San Diego Comic-Con 2013 opens with the first look at Generations Voyager Whirl, whose very G1 body splits the crew. JD Church guest-hosts while third-party news runs from two Masterpiece-scale Huffers to a pricey Mastermind Predaking piece. Impossible Toys announces it is closing, and Toys R Us bans eBay buyers who complained about canceled Masterpiece Soundwave orders. Rob and Exvee review ReGeneration One, and Rob Springer answers questions about the end of Beast Hunters.
News
Generations Voyager Whirl Revealed at SDCC
The night’s big reveal is Generations Voyager Whirl, a breakout character from IDW’s comics. The body is very G1, while the head and claw hands lean IDW. One host argues the comic design would snap under its own weight as a toy. Some hosts dislike the light blue, yellow and gray, but JD still plans to buy it. Remold ideas include Spinister. [Source: TFW2005]
A Third Party Teases Overlord, Motormaster and Sixshot
A little-known company posted blacked-out silhouettes of Overlord, Motormaster and Sixshot. The crew notes they are Dreamwave art, not toy renders. Diecast included it because other companies already make all three. The crew calls it vaporware aimed at investors. [Source: TFormers]
Bumblebee Will Speak in Beast Hunters Episode 13
Bumblebee will finally speak in episode 13 of Transformers Prime Beast Hunters. The crew notes Soundwave spoke the week before. Casting jokes range from Dan Gilvezan to Leonard Nimoy. [Source: TFW2005]
Hong Kong Gets a Near-Identical Metroplex
A Hong Kong event gets almost the same Metroplex as Comic-Con, with gold and silver decoy figures. One host says this is Hasbro’s convention exclusive, not just a San Diego one. [Source: TFormers]
Two Masterpiece-Scale Huffers and an X-Transbots Tease
Two third parties are making Masterpiece-scale Huffers. The crew likes one robot body from the feet up, then hits the huge truck cab hanging off its back. They doubt it can stand, and question a three-digit price for Huffer or Pipes. X-Transbots teased what looks like Windcharger in a size comparison, which the crew finds more sensible. [Source: TFW2005] [Source: TFW2005]
Second Club Subscription Figure Ships July 22
The club’s second subscription figure starts shipping July 22, and its identity stays secret until it arrives. The next payment installment is due August 15. One host may have to sell his Scourge. [Source: not found]
Mastermind Creations’ Predaking Core Costs $130
Mastermind Creations’ first Predaking piece, the core body, costs about $130. That is more than the whole G1 reissue set, the crew notes. Don saw it at BotCon and says it is noticeably bigger than the others. A chat viewer says TFC’s Ares limbs can double as Power Core Combiner torsos. [Source: TFormers]
TFC Toys’ Wings of Uranos Upgrade
TFC’s Wings of Uranos kit adds weapons, missiles and a more classic chest and codpiece to its Superion homage. The crew expects every TFC combiner to get a later fix-up kit. One host says he is done with TFC after this. TFC has also shown Streetwise, suggesting a Defensor homage next. [Source: TFW2005]
Virus Was a Surprise BotCon Exclusive
Dealer Ages Three and Up sold Virus at BotCon, a black, gray and red repaint of Fansproject’s Code. Don calls it a dark Chromedome, with a wider release later this year. [Source: not found]
Toys R Us Bans Unhappy eBay Buyers
Toys R Us canceled the Masterpiece Soundwave and Acid Storm orders placed through its eBay store. Don says an outside company runs the Toys R Us website, while Toys R Us handles fulfillment. Another host says buyers who left negative feedback were then banned from the eBay store. The crew doubts the online preorders will go live as planned. [Source: Seibertron]
Shapeways Offers Swerve’s My First Blaster
A Shapeways model lets fans 3D-print My First Blaster, Swerve’s gun from More Than Meets the Eye. It costs about $27 and arrives unpainted. The crew wants a full role-play version with lights and sounds. [Source: not found]
Asian Generations Jetfire Surfaces
A chat viewer shares the new Asian Generations Jetfire, the Henkei mold without chrome and with metallic boosters. [Source: not found]
Impossible Toys will stop production after one last assortment. The crew says its Tetrajets sold about 200 in total. Don defends the designers and blames production quality, and calls it the first well-known third party to fold. [Source: TFormers]
Hasbro Toy Shop Code COMIC2013
Code COMIC2013 takes 10% off at Hasbro Toy Shop through August 14. The crew expects the Comic-Con exclusives to be excluded. [Source: not found]
Comic Review: ReGeneration One
Rob and Exvee map the issue onto Dragon Ball Z as usual. Galvatron heads for Cybertron to kill Ultra Magnus, and Soundwave reveals Monstructor. Hot Rod sees every version of himself, and Primus speaks through Grimlock. Starscream, revived by Shockwave, blasts Galvatron out of the ship, and Cosmos crashes into the Warworld. They feel little happened but praise Guido Guidi’s faithful take on Andrew Wildman’s style.
Q&A with Rob Springer
David Paulk asks when the third-party Fall of Cybertron Swoop cassette will arrive. Rob says to check with the seller, since third-party dates vary. Brad Mole asks how Beast Hunters ends. Rob says season three runs 13 episodes, and Predacons Rising is a separate movie. He enjoyed the season but wishes it had followed the Predacon premise more closely.
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