 Skywarp
Black Repaint
Transformers Studio Series 86 Voyager
Item No.: Asst. G0478 No. G1931
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Includes: Removable tail fins, two null-ray blasters, wing tips
Action Feature: Transforms from robot to fighter jet
Retail: $42.99
Availability: June 2026
Other: The first repaint
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Hey kids, a new Skywarp! I'd love to say it's the last one you'll ever buy, but it's probably the last one I'll ever buy. I got Classics, I got Robot Masters, I got big ones, little ones, medium-sized ones, Cybertronic ones, Earth ones... and I don't do much with them. I like the cartoon a lot, so I assumed this would be worth picking up - and it it mostly is. It meets expectations, but I wouldn't say it reinvents the wheel. I love that Hasbro gave this guy a solid scowl, because otherwise he's pretty much the same as Thundercracker [FOTD #2,172] in black with purple highlights. The knees still have the same blue vents, but there's really not much new here beyond it being a match for the other guys in the set.
For those keeping track at home, Hasbro has released three and announced an additional four of this mold. That's seven and counting.
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This guy is always popular. He doesn't have a ton of personality nor a memorable character beat, but he's a black repaint of Starscream with purple highlights. That's why you want this. The mold does a great job cramming the details of a 42-year-old 2D cartoon into a toy that is a pretty good match. I won't say it's the final form this mold could take for this character, mostly because Hasbro is being somewhat inconsistent with its "glass" parts. The cartoon has a canopy that's more or less opaque orange, and Hasbro's toy here is clear which is a better match for the toy. While it seems absurd to suggest, we just got a Target exclusive Prowl that has opaque painted blue windows rather than clear blue plastic. The toy was actually more or less fine, but they made it finer - and odds are Target will need an exclusive in 2031. Would I buy it again in changed colors? No, I'm going to be happy with this one and pat myself on the back for restraint.
For those who missed other versions of the mold, it's a pretty good toy that takes into account learnings in times where you need to carve money out of a mold. The fists are on ball joints, so unlike most other Seekers there are fewer pins. The joints are all fairly good overall, with a decent range of movement. I had no problems keeping him standing, and his rocker ankles help you squeeze poses out of the design without much fuss. Takara-Tomy and Hasbro did a good job figuring out clever ways to cram kibble out of the way, including removable wings on his ankles that can be places on his back if you prefer. You have options for storage here, and it changes the silhouette of the figure without much fuss. And also, it gives you a part to lose, so be careful to not misplace it.
There isn't much I can do to want to change the figure. There's a little divot in the crotch region that could be painted black to match the model on TV. The eyes are cast in clear and painted red, giving you some eye-piping - I'd be just as happy to have it molded in a bright red color instead. His null-ray cannons are painted clear plastic... I admit, I don't love that. It looks fine today but time might change that. At this very moment, this is probably the best Skywarp you can buy.
The colors can be a little obnoxious in spots, specifically the Decepticon faces on the wings. Without a painted outline, I find the dark purple fades into the black plastic and doesn't really pop. It may match the show, but a white or silver outline would be nice to help me see them more easily. The wrists are also painted purple, so take care to not scrape them.
I found this toy a bit easier to convert than Thundercracker, and I haven't fussed with that mold in a while. I also consulted the instructions, because who am I trying to impress?.
The jet looks a lot like the jet on the show. Hasbro and friends did a nice job making a cartoon robot wad up and cram under a shell of a plane, with lots of clever bits you have to untuck and unfold to get your plane. I love the opening cockpit, but it's a little shallow so I don't anticipate we'll ever have a little Dr. Arkeville or other figure to cram inside it. The wings fit on nicely, the deco meets expectations... honestly, there's not much to say here. The deco artists did a good job, the sculptors also did a good job, and there won't be much else to say about why you should or shouldn't buy this guy. I'm assuming most collectors rarely see the alt modes once the robot goes on a shelf, but I'd love to know if I'm wrong.
I like what they did here enough to think about selling some old Skywarps, but that's also a statement as to where we are right now. There's not a lot of newness, there's a lot of improving and spinning new versions of characters to look more like what we saw on TV. It's proof that the marketing in 1984 was so good that we don't want product that looks like the actual toys - we want toys of what we saw on the commercials and the cartoon which, let's face it, is a commercial. I'm recommending the upgrade, but as an upgrade. There's no real reason to hang on toy other Earth-plane Voyager-class Skywarp toys at this point, just get this one and streamline your closets.
--Adam Pawlus
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