Takara Tomy finally reveals Missing Link Headmaster Arcee, and Don plans to buy two after waiting nearly 40 years. Hasbro’s NYCC 2026 lineup brings back Studio Series Jazz, Ironhide, and Ratchet, and Deluxe figures are going to $29.99. Steven Spielberg takes a bigger role in the next Transformers movie, and Michael Bay is in early talks to direct. In What We Got This Week, Matt and Brian rave about Missing Link Grimlock.

News

Takara Shows Style Gen Megatron, Headmaster Arcee and Overgear Grinder
Takara Tomy’s All Japan Model Hobby Show display includes Missing Link Headmaster Arcee, Style Gen Megatron and Overgear Grinder. Don calls himself flabbergasted that it came so soon after Missing Link Arcee. He wishes the Headmaster looked more like Daniel and hopes the box borrows the 1988 Headmasters look. Brian thinks the filled-out head improves on the original toy. Matt is surprised it beat a Paradron Medic recolor. ExVee wishes the helmet worked like a classic Headmaster Jr. seat. Style Gen Megatron is the tank Megatron in G1 silver, and the panel expects a G2 version to follow. Overgear Grinder is a light redeco of Blackout. [Source: Tformers]

NYCC 2026: Hasbro Shows Studio Series 2007 Autobots, Age of the Primes Starscream and More
Diecast attended Hasbro’s NYCC press event and spoke with Nate from Hasbro. Nate confirmed Deluxe figures are going to $29.99, while Voyager and Leader prices stay the same. He also said one HasLab is coming relatively soon and another is in early development.

The lineup includes Studio Series Titan Scorn, Voyager Ratchet, Deluxe Jazz, Voyager Ironhide and Deluxe G1 Red Alert. ExVee says the word “color” does heavy lifting on Titan Scorn’s color prototype. Matt likes Red Alert’s rotating canopy and hanging door panels, and Rob confirms the chunkier head horns. ExVee won’t rebuy the Lamborghinis but would take the mold as a G2 Go-Bot. Shredhead, IDW Nautica, TF One Shockwave, a cartoon-deco Wheelie, The Last Knight Megatron and an Allicon reissue round out Studio Series.

On the Age of the Primes side, there is a vibrant Onyx Prime redeco and a Machine Wars Starscream. Brian says the Starscream looks too dynamic for the toy he remembers. Cybershark, Guzzle, G2 Wild Rider, Alpha Bravo, Breakaway and Sky Guard are also shown. Matt notes Guzzle carries a Wreckers tampo. [Source: TFW2005] [Source: Tformers]

Steven Spielberg Returns to Oversee Transformers Film; Transformers/G.I. Joe Crossover Is Off
Entertainment Weekly reports that Steven Spielberg will oversee creative development of the next Transformers film. Michael Bay is in early talks to direct. Separately, Variety reports the Transformers/G.I. Joe crossover will not move forward. Brian says he genuinely hates the Bay news. ExVee compares the crossover news to learning a celebrity died and thinking, “they were still alive?” Rob says his 1999 self wouldn’t understand dreading a new Transformers movie. [Source: Entertainment Weekly] [Source: Variety]

Takara Tomy Follow-Ups: Twincast, Dinobot Island, New Legends, Kiss Players and Wild King
New photos arrived for MPG Twincast and Rewind, and ExVee jokes that it sure is a blue Blaster. Brian is still buying Dinobot Island Part 2 Slug and Sludge. New Legends Dark Amber Leo Prime and Blue Bolt now include Navi. The Kiss Players anniversary cassette set adds illustrated acrylic standees, which ExVee calls the creepy part. Wild King Optimus Link Prime is now a Takara Tomy Mall exclusive, and Brian is definitely buying it. [Source: Tformers] [Source: Tformers] [Source: Tformers] [Source: Seibertron] [Source: Tformers]

Walmart Schedules an October 8 Transformers Livestream; Retro Bug Bite Gets Details
Walmart’s Collector Con livestream runs Thursday, October 8. Retro Bug Bite now has official details. ExVee calls it white queso Bumblebee, and Don says the new price point means “we’re going to queso much.” Matt says the deco isn’t worse than the Selects version; it’s nonexistent. [Source: Tformers] [Source: Tformers]

Walmart Retro Exhaust First Look
First images show Retro Exhaust on the Earthrise Wheeljack mold, with a deco that flies close to its Diaclone inspiration. ExVee loves it and is angry about it, because now he has to buy it. He also flags a legal risk, recalling the 2013 Masterpiece Exhaust, but notes a redeco is cheap to pull quietly. [Source: TFW2005]

Leak Report: 2027 Studio Series Includes a 36-Inch Megatron Fusion Cannon
Leaked listings include a $199.99 Studio Series 86 role-play Megatron fusion cannon. Brian wonders what eight-year-old could strap one on, and ExVee pities the friend stuck playing Ironhide. The listings also name a Decepticon cassette six-pack, a Coneheads three-pack, Reflector and a Skybound Optimus Prime comic diorama. Matt expects the Coneheads to get serious retooling. ExVee owns at least a dozen Reflectors already. [Source: Tformers]

Leak Report: Generations Selects Autobot Three-Pack and NFL Eagles and Lions
A second Generations Selects Autobot three-pack has no confirmed roster. ExVee hopes Trax gets fixed. Listings also name Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions collaborations. [Source: Tformers] [Source: Tformers]

The Movie’s 40th-Anniversary Steelbook Gains Packaging and Extras Details
The Transformers: The Movie Steelbook lists Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision, a Nelson Shin commentary, a reformatted “The Touch” music video and the trailer. Brian will buy any version of the movie they put out. [Source: Tformers]

Sonic’s Retro Toy Box Promotion Includes Transformers
Sonic’s kids’-meal promotion includes Optimus Prime and Megatron alongside other Hasbro brands. Brian will pick them up. He also explains that when he wants Whataburger, he goes to Sonic. [Source: Tformers]

Wonder Festival Roundup: Blokees, Flame Toys, Auldey, Yolopark and Way Studios
Blokees shows Action Edition IDW Megatron, Champion Class Optimus Prime and Starscream, and Wheels Ultra Magnus. Flame Toys brings Furai Arcee, Blackarachnia, Tarn, Kuro Kara Kuri Cyclonus and Dai Atlas. Auldey shows Alpha Action Gladiator Megatron, Orion Pax and more Optimus designs. ExVee wishes Auldey were easier to buy in the US. Yolopark adds AMK Computron and Defensor, and Way Studios shows Optimus statues. [Source: Tformers] [Source: Tformers] [Source: Tformers] [Source: TFW2005] [Source: Tformers]

What We Got This Week

Don
Don picked up a mini Tobot combiner during Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days. It’s a cheaper stand-in for the pricey DX version. He also got a dark Metal Cardbot cheetah, the shadow version of his very first Metal Cardbot. An $18 Evasion Mode Optimus Prime Voyager won him over despite feet that pop off. Sentinel Prime, a near-total rework of the Tarn mold, was paid for with surprise eBay money. He closed with Yolopark’s Beast Wars Blackarachnia and Megatron kits, still sealed.

Rob Clay
Rob Clay had nothing in Transformers this week.

Matt
Matt got Missing Link Grimlock in toy colors and calls it breathtakingly gorgeous. Moving the head forward transforms the figure. Ankle tilts and bicep swivels add articulation, and the T-rex head no longer feels like it will snap.

Chris (Exvee)
ExVee found Age of the Primes Vector Prime in the Galaxy Force deco for about $30 through Walmart’s closeout eBay store. It includes a fully painted Cyber Planet Key.

Brian
Brian got Missing Link Grimlock in anime colors. He loves it differently from the toy deco, even with stress marks on the torso slots. He also landed a graded, sealed G1 Swoop from a local auction Don told him about. A loose G1 Dinobot arrives next week. Brian warns that knockoffs may now outnumber real vintage figures.

Elf on a Shelfwarmer
RFC’s 15th annual holiday toy drive is underway. Buy a shelfwarmer, drop it in a Toys for Tots box, and share a photo with #elfonashelfwarmer. Details are at Elf on a Shelfwarmer. No box nearby? tfradio.net/elf ships it to Brian for local drop-off, and RFC receives no referral fees. Final round is December 9.

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