ToyCyte: Toy Culture Collected

Hasbro’s interesting foray into the ‘designer toy’ world has now absorbed an array of Autobots and Decepticons. Defying and redefining the very core values of what is appealing about robots, Optimus Prime, Megatron, Soundwave and Bumblebee are getting the chunky, chubby Mighty Muggs treatment. No, they don’t transform, and no, they’re not all sexy and jagged as warring alien space robots (or Callista Flockheart) are meant to be – but they do manage to combine two very essential elements of things that we all know and love, like a fedora made of bacon.

At 6 inches tall, they have a fair amount of heft and presence, and given Hasbro’s solid history with pumping out wave after wave of new characters in their Muggs properties, robo-fans can be assured of at least a dozen more of these odd amalgamations. They’ve already mashed Transformers in with cutesy PVC figures, Star Wars and Marvel Comics. Next stop : My Little Primacron.