure was coming to the Transformers toy line, I was super excited. I assumed this had to be Nancy from the 1986 episode The Big Broadcast of 2006. As the only female Junkion in the original cartoon (and maybe ever?), I didn't even consider another possibility. Plus I always assumed the 2019 Siege Chromia would be retooled for Nancy. But when the official announcement finally came, I think we were all surprised two-fold by a brand-new character in a brand new Decepticon faction of Junkions. Junkions always seemed to be their own independent race with no specific allegiances (although Autobot-leaning), yet the establishment of a villainous group of Junkions somehow still made sense. I also like the concept of a new color palette of purple, navy, and silver for the bad guys. I'm assuming we'll be seeing more original characters now, but I'm hoping they find a way to get Nancy into the mix somehow too. Let's check out Axlegrease below!

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts - NIGHTBIRD!

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts - Flex Changers Nightbird - Hasbro 2023

Nightbird was a very iconic character from my childhood. The very first time I ever saw a robotic representation of the female form was in the 1985 episode Enter the Nightbird.  Nightbird was a "female" ninja robot created by Earth scientists (and quickly stolen by the Decepticons). Gender expression has always been a hot topic in Transformers, and Nightbird being a human construct had even less of an identity. So when I originally heard that the movie Nightbird was non-binary, this made a lot of sense. And that fact that MJ Rodriguez is the voice was a stroke of genius, although that confirmed that Nightbird's cinematic presentation will be skewing female (which I love). But lately all the press refers to the character as female. I'm curious to see if it's even addressed in the movie, but either way I'm a fan. Most Nightbird movie toy designs so far are festooned with copper-colored panels that diverge too much from the classic palette, but this Flex Changer has a great classic look. Let's check out Nightbird below!

Transformers - CRASHER!

Velocitron Speedia 500 Collection (Walmart) - Crasher - Hasbro 2022

Someday somebody is going to make a great Crasher toy. When I try to conjure my earlier childhood memories of this character, they are all terrifying. I remember her being tall and blocky with an expressively sinister face and a maniacal laugh. And an additional level of fright was her favorite mode of destruction - stomping. Other cartoon villains of the 80's utilized weird ray guns or elaborate traps with nets and cages. They always seemed (intentionally?) laughable and non-threatening. But stomping was a palpable and universal threat. So, to take a character with a handful of simple and iconic characteristics and repeatedly miss the mark is baffling. I was excited at the news of an official Crasher figure in the Transformers universe (as opposed to a simple homage figure). Especially since there are so many female bucks to choose from these days. But no, they focus 100% on presenting an accurate racecar mode and give us a robot form that is Crasher in palette only. Sigh.

APCToys - NIGHT COUNTESS!

APCToys Night Countess (3rd Party Prime Airachnid) - APCToys 2022

The inspiration for my dour review of the Transformers: Prime Airachnid figure Thursday was this newly-produced Masterpiece-Scale "Night Countess" 3rd Party figure from APCToys. This figure succeeds in every place that the Hasbro version failed. Her sculpt has personality, dexterity, and just looks great overall. I am not a collector who just buys a single version of a character. If I did, I can imagine how people might think 3rd Party figures are harmful to brands and the toy industry. But, no, I will literally buy every version of a character I love (if I can afford it). And I think we all know that Hasbro would be very unlikely to revisit a character who has essentially been retired from Transformers media for years. So this is when a 3rd Party company can step in and offer a desperately needed new take on a figure. And I can't think of a more deserving character than Airachnid. She is sinister and vampy, which is an aesthetic I love. I also appreciate the Maleficent vibe. Let's check out Night Countess below!

Transformers: Prime - AIRACHNID!

Transformers: Prime - Deluxe Class Series 01 - 012 Airachnid - Hasbro 2011

One of the most surprising Transformers disappointments to me was this Airachnid figure from twelve years ago. I'm often disappointed with female Transformers, but it's often for expected reasons (like repainting a male sculpt pink and expecting us to appreciate the effort). But in the case of Airachnid, they had this awesome character and gave her a totally unique sculpt, but still somehow ended up missing the mark completely. The figure is stiff and awkward and is a major aesthetic step backward from the previous Prime and Transformers: Animated ladies. This is especially shameful since the character is so intriguing. Airachnid is a former Decepticon who is now independently evil. She transforms into a helicopter, but uses the blades in a spider-like fashion to propel when in robot mode. She is a little like a reimagined Blackarachnia, but with a heavy dose of Maleficent thrown in. Oh, and she has the power to control Insecticons. A new 3rd Party figure inspired me to finally post the original. Let's check her out below!

Transformers Earthspark - SKYWARP!

Transformers: Earthspark - Warrior Class Figures - Skywarp - Hasbro 2023

I love the inclusion of female Seekers in the Decepticon ranks. For quite a few years, we only had Slipstream, but in the past few years we were introduced to the newly gender-inconsistent Nova Storm and Skywarp. And in the new Transformers: EarthSpark series, they are both decidedly female. Unfortunately, these characters will rarely get a unique sculpt so they have historically mostly been simple repaints of Starscream. And this new Skywarp is no exception. So I made a quick edit to this figure. To me one of the most prominent features of Skywarp in EarthSpark is her dark lips and wicked grin. There is also a precedent for giving this (male) mold a darker lip to feminize it. The Slipstream figure from a few years ago used the same Starscream mold but had a slightly red lip and looked great. The sculpt itself it pretty androgynous, so the tiniest detail can make a big difference. I took my smallest brush and darkened her lip and suddenly she looked like Skywarp from the show. Let's check her out below!

Transformers Timelines - FLAMEWAR!

Transformers Timelines - BotCon 2005 Attendee Bonus - Flamewar - Hasbro 2005

This figure was my Transformers holy grail for over 15 years. As far as I know, she was a surprise figure that attendees only learned about while at BotCon 2005. She is always listed as an "Attendee Freebie." I don't know if this means that she was actually free, or just a bonus figure attendees were allowed to purchase. This figure and the materials released with her are the first appearance of Flamewar. She is a Decepticon version of Arcee and she is both the only bad guy and the only original character made from the Energon Arcee mold. She has also made the surprising jump from a collector's-realm original character to getting major attention in wider games, comics, and toys. Because of that low-key popularity and the perceived scarceness of the toy, this figure commands the highest price among the eight mold variations. She typically hits around $400 while the next highest (Flareup) goes for around $200. Luckily I am a very patient collector and I always get a good deal eventually, even if it takes 17 years.

Transformers - FLAMEWAR!

Transformers: Shattered Glass - Flamewar & Fireglide - Hasbro (Pulse) 2022

Flamewar was originally created for the 2005 Botcon-exclusive collector set as a Decepticon recolor of Cybertron Arcee. The included comic introduced her as a headstrong Decepticon fiercely loyal to Megatron. Since those early beginnings, she has made the surprising leap into the main Transformers (in-store) toylines and comics. I was always drawn to her great color scheme. Her red and orange flames against black and silver really pops, and her purple/blue translucent accessories just add to the look. Plus I always love a villain and she was the second female Deception I knew of after Blackarachnia. This newest Pulse-exclusive figure follows the trend of using a recent Arcee mold. But curiously she is now included in the Shattered Glass Universe, which is like the Star Trek Mirror Mirror Universe. So I half expected her to have an Autobot faction symbol. But now that I have her in hand, I think she's intended to be an evil alternate-reality Arcee. Either way she looks great.  Let's check out Flamewar below!

Transformers - BLACKARACHNIA!

Transformers: Buzzworthy Bumblebee - Worlds Collide 4-Pack - Hasbro 2021

As toy collectors, we often see very bizarre toy decos that barely look like the characters they are meant to represent. Yellow Evil-Lyn, hat-wearing Lady Jaye, pink Serena from Dino-Riders, and the entire vintage She-Ra line are all examples of toys that are significantly different from their animated source material. But then years later there is just as much nostalgia among collectors for these bizarre interpretations and the toy companies seem happy to oblige us. This new Blackarachnia redeco is a wonderful example of that trend. Her first-ever figure back in 1996's Beast Wars line was a simple retool of the (male) Tarantulas figure, and her colors were wild: a purple head and legs, black torso with green spots, bronze spider-legs and claws, green arms, all topped off with a speckled chest. The overall effect was a godawful mess. Yet, somehow, when applied to the new Kingdom Blackarachnia mold, it's spectacular. This Peggy-Bundy-Pimp-Daddy-Destro chaos somehow works. Let's check her out below!

Transformers - SKYWARP!

Transformers Cyberverse Adventures - Seekers 4 Pack - Target Exc Hasbro 2020

Female Decepticons are severely lacking in my toy collection. So when Hasbro decides to do a gender swap and a generic redeco of a male toy to create another character, I disregard my scruples and jump on board. Skywarp is one of the classic Seekers from the original G1 cartoon. The character has always been represented as male until a recent Transformers: Bumblebee Cyberverse Adventures episode. Although Skywarp now has a distinctive female appearance in the cartoon, she suffered the same fate as Slipstream and got a toy that is a simple repaint of Starscream. Unfortunately, this specific Starscream mold doesn't have a particularly gender-neutral face like Slipstream was blessed with. But I still put an eBay alert out for her, because as I said above, any female Decepticon gets a pass. She came in a colorful Target-exclusive Seekers: Sinister Strikeforce four-pack with Thundercracker, Starscream, and Thrust (all identical molds). Let's check out Cyberverse Skywarp below!

Transformers - SCYLLA!

Transformers Generations Selects TT-GS10 - God Neptune - Takara Tomy 2021

The Seacons were a group of aquatic-themed antagonists in 1988's Super-God Masterforce. They shared a pink and teal color palette and could combine to form Piranacon. The team was impactful but didn't stay around too long. In 1997, their designs were re-introduced in Beast Warriors II as the Space Pirate Seacons in a white and gold palette. They were technically all new characters with new names and personalities, but the designs were identical... except for Scylla who replaced the deceased Tentakil. From all the episodes I've seen, Scylla is largely present for comic relief in the form of unwanted flirtation, and of course to form a leg of God Neptune. The vintage Scylla figure was just a repaint of the male Tentakil, but in this newest TakaraTomy release she gets a massive retooling using a mashup of Moonracer and Tentakil parts (plus a brand new torso and head). The God Neptune set was a Pulse Exclusive for preorder in 2020, but just released a few months ago. Let's check out Scylla below.

Transformers Kingdom - BLACKARACHNIA!

Transformers: War For Cybertron - Kingdom - Blackarachnia - Hasbro 2021

I must admit I was really surprised to see a Blackarachnia figure in the War For Cybertron series. So far, the Siege and Earthrise releases seemed focused on really classic (essentially 1980's) characters. And honestly I was excited to see who we would get in the final part of the trilogy. But in a surprise twist, the theme jumped forward to 1996's Beast Wars franchise for final Kingdom series. I unfortunately am very unfamiliar with all the Beast Wars shows and my only connection comes from my knowledge of the toys as an adult collector. That said, Blackarachnia has a special place in my heart for being the first notable female Decepticon. I have an affinity for vampy female villains and the easiest way to do that is to is to borrow themes from bats or spiders. The original Beast Wars Blackarchnia toy was a boxy retool of a male character (Tarantulas). The first decent figure was 2015's Legends release, but it was a little odd as a retooled Transformers: Animated mold. This Kingdom figure finally scratches the itch.