Nemesis Prime [Defender Version 07- Power of the Beast]

@robfromzonebase Nemesis Prime [Transformers Blokees Defender Version 07- Power of the Beast] #zonebase #transformers #blokees #beastwars #blokeestransformers ♬ Mind Over Matter - E.G. DAILY

I was pleasantly surprised to see that one of the special versions available in Blokees Transformers Defender Version 07: Power of the Beast was Universe Nemesis Prime, the 2004 Target-exclusive repaint of Big Convoy. I was expecting things like metallic paint or some extra fancy weaponry (which another special version of Big Convoy in this series actually has), but instead they went with one of the more obscure versions of Nemesis Prime. That's a pretty deep cut, and I love seeing Blokees do things like that.

Nemesis Prime originated in the original Transformers Universe toy line, which featured previously released molds repainted into new versions of existing characters or, in some cases, entirely new characters. Initially, Universe served as a companion line to Armada before continuing alongside later Transformers series. Store exclusives, convention exclusives, and even an ongoing comic published through the Official Transformers Collectors' Convention/Club all fell under the Universe banner. This was back during the 3H split era of BotCon.

The storyline centered around Unicron's return. He began pulling Transformers from countless alternate universes and forcing them to battle inside his body. As each Transformer fell, Unicron consumed their Spark and grew even more powerful. The Maximals from a post-Beast Machines Cybertron joined forces with the Autobots against Predacons and Decepticons loyal to Unicron... although the battle lines weren't always so clearly drawn.

Of course, there have been several different characters named Nemesis Prime over the years. This particular version originated from the corpse of one universe's Optimus Prime, who had been killed by Mega Zarak. Unicron cloned the fallen Optimus and transformed him into his own dark version of Prime, complete with the Dead Matrix, an artifact capable of killing Primus.

In the early TFCC comics, which took place on a version of Cybertron during the events of Transformers Cybertron/Galaxy Force, Nemesis Prime and Ramjet, another of Unicron's Heralds, arrived on Cybertron while it was largely abandoned. Most of the Transformers were searching for the Cyber Planet Keys and the Omega Lock in order to awaken Primus and stop the Unicron Singularity, which was busy tearing reality apart.

Because catastrophic events are just another Tuesday when you're a Transformer.

Nemesis Prime and Ramjet planned to use the Dead Matrix to kill Primus while he slept and had virtually no one left to defend him. Naturally, they were defeated, the Dead Matrix was taken away, and Nemesis Prime was imprisoned.

You'd think that would be the end of his story, but nope. This version of Nemesis Prime continued popping up during later inter-dimensional adventures. Alternity even redeemed him and turned him into one of the good guys! It just goes to show there's really no such thing as a burned bridge in a fictional universe.

Just like the original toy, this Blokees kit is a repaint of Big Convoy. While the original figure reused the Beast Wars Neo toy mold, this special Defender Version is a repaint of the Big Convoy model kit found in the blind boxes. I'd still love to get the regular Big Convoy from Series 07, but this was a pretty awesome surprise to open.

I still remember getting my original Nemesis Prime 22 years ago. I'd already owned the original Big Convoy, specifically the Korean Sonokong release, where the character was renamed "Mammolike." Getting the evil repaint afterward was incredibly exciting. One of the things that made Universe so much fun was that Hasbro would occasionally take molds American collectors had never had access to and suddenly release them as store exclusives. There were even plans to reuse molds from Brave, although those unfortunately never happened.

Years ago I remember saying online that it'd be really cool if some of those classic Universe color schemes found their way onto modern updates of those characters. It's neat to see that actually happen, especially in a format that I've clearly become a huge fan of.

Big Convoy's design works incredibly well as a Blokees Defender Version. You'd think the smaller proportions would make him look cute, but somehow he's just as badass as ever. Nemesis Prime isn't simply a black repaint either. His color layout is surprisingly sharp. The cream-colored plastic used on various parts of the robot really pops against the darker colors.

Yes... cream.

That was one of the charms of the old Universe repaints. Instead of using obvious colors like gold, they'd use champagne or other unusual shades that gave each figure its own unique personality. Some of those decos were genuinely creative.

Building Nemesis Prime felt like a premium experience, much like Magmatron did. There are so many unique parts that help separate him from the standard release. The mammoth tusks are separate pieces that attach to the beast kibble on his back, giving the whole design an even more dramatic silhouette.

The paint applications are another highlight. The red tips of the tusks and the red chest clearly draw inspiration from Robots in Disguise (2001) Scourge's windows and sword, while the teal detailing on the legs mirrors Scourge's own teal highlights. The resemblance is so obvious that, in the TFCC comic, Robots in Disguise Optimus Prime actually takes note of it. Apparently the similarity wasn't lost on the fictional characters either.

Assembly is exactly what you'd expect from a Blokees kit. Everything goes together smoothly, and there aren't any tricky spots worth warning you about. Honestly, with a design this ornate, I expected at least one frustrating step... but nope. It's another straightforward, enjoyable build.

Since this is simply a repaint of the regular Big Convoy, he comes with the standard Big Cannon. The other special version includes metallic paint along with the upgraded Matrix Buster version of the weapon. I'd honestly love to own both of the other Big Convoy variants someday—one to display alongside Magmatron, and especially that spectacular Special Armor Type version.

Having a small model of Universe Nemesis Prime wasn't something I ever expected Blokees to make, but I'm certainly glad they did. Once again, they've shown they're willing to dig deep into Transformers history instead of sticking to only the obvious choices. That's one of the reasons I've become such a fan of this line.

And honestly... he's just pretty damned impressive looking.

Changing Gears

I've been experimenting with the way I handle things around the site. I put a lot of time and energy into Zone Base and always try to make it a better overall experience. For the longest time, there wasn't really a regular posting schedule. I just posted whenever I wanted. Eventually, that turned into posting nearly every day before settling into the rhythm I've had for the past few years.

Lately though, that rhythm has started feeling more like a rut. It became content for the sake of content, as long as I followed my schedule, and I'd be way too hard on myself whenever I couldn't.

Guys, I make exactly zero dollars from this site. It's simply an extension of my hobby and my way of enjoying all this fun stuff with you. If I *did* make money from Zone Base, I'd probably be even more militant about sticking to a schedule.

One of the reasons I've always tried to post regularly is because it's always seemed strange to me when a website goes silent for months, then suddenly posts again like nothing ever happened. Sure, life happens, and sometimes people just can't update. That's completely understandable. But let your readers know what's going on, especially if you're making money from the site. In my mind, those readers deserve that courtesy.

I've always felt like too many people take their audience for granted, and I refuse to do that with all of you.

Zone Base isn't some giant website, and I'm certainly no influencer. But the site gets thousands of views every day. There aren't words that can fully express how flattering and humbling that is to me. Thank you all so much for taking time out of your day just to read whatever nonsense I've decided to write about.

With all that in mind, and with the goal of making both the site better and my life a little easier, I'm changing the posting schedule. I think it's going to lead to higher-quality posts and, ultimately, a better experience for everyone. They'll probably be a few adjustments as I go, but here's the plan.

**Monday**

The Weekly Update posts have become surprisingly popular, so I'm going to expand them a bit. I'll still talk about what I did over the weekend and any toy pickups (I seriously doubt anyone is interested in the drawstring cargo shorts I found at Burlington), but I'm also going to use them to talk about things happening in the hobby. A new toy line? A new game? Something interesting that's been announced? It'll all have a place here.

**Tuesday**

Random Day!

This is where the Godzilla, He-Man, and other non-Transformers topics will live. I'm also expanding "random" to include robot lines adjacent to Transformers. Maybe I want to talk about a BeastBOX figure, one of those cool Nano Block-style mechs from Daiso, or even a GoBot. They'll all fit here.

The biggest change is that if I don't have something substantial to say, there simply won't be a Tuesday post.

Previously, I'd sometimes throw up a video or something with very little text because I felt like I *had* to post something. Not anymore. I'd rather post something worth reading than post just to fill a space on the calendar.

**Wednesday**

Wednesday becomes the week's main Transformers feature.

Instead of two shorter Transformers or robot-related posts every week, expect one larger, more substantial article.

Transformers model kits will probably continue taking center stage because they're a blast to build and write about, and you all have made it pretty clear you enjoy them too. But don't worry, regular Transformers toys aren't going anywhere. I still want to continue things like my quest to cover every Cyberworld toy.

I also want to get back to writing more articles that aren't necessarily toy reviews. Maybe it's an episode of the cartoon, a character, a piece of history, or just an experience I've had with the franchise. I miss writing those kinds of posts, and I think they'll make Wednesday feel like the week's "Main Event."

**Occasional or Special Posts**

Sometimes something happens and I just want to talk about it *right now*. Those posts aren't going away. They'll happen whenever inspiration strikes or whenever there's something worth talking about.

**Social Media**

Zone Base has never had a huge social media presence. Most of the sharing has always been through my personal accounts. I did create a Zone Base Facebook page to make sharing easier, and while it doesn't have a huge following, that's perfectly fine.

I've also started treating Instagram and TikTok as extensions of the site rather than separate things. I've been making TikTok videos, sharing them to Instagram as Reels, and even using those videos as the images for some of my posts.

Going forward, you'll probably see more content there that doesn't necessarily become a full blog post here on Zone Base. Those oddball videos I mentioned earlier? Social media is probably where they'll end up. There are links here on the site, and over the next few days I'll be looking for ways to integrate them even better. If you'd like to give me a follow, I'd certainly appreciate it.

Starting this week, Zone Base will officially move to this new format, with the first new Weekly Update arriving next week.

Don't worry—Halloween is still happening exactly as it always does, with Halloween posts appearing before the regular scheduled posts. Beast Summer isn't going anywhere either. July is still going to be packed with beast-themed content, not just here on the site, but across the social media pages as well.

I hope you all enjoy the changes, and I hope they make Zone Base an even better place to visit.

As always, thank you for reading, thank you for sharing the site with your friends, and as always... be excellent to each other.

Optimus Primal [Cyberworld/Cyber Changers]

@robfromzonebase Optimus Primal (Cyberworld/Cyber Changers) #zonebase #transformers #cyberworld #hasbro #takaratomy ♬ SATORi SEDAi - NEON ONI

It feels a little poetic to be talking about a Cyberworld toy during Beast Summer. Beast Summer originally began back in 2023 with the release of *Rise of the Beasts* and a heavy focus on the Beast Alliance toys. I loved Beast Alliance and repeated over and over that I wished it would continue beyond the movie tie-in line.

Well...

Cyberworld arrived in 2025 and feels very much like the spiritual successor to Beast Alliance. It has similarly sized figures and that same fun spirit. If only it had Battle Changers too... but maybe eventually. I've pointed out those familiar connection ports all over the Cyber Changer figures several times already.

Today we're looking at the Optimus Primal Cyber Changer, a figure that really hits home for me. It's a perfect Cyber Changer and a wonderful example of what makes Cyberworld so much fun.

But first, let's address the obvious.

Optimus Primal usually transforms into a gorilla (with the occasional exception... I still love that bat toy), and one of the oldest Beast Wars fandom jokes was "Truck, not monkey," poking fun at G1 purists who couldn't accept Optimus Prime becoming a gorilla.

So naturally...

Here's an Optimus Primal that turns into a truck.

Now, Primal has had vehicle modes before, including another truck, but since this is a widely available mainline toy, it's getting plenty of attention for exactly that reason.

Honestly...

I find it hilarious.

Outside of that conversation is one fabulous little toy. Optimus transforms into a Cybertronian armored carrier that's reminiscent of a Lenco BearCat. Which, funnily enough, gives a beast of a truck a beastly owner. It really suits a powerhouse like Optimus Primal.

Transformation is a simple auto-morph. Click his feet together and push upward, allowing his thighs to slide into the torso while the upper body folds neatly into place. It's quick, satisfying, and results in a really solid vehicle mode.

I do think it would benefit from some extra accessories. Battle Changers or the armor parts from the Armored Cyber Changers would really add a lot to it. It's the kind of vehicle that just begs for extra equipment.

Robot mode is just plain fun. Optimus is stocky, blocky, and wonderfully chunky. Thanks to his colors and overall shape, he still immediately feels like Optimus Primal despite the completely different alternate mode.

Being a Cyber Changer, he follows the class's unified design philosophy, which I've found myself oddly enjoying. Articulation is at the shoulders, hips, and knees, and the similar silhouettes across the line allow them to interact with larger Cyberworld toys and their various gimmicks.

If Action Masters were the G.I. Joe-ification of Transformers, Cyber Changers almost feel like the transforming equivalent of that idea.

The only real nitpick I have is that I wish his thighs were just a little thicker. It's a side effect of the transformation, but on such a broad, beefy design they stand out just a bit more than I'd like.

Speaking of the design, Takara Tomy doesn't appear to be involved with Cyberworld. I've often pointed out similarities to older Transformers with this line, but one comparison that keeps coming back to me is Gobots and Machine Robo. The proportions, articulation, and overall silhouette feel remarkably similar, even if these are a bit larger.

Just like the Hot Wheels x Transformers line, I can't help but wonder if PLEX might have been involved. PLEX has designed Machine Robo toys for Bandai and has worked with Mattel in the past. Now that Hasbro and Mattel have been collaborating more often, it doesn't seem completely out of the realm of possibility.

That's purely speculation on my part...

But it makes sense in my head.

I know another Optimus Primal repaint is already on the way using this mold, but seeing how Cyberworld likes to reuse engineering, I'm already looking forward to seeing what else comes from it.

Personally?

I'd love to see Demolishor using this body, specifically his *Transformers: Energon* design. Even if they didn't make him a dump truck, I think the overall shape is close enough to make it work.

It's been too long since I've taken a look at a Cyberworld toy here on the site and, with my goal of covering the entire line, I'm happy to finally be adding more of them to Beast Summer.

Optimus Primal is a fantastic addition to Cyberworld...

And I just really like him.

Beast Man [Masters of the Universe]

@robfromzonebase Beast Man (Masters of The Universe/Core Class) #zonebase #mastersoftheuniverse #toys #mattel #evilwarriors ♬ Ceremony - Holy Wars

I really liked the new Masters of the Universe movie and, of the many things I enjoyed about it, Beast Man was definitely one of them. Like much of the film, he stayed very true to his classic incarnation. He wasn't quite the buffoon he often became in the old cartoon (okay... maybe just a little), but he definitely felt like the genuine threat he was in those original mini-comics.

Like I've said before, Beast Man was actually one of my very first MOTU toys, even before I got He-Man and Skeletor, so I've always been a little attached to the character.

Once again, we're looking at one of the new Core Class figures and, just like the others, it's surprisingly impressive.

For what's essentially the budget line, Beast Man has a really solid amount of articulation. It's obviously not on the level of a more premium figure, but it's far better than you'd expect at this price point.

Part of me wonders if Mattel is sharing CAD work with some of their other lines to help keep costs down because Beast Man genuinely looks like he should cost more than he does.

His sculpt and paint applications are excellent.

Honestly...

He looks so good that I still have a hard time accepting he's a Core Class figure.

This is the sort of quality I'd have expected from one of the old McFarlane Spawn figures back in the early 2000s, only with much nicer plastic.

Of course, Beast Man comes with his traditional whip. Oddly enough, I appreciate that accessory much more as an adult than I ever did as a kid. Part of that is because the original toy's whip wasn't exactly the greatest, but it's also because I've come to appreciate how well it fits the character.

After all, Beast Man's real power is his ability to telepathically control animals. The whip almost feels less like a weapon and more like a tool for someone who regularly wrangles wild beasts... probably not very kindly.

This is one of those figures that completely surprises you with just how good it is. If the rest of the Core Class line continues at this level, I think Mattel has a real winner on their hands.