The crew looks back at 2015 in Transformers, month by month, from the Nuremberg Devastator photo to the Unite Warriors Grand Galvatron reveal. Combiner Wars dominates the toy news, with Devastator, Leader Class Ultra Magnus and the G2 box sets. On the media side, Hasbro plans a cinematic universe, Machinima announces a Combiner Wars series, and Transformers Devastation finally delivers a G1 game. Each host then picks a favorite toy, comic and news story of the year and makes a prediction for 2016.
News
Combiner Wars G2 Superion US Release Date Revealed?
A retailer called Dorkside Toys lists the G2 Superion box set for January 15, while other sources only say early 2016. No other retailer has corroborated the date. Superion is the G2 set one host cares least about, while another badly wants it in G2 colors. [Source: not found]
2015 in Review: Toys, January to April
By January, every Combiner Wars price point except Leader Class had reached US shelves. Chris used model kits to estimate Leader Class sizes, and later Devastator’s height from Nuremberg photos. Hasbro confirmed Combiner Wars Devastator, and banner art hinted at a white Optimus Prime and a Defensor based on IDW art. Rumors that MP-25, MP-26 and MP-27 would be Tracks, Road Rage and Ironhide all proved true. MP-23 Exhaust stalled as retailers received legal notices from Philip Morris. Then one third of Devastator appeared behind a security guard at Nuremberg Toy Fair, and one news outlet offered a bounty for NDA-breaking photos.
A Combiner Wars fan vote gave the first look at Hot Spot and Groove designs, and Superion art swapped in Slingshot for Alpha Bravo. Takara Tomy’s Transformers Adventure line started taking shape, and the club’s Lio Convoy samples appeared on the Orion Pax mold. Rumored Legends Gnaw and Brawn never materialized. MakeToys launched its Masterpiece-scale Remaster line with Cupola, Gundog and Hellfire.
February brought Action Toys’ Bandai-licensed, Masterpiece-style Machine Robo GoBots, which still have not shipped. TFC Toys announced a Hound right as other Hound homages appeared, and Don criticizes third parties for doubling up. Leader Class Megatron surfaced with stickers to make him an Autobot or a Decepticon. At Toy Fair, the Constructicons, Defensor and a surprise Leader Class Ultra Magnus with Minimus Ambus were the highlights. Diecast saw Devastator knocked over by a backpack and watched security throw out a man for touching the toys.
In March, the Platinum Edition triple changer set with Blitzwing and Astrotrain confused everyone with its decos. Hasbro Asia canceled Exhaust distribution in its markets. A South American Generations assortment with a larger Legends-style Starscream reached the US only through Big Bad Toy Store imports. Quickslinger and Breakneck appeared as online exclusives and sold out fast. April brought Protectobot photos, a hidden alternate Ratchet head for First Aid, and DX9’s GoBots Crasher homage.
2015 in Review: Toys, May to August
May saw G2 Superion package art and Hisashi Yuki’s tease of Unite Warriors Defensor with Groove. Brian later canceled his preorder, while another host bought it for Groove and a better-colored Streetwise. The Platinum Edition Trypticon reissue appeared in box, proving an Australian toy fair report right, and Brian got his for $100 on Amazon.
June brought Legends Nightbird, Slipstream and Black Widow, whose torso is misassembled. At BotCon, the crew saw the Masterpiece Optimus Primal render, the reformatted Spartan and DX9’s Carry. USA Today revealed Victorion and Combiner Hunters, and Devastator went up for preorder at Toys R Us. An eBay seller posted G2 Protectobot production samples from a former Kenner employee’s collection. Hasbro’s BotCon panel revealed Sky Lynx, Bruticus and the Combaticons. The room went silent when Blast Off was a jet, and Vortex was another unchanged Alpha Bravo. Hasbro showed nothing new for Robots in Disguise, which the crew calls a misstep. Subscription Service 4.0 was announced, and Masterpiece Ironhide debuted at the Tokyo Toy Show.
San Diego Comic-Con added G2 Menasor and more Victorion details. A rumor that MP-28 would be Hound proved false. G2 Stunticon samples from the same seller drew bids near $30,000, and a Titans Return Blaster image leaked. August brought DX9’s Tyrant, MP-21R Red Bumblebee instead of Cliffjumper, and Thunder Mayhem as the Subscription Service combiner. Stomp and Chomp Grimlock also came back repainted for Robots in Disguise.
2015 in Review: Toys, September to December
September brought Year of the Monkey Optimus Primal and Fans Project’s Function X9 Positum, a TFCon exclusive. Brian and Diecast stood in the wrong line for Positum, while another host walked right up to the table. Hasbro trademarked Titans Return, Onslaught got an alternate Demolisher head, and Masterpiece Hot Rod looked oddly proportioned. Unite Warriors Grand Prime offered a prettier Combiner Wars wave 4. Masterpiece Shockwave arrived just after a $155 Quakewave reissue, and Brian canceled his Quakewave.
October brought a Powermaster Optimus Prime inventory listing and New York Comic Con news of the Prime Wars Trilogy. Voyager Sentinel Prime explained the shuttle line art seen at BotCon. BotCon 2016’s Dawn of Predacus box set and Masterpiece Ramjet, the first Conehead Masterpiece, were also revealed. Matt had predicted a Conehead but guessed Thrust. November confirmed MP-30 Ratchet and Unite Warriors Devastator with new elbows. A leaked slide showed Titans Return Fortress Maximus, and a fan vote pitted Trypticon against Scorponok and Omega Supreme. A conference call revealed Powermaster Optimus Prime, a heavy retool of Ultra Magnus, and G2 Bruticus.
December detailed Unite Warriors Grand Galvatron, with Cyclonus, Wandering Roar, Ghost Starscream, Armada Thrust and Zombie War Breakdown. Every host plans to buy it. The crew calls it the kind of obscure, affordable exclusive they want. G2 Superion and early Masterpiece Optimus Primal photos closed out the year.
2015 in Review: Media, Comics and Events
In January, Robots in Disguise announced its voice cast, and the crew praises Will Friedle as Bumblebee. USA Today named Transformers vs. G.I. Joe the most insane read of 2014. Hasbro also filed new GoBots trademarks. In February, Hasbro and IDW extended their ten-year partnership, and the G1 cartoon moved from Netflix to Hasbro’s own streaming outlets. March brought a Transformers exhibit at the Indianapolis Children’s Museum and the US Cartoon Network debut of Robots in Disguise. It also brought the first talk of a Transformers cinematic universe.
April surfaced pages from an unpublished Marvel adaptation of “Dweller in the Depths”. Hasbro’s earnings call credited Transformers for a sales jump, and Paramount said Michael Bay was working on Transformers 5. In May and June, BotCon registration was delayed, then hit outages and a $7 processing fee. Robert Kirkman joined the movie team, and Hasbro’s cinematic plans included a possible Bumblebee movie. Getting from O’Hare to the BotCon hotel in St. Charles, Illinois was a mess, though the crew loved the venue once they arrived. Transformers Devastation was revealed just before BotCon as a true G1 game.
At SDCC, Hasbro and Machinima announced an adult-leaning Combiner Wars animated series. Brian fears another G.I. Joe: Resolute, while another host is hopeful given the Megas XLR creators involved. In September, Bay said he had not committed to Transformers 5, and BotCon 2016 was set for Louisville, Kentucky. November brought a Hasbro trademark filing for CybertronCon and the Earth Wars mobile game beta. Transformers Rising was scrapped, and Imgur posts of cels and background art from Transformers: The Movie delighted Brian.
December brought news that Hasbro’s cinematic universe would include Micronauts, Visionaries, G.I. Joe, ROM and M.A.S.K. Mark Wahlberg confirmed his return for Transformers 5. The Transformers Collectors Club set a hard end date for memberships. Brian says most fan frustration with BotCon came from how complaints were handled. More Than Meets the Eye and James Roberts also won Comics Alliance Awards. Rescue Bots, meanwhile, has been quiet since its season ended.
Picks of the Year
Chris
Chris’s favorite toy is Combiner Wars Hot Spot, which he calls solid and very poseable. His comic pick is a tie. One is the Buster and Doc team-up issue of Robots in Disguise, and the other is the Combiner Hunters one-shot, chosen for its art. His top news story is the Titans Return announcement, and he predicts a lot more Transformers toys in 2016.
Diecast
Diecast’s official pick is Combiner Wars Ultra Magnus, but his true favorite is FansToys’ Sever, and the Stomp test shot impressed him even more. He skips comics. His top news story is the fan vote Trypticon won, and he predicts 2016 is the year Don gets his Headmaster Arcee.
Don
Don’s favorite toy is Legion Class Fixit, which he calls one of the most show-accurate toys ever. His top news story is the confirmation of G2 combiners. For the movie’s 30th anniversary, he predicts a Masterpiece Arcee, possibly with Daniel as a Headmaster. His backup prediction is a Beast Wars Megatron to pair with Masterpiece Optimus Primal.
Matt
Matt’s favorite toys are Combiner Wars Devastator and Ultra Magnus. His comic pick is The Transformers #42, where Optimus Prime beats a handcuffed Prowl right after a speech about morality. His top news story is the extended Hasbro and IDW deal, and he predicts a Unite Warriors Computron announcement in 2016.
John
John’s favorite toys are the BotCon Diaclone Burnout and Lift Ticket, with Devastator as his mainstream pick. He passes on comics. His top news story is Hasbro’s movie universe for its 1980s brands, and he predicts Takara Tomy finally announces Masterpiece Jazz.
Brian
Brian’s favorite toy is Combiner Wars Ultra Magnus with Minimus Ambus, the best value at its price point. His comic pick is Transformers vs. G.I. Joe #7. His top news story is Transformers Devastation, even though the game did not live up to his hopes. He predicts fans will get tired of Headmasters, which another host disputes. The crew also hopes for a G2 Defensor and a G2 Sky Lynx.
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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