IDW Limited announces Last Stand of the Wreckers hardcovers, topping out at $350 for a blue label edition of just 10 copies. A prototype of the Beast Hunters Voyager Megatron turns out to be a Sharkticon-style remold, and the crew finds it ugly in a lovable way. Mastermind Creations previews Azalea, its not-Arcee, and Generations Hoist finally shows his tow truck mode. Transformers Rewind covers the Beast Wars finale “Nemesis,” and ReGeneration One #90 gets a rough review.
News
Last Stand of the Wreckers Limited Edition Hardcovers
IDW Limited is releasing three editions: a red label at $125 limited to 250 copies, a black label at $250 limited to 50 and a blue label at $350 limited to 10. One host likes the idea, since the story is easy to get elsewhere, including about $7 on Comixology. The crew compares it to a Kickstarter-style fundraiser for fans who want something special. Two hosts admit they have not read Last Stand of the Wreckers yet. [Source: TFW2005]
Beast Hunters Voyager Megatron Prototype
A prototype of the last Beast Hunters Voyager shows Megatron remolded with a Sharkticon look and fins on his arms. One host had hoped for a full upgrade like Beast Hunters Optimus Prime rather than a remold. He expects customizers to turn it into a Beast Wars Depth Charge. The crew compares the colors to Gnaw and the Seacons and agrees it is ugly but likable. One host is talking himself into buying it. [Source: Seibertron]
Generations Hoist Vehicle Mode Revealed
A new image shows Hoist’s tow truck mode with a winch on the back. One host thinks it looks almost Cybertron or Energon in style. Another host says it could fit with Prime figures like Rumble. The only complaint is that the force shield piece has nowhere good to go in vehicle mode. Brian says of course he will buy it. [Source: not found]
Mastermind Creations Azalea, a Not-Arcee
Don is interested in Mastermind Creations’ Azalea, which looks like the best third-party Arcee yet. She comes with two laser pistols and swords, which the crew traces to Animated and IDW’s Arcee. Her flat vehicle mode is dull, but the robot mode looks great. The crew hopes she is sold separately rather than only with the Feral Rex combiner set. Diecast shares an image of Arcee’s look in the comics, which matches her vehicle mode. [Source: TFW2005]
Dr. Wu Star Saber Sword for Beast Hunters Optimus Prime
Dr. Wu is making a more screen-accurate replica of Optimus Prime’s Star Saber, with a clip for his back. The crew likes third-party add-ons like this that add to an official toy without hurting Hasbro. [Source: TFormers]
Fan Digibash Turns the Not-Menasor Set Into Masquerade Autobots
Skull Face in the chat shared a digibash of a third-party not-Menasor set repainted as the disguised Autobots from “Masquerade.” The crew would buy the cars in a heartbeat but is cooler on the combined mode. One host has long suggested this as a BotCon exclusive.
SDCC Metroplex and Metrotitan Speculation
One host predicts a Metrotitan repaint as the San Diego Comic-Con exclusive, released before Metroplex, as Bruticus was last year. Guesses on price run from $150 to $200, and one host admits he will buy it anyway. A rumor says Fun Publications may sell this year’s SDCC exclusives instead of Hasbro Toy Shop. The crew expects that server to crash. [Source: not found]
Comic News with Aimee Morgan
The Last Stand of the Wreckers limited editions from IDW Limited release this week, and Aimee expects them to sell out fast. All three come with a portfolio of prints by Nick Roche and Guido Guidi, and the blue label includes the originals. Simon Furman has posted a script wrap-up for ReGeneration One #90 on his blog.
Comic Review: ReGeneration One #90
Rob and his co-reviewer expected the Scorponok story arc to wrap up, but it just drifts away. They say Simon Furman has lost the knack for finding a stopping point. A flashback reveals that Grimlock used the Gene Key on Perceptor and had him play along, but the art leaves the sequence unclear. The issue ends with Scorponok and Grimlock falling down a hole. They spot another “everything you knew is a lie” moment and still dislike the 20-year time skip. They look forward to Guido Guidi taking over the art.
Transformers Prime Retro Review: Con Job
Aimee and Nicole review season one, episode three, written by Steve Melching. Aimee nearly fell out of her chair when Bulkhead was revealed as a Wrecker, and both think he fits. They like this Wheeljack as a sword-swinging warrior and shrug off complaints that he is just Drift. The impostor Makeshift is exposed when his war story places Bulkhead at a battle he missed. They praise Starscream’s animation as the ground bridge closes on him, and want more backstory on why Raf understands Bumblebee.
Rob Springer Answers a Listener Question
With no questions in the inbox, Rob answers a YouTube comment from AnnieGamer1. He suggests third parties are more willing than Hasbro to experiment, pointing to multiple Devastators and Predakings. He also reminds fans that Fun Publications is a business. Fans can keep buying or walk away, but dwelling on the past helps no one.
Transformers Rewind: Nemesis
JD and Paladin cover the two-part Beast Wars finale, which they call a rushed job to tie up every plot line. They note the parts had different writers, with Simon Furman’s dialogue standing out in part two. They list fan references, from M-Cipher to Rattrap correcting the pronunciation of Teletran-1. Optimus Primal’s “Speech this” is a favorite line. They recall fans getting upset over a cut scene that returned G1 Megatron’s spark to his body. They compare Beast Wars’ fan awareness to Transformers Animated and its Derrick J. Wyatt designs. In the end they call it a nice enough finale hurt by the rush.
What We Got This Week
Diecast
Diecast got the Fansproject T-Bone, a not-Wildrider, in the mail from Captured Prey. It was still in the box.
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