Lord Straxus (aka Darkmount)

[Shockwave]

I think so. I mean, I did actually grow up reading the original UK comics when they came out, so I'm a fan of the character to begin with, but, as you said, we've had tanks before and I think this mold really did some interesting things with it. It's not simply "tank stands up" or "Treads become limbs". It's different. The other thing is the "clippy weapons" have a lot of versatility in how they can be configured which to me adds a lot of play value. It does have a complex transformation different from what we've seen before.

[Onslaught Six]

Straxus' character is nearly a blank slate anyway. He's a big bad Decepticon emperor. Most of his memorable moments come from him being Megatron for most of the UK run. (See, Furman was writing the UK run while Budiansky wrote the US run. Budiansky kills Megatron, Furman's all, "Well he's dead, I'll just use him in the UK stories. Awesome." Furman takes over the US run, wants to use Megatron, who's dead in the US. Explains it away by the Megatron the UK's known for literally years being Straxus' mind in a duplicate Megatron body.)

But it's just a solid, attractive toy. His scythegun is spiffy and his head is damned original, which is something I love in new TFs.

[Shockwave]

That's right, the scythegun, how could I have forgot the scythegun? As O6 said, it's pretty nifty. Can be held as a scythe, trident, or cannon.

[Dominic]

Straxus is definitely worth getting.

I disagree about the character being a blank slate. (He is pretty well defined as being a lunatic Decepticon lord.)


Dom

[138 Scourge]

It's a pretty decent mold and everything, but honestly, if I didn't like Straxus from the comics, I'd have just as soon held out for Skullgrin.

So I've finally fiddled with this thing, and I do like it. Pretty much. The "getting it back into vehicle mode" thing that Trekkie mentioned is happening for me, too, my problem stems from getting the scythe back into the turret and folding everything up into the tank form. The only other real downside is that this dude feels really loosey-goosey where the legs hook up to the hips, making him tricky to pose on occasion.

But those are my only complaints with the figure himself. Other than that, he has a different kind of look for the tank mode, and an interesting transformation, really. Like anderson said, tank TFs are a dime a dozen, but this transformation is pretty clever, really. Neat looking robot mode, too, and I love how the arms are hinged so that he can hold his scythe two-handed. So kudos all around there.

But those little clip-on weapons? Yeah, those I don't care for. I love weapons that can attach to the main figures, and when they're interchangeable so you can just pile a lot of 'em on to one dude, then that's some good fun. Like loading up Cybertron Downshift or Armada Cyclonus with mini-con weapons, it's good fun. But Straxus', while more in-scale, just frustrate me for popping off easily and having the clip bit pop out of the ball socket that the weapon attaches to. Plus, I swear I'm seeing some stress marks around the ball sockets. I like where their head was at with these, the idea of having extra weapons to attach on is a solid one, and the balljoint and clip system they have going here should work and all, but...maybe it's just my big clumsy fingers but they just keep popping apart and getting on my nerves.

But that's not a bitch with the main toy. I could set all those little parts aside and not worry about 'em and have a solid toy here. So I dunno, I like the thing, but I'm not in love with it.

[Dominic]

I am tempted to get another one and customize a Chaos Space Marine tank out of it.


Dom
-knows that would be insanely expensive.

[Shockwave]

I haven't had any problems with the guns popping off, either at the clip or the ball joint so you may just have a bad one Scourge. I find it to be pretty versatile even in tank mode with the fact that the turret can lift up or be set down. And I haven't even tried the "gun emplacement" mode. Hm, gotta fiddle more.

[Onslaught Six]

Yeah, Straxus is one of the few (the only?) TF tanks in recent memory who can move his barrel up and down.

I haven't had an issue with the clips popping on and off. Have you tried rinsing the offending areas off with warm water? There could be some minor mould release oil on them still.

[Dominic]

TFU Warpath and TFA Shockwave have moveable turrets.

[Shockwave]

TFU Warpath and TFA Shockwave have moveable turrets.

We mean raise and lower.