Radio Free Cybertron celebrates its 400th episode with Jim Sorenson, who explains what is new in The Complete AllSpark Almanac. News covers a rumored Titan Class Devastator in the Toys R Us system, Platinum Edition Insecticons and preorders for Masterpiece G2 Bumblebee. Transformers Rewind returns with Five Faces of Darkness, and Exvee reviews Combiner Wars Legends Windcharger and Thundercracker. The crew also looks back at milestone episodes going back to 1999.
News
Titan Class Devastator in the Toys R Us System
Devastator showed up in the Toys R Us Canada computer system. A new rumor says it will be one Leader and four Voyagers. The crew is skeptical, since the source saw only a picture at a Hasbro Asia event. Brian says Toy Fair 2015 will tell, and invites fans to the live stream on February 14. [Source: not found]
Reissue Rumors: Trypticon and a New Masterpiece Megatron
Rumored reissues include G1 Trypticon, which has never been reissued under that name. The crew also revisits the rumor of a new Masterpiece Megatron, based on box art showing him. [Source: not found]
Platinum Edition Insecticons Reach Kmart
The Platinum Edition Insecticons set is $80 at Kmart in the US, after a $99.99 Canadian listing. The crew warns new fans that loose G1 Insecticons sell for $9 to $15. The last reissue cost $35 in 2009. Two hosts plan a Joelanta panel for new fans on how and where to collect Transformers. [Source: not found]
Year of the Goat Masterpiece Soundwave Scanned at $190
A fan scanned the UPC at Toys R Us and found it listed at $190. The crew expects the Year of the Goat Optimus Prime, a Laser Optimus Prime redeco, to cost a lot too. [Source: not found]
Masterpiece G2 Bumblebee and MP-10 Reissue Up for Preorder
MP-21G G2 Bumblebee includes the faceplate and the jetpack from the “Dinobot Island” episode. One host predicted a G2 Bumblebee the week before. The crew expects the mold to become Cliffjumper next. [Source: not found]
Fans Project Madlaw and More Third-Party Combiners
Fans Project’s Function X Madlaw is a not-Quickswitch, and Don preordered it the day of recording. It runs about $105, cheaper than the crew expected. Preorders also opened for Fenrir, a not-Sinnertwin, and the crew praises the line’s not-Blot, Troll. [Source: not found]
Iron Factory Maiden Photos
New photos show Iron Factory’s Legends-size not-Windblade next to Metroplex. The crew wants one. [Source: not found]
Combiner Wars Alpha Bravo and Slingshot: More Than Just a Name?
Exvee’s TFormers article explains why the Aerialbots got Alpha Bravo instead of Slingshot. His mock-up shows an accurate Slingshot would be a boring jet. One host is glad Alpha Bravo breaks up a team of four similar jets. [Source: TFormers]
This Week in History
In 2003, the Armada episode “Conspiracy” premiered in the US. Brian admits he picked it because he confused it with a Star Trek: The Next Generation episode. The crew trades memories of Armada, Energon and Cybertron, and of the first Alternators and Classics waves.
Interview: Jim Sorenson on The Complete AllSpark Almanac
Jim Sorenson explains that The Complete AllSpark Almanac combines both volumes of the Transformers Animated guide. The original books grew out of a simple model-sheet book, after Cartoon Network handed over every model, background and storyboard. The new edition adds about 22 pages made for the fan club, covering the BotCon 2011 Stunticon Job story. It also adds about 10 new pages with new Derrick J. Wyatt artwork. The book runs 472 pages and fixes typos and formatting from the earlier volumes. Jim says the old volumes will not be reprinted. He would love to do a book on Beast Wars II, Beast Wars Neo and Car Robots, though Japanese material sells less.
Combiner Wars Roundtable
The crew is blown away by Combiner Wars Superion, which stands on its own and has real elbows and knees. Small touches, like the chest flap covering the leg hole, show Hasbro listened to fan feedback. Silverbolt surprises everyone with a clean transformation. Dragstrip is simple but works well, while Skydive’s shoulders make the crew nervous. Combiner Wars Optimus Prime is fine on its own but a weak torso. The crew hopes strong sales bring a Kickback to finish the Insecticons.
ATT Buzz
John DeLuna revives the ATT Buzz, the alt.toys.transformers recap. Topics include the December Cartoon Viewing Club started by Zobovor and the Platinum Edition Coneheads. Zobovor declares the Dirge reissue the greatest reissue to date. A thread titled “Megatrons, ranked” lists every Megatron and Galvatron toy, and John reads the whole list.
Transformers Rewind: Five Faces of Darkness
The crew calls Five Faces of Darkness the true sequel to The Transformers: The Movie, written by Flint Dille. It introduces the Quintessons as creators of the Transformers and sets up season three as a space opera. It also debuts Trypticon, the Predacons’ feud with Sky Lynx and Marissa Faireborn. The crew prefers Frank Welker’s unhinged Galvatron. They agree the AKOM animation and some filler drag it down, and it could have been four parts.
Toy Review: Combiner Wars Legends Windcharger and Thundercracker
Exvee reviews the first Combiner Wars Legends recolors. Windcharger reuses the Tailgate mold with a new head and swirly red plastic. On his copy, the car panels and pegged legs will not line up at the same time. Thundercracker feels better than Legends Starscream, with softer fins and no stress marks. Neither comes with a partner figure, yet both cost the same $10. He recommends Thundercracker first.
400th Episode Retrospective
Episode 1 aired in October 1999, with Brian alone reviewing Transmetal 2 Blackarachnia. Episode 100 did not arrive until August 2009, as a two-man show with JD. JD hosted episode 200 in June 2011, and episode 300 in February 2013 covered the BotCon 2013 Machine Wars set. The show’s most-tagged topics include BotCon, Age of Extinction, Transformers Prime, IDW and Arcee. Phil Zieman of ASM sends congratulations, and the crew closes with a toast to Cheerwine.
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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Radio Free Cybertron – 10/31/2012