Is Transformers collecting an addiction? Brian Kilby and JD take opposite sides on this July 13, 2011 Radio Free Cybertron, sparked by a TFWire blog post from Jesse “Matrix Prime”. The news covers Dark of the Moon’s November 15 home release and box office, a Comic-Con Nerf N-Strike Bumblebee and the Rescue Bots. It also covers a Twin Twist repaint of Topspin and John Barber as IDW’s new senior editor. The show also marks BotCon 2001’s tenth anniversary and features Rob on Headmasters’ strange ending credits.
News
Dark of the Moon Hits DVD and Blu-ray November 15
Transformers: Dark of the Moon comes to DVD and Blu-ray on November 15. The crew expects Black Friday deals. The film has made about $650 million worldwide. They debate whether Harry Potter will top it, though JD expects Dark of the Moon’s 3D showings to keep it ahead on gross. [Source: not found]
San Diego Comic-Con Nerf N-Strike Bumblebee
Brian’s favorite news of the week is a Transformers Nerf N-Strike special edition, a San Diego Comic-Con exclusive selling for $25 on Hasbro Toy Shop. Brian wants it badly. [Source: Hasbro Toy Shop]
Rescue Bots Arrive in Australia and on Hasbro Toy Shop
The Rescue Bots are out in Australia and listed, though out of stock, on Hasbro Toy Shop. Brian admits he wants them. [Source: TFormers]
Topspin Repaint as Twin Twist, Likely with Leadfoot
A white repaint of the Topspin mold, likely named Twin Twist, may be packaged with Deluxe Leadfoot. JD feels obligated to buy every version. The chat approves of the Wreckers toys. JD likes Roadbuster’s solid vehicle mode and Topspin’s four detachable guns and claw Mech Tech weapon. The crew wishes other movie sub-teams, like the Dreads, got the Wreckers’ screen time. [Source: not found]
Auto Assembly Approaches
Auto Assembly is a few weeks away. No one on the show is going, though Chris McFeely is. [Source: not found]
John Barber Named IDW Senior Editor
John Barber, formerly of Marvel, is IDW’s new senior editor. JD says the comic writers and creators he trusts are excited, and he hopes Barber can turn some of IDW’s titles around. [Source: not found]
Transformers Ongoing #22 Out
Transformers ongoing #22, written by James Roberts, drawn by Alex Milne and colored by Joana Lafuente, is out. JD warns that a Diamond distribution problem means some shops won’t have it this week. [Source: not found]
TFWiki Spotlight: Jesse Heiman
Chris McFeely spotlights TFWiki’s article on Jesse Heiman, who appears in Dark of the Moon. McFeely won’t say who he is, and he challenges listeners to read the article and spot him on a second viewing.
Twitter Theater: Headmasters Ending Credits
With Headmasters coming to official DVD, Rob picks its ending credits. Over a blue screen and a peppy song, Spike and Daniel act as Headmasters to each other, riding off on one another or spinning on a finger. Rob compares it to Prime’s text-only credits. He says Miko is the only human kid in Transformers he has ever disliked. He contrasts Headmasters’ nurturing Arcee with Prime’s tough one.
This Week in Transformers History: BotCon 2001
JD notes BotCon 2001 opened in Durham, North Carolina, ten years ago. It was JD’s only BotCon, and Brian and John were there too. He calls it a seminal moment of his fandom, with only two exclusives, Tigatron and Arcee. One host remembers giving Michael Bell a Swoop at his panel. Bell plugged Cold Hearts Live there and compared having a great voice you can’t use to an untrained phallus. The host may post that clip.
Topic: Is Transformers Collecting an Addiction?
Jesse “Matrix Prime” of TFWire wrote a blog post equating Transformers collecting with addiction, and it stirred debate on Twitter. John DeLuna says it depends, defining addiction as something you keep doing even when it harms you or others. He says floor-to-ceiling collections show extreme commitment, but not necessarily addiction.
JD argues the post overgeneralizes from one person’s chase for recognition through first-to-post YouTube reviews. He says most collectors are responsible, and collecting becomes an addiction only when it harms your finances or relationships. He doesn’t think plastic is the issue, and he notes stamp collectors aren’t called addicts.
Brian says he is addicted. He describes a pressure to get a toy until he has it, and recalls nearly overdrafting to buy Masterpiece Optimus Prime. He spent $5,000 to $7,000 on Transformers in a year when he made about $5,000. He says the addiction is also emotional and mental, with every free thought on Transformers as a teenager. Weebum agrees with JD that it depends on personality, and he notes the post cites unnamed people who agree. JD credits Jesse for the courage to admit a problem.
John relays the chat: collecting now takes far more money than it once did, and the Unicron Trilogy explosion broke some collectors of the habit. Fortress Maximus came up as a lightning-rod toy fans either chased or missed. Some in the chat, like Rack, simply quit cold turkey.
Crave Corner
Cole from Crave says this week’s featured listings are Transformers Animated. Crave extends $5 cash back for new buyers through July and adds $5 for new sellers who sell three items. Badges and achievements are launching soon. Crave staff will walk San Diego Comic-Con.
Rob’s Dollar Tree Find: T-Bots
Rob finds a Dollar Tree coloring book called T-Bots full of knockoff robots. Many look close to Transformers, including a Classics Ironhide with flames, G1 Skyfire, a female Seeker, an Animated Starscream and a Sky-Byte-style shark.
Show Notes
RFC is now on Stitcher, which Brian calls the fastest podcast player he has found on Android, and on Google+. JD thanks Cyber Crowley for his new cartoon avatar.
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.