Transformers: Titans Return Misfire

Almost a month ago now, it was determined that the final Titans Return figures on the shopping list were probably not going to turn up at retail, and so it would probably be best to order them online. Now, with Power of the Primes figures starting to appear in the Chicago area, it seems that that decision was the correct one. One of the updated Decepticon Targetmasters, Misfire was often searched for on Target runs or post-work shopping jaunts, but was never seen in the wild.

Misfire is a repaint and reworking of the outstanding Wave Three Triggerhappy, and while some similarities are obvious, it does feel that Misfire has been changed up enough to not be a simple, lazy repaint. The transformation has been simplified a little bit – that amazing torso spin step has been removed – and the result is a figure that feels less complex than Triggerhappy does. This is not really a negative, and in truth, there is one more use of this mold that simplifies things even more and really, really feels that way.

True to his G1 self, Misfire is a strong, hot pink with only some bright white thighs and elbows to offset. The character has always been kind of unique looking, and some online have even confessed to thinking that Misfire was a female character because of his paint job. While this mistake can be forgiven, given the almost total lack of screen time and character development Misfire has had (I think he made an appearance in the Japanese Headmasters cartoon, but I watched that so long ago, and the Targetmasters only show up in a few end of series episodes….. – mr) it is realistically a byproduct of the problematic and inaccurate assumption that pink is girls’ color and therefore, pink must equal feminine. (let me tell you about this pink t-shirt I had in grade school….. – mr)This notion is obviously silly, to say it kindly, and ironic, considering Misfire as a character: he’s a brash loudmouth, who has terrible aim, and rarely hits his targets, all the while bragging about how good of a shot he is. Total guy behavior. 

 

Anyway, the figure has all the general range of motion that Triggerhappy has, without the arm mounted blasters that Triggerhappy has getting in the way of elbow movement. The figure’s chest is busy looking, with a whole bunch of molded detail and the shoulder hinges. They are an issue because they look very obviously like hinges, not as well hidden or integrated as those of Triggerhappy. They also connect to the torso in robot mode kind of weakly, and are prone to coming loose even when doing something as simple as moving the arm forward or bending the elbow. This could be a QC issue for this specific copy, and it is hardly a deal breaker, but it is something that needs to be accounted for during transformation or posing. The large front end of the jet mode folds nicely behind the body, leaving the angled wings to stick out to the sides creating a nice profile, without creating a profile that screams jet alt mode. Perhaps similar to the live action movie figures, some of them, whose alt modes seem to melt away leaving ‘only’ a robot. Not having a super high opinion of the live action movie figures, the only suitable example that comes to mind is Age of Extinction Galvatron, and the way the entire truck cab just disappears via folding panels. For accessories, Misfire comes with Titanmaster partner Aimless, keeping the traditional *-master name, and a pair of large blasters that, as they have for the duration of the line, connect to form a huge double barreled blaster that a Titanmaster figure can sit in. By themselves, the blasters are great: they look cool, they look like powerful weapons. Combined, the blasters look surprisingly good, following the pattern established way back with Highbrow and happily expanded on as the line marched onward.

 

The face sculpt on Aimless looks good, although there has been some controversy over Misfire having a visor instead of eyes. Apparently G1 Misfire had eyes? The Misfire face is one of those like Quake or Breakaway or Twinferno, a basic, almost generic robot face that could probably do a fine job as a generic robot soldier, but looks totally perfect on its intended mount.

Transformation is good, but missing the “Wow” feeling of Triggerhappy. This may be due to having experienced Triggerhappy, like the mystery has been solved with that version of this mold, and now subsequent uses of it just seem normal.

The jet mode for Misfire has always been awesome, as a futuristic fighter jet is something everyone loves. It looks faithful to the original, including the rounded nose parts and sharply bent forward sweeping wings. Even now, some thirty years after the original Misfire first introduced it, it seems futuristic and cool. Still shockingly pink, but this time interrupted by the deep translucent blue of the cockpit, the look is hampered by the less than hidden robot arms and the open spaces on the under-the-wing mounted blasters. Removing them makes the jet look sleeker and smoother, but removes all of Misfire’s weaponry. The arms are really only an issue from certain angles, like looking from the top down or from underneath; the side view renders them barely noticeable. Again, like Triggerhappy, Misfire has probably the best cockpit in a line of vehicles designed to have functional cockpits, many of them rather good. But there’s something special about jets that do it right that really makes it stand out. The blasters mount beneath the wings and look fine, giving the jet a true space fighter appearance, the kind of space ship you imagine as a kid.

Ultimately Misfire is a great toy on his own. It is also awesome that he helps fills out the Decepticon Targetmaster lineup, something that Titans Return has done before with Broadside. This “finishing the team” kind of thing is something I appreciate more and more with each missing member that materializes in new lines, compatible with the lines that produced the existent members of a group. Whether or not you find this figure at retail appears to be a more and more improbable thing, as figures from the new line are beginning to be found, while in several areas, the Misfire wave has never turned up. But if Triggerhappy has a place on your shelf, Misfire is absolutely worth hunting down. And even if you are Triggerhappyless, Misfire is a real nice add to the Decepticon ranks.