G1 Transformers writer Ron Friedman has passed away at 93, and the crew remembers his unforgettable convention panels. A Mystery of Convoy apparel collaboration gets a laugh, Auldey shows Alpha Action Elite Wave 3, and Dr. Wu sketches a micromaster-scale G2 Laser Optimus Prime. Hasbro Pulse also confirms its New York Comic Con streams. In What We Got This Week, John and Matt split hard on Superion, and Diecast raves about the Blokees Transformers: The Movie box set.

News

G1 Transformers Writer Ron Friedman Passes Away at 93

Ron Friedman, who wrote for G1 Transformers and G.I. Joe, has passed away at 93. The crew notes he worked on nearly everything in the 1980s, including live-action television. One host and Diecast saw his panel at the last TFcon Chicago. Friedman steamrolled moderator Jim Sorensen for 20 minutes at a time, and nobody believed he was over 90. Anyone who saw a Ron Friedman panel will never forget it. [Source: TFW2005]

Mystery of Convoy Gets an Apparel Collaboration

Games Glorious and Thunderbox are celebrating the infamously difficult Famicom game Transformers: Mystery of Convoy with clothing and gear. The lineup includes a 4,500-yen T-shirt, a cap, a pen, a clear file, acrylic mascots, a jacket and a sweater. The socks feature Ultra Magnus, Rodimus, Optimus Prime, Megatron, Soundwave and Bumblebee in the game’s style. Brian owns multiple copies of the game, and the panel suspects he is its entire U.S. cult following. One host wants the enamel Ultra Magnus pin. [Source: TFW2005]

Auldey Alpha Action Elite Wave 3 Revealed

Auldey’s Alpha Action Elite Wave 3 includes Shattered Glass Optimus Prime, toy-deco Galvatron, Reformatting Megatron, Scourge, Sweep, Hot Rod, Galvatron, Bombshell, Stepper and Brawn. One host likes this Reformatting Megatron better than the red version or the Super7 version. One host expects the translucent plastic to work better in a hard-plastic model kit than in PVC. Hot Rod and Stepper look especially nice, though the kits are hard to get outside China. [Source: TFW2005]

Dr. Wu Sketches a Micromaster-Scale G2 Laser Optimus Prime

Dr. Wu’s DW-ES09 V2 Prime Commander is a micromaster-scale G2 Laser Optimus Prime with an easy transformation. One host expects it to be a bit larger than the old Spychanger Laser Optimus Prime and wants to see it beside Micromaster Transport Overload. Dr. Wu releases sell out fast and rarely get a second run, though recent cassette reruns brought back Beastbox and Squawktalk. The crew also wonders whether rising official prices could someday make third-party toys the cheaper option. [Source: TFW2005]

Hasbro Pulse Announces New York Comic Con Streams

Blade Raider in the chat flagged Hasbro Pulse’s New York Comic Con streams. Star Wars and Marvel Legends stream Thursday, October 9 at noon Eastern. Transformers, G.I. Joe and Ghostbusters follow Friday, October 10 at noon Eastern. Brian didn’t get a press pass this year but always tries to attend when Hasbro sends an invitation. [Source: Hasbro]

What We Got This Week

Rob

Rob had nothing in Transformers this week.

John

John got Fireflight and assembled Superion, mostly without the instructions. He likes the look and proportions, but Superion feels like more of a cheat than Menasor did. The jets hanging off the legs as calf muscles look absurd to him. Most of Superion has little to do with the five Aerialbots, which undercuts the whole idea of combiners. He hopes Hasbro moves past the skeleton approach after Bruticus. He’d still enjoy the chaos of a Voyager Groove and a Deluxe Blades for Defensor.

Diecast

Diecast added God Bomber to his Masterpiece God Ginrai. He also built the Blokees Transformers: The Movie box set with Metroplex. The new kits add double-jointed knees and a ball-jointed waist, and Metroplex can hold a tiny Optimus Prime in his palm. He highly recommends the set to fans of the 1986 movie.

Matt

Matt’s Deluxe Venom completes his Deluxe Insecticons. The colors pop, but the limbs are hollow, and strict G1 accuracy leaves the wings always in the way. Fireflight completed his Aerialbots, and Matt disagrees with nearly everything John said about Superion. He loves the ridiculous orbital booster pack for Silverbolt. Superion looks like the Sunbow version, holds poses and can even stand on one leg, unlike Combiner Wars. Matt loves the skeleton systems and wants Bruticus, Defensor and an affordable Computron. John replied that so much of Superion’s torso pretends to be Silverbolt, which leaves him with mixed feelings.

Brian

Brian picked up the San Diego Comic-Con exclusive Marvel Legends Death’s Head on clearance from Big Bad Toy Store. From eBay seller custom_1983, he got a Cadillacs and Dinosaurs-themed custom Grimlock in the unproduced G2 yellow and green deco. Flatline and Alpha Trion are still unopened. He finally found Mixmaster to complete his six Constructicons and picked up Fireflight, who the crew notes gets more new parts than Skydive did. Using a repro bubble and a repaired tech spec, he built a complete G1 Grimlock box. An estate sale yielded a vintage Ultra Magnus box with styrofoam and a Target price tag. He also has boxes with repro bubbles for Kickback, Shrapnel, Blitzwing and Gnaw.

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