TRANSFORMERS TOYS AND MERCHANDISE SECTION

Robot Mode:

Alternate Mode:

Box Art:

Ravage's review of: Stepper

Name: Stepper
Allegiance: Autobot
Function: Gunner
Sub-Group: Targetmasters

Abilities: Top speed exceeds 700 km/h. Nebulon transforms into a Blaze Cannon. Personality: Quick-tempered, but has an uncommonly strong sense of justice. Has the most accurate marksmanship of the Cybertrons.
Weapons: Blaze Cannon

Well this is my first toy review for the TF archive. So I decided to do one of the once ever elusive and now not so hard to find Stepper.

As you may or may not know, Stepper was a Japan only Targetmaster from the Masterforce line. As a result the original was very rare and tended to sell for upwards of $1000 on Ebay.

Well this year Takara and Hasbro are treating us to a release of him for about a 33rd of the ordinals cost. Yes 33rd as $1000 devided by $30 is $33.alot of 3s.

Needless to say this is a review so let me talk about the toy. First off being from that Japanese collection line he comes in a nifty book like package. The inside has what looks like information on the Masterforce line and pictures of the Autobot Targetmasters and Headmasters. Afterwards is the Japanese bio for Stepper but also Razorclaw. My guess on Razorclaw's bio being included is to create hype for the upcoming reissue of Predaking *do you have yours reserved?*.

Now onto the important part the toy. Jazz was a pretty damn cool toy to begin with and this version of him has him in all black with flame stickers on the hood and his weapons that were a part of the original figure have a nice looking gold chrome color. Transformation is the same as Jazz except for he comes with an additional shoulder mount for his Targetmaster partner.

Vehicle Mode:
Now to discuss the mold itself. It's not a bad mold, of course it's the same as Jazz and very similar to Prowl, Bluestreak and Smokescreen. Myself, I always liked the mold except for a few small problems. The roof, windows and doors are way too break off accidently. Of course this was a glaring flaw with this mold to begin with.

In vechicle mode though, he does look great. He certainly does look pretty damn sharp as a black Porche with flame stickers.

Robot Mode:
Robot mode is not too bad either aside from the worry of breakage while transforming him. This makes me have bad memories of when I broke my Prowl when I was 5. So don't be too rough and tumble with the figure and you should be fine. Also, don't expect alot of posablity either. He is a G1 based toy, you can move his arms and his elbows and fists thats it. So make sure you can create alot of dramtic arm poses.

Now having just got him in the mail today and thinking he is the coolest thing ever. I can safely say go out and get him now. I am sure some hardcore collector somewhere is crying in his milk over this reissue along with Predaking and the soon to be released Robotmasters Victory Saber. But myself I think it's very cool that Hasbro and Takara are treating us to figures we may have not been able to find or afford before. Now if only they would bring back Overlord.

And to give Stepper a review, I've got to give him 9 out of 10. The only shortcomings I see are just like the original Jazz where it was possible to break his rear windows or doors if you're rough on him. But I doubt many of us will be like that today.

Here's some of the standard review fare.

Transformation: 5 - Not too hard just got to be careful not to break the windows like with G1 Jazz.
Durability: 5 - See above.
Fun: 9 - Jazz with more guns, a black paint job and flames. How cool is that?
Price: 1 if you're a nut and trying to the original. About a 9 now, as he's about 30 bucks from Japan or from your TRU when Ricochet comes out.
Summary: 10 - Get him, get him now. Just don't make him fight Devastator.

Thanks for the read, Ravage out.