Transformers - SLIPSTREAM!

Transformers Legacy United - Slipstream (Cyberverse Universe) - Hasbro 2024

A fantastic side effect of Windblade's popularity is that every once in a while we get a retool of her toys as Slipstream. As a clone of Starscream, the majority of Slipstream's action figures have been simple repaints of his sculpts, with no effort to give her a more feminine design. Luckily the modern interpretations of Starscream have have very androgynous bodies, so there are plenty of great Slipstreams out there. But it's just nicer when it's an intentionally female sculpt. This newest figure is a retool of 2023's Legacy Windblade and she's been pretty difficult to find at retail. I saw her at New York Comic Con in October, and then once in November at GameStop. Other than that, the only place I've seen her available is on BigBadToyStore. Which is all a shame because she's such a cool, wicked character and it's been six years since we've seen her on the shelves. There aren't any more announced female characters in the Legacy line, so it's possible that she's the last. Let's check out Slipstream below!

Iron Factory - SHRIKE'S FEATHER!

3rd Party Transformers - IF EX-27 Shrikes Feather (Slipstream) Iron Factory 2018

One of my favorite genres of character is female gender-swaps of existing male characters. My obsession with all the bat-ladies and spider-ladies are a prime example if this. But I've been getting really into Transformers in the past few years and this gender-swapping is almost unheard of in this universe. The biggest example, however, is Slipstream. Slipstream is a female clone of Starscream introduced in the Transformers: Animated series. In that storyline, Starscream had made a number of clones of himself, but Slipstream really stood out. Not only was she the token female, but she was wicked and funny. Each clone had unique traits: cowardly, prideful, obsequious, etc. Most of these traits resulted in comic buffoonery, but Slipstream seemed like a genuine villain. She became really popular and has since appeared in comics, videogames, and other animated Transformers franchises. Plus she's gotten a lot of toys! Let's check out this 3" Iron Factory Slipstream homage, Shrike's Feather!

Transformers Warrior Class - SLIPSTREAM!

Transformers: Cyberverse - Warrior Class Target Exc - Slipstream - Hasbro 2019

I think I could go out on a limb and say that Slipstream is my favorite female Decepticon. Blackarachnia and Airachnid are cool and all, but I'm a bit of a Transformers purist and I like my alternate modes to be vehicles and not oversized robotic animals. The organic nature of the animal modes also makes their robot forms look very aesthetically different that other characters. All the other robots have hard edges and a mechanical functionality that I find very appealing. But the beast-based characters, although cool, look more like alien androids than robots. I only discovered Slipstream when I picked up her Kre-O figure about 5 years ago. Slipstream is a female clone of Starscream introduced during Transformers: Animated. Because she is a clone, her merchandise is often just a repainted Starscream (despite her looking distinctly feminine in the cartoons). But luckily this Warrior Class Starscream buck is very gender-neutral so I don't mind the laziness. Let's check out Slipstream below!

Transformers Ultra Class - SLIPSTREAM!

Transformers: Cyberverse (Ultra Class Wave 3) - Slipstream - Hasbro 2019

I recently acknowledged the cartoon trope of purple being a villainous color. It almost becomes a subconscious thing that you don't realize, but it's really everywhere. This past Summer I was making a collage of 80s villainesses and it ended up looking really weird because it was so purple. Think about it: Evil-Lyn, Queen Merla, Malvanna Wilde, Scorpia (Sectaurs), Vipra, Queen of the Crown, Erica Slade, Virulina, there are a ton. And that's not even mentioning the Transformers: Blackarachnia, Airachnid, Shadow Striker, Strika, Flamewar, Cindersaur, and of course Slipstream. I was really excited when I discovered that Slipstream would be a major character in the Transformers Cyberverse cartoon. Her Legends figure is one of my favorites and I definitely thought animated-style toys would be very cool. Unfortunately her first release, a Scout Class, was just a repaint of Starscream and I was very disappointed. I was afraid this figure would be the same, but luckily she appears to be a completely new figure.

Transformers Legends - SLIPSTREAM!

Transformers Legends Series (Japan) - LG-16 Slipstream - Takara Tomy 2015

Sometimes posting reviews of Transformers stresses me out. I have anxiety about breaking figures as I transform them, the posing is very different from standard action figures, and they often have metallic paints which are tricky to photograph. So all that is my excuse for waiting two years to review this figure. I summoned some motivation and opened/photographed five Transformers last night that I have been procrastinating on forever. My main motivation was seeing Slipstream in robot form and she did not disappoint. Slipstream is a female clone of Starscream that was introduced in Transformers: Animated. Starscream made a lot of clones of himself in this series, but Slipstream had the most staying power. This is actually the third figure of her. The first being a weird Botcon repaint of Starscream (with lips) and then a small Kre-O block figure. This Takara Tomy Legends is by far the best one though. She is a retooled Windblade with a new head and torso, but the smirky face and bright colors make her feel wholly original.

Kreon Micro-Changers SLIPSTRIKE!

Transformers Kre-O Mini-Figures - Series 4 - Slipstrike - Hasbro 2014

This little beauty totally snuck up on me.  Beyond the fact that I didn't know this figure was in stores, I had no idea this character even existed.  The Transformers of the Kre-O universe are actually considered different characters than the other properties.  Most of the time the difference is negligible.  But this time, there's a total name change that probably threw a lot of collectors off her scent.  Slipstrike is the Kreon version of Slipstream, who is a female clone of Starscream from Transformers: Animated.  Starscream made a lot of clones of himself, but it seems that Slipstream had the most staying power - making cameo appearances in video games and comics and even getting a Botcon exclusive toy (basically a repainted Starscream with lips).  I've been in a Transformers kick lately with the introduction of all these new fembots in the comics (and the new Windblade mini-series starting this coming Wednesday 4/16) so discovering this cool little lady was kismet.  Let's check Slipstrike out in detail below!