TRANSFORMERS TOYS AND MERCHANDISE SECTION

Robot Mode:
Alternate Mode:
Box Art:
Technical Specifications:
STR
INT
SPD
END
RNK
CRG
FPR
SKL

Optimus 2005's review of: Brainstorm

Name: Brainstorm
Allegiance: Autobot
Function: Biomechanical Engineer
Sub-Group: Headmasters
Nebulan Component: Arcana
First Cartoon appearance: "The Rebirth: Part 1"
Quote: "The strongest tyrant cannot crush freedom of thought."

So full of ideas that he often begins disclosing a new one before he finishes explaining an old one. Worked with the mysterious Nebulan medical doctor, Arcana, to whom he's binary-bonded, to devise technology that created the Headmasters. In jet mode, maximum speed: 5200 mph. Range: 8000 miles. In robot mode, carries high-energy photon pulse cannons. Sometimes overheats and shorts out sections of his cerebro-circuitry.

Alternate Mode:

The Autobots were really short on aerial assault units compared to the Decepticons, who were practically all jets, so Brainstorm and Highbrow were a welcome addition to the Autobot ranks. Although, Highbrow's alt. mode is a dual-rotor helicopter, Brainstorm's alt. mode is a cool Cybertronian jet, which has a color scheme of turquoise, white, grey, with a bit of yellow and a translucent orange for the cockpit. The cockpit itself is for Arcana, and there are holes in the nose of the jet for his guns. A cool feature about Brainstorm's guns is that they can be positioned in two different ways, upright or sideways, giving his jet mode two different looks. Also, another cool feature is the fins on the sides of the jet, which can swing up and down and the ones at the back of the jet, which can swing sideways, also giving Brainstorm a different look. He also has three wheels for landing gear.

Robot Mode:

To transform him to robot mode, first swing the nose under the jet. Then, swing the forward bottom sides of the jet to from his legs. Now, straighten his legs and push out his feet. Once you've done that, swing out his arms. Then, swing out his hands from under his forearms. Now, swing down the fins on his arms and shoulders. Then, transform Arcana to form Brainstorm's head by moving his feet to his shoulders. Last, but not least, insert him into the hole in Brainstorm's shoulders. Brainstorm's about 6.5 inches tall in this mode. His arms would have been able to rotate at a full 360 degrees if not for his thighs being in the way, and his hands can move at his wrists. His legs, on the other hand, can rotate 180 degrees at the thighs and about 135 degrees at the knees. Brainstorms guns, like in his jet mode, can be held in two different ways, upright or sideways. If you want him duking it out with his fists, and you're afraid of losing his guns, then you can just insert them into the holes in the nose of the jet. Brainstorm also has a mini tech specs meter in his chest which can be revealed by flipping down his chest plate.

Headmaster:

Arcana is about 2 inches tall and has a paint scheme of white, turquoise and yellow which is similar to that of Brainstorm. His arms rotate 180 degrees, and his legs can move at the thighs and knees, but they're connected at the knees, so he can't really run. While in robot mode, Arcana can hide his partners face by flipping down Brainstorm's forehead (not mentioned in the booklet).

Transformation: 5- Cool transformation sequence and very easy, except when transforming his legs, which are very stiff.
Durability: 8- Very durable. Just watch out for Brainstorm's cockpit windshield, which might pop off if you pull too hard on it.
Fun: 7- He's fun in both modes and he's got a lot of articulation for a G1 toy.
Price: 6- After a few searches on eBay, I found one on auction for about 9.25 US dollars, but didn't have his guns, box, or stickers, so I think you would have to pay about $20 for one these days, which I think is not a bad deal since I bought mine for a bit above that price when it was out.
Overall: 7- He's a great addition to your collection, and one of the better Headmaster toys.