Punch-Counterpunch arrives for nearly the whole crew on the same day, and they dig into its clever transformation and limited shoulders. Longtime friend of the show Chris McFeely is writing Transformers Historia, an in-universe history of the IDW Transformers universe due in December. Hasbro Asia plans a Real Ghostbusters MP-10 Optimus Prime, and the Walmart G1 reissues head to US stores. Plus Battle Masters Blowpipe, a metallic Fans Toys Phoenix and the 22nd anniversary of the Power Block.
Punch-Counterpunch In Hand
Nearly everyone received Punch-Counterpunch from Amazon on release day, which the crew calls a rare treat. Flipping the shoulder ball joints makes the vehicle mode go together more easily and may ease stress on the plastic. It takes about 30 seconds. The crew likes the box and expects boxed Deluxes to be standard once Siege arrives. One host finds posing limited because the hood kibble hits the shoulders, and the thigh swivels barely move. The car mode is excellent, and the transformation is new, intuitive and pleasingly complex. One host compares it to the Transformers: Prime Vehicon toy. The Power of the Primes hand and Prime Master are nearly useless, though the hand works as a jetpack on Counterpunch. The crew would welcome a reuse of the mold for Crosshairs or Pointblank. Brian says the last line where the transformation itself was the gimmick was First Edition Prime.
This Week in History
In 1996, Claster launched the Power Block syndication block, which included Beast Wars. A listener asked about the pilot airing in April. One host confirms the two-part premiere aired on back-to-back days in April before the September launch. Don still hates Vor-Tech, the other Power Block cartoon, and the crew threatens to add one to his wish list.
News
Transformers Historia: Chris McFeely Writes History of the IDW Transformers Universe
Chris McFeely, a friend of the show for many years, gets his first big official writing credit. Transformers Historia is an in-universe history of IDW’s Transformers universe, due in December. The crew debates who could be telling the story if the universe ends, and decides that pedantic argument is the right tribute to McFeely. [Source: TFormers]
Hasbro Asia MP-10 Real Ghostbusters Optimus Prime, Plus Encore Graphy, Noise and Frenzy
The set is marked Exhibition Limited and uses the MP-10 mold. One host jokes it outdoes the 7-Eleven Optimus Prime he just bought. The crew wishes for a proton pack, Starscream’s ghost or a tiny Ecto-1. The real news is that Graphy and Noise, the cassettes once expected with the second Bumblebee set, are back. One host guesses an SDCC 2019 exclusive. [Source: TFormers]
Walmart-Exclusive G1 Reissues Now Being Distributed to US Stores
Starscream, Hot Rod and Devastator are turning up in West Coast stores, with boxes marked as a new modular set. One host explains Walmart’s week 36 on the retail calendar starts October 13, so shoppers should look in about four weeks. The crew notes a winter Bumblebee movie fits the holiday toy push. [Source: TFormers]
Bumblebee Movie Nerf Nitro Speedblast Set
Diecast and another host tested the set at HasCon. It launches cars off a ramp from a tabletop launcher. The crew also jokes that its portal looks like a Stargate. [Source: TFormers]
Bumblebee Happy Meal Toys Revealed to Be Cyberverse Toys
The Cyberverse Happy Meal toys have been rebranded for the Bumblebee movie. That means a Windblade and a Blitzwing. Brian plans to collect them for his daughters. [Source: TFormers]
Target-Exclusive Boombox Soundwave and Bumblebee Cassette Pack Hit Argos
The Titans Return Soundwave retool is turning up at Argos in the UK, and reportedly at a California Target. One host wishes it had a red visor instead of a second yellow one. Another will skip Soundwave but wants the four-pack with recolored cassettes, even with its thin Bumblebee. [Source: TFormers]
Battle Masters Wave 1: First Look at Blowpipe
In-package stock photos confirm Blowpipe in Siege wave 1. One host admits he likes the card art more than the toys. Another is happy to arm his Trigger Happy for about $6. [Source: TFormers]
Fans Toys Phoenix Returns in Limited Edition Metallic Colors
Don has already preordered the metallic Phoenix, which mainly adds a metallic red. The original Phoenix had climbed to $349 to $499 on eBay. Don still will not get rid of his older unofficial Skyfire, which the crew loves to mock. [Source: TFormers]
Fans Hobby MB-06B Power Baser Mirror Color Purple
This Shattered Glass Power Baser is limited to 500 numbered pieces for a Shanghai convention’s 10th anniversary. Diecast loves the purple and plans to buy one. Don likes the mold but not the feet hanging off the back. [Source: Taobao]
What’s on TFormers
Rob says the Transformers Historia cover by Sara Pitre-Durocher is gorgeous, and Chris McFeely has used it as his phone’s lock screen for months. TFormers also has Chris’s guide to fixing Punch-Counterpunch’s shoulders. [Source: TFormers] There is also a stop-motion promo video for Movie Masterpiece MPM-7 Bumblebee. [Source: TFormers]
From the RFC Vault
After the outro, the episode replays a vintage RFC interview with a fan costumer best known for his Metalhawk costume, covering how he builds Transformers costumes from cardboard and duct tape.
What We Got This Week
Brian got Punch-Counterpunch from Amazon for $23 but has not opened it yet. He also preordered one for Eric Crownover’s birthday, knowing it would ship to Eric’s home while he is away at college.
Diecast picked up a second knockoff of DX9’s unofficial Masterpiece Powerglide. Two companies made the knockoff at the same time, and the two are the same size with small differences.
Matt‘s pickups this week were not Transformers.
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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