KR Review #19: Rexodon Troopers

The Theriom and Destructomorph Troopers sure are cool. However, there is just something about the Rexodon Troopers^TM that really catches me. That big bulky dinosaur look that conceals a robotic core is definitely a factor.

I think Bi-Harr's drones were my most wanted army builders in the KR line. Now I've finally put my hands on this amazing multi-pack (a 2-pack, to be precise) prototype, the fourth I've received from PoliganToys.

Details

Name: Rexodon Troopers

Subtitle: bio-mechanical troopers

Classification: archosauromorph reptile-robot hybrids

Home: Tahron

Affiliation: Rexodon

Rank: drones.

Background

The Rexodon Troopers first appear in the third KR comic issue Clash of the leaders, where they are featured as numberless robot enforcers, mass produced by Bi-Harr in his headquarters' plant. All the Troopers are dressed in organic armours derived from reptilian creatures; also, they are linked to a central computer, so that they can be programmed to follow any evil command they are given by their general. Thanks to the combined reptilian-robotic strength, the Rexodon Troopers have the ability to overpower most enemies and are more than a match for the heroic Therioms.

Articulation

Standard, except for a few additions. One of the two figures has a tail, which is a separate piece and clips onto the back. It features two articulation points - two swivels at about one-third and two-thirds of its length, which allow for plenty of poses. The other figure has two additional fully articulated arms.

Description

In the comics, each Rexodon Trooper appears as a bionic reptilian warrior (part organic and part technological) that can transform in order to reveal a robotic drone within. Despite the two figures represent identical characters, they feature the two opposite configurations and look very different. So, I'm going to describe the two Troopers separately.

Reptile mode

Head: similar to an Ankylosaurus, characterised by a wide and low shape, orange skin and light-blue eyes. The front parts of the open jaws are covered in a bony beak, while several leaf-shaped teeth are visible further behind it. Two horns project backwards from the back of the head and two additional horns below those point backwards and down. The neck is bent forward and is covered with two bony half rings

Body: orange scaly skin (except for the abdomen, which is yellow-green), claw hands and feet. The limbs are equipped with a black electro-mechanical exoskeleton, which displays a number of silver details such as tubes, wires and hinges (a few wires also stretch onto the chest). The back is covered in an armour of large bony plates and the massive tail ends in a large black metallic club

Wearables: two black bracelets, two black calf protectors, a black belt and a furry ivory-coloured loincloth. A third half ring covering the neck is made of black metal and extends into two armholes.

It's interesting to sum up the way the reptilian configuration fictionally transforms into the robotic one, to appreciate all the cool details:

1) the tail-club splits and the two halves swing back against the end of the tail

2) the end of the tail swings back and around to form the robot's feet and reveal the robot's legs

3) the robot's legs separate, by swinging and pivoting the upper thighs, to form the hips

4) the base of the tail with the reptile's legs swings up to form the robot's torso

5) the reptile's claw feet slide back to reveal the robot's hands

6) the reptile's head and neck swing up and back, and the chest swings open to reveal the robot's head.

Robot mode

Head: black metallic reptile skull, showing a few mechanical and electrical components, the eyes emit a red glow. The head has a rather evil look and a structure that matches the reptilian configuration. Also, this head is almost a reuse of the Destructomorph Trooper's (DT later on) head, except for the absence of the helmet

Body: black metallic thighs showing lots of machinery/circuitry patterns. These are definitely a reuse of the DT's electro-hydraulic thighs. The feet and calves derive from the tail and, as a result, look quite big and mostly covered with orange scales and bony plates. The hands are the DT's default ones, while the arms, from the wrists up, are covered with elements of the reptile legs. Under the removable armour, the torso is also the same tech-mech piece used for the DT, with identical dials, sliders, buttons, knobs and rectangular lenticular sticker at the centre of the chest (which gives an illusion of coursing sound waves)

Wearables: a black chest armour with white details and the Rexodon symbol, i.e., a red reptile skull, at the centre, a black belt and a white crotch piece; the last two elements show lots of cyber details. The back armour is composed of reptilian elements, such as a portion of the tail and the upper body parts spread out, including the two arms.

Rexodon Trooper's (robot mode) stylised armour; the circle at the centre of the chest piece represents the Rexodon symbol.

Action feature

The only action feature is something we've already seen with the DT - the front piece of the robot's armour can be replaced by an alternative chest piece. The latter is identical to the former, except that has two large holes (one on the left side of the breast and one on the right side of the abdomen), through which the technological framework underneath is visible, plus a couple of minor battle damages. The armour back piece is not replaceable.

Weapons and accessories

The Troopers come with a few accessories. First up is the robot's laser rifle, which is all white with a semi-toothed silver blade along the upper length of the barrel and can be held either as a gun or as a sword.

Next up is an entirely new piece (i.e., never shown in the comics), which is a staff made from a long jawbone with several sharp teeth on the end, and is intended for the reptile-mode figure. The staff is mostly painted in ivory colour, but there’s a nice amount of black metallic techno details (such as buttons, switches and levers) along the whole thing. I think giving a weapon also to the reptile guy is an excellent touch that lets him blend in with the other Trooper better.

Overall, this 2pk is incredibly strong. The two figures have loads of new pieces and even new articulation. The only disappointment is how limited the figures are. Rexodon Troopers are meant to fight in groups of either reptilian warriors or robots, and that’s a bit hard to do at the moment. I'm probably asking for too much, but a real transformation action feature would increase the options exponentially: 2 reptiles + 2 robots! Another unfortunate part, like the case of the DT, is the lack of at least one damaged head, which, together with the damaged armour, would work spectacularly.