Hasbro reveals the SDCC 2016 Titan Wars Fortress Maximus with Master Sword. TFormers compares it with the Hasbro retail and Takara Tomy Legends versions. Generations Platinum Edition Unicron is scheduled for December. The Last Knight starts filming in Detroit and teases a new character, Sqweeks. Takara Tomy’s painted Legends Scourge shows up Hasbro’s plain release.
This Week in History
In 1989, Marvel UK released part one of “Aspects of Evil!” The crew recalls the story of an aging Rodimus Prime, corrupted by Unicron through the Matrix. They say the Marvel UK run is still worth reading. In 2008, Paramount released Transformers Animated: Transform and Roll Out on DVD. One host says Animated brought him back to Transformers, and another calls it his favorite Transformers cartoon.
Follow-Up: Fun Publications Exclusives in the UK
One host heard from a UK convention organizer that Fun Publications planned its exclusives there in advance, as a separate run. He still objects to calling them BotCon exclusives, but the crew means nothing against the UK show.
News
Generations Platinum Edition Unicron Scheduled For December
Generations Platinum Edition Unicron is scheduled for December. One host hopes it is the later cartoon-style version, which has since climbed in price. Preorders run from $130 to $170. The crew says Unicron is one mold that deserves to be back in print every few years. [Source: TFormers]
Toys “R” Us Hong Kong opened Fortress Maximus preorders with a free Master Sword for the first 100 buyers. One host expects resellers grabbed many of those swords. [Source: TFormers]
SDCC 2016: First Look at Fortress Maximus with Master Sword
Hasbro revealed the SDCC 2016 Titan Wars Fortress Maximus, which comes with Master Sword. Its Cerebros comes with a remolded, anime-style head. The tip of the Master Sword detaches as a weapon for Cerebros. One host is getting Hasbro’s for the Rebirth head, another wants Takara’s toy-accurate head, and Matt is torn between the two. [Source: TFormers]
#SDCC2016 – Guide To Fortress Maximus: Convention Edition vs Hasbro Retail vs TakaraTomy Legends
TFormers put together a guide comparing the convention edition, Hasbro retail and Takara Tomy Legends versions. It finds no major differences, though Takara’s Cerebros robot mode is still unseen. [Source: TFormers]
New Images of Legends LG26 Scourge TakaraTomy Titans Return Release
New images show Takara Tomy’s Legends LG-26 Scourge with far more paint than Hasbro’s all-blue release. One host notes the mustache should be darker. [Source: TFormers]
Titans Return – Hands On Event In Taiwan Shows Off Wave 2 Figures Plus Exclusive Sticker Sheet
Hasbro’s hands-on event in Taiwan showed the second Titans Return wave and an exclusive sticker sheet. The crew wishes U.S. fans got hands-on events and stickers like this. [Source: TFormers]
Robots in Disguise Warrior Class Scorponok In Hand Photos
In-hand photos show Robots in Disguise Warrior Class Scorponok. The crew calls it a great-looking scorpion and a different kind of robot, with a Beast Machines feel. [Source: TFormers]
Transformers: The Last Knight Filming Begins in Detroit Michigan
Filming on The Last Knight has begun in Detroit, Michigan. The crew jokes about getting Paladin cast as an extra. [Source: TFormers]
Decepticon Drone Fighters Land on Transformers: The Last Knight Production Set
Decepticon drone fighters landed on the production set. One host hopes Michael Bay slows the transformations down so audiences can see them. [Source: TFormers]
Transformers: The Last Knight – Actress Laura Haddock Signs On For #TF5
Laura Haddock, who played Star-Lord’s mother in Guardians of the Galaxy, joins The Last Knight. [Source: TFormers]
Transformers: The Last Knight New Character Teased: Who Is Squeaks?
A new character, Sqweeks, has been teased. The crew says it looks like a Vespa reassembled into a robot, and several hosts think it looks cute. [Source: TFormers]
MTCD-01 Striker Manus Reveal Cross Dimension Series Unofficial Optimus Prime From Maketoys
MakeToys revealed MTCD-01 Striker Manus, an unofficial Cybertronian-style Optimus Prime. The crew says it leans too far toward Gundam and is not something they need. [Source: TFormers]
TFC Toys Deathclaw Unofficial Nautilator Prototype Pics of Team Poseidon Figure
Prototype photos show TFC Toys’ Deathclaw, an unofficial Nautilator for the Poseidon team. Don is happy with his G1 Piranacon and God Neptune. He would rather see Combiner Wars Seacons, or a new Autobot naval team. [Source: TFormers]
Iron Factory EX-15 Soul Reaper New Color Photos of Unofficial Black Shadow
New color photos show Iron Factory’s EX-15 Soul Reaper, an unofficial Legends-scale Black Shadow. The crew likes the clear plastic wings but notes it copies the Generations mold rather than the original toy. [Source: TFormers]
Also on TFormers
TFormers reviewed More Than Meets the Eye #54. Stop-motion animations show Titans Return Deluxe Wave 1 transforming, in a style that recalls the season 3 eyecatches. The first videos of Deluxe Wave 2 Chromedome and Highbrow are up. Chromedome’s deco works around the Dead End mold’s unpainted nylon bicep.
What We Got This Week
Diecast bought the translucent Masterpiece-mold Soundwave set with its tapes for $49 at Toys “R” Us, mostly as an impulse buy.
Don won a Fall of Cybertron G2 Bruticus and an Alternity Dai Atlas on eBay for $20 for the pair.
Matt picked up Subscription Service Spinister from Big Bad Toy Store, at a markup. He also got Groove from Exvee and says it makes a good leg next to Blades.
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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