The first Transformers: Dark of the Moon toys leaked this week, introducing the Mech Tech weapon gimmick and Cyberverse Legends with transforming bases. On the last Radio Free Cybertron of 2010, the crew also reacts to a giant third-party Devastator set, pricey KO Seeker repaints and a prototype of the original Rodimus Prime toy. Brian Kilby reads the winners of RFC’s big year-end contest. The crew then shares Christmas hauls and its most awkward fan experiences.
News
First Transformers: Dark of the Moon Toys Revealed
Pictures of Transformers: Dark of the Moon toys surfaced this week, then came down from TFormers. They show a Bumblebee with a huge G2-style shoulder cannon, Legends figures priced in euros, and a Human Alliance Bumblebee with Sam. The line’s new gimmick is Mech Tech, where weapons convert into other forms. The crew calls it a fun gimmick next to Automorph and Mech Alive. The new Legends, now called Cyberverse, add small vehicles that transform into bases. [Source: TFormers]
Speed Stars Keep Coming
The crew wonders who is buying Speed Stars, the renamed RPMs, since new ones keep coming. One host says he has only bought RPMs on sale or at Dollar Tree. [Source: not found]
Power Core Combiners Wave 4 Hits Canada
Power Core Combiners Wave 4, with the tank and the jet, is out in Canada. Brian has barely seen Wave 2, while Wave 3 is everywhere. One host says Heavytread has the best combiner torso yet. Brian also wants Brimstone, and the crew hopes for a Dinoking set where every dinosaur transforms. [Source: not found]
Battle in Space Set Heads to Retail
The Battle in Space set with Rodimus and Cyclonus is coming to real stores. That means Brian and others who ordered it online paid a few dollars too much. One host doubts it will sell, since Cyclonus is a great toy in weak colors and kids won’t know either character. [Source: not found]
Transformers Prime Toys and the Hub
The crew wonders if the lack of a Transformers Prime toy line reflects the Hub’s small audience. One host suspects Hasbro’s product side and media side are simply not aligned. They predict a line will come once the show has a second season. [Source: not found]
Transformers United Commercial
Japan’s Transformers United line is out, and its commercial shows chromed War for Cybertron toys. The crew finds it odd to hear Japanese ads say Optimus Prime and Autobot instead of Convoy. They recall the Overlord commercial as the best Japanese Transformers ad. [Source: not found]
Original Rodimus Prime Prototype Photos
Exvee shared photos of an original prototype of the G1 Rodimus Prime toy. It looks like the cartoon model, with bending arms and an arcade cabinet in its trailer. Brian says he loves the original Rodimus Prime toy so much that imagining it any other way is hard. [Source: not found]
Power Core Combiners Mini-Cons as Japanese Targetmasters
In Japan, three stores are running one-day promotions. Buy 3,000 yen of United product and get a Power Core Combiners Mini-Con recolored as a Targetmaster. The crew calls it a cool promotion for fans in Japan, but another expensive one for everyone else. [Source: not found]
Third-Party KO Seekers and a Giant Devastator
One host admits he bought the third-party Protector kit. A KO toy company is selling Air Warrior repaints of the Seeker mold for about $30 each or three for $80. The crew asks why bootlegs cost so much and says they are marketed straight to collectors. A giant third-party Devastator set with Voyager-size pieces also surfaced. The crew doubts it will stand without serious hip joints and says it shows why Hasbro doesn’t make combiners that big. [Source: not found]
Chat Topic: Quality Control
John DeLuna relays a chat thread about quality control. His Generations Dirge came with a half-painted waist, and a chat listener’s Power Core Combiners dinosaur combiner had an unpainted face. The crew says quality control is expensive and toys feel looser out of the package, except Jazz.
This Week in Comics
In a pre-recorded segment, Aimee says Sector 7 #4 is finally out after two cancellations. The ongoing #15 arrives next week, and she says it blows #14 out of the water. The Drift trade paperback also arrives next week.
This Week in History
JD Church marks December 27, 1985 and the G1 episode “Kremzeek!” The crew notes it lives on as a meme, a smiley and a t-shirt.
Year-End Contest Winners
Brian reads the winners of RFC’s year-end contest, drawn from Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Ustream. Prizes include Generations Blur, Generations Darkmount, a TNI t-shirt, a Fanboy vs. Fanboy clock, Titan magazines and many comics. John Stern wins Blur and Chris Templeman wins Darkmount. Comic winners include Tater X and TFG1Mike. Brian will contact the winners directly.
What We Got This Week
Brian
Brian got a Revenge of the Fallen 16-month calendar and a Transformers ball and bat. He used his Christmas bonus on the Battle in Space set and a knockoff DVD set. He also got Sidearm. His favorite gift came from his friend Dusty: a hand-painted Legends Hot Shot custom that turns into the Lowe’s 48 car.
Rob Springer
Rob got War for Cybertron and War for Cybertron DS: Decepticons from his mom, plus Revenge of the Fallen Skywarp from his brother. His mom also gave him Mudslinger and Crankcase from Power Core Combiners. His girlfriend gave him a pile of Generations and Hunt for Decepticons figures. Those include Thunderwing, Skullgrin, Cliffjumper, Tracks, Mindset, Terradive, Tomahawk, Double Clutch, Ironhide, Oilpan, Sunspot and Animated Ironhide. He counts about 20 toys in all.
Topic: Awkward Fan Experiences
Rob tells of a man with a bad Autobot tattoo who kept appearing all over town insisting he only knew G1. A stranger also followed Rob’s car for a mile just to ask about his Autobot sticker. Another host admits he mistakes people’s genders at BotCon every year. Rob recalls a friend pulled over by a police officer who only wanted to know where he bought his Autobot sticker. The crew also remembers learning that “TransFan” means something else to another community.
Twitter Theater
Rob’s Twitter Theater pick is the Japanese commercial for Machine Robo’s rock warriors, which became Rock Lords in the US. It opens with a rock that turns into a robot. Brian also brings up the Puzzler commercial, the only combiner he could afford as a kid.
Coming Up
RFC returns next Wednesday with a full complement of hosts. Follow @tfradio on Twitter and facebook.com/tfradio.
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.