Brian, Don, Matt, Rob, and John hold down the fort without Chris for a packed episode covering new in-hand sightings, a wave of masterpiece news, and some genuinely exciting personal pickups.

News

Missing Link C-01N (Nemesis Prime) – In Hand The Missing Link Nemesis Prime is shipping now, and it’s a looker.

MPG– Rumble/Frenzy & Ravage/Buzzsaw/Ratbat Sets Two separate cassette sets are coming. Importantly, Ratbat is not locked behind a Soundblaster purchase this time. Matt’s already set since he has the original releases; most of the crew is passing on these.

Studio Series Titan – Age of Extinction Grimlock First look at the Titan-class movie Grimlock. Pricing looks to land around $200. The guys acknowledge it’s a well-made figure for what it is — “a very nice-looking bag of knives” — but movie Dinobot interest is limited in this crew.

Transformer Spotlight Optimus Prime 3-Pack – In Hand The cel-shaded three-pack gets a closer look. The concept earns love, the execution gets mixed marks — the black outlines only really sell the illusion from straight-on. Rob would pick it up secondhand at a markdown; Brian covets the unpainted test shot as a potential G2 Dairy Queen Optimus stand-in.

Studio Series – Dramatic Capture Jetfire/Optimus Prime 2-Pack Promo photos are out for this premium-deco Voyager + Leader two-pack. Diecast is buying it; Don already owns the originals and doesn’t need the upgrade.

Prime Changers Megatron (Authentics/Evergreen) New mold, tank alt mode, good face sculpt. Brian would grab it for his kids. Rob likes it at the level of the Transformers One Prime Changers.

Age of Primes Leader – Liege Maximo Additional In-Hand Images Near-universal enthusiasm. Brian calls it a ground-rule double (would’ve been a home run if the shin cables were painted). He’s buying it. The texturing and organic silhouette get particular praise.

Newage Toys H75 Wyatt – Legends-Scale Wreck-Gar Prototype Stunning engineering on a legends-scale Arcee motorcycle. Don is tempted after seeing a transformation video. Brian loves it but admits it’s too late for him to start down that rabbit hole.

Yolopark AMK Series – Optimus Primal (Beast Wars) In-Hand Sample Strong showing for a non-transforming posable figure. Multiple face plates with appropriate eye colors are a highlight. Rob’s only gripe is a knee aesthetic choice that may actually be show-accurate. The crew is interested in what comes next — Transmetal Optimus and Megatron are high on the wish list.

Blockies Wheels Wreck and Rule Collection 2 – Official Stock Images Official photos are up following Toy Fair. Scoop and Roadbuster are the standouts. Cosmos isn’t clicking for Brian.

What We Got This Week

• Brian – McDonald’s Changeables (display case and apple slices bag), Windmill & Boneshaker (finally opened, now sporting custom pink laser swords from Nonnef on Bluesky), One Shall Stand Optimus Prime (essentially his Dark Awakening Optimus and possibly his toy of the year), Missing Link Nemesis Prime, and a Diaclone Slag from Artfire 2000 to expand his Dinobot shelf.
• Don – Studio Series Battle Damage Optimus Prime (staying boxed), a complete set of reproduction G1 carded Combaticons (paid $140 shipped vs. $240+ for an Encore set — shelf presence over authenticity), and a Devastation Bumblebee from Amazon.
• John – Target exclusive Hot Rod (unopened, QC issues reported in the wild — fingers crossed).

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