TOY REVIEW: ‘Transformers Masterpiece MP-20 Wheeljack’ is a sexy science bot

Despite having the honor of being the first Cybertronian to appear onscreen in the original “Transformers” cartoon series – not to mention his role as the creator of the Dinobots – it has taken quite a while before Autobot Wheeljack got any love. In 1986’s “The Transformers: The Movie”, he was killed offscreen, with nothing but a still of his corpse as indication of his sorry fate. In Michael Bay ’s “Transformers: Dark of the Moon,” he was virtually unrecognizable as Que, who was, once again, murdered – and quite mercilessly, too.

 

But Wheeljack has been experiencing a resurgence as of late, mainly thanks to a prominent role in “Transformers: Prime” as a tough, sword-wielding Autobot war hero. For those raised on a diet of Generation 1 goodness, however, Wheeljack will forever be the good-natured, mechanical engineer/mad scientist that he was in his very first animated incarnation.

 

Takara Tomy has finally decided to give Wheeljack the appreciation he deserves, by rewarding him with his own figure in the much-revered “Transformers Masterpiece” line. As MP-20, the lovable robot nerd gets upgraded with a fantastic sculpt, spectacular articulation, and a fun yet simple transformation.

 

 

Sculpt: Retro blocky brilliance

 

In robot mode, MP-20 is a faithful rendition of his 80s animated series counterpart. It’s not a perfect translation, but the cartoon version was never really consistent in appearance, with the different parts of his body often shifting in size from one scene to the next.

 

MP-20 is therefore a distillation of the most recognizable features of his onscreen personification. Everything you remember about the character is accounted for – including the see-through wings on his back; his broad chest, wide shoulders, and thick black forearms; the segmentation on his thighs; and his bulky lower legs. His overall design is still blocky, but he’s shapelier, built more like a powerhouse than a goofball.

 

If there is one thing about the figure that is screen accurate, it’s the head sculpt, which is just gorgeous. He’s got the lined, rounded faceplate, the trio of horns sprouting from the top of his head, and of course, every Transformers fan’s favorite Wheeljack features: those weird, iconic ears.

 

A lot of overly self-conscious people will probably go green with envy upon hearing this, but Wheeljack has a huge thigh gap. Skinny robot thighs have always been a pet peeve of mine, especially on my Masterpiece figures. But on MP-20, they don’t look as awkward as they do on Grimlock.

 

Aside from the rear spoiler behind his forearms and the taillights stuck on the back of his hands, he is mostly devoid of those sometimes unavoidable eyesores typically found in lesser Transformer figures – such as kibble, the unwieldy “backpack”, and visible holes in the limbs or trunk.

 

Just like the original toy, Wheeljack’s alt mode is a 1976 Lancia Stratos Turbo, from Italian car manufacturer Lancia. A race car complete with a huge front bumper and a fancy rear spoiler, its retro design boasts a nice balance between sleek sexiness and sheer power.

 

The windows have a dark tint, but perhaps not dark enough; one look and it’s obvious there’s no steering wheel under that hood, and definitely no space for seats. It’s a minor gripe, but one worth mentioning if you plan on displaying Wheeljack in automobile mode.

 

 

Paint: Italian livery

 

Wheeljack sports the paint decor of Italy ’s national airline, Alitalia – which in turn adopts the colors of its country’s flag: green, white, and red.

 

The black and white portions are unpainted plastic, while the greens and reds are applied beautifully and cleanly, with a bare minimum of slop. The lettering all over his body is crisp, while the silvers used on his ears, face plate, horns and weapons have a nice, metallic finish.

 

Astute observers have pointed out that the paint applications on Wheeljack’s vehicle mode do not perfectly match those of the original toy. To be specific, the red and green stripes on the automobile roof, which continue down the slope towards the rear spoiler, are styled differently on the new figure. This also means that in robot mode, the pattern of colors on his chest do not mirror his G1 cartoon counterpart’s.

 

While these changes will probably upset the die-hard purists out there, the new pattern does give his front and back more color in robot mode. It has to be noted, however, that the vehicle mode’s paint details accurately reflect those of the actual Lancia Stratos Turbo.

 

Articulation: Flexible limbs

 

Today’s Transformer toys are known for their remarkable articulation, with the Masterpiece figures reigning supreme at the top of the pile.

 

Like other smaller Masterpieces, Wheeljack can rotate but not nod his head. He also lacks an abdomen crunch, but he does have a waist swivel that allows him to turn his torso 360 degrees.

 

The limbs have excellent flexibility. He can bring his arms all the way up, and stretch them out to the sides. Bicep cuts and elbow joints allow you to point his forearms in any direction. You can rotate his hands, and curl his fingers. His hips, thighs, and knees all feature great articulation, but his toes’ inability to point upwards can restrict some poses. Lastly, ankle pivots allow him to rock his feet inwards.

 

Accessories: Of guns and side mirrors

 

Wheeljack comes with a pistol, which is intricately detailed for such a tiny thing. Its handle has flaps which insert into grooves in Wheeljack’s hands for a compact fit. When he’s in vehicle mode, the weapon can be stored under the chasis near the exhaust pipe.

 

The missile launcher looks just as fantastic, and can be tilted up a couple of degrees once situated atop either shoulder. The peg doesn’t plug into the shoulder holes very snugly, however. In vehicle mode, the launcher can sit on the roof.

 

Lastly we have two pairs of miniscule, unpainted side mirrors, which can be attached to the left and right sides of the car’s hood.

 

Nerds rule!

 

An eccentric genius admired for his wacky inventions and his instrumental role in the creation of other Autobots, Wheeljack was one of the major players in the 80s “Transformers” cartoon series. And now, with his own “Transformers Masterpiece” figure, he is sure to prove an essential addition to anybody’s collection of Cybertronian warriors. MP-20 is stunning, both in robot and vehicle mode – a genuine reminder that even in the world of autonomous robotic organisms, nerds rule. — TJD, GMA News