Combiner Wars arrives all at once. Big Bad Toy Store fills Legends, Deluxe and Voyager preorders on the same day, alongside Arcee and Chromia. Early reports praise the combiner ports, and Superion looks like the first good Superion ever. Transformers Universe shuts down, a surprise Platinum Edition Insecticons set appears, and new photos of Masterpiece Ultra Magnus win the crew over. Heavy Metal War, and US combiners, turn 30 this week.
News
Combiner Wars Lands All at Once
Big Bad Toy Store filled Combiner Wars preorders for all three classes on the same day, and Arcee and Chromia arrived too. One host tips listeners to pay for preorders with PayPal or a low-balance prepaid card. The crew expects a long drought after the holidays.
Combiner Wars Photos and Engineering
New photos show Voyager Optimus Prime towering over the Classics Ultra Class figure, and it is growing on several hosts. Exvee’s size estimate for Superion was right on. Exvee explains the combiner ports: plugs slide into sockets with spring-back clips, and a swivel lets limbs face either way. Some hosts would rather keep the knee joints than flip the legs. One host adds that Bombshell is not designed as a combiner weapon, despite the Combiner Wars header. Early hands-on reports have all been positive. [Source: not found]
Walmart Listing Hints at Masquerade
A Walmart listing adds Protectobots plus Mirage, Prowl, Ironhide and Sunstreaker. The crew notes it is close to a Masquerade lineup for Don. Legends Windcharger can be wedged into Optimus Prime’s chest, though the crew would rather have seen Blackjack repainted as Windcharger. [Source: not found]
Transformers Universe Shuts Down
Jagex is closing Transformers Universe and refunding Founder’s Pack buyers and other paid elements. The crew blames three years of development and a rebuild for a game the public played for about six months. One host is still annoyed that his beta access never worked. [Source: not found]
Masterpiece Ultra Magnus Photos with G1 Magnus
New comparison photos convince the crew that Masterpiece Ultra Magnus looks far better than Citizen Stack. One host has it preordered through HLJ. Don dropped his preorder after getting Citizen Stack, and the crew debates when and whether a US release will come. Exvee confirms Star Saber is due in March. [Source: not found]
Surprise Platinum Edition Insecticons
A Generations-branded Platinum Edition Insecticons three-pack appears with no warning, along with a Seeker set. The crew wonders who needs another reissue when the Legends Insecticons exist. Exvee suggests it may target collectors in Asia, and Don notes nearly every kid had an Insecticon. Exvee points out that two of the Seekers were not in the last reissue, which forces one host to buy them. [Source: not found]
Cloud Wave 3 and Asia Kids Day Protectobots
Matt shows off Cloud Rodimus and calls it worth the price, comparing Cloud to BotCon toys from Takara Tomy. Don still cannot see Rodimus in the car mode, and the crew mocks Cloud Shockwave and Purple Whirl. Several hosts like Roadbuster, a nod to Energon Ironhide’s Japanese name. Amazon has the Asia Kids Day Protectobot set, a Hot Spot in Guard City colors, for $13.
G1 Cartoon Leaves Netflix
The original Transformers cartoon is leaving Netflix. The crew recommends Shout! Factory’s box set, about $50, as the best-looking G1 available. The Transformers: The Movie soundtrack vinyl ships next week. [Source: not found]
ThreeA Movie Bumblebee
ThreeA announces a 15-inch premium scale movie Bumblebee for $380. One host says his Human Alliance Bumblebee will remain his favorite. [Source: not found]
DX9 Legends-Scale Figures
DX9’s Legends-scale figures, sold in two-packs for about $50, look well engineered. One host changes his mind and approves, and some are already up for preorder. [Source: not found]
More from TFormers
Age of Extinction makes Frank Welker the highest-grossing actor of all time, passing Samuel L. Jackson. Alex Milne’s 30th anniversary retailer incentive art is up. TFormers reviews Drift: Empire of Stone #2, which the crew finds weak, and More Than Meets the Eye #36, which they love. [Source: TFormers]
This Week in History
Heavy Metal War debuted on December 15, 1984, which also marks 30 years of combiners in the US cartoon with Devastator’s debut. Brian calls it one of his favorite episodes and points to RFC’s 2012 Transformers Rewind of it with JD. The crew finds it fitting that a good line of combiners arrives 30 years later.
What We Got This Week
Don Don’s preorders arrived: Chromia, Arcee, Silverbolt, Optimus Prime, the four Deluxe limbs and Powerglide, because he loves Powerglide. Quantron and Utopia are on the way.
Matt Matt got Cloud Rodimus and says it looks great next to Masterpieces.
Brian Brian bought the Asia Kids Day Protectobot set the week before for $23.
Diecast Diecast already has Arcee, and his video review is up on YouTube.
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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