Toy Fair 2010 brings Transformers Weebles, Power Core Combiners, Generations Straxus and a Toys R Us Masterpiece Grimlock on this February 17, 2010 Radio Free Cybertron. The crew also reacts to Unite for the Universe Optimus Prime and new pictures of the Collectors’ Club Dion. Ender opens with a rant on Mattel’s MattyCollector sales, and Brian Kilby announces an Animated Arcee giveaway and a monthly live show. Brian interviews TFG1 Mike and Steven Phillips of GeekCast Radio, and Twitter Theater covers Beast Wars’ Nemesis Part 2.

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Toy Fair 2010: Weebles, Power Core Combiners and Straxus

Brian calls this the best Toy Fair he can remember, and he says Transformers Weebles may be his new favorite thing. Ender loves them too but won’t forgive Hasbro for canceling Robot Heroes. One host is more excited for Power Core Combiners after hearing how they work, and wants to complete the line. The crew notes that Generations Straxus would have been huge ten years ago but means less to today’s fandom. They’re happy to get a $12 Generations Thrust. Other highlights include the War for Cybertron game, Blaster and a Toys R Us exclusive Masterpiece Grimlock with crown. One host is the lone fan of the new RPMs, mostly for Hound. [Source: Toy Fair 2010]

Unite for the Universe Optimus Prime Hauls Jetfire’s Parts

The Unite for the Universe Optimus Prime is a Voyager Optimus Prime that carries Jetfire’s remains as armor and a trailer. The crew wants it, and Brian jokes it should be called Hearse Prime. One host worries the extra parts would push a U.S. release to Leader Class pricing. [Source: not found]

Japanese Animated Optimus Prime Out of Package

Pictures show the Japanese Transformers Animated Optimus Prime out of the package in a chrome color scheme. Brian likes the shine, though another host says the matte U.S. toy matches the show better. One host is glad Japan’s release means he can finally get Activator Cliffjumper. [Source: not found]

New Images of Collectors’ Club Dion

New images of the Transformers Collectors’ Club membership figure Dion look less Photoshopped than earlier ones. One host calls it the best membership figure so far, while another says it barely resembles Dion and is just an orange Hot Spot. [Source: not found]

Ender’s MattyCollector Rant

Ender delivers a recorded rant on Mattel’s handling of its Masters of the Universe Classics sales on MattyCollector.com. He praises the figures but slams the crashing servers, scalpers and the subscription band-aid. The crew says the monthly sales go wrong every time. One host waited 45 minutes on an order that showed as “unsubmitted” and filed a Better Business Bureau complaint. The crew contrasts it with Hasbro, whose Comic-Con leftover sales stay up. Their point: buying a toy should not be a privilege.

RFC Giveaways and the Monthly Live Show

RFC is giving away a Toys R Us exclusive Transformers Animated Arcee, with the winner announced February 24. Fans enter by following RFC on Facebook or on Twitter at TF Radio, or by emailing brian@tfradio.net, and each method is a separate entry. John DeLuna’s Autobot red and Decepticon purple RFC posters are free by email while supplies last. After a four-hour live Toy Fair show, RFC will go live at least monthly at 8 p.m. Eastern, starting March 31, with Skype callers.

This Day in Transformers History

JD notes that IDW’s Beast Wars: The Gathering #1 came out February 15, 2006. The crew also marks the birthdays of Michael Bay and Garry Chalk.

Big Bad Toy Store and Rob’s Video Reviews

Brian says he’s done with MattyCollector and will pre-order from Big Bad Toy Store, which he says has never given him a problem. Rob posted a video review of Revenge of the Fallen’s burning Fallen. He will review Animated Arcee and Cybertron Mode Ratchet next, and he is building a video studio by summer.

Toy Fair Debate: One Big Line or Many Sublines?

John DeLuna asks whether today’s many sublines beat the old days of one gimmick per year. One host prefers a single overarching line each year. JD argues Hasbro is wisely hedging its bets. Another host counters that Revenge of the Fallen obliterated Animated and Universe, leaving Omega Supreme unreleased. Another host argues one line makes life easier for parents and relatives shopping for kids. Asked what will define 2010, one host jokes, “not falling down,” for the Weebles.

Interview: TFG1 Mike and Steven Phillips of GeekCast Radio

TFG1 Mike and Steven “Megatron” Phillips run the GeekCast Radio Network. They met on Twitter, and the network now runs ToonCast, M-Wire, the Beast Unleashed podcast and the Secret Origins podcast. They also make ToyCast and All Things Transformers. Steve runs PredaconEmpire.com and hosted War Stories on the TFW podcast. Mike says Stan Bush confirmed to him that he will attend BotCon this year, and Mike recently interviewed Transformers writer David Wise. They plan commentaries for the 1986 movie and the live-action films.

Twitter Theater: Beast Wars, Nemesis Part 2

The crew calls the Beast Wars finale rushed, resolving the war in about 45 seconds, and one host feels Simon Furman’s dialogue doesn’t fit the characters. They like that embracing Dinobot gives the ending a moral center. They agree no American Transformers series has ended satisfyingly, though they call G1’s Rebirth something of an ending and mourn Animated’s cut-short run. Rob is peeved that new Maximal Tigerhawk is killed off right away, and the crew mocks strapping Megatron to the ship’s hull. They praise Waspinator’s minor rebellion.

Radio Free Cybertron: The Transformers Podcast

Brian Kilby

Radio Free Cybertron is the world's first and oldest toy and action figure podcast — broadcasting from the heart of the Transformers fan community since October 1999. What started as a scrappy fan show has grown into an institution, with nearly 1,000 episodes and over 25 years of coverage. Every week, host Brian Kilby and the RFC crew dig into the latest Transformers news, toy reveals, collecting, and everything hitting shelves from Hasbro, Takara, and beyond. No fluff, no hype — just informed, passionate collectors who have been doing this longer than anyone else on the planet. The original. The longest running. Till all are one.

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