Seeker releases just can’t catch a break. It seems like this mold gets a lot of bad reviews, for some reason. Not that I really care. But when I hear anything or see vids on this guy, it always seems to be about how many technical and/or QC issues they have with their copy. I guess I got lucky or something because I have zero gripes with mine other than that I wish he were more posable. But with a super realistic alt mode with tons of gimmicks and a bot mode that drips personality, I think this Skywarp is quite a masterpiece, if not just a superior repaint of the MP0-03 Starscream release. Skywarp is, after all, the sharpest looking of the Seekers. “Popularity breeds contempt.” – Anon.

The fact that Takara got the one and only Shoji Kawamori to come back and work on the first MP Seeker design means so much in terms of its significance, to me at least. Kawamori-san is one of the greatest mecha designers of all time, of course with Jetfire / VF-1 Valkyrie being his most widely recognized yet unattributed design, and he also contributed to the design of Diaclone Battle Convoy – so for all intensive purposes, he is like one of the godfathers of Transformers and big transforming robots in all of history. As such, you can sense some distinctly Macross-esque lines and aesthetic in both the jet and robot modes in this release, since Kawamori-san always likes to have very realistic alt modes in his designs.

I always love seeing a driver in a cockpit, because as part of the Microchange / Diaclone line, pretty much any toy that had an opening cockpit or seat came with a driver. I was always fond of the Dr. Arkeville character too, and pretty much any kooky mad scientist character, let alone a cyborg one.

The alt mode gimmicks here are quite impressive, albeit a bit overboard in recreating a fighter jet. I’d rather have more functions and gimmicks on the robot mode, but I can appreciate the extra touches.

I think this detail was meant for plane collectors.

Displayed with its base, the fighter jet could easily be mistaken for a military model kit for the real fighter jet upon which it’s based, the F-15 Strike Eagle. Even down to the sheen and lustre of the high gloss paint. What you get is essentially a very nice model kit that, through some Takara magic, twists and folds into a (somewhat) poseable robot. And what a handsome bot he is! Behold… Skywarp!

I had the Starscream MP-03 but sold it because I just couldn’t get down with the green scheme, and now that it’s been over 20 years since its 2006 release, I kind of wish I had held onto it for just a bit longer. Not a huge regret, since as a collector some toys will always be come and go. I just wish I had been wise enough, or rather, diligent enough to have documented Ol’ Green Scream with some pics for this blog. For the memories. That and I always like to compare moulds. To think that in 2006, MP-03 fetched a cool $100 pricetag, which was considered quite hefty for the time, but by today’s standards adjusted for inflation, that would be $155.53 today in 2024 – still less than the $200 sticker price the v2.0 Seekers go for. Both Takara and Hasbro collector releases have become quite expensive by any standard, but I still think the Takara releases have the best overall value in terms of build quality, design, packaging, premium materials – the whole monty. Nonetheless, here I am still buying bots from both lines. It’s plastic crack, I tell ya.

That’s why Skywarp here has earned a spot in the Semi-Permanent collection. I say semi, because, well, you never know when you need to make space and there are definitely others that must stay, while others can go. Skywarp remains as one of my favorite Masterpiece figures, because he just looks so damn good to me. The slim frame, super glossy, high contrast paint apps, and black-dominant deco results in a menacing frame worthy of Skywarp’s personage.

The highly angular silhouette that Kawamori-san and team created for the Masterpiece Seekers is truly something to behold, with slight headnods to the original G1 with elements such as the chromed ribcages and shoulder intakes. The way the jet’s tailfins turn into hip flanges that somewhat resemble sheaths for katana swords is a big diversion from the original form as a more Gundam-like motif that could be a turnoff for some, but I appreciate them as artist’s liberties, even though they fall off way too easily and restrict movement in the legs. I can forgive these minor inconveniences for a figure this handsome. But in the end it’s more of a nice transforming statue than a toy with playability, which is all I really need from this release anyway.

I’m not huge on animation-accurate releases, so I’m not dying to get a v2.0 Seeker, but I am definitely curious about them for their poseability and new sculpts. I’m not digging their facial expressions though. This one definitely counts as a Masterpiece in my book, this Skywarp’s got that villainous henchman appeal.

That silly little smirk always puts a smile on my face. Sometimes that’s all you need.