Shout! Factory’s Headmasters DVD will not include the English dub because Hasbro objected, and Brian cancels his preorder on the spot. Michael Bay confirms Skids and Mudflap are not in Dark of the Moon. The crew debates where the movies go after the third film. Gregg Berger campaigns for Grimlock in the Hall of Fame, and preorders open for the club’s G2 Ramjet and Transtech Cheetor. Transformers Prime introduces Airachnid. RFC launches the Great BotCon Hookup to help fans like Don find roommates.
News
No English Dub for the Headmasters DVD
Shout! Factory’s Headmasters DVD will be subtitled only. Shout! Factory’s Brian Ward says Hasbro objected to the existing English dub over name differences and content. Hasbro would also demand approval of any new script, cast and audio, which makes a new dub too expensive. Brian cancels his Amazon preorder on air. He notes the official Omni Productions dub already appeared on the UK Metrodome sets, which include Chris McFeely’s commentary. The crew doubts Masterforce or Victory will follow if Headmasters sells poorly. [Source: not found]
Gregg Berger Campaigns for Grimlock
Gregg Berger recorded a video campaigning for Grimlock in the Hall of Fame vote. The crew calls him a hip, well-spoken guy who sounds nothing like Grimlock or Odie until he does the voices. [Source: not found]
Club Preorders: Transtech Cheetor and G2 Ramjet
The Transformers Club store opens preorders on April 25 for Animated Transtech Cheetor and G2 Ramjet. Most of the crew wants Ramjet more. One host loves the Blur mold, while another isn’t a fan of it or the new head. [Source: not found]
Ricochet Mail-Away in Japan
The mail-away figure for Japan’s Generations 2011 book is Ricochet with Nightstick, on the Jazz mold. The crew doubts the U.S. will get it but expects Hasbro to repaint the mold eventually. [Source: not found]
Dark of the Moon Trailer Dates
The next Dark of the Moon trailer debuts on Apple.com on April 28 at 7 p.m. Eastern. A 3D trailer will run with Pirates of the Caribbean on May 20. [Source: not found]
Skids and Mudflap Are Out of Dark of the Moon
Michael Bay says Skids and Mudflap are not in the third movie. That leads to a debate about the films after Dark of the Moon. Most of the crew expects a Transformers 4 or a soft reboot rather than walking away from a cash cow. Anthony hopes for a director who respects the material. Another host would rather have a good movie than a slavish fan tribute, and one suggests quick montages of fan-favorite moments. [Source: not found]
Fan-Built Lego Optimus Prime and Pricey Third Parties
A fan built an 18-inch Lego Optimus Prime over two years, and the crew is impressed. Perfect Effect’s Scouting Force X, a Reflector homage, has great box art. Rob notes the figures are smaller than Scouts yet cost about $130 for the set. [Source: not found]
Transformers Chronicles Two-Packs
TakaraTomy’s Transformers Chronicles sets pair Dark of the Moon Leaders with G1 reissues. Big Bad Toy Store lists them at $125 each, and the Megatron gets an orange safety cap. [Source: not found]
Hasbro’s Rough First Quarter
Hasbro’s first-quarter revenue fell, and the company blamed overly aggressive estimates, especially for board games. The crew points to a non-movie quarter, rising plastic and shipping costs and retailer price pressure. They expect Dark of the Moon to carry the year. [Source: not found]
Transformers Prime: Airachnid Arrives
Spoilers: the new episode introduces Airachnid, voiced by Gina Torres according to Chris Triplett in the chat. The crew sees it as a Predator homage and notes she lives past her first episode. Aimee liked the dark, creepy tone and a vulnerable, terrified Arcee. Others call it their least favorite episode so far and question Jack following Arcee into danger.
Anthony finds the human kids shallow next to Animated’s Sari and says Peter Cullen’s voice feels too epic for this Optimus Prime. Another host argues Animated succeeded by feeling unlike other Transformers shows. The crew agrees Prime needs more characters to develop.
Comic News
Aimee found Heart of Darkness #2 confusing. It reveals what happened to Hardhead, Arcee, Jhiaxus and others near the dead universe portal, but she can’t see how it fits IDW’s continuity. Many readers also dislike the art. She recommends The Underbase’s two-hour-and-40-minute interview with Ongoing writer Mike Costa.
From the Chat
The chat asks which Japanese series to recommend, and the crew suggests Zone, a single episode full of capes and exploding planets. A chatter notes Miko’s voice actress also played Jade in Jackie Chan Adventures. The crew discusses how Peter Cullen’s voice has changed with age and direction, and Peter notes Frank Welker’s has changed more.
This Week in History
Peter reads Exvee’s picks: April 20 is George Takei’s birthday. This Friday and Saturday mark 15 years since Beast Wars parts one and two debuted. The crew remembers discovering the show and its toys in 1996.
Topic: The Great BotCon Hookup
Brian probably isn’t going to BotCon this year, so his usual roommate Don needs a new one. RFC is turning roommate matching into a game. Fans who need a room or have space to share can email contact@tfradio.net, post on Facebook or leave a voicemail. The crew vouches that Don is good people.
Twitter Theater
Rob shares the Mandarin dub of the G1 cartoon, in which Soundwave sounds like an opera singer.
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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