Review #97:
Orion Pax - Old & New
(Generations Thrilling 30 Deluxe & Titans Return Deluxe)
The current Power of the Primes toyline is seen as the third part of a trilogy of sublines within the greater Generations toy line. Combiner Wars, Titans Return, and Power of the Primes all make up the Prime Wars Trilogy. You know what there have been a lot of in this Prime Wars Trilogy? Optimus Primes. And you know who likes Optimus Primes? Me. This guy. Right here. Hello!
So, it would make sense that I have multiple versions of Optimus Prime from these toy lines, yes? Yes. If you've been reading along with previous reviews, you'll know I've already reviewed two of them. One was the Combiner Wars Voyager Class Optimus Prime (who also formed the torso for an Optimus Prime based combiner, Ultra Prime.) The other is technically not Optimus Prime, since I have the Japanese version of the toy, but is Titans Return's take on Powermaster Optimus Prime (who also had some combining going on via God Bomber, and on top of that had some sweet third party upgrades.)
Today here at Yotsuya's Reviews, we're going to start concentrating on some of the other Optimus Prime toys that the Prime Wars Trilogy has given us. And we're going to start with... Orion Pax!
So, it would make sense that I have multiple versions of Optimus Prime from these toy lines, yes? Yes. If you've been reading along with previous reviews, you'll know I've already reviewed two of them. One was the Combiner Wars Voyager Class Optimus Prime (who also formed the torso for an Optimus Prime based combiner, Ultra Prime.) The other is technically not Optimus Prime, since I have the Japanese version of the toy, but is Titans Return's take on Powermaster Optimus Prime (who also had some combining going on via God Bomber, and on top of that had some sweet third party upgrades.)
Today here at Yotsuya's Reviews, we're going to start concentrating on some of the other Optimus Prime toys that the Prime Wars Trilogy has given us. And we're going to start with... Orion Pax!
Now at this point, some of y'all might be saying, "Hold up! You said we were looking at Optimus Primes. Who's this Orion Pax fella?" Short answer: he's Optimus before he was Optimus. Think Orion Pax is to Optimus Prime as Hot Rod is to Rodimus Prime.
Now, there aren't nearly as many Orion Pax figures as there are straight up Optimus Primes, but there have been a few. So today we'll be looking at not only the 2017 Titans Return based figure, but also an earlier figure from 2013, released as part of the "Thrilling 30" subline intended to celebrate the then impending 30th anniversary of the Transformers franchise.
Now, there aren't nearly as many Orion Pax figures as there are straight up Optimus Primes, but there have been a few. So today we'll be looking at not only the 2017 Titans Return based figure, but also an earlier figure from 2013, released as part of the "Thrilling 30" subline intended to celebrate the then impending 30th anniversary of the Transformers franchise.
Joining them in some of these photos is an even earlier version of Orion Pax, the G1 version! This figure has already had a full review which you can read here, which also talks about how it is a recolor of G1 Kup, and also has a less short (but still shortish) version of who exactly Orion Pax is in Transformers fiction. If you haven't previously read this review, it might not be a bad idea to do so now, as here I will be mainly focusing on the 2013 and 2017 figures, and only talking about the G1 version with regards to how the newer ones compare to it.
So, let's dive in, shall we? Orion Pax time!
So, let's dive in, shall we? Orion Pax time!
The 2013 figure is apparently based off an Orion Pax design from the comics. I don't read the comics, so I don't have any great nostalgia for this design. But for a somewhat reimagined Orion Pax, he ain't half bad. Keeping in mind the G1 toy's origins as a recolor of Kup, the 2013 toy kind of looks to me what you would get if Kup's G1 toy and his 2011 Generations toy got together, got freaky, and had a love child, and then that love child also got recolored into Orion Pax. This toy didn't start as a Kup, though. He was designed from the get-go to be Orion Pax.
He comes with two weapons. One is a somewhat chibified version of the gun iconically associated with the bot Orion Pax will someday grow up to be. The other is a big freaking axe. I don't know how Orion Pax was characterized in the comics (which can be vastly different sometimes from the G1 cartoon), but seeing as in the cartoon Orion Pax was a pacifistic dock worker, seeing a figure originally designed with him in mind and yet packing so much heat is a little amusing. The weapons awkwardly plug into the sides of Orion Pax's vehicle mode, making no attempt at hiding them. In figures with non-Earth based alt modes, this isn't always a big deal, but they do just look a bit silly on this figure.
Titans Return's Orion Pax, on the other hand, is once again a recolor of a Kup toy. The color layout is quite different than on the G1 toy, most notably doing away with any of the grey on the vehicle mode. Spoilers: the color layout here is mainly to make the robot mode look good. And yes, it isn't a carbon copy of the earlier one. But to expect Hasbro to make a carbon copy of a figure that was an exclusive of one Japanese retailer that most people in the US probably haven't even heard of would be a bit silly. And this is still a good looking Orion Pax. So I won't get bent out of shape over this in the slightest.
It is worth noting that the blue on Titans Return Orion Pax is a bit different from what one would expect. Orion Pax usually uses the same red and blue as you would find on Optimus Prime. On this figure, however, it is usually a more pale blue than one would normally expect to see on an Optimus. It isn't a bad look, but it is an unusual look.
Like the 2013 version, Titans Return Orion Pax also has two weapons, these being a pair of guns carried over from Kup. For vehicle mode storage, my usual option is to just plug them into the bed of his truck. Not an offensively practical option, as he'd shoot himself if he fired them in this position, but it looks good in my opinion.
Here's a closer look at the 2013 figure without his guns attached, so you can see that he really does look good without them lazily tacked on:
It is worth noting that the blue on Titans Return Orion Pax is a bit different from what one would expect. Orion Pax usually uses the same red and blue as you would find on Optimus Prime. On this figure, however, it is usually a more pale blue than one would normally expect to see on an Optimus. It isn't a bad look, but it is an unusual look.
Like the 2013 version, Titans Return Orion Pax also has two weapons, these being a pair of guns carried over from Kup. For vehicle mode storage, my usual option is to just plug them into the bed of his truck. Not an offensively practical option, as he'd shoot himself if he fired them in this position, but it looks good in my opinion.
Here's a closer look at the 2013 figure without his guns attached, so you can see that he really does look good without them lazily tacked on:
That being said, when I have him on my shelf in vehicle mode, I do still have those weapons attached, because... well... they've got to go somewhere!
The 2017 figure, being based on a Titans Return figure, of course has a canopy which can seat a Titan Master figure inside of it. The Titan Masters also can come into play with a few other options for weapon storage. First, the two guns can be attached together to form a turret with an additional seat for a Titan Master in it. Alas, for those who like things to be symmetrical, that isn't going to happen with regards to attaching this turret to Orion Pax. But it doesn't look bad. The other option can appeal to symmetricality, however. Swing the two guns around to face Kup's rear, bring in a second Titan Master, and there are pegs on Kup's truck bed that Titan Masters can stand on to man the guns.
The 2017 figure, being based on a Titans Return figure, of course has a canopy which can seat a Titan Master figure inside of it. The Titan Masters also can come into play with a few other options for weapon storage. First, the two guns can be attached together to form a turret with an additional seat for a Titan Master in it. Alas, for those who like things to be symmetrical, that isn't going to happen with regards to attaching this turret to Orion Pax. But it doesn't look bad. The other option can appeal to symmetricality, however. Swing the two guns around to face Kup's rear, bring in a second Titan Master, and there are pegs on Kup's truck bed that Titan Masters can stand on to man the guns.
One thing I know I've mentioned in passing in past reviews but haven't dwelt too much on is the pegs on these figures that the Titan Master figures can stand on. Pretty much every mold made for Titans Return or Power of the Primes, plus many reused older molds if the reuse involved a lot of changes, has these pegs.
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These pegs hold the Titan Masters in place very securely. Above, there is a video demonstrating that you can literally pick up Orion Pax, shake him about, and the Titan Masters standing on him remain perfectly still. They don't budge a millimeter! Also above, courtasy of an image I swiped from TFWiki.net, a quick look at Titans Return Kup, just so you can see how this mold looked in its original usage as opposed to how it looks here. (I was happy with my earlier Generations Kup, so I was pleased when Orion Pax came out giving me a chance to experience this mold!)
Time to take a closer look at Orion Pax's Titan Master! This little guy is a straight-up recolor of Kup's Titan Master. It is worth noting, however, that unlike many of Hasbro's Titan Masters, he has some nice color to him! More on this towards the end of the review, but this Orion Pax wasn't a regular retail release. Thus, it seems Hasbro was willing to pony up a bit more cash for his deco budget, and get him some decent paint for his own little face.
For some reason, Hasbro never gave this guy a name of his own! G1 Orion Pax's toy was a Targetmaster, however, and in similar cases in Titans Return, the Titan Master has been given the Targetmaster's name. Thus, in my collection at least, I shall dub him Barrelroller. |
There is one mold change to him, in that he has a new giant face on his back. (A nice change from the last time Kup got repainted into Orion Pax, where I had to get a new head for him to replace his obvious Kup face!) This face is based on his comic appearance (which we'll also see on the 2013 figure once we get them all into robot mode). It's not a bad face, and certainly has some slight Optimus-y touches to it. But as someone whose collection is mainly fueled by G1 nostalgia, I do wish it looked more like Orion Pax's head from the cartoon, and as seen on the custom head I acquired for the G1 figure.
Barrelroller's posability is standard for any Titan Master figure. His head and elbows are ball joints, and his hips can pivot forward, while his knees can pivot forward or backwards. We're done with this little robot, so onto the bigger robots!
While two very different takes on the figure, both the 2013 Thrilling 30 version and the 2017 Titans Return version feel like good representations of Orion Pax to me. The 2013 version definitely is a bit of a reimagining of him, but as I said earlier, he is more based on a character design from the comics rather than the G1 cartoon.
His head is a little bit wee. There's also a big panel sticking straight up behind his head. If his head was a bit bigger, or if the panel folded down flatter, it probably would be less of an issue. But together, it makes the area of the head look a little funny. Not enough to kill the figure for me. It's still a pretty good looking figure. But it keeps the figure from being a complete home run.
His head is a little bit wee. There's also a big panel sticking straight up behind his head. If his head was a bit bigger, or if the panel folded down flatter, it probably would be less of an issue. But together, it makes the area of the head look a little funny. Not enough to kill the figure for me. It's still a pretty good looking figure. But it keeps the figure from being a complete home run.
The Titans Return figure is extremely elegant in its transformation leading to a very smooth looking robot with zero obtrusive vehicle kibble. I do still wish that he had more of a cartoon accurate head, but overall, I am very impressed with this figure!
The 2013 figure's articulation is pretty good for a Leader Class figure... and this is only a Deluxe Class figure! The head is on a ball joint. The shoulders swivel forward and backwards a full 360 degrees, and can also be raised outwards. There are upper arm swivels, bending elbows, and wrist swivels! I love me some wrist swivels. The waist swivels, the hips have ball joints, there are upper leg swivels, bending knees, and some decent movement in the ankles, too. All and all, this Orion Pax is a figure who is fun to pose.
He can hold either weapon in either hand. His axe's handle is long enough that he can even hold it in both hands. Finally, if you want to have a bit of fun with the figure, he can use the axe accessory as a different sort of axe... Autobots, rock out!
The 2017 Orion Pax figure's articulation doesn't have quite the same bells and whistles, but it is still quite good. The head, being a Titan Master, is on a ball joint. Shoulders are ball joints. The elbows are actually double jointed, one area where this one exceeds the earlier figure. No wrist swivels, which is not the end of the world when it comes to a deluxe class figure, and which I would normally not comment on, but when the 2013 version did have them, it can't help but be a wee bit of a disappointment. The waist swivels, the hips have ball joints, there are upper leg swivels, and the knees bend. Overall, a nicely expressive figure.
He can hold either weapon in either hand. His axe's handle is long enough that he can even hold it in both hands. Finally, if you want to have a bit of fun with the figure, he can use the axe accessory as a different sort of axe... Autobots, rock out!
The 2017 Orion Pax figure's articulation doesn't have quite the same bells and whistles, but it is still quite good. The head, being a Titan Master, is on a ball joint. Shoulders are ball joints. The elbows are actually double jointed, one area where this one exceeds the earlier figure. No wrist swivels, which is not the end of the world when it comes to a deluxe class figure, and which I would normally not comment on, but when the 2013 version did have them, it can't help but be a wee bit of a disappointment. The waist swivels, the hips have ball joints, there are upper leg swivels, and the knees bend. Overall, a nicely expressive figure.
He can hold his two guns separately. Or, if you want Orion Pax to have a double barreled gun, you can connect the guns together. Of course, this means that his gun will have two pegs side by side, neither of them centered. You can bend the hand in on its transformation joint a bit, though, and kind of make it look like he is holding his gun centered... as long as you keep the figure in a pose where the hand isn't too visible. Finally, there are a pair of holes on Orion Pax's back that you can attach his guns to for robot mode storage. You can have them pointing upwards or downwards, whichever you choose.
The photo above highlighting the on-the-back weapon storage also has a different head on Orion Pax. Orion Pax is borrowing the Titan Master that originally came with Takara Legends Super Ginrai, just to show off how the figure looks with a more traditional Optimus Prime head. The blues are a bit different, obviously, but it still looks pretty good.
I've been talking about this figure as if it is a Titans Return figure, but technically it isn't... It was sold as a two pack with another figure, this one a straight-up Optimus Prime, in a box labeled "Transformers Tribute" and featuring artwork of the live action movie version of Optimus Prime! The Optimus Prime it came with is technically from what is informally known as the "Aligned Continuity." The Orion Pax is clearly more G1 continuity based. Even the Transformers Wiki seems a bit confused as to where to put this set, but in the end settled with the fact that since the packaging seems to fit more in with the movie line, these must be a part of the movie continuity. Whatever. As far as I'm concerned, I just got me a neat Orion Pax, and that's all I care about. As for the Optimus he came with... Honestly, I haven't even taken him out of the box!
The photo above highlighting the on-the-back weapon storage also has a different head on Orion Pax. Orion Pax is borrowing the Titan Master that originally came with Takara Legends Super Ginrai, just to show off how the figure looks with a more traditional Optimus Prime head. The blues are a bit different, obviously, but it still looks pretty good.
I've been talking about this figure as if it is a Titans Return figure, but technically it isn't... It was sold as a two pack with another figure, this one a straight-up Optimus Prime, in a box labeled "Transformers Tribute" and featuring artwork of the live action movie version of Optimus Prime! The Optimus Prime it came with is technically from what is informally known as the "Aligned Continuity." The Orion Pax is clearly more G1 continuity based. Even the Transformers Wiki seems a bit confused as to where to put this set, but in the end settled with the fact that since the packaging seems to fit more in with the movie line, these must be a part of the movie continuity. Whatever. As far as I'm concerned, I just got me a neat Orion Pax, and that's all I care about. As for the Optimus he came with... Honestly, I haven't even taken him out of the box!
Of course, that's because I already had the original release of this figure, and I've got it blinged out with a third party accessory kit. I still have to review that figure one of these days, too, bit probably not anytime in the extremely near future. As for the one that came with Orion Pax... Maybe someday I'll give him to my stepson? He does have a slightly complex transformation, though, that frankly might frustrate him at his current skill level. But in a few years, anything's possible!
To the left, a quick look at Kup, just to see where Orion Pax came from. To the left of that, a figure that never was! Orion Pax is always getting redecoed from Kup figures. Wouldn't it be funny if the reverse happened? Apparently, at one point, Hasbro planned for the possibility, and included an alternate Kup head on the 2013 mold. But as it turned out, this head was never used, and this figure was never officially released as Kup.
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Indeed, this is one of those rare figures that (aside from a few con exclusives) only ever got used once. And none of those con exclusives took advantage of the Kup head. But some enterprising person got their hands on this head and painted up a figure to go with it. Sadly, I couldn't find any vehicle mode images, but he does make for a cool looking robot. Not sure if I'd have gotten him. (Again, I already had a Kup I was happy with!) But he could have been a pretty cool option for some people out there. (More info on this not-to-be version of Kup can be found here.)
Well, that's about it for this review. Time for a size comparison photo! I'm just going to do the one today, showing the figures looked at (along with previously reviewed Prime Wars Trilogy Optimus Primes) with a standard sized DVD case. I'm going to leave out the shelf photos for now, though, as they share their shelves with the other figures I am covering in my next few reviews. Spoilers!
Well, that's about it for this review. Time for a size comparison photo! I'm just going to do the one today, showing the figures looked at (along with previously reviewed Prime Wars Trilogy Optimus Primes) with a standard sized DVD case. I'm going to leave out the shelf photos for now, though, as they share their shelves with the other figures I am covering in my next few reviews. Spoilers!
(Rest in Peace, Isao Takahata-sensei, and thank you for your beautiful films.)
So, which Orion Pax is best? We're going to leave the G1 version out of this, as he is the G1 version, and thus in a class by himself. As far as his two potential modern updates? They're both good. If you can have both, go for it! If I had to choose one, however, the Titans Return version would be the way to go.
He's practically perfect, only stopped from being completely so by the fact that he has a comic accurate face rather than a G1 cartoon accurate face. But this is just a negative in my opinion, and I am sure that there are those out there who actually prefer this face! So to those people, congratulations! For people like me... Well, this is certainly good enough. This is a damn good Orion Pax, and for such an obscure version of a figure whose more standard version (Optimus Prime himself) is much more insanely popular, we're lucky to have this many versions of him! This is a great Orion Pax, and we're lucky to have him, since I doubt we'll be seeing another Orion Pax any time soon...
So, which Orion Pax is best? We're going to leave the G1 version out of this, as he is the G1 version, and thus in a class by himself. As far as his two potential modern updates? They're both good. If you can have both, go for it! If I had to choose one, however, the Titans Return version would be the way to go.
He's practically perfect, only stopped from being completely so by the fact that he has a comic accurate face rather than a G1 cartoon accurate face. But this is just a negative in my opinion, and I am sure that there are those out there who actually prefer this face! So to those people, congratulations! For people like me... Well, this is certainly good enough. This is a damn good Orion Pax, and for such an obscure version of a figure whose more standard version (Optimus Prime himself) is much more insanely popular, we're lucky to have this many versions of him! This is a great Orion Pax, and we're lucky to have him, since I doubt we'll be seeing another Orion Pax any time soon...
Review added 7 April 2018 by Yotsuya. Comments are welcomed!