[Den-O]

"As you wish, Evox."

Grid Battleforce has tapped into the Morphin' Grid. Accessing the limitless energies within, the organization has sought to create a new generation of Power Rangers. 3 Recruits are chosen and their leader, their red ranger, will be none other than Blaze. Or he would have been. Thanks to the viral villain Evox, the Morph sequence is hijacked and ranger recruits Roxy & Blaze become something far more sinister. Their bodies left in comas, their mind's copied, Roxy & Blaze have become Avatars! These dark reflections of their true selves are loyal to Evox and have been given the ability to morph into their own dark ranger Avatars. Backed by Scrozzle and an army of Tronics, Roxy & Blaze are will menace the Beast Morphers as powerful Cybervillains for a long time to come.

Packaging
Power Rangers figure packaging shrank quite a lot over the years, as the figure's themselves did too. When Saban Brands revived the franchise in 2011, they brought out a totally new line of figure's inspired by those created for Samurai Sentai Shinkenger, but decidedly quite different. Initially their new line of Ranger figure's were at the 4" scale. But by the time of Megaforce & Super Megaforce, that scale had been largely phased out and replaced with a new 5" line of figures. While the packaging aesthetics didn't deviate a ton between each of the series that followed, Hasbro has taken things in a much bolder direction.

Hasbro's Beast Morphers packaging is incredibly vibrant and a great evolution from what came before it. It's exactly the kind of change needed to really spice up the line and attract customers. Brighter colors and a less mundane packaging layout (looking at those very dark Ninja Steel card backs) go a long way to making a figure more appealing to potential buyers. A more standardized but larger brand logo is emblazoned across the front, but the most eye catching thing is the gorgeous new box art. Blaze's head shot is gorgeous. The back of the card back also features similar though smaller portraits for the rangers as well as Blaze. Each really looks incredible and I'd love to own prints of them. Both sides of the packaging also feature a cross-sell for the Beast X Morpher. Each figure in Wave 1 (and future waves) includes a key compatible with it to activate Morph and Battle sounds as well.

Overall this is a really dynamic looking box for a "basic" figure line. It will definitely take up a little more retail space on shelf pegs. But given the fact that as you'll find out below, these figure's are bigger and better than any we've gotten before, these are bound to sell more readily than anything we've seen before as well.

Main Figure
Alright. So we got a really good impression of this line with the Red Ranger back in early April.
Then saw what initial villain offerings were like earlier this month with the Tronic. Now we're finally ready to dive in with a review of our first Cybervillain, Blaze.

As different as the Tronic is from the Basic Ranger mold, Blaze sits comfortably between the two types of figures. Design elements and articulation implementations from either side are in the make up of this figure. Thematically that makes a ton of sense given the nature of what an Avatar is in this show, and the origins of this suit's design from the Go-Busters source material. Villains can often be under represented in a lot of children's toylines, thanks in no small part to the fact that kids want to identify with the hero. Which totally makes sense. But we do so love a villain occasionally as well. Blaze one of the first explicitly villanous rangers in some time (sorry DC Dark Ranger). So one would hope his figure would really blow us away.

As mentioned in my previous reviews, the new 6" line dwarfs the old Bandai 5" one and forgoes many of it's undesirable design traits. At a glance, it's apparent which of the two is the better line. But we have less of a direct comparison when it comes to villains, whose designs and articulation placement have tended to vary wildly over time. Despite appearances, Blaze's legs are actually really great for a figure at this price point ($9.84). While they are missing the outward hip movement that each of the heroic rangers features, but they do still have the swiveling rotating knee joint that makes them so versatile and forward/back hip movement. Honestly the lack of outward movement is more what I expected from this price point across the line, and honestly isn't terribly detrimental, especially if you're just picking these figure's up to build a nice display. Blaze does still lack ankle joints but none of the Basic line features ankles either so there's no loss here. All in all would I have liked more? Sure. But there isn't too much to complain about here either.

This is still a great step in the right direction after villains of the past. While there's a little to be lacking in the articulation department, Blaze makes up for things with a number of sculpted details that really pop. Such as the flared out lower things, and ribbed inner thighs. And while the upper body is one piece without waist or ab joints, a common design aspect of the entire 6" Basic line, it is insanely well sculpted. Again, this is the first time ever that the Blaze/Dark Buster design has ever been translated to toy form. The riveted ab panels, the segmented armor, the belt, the shoulder straps, they all come together wonderfully at this affordable $10 price point. The chest emblem (like that on the Tronic) features some very small but well defined techy detailing that I greatly appreciate as well. Even those extended shoulder pads and that popped collar go a long way to giving this figure so much personality. It all comes together perfectly.

The arms of course feature the same articulation cuts as the rangers & Tronic, and are likewise proportionate to the main body. They don't rest as properly flat against the body as the rangers, but they still look quite good. Each shoulder is hinged for outward movement and full 360 rotation, though the shoulder armor will nix a bit of that. And the elbows features the same unique swivel joint as the knees. The one drawback is the lack of wrists. While I understand the choice at this price point, it's a little detrimental to what the figure can do. The elbow joint can fill in a lot of that articulation gap but only goes so far. Each hand is molded in it's an open pose as well, to hold the included sword & blaster. The left wrist does feature a newly sculpted Evox Beast-X Morpher as well.

Finally Blaze's head really is a fearsome design. Hasbro did a really magnificent job in the filming of Beast Morphers, recreating that Dark Buster suit to create new footage anyway. The toy, being the first toy of this design as well, does a wonderful job of translating the design. The visor is deliciously evil, and the stacked ear(?/vents make it it look very alien and different from a standard ranger helmet. Some of the silver paint apps aren't as crisp as I'd like, but it's a really really nice sculpt overall.

It's another really solid addition to the 6" Basic line and as the first toy version of this design, it's a more than welcome addition to my collection.

Accessories
Like the other entries in the Basic line, this figure's accessories are anything but basic:

1 - Blaze Saber. Blaze's standard weapon is a more traditional bladed weapon, it isn't based on a transformation from any other device like the binoculars the Beast X Saber is formed from. As a more traditional sword, it fits with the dark and edgier aesthetic of the Blaze ranger suit design. The blade is still only to one side, but I dig the studed hand guard quite a bit as well. It's not the tightest fit in Blaze's hand, but honestly that's good. It makes it much easier to swap it around. I've made up the name for this weapon because so far, it's unnamed in show.

1 - Blaze Beast Blaster. A new black and dark red repaint of the Red Ranger's Cheetah Beast Blaster. That weapon is a totally original invention of the Beast Morphers adaptation, and it's something I quite like. The fact that they've even included a version of it with "basic" Blaze is a huge plus for me. It's just something that didn't have to be done. I've made up the name for this weapon as well by the way. Once again it's so far unnamed in show.

1 - Blaze Morph X Key. This accessory is primarily meant to be used with the Beast X Morpher. While that toy comes with a Triple Morph X-Key that includes the three Ranger's sounds, this is another standalone villain key. The key part can be rotated back and under the dark cheetah style face, though it's a bit tight so be careful. The toyline also gives the keys another purpose, they can snap around a figure's wrist to be used as arm mounted swords or cannons. Which is a nice bit of additional play value.

As with the other figure's in the line, that's a really great variety. I really hope Hasbro keeps this up with this Basic line.

Final Thoughts
I know, a "Basic" line of figure's isn't for every collector. But then, this line isn't made for you. It's made for the young viewers and fans of the franchise who want to battle it out with their favorite heroes and villains from the series. This line has them in mind. Yet it still has so much value for the adult collector as well. Cybervillain Blaze is another really wonderful addition to your collection, not only because it's a solid and inexpensive figure, but also because it's at this great new scale to fit in with so many other modern toylines common among collectors. Hasbro continues to strike a near perfect balance with this line, and I welcome just about everything from it. In our next look at the 6" Basic line, we're doing a double sized gallery & review of the Yellow & Blue Beast Morpher Rangers!

[Kurona]

The leg articulation would unfortunately kill this for me I'm afraid. It's just far too difficult to get a lot of expression with essentially static legs.

Rest of the figure looks great for this price point, it's just really a shame. I hope he and Roxy get Lightning Collection figures because I'd love decent figures of these designs.

[Annuga]

I cannot criticize the Dark Red Buster suit. Pleaaaaase give us a LC figure

[Smozz]

Feels good to finally have a figure of Dark Buster. Such a cool design.

[Nemesis251]

Where do you get that blue lightning effect that's in the first pic?

[Den-O]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nemesis251

Where do you get that blue lightning effect that's in the first pic?

It's just a Tamashii Blue Lightning Effect Part. Comes in a set with the arm and leg mountable parts. There's a yellow version as well.

[Fredbob392]

It's an incredible looking suit, but I know there's no way I'd be able to get over the one piece of missing leg articulation. Wish they'd had just a little bit more room in the budget

[maxlovesamber]

Definitely wish there was an outward in the leg but still so thrilled to see the villains getting good figures.

[GurrenPrime]

Couldn't be more happy that dark buster finally has a figure, now to wait for the lightning collection.

[AkibaSilver]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Annuga

I cannot criticize the Dark Red Buster suit. Pleaaaaase give us a LC figure

Top 10 historical prophets.

(Not that I'm going to argue it shouldn't have happened. CyberBlaze looks good.)