G1 Runabout & Runamuck

Robot Modes: Runabout and Runamuck are pretty much identical except for their colour, so I'll only do a single review for them both. As robots the two of them are... well, statues. No posability. None at all. I've tried to come up with another G1 Transformer (or one from any other series for that matter) who had absolutely no posability at all, and so far the only others I've come up with are the Throttlebots. Runabout and Runamuck can't move. At all. Well, you can fold the car doors that serve as their arms back to give the impression they're pushing their shoulders back, but... nah, that doesn't count as posability. So they have none. None at all.

Both robots carry a weapon that can mount on their shoulders, which is a good thing since they could never raise their arms to aim it if it were in their (nonexistent) hands. As far as detailing goes, well, I've seen worse G1 figures in that regard, but you can't really call either of them all that detailed, either. Runabout and Runamuck are robots that have been reduced to living out their gimmick (see below) and that's it. They've got nothing else. Which makes for rather boring robot modes, I'm sorry to say.

Alternate Modes: Rather untypical for Decepticons, Runabout and Runamuck transform into cars. Here is where the "Battle Charger" gimmick comes into play. Rev the cars back and let go. As they zoom across the floor they transform, snapping up into their robot modes. So here you have it, folks, the origin of the Cyberslammers. The gimmick as such isn't bad, but it's not enough by itself to carry either figure. The cars are looking okay and the wind-up driving gives them a bit of play value, but not a whole lot. Solid alternate modes, but that's it.

Remarks: Runabout and Runamuck didn't make much of an impact in either the G1 cartoon or the Marvel comics. In the cartoon they were the Decepticon guards who failed to stop Starscream's Ghost from stealing Trypticon, in the comics they ran around the world spraying graffiti before being stopped by Circuit Breaker of all people. They did feature heavily in the first few issues of the IDW comics, but ended up being killed by the Reapers. Too bad, Then again the Stunticons gave a better showing as the manical car Decepticons than these two.

As toys Runabout and Runamuck are pretty much useless. They might be fun for a little kid who likes to have a transforming car race across the floor, but that's it. Hasbro recycled the gimmick for the Cyberslammers, but wisened up and targeted those directly at a younger audience. Runabout and Runamuck were part of the main toyline, though. I picked them up very cheap at the Auto Assembly because of their appearance in the IDW comics, where I rather liked them. But unless you want to get them for the same reason, I can't really recommend them.

Rating: D+