KR Review #86: Xonedar (Motorbike Form)

Toy prototype details
Name: Xonedar^TM (Motorbike Form)
Subtitle: transforming hyper-technological engineer
Line: KR|Foundation
Item type: vehicle - Nº 6 in the line (technically Nº 11, since several vehicles were included in multi-packs).

Character details
Name: Xonedar
Classification: partially human
Sex: male

Relationships: father of Sei-Lha
Home: Tahron

Era: Foundation
Affiliation: Theriom

Rank: lieutenant commander; expert in intelligence, mechanical & materials engineering and surgery.

Background

First appearance: KR|Foundation #6 - Reptiles reunited
Related character(s): Xonedar.

Description
In this version, Xonedar features a cool motorcycle look based on his appearance in Reptiles reunited. In the comic book, he transforms into his motorbike form by producing the front wheel from one of his forearms (the arms become the front fork) and the rear wheel together with the swingarm from his chest (after those pieces flip down, the legs connect to the swingarm becoming the tail unit along with the rear shock absorbers). This transformation reminds me a lot of JT Marsh Exo-Converting E-Frame from Exosquad.

This sturdy, sharp looking two-wheeled vehicle has a fine silver, metallic dark-blue and metallic black palette to make it reminiscent of regular Xonedar's colour scheme, and a lot of sculpted detail to give it a high-tech-inspired look. The metallic blue colour is just excellent and really helps the vehicle to stand out on the shelf. The headpiece is similar to Xonedar's fully helmeted head, but smoother and more streamlined; the visor/headlight is given a dark-purple paint application, just like the character's human form. While the rolling wheels sport big chunky tires, two "engine" lenticular stickers (evocative of Xonedar's chest reactor) and a short transparent windscreen are integrated into the design of the fairing.

As an additional display option, a figure can sit on the bike just fine. The handlebars are hinged and can swing in and out, so they can be positioned in just the right place to fit perfectly into the hands of any figure you want to ride it.

Action feature
Thanks to an extendable rear wheel section, the motorbike can be stretched out to seem longer, revealing some nice circuitry patterns underneath and acquiring an even more aerodynamic shape. This simple transformation fictionally provides an extra-boost in velocity beyond the vehicle's original top speed.

Weapons and accessories

The vehicle does have some offensive weaponry as well. There is a pair of laser cannons mounted on each side of the front wheel (it is really cool that they are removable, so Xonedar can use those double guns as weapons in his human form), while two ports at the sides of the front fairing can open to reveal two dark-blue hideaway missile launchers. The latter are separate pieces with independent projectiles, which can be attached to the open ports and resemble the firearms that were included with regular Xonedar (unlike here, those could also join to form a double-barrelled rifle). Furthermore, there's a spot on the rear of the bike where an included silver-and-blue blaster with a spring-loaded missile can be mounted; this is also modelled on the regular figure's arm attachment. That's a cool way to hold his weapons while he's riding around in his motorbike form!

Additionally, the package includes an alternate glow-in-the-dark visor/headlight, a blast effect for the exhaust when the motorbike is in hyper-speed mode (the hollow space at the end of the tail unit is intended to attach this effect), as well as a clear stand that allows the bike to be kept upright.

Finally, there are two additional pieces for regular Xonedar: a snap-on component that can replace either hand, and an alternate armour. These masterfully sculpted parts show the front and rear wheels emerging from his forearm and chest, respectively.

Final thoughts
Overall: Xonedar's Motorbike Form might be my favourite prototype in the Foundation 2022-stint yet. It does have a few flaws, but nothing that truly has killed my enjoyment of this long overdue item.
Rating: ☺☺☺☺☺ / 5

KR Review #85: Cereutian Menace Creatures

Happy 2022!!

The upcoming reviews will be about recently developed prototypes that belong to all the Key Raiders waves revealed between 2015 and 2021. It's RaiderCosm! Not a new line, just a collection of figures that we always wanted to see in the previous series.

So, let's kick things off with the first review of the year!

Toy prototype details
Name: Cereutian^TM Menace Creatures
Subtitle: alien tormentors
Line: KR|Foundation
Item type: multi-pack (army builder 2-pack) - Nº 16 in the line.

Character details
Name: unknown
Classification: uncertain
Sex: male

Relationships: Denortos's associates

Home: Cereutis

Era: Foundation

Affiliation: independent

Rank: mercenary.

Background

First appearance: KR|Foundation #8 - The Cereutian menace: Part I – Downfall

Related character(s): Denortos.

Articulation
Standard, with a static (not hinged) lower jaw.

Description
Heads: both figure's heads show an elongated shape, dark-blue (almost black) skin, a strip of spade-shaped imbricate shiny silver scales running centrally from the middle of the forehead to the back of the head (developing into a spiny cranial crest), two short tentacle-like dark-blue antennas, two pairs of curved dark-blue spines pointing backwards where one would expect to find the ears, yellow eyes (each with a horizontal slit-shaped dark pupil resembling a series of four small holes, similarly to a Tokay gecko eye) topped with jagged brow ridges, two large nostrils and two rows of sharp, piranha-like whitish teeth lining the jaws. While one of the two heads has dark-grey stripes and holds a sort of rocket-shaped techno-cigar in the mouth, the other features dark-orange patches and the spines of the sagittal crest split at the tips
Bodies: most of each figure's body uses the same sculpt as Origin Denortos's, with his dark-blue skin (marked with dark-grey stripes in one case and with dark-orange patches in the other) stretched over a series of bony plates with spine-like tubercles, which are arranged in rings throughout the body, giving a general segmented, armoured appearance. The limbs sport clawed extremities and large strips of spade-shaped imbricate shiny silver scales running down the sides (a similar stripe also extends from the nape of the neck, divides along the shoulder blades and continues along the back to the loin). Finally, there's a short pointy tail emerging from the trunks and protected by a leaf-shaped, spiny-edged dark-blue tail shield

Wearables: each figure wears two silver shoulder armours (which fit around the arm-sockets and cover parts of the chest and the back), two black bracelets, two black calf protectors, a large silver removable belt (which covers a smaller black non-removable belt, and is decorated with a Cereutian symbol resembling a four-pointed throwing star with what looks like a trilobite embossed in the middle), and a ridged light-green crotch piece. While the bracelets and calf protectors are equipped with silver-studded light-green wrist and shin guards respectively, the shoulder armours are embellished with rivets and belts, and, unlike with the pieces that came with Origin Denortos, are joined in the front and back by black leather straps with light-green buckles.

Action feature

The guys at PoliganToys tossed a few alternative pieces in the package, so that the two figures can match the styling of some of their fellows seen in The Cereutian menace comic book. The set includes two heads, two rubbery neck pieces that mimic whitish furry collars and fit on top of the bodies, and a pair of wings. The alternative heads are almost identical to the standard ones (also in terms of paintwork), but one displays large, spiked ears that are slightly swung forward and spread out, deep-set solid yellow eyes and a whitish tuft of fur (or mohawk) in place of the silver cranial crest, while the other shows two pairs of long, curved spines pointing downwards, deep-set solid red eyes and two large fangs. Finally, a pair of large bat-like dark-blue wings (reused from Reptile Masq-Lor) can plug into the back of the shoulder armours of either figure, and each can be posed thanks to a single swivel/hinge point of articulation.

Weapons and accessories

The figures come with two weapons that look like Foundation Denortos's petrifaction-beam gun, although they are completely painted in silver and have a slightly simpler design. The backsides of the figures' harnesses have loops for holding the guns by means of little hooks on their barrels.

Additionally, there are two light-green removable gas masks that can be used to cover the creatures' muzzles as a defence against Denortos's poison gas. Each mask clips onto the figure's face via a small tab that fits into the mouth and stays on quite securely (they only work on two of the four included heads).

Final thoughts
Overall: this is pretty much everything I wanted in an updated style Cereutian army-building set
Rating: ☺☺☺☺ / 5