Transformers Studio Series Wheeljack, Autobot Ratchet, and Coronation Starscream Figures Review

Starting with Wheeljack and Ratchet, they come out of the box in bot mode, and boy, do they look good. Hailing from the 2018 Bumblebee movie, these designs are fusions of the “Bayformer” aesthetic with classic G1 designs. Panel lines and mechanical detail are all over every surface, and the proportions are charmingly blocky. Paint detailing is very nice on both and the clear blue on Ratchet’s chest is gorgeous. Plus both bots have a bit of light piping in the eyes. I will point out that the back of Ratchet’s calves and forearms are hollow, one of my biggest pet peeves with Transformers. Articulation can be found in the head, shoulders, elbows, waist, hips, knees and feet, with swiveling in the thighs and biceps. Their transformations are a great combination of surprisingly complex, fun, and not too difficult. Both alt mode and bot modes hold together very solidly, and the alt modes roll very nicely, as Autobots should. And before we forget, both come with a blaster.

If you look up “hot mess” in the dictionary, you’ll see a portrait of Starscream in coronation gear, smirking. Coronation Starscream’s paint feels premium; the red on his body is semigloss, and the stripes and decepticon insignias are clean and precise. The body mold is nearly identical to the hyper-detailed Voyager Earthrise Starscream, but with some key paint changes, like on the face, and the rear fins. Also, the fingers are hinged at the knuckles. The coronation gear fits on securely and looks great on him. For example, the way they accommodate the null rays with the shoulder pauldrons is very clever, and the cape hinge allows it to be placed in a billowing pose. Starscream has the same poseability as Wheeljack and Ratchet, minus a waist swivel. Transformation is very simple and fun, but there is hollowness in both modes. Lastly, you can store all the accessories on the back of the throne, which is good, because Starscream can’t sit on it while wearing the cape.