Toy Review – Transformers – Decepticon Slice

The Geek Bits

Name: Decepticon Slice
Toyline: Transformers
Subline: Transformers Timelines – G2 Redux
Size Class: Deluxe
Released: BotCon 2010
Availability: The Official Transformers Collectors Club
Includes: Slice, Energon weapons, tech specs card, instructions
Worth the price? Since you’d have to buy this from a dealer or eBay, it’s hard to say. You’re getting this toy for the character more than the toy, in my opinion.

DECEPTICON SLICE, also known as Slicer… or Shattered Glass Wheeljack… or… hang on, let’s start this again.

DECEPTICON SLICE is the new trademark-friendly name for SLICER, a Decepticon who appeared in toy form very late in the Action Master line in the early 1990’s. As a blue and grey (with yellow and red accents) deco of Action Master Wheeljack, he was pretty obscure. That was until the Transformers Collectors’ Club got their hands on him. This deco was the basis of Shattered Glass Wheeljack’s appearances in Fun Pub Comics, and in 2010, Slicer became available as the attendee toy at BotCon 2010. But as a redeco of Downshift from the Energon toy line, how does he hold up?

Vehicle Mode

Slice is a mainly blue rally sports car with yellow and black accents and translucent red windows. The gimmick for Energon was clear weapons that could be attached to the vehicle and robot, so Slicer comes with a “neutronic exhaust gun” and a “hyper-carbine shotgun”. His spoiler is also detachable, but I leave it on in vehicle mode, as I think it looks better that way. A translucent red missile can be fired from the exhaust gun, and its range is pretty good considering the size of the toy.

The weapons can go on either side of the car and can be rotated to point either forwards or backwards. I personally would keep both pointed backwards unless you are going to aim the missile at another toy. The car is pretty good looking; the blue is nice, and the gold and black on the hood are a great translation of the deco on the original Action Master.

Robot Mode

As a robot, Slice looks like the Action Master turned into a real robot. This is pretty easily accomplished, as Downshift was pretty much an homage to Wheeljack in the first place. The chest deco accurately updates the Action Master’s deco, and while the shins weren’t capable of having the exact deco, the club did a great job of applying the same color scheme.

There is a purple Autobot symbol molded at the top of his chest. But isn’t Slice a Decepticon? Well, yes, but the club couldn’t remove that detail from the toy. So, they painted it purple. If you squint, it can be a Decepticon symbol. Or, you can turn Slice into Shattered Glass Wheeljack. But, uh, ignore the huge Decepticon symbols in vehicle mode, okay?

As a toy, though, I’m just not totally wowed by Slice. Oh, it’s not a horrible toy. Pieces aren’t popping off, it’s got no stability issues. It’s just… a bit boring. Energon’s other gimmick was the ability for Deluxe Toys to Powerlinx with other Deluxe Toys to form a bigger robot. So, a lot of Slice’s mold was engineered to do this, which hinders some of the poseability. Also, on my sample I see a few cases of mold flash, almost like stress marks, leaving white bits here and there. It’s not a huge thing, but it is a bit disappointing.

The Good
The look is fantastic — it’s the Action Master turned into a transforming robot. The mold choice is great as it looks just like Slicer, and it’s a great update for a character nobody really expected to return.

The Bad
The toy is kind of boring. It’s not a statue, but there’s not much to do with him when trying to pose him.

The Final Rewind
You’re getting this toy because of the character, not because it’s a really awesome plaything. And as such, it works. This will fit in with your other G2 Redux characters, but don’t expect this toy to do a lot.

The Gallery