Diecast spent nearly two hours with Hasbro’s Transformers team at New York Comic Con, and he brings back word of fewer Deluxe waves, a push to reissue hard-to-find figures and a HasLab coming sooner than fans think. Hasbro confirms another workforce reduction. The Mandalorian N-1 Starfighter crossover impresses in robot mode, while Super7 ReAction Wave 8 fumbles ghost Starscream again. Siege Omega Supreme returns as a Big Bad Toy Store exclusive, and early Transformers Animated concept art surfaces. In What We Got This Week, Brian goes from doubting to loving the G1-style Optimus Prime and Diecast builds Yolopark’s Starscream.

Diecast at the NYCC Hasbro Event

Diecast and Miguel of TF University spent almost two hours with Hasbro’s Nate and Mark at New York Comic Con. Studio Series 86 Galvatron better matches the movie’s purple, and one host says the stock photos show the movie’s indigo rather than the grape tone of Kingdom and Legacy. Don shared fan artist Mav Doodles’ guide sorting the many Galvatron figures by source. Hasbro is watching aftermarket prices to bring back high-demand figures, and Studio Series 86 Ultra Magnus sounded like it’s on the shortlist, though nothing is confirmed. Deluxe assortments drop from four waves a year to three, with the same number of new figures. There is no Studio Series 86 Devastator box set planned, so the first run should reach everyone. Diecast still asked for an orange Devastator down the line. One host would actually pick Diaclone colors over G2 orange, to the dismay of the orange faithful. Hasbro said the next Transformers HasLab is coming sooner than fans think. Miguel asked for Killing Jar figures, and Diecast asked for Dark Awakening Optimus Prime. Hasbro also hinted that Studio Series 86 Optimus Prime without the trailer could fill a Leader price point.

News

Hasbro Announces Organizational Changes and a Workforce Reduction

The Toy Book reports operational and organizational changes at Hasbro, including a workforce reduction. Brian noted the layoffs touch the Transformers team and others, and asked listeners to be respectful online. The crew had expected more cuts given Hasbro’s forecasts. Discord members count this as the fourth round in two years. [Source: The Toy Book]

Transformers x Star Wars The Mandalorian N-1 Starfighter

The Walmart-exclusive Mandalorian N-1 Starfighter looked amazing in person, according to Diecast. It shares a designer and a flip-out tab gimmick with Studio Series 86 Optimus Prime, and the wings form a stand. An empty baby pod with a 5mm port behind the cockpit suggests a Grogu accessory was cut. One host already bought a vintage-style Mandalorian with Grogu in anticipation. Another says the robot mode beats Hasbro’s old Star Wars Transformers, but the starfighter mode suffers. [Source: TFW2005]

Super7 ReAction Transformers Wave 8 Official Images

Don ran down Super7’s eighth ReAction wave, mostly recolors. It includes Arcee in prototype colors, a metallic Grimlock, a Nucleon Quest-colored Optimus Prime, a white-cab Ultra Magnus and a Rumble or Frenzy. The crew argued over whether that last one could pass for Enemy. The letdown is ghost Starscream, molded in glittery plastic instead of clean translucent. Brian sold off his Super7 Ultimates ghost Starscream, calling it $50 of disappointment. Chris would rather see a gradient that fades to clear at the shins. John, a former Hasbro licensee, says license approvals have loosened as leadership and finances shift. [Source: TFW2005]

Super7 ReAction Wrecking Crew Devastator in Diaclone Colors

Super7 is reissuing its oversized ReAction Devastator in Diaclone colors as Wrecking Crew Devastator. Don likes the mold and the color scheme, and he is less disappointed by this than by Wave 8. Diaclone is his favorite Devastator deco, so this one might get him to buy. Another host still wants G2 orange. [Source: Snakas blog]

Siege Titan Class Omega Supreme Returns as a Big Bad Toy Store Exclusive

A week after the crew wished for it, Siege Titan Class Omega Supreme is getting a reissue. It’s a Big Bad Toy Store exclusive at $199.99, up from about $170 originally. Don pictured a display with Omega Supreme on a riser behind a few Omega Sentinels. One host noted it ships next September, right as Studio Series 86 Devastator wraps up, and expects Big Bad Toy Store to order close to its preorder numbers. Another pointed out there is no deposit, unlike some cheaper preorders. [Source: Big Bad Toy Store]

Early Transformers Animated Concept Art

Brian Miller shared very early Transformers Animated concept art on Twitter, from before Derek Wyatt’s designs. One host noted the October 20 post shows the bones of the show we know. The early take is more Japanese-styled, and Optimus Prime towers over Bulkhead. The crew is glad the show went the way it did, and calls it one of the top Transformers series. [Source: Brian Miller on X]

Transformers One Arrives on Digital

Transformers One is now available to rent or buy on premium digital platforms like Amazon Prime Video and Vudu. Brian bought it for $25, and most places rent it for $20. He hopes to host an RFC watch-along soon, the first since Predacons Rising. The Blu-ray arrives December 17. [Source: TFW2005]

What We Got This Week

Brian

Brian grabbed Transformers Bop It and the Amazon Breakdown and Windsweeper set. His main pickup was the small G1-style Optimus Prime Deluxe, which frustrated him at first and then won him over. The elbow hinge feels like it will snap, but one host assured him the moving part is nylon built to flex. The light piping, fold-up bumper and flip-up tires don’t add much. Still, Brian loves both guns, the back storage and how fiddly it is, and plans a second one for his office desk. Diecast, who broke one of the thin guns, also likes it. Chris finds it a bit lesser than its peers, yet fascinating next to Missing Link Convoy. Brian also landed the Pioneer DVD of the Japanese Transformers: The Movie from Mandarake, a boxed G1 Bombshell with the 40th anniversary Bombshell, and the Beast Wars Metals Optimus Primal versus Megatron set with its VHS tape.

Diecast

Diecast built the Yolopark AMK Pro G1 Starscream, ordered direct from Yolopark, and calls it what Super7’s Ultimates should have been. The nacelles were the only hard part to assemble. He also got the Yolopark Apelinq but hasn’t opened it.

Don

Don picked up a red movie concept Frenzy and found Slipstream in store. He hasn’t opened her yet, but likes the Euro G2 colors and calls her one of the better Windblade-mold releases, though he wishes the hands did more.

Chris

Chris opened the G1-style Optimus Prime and bought Slipstream to future-proof against a Nonnef Productions kit. At Ollie’s he found a reissue Beast Wars Iguanus for $9.99, whose bubble fell off on the way home. He filled out his Rise of the Beasts Battle Masters with the crocodile cannon Skullcruncher and Optimus Prime with Chainclaw. He also bought the Windsweeper and Breakdown two-pack from Miguel’s sale thread, and owns the Nonnef upgrade to finish the Triggercon.

Matt

Matt had nothing in Transformers this week.

John

John opened Dinoking and calls him delightful, exactly what these sets were supposed to be.

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