Dave's Toy Rant:

     Build & Battle Iron Giant

     Toys R Us has, according to some people who work in management who've
spilled the beans, recently embarked on a policy of not bringing out new toys
first in areas where they have competition.  No, I can't figure out why that
would be a good idea either.  However, they're not applying this policy to
movie tie-ins (the Wild Wild West toys seem to have been late everywhere),
and the first batch of Trendmasters Iron Giant toys has hit TRU in pretty
good quantities. 

CAPSULE

     Well-articulated (although many points of articulation are very limited
in range), good magnetic gimmick, very good likeness, and really cool
packaging.  Accessories are a bit weak, but that's okay.  Strongly
recommended.  $7.99 at Toys R Us.

RANT

     Okay, packaging first.  For the most part, it's the standard bubble on
card with cardboard strip across the bottom deal.  But they've taken the
molded bubble top idea a step further, and above the main bubble is a sort of
bust of the Iron Giant that takes up the top of the card.  It's really pretty
cool.  And it's an insert (like the War Planets insignia were), so you can
pull it out and mount it on the wall or something.  Okay, it's just a sheet
of molded plastic, but it's painted and everything.
     Inside the main bubble you have the Iron Giant, a Hogarth figure with a
magnetic base, a Dean McCoppen figure without a magnet, and an F-86 (I think)
fighter jet with a Giant Trendmasters Missile.  IG and the missile are made
of rigid plastic (the missile has the spring inside it, so it needs rigid
plastic), while everything else is incredibly floppy plastic.  The plane is
not to scale with the figures (they're about twice as big as the pilot of
that plane would be), and due to choke gate regulations, the missile isn't to
scale with anything.  The painting on the figures is somewhat haphazard, and
Dean is only done in two colors...flesh and black.
     However, cruddy typical Trendmasters accessories aside, let's get to the
meat (or metal) of the toy.  First, remove a bazillion twist ties (need more
than usual because the toy's designed to come apart).  Then remove the shrink
wrap from the arms.  Ta-dah!  Iron Giant stands 7" (18cm) tall in three
shades of grey plus green eyes.  The eyes use the glowing effect Transformers
have used off and on for the past decade, but the port on top of the head for
letting light in is pretty small, so the eyes don't glow that much.  He has
articulation at head, waist, shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees and sorta
at ankles (less than 30 degrees total freedom).  For a Trendmasters figure,
that's astounding.  No ball joints, however, everything is a hinge or a
swivel.  Or a magnet.
     There are four magnetic attachment points on the figure.  His left
shoulder joint is a magnet, with a 12-sided ratchet coupling so that his arm
can be posed.  His left forearm is connected by a magnet as well, so that it
can come off and pop on easily.  Both of these connections involve two
magnets, not just a magnet and some metal.  Under his left shoulder is
another magnet, made to hold Hogarth in place.  Finally, there's a magnet on
his right palm for holding Hogarth (or his left arm).  The magnets are pretty
strong, but the left arm comes off pretty easily.  For those who care,
Hogarth's polarity is such that a Microman can't hold onto him, but an
Acroyear can.  Well, a Microman can hold him from the other side.  }->  Iron
Giant can carry a Microman by its chest magnet.  Yep...by polarity arguments,
Iron Giant is actually an agent of the Acroyears!  Heh...if you remove the
left forearm, the magnet on the stump can carry a Microman by its hand
magnet, so it looks like a small child being dragged along by its parent.
     In addition to the magnets, several joints on the toy are meant to be
popped apart.  Head, right shoulder and both wrists pop apart.

     Overall, a rather nifty toy, and IMO the first good toy Trendmasters has
made since discontinuing War Planets.  For those who are curious, the other
Iron Giant toy out right now has pop-open weapons panels and fires a big
chest missile.  Less points of articulation.  I didn't bother with it.  It's
tagged as "Transforming," but this is misleading.

     Dave Van Domelen, moderately intrigued by the idea of using
"Transforming" Iron Giant as a War Planets base, though....