MMC Reformatted R-26 Malum Malitia

This is a weird set. The Reformatted R-26 Malum Malitia (G1 Insecticons) by 3rd party company Mastermind Creations does not fit into their Reformatted line at all. That's because they were originally intended to be part of the Masterpiece-aping Ocular Max Perfection Series line, but for whatever reason, they were shoehorned into Reformatted. They were supposed to be PS-02, very early on in the line and right after the debut, Sphinx! The designer is different to the usual suspects of Reformatted, which explains much of why these figures feel different to what's gone before in this line. The idea was to make these more slender than what you normally see in Reformatted or maybe even the Perfection Series.

MMC Reformatted R-28 Tyrantron / Tyrantronus

2017 has been the year of Megatron. We've had the glorious Masterpiece MP-36, we've had Spark Toys version of the War Within Megatron and now MMC give us the long-awaited IDW Megatron as seen in the pages of More Than Meets The Eye/Lost Light, Chaos Theory and Megatron origin...R-28 Tyrantron/Tyrantronus. MMC have been going at the Lost Light cast and crew something fierce, with the DJD, Turben (Whirl), Calidus (Rodimus) and more to come. Tyrantron is a major draw for lovers of the title, especially as James Roberts writes Megatron in an absolutely compelling, complex and multi-faceted way that has brought him to life for me and others in a way little other TF fiction ever did before. Tyrantron is a big deal.

MMC Reformatted R-25 Oberon

Alongside MMC's Reformatted R-24 Turben came R-25 Oberon, their version of Beast Machines Obsidian. I think it does represent a slight risk for them to release two figures simultaneously that share so many common features as a mould, but the influences for each toy are far apart, so I can see how it might capture the interest of collectors who would need both, or split the audience in a way. Anyway, Turben (Whirl) was the one I went for first thanks to my love of IDW's More Than Meets The Eye comic, and I enjoyed the figure a great deal. Oberon had to wait for his moment in the spotlight, but here it is.

MMC Reformatted R-24 Turben

Haven't you ever heard of knocking?

Mastermind Creations' Reformatted series currently stands as the best source of IDW-themed Transformers-based 3rd party figures, in my opinion. They're not beating around the bush with character choices either, instead going straight for the More Than Meets The Eye/Lost Light jugulars. We've had Calidus (Rodimus), Kultur (Tarn), Boreas (Cyclonus) and Tyrantron (Megatron), with their Drift analogue not too far away. That brings us nicely to R-24 Turben - their shot at an IDW-style Whirl.

MMC Reformatted R-27 Calidus

Congratulations to Mastermind Creations (MMC) for being the first to market with a genuine IDW More Than Meets The Eye Rodimus-a-like, one that has been promised for some time. SXS may also have theirs on the way, but this toy has been teased for almost 3 years. Arise, Reformatted R-27 Calidus! Can you fill that spot on the Lost Light display shelf!

MMC Reformatted R-22 Boreas

Do you remember when people used to joke that Mastermind Creations would take years to get things to production? They had some justification with the likes of Talon, Seraphicus Prominon and Carnifex, but I feel as though they've been pumping out the releases relentlessly in the last 12 months. Jaegertron, Anubis, Carnifex, Continuum Set for Carnifex, Titanika, Kultur, Dicamus and now Boreas - their version of Cyclonus. We haven't even mentioned their Ocular Max line, and let's not forget that Calidus is shipping now. R-22 Boreas is loosely based on the IDW Cyclonus seen in More Than Meets The Eye/Lost Light, but he's obviously from the same mould as Jaegertron and Anubis.

MMC Reformatted R-17 Continuum Set - For Carnifex

Overlord means different things to different sets of Transformers fans and collectors. For some, he conjures up the malevolent, charismatic and insane monster from IDW's Transformers comics, specifically Last Stand Of The Wreckers and More Than Meets The Eye. Nick Roche's design and character for Overlord is widely known and well loved. For another set of fans Overlord has significance as the G1 double Powermaster from the 90s or the Japanese exclusive Masterforce version from 1988, a highly sought after and often very expensive toy. Not rare, though, let's not make that mistake.

MMC Reformatted R-18 Anubis

Mastermind Creations regularly pay homage to prominent comic book characters from the Transformers universe with the continuing excellence of their Reformatted sub-line. With Reformatted R-18 Anubis, they bring Death's Head to the 3rd party scene, and as a transforming figure no less. Anubis uses the same mould as Jaegertron (Lockdown) as well as the upcoming Cyclonus, so there are inevitable compromises. This Marvel-born "Freelance Peacekeeping Agent" seems to be something of an expensive exclusive, but there's no shortage of interest in him, yes?

Ocular Max PS-02 Liger

Ocular Max - The Masterpiece Transformers-mimicking arm of Mastermind Creations - have followed the example of BadCube and released a toy intended to help fill a very special and specific gap in your Masterpiece Diaclone-coloured ranks, Perfection Series 02 "Liger". This red repaint of PS-01 Sphinx (MP Mirage) is an homage to the 1985 Takara Diaclone Car Robot No.16 Ligier JS11 F1 in red, a toy only available in the spectacularly rare and sought after Powered Convoy DX set. Ocular Max offered this in May initially as a show exclusive, but it is now widely available from the usual 3rd party dealers and retailers.

Ocular Max PS-01A Sphinx Alternative

Ocular Max - otherwise known as the Masterpiece-mimicking arm of Mastermind Creations (MMC) - opened their account with the very well-received PS-01 Sphinx late in 2015. Sphinx was their take on a Masterpiece Mirage using what they believed to be top quality materials like diecast metal, rubber tyres and so on. They also make no attempt to hide their influence from Studio Ox's well-established style for Transformers art, or homages to the original Generation 1 Transformers packaging features. Well, Sphinx was a sell-out and Ocular Max have re-issued it, after a fashion, as PS-01A Sphinx Alternative. It is a lighter blue version, more accurate to the actual #26 Equipe Gitanes Ligier JS11 Formula 1 car from 1979 driven by Jacques Laffitte on which G1 Mirage and its Diaclone predecessor were based.

Ocular Max Remix RMX-01 Jaguar

Mastermind Creations, under the guise of Masterpiece-focused Ocular Max branding, have introduced a sub-line into that sub-line! The Remix line begins with RMX-01 Jaguar, a figure that homages the Generation 1 Decepticon cassette Ravage. Now why bother launching a line with something already covered by the official TakaraTomy Masterpiece collection? For a start, not everyone seems to share my high opinion of MP Ravage, it's true to say some actually dislike the figure thoroughly. While the MP Ravage is scaled to a micro cassette like the original G1 rendition and fits inside MP Soundwave's chest, Ocular Max believed that it was too small in kitty mode. Their reasons for developing this product are for a better experience in transformation and posing, as well as scaling with other associated Masterpiece figures like Soundwave in jaguar mode. For the moment, this has been offered as a Planet Steel Express exclusive.

Mastermind Creations R-16 Anarchus - Teaser Pictorial

Mastermind Creations Reformatted R-16 Anarchus - the 3rd party version of Decepticon Justice Division member "Kaon" - is here. It's here and it's completely out of this world awesome, that's an opinion I'd save for the full review but there's no hiding it. This is a tremendous figure, and there's just no way James Roberts and Alex Milne will be able to keep themselves from buying/getting one. I've rarely witnessed more personality in a Transformers toy. In lieu of a complete article, please find a teaser pictorial.

MMC Spartan - Teaser Pictorial

Here is a brief pictorial of Mastermind Creations Reformatted R-13 Spartan, their Classics/Generations-scaled interpretation of IDW Impactor. Having waited decades for an Impactor toy, even though the official Combinber Wars Impactor bears the right name, many will plump for MMC's exceptionally good-looking effort. Here are a few pictures from the upcoming TFSource Blog review.

MMC R-01G Grandus Hexatron - Full Pictorial

Now that my full article/review of Mastermind Creations R-01G Reformatted Grandus Hexatron (Not-Greatshot) has been published here at TFSource Blog, please find every picture from that article here but at full size for - hopefully - your viewing pleasure. Greatshot forever!

MMC R-01G Grandus Hexatron - Robot Mode Pictorial

Here is a brief (unlike the photo editing) robot mode pictorial of the latest release from Mastermind Creations, R-01G Reformatted Grandus Hexatron Continuum - a 3rd Party interpretation of the 1989 Transformers Victory sixchanger Greatshot. Greatshot is one of my all time favourite G1 toys and characters, so when MMC announced finally that the Greatshot repaint of the hugely successful Terminus Hexatron (Not Sixshot) was due, I marked the days int he calendar until his arrival. Here he is, and here is a quick run through some of the photos that will make it into Tuesday night's TFSource Blog review of Grandus Hexatron. No opinions or assessments here, I'll save that for Tuesday, but I'm sure you can figure out how I feel about this one... 

MMC Cynicus - Extended Pictorial

Time for some more Mastermind Creations Reformatted R-12 Investigator Cynicus (breathe) images. This time he stands alongside well known Masterpiece and 3rd Party figures in terms of scale, so you get a good idea what to expect in hand. His posability and configurations continue to wow me, but he is delicate, and must be handled with due care. The transformation is so much more user friendly than Azalea, so with a couple of tries, it will be second nature and pretty fun. Enjoy the pictures, next will be the review.

MMC Cynicus - Pictorial

Surely about 5 years ago, something like this would have been completely inconceivable? A high quality transformers product created by a new company, completely unaffiliated with the official manufacturers and based entirely on an original character created for an official Transformers comic by a fanfic writer who made it and illustrated by a fan artist who made it. If Mastermind Creations Cynicus is not worthy of "For the fans, by the fans", I don't know what is. Based on the IDW More Than Meets The Eye original Decepticon Justice Division character "Vos", MMC's Cynicus takes the vision of James Roberts with the visual execution of Alex Milne and gives it form. The DJD's newest member has a toy, and it's lovely. MMC R-12 Reformatted Cynicius review is incoming, but for now please enjoy the pictorial.

MMC Felisaber - Teaser Pictorial

The full TFSource article review on Mastermind Creations Reformatted R-07 Felisaber is coming, but here are just a handful of photographs featuring the gorgeous bugger. Sixth 'member' of Feral Rex, and clearly based on the Pretender Beast Catilla, Felisaber is a Tigris re-tool that can act as a standalone or become the left arm of Feral Rex, relegating Talon in entirety to the back of the combiner for "Perfect Combination". For now, it's nice to be reminded again of MMC's outstanding build quality and presentation, Felisaber is top drawer right out of the box, insanely posable and a joy to handle. I can't believe this is it, the last Feralcon. Enjoy.

3rd Party Season 3 Decepticon Fun

Just some fun pictures with Mastermind Creations R-01C Continuum Terminus Hexatron and Feral Rex, Unique Toys O-01 Ordin Troll and O-02 Ordin Alberich, and last but not least, MP-21 Bumblebee!

Body Parts - State of Collecting + Happy 2015!

Body parts for Transformers and 3rd party items that had defective/damaged bits, how does that become a reflection of the state of high end Transformers collecting in today's hobby? This was just supposed to be a quirky post about my last new arrivals of 2014, and how I had three parcels, none of which contained a proper Transformers toy, but instead contained one leg, one crotch and one face. The leg and crotch were factory defects on 3rd party items that needed replacing and the companies responsible duly obliged, and the face was a replacement purchase for something I damaged on a Masterpiece toy that was part of a pre-order incentive. Quality control, customer service, pre-order prices/availability, all issues that can make or break purchases and enjoyment of Transformers.