A distributor listing points to Deluxe Blast Off and a surprise Repugnus, which would complete the Monsterbots in one scale. Power of the Primes Blast Off package art arrives with Studio Series art for Optimus Prime and Starscream. Official Transformers Authentics photos are out, and Walmart clears Titans Return Deluxes for as little as $7. Rob’s TFormers editorial asks Hasbro to stop sticking collectors with factory stickers, and Toy Fair is one month away.
News
May Mayhem Returns? Distributor Listing for Blast Off and Repugnus
Chris wrote the story. A distributor lists Generations Deluxe Blast Off, already known from leaks, and a surprise Deluxe Repugnus. That would put all three Monsterbots in one scale. Chris thinks Repugnus could be a light retool of Grotusque, with a Battle Beast whose colors suit a Repugnus Titan Master. Another theory uses the Terrorcon Blot mold, to match this year’s combiners. One host jokes that two Headmaster Monsterbots and one combiner would drive people crazy. [Source: TFormers]
Rob wrote the story, and so far the package art is all there is. He guesses it would suit a fold-open box like Arcee’s or Grotusque’s. The crew thinks the Studio Series art references Revenge of the Fallen’s Optimus Prime and Starscream. Earlier, the crew speculated on which hand-foot-gun accessory a US Blast Off will include. [Source: TFormers]
Chris explains the $5 and $10 figures target parents and grandparents, much like Cyber Battalion overseas. He expects them to sell better than collectors think. Product numbers suggest the Authentics are the Project Storm items from recent listings. The crew mocks Bumblebee’s tired eyes. One host likes the Grimlock and might buy one to paint. Others note a similar simple-transforming line already at Walgreens. [Source: TFormers]
Walmart Makes a Clean Sweep of Titans Return: Deluxes Hit Clearance
Titans Return Deluxes are turning up for as little as about $7. The crew reminds listeners that each Walmart sets its own clearance. One host once found Generations Armada Megatron at $20 two weeks after release. Another recalls a Walmart that marked G.I. Joe figures up with clearance stickers. [Source: TFormers]
Power of the Primes Starscream Running Change Variant Identified
A fan on Twitter flagged a remolded socket with added slots on Starscream’s back. With the backpack at a slight angle, the jet mode tabs together more easily. The story lists a batch code to look for, usually near a bottom corner of the back panel. [Source: TFormers]
The Devastation of Online Transformers Video Game Offerings Explained
Transformers: Devastation and other games left online stores because Activision no longer holds the license. One host says that is why he buys physical copies. [Source: TFormers]
Iron Warrior IW-07 Strife: Non-Transforming Unofficial Movie Brawl Prototype
This comes from the company behind last week’s non-transforming Transformers Prime Optimus Prime. The crew says it looks too slim and too small. One host notes Brawl already exists at Leader, Voyager and Deluxe sizes. [Source: TFormers]
MechPlanet’s Hot Soldiers HS-02 Unofficial Legends Optimus Prime Prototype Photos
One host would believe the detailed prototype was a Deluxe. Diecast holds up his Hot Soldiers Bumblebee for scale, and the line runs large for Legends. The crew likes MechPlanet’s Ratchet, Ironhide and Soundwave, but rates its Bumblebee the weakest. [Source: TFormers]
What’s on TFormers
Editorial: Hasbro, Please Stop Sticking Us With Stickers
Rob’s editorial explains why factory-applied stickers fail, citing many unhappy collectors. He asks fans at Toy Fair to raise it with Hasbro, politely. Chris notes many collectors would accept sticker sheets instead. Don shows how badly applied stickers interfere with Rodimus Prime’s transformation and suggests Hasbro work with Toyhax. Rob doubts that would cost out, though Bandai’s Gundam models show G1-quality foil stickers still exist. [Source: TFormers]
Exvee reviews Optimus Prime #15, The Falling, Chapter 1, and Rob says the art is better than the story. [Source: TFormers] Transformers at the Moon released more G1 audio, with dialogue and deleted lines from “A Plague of Insecticons.” [Source: TFormers]
Toy Fair Is One Month Away
Hasbro’s Toy Fair invitation has arrived, and RFC will stream live again with the news as it happens. Brian calls it the Super Bowl of Transformers podcasting. The crew expects Bumblebee movie product and a first look at the US Blast Off.
This Week in History
In 1987, a strategy guide for Mystery of Convoy was published in Japan, in manga form. Brian notes that M. Sipher once wrote video game strategy guides for a living. The crew jokes that no guide could help anyone win that game. [Source: TFWiki]
What We Got This Week
Brian got nothing this week but about seven inches of snow.
Diecast finally got his Fans Hobby Power Baser Optimus Prime, which came with a free Matrix accessory in a nice box. He got an upscaled knockoff of DX9’s War in Pocket Slag, about $20 and with better joints than the original, and Yes Model’s upscaled knockoffs of the first two MakeToys Protectobots. He also got Sunstreaker, which he rates far above Sunsurge, and the fourth of a set of clear knockoff Generation Toy limbs. He got Grotusque from Toys R Us online and both sets of War in Pocket Seeker knockoffs, about $40 for six jets. Toy World’s Springer disappointed him, arriving dusted with white powder and a loose headlight. He also got third-party cassettes with a coin, and his Iron Factory Onslaught.
Rob‘s Grotusque is complete at last. Jason Kirk sent him a Fangry Titan Master, which Rob calls the nicest paint job he has seen on a Titan Master.
Matt got The Unofficial Guide to Vintage Transformers. He got both Power of the Primes Leaders: Rodimus Prime is too big and fights him in vehicle mode, while Optimus Prime makes a great Orion Pax. From TakaraTomy Legends he got Bumblebee with Spike, Slugslinger and Octane with a clear Ghost Starscream. He also got anime-colors Masterpiece Red Alert and the Masterpiece Black Convoy reissue. Masterpiece Sunstreaker may be his favorite Masterpiece yet. He also got the Masterpiece cassettes Enemy, Wingthing and Stripes, plus the new-mold Nightstalker, his least favorite of the bunch.
Don had nothing in Transformers this week. His Iron Factory Onslaught has still not shipped.
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 – 345
RFC Daily Transformers News Update 024: Power of the Point of Sale
Radio Free Cybertron – 06/16/00