SDCC is a week away, and Hasbro is switching to preorder codes instead of booth exclusives. Walmart Collector Con follows on July 21, with Velocitron deluxes headed to stores.

Small leaks show Selects DK-3 and Studio Series 86 Wheelie, and Shattered Glass Flamewar appears in stock photos. Legacy G-Axis wins over the crew despite some quality-control issues.

News

SDCC Next Week: Reveals and a New Way to Buy Exclusives

SDCC is next week, with Legacy, Shattered Glass and EarthSpark reveals expected, plus an EarthSpark panel to introduce the cast. Hasbro will not have exclusives on hand at the booth. Attendees get a one-time code to preorder, and general sales open later. The crew debates whether that dilutes a convention exclusive. Brian dislikes convention exclusives in general. Hasbro also previewed its Selfie Series of custom face-printed figures, and the crew wants a Transformers version, like an Exosuit Spike. [Source: not found]

Two Small Leaks: Selects DK-3 and Studio Series 86 Wheelie

Small, blurry leaks show Generations Selects DK-3, a blue Trailbreaker with the cartoon Trailbreaker head, and Studio Series 86 Wheelie with his slingshot. Brian has a soft spot for Wheelie but asks why this one is needed. Chris will wait for better photos, noting the Titans Return Legends Wheelie never held together. [Source: TFRadio]

Shattered Glass Flamewar Stock Photos Shown

Shattered Glass Flamewar stock photos surfaced through In Demand Toys. Brian loves it, and Chris will skip it in favor of the BotCon 2014 Flamewar he already has. The crew notes Flamewar was created by Ben Yee. [Source: TFRadio]

Buzzworthy Bumblebee Summer Assortment Hits US Stores

Target’s Buzzworthy Bumblebee summer assortment is turning up, including the four-pack, the toy-color Dinobots and Terrorsaur. Shelves are otherwise full of Coronation Starscream and Galvatron. Don says reports of poor Studio Series 86 Sludge copies are widespread. Brian repeats that he does not buy upgrade kits. [Source: not found]

Walmart Collector Con Starts July 21

Walmart Collector Con starts July 21, alongside SDCC preview night. Velocitron deluxes are expected in stores this month, with Cosmos short packed. Don worries about Walmart placement without shelf tags. Brian notes walmart.com has never shipped him wave one, which earns the episode its title. [Source: not found]

Vaporware Amazon Listings

Amazon Prime Optimus Prime resurfaced for Prime Day and still did not materialize. A Legacy Leader Darkmount listing on international Amazon sites actually maps to Dragon Megatron. Per JT Prime, Darkmount was an early Legacy pitch that was shelved. Chris thinks a Galvatron retool could still bring it back someday. [Source: not found]

What We Got This Week

Chris got a good Studio Series 86 Sludge with ratcheting knees and firm wings, though it still ranks third of the three Dinobots. He calls Legacy G-Axis a figure that blew away every expectation, with a spot-on robot mode and a correct G2 Decepticon symbol. Legacy Junkheap left him less enthusiastic than Wreck-Gar did.

Diecast found Legacy Leader Blitzwing on a Walmart top shelf in Ohio. At nearly $60 with tax, it does not feel like Leader value to him, and the soft sword came warped. He also likes G-Axis and has Junkheap unopened.

Don got a second Silverstreak on Target markdown, two Authentics Arcees at Dollar General and Core Class G2 Megatron. G-Axis is in his top five for the year. Studio Series 86 Galvatron arrived early. For his Robots in Disguise shelf, he got the Universe Spy Changer Ultra Magnus and a boxed Robots in Disguise Ultra Magnus for about $100.

Matt had nothing this week.

Rob got a G-Axis with poor quality control: floppy knees, loose hand panels and a bobbling head. He still loves it and plans to try for a better copy.

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