First Edition Starscream

Robot Mode: First off, this figure is a very, very close likeness to the character we’ve seen in the TF Prime series. There are no obvious differences except that the CGI character is missing the nose of the jet hanging off its ass, I think. Otherwise, though, very good. The same tall, skinny, slightly hunched figure, complete with the characteristic Screamer smirk. Nicely done, homaging both the G1 and Animated versions of Starscream. And the Movie Starscream fans get their due, too, because his chest plate is a spitting image of Movie Screamer's head design.

Starscream is tall for a Deluxe-class figure, mostly because he is rake thin. I still think a Voyager-version (which is supposed to come out at a later date) would be better in scale with the rest of the cast, but Screamer is taller than the other First Edition Deluxes, so that works for me. He carries missile pods on each forearm as weapons (no, he does NOT want a null ray!) and the wings behind his back can be posed a bit for different looks.

Articulation is pretty good for this figure and despite its long legs and small feet, I have yet to encounter much in the way of balancing issues. I also would like to mention Screamer’s nicely sculpted hands with the individual fingers. Very nicely done for a Deluxe-class figure. The detailing is very nice overall and there is none of that paint-is-for-sissies attitude we saw in Dark of the Moon. So overall a very nice robot mode, nicely depicting one of the all-time classic Transformers characters.

Alternate Mode: Starscream transforms into an F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jet. I think this is the first time in a long time that old Screamer transforms into a single engine aircraft. F-14 Tomcat, F-22 Raptor, the various sci-fi style jets he became, all twin engine jets. But seeing as Screamer is skinny as a robot in this series, it only makes sense to have him become a skinny jet, too.

Looked at from the top the jet looks pretty good, despite the fact that Starscream’s robot mode chest plate sits directly behind the cockpit. But it suffers from a pretty common problem among jet-formers in that is has a huge undercarriage. Starscream’s entire lower body, hip and legs, just hangs under the jet in plain sight with the heels sticking out underneath the jet exhaust. Also, the jet doesn’t have a proper landing gear, just static plastic knobs that look somewhat (but not really) like wheels sticking out a tiny bit. Seeing as proper landing gears have been a standard among jet Transformers for quite some time, I’m a bit disappointed here.

Not much else I can say here. The missile pods from the robot mode forearms go under the wings and that’s it in terms of gimmicks. So overall an okay jet mode, but far from the best we’ve seen in Transformers in general and Starscreams in particular.

Remarks: Transformers Prime managed to quickly establish its version of Starscream as both the same back-stabbing would-be leader he was in G1 (he wants to dethrone Megatron, same old, same old) and a pretty scary bad-ass (he kills Cliffjumper five minutes into the pilot episode). Much like in Animated the break between Megatron and Starscream happened relatively early and by the end of the first season Starscream has struck out on his own. I assume the clone army is just a matter of time now.

As a figure there is nothing majorly wrong with this Starscream. He’s a good depiction of the character we saw in the series. His vehicle mode isn’t the greatest ever, but okay. So the bottom line here for me is that the figure is good. Not outstanding, not a revelation, just good. Recommended to all Starscream and TFPrime fans.

Rating: B