BotCon 2010 is set for Orlando, Florida, June 24 through 27, and most of the RFC crew plans to be there. This December 23, 2009 Radio Free Cybertron Christmas special also covers Hasbro’s latest Q&A, which ends Robot Heroes. Takara’s Masterpiece Ghost Starscream and a Fans Project Bruticus upgrade get a cool reception. Brian Kilby, Chris Triplett, John DeLuna, Exvee, Rob Springer and JD also revisit Human Error and TFArchive’s top 25 moments, then share Christmas memories.
News
BotCon 2010 Comes to Orlando
BotCon 2010 runs June 24 through 27 in Orlando, Florida. It will be Brian’s first BotCon in two years and RFC’s first convention coverage since OTSCC 2003. Brian, John, Rob and JD all expect to attend, while Exvee and Chris will not. The only hint at the convention set is a lost or forgotten generation, and fans are guessing G2. John says he guessed Robots in Disguise and Ben Yee replied “not quite RID.” Brian likes the Disney venue and the family-event billing, and the crew plans an on-site RFC Bacon Party. [Source: not found]
Hasbro Q&A: Robot Heroes Is Done
The latest round of Hasbro’s fan Q&A reveals that Robot Heroes is ending, which the crew calls sad. Brian notes that Parry Game Preserve has a line to Hasbro for these Q&As while RFC does not, and hopes the TFormers.com deal changes that. [Source: not found]
Masterpiece Ghost Starscream Announced
Takara has a clear Masterpiece Ghost Starscream on the way. One host calls the Henkei Ghost Starscream the first he didn’t hate, but expects to hate this one most. The crew doubts light will pass through a toy this large, and jokes about the slow pace of new Masterpiece molds. [Source: not found]
Fans Project Bruticus Upgrade Includes a New Blast Off
Fans Project’s new Bruticus upgrade includes a new space-shuttle Blast Off figure with parts to complete the combiner. The crew finds the bundled figure questionable, much like the $80 Fans Project Defender. One host notes the kit won’t fully complete the Energon version without losing an original limb. [Source: not found]
Big Bad Toy Store
Masterpiece MP-08X King Grimlock, based on the Marvel comic look, is in stock at $249.99 with his gold crown and gun. Device Label Tigatron, a 2GB USB drive, is restocked at $44.99. Brian calls Device Label Ravage his favorite Ravage ever, better than Universe Ravage.
This Week in Transformers History
JD notes that Transformers Animated premiered on Cartoon Network on December 26, 2007. One host recalls watching the premiere while his girlfriend texted him complaints from Sweeney Todd.
RFC Twitter Theater: Transformers Animated, Human Error Parts 1 and 2
The crew picks Animated’s Christmas two-parter, the only Transformers episode they can recall with Christmas in it. Highlights include Professor Sumdac’s dance and accordion, Soundwave and Ratbat in virtual reality, and Optimus and Soundwave’s axe battle. The Autobots’ human-disguise dinner with Bulkhead in the ladies room gets big laughs. Part one plays as an homage to G1’s Only Human, which the crew agrees this beats. Brian tries to make the axe battle the meme for Animated’s best moment, while Exvee pushes Megatron killing Starscream.
TFArchive’s Top 25 Transformers Moments
Brian walks through TFArchive.com’s list, which leans heavily on Simon Furman comics. Picks include Scorponok’s death in Transformers 75, Dark Awakening, Blitzwing saving the day in Five Faces of Darkness and Webworld. Beast Wars Megatron shooting Optimus Primal in The Agenda also makes it. The crew wants something from Animated, Robots in Disguise or Sky-Byte, and argues over the Unicron Trilogy. Brian calls Revenge of the Fallen’s best part Optimus Prime being dropped from a plane. He argues the movies’ success means great Transformers everywhere in between, and predicts Power Core Combiners will be a worthy successor to Animated.
Christmas Memories
Chris recalls getting Optimus Prime for Christmas. John remembers a gigantic-seeming Trypticon he still owns, played to death. One host suddenly remembers a Headmaster Christmas with Scorponok, Highbrow and Crosshairs. JD got Doubledealer and Sureshot, and once got Micro Machines instead of Micro Masters. Rob got Powermaster Optimus Prime in fifth grade and spent five hours on the stickers while his dad critiqued them. Brian dreamed of Fortress Maximus in the 1987 JCPenney catalog, and wrote to Santa for Omega Supreme. He opened a big box from his grandma to find three GoBots model kits instead.
Selling Toys and Big Collections
Brian says he has owned every Transformer he ever wanted except Deathsaurus, but sells many for profit and regrets a few. Those include the Armada Nemesis Prime, Metals Ravage and an e-Hobby exclusive. Rob estimates his collection at around 3,000 pieces, and says an Atlanta newspaper featured it.
Closing Notes
Brian says this may be RFC’s last independent show before joining TFormers.com, and he will appear on the last TFormers.com podcast next week. He also tells listeners the crew is set, though segment ideas and interview pitches are welcome at brian@tfradio.net.
Radio Free Cybertron is the world's first and oldest toy and action figure podcast — broadcasting from the heart of the Transformers fan community since October 1999. What started as a scrappy fan show has grown into an institution, with nearly 1,000 episodes and over 25 years of coverage. Every week, host Brian Kilby and the RFC crew dig into the latest Transformers news, toy reveals, collecting, and everything hitting shelves from Hasbro, Takara, and beyond. No fluff, no hype — just informed, passionate collectors who have been doing this longer than anyone else on the planet. The original. The longest running. Till all are one.