Diecast finally gets his two HasLab Unicrons after a FedEx fiasco, and he loves them despite a few flaws. Amazon’s Battle Across Time Collection brings a much-improved Mirage and an off-model Beast Wars Grimlock.

Hasbro licenses a Transformers Deck-Building Game to Renegade Game Studios, and TakaraTomy’s Premium Finish line leaks. Chris lands a Unite Warriors EX Grand Scourge, and Brian finally gets a G1 Artfire.

News

Amazon Exclusive Mirage and Grimlock

Amazon’s Battle Across Time Collection pairs a heavily retooled Mirage with a Beast Wars Grimlock redeco of Kingdom Dinobot. One host estimates the Mirage is 60 to 70 percent new parts, and it drops the fragile clear plastic. New swivel joints remove the shoulder ports for Mirage’s rocket launcher, though. Grimlock looks nothing like Beast Wars Grimlock. Blade Raider in chat theorizes that the deco began from the Japanese Dinobots Grimlock layout. One host wants the Mirage but not the extra $30 for Grimlock. Another calls this Mirage mold his Seeker mold. The set still hit number one in Amazon’s toys. [Source: TFRadio]

Transformers Deck-Building Game

With the Transformers TCG gone, Hasbro licensed a Transformers Deck-Building Game to Renegade Game Studios. One host explains that deck-building games sell as a full box with boxed expansions, not random packs. Playable Decepticons appear set for an expansion, and Matt Frank is among the artists. Brian finds it odd that Hasbro licenses a card game instead of using Wizards of the Coast. Chris thinks COVID stalled the TCG because organized play could not grow. One host recalls running Yu-Gi-Oh tournaments, where turnout made or broke the event. [Source: BoardGameGeek]

Premium Finish Series Leaks

Retailer solicitations leaked TakaraTomy’s Premium Finish Series. It starts with the Studio Series Volkswagen Bumblebee in faded yellow paint and Siege Optimus Prime in a cartoon-accurate deco. One host warns this is not a return to Takara’s old alternate decos. He expects mostly Studio Series figures with heavy, screen-accurate paint. Another host was relieved these were not the mystery $50 Optimus Prime and Megatron listings. [Source: TFRadio]

What We Got This Week

Chris got the Netflix War for Cybertron Cheetor from Pulse to cover shipping on Shattered Glass Megatron. His big pickup is a Unite Warriors EX Grand Scourge from Brentasaur at well under typical prices. It is the only transforming toy in the Super Link candy-toy Grand Scourge colors, with corrected hip ratchets and a giant sword.

Don found what may be the last case of Walmart Headmasters reissues and got Weirdwolf and Skullcruncher. That completes his boxed set of Decepticon Headmasters. He is also selling toys toward a big purchase he plans to reveal later.

Matt got nothing this week.

Rob got nothing this week.

John had nothing in hand yet. Generations Selects Volcanicus arrives Friday, after he sold his original set years ago.

Brian bought Don’s carded Target Elita-1, the Energon Arcee mold he is collecting again. He also got a clean Bounce mail-in Autobot cup with Optimus Prime and Sunstreaker. His big pickup is a loose G1 Artfire from Artfire2000, well under four figures. It has resin-cast hands and lacks the vehicle-mode block, but it looks great.

Diecast finally received both HasLab Unicrons after FedEx split and misrouted the shipments. One fought him into robot mode, and he dislikes the shoulder clips and the nearly invisible eye gimmick. Still, he loves its sheer presence. He ordered LED light kits and plans to keep one Unicron in planet mode. He ties the moment to memories of his late grandmother and the Fortress Maximus he wanted as a kid.

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