Ultimate X-Spanse

Ultimate X-Spanse is an X-Men-affiliated Transformer from Marvel (via Collaborative).

Not to be confused with the original X-Spanse; this is the edgy reboot by Mark Millar.

Unlike the Sentinels, Ultimate X-Spanse is the ultimate mutant ally!

Toys

Collaborative

Unfortunately, does not come with a figurine of Lockheed.

• Ultimate X-Spanse (2021)
  • Accessories: Energy blast, Energy claw, Energy aura, Wolverine and Sabretooth figurines

The fifth figure in the Collaborative line, Ultimate X-Spanse transforms into a licensed Lockheed Martin SR-71 Blackbird based on the X-Jet. X-Spanse reuses multiple vehicle mode parts from Studio Series Leader Class Jetfire. His design and deco is inspired by the X-Men costumes from the 1992 animated series, even featuring Rob Liefeld-esque pouches and a flip-up visor based on that of Cyclops. X-Spanse boasts an impressive range of articulation in robot mode, including a ball-jointed inner-shoulder, a double-ratcheted knee bend, and a slight ab crunch with additional side-to-side.

X-Spanse includes two figurines of Wolverine and Sabretooth, and three translucent-pink effects parts styled after the psychic powers of Psylocke: a three-pronged energy claw inspired by Wolverine's; an energy blast/blade based on Psylocke's psychic knife, the focused totality of her psychic powers; and an energy aura designed to look like Psylocke's "psychic butterfly," which manifests around her eyes when she uses her powers. Oddly, this last piece cannot attach to X-Spanse's face to replicate this effect, and is instead presented by the instructions as clipping around the waist of the included mini-figurines. The blast and claw effects attach to X-Spanse's hands via 5mm ports, and can store on his landing gear or under his wings, though they lack the 3mm port usually sculpted into the 5mm peg seen on the blast effects in other contemporary Transformers toylines. X-Spanse has over twenty X's sculpted into various spots on his body.

The tolerances of X-Spanse's wing hinges are quite loose, often being unable to hold their own weight and flopping downwards. As per the box and instructions, X-Spanse's wings are intended to be forward swept, accurate to most common depictions of the X-Jet, but some stock photos feature the wing pieces erroneously swapped over, more closely resembling a real life Blackbird.

In the United States, this toy was released by Hasbro Pulse and Target on March 1, 2021. On March 4, 2021, the set was made available on Mighty Ape for New Zealand consumers, and was subsequently released through Toyworld and The Warehouse. The packaging is designed to resemble 1990s ToyBiz packaging, which is awesome.

Notes

• The initial character art for Ultimate X-Spanse features several color differences from the final toy. According to artist David Nakayama, Hasbro gave him 3D turnaround images of the figure for drawing reference, but the colors had not yet been finalized, and several adjustments were ultimately made to the figure's paint scheme after he had already submitted the art. The art was later updated with the finalized colors by the time the figure was released.
• The inner tray of X-Spanse's packaging is printed with a technical schematic cutaway of the X-Jet. The backdrop of the tray is decorated with art repurposed from Impel Marketing's 1992 trading card ranges (all done by Jim Lee), and features Jean Grey, Wolverine, Cyclops, Archangel, Storm, Rogue, Colossus, Gambit, Beast, Cable, Iceman, and Deadpool (called a super villain by the original card, but a super hero here).
• His name is very silly.

See also

• Ex-Jet
• Quinjet