Transformers: Prime - AIRACHNID!

Transformers: Prime - Deluxe Class Series 01 - 012 Airachnid - Hasbro 2011

One of the most surprising Transformers disappointments to me was this Airachnid figure from twelve years ago. I'm often disappointed with female Transformers, but it's often for expected reasons (like repainting a male sculpt pink and expecting us to appreciate the effort). But in the case of Airachnid, they had this awesome character and gave her a totally unique sculpt, but still somehow ended up missing the mark completely. The figure is stiff and awkward and is a major aesthetic step backward from the previous Prime and Transformers: Animated ladies. This is especially shameful since the character is so intriguing. Airachnid is a former Decepticon who is now independently evil. She transforms into a helicopter, but uses the blades in a spider-like fashion to propel when in robot mode. She is a little like a reimagined Blackarachnia, but with a heavy dose of Maleficent thrown in. Oh, and she has the power to control Insecticons. A new 3rd Party figure inspired me to finally post the original. Let's check her out below!

I think the major disappointment for me is that her body is a essentially just the underside of a helicopter slightly split apart to suggest arms and legs. The arms are composed of two sections of helicopter plating with a weird purple hand dangling from the end. The head doesn't move at all. And her hips and legs barely move at all. Also, her propellers can't be posed in a way to replicate her spider-like design (which is literally in her name).

She comes with two lobster-claw-like accessories that can be mounted to her arms.

In photographs I sometimes think she's not that bad. Her face sculpt is great. And the purple highlights suggest a more organic sculpt than she actually has. But in person she just seems to be designed poorly.

Time for some Group and Comparison Pics!

Here is Airachnid with the other Transformers: Prime - Robots in Disguise Deluxe figure, Arcee.

And here are my Airachnid figures together. From Left to Right: Robots in Disguise Deluxe, 3rd Party APCToys Night Countess, Legion Class, and Kre-O.

Cheers!