Beast Hunters is the line refresh for Transformers Prime season three, and the season may run only 16 episodes. This September 20, 2012 Radio Free Cybertron also covers Solar Bot, the final reveal in e-Hobby’s Shattered Glass set, and Transformers Prime Voyagers Ultra Magnus and Thundertron reaching Hong Kong. The crew rewinds to the Beast Wars episode Dark Designs. They close by asking what a Transformers 4 without Michael Bay could mean for the brand.
News
TFormers News Desk: Solar Bot Completes the Shattered Glass Set
Exvee and JD Church take over the News Desk now that Peter has retired from it. The final piece of e-Hobby’s Shattered Glass set is Solar Bot, a white, gold and clear yellow Rewind recolor. The name comes from a mail-away call-out on G2 Go-Bots packaging mock-ups that was never shown. The set is about $200 through the Transformers Collectors’ Club until October 15. One of them calls the clear plastic break-tastic. [Source: TFormers]
TFormers News Desk: Beast Hunters for Prime Season Three
A corporate presentation reveals Beast Hunters as the Transformers Prime line refresh starting with season three. Animal Transformers are likely. Jeffrey Combs said at El Paso Comic-Con that season three may total only 16 episodes. One of them suggests 13 episodes plus a three-part opener, now that the CGI assets are built. The crew hopes for a Predaking and new characters. [Source: TFormers]
TFormers News Desk: Perfect Effect Reflector Camera Bonus
Perfect Effect’s Reflector-style set returns with recolors and remolds. Robot Kingdom pre-orders before September 30 include a mini camera accessory for Masterpiece figures with 5mm hands. One host says it looks great with Masterpiece Skywarp. [Source: TFormers]
TFormers News Desk: Prime Voyagers Reach Hong Kong
Transformers Prime Voyagers Thundertron and Ultra Magnus are at retail in Hong Kong, which usually means a U.S. release about a month later. One host isn’t sure the Voyager Ultra Magnus beats the smaller one. The pair are glad it isn’t a white Optimus Prime and like Thundertron as a rare new character; one saw it up close at BotCon. [Source: TFormers]
Generations Deluxes Turn Up at Toys R Us
The Chinese-market Generations deluxes Wheelie, Springer, Swerve and Cliffjumper turned up at an Illinois Toys R Us. Reports say there are no short packs, unlike the Asian cases. [Source: not found]
Ultimate Gift Set Goes Online
The Ultimate Gift Set is up for pre-order at Hasbro Toy Shop for about $30 and at Big Bad Toy Store, apparently online-only after rumors of a Walmart exclusive. The crew notes you get two deluxes and two Legends for about the price of the deluxes. One host wishes it had included more relevant characters than repaints. [Source: not found]
Bot Shots Become Be Cool Toys in Japan
Takara Tomy is releasing Bot Shots in Japan as Be Cool toys, boxed individually for about 700 yen. [Source: not found]
Fall of Cybertron Soundwave Packaging
New images show Fall of Cybertron Soundwave in package, which one host calls the most attractive packaging in memory. [Source: not found]
Hasbro Canada’s First Edition Bumblebee Problem
Hasbro Canada is putting $7-off coupons on First Edition Bumblebees to move them. The crew would gladly trade for that problem. [Source: not found]
The Chat
Chatters debate whether First Edition figures really are better. One host finds the First Edition Cliffjumper full of unnecessary fiddly parts. The crew also notes rumors that the Asian Generations Brawn has been canceled.
Comic News With LadyWreck
Nothing new is out this week; the Robots in Disguise Annual and More Than Meets the Eye #9 arrive next week. Shane McCarthy teased new Transformers writing on Twitter. IDW’s December solicits include More Than Meets the Eye #12, Robots in Disguise #12 and Volume 2. Spotlights return with James Roberts’ Spotlight: Orion Pax. Also coming are a complete Drift hardcover, Regeneration One #86, G.I. Joe vs. Transformers Volume 2, Rage of the Dinobots #2 and a Prime season two book.
Review: Fall of Cybertron Digital Comic
LadyWreck reviews IDW’s eight-page digital Fall of Cybertron tie-in by John Barber, three issues in. It explains why Grimlock and his team left their post before the game. She is on the fence: it clashes with her view of Grimlock from the game and the art is uneven, but it is growing on her.
Transformers Rewind: Dark Designs
Megatron captures Rhinox and reprograms him into a Predacon, and Rhinox starts slaughtering his way through the Predacon base. The crew contrasts a contemplative Optimus Primal with G1’s Optimus Prime. Primal waits for evil Rhinox to weaken the Predacons rather than charging in. They love Waspinator’s Wonko the Sane line, a nod to Ben Yee’s ATT handle. They also love Rhinox’s ‘He’s a smirker!’ The crew says Beast Wars’ small cast gives every character a moment. Next week’s Rewind is Heavy Metal War.
Transformers 4 and the Future of the Brand
With Michael Bay saying Transformers 4 will take a new direction, the crew asks whether audiences will come without him. One host compares it to the Batman films after Tim Burton. Most agree the films must stay accessible to casual audiences, like The Avengers, rather than pander to fans. One host argues the line can’t survive on Peterbilts and Camaros and needs new characters and stories, as the IDW comics show. The crew worries that a smaller budget and pressure from licensees mean a Transformers 4 flop could shrink the brand. Others hope the extra year sets up a new trilogy.
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.