Lord Straxus (aka Darkmount)

[JediTricks]

I haven't picked up Straxus yet. I finally saw a few in stores this past weekend, but I passed for now in favor of Megatron. My question is this: is this a good Transformer if separated from the context of the comics? I've never really read any of the comics with Straxus, so I have no connection with the character, and tank Transformers are a dime a dozen. Is it a good purchase for someone like me who knows nothing about the character?

I was in the same boat, didn't know the character, but I found the figure pretty enjoyable on its own - I actually feel the 3 clip-system weapons detract rather than enhance the figure, it's pretty good by itself. Overall though, it's an easy figure to dig. Actually, I think as a Megatron-style villain the character and the figure don't really look the part, so it's easy to paint whatever Decepticon character onto that you have in mind, whether that's the G1 Straxus or not.

[BWprowl]

TFU Warpath and TFA Shockwave have moveable turrets.

We mean raise and lower.

Shockwave's turret totally goes up and down. I can't speak for Warpath, since I have no experience with that mold.

[Dominic]

Warpath's does as well. It does not rotate though.

[138 Scourge]

Armada Megatron's does both. Yay for him?

[Dominic]

Me thinks that Straxus/Darkmount is getting unfair praise.

The stupid blue bastard needs to shut up and join the damned raising/lowing turret club. And, he also gets to join the rotating turrets club and the very exclusive articulated hands club.

[Onslaught Six]

Well, alright, maybe he is. But he's still cool, damn it! And nobody else's movable barrel 'becomes a scythegun.'

[Shockwave]

I think it's totally fair. How many other figures fit into all three of those "clubs"?

[Dominic]

True, those are exclusive clubs. But, they are more open than we gave them credit for being.

[JediTricks]

Dom: hate since '98?

You are being a contrarian, dude. Straxus is a cool figure all around, there's something in that figure for everybody.