Skybound is reportedly in talks for the Transformers comics license, and the crew weighs what that means for IDW. Henry Orenstein, who brought Diaclone to Hasbro and made Transformers possible, has died at 98. Kingdom Deluxe Wave 5 and Studio Series Bumblebee movie Soundwave turn up early at Walmart. Super7 reveals a Shattered Glass Super Cyborg Optimus Prime. Chris hosts with Brian away, and Matt raves about Masterpiece Reboost.

News

Skybound in Talks to Acquire G.I. Joe, Transformers Publishing License

The Hollywood Reporter says Robert Kirkman’s Skybound is in talks for the Transformers comics license. Chris notes that an earlier, less reliable rumor pointed to Image Comics, and either way it looks bad for IDW. The crew says IDW’s reboot took a while to find its footing but has been consistent since. Chris thinks Hasbro is shopping the license because of IDW’s shaky business outlook, since nobody wants another Dreamwave. One host hopes IDW’s creators get paid either way. Another notes that Kirkman sat in the Transformers movie writers room, so he may have story ideas ready. [Source: The Hollywood Reporter]

Henry Orenstein, Transformers Creator and Poker Innovator, Dies Aged 98

Henry Orenstein saw Takara’s Diaclone toys at Toy Fair and realized they could sell with the right marketing. He brought them to Hasbro, which built the story and characters around them. Chris credits him with making everything the show covers possible, joking that it might otherwise be Radio Free GoBotron. [Source: Newsweek]

Kingdom Deluxe Wave 5 and Studio Series Soundwave Spotted at US Walmart

Walmart stores are getting Kingdom Deluxe Wave 5 with Pipes and Slammer. Studio Series Bumblebee movie Soundwave is also turning up, though it is not due until about February. Chris explains that on-sale dates bind online retailers with direct Hasbro accounts, while brick-and-mortar stores largely sell when stock arrives. Diecast is frustrated that online stores have to wait. [Source: not found]

Shattered Glass Super Cyborg Optimus Prime

Super7’s Shattered Glass Super Cyborg Optimus Prime costs about $85, and Don passes at that price. Chris calls it a niche clear-robot product in the style of Jumbo Machinders. He likes the Shattered Glass take on the original box art, would prefer a clear purple chest piece and expects a white Shattered Glass Soundwave next. [Source: Super7]

Elf on a Shelfwarmer

Chris makes his yearly toy drive appeal. Toys for Tots drop-offs may be closed, but smaller local programs can still get toys to children later in the season. He asks listeners to check with their city for local options and to set aside clearance toys all year. He thanks everyone who shared their donations on Twitter and Instagram.

What We Got This Week

Rob‘s pickups this week were not Transformers.

Don finally got Red Alert by trading his Amazon two-pack Skywarp to Brickinator, who needed it. At Walmart he found Cyberverse Warrior Class Dead End and Cyberverse Slag for his Dinobot collection, plus a spare Slag for anyone who needs one.

Diecast got a big blue and white third-party robot that turns into a sniper rifle. He wishes it had its own head instead of an Optimus Prime-style one.

Chris got Golden Disk Collection Jackpot, and its deco really pops in hand. Like everyone’s, its new head sculpt is uneven, though his chin strap is unusually even. He is irritated that the Buzzworthy Kup redeco fixes the clear chest window he bought the first time, and now he has to buy Kup again.

Matt loves Kingdom Pipes in its royal blue and white, even though the truck still sags in the middle. Slammer is a pull-apart weaponizer with chainsaw swords, which suits him fine. The toy-colors Kingdom Galvatron is far more vibrant in hand than he expected, and now he wants a toy-colors Cyclonus. He got Masterpiece Reboost from Amazon Japan and calls it everything he wants from Masterpiece: intuitive, sturdy and great looking.

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