Dungeon Reviews – Page 2

Dungeon Reviews: Autobot Mini-Vehicles (1984)

Small but swift Autobots who act as messengers and spies!

“The least likely can be the most dangerous.”

Six figures were released in 1984 to populate the mini-vehicle (or “minicar,” depending on what marketing felt like that day) range. These were intended to be the entry-level characters in Transformers, with the cheapest price point and the simplest designs. But despite their simplistic nature, many of them have gone on to be some of the most popular characters in the property. Today we’ll look at all six.

Dungeon Reviews: Blitzwing (1985)

Decepticon Ground/Air Commando

Blitzwing was released in 1985 during the second year of The Transformers toyline, and was one of two Decepticon triple changers released that year. This post covers the original 1985 release of the figure.

Dungeon Reviews: Shredder (1987)

Shredder is the original villain for the Ninja Turtles going all the way back to the very first issue of the Mirage Comics.

The first action figure of Shredder is the strangest toy in the wave and was a source of bafflement for many kids of the 80s and 90s. This version of the toy is the reissue from the very end of the first Playmates line.

Dungeon Reviews: Soundwave & Buzzsaw (1984)

Together with Megatron and Starscream, Soundwave completes the trifecta of iconic Decepticons.

“Cries and screams are music to my ears.” / “My bite is worse than my bark.”

To many kids of the 1980s, this set was a gateway into a world transformed. This review looks at the 2019 reissue of the 1984 original.

Dungeon Reviews: Splinter (1987)

Vital to every iteration of the Ninja Turtles mythos, Splinter is always present as the turtles’ master and moral center.

The original ninja sensei was released as part of the first wave of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles figures in 1987.

Dungeon Reviews: Starscream (1984)

One of the most iconic Decepticons, Starscream has transformed many from appreciators of Transformers to full-on fans.

“Conquest is made of the ashes of one’s enemies.”

In today’s Dungeon Review, we’ll look at the figure that kicked off 30+ years of redecos and retools.

Dungeon Reviews: Ratchet and Ironhide (1984)

Of the 1984 Autobot cars, perhaps no others have such a great disparity between toy design and character design.

“You break it, I’ll remake it.” | “High-tech circuitry is no replacement for guts.”

In today’s Dungeon Review, we’re taking a look at these two mysterious figures and we’ll discuss how many of their play features didn’t quite work as intended within the Transformers mythos.

Dungeon Reviews: The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987)

On a previous Dungeon Review, we discussed Playmates’ 2021 reissue of Donatello from the 1987 TMNT line. Today, we’re gonna look at all four original turtles.

For me there are few sets of toys that bring me more joy to see on a shelf than these four original turtles with their varied greens, battle-ready stances, and toothy grimaces. Let’s go into what makes each of these ninja teens so special.

Dungeon Reviews: Jetfire (1985)

Jetfire is the original Transformers holy grail. Even to this day his name is spoken with an aura of reverence, of Christmases and birthdays and Toys “R” Us top shelves remembered. Let’s take a look at why the Autobot air guardian was so beloved.

“Among the mysteries of science lies the key to victory.”

Jetfire was released in 1985, the second year of the Transformers toyline. The toyline was experiencing such unprecedented success that Hasbro began buying up licensing rights for other transforming toy robots beyond the foundational Diaclone and Microchange lines. While most of these robots’ source material remains obscure, Jetfire hails from The Superdimension Fortress Macross, a famous mecha anime and film series that was later repurposed into Robotech.

Dungeon Reviews: Donatello (Playmates 2021 Reissue)

If you were an American kid cognizant during any of the late 1980s or early 1990s, you remember the Turtles hype. The heroes in a half-shell were literally everywhere, particularly in the toy box. And for many of us, the most highly prized figures in the original Playmates line were the four standard turtles.

In 2021, Playmates reissued all four of the original 1987 Turtle boys, but how well do these 80s relics hold up in the 21st century? And how do they stack against the original ninja teens? In today’s Dungeon Review, we’ll try to answer those questions using Don here as a test subject.