 Fugitive Waspinator
Back from the Dead
Transformers Age of the Primes Deluxe Class
Item No.: Asst. G0474 No. G1025
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Includes: 2 stingers, 2 rocket boosters
Action Feature: Converts from robot to car
Retail: $24.99
Availability: March 2025
Other: Never Say Never
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I have had Fugitive Waspinator next to my photo box to shoot for nearly one and a half years. Hasbro and everybody else have put out so much good stuff that even at one toy per week, the toy I paid full price for has since been spotted for $10 at Marshall's before I opened the one I bought for $25. To make things even more interesting, we've had two Deluxe price increases since this guy came out only one year and eight months ago. If anyone says there's no inflation, you pop 'em in the mouth for me. I feel badly that this guy - a fan-requested figure, based on a canceled toy, from a beloved show - just never got out of the box. But that happens when you buy too much of this stuff, which I am absolutely feeling lately. Most of this stuff is quite good, and Wasp - or Fugitive Waspinator - is no exception.
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The toy is a redeco and slight retool of 2023's Transformers Legacy United Deluxe Animated Universe Bumblebee [FOTD #2,723], a figure which was quite small for his time too. In car mode, both toys are roughly the same size as a $10 "Legends" toy from about a decade earlier. Hasbro gave them extra paint, articulation, and deco, which they didn't have to do, but given the price point structure? They kind of did. The purple-eyed bug bot has a pretty great head sculpt with bright green on his hands, thighs, and biceps. Everything just looks good - the colors aren't faded, and nothing seems to be bland. It's much more saturated than his appearances as an Autobot cadet, which makes some sense narratively speaking. Sure, he's not in the same form as he had on Earth but you repaint the molds you have, not the molds you wish you had.
Since this toy came out, basic 3 4/4-inch Star Wars figures are now $20 and this 4-inch guy was $25. Thankfully, he feels pretty good with molded black soles of his boots, multiple shoulder joints, ankle tilts, and just about anything you might want other than a decent wrist swivel. Hasbro has made relatively few Legacy Animated Decepticons but they're all pretty gorgeous with wonderful colors that are a bit brighter and snazzier than the other products on the market. I love the little bug crest chevron on his helmet, and the face mask is a pretty decent translation of what we saw on TV. It's not an exact match since it's more or less a Generationsization of a Derrick Wyatt-ish design, but I think the shift in design went about as well as you can expect. I'd also really like to see Hasbro do more brilliant colors, the light green on the face and limbs really stands out.
Shifting him into a car was pretty easy, but the arms need to be just-so. It's complex for a toy of his size, with extra shoulder parts and pieces required to contort to get you the tiny car mode you demand, you sicko.
When you're done, you get a little green Earth car. I don't believe we ever saw him in an Earth mode car on the show, but that's the mold we had and Hasbro applied the "evil" colors to it. We didn't wind up getting a lot of Cybertron-mode guys in Legacy, so you can enjoy the little green police car with the red light on top. The black stripe looks good, the silver headlights and wheel caps are nice, and the toy has an extra panel on the back to cover up unsightly kibble. It's a very good alt mode given the limitations of its size, even if some of the very visible hinges are front and center on the doors. I love the dark purple windows, and the purple Decepticon logo sort of fades in the dark green. It will depend on the light, in my dark office it isn't very visible. I don't think I could reasonably expect the car to be better for the price.
Everything "fan" in Transformers under $30 is now gone, unless you head to off-price channels. This leaves long-time fans in a position where they have to ask themselves what's worth it, and if you want a green animated Wasp? This is it. There is no other car Wasp option from Hasbro or Takara-Tomy, although there was a bug-mode one in 2009. And today you might still find this guy at or under $10 if you're out hunting for irregular pants and off-brand dog bowls. I'd highly recommend it at closeout store prices, and at $25 it's not bad. It's not a bargain, but if they made this as a BotCon toy for $80 you're probably have bought it. $25 isn't awful, but I don't feel great about the fact that two of Blokees Jet Mode Starscream's three dimensions aren't all that much smaller. Enjoy it for what it is, I imagine more Animated toys are not likely given what I've seen marked down. It's good, if you have the money for its current asking price.
--Adam Pawlus
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