I could have sworn that I wrote a post about my re-issue Optimus Primal in his original, show-accurate colors. However, going back through the blog, I did not! You will all have to deal with a lack of a reference post, I suppose.

Continuing the series of reviews of toys brought to me in my good friend’s backpack (previous posts here: Beast Machines Thrust, Energon Starscream), this is a recolor of the original Optimus Primal release, right down to the battle mask! It was released in 2003 under the Universe line. The toy is an incredibly accurate reissue of the original mold, right down to the extremely sensitive trigger for the missile launchers. You don’t even have to touch them for them to fire off!

The transformation is exactly the same, and the joints are tight, without feeling like they’re going to break when you turn them. Several are ratcheting, and there are quite a few, so there are plenty of options for posing. However, the toy is top heavy, which can limit the number of poses, if you need him to stand up on his own.

I’m not entirely sure why this toy exists. The color scheme doesn’t match any particular cartoons. Fans and writers created a spot in the multiverse for it, by repurposing it as the Shattered Glass Optimus Primal, which, okay, fine, I guess? Every mirrorverse needs a color swap, and it’s good that the toy found a home in the story arcs, but… why?

The toy is very good quality, and fun to play with. Its lack of place in the greater Transformers story may have dissuaded me from purchasing it, if it had not been a gift.