Top 5 Ravage Transformers Toys

Every two weeks, Seibertron.com brings you a Top 5 list related to all things Transformers written by me, your fellow editor. These are my opinions (just like movie or game reviews hosted by sites are still just the opinion of one person) so what matters most is what you guys think of the topic or list, and I hope to see your own lists or comments on omissions and ranking. Let's have fun! All previous lists can be found here. Thanks to fellow Seibertronians Black Hat and Insurgent for helping out with this list.


Top 5 Ravage Toys

While Ravage is not always at the forefront of the Transformers Brand (not on mugs, or Christmas ornaments), he has been present and integral at almost every point of the brand (Animated would be the only major incarnation where he isn't present as a toy). And as any major character, he has a new toy every few years, and has thus amassed a significant amount of representations. He becomes a top candidate for singling out his top toys which I now present to you:


5. Alternators Jaguar XK Ravage

It is pretty nuts to think that this original casette bot was part of a line consisting exclusively of bots turning into 1:24-scale accurate representations of real cars from automobile manufacturers around the globe, and even more unbelievable that he had 2 distinct toys in that same line. But it happened and it was quite cool too. Sure, the idea of Ravage converting into a car may be odd, but wouldn't it be perfect if the car he turned into was an actual Jaguar? Sure it's corny, but it's also perfect (or is that purrrrfect) and a great result too. It's also a perfect example of just how different Ravage has been to the rest of characters in both toys and fiction, and yet just as deserving of respect. He really pushes designers and this is easily one of the most ambitious Ravage toys we ever got.






4. Transformers Energon Battle Ravage (Command Jaguar)

Energon was the line that really brought Scouts/Basics into their own, and whilst he isn't the greatest scout of the line (that would be Divebomb) Battle Ravage is still a great toy, and a great Ravage. His Jaguar mode has all the poseability you could want out of a jaguar, with full limb articulation, a ball joint at the base of the tail (which is tipped with a spiky ball!) and even some torso crunch if you use the "automorph". On top of that it looks absolutely sublime, with a neat colour palette that takes classic Ravage and injects a bit of warm grey, Decepticon purple and vivid translucent green, and killer sculptwork (I particularly adore the head and the asymmetrical shoulders). Whilst he doesn't have Ravage's hip rockets, he does have shoulder cannons, with a missile launching rifle and a mini fusion cannon!
He isn't going to fit in Soundwave's chest any time soon, but he works pretty well alongside him as a kind of attack cat. He's just the right size to look dangerous without being huge in comparison to any Soundwave you might have. - BlackHat








3. Transformers G1 1984 Ravage (Jaguar)

I just really like how even over 30 years later, this toy does the job and does it well. They achieved a really cool looking beast mode from a casette tape and the simplicity in design makes any overcomplicated version of it feel redundant and uneccesary in a way. The playability is still fun. For almost every other character, the original toy is lacking in some way but here instead we have a design that can test the sands of time to the point where designers made sure the Masterpiece Soundwave would still be compatible with this lean mean killing machine.








2. Transformers Beast Wars Metals Ravage (Jaguar)

Best Ravage to me is X-9. Takara's Beast Wars Ravage. Yes, he's a remould of TM Cheetor, but dang he's so good. Dual pistols, that double as hip missiles in beast mode, great proportions in both modes, poseable and shiney black plastic. Mmmmm.... such a great cat. - Insurgent

This also happens to be a pretty good interpretation of the Ravage we saw on the show, which in itself is one of the most intriguing and fun versions of Ravage in all of fiction.








1. Transformers Device Label Ravage (Jaguar)

I feel the only Ravage that matches the G1 version in terms of elegance would be the Device Label Ravage. It is as brilliant an update as I could imagine since, with him transforming into the new technology we now use to share information, the thumb drive. Like with a micro cassette, this alt mode, lets us have a lean mean killing machine but the designers even found a way to give him a bit more mass. While the G1 versions ends up being a tad flat due to the design and alt mode, here we get a better proportioned mechanical jaguar that we come to expect from beast Transformers. He gets a nice wider stance that helps posing him and making him stand. Basically, to me, he ends up looking more the part of what I would want for Ravage within my collection while still keeping a similar theme or style in both modes.












Honourable mentions: Transformers Masterpiece Ravage (Jaguar)

Surprisingly, I don't have much to say. I don't have any problems with him but in the end, he doesn't stand out that much. He isn't much of an update to the original G1 ravage who still does the job quite well and doesn't reinvent enough, unlike the Device Label one, to stand out either. Of course, that's because he must be as close to the cartoon as possible, but even then he ends up not looking anymore cartoon accurate than the G1 version with his odd kibble in the front legs and awkward looking hips. But regardless, still worth a mention.