Brian goes solo for a short pre-TFCon update he calls episode 387 and a half, rounded up to 388. He shares his thoughts on Transformers Legacy, the hardcover box art book from Jim Sorenson and Bill Forster, and calls it a must-buy. News covers a gold MP-05 Megatron, Hasbro’s new Allspark Pictures and Year of the Goat Platinum Edition figures he cannot stand. Anthony Brucali also interviews the co-author of a Masters of the Universe art book from New York Comic Con.
News
Gold MP-05 Megatron
A gold version of Masterpiece Megatron is up for preorder at Big Bad Toy Store, gold and chromed with a plug in the barrel. Brian is not crazy about it, but he says some of the online reactions have been uncouth. His advice is to get over it. [Source: not found]
Hasbro Announces Allspark Pictures
Brian sees Allspark Pictures as Hasbro’s version of Marvel Productions, a way to take creative control of its properties. Hasbro says it will reimagine brands including Jem and the Holograms, with new TV programming and work with filmmakers on Transformers movies. Brian does not expect a total departure from the Bay films, since they make so much money overseas. He dismisses rumors about the next movie, including Optimus Prime dying and the Maximals and Predacons appearing, until Hasbro confirms anything. [Source: not found]
Year of the Goat Platinum Edition Figures
The Chinese New Year Platinum Edition figures put Masterpiece Soundwave and Laser Optimus Prime in a brown and transparent color scheme. Brian calls it horrific and hopes nobody likes it. He liked the gold Year of the Horse Optimus Prime, and he jokes that Ender will buy the Optimus anyway. [Source: not found]
More from TFormers
Brian skips third-party news, expecting most of it at TFCon. TFormers has Transformers Q-Series figures in G1 and Age of Extinction styles, plus reviews of Robots in Disguise #34 and Primacy #3. It also has new images of the Generations 2014 Volume 2 exclusive Go Shooter, which Brian says looks nice. [Source: TFormers]
Transformers Legacy: First Thoughts
Brian holds up Transformers Legacy, the box art book discussed with Jim Sorenson and Bill Forster on the 15th anniversary show. It is a hardcover of about 295 pages, and Brian calls it super premium. It covers Generation 1, the Japanese continuation and Generation 2, including art that was never published. Brian admires a full-page Sky Lynx, unreleased G2 art and the Micromasters pages. He loves it so much that he is buying two more copies as gifts. It retails for about $50, and Amazon sells it for less. He wishes for a similar book of toy photography, recalling Doug Glenn’s Cybertronian as an early attempt.
Interview: The Art of He-Man
Anthony Brucali of TFU.info, host of RFC’s new Transformers 101 podcast, interviews Tim Seeley at New York Comic Con. Seeley and his brother Steve co-wrote The Art of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe for Dark Horse. The book covers 30 years of figure designs, animation art, box paintings and unreleased figures, and nears 300 pages. It is due in April.
RFC Announcements
RFC shirts have shipped, including international orders, and Brian promises high fives to anyone wearing one at TFCon. A couple hundred toys from JD Church’s collection remain for sale to help his widow, Amanda, with details at tfradio.net. The crew will tweet photos and meetup spots from TFCon, and there is no live show this week.
This Week in History
City of Steel debuted 29 years ago, in 1985. Brian calls it one of the worst episodes of anything ever, and he loves it, alligator Decepticon and all. RFC’s Transformers Rewind covered the episode, and Brian recommends watching it.
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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The RFC Mini-cast – 049: Grand Galvatron
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Radio Free Cybertron 516: New toys? Um, let me ask my manager. She said check back Friday.