Earthspark Thrash

Prelude: You know, it’s getting kind of hard writing some kind of funny preview for every new Transformers review I do. And Earthspark isn’t that old that I can pick and choose from dozens of funny anecdotes about it, either. So here we have Earthspark Thrash, Warrior Class, in order to celebrate Earthspark getting a third season (I really need to start watching season 2). So let’s say go, Maltobots!

Robot Mode: Thrash is a roughly Deluxe-sized robot that strongly reminds me of Animated Prowl in regard to his general design. He clearly transforms into a motorcycle with each leg containing one of the wheels. He is very tall and thin and also very nicely articulated for a Warrior-Class figure. Like many Warrior figures he saves some money by leaving some areas open, in this case the back and the forearms, but you only really notice that when looking at the figure from the back. Otherwise he might well be a Deluxe.

Thrash looks VERY MUCH like he does in the cartoon. The grey is a bit dark maybe, but otherwise he is a spitting image for the character. Which, to me, is the main selling point of this figure. Like the cartoon character, his sole weapon is his shield (really the side car of his alternate mode), which can double as a cannon, too. At least on the toy, he never used it as a gun in the cartoon as far as I can recall. The wheel inside the shield/sidecar can detach, too, if you want him to throw it.

Bottom line, a good robot mode, far better articulated than many other Warrior-Class figures I’ve seen, and just oozing personality. Nicely done.

Alternate Mode: Thrash transforms into a motorcycle with an attached side car (the shield). It’s not an actual side car anyone can sit in, mind you, but it does look nice. The transformation of the actual bike is pretty similar to that of Animated Prowl, too, if a bit simplified. If you want you can stop halfway through and leave Thrash’s upper body as a robot, if you want (see 17^th picture). When fully transformed, you can see the robot fists on the sides and when looking at it from the underside, you can see Thrash’s face, too.

Overall the motorcycle is pretty nice, though. It’s got handles, a sculpted dashboard, a seat, and even a kickstand, though you don’t really need it if the sidecar is attached. The sidecar can detach, too, of course, leaving you with a normal motorcycle, though the side where the sidecar used to be now has plenty of open spaces where a third party company making filler sets would have a field day.

Bottom line: not the greatest motorcycle mode ever, but good enough for this figure.

Remarks: In the Earthspark cartoon series, a couple of human kids came across the Ember Stone, left behind by Quintus Prime, and accidentally used it to activate two Protoforms lying dormant in a cave, Twitch and Thrash. The two newborn Transformers imprinted upon the human kids, thus becoming the first Terrans, Earth-born Transformers with human-like personalities. One of these two was Thrash, who is basically your average boy, apart from being a pretty tall robot capable of transforming into a motorcycle. Of course he usually needs his big sister Twitch to bail him out of trouble he caused for himself, too.

Much like Twitch, Thrash’s main selling point is that he oozes personality. If you have seen (and liked) the Earthspark cartoon, you will like this figure here, too. If not… well, then I guess he is just an average Transformer from a kid-oriented toy line. There is also a Deluxe Thrash, of course, who is slightly better articulated and much, much whiter than Warrior-Class Thrash here, but foregoes the sidecar for a more show-accurate shield.

Bottom line: a nice toy that very nicely captures the spirit of the cartoon character. Not sure I can recommend it to people who aren’t fan of the cartoon, though.

Rating: B-