Mini Review - Transformers: Legacy Evolution Tarn
The iconic leader of the Decepticon Justice Division makes his debut in the official Transformers toy line. Tarn has been a fan favorite since his introduction in James Roberts and Alex Milne’s More Than Meets The Eye comic books over 10 years ago. Move over Soundwave, there’s a new sigil faced baddie in town and Hasbro went the extra mile to make this a release to remember.
The Goodies (+)
+ Stellar execution of a comic book first design. So many of the details in the comic book design were able to be implemented thanks to Tarn being an original mold, rather than a retool from someone else.
+ Great use of clear plastic to emulate his glowing components, including a great implementation of light piping in the head.
+ Phenomenal articulation. No extraneous kibble to prevent movement, creates a clean silhouette as well.
+ Lots of 5mm ports to mount weaponry in any way you like. Evo Fusion gimmick allows for combined weapon options.
+ No obvious gaps or holes. Almost everything is filled in.
+ Tons of personality.
+ Likely not an intentional design feature; the articulated hands allow for compatibility with Iron Factory EF-EX32 Phecda, their version of Vos.
The Baddies (-)
- He’s a little thin front to back, and maybe a little short. Tarn is depicted as a heavy in the comics, with a lot of weight to throw around. The toy feels a little lacking in this department. This is especially apparent in alt mode.
- He’s kinda boring if you are looking for gimmicks. His existence is the gimmick. I wish they had included his speakers, or maybe an option to remove his mask.
- Despite being well executed, with a fair amount of paint, there are some iconic elements of his design (specifically the bright pink highlights) that would have benefitted from more paint budget.
Final Thoughts
Tarn is an awesome release, if you are a fan of the MTMTE comics and the overall character. He’s a phenomenal action figure with tons of posability and display options, but only an average Transformer due to a lacking alt mode and his general lack of mass. Robot mode is the selling point here. Tarn is a straightforward design. don’t expect any flip out panels, or hidden weapons. What you see is what you get, and if that’s not good enough… welcome to “The List” my friend…
