Zoinks! LEGO / KRE-O Zombies! :: Countdown to Halloween 2014

When the Kre-o Cityville blind bags were clearanced at Target a few months back I picked up a handful, knowing the accessories were compatible with LEGO. Bonus: their heads are too!

So I slapped a few onto LEGO minifigure bodies and voila! A trio of zombies yearning to eat your braaaaiiinnnssss!

Double Bonus: the two heads on the right glow in the dark!

Aroooo! Kre-o LEGO Minifigure Monster Mash(up)!

I made this Werewolf minifigure by tossing a Kre-O Cityville 'Kreon' head on a LEGO minifigure body.

Does that make him a cross-manufacturer surgically-altered freak in addition to being a werewolf?

Oooh SPOOKY!

Bullet Man the Human Bullet minifigure :: Yo Joe!

"I'm #1 with a bullet, I'm a power pack."

Although I have picked up quite a few Kre-O Transformer minifigures aka Kreons (Arcee, Nemesis Prime, Galvatron), I have been able to avoid any of their GI Joe offerings. Mostly because I was never really a GI Joe fan.

But that all changed with this guy!

I spotted these Series 5 GI Joe Kreons at Toys R Us and my eye was immediately drawn to Bullet Man, the Human Bullet. I couldn't believe my eyes - Hasbro made a minifigure of this classic GI Joe superhero action figure dolly! I had to have him!

Now in the past Kre-o have been pretty good about printing codes on their packaging - at least where their Transformers offerings are involved. Making finding the figures you want, while avoiding the dumb ones you don't quite simple.

Well no more, Mr. 'buy only what you want'! All the packages have the exact same number printed on them now! ARGH!

To the squeeze method!

Thankfully Bullet Man has that pointy noggin (a re-used jet nose from the Transformers Kre-ons), so he's relatively easy to find.

I was also trying to find Zaranna, but she eluded me. I imagine she'll be popular, so she may have already been found by someone before I got there. But that idiot passed on Bullet Man, so it's their loss!

Bullet Man comes with a small flat brick and a decal to make like he is holding a MOC action figure of his own self. So meta!

The Human Bullet really appeals to my love of all things 'superhero', as well as my love of classic and nostalgic toys (although I never did own an original Bullet Man myself. I was never into dollies!)

And as if he wasn't fun enough, they added a clear 'jet pack' tube and a string, so you can zip-line Bullet Man into action!

After squeezing every mini-figure on the shelf, it seems these may be two to a shipment. So if you're good at feeling-up, you should find him easily enough.

If you are not good at feeling-up, I suggest you get to practicing!

Enter Lego Sandman :: A Random Toy Pic

This here is a custom Lego JSA founding member Wesley Dodds - aka the original Golden Age Sandman - that I just put together tonight. Lego savvy readers will note the gas-mask is not Lego! The gas-mask actually came from a Kre-O Cityville Invasion blind bagged figure (Hazmat Henry). I found the Kre-O figures on clearance at Target last night, and today realized I had all the rest of the parts needed to make a pretty swell Sandman minifigure! AW YEAH JSA!

Nemesis Prime :: Transformers Mico-Changers Series 3 Plus Codes!

It seems like just yesterday that I discovered the Transformers Micro Changers Series 2 Arcee, and yet yesterday I stumbled on a case of Series 3 Kreons at Target! After perusing the back of the package and seeing the offerings, I decided that, like with Series 2, there was really only one I needed: Nemesis Prime!

Nemesis Prime, aka Black Convoy, aka Scourge, is basically Optimus Prime in Raiders colors. And with a Raider Nation attitude to boot.

I've always been a fan of Black Convoy/Nemesis Prime/Scourge, so I of course had to squeeze all the packages to find this guy! I now know that the code for Nemesis Prime on the back right of the packages ends in '52.'

I do the squeezing so you don't have to!

I already have an Optimus Prime Kreon, so as you can see NP is nothing more than a re-paint. Although Nemesis Prime does come with extra pieces so he can be converted into a semi:

Like most Transformer Kreon conversions, it's pretty jinky, but I give them an A+ for effort.

'Yeehaaaaawwww! Ride-em cowboy!'

Convoy fans are going to want Nemesis Prime. I went ahead and googled for the rest of the codes for this series in case you're interested in more:

Nosecone – 50
Thrust – 51
Nemesis Prime – 52
Ramjet – 53
Huffer – 54
Kickback – 55
Long Haul – 56
Guzzle – 57
Sharkticon -58
Cheetor – 59
Beachcomber – 60
Seawing – 61

Transformers Kre-O Series 2 Arcee and Codes!

Transformers Kreon Series 2 have begun to hit at my local Target. I was only interested in Arcee, so I tracked down all the codes online - wouldn't you know it, Arcee is #69! Snicker snicker!

Fortunately for me, although the Series 2 Transformer Kreons were well picked over, there was still one gigglegiggle 69 haw haw left in the bunch!

Arcee turns into a rather decent looking little car. Unfortunately, to do so requires keeping track of a lot of extra parts when she's in robot mode. But as always, I applaud the effort and really like the extra level this two-mode feature gives these little Transformers Kreon minifigures.

Here are the other Code numbers for all of Transformers Kre-o Series 2. The numbers can be found on the back top corner of the minifigure packages:

66 - Bulkhead
67 - Hardshell
68 - Blight
69 - Arcee
70 - Acid Wing
71 - Vehicon
72 - Scourge
73 - Powerglide
74 - Perceptor
75 - Lugnut
76 - Hoist
77 - Groove

I might later try to get a Perceptor and maybe Hoist, when and if I find more of these. Until then, I've at least got my must-have of the bunch with little Arcee!

Star Trek Kre-O Blind Bag Minifigures and Codes!

In anticipation of Star Trek: Into Darkness, Hasbro via their Kre-O line has already released multiple building block sets - as well as a series of Blind Bagged minifigures!

I used the 'squeeze method' to find the two I needed: A Klingon and a Gorn (or is it just Gorn? Mr. Gorn perhaps? Maybe Ms. Gorn? I don't know.)

Gorn is pretty impressive. He has the 'Alien'  build that makes him a great extraterrestrial minifigure, as well as great custom fodder.

He also has a very cool weapon.

'Bring it on, Captain Jerk!'

Of course I also had to have the Klingon. He has that ubiquitous Klingon weapon that I don't feel like looking up right now, as well as a cool jacket.

He's apparently also wearing a helmet, which may be the new Star Trek's way of bridging the smooth headed Klingons of the original series with the lumpy headed Klingons of TNG.

FIGHT!

Each package has a unique set of two numbers on the back upper right of the package, which leads with '30711' on all of them.

The Klingon was 30711 08 and Gorn was 30711 09. Or maybe it was the other way around, I got the packages mixed up when I opened them. Regardless, you will be able to tell because Gorn has those massive legs, and their weapons are unique too. So you might have to squeeze a little bit, but not too much ;)

Be mine, Kreon-tine

The Transformers Kreon blind bag microchanger minifigures are back!

We first saw these blind bagged Transformers Kreons last year in the preview series, and  now the first official full series, known as Collection 1, is showing up at retail.

I found them at Target, in the holiday promotional section with all their Valentines Day stuff. I used the 'squeeze method' to determine the coneheaded seeker Dirge, my most wanted, and decided to just try my luck on a second to see what I got. I ended up with the Constructicon Hook, which is pretty cool.

I didn't have it with me at the time, but as with the preview wave there is a code to decipher which Kreon is which. Check out the last two numbers of the code at the top back of the bag to figure out what you are getting:

22981 40 - Singe (Turbomaster Scorch)
22981 41 - Inferno
22981 42 - Autobot Springer
22981 43 - Warpath
22981 44 - Quickslinger (Slingshot)
22981 45 - Rampage
22981 46 - Insecticon
22981 47 - Blast Off
22981 48 - Decepticon Hook
22981 49 - Dirge
22981 50 - Airachnid
22981 51 - Decepticon Bludgeon

I'll post pics of the minifigures later (probably after I go back and try to get my last couple must-haves!), but for now I wanted to be sure everyone had their cheat sheets ready to go!

Kreon Micro-Changers Preview Series

The new Kre-o blind bagged Transformers minifigures, officially dubbed the 'Kreon Micro-changers Preview Series,' are hitting retail now!

There are six different figures in this Preview Series, and although initially intrigued (I've certainly enjoyed the Optimus Prime and Mirage Kreons I have thus far) I did not think I would bite on these.

Ok, maybe I planned on grabbing the seeker Sunstorm, but that was probably going to be it.

That was before I realized one of the Preview Series figures was The Mighty Galvatron!

So upon discovering the display in store, and with no foreknowledge of a code (see below,) I squeezed until I found Sunstorm (which I found right away) and Galvatron (which took forever - I squeezed the whole damn shipment it seemed!)

I was focusing primarily on their helmets (haw haw) and found that to be an accurate way to identify them.

An initial look at the available figures in this Preview Series has me thinking that a couple of them are just quickie kit-bashes from already existing parts. Namely Waspinator, who just looks like a green Jazz. Although I admit no familiarity with Waspinator, so maybe he's supposed to look like a green Jazz? And I've never heard of Spinister or Crankstart before.

This kitbashed, cobbled together feel is why I originally thought I was likely to pass on these. 

What do I think now that I own some?

They're pretty darn cool. Not perfect, but not too shabby after all.

First, the fact that these are designed to have a robot and alt mode (albeit very simplistic in nature) makes them all the cooler. I mean come on: a build-toy minifigure who is itself a build toy - of a Transformer who is by definition able to transform - with robot and alt modes similar to that of their counterparts in other media - what's not to love?

The fact that Kre-o and Hasbro designed the toys thusly, when they really didn't have to, allows for wide forgiveness in the fact that the transformations are simple and in some cases silly. Could you do better? I don't think so.

Like I said, when I briefly glanced at these online before they were released I initially only wanted the Seeker Sunstorm because, although he isn't one of the big 3, he is a G1 Seeker and G1 Seekers are flippin' badass.

Sunstorm looks wonderful as a minifigure, and his little plane mode is cute too. I love the fact that the extra pieces are useful as a weapon, again: stylistically simple but a very smart use of extra parts design wise, helping prevent loss of integral components.

I sure hope more Seekers make it into future Micro-Changer assortments. In the meantime I may go out and buy another Sunstorm or two.

When I found these guys I thought I'd only search for Sunstorm, but when I looked closely at the packaging I saw that a G1 Galvatron was also an available figure! Hokey smokes! I had to have him!

And Galvatron lives up to my desire. His little figure self is so adorable!

And his alt mode is again simple but fun. And again, I like the fact that all parts for his alt mode are integrated into his robot mode. A little bulky (and removable if you wish) but there for when you need them. And yes, there is parts re-use here too (his gun is not unique but a re-colored Megatron gun - but that's ok by me, since SPOILER: he was once Megatron!)

After playing with these two a while, I decided I wanted to return to the store for Scorponok. These little Kreon Micro-Changers are just too much fun!

Unfortunately Scorponok isn't as good as Sunstorm or Galvatron. The plastic of his forearms and scorpion-legs immediately began exhibiting stress discoloring when I constructed him. Continued conversion could lead to breakage there, or at least loosening of connections. Or more discoloring. The fact that it was so noticeable on Scorponok and I didn't notice it on the others may be due to the plastic color. Maybe the others were stressed as well, but it didn't show in the lighter colors? Regardless, no toy collector likes to see stressed plastic, ever.

Also, all the parts for his alt mode do not integrate into his robot mode, which means you have spare parts laying around, waiting to be lost. On a positive note, there are a ton of pieces here, way more than Lego would ever put into a single minifigure, so you feel like you are getting your money's worth. Also, he does make a neat looking robot with those claws of his! The translucent plastic really pops.

Not a bad figure, but the stress marks on the plastic remind us that the plastic used in Kre-o toys is sub par to that we are all pretty used to in Legos, and that really disappoints.

PS: I now know that you can easily identify the Micro-Changers by a number on the front bottom of the packaging:

Spinister: number series ends in 7
Galvatron: number series ends in 8
Sunstorm: number series ends in 9
Crankstart: number series ends in 0
Scorponok: number series ends in 1
Waspinator: number series ends in 2

The Kreon Micro-Changers Preview Series was $3.49 at my Toys R Us; the same price they charge me for Lego minifigures. With the alt modes and a large amount of pieces, I feel like these are a slightly better bargain than Lego minifigures, even with lower quality plastic. But that is also assuming you care about the characters - a Galvatron might be worth $3.49 but maybe a Spinister isn't to you. Fortunately the code is easy to break, or you can just squeeze like I had to.

In conclusion, while a couple of these figures feel rushed to production, just as many are great and worth tracking down. And although I think it odd to do a whole release of only Decepticons, that too may be due to the rushed nature of this 'Preview' wave.

But if the good points are any indication of what the future of this line has in store for us, I expect amazing things and fun Kreons that would not necessarily be marketable in larger sets (a Rodimus Prime or a Tripticon Kreon perhaps?) Although I worry the dual-mode gimmick may limit what characters they can make, I also have faith that Kre-o/Hasbro's engineers are smart enough to give us something fun no matter what the challenge. 

Kre-O lands Star Trek Licence :: Kre-O Enterprise

I've got to have this Kre-O Enterprise, if only to allow my Lego Darth Vader to commandeer it for the Empire!

This is an instance where the building sets are vastly cooler than the potential mini-figures! Coming in 2013, this is obviously based off the most recent Star Trek movie Enterprise, but if this line is a success we could possibly see other stuff from past Star Trek TV and films!

Random Toy Pic :: One shall stand, one shall ROCK!

More Than Meets the Eye...Literally

What the hell is this?

And is there any reason anyone in the world should expect to find the following within?

No. No there is not.

In a marketing move that can only be summed up with the word 'Huh?!?!' Kre-o, the makers of the 'don't call 'em Legos' Transformers building sets and minifigures have stocked the local K-Mart shelves with...a red box.

The box is factory sealed shut, with no indication on what lies within.

Well okay, there's a picture of a Bumblebee minifigure, or Kreon, on the back; but within all ten of the boxes on the shelf (and yes, I peeked in all of them) Optimus Prime was the only figure inside. If they all contain Optimus Prime, why seal them shut in the first place? Okay, maybe I got there late, and there were other boxes containing other Kreons. But I doubt it.

Once you open the flap it does make a little more sense. Maybe. Looks like they are trying to push Kre-o sets by getting you interested in this little Optimus Prime first. Then why hide him behind a blank red flap?!?!

The box contains one Optimus Prime minifigure with his exposed (scandalous) matrix of leadership. And the block he's standing on. That's it. Big box, little bang. For $4.99.

Weird.

Oh, there is a booklet on the inside flap which shows all the Kre-o sets we've all already seen a million times. Yay.

I admit I bought this to have an Optimus Prime Kreon...and also to take one for the team. This package/presentation is truly terrible product marketing and I just had to share my thoughts. In fact, I bet a lot of folks out there have or would have walked right past these. I almost did.

One last thought: Is this set a mis-shelved Valentine's Day promotion? Possible, but it should still either contain more (ex: Valentine's cards) or be better marked on the outside of the package (ex: I love Kreons!)

The world may never know.

Releasing Kreons individually: smart. Releasing only one Kreon individually, in an unmarked blank red box and charging five bucks? Lame.

EDIT: A little internet sleuthing has revealed that this figure/packaging was a convention exclusive last year. So much for 'exclusive,' eh? Apparently there were a few leftovers and they hit my local K-Mart. Keep your eyes peeled if you too want to find this 'exclusive!'