KR Review #90: Combat Training Robot

Toy prototype details
Name: Combat Training Robot
Subtitle: robotic trainer
Line: KR|Foundation
Item type: action figure - Nº 57 in the line.

Character details
Name: Combat Training Robot
Real name: Unit ⎐⍀⏁-⊬⎍⟟⎅
Classification: robot

Home: Tahron
Era: Foundation
Affiliation: Theriom
Rank: combat training device.

Background
First appearance: KR|Foundation #6 - Reptiles reunited
Related character(s): small robot included with the Tahron playset.

Articulation
Standard, excluding hinged abdomen.

Description

Head: protected by an aerodynamically designed golden helmet that resembles a modern hockey goaltender mask and has a large cut-out in the eye and nose area (which, instead of being covered by a metal cage, exposes the robot's bronze face underneath) as well as a lower extension (embellished with three holes) to guard the neck. There's lots of metallic light-blue details all over the top and back of the helmet such as bolts, tubes and even an aerial. The face has a vaguely human-like appearance and wears a sort of light-blue headband with a cyber scope (for looking in on targets) covering the right eye. The helmet includes a movable black glass visor, which can be positioned on top (i.e., flipped up) or on the front (i.e., covering the face). The surface of the visor seems to be an electronic display for the visual presentation of combat instructions, which makes the piece look very high-tech

Body: several parts of the figure's body are made of reused pieces from Combat Sei-Lha, specifically the silver upper arms, the silver upper legs with glued thigh guards, the metallic light-blue belt and the golden crotch piece. On the other hand, the torso, forearms and lower legs are brand new. There is an impressive amount of intricate decorative features all around the various components of the robot's body and, in fact, there are very few spots on the figure that do not have some kind of sculpted cyber embellishments, such as cables and tubes, bolts and pistons, gauges and switches. The metallic light-blue torso (with gold details) looks very similar to the torso of Demo-Rha's LoGoN's driver variant, except that the housing for its disc-shaped lenticular counter-screen is sculpted into the chest piece (more on this later). The torso also includes two armoured golden shoulder guards as well as three pairs of small thrusters on the back. Additionally, the two metallic light-blue gauntlets are equipped with large armoured, studded wrist guards, while the two bulky metallic light-blue armoured boots include two knee guards with wheels mounted to the sides.

Combat Training Robot's stylised torso.

Action feature
In the comics, the Combat Training unit is normally in an R2D2-like diminutive droid form, but by request of its user it can convert to a much more badass expanded form (the way it transforms reminds me of that robot fight scene in the 2010 Gulliver's Travels movie). The smaller version came in the form of a 5-inch tall figure included with the Tahron playset; now we finally get the larger form. I still think that its transforming action feature could have been recreated in a two-in-one figure with an assortment of snap-on body parts, but I don't mind the designers at PoliganToys decided to go the two-separate-figures route.

The robot fictionally possesses a limited degree of intelligence and draws from a library of pre-programmed instructions and past experience to complete its training tasks. Its ability to move nimbly during the training sessions is achieved thanks to sets of repulsors embedded in its boots (mainly used to lift the robot above the ground) and mounted to its back (which are used to stabilise the movements and to change direction). The figure comes with two small plumes of blue smoke that attach to the soles of the robot's feet, giving the impression that they come out of the boots while it's hovering around.

The onboard computer housed inside the robot is programmed with a quantity of combat drills, and each drill ends after a preset time or when a score has been reached. The chest piece has a large, round impact-activated target that registers hits from the trainee. The aim of the training is deactivating the defence-shield of the robot within a certain amount of time. This is accomplished by hitting the robot's chest-target with any weapons the opponent decides to use. A counter and a timer, each made of a circle of luminous segments (green for the former and red for the latter) are located in a concentric manner around the target. In order to weaken the robot's defence-shield, ten direct hits have to be registered before the time limit. When this is achieved, the session stops; otherwise, missing the finishing time results in the chest piece blowing open and releasing a number of training remotes. Each remote will then weave around the opponent while firing numerous stinging laser blasts able to numb a limb for several minutes, which the trainee will have to dodge or deflect while waiting for an opportunity to retaliate. In the figure, the chest display that includes the target, counter and timer is a lenticular sticker whose design (i.e., a CGI blue pattern on a black background in the target, and a series of green- or red-coloured segments in the counter and timer, respectively) animates as it is viewed from different angles. An alternate burst open breastplate can be used to replace the regular piece of armour covering the robot's chest (I love all the amazing circuitry and panelling details inside the torso). Two remotes with clear flight stands are also included (I wish there were more); each remote looks like a small gold&light-blue sphere covered with manoeuvring thrusters, laser emitters, and sensors.

Weapons and accessories

In the comics, the Combat Training Robot has the ability to control laser energy and generate an arsenal of weapons from thin air. So, the figure comes with an axe and a shield that it can grasp in its mechanical hands, as well as rotating mace and blade attachments that plug into the outer sides of the gauntlets, replacing the two removable wrist guards. All the weapons resemble the golden accessories included with its Tahron playset counterpart, but they are larger and their translucent coloured plastic makes them look like laser creations (besides, the rotating weapons spin around axes that are perpendicular to -instead of coincident with- the robot's arms).

Additionally, the package includes the bomb disposal robot seen at the end of the KR|Enmity comic book Terror from the clouds. This 5-inch tall, wheeled figure represents the collapsed version of Demo-Rha's blast suit and features a vertical mount that houses pairs of cameras and mechanical limbs, as well as a white&ochre paint job. The tool-accessories that came with Demo-Rha's figure can even clip smartly onto the sides of the wheeled section. It's worth noting that the similarities between the collapsed/expanded forms of the Combat Training and Bomb Disposal robots suggest they belong to the same series.

Final thoughts
Overall: the Combat Training Robot was a concept character developed by PoliganToys and only made into toy as its collapsed form, which was included with the Tahron playset. It didn’t appear too often in the Foundation comics, but when it did, it made a strong impression on me. Overall I’m pleased with how this expanded version came out and I think it is going to make a great addition to the KR collection
Rating: ☺☺☺☺ / 5

KR Review #89: Seutron & Deutron

Toy prototype details
Name: Seutron^TM & Deutron^TM
Subtitle: multiform henchmen
Line: KR|Foundation
Item type: multi-pack (2-pack) - Nº 18 in the line.

Characters details
Names: Seutron and Deutron
Classification: poriferans
Sex: males
Home: Tahron
Era: Foundation
Affiliation: Destructomorph
Rank: sergeants.

Background
First appearance: KR|Foundation #13 - The ultimate curse
Related character(s): Pleutron, Xonatron.

Articulation
Standard, except that in each figure the connection points at the waist, shoulders, wrists, hips and tail are ball&socket (but the shoulders and hips are also hinged), and the neck features a double ball joint.

Description
Both figures are 23 cm tall (around 9'') and display a richly porous skin. Each has a short, thick segmented (i.e., formed of a longitudinal series of similar parts) tail emerging from the trunks, which is reused from Pleutron and is painted in a more greenish colour on the upper side.

Seutron

Head: characterised by an irregular chanterelle-like shape, light-blueish skin, human-like ears, a pair of bulging orange eyes (with slit-shaped dark vertical pupils and thick black vertical lines over and under the eyes), boar-like nose, a human-looking mouth exhibiting plump lips and white gnashing teeth, and a prominent cleft chin

Body: light-blueish skin. The arms bear a pair of spiked copper armbands and have human-looking hands with black nails, while the legs wear armoured copper knee guards

Wearables: a large metallic dark-green collar with copper inlays (which holds a tattered red cape on the back, and is connected via copper chains to two spaulders showing layers, from bottom to top, of reddish fur and shiny dark-green metal), two studded metallic dark-green manacles with broken, loppy copper chains, two armoured metallic dark-green ankle boots, a studded metallic dark-green belt (with dangling copper chains and a copper buckle displaying the Destructomorph emblem, i.e., a square-shaped spider whose back slightly resembles a demoniac face), and a torn red fabric loincloth. It is worth noting that only the chains attached to the shackles are real and not sculpted, and that the cape splits into two parts towards the lower back.

Deutron

Head: characterised by an irregular sea anemone-like shape (with a ring of tentacles around the top part, three of which are longer and resemble loop-shaped antennae), purplish skin, pointy ears with golden earrings, a pair of bulging bloodshot yellow beady eyes, boar-like nose, two sharp-pointed ivory tusks that protrude from the lower jaw, and a prominent square chin

Body: purplish skin, a large hump on his upper back. The arms and the legs wear laminar blueish-grey steel rerebraces and thigh guards, respectively. Each hand has four ivory claws as well as four dark-grey spikes emerging from the knuckles, while each foot has two dark-grey claws plus an ivory one

Wearables: a dark-green furry garment worn over the left shoulder and under the right (secured by a large blueish-grey steel pauldron showing the Destructomorph emblem), two dark-green leather bracelets with jagged ridges and knuckle protectors (the latter allow the dark-grey spikes to come through), two dark-green leather shin guards with jagged ridges and instep protectors, a dark-green leather tasset belt, and a light-blueish furry loincloth.

Action feature
In the comics, Seutron and Deutron are depicted, like Pleutron, as shape-shifting giants who can rearrange their cells to acquire countless monstrous forms, as well as stretch, squeeze and tear apart their jelly-like bodies, and then recover their original forms. In each figure, these transforming abilities are well recreated by a modular action feature that involves several snap-on body parts, namely the head, neck (double ball jointed), torso, pelvis, arms, hands, legs and tail.

The figures are not only fully modular with themselves, but they are also fully modular with Pleutron and the Xonatron; as they all share the same ball&socket joints, parts can be swapped back and forth between them at random, and they can be combined into a vast array of creatures, including a single crazy enormous monster.

Weapons and accessories
Each figure comes with a tech-looking, gun-like hand-held launcher, which fits in the figure's right hand and has no spring-loaded mechanism. Seutron's metallic red launcher fictionally allows him to fling two included bladed discs. The weapon's "barrel" ends with a hook, into which a fan-like four-bladed (actually, eight-bladed, but four of the eight blades are smaller) clear, glassy disc can be slotted. Either disc can alternatively be clipped onto the left bracer, acting as a sort of shield, or stowed on the back of the collar. Deutron's metallic light-blue weapon has two side-by-side barrels and two separate drill bit-like whitish, chalky projectiles. The butts of the two weapons bear pairs of slots and plugs, respectively, which allow them to connect to each other and form a larger weapon.

The set also comes with two different weaponized attachments to replace hands: a double-bitted light-blueish axe for Seutron and a giant purplish mallet for Deutron.

While I find that I prefer having the two figures separate, thanks to an additional cube-like abdomen piece (which has two balls and two sockets, and whose colour fades from light-blue to dark-blue to purple end to end) plus two extra dark-blue legs (wearing studded golden thigh bands and dark-green furry boots) it is actually very easy to place them into the combined configuration shown on the back of the box, with six legs and a torso and head at each end.
In addition, there are nine additional organic-looking (i.e., with a porous and segmented texture) dark-blue pieces for bigger and better builds. That includes five Y-connector joints (one of which is larger than the others) and four extension pieces (one male-male/neck piece, one female-female piece, and two male-female pieces), which make it possible to form double shoulders, hips and neck, and generate, for example, amazing double-headed, multi-limbed creatures. They’re all solid and a lot of fun to mess around with.

Last but not least, the package includes an alternate, taser cannon-shaped dark-blue-and-silver head for the Xonatron, which briefly appeared in The ultimate curse comic book.

Final thoughts

Overall: Seutron and Deutron are excellent figures with tons of accessories. PoliganToys improved on the interchangeable concept of Pleutron and Xonatron to release an even more technically impressive set. However, I don't like them as much as I like Pleutron, partially due to the design and the colour scheme, but they are still very, very high quality figures
Rating: ☺☺☺☺ / 5

KR|Enmity Review #28: Kot

Toy prototype details
Name: Kot^TM
Subtitle: axe-rattling soldier
Line: KR|Enmity
Item type: action figure - Nº 23 in the line.

Character details
Name: Kot (sometimes alternatively spelt Kott)
Classification: human
Sex: male
Home: Tahron
Era: 20 years before Foundation (in the comics, he has a minor appearance in a flashback)
Affiliation: O-Kin's Golden Eagle armed force
Rank: lieutenant commander.

Background
First appearance: KR|Enmity #3 - Notes of vengeance
Related character(s): Ter-Ah-Sur.

Articulation

Standard.

Description
Head: Asian features, light-brown skin, hazel eyes, bushy dark-brown facial hair styled into a moustache and a beard. He wears a shiny silver helmet that looks like a reversed cup embellished with a brown jade stone on the front and two large golden side-headpieces shaped like eagle wings

Body: while he wears laminar middle-brown trousers made from hardened leather on his legs, his arms show light-brown skin and are only equipped with silver chain mail shoulder pads. Although Kot uses the standard KR arms, PoliganToys sculpted brand new, larger and more developed biceps as well as oversized hands
Wearables: a dual-layer protective covering composed of a middle-brown leather vest (with dark-brown furry armholes) and a lamellar cuirass consisting of many overlapping silver plates laced together, two silver bracelets, two silver boots (with studded tops and riveted sandal-like middle-brown leather soles), a studded silver belt accompanied by two silver tassets, and a Roman-style skirt made of silver-studded middle-brown leather lappets. Additionally, the chest armour displays a Golden Eagle army emblem (i.e., an eagle with two crossed axes) painted in a gold colour at the centre; similar symbols are also shown on the bracelets, the belt buckle and the tassets. The silver parts of the cuirass, bracers and boots are vac metalized, giving a lovely chrome-like reflective surface.

Kot's stylised armour; the design at the centre of the chest piece represents the Golden Eagle armed force symbol.

Weapons and accessories
While Kot has no action feature, he comes with two axes that have bronze hafts and shiny silver blades, but one is single-bladed and the other one is double-bitted. The former is reminiscent of both the Golden Eagle emblem and the blade that was fixed to Ter-Ah-Sur's firearm, although it is a repaint of Herrion's single-bladed axe, which we have also seen in the Enmity Expansion Kit for Tahron; the latter is a fun bonus with a club-shaped studded head, to which two pretty nicely sized blades are mounted (their cutting edges are so thick that the weapon could almost be considered a sort of war hammer). A really cool feature of these axes is that the two handles can connect together to form one longer weapon. Alternatively, you can use a second gripping hand to replace his open left hand for dual axe wielding, or stow one of the two axes away on the back of Kot's armour, where there's a small, durable clip that holds it on like a charm.
In addition, he comes with a second head that has a more armoured bucket helmet. Both versions have the same pointed, ornamented top, but the alternate one adds a big dent in the metal on the crown as well as further protection by giving him deeper coverage for the sides and back of the head, and a faceplate that only leaves his eyes exposed. It’s a nice inclusion that fits the figure well, but it's not something I’ll ever use on mine.

Finally, the package includes a military flag carried on a T-shaped golden pole and used as the standard of the Golden Eagle armed force. The plastic flag bears the army's emblem on a sky with sun and puffy purplish clouds. There is also an alternative flag that can replace the regular one, showing the Dark Legion emblem (i.e., a diamond-shaped black gemstone, which, when looking deeply into it, shows a subtle discolouration resembling a demonic face) over a background that looks like a mass of dark-orange cloud out of which lightnings flash.

Final thoughts
Overall: the goal of this year's line-up is to celebrate a range of interesting comic book characters that have never been translated into figure form before, and Kot definitely fits that theme. He doesn't make me want to be a KR|Enmity completist, but he's a fine homage to a character that could have been the star of the show... if he had been alive
Rating: ☺☺☺☺ / 5

KR Review #88: Mal-Ah-Krill Warriors

Toy prototype details
Name: Mal-Ah-Krill^TM Warriors
Subtitle: hard-shell invaders
Line: KR|Foundation
Item type: multi-pack (army builder 2-pack) - Nº 17 in the line.

Character details
Name: unknown
Classification: crustacean
Sex: male or female

Home: Cereutis
Era: Foundation
Affiliation: Destructomorph (temporarily)
Rank: soldier of the Mal-Ah-Krill squadron led by Mal-Ah-Kros.

Background
First appearance: KR|Foundation #10 - Evanescing act

Related character(s): Mal-Ah-Kros.

Articulation
Standard, except that the wrists are ball jointed.

Description
Heads: each figure's head is encased in a box-like pail purple carapace with a bumpy texture, and is characterised by a spiny cranial crest (which seemingly runs down the upper back), two pairs of antennae (one pair, shorter and branching into two parts, is placed on top of the head, while the other extends from the back of the upper side-jaws), a small greenish beady compound eye situated in the middle of the forehead and two ghost crab-like elongated, swollen stalked eyes with slit-shaped black vertical pupils, large yellow-green corneas and brownish horns on the tips. The human-like partially open mouth exhibits a set of sharp ivory teeth (including two large fangs protruding upwards) and is flanked by three pairs of whitish jaws (the uppermost of which is larger than the other two). Both the head and the slim neck extension are on ball joints, which not only gives the figure a slightly longer neck, but also an extended range without hindering the movements at all
Bodies: each figure's body is protected by a pail purple chitinous exoskeleton with a cracked and bumpy texture. While the two main arms end with slender, three-fingered hands, the two legs display two additional pairs of arthropod-like limbs (each ending in a single long claw) projecting from the sides of the thighs, and, in one case, two-toed clawed feet. One pair of additional arthropod-like arms, each bearing a line of fin-shaped appendages and terminating in a flattened paddle (similarly to the last pair of swimming legs of a lady crab), project from the lower back, which is protected by a large, nicely sculpted chiton-like shell. The shell is yellow-grey with leopard-like clusters of light purplish spots, and is divided into eight seemingly articulating valves, the uppermost of which resembles a lady crab's carapace showing several spines along the upper edge

Wearables: each figure wears a segmented (similarly to a shrimp's or a lobster's abdomen) golden harness with cracked yellow details, two narrow golden wristbands, two simple golden boots, a golden belt with yellow studs, and yellow laminar trunks. The harness is equipped with a broad, star-shaped collar, and carries an emblem consisting of a blue gemstone carved with three vertical wavy lines on the front. The boots are claw-shaped in one figure, and have smooth, human-like toe-boxes in the other - I guess this is a reference to the inconsistency between the ways the feet of these characters were drawn in the comics and perhaps it is related to some kind of sexual dimorphism.

Mal-Ah-Krill Warrior's stylised armour; the circle at the centre of the chest plate represents a Cereutian symbol.

Action feature

In the comics, the Mal-Ah-Krill Warriors bear protective dorsal shells that allow them to roll into a ball when attacked. Unfortunately, this ability couldn't be rendered in the figures, since the two shells are solid pieces and their overlapping plates don't articulate with one another (I would have appreciated the inclusion of at least one curled up shell though). However, each shell is actually a removable part and features a small handle on the inner side, which makes it able to be held like a shield.

Furthermore, while Mal-Ah-Kros came with swappable mouth and eyes, these figures just go the whole hog and come with two alternate heads, each showing a gaping mouth and a pair of "bugged out" eyes, i.e., on longer stalks than the regular ones, with bright white pupils (in the comics, their eyes, once extended, have the frightening ability to discharge a variety of stun beams that can overpower an enemy in mere seconds).

Weapons and accessories
Apart from the alternative heads, the Mal-Ah-Krill Warriors come with four threatening maces, which the figures can grip tightly in their hands. Each bludgeon has a yellow shaft and a head consisting of a golden robotic chela. Alternatively, the pincers can be detached from the ends of the handles and used on the figures in place of their regular hands; it's worth noting that although the chelae are not articulated, they can still wield the head-less sticks as weapons.

In addition, each figure comes with an alternative pair of hands that have a more relaxed look compared to the standard gripping hands.

Final thoughts
Overall: I knew the Mal-Ah-Krill Warriors would be coming eventually, but I had a few prototypes that were kind of higher priorities for me at this time. However, now that they are here, they might be in my new top five for this year's selection
Rating: ☺☺☺☺☺ / 5

KR|Origin Review #28: Galamùs & DeNardo

Toy prototype details
Name: Galamùs & DeNardo
Subtitle: disguised Cereutian antagonists
Line: KR|Origin
Item type: multi-pack (2-pack) - Nº 4 in the line.

Characters details
Names: Prof. Georges Galamùs and Dr. Nicholas DeNardo

Real names: Galamars and Denortos
Classification: uncertain
Sex: males
Home: Cereutis
Era: Earth's 21^st century (later transported to ancient Tahron - 520 years before Foundation)
Affiliation: independent (later enlisted in the Theriom and the Reptonoid armies, respectively)
Ranks: multiversal knight and mercenary, respectively.

Background
First appearance: KR|Origin #1 - An arduous venture
Related character(s): Galamars, Denortos.

Articulation
Standard.

Description
Heads: Prof. Galamùs looks a bit like a mix of Samuel L. Jackson and Laurence Fishburne, sporting black skin, a shaved scalp, a stubbly grizzled ducktail beard, and a pair of big, teardrop-shaped glasses. Dr. DeNardo resembles Raoul Bova, displaying white skin, curly black hair, grey-blue eyes and a five o'clock shadow on the chin and face
Bodies: both figures are covered from neck to toe, except for the hands

Wearables: each figure wears a suit jacket, which is designed with notched lapels, a single vent at back, side pockets with pocket flaps, and a single-breasted two-button fastening, as well as suit trousers, which feature straight pockets at front, two pockets at back and a leather dress belt matching the shoes colour. Galamùs's suit is middle-grey with a classic check pattern, while DeNardo's outfit is navy. Additionally, Galamùs wears black shoes as well as a waistcoat under the suit jacket together with a pink-striped white shirt, a brown tie and a colourful pocket square for a classy, high-end look. DeNardo's slim fit suit is characterised by the unbuttoned jacket worn with a white shirt, brown shoes and without a tie.

Action feature

In the comics, both Galamars and Denortos show the ability to alter their voices and appearances, and thereby assume the form of other humans, in order to go unnoticed in modern-day Earth. They also have the power to create the appearance of clothes and other materials. While Galamars does that via electromagnetic energy manipulation, creating an optical effect that gives him a different look, Denortos can actually shift the formation of his cells at will (an ability that he loses after being injured during his desperate attempt to follow Kai-Xi and Galamars on their journey to Tahron). So, each figure comes with an alternative head that simulates a mid-transformation phase. Both portraits look really cool and Denortos's one is especially spooky.

Weapons and accessories

While Prof. Galamùs comes with a brown fedora and a black leather briefcase, Dr. DeNardo only includes two small accessories: a charcoal grey wallet and a cell phone.

Final thoughts
Overall: while the accessories are pretty disappointing (except for the two alternate heads), the figures themselves are solid. Nothing terribly exciting or indispensable, but it's always good to get unconventional versions of well-known characters
Rating: ☺☺☺☺ / 5

KR Review #87: Deptilion's Legacy Demon (Three-Horned)

Toy prototype details
Name: Deptilion^TM's Legacy Demon (Three-Horned)
Subtitle: cruel hellhound
Line: KR|Foundation
Item type: large scale figure - Nº 7 in the line.

Character details
Name: unknown
Classification: spirit
Sex: uncertain
Home: Tahron
Era: Foundation
Affiliation: Destructomorph
Rank: demonic entity possessing Herrion.

Background
First appearance: KR|Foundation #11 - Herrion's ordeal
Related character(s): Alterok, Herrion.

Articulation
Standard, with the addition of a ball jointed tail.

Description
Head: werewolf-like, covered in short red-orange hairs (however, the hairs on the cheeks are elongated and form tufts) and characterised by a pair of solid yellow glowing eyes in the centre of two Spawn-like diamond-shaped light-blue plaques covering the face, two large dark-grey backward-pointing horns where the ears would be, and a rather smaller dark-grey forward-pointing horn on the long, blunt muzzle. The slightly open mouth shows some whitish teeth, including two large sharp fangs protruding upward
Body: the figure is 23 cm tall (around 9'') and displays a body covered in short red-orange hairs, with longer hairs occurring on the neck (thanks to a rubbery removable neck piece that fits right on top of the body and mimics a woolly collar with a strip of fur that runs down the middle of the upper back), forearms, back of hands, lower legs, insteps, and from the lower part of the abdomen down to the pelvis. All these furrier parts show some hairs that are white. The additional neck piece gives the impression that especially long hairs grow on the shoulders and almost form a crest on the upper part of the back. He also has clawed hands and feet as well as a fairly long red-orange furry tail with white hairs on the tip

Wearables: none.

Action feature

The Demon comes with an alternate head that shows, apart from an angrier expression, a roughly circular stump on his snout, which is left behind after Masq-Lor cuts off one of the Demon's horns. The package also includes a detached horn piece.

Weapons and accessories

The Demon doesn't come with any weapons, but includes two interesting accessories, namely two wooden sticks, each of which is ignited at one end. These torches are shown in the second issue of the KR|Foundation comic book series Hunt for the energy stone, where they are used by the Theriom warriors as a light source inside the labyrinth-cave in the Bay of Sortok. These pieces are moulded in translucent orange plastic at their heads and, aside from being utilised as portable means of illumination, they can also be grasped by the Demon and wielded as arms. They are really neat looking accessories and something that we haven't seen before.

Final thoughts
Overall: the folks at PoliganToys knocked this long-awaited prototype out of the ballpark
Rating: ☺☺☺☺☺ / 5

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