The Radio Free Cybertron crew makes its Transformers 2014 predictions, from Masterpiece Jazz to a Headmaster Arcee. BotCon 2014 reveals a pirate theme, and the UK bans an Optimus Prime ad for a Transformers slot machine. Age of Extinction packaging gives a first look at the movie Dinobots. Rob Springer picks his favorite Generations toys, and Matt returns to the show.
This Week in History
In 2004, Dreamwave released Transformers Energon #19. One host kept reading it because it beat the cartoon. War Within #4 came out in 2003, as did the Armada episode Conspiracy. In 1986, the G1 episode B.O.T. debuted in the US. One host watched it in a doctor’s office as a kid. The crew calls it a weak Season 2 finale next to Megatron’s Master Plan.
News
Transformers BotCon 2014 Convention Pirates Versus… Who?
BotCon 2014’s convention set has a pirate theme, and the opposing side is still unknown. The crew guesses ninjas. The Cannonball symbol points to Cannonball, the Cybertron remold of Red Alert, and a fan mockup on Twitter suggests Bulkhead. Hopes include Galleon from Web Diver, the Brave line’s Captain Shark, Sky-Byte and a Lockdown. One host asks fans to wait for the figures before calling them bad. [Source: TFormers]
Optimus Prime Ad Banned by the UK’s ASA for Promoting Transformers Battle for Cybertron Slots
The UK Advertising Standards Authority banned an Optimus Prime ad for promoting gambling. None of the crew knew a Transformers Battle for Cybertron slot machine existed. Several hosts want to find one and play it, and they compare the nearest casinos. [Source: TFormers]
Vince DiCola’s Transformers: The Movie Score Gets a Wide Release
Vince DiCola’s score for the 1986 movie is now available to everyone. The crew says it was first offered as a BotCon item at the 1997 show in Rochester. The hosts recommend it to anyone who loves the movie, and one host hopes for a digital release. [Source: not found]
Age of Extinction Optimus Prime Packaging Shows the Dinobots
A mockup of Age of Extinction Optimus Prime packaging shows the Dinobots, including a T-Rex, a Triceratops and a flyer. Nobody on the crew knows their names yet. One host wants to see the toys before judging the art. He thinks animal designs may suit the movie style better than vehicles. Another host wonders if Beast Hunters was practice for animal designs. [Source: TFormers]
X-Transbots Upgrade Kit for Fall of Cybertron Bruticus
X-Transbots shows an upgrade kit for the Fall of Cybertron Bruticus. It adds hands and feet. The crew says it looks okay but adds little, and one host would like a bigger head. [Source: not found]
TFSource’s Must-Have List Puts a Silhouette at Number One
Maz at TFSource ranks the must-have toys of 2014, and number one is a silhouette of the upcoming Fans Toys Skyfire. One host refuses to rank a toy no one has seen, especially before Toy Fair. Diecast backs the pick. A Greatshot homage also makes the list. [Source: TFSource]
TF 4th Party Teases a G1-Style Omega Supreme
A new outfit called TF 4th Party Club teases a silhouette of a G1-style Omega Supreme homage. One host jokes about a new rule against covering silhouettes. Another host would rather see an Animated Omega Supreme, and hopes this one sells well enough to lead there. [Source: not found]
Q&A with Rob Springer
Tony Kleepak asks for the best Generations, Universe or Classics toy. Rob calls it a tie between Warpath and Thunderwing, with Revenge of the Fallen Bludgeon close behind. He knows many fans pick the Seeker mold. He found Skids disappointing but loved the recent Waspinator, Astrotrain, Classics Optimus Prime and Classics Jetfire. Rob also plugs Transmasters, the fan club Tony runs.
Transformers 2014 Predictions
Matt predicts Masterpiece Jazz, or at least an announced Masterpiece Inferno. He hopes for an Overlord reissue and expects third-party Terrorcons from at least two companies. He thinks the next Titan will be Necrotitan from Dark Cybertron, not Metrotitan. He also expects more Targetmaster deluxes, new Legends figures like Brawn and Wheelie, and lots of movie toys.
Don expects more Dinobots, both official and third party, including more Fans Toys Dinobots after Scoria. He thinks Hasbro and Takara will push back on third parties in a movie year and the 30th anniversary. He predicts more original third-party designs, a Transformers series on a streaming service, and more Encore and e-Hobby style releases through the Collectors Club.
Diecast predicts a Masterpiece Ironhide announcement and a new Voyager Beast Wars Optimus Primal. He also expects a Fun Publications issue and more Masterpiece Decepticons. He predicts Michael Bay will quit Transformers, then return for a fifth movie.
Brian predicts an Animated character in Generations, such as a new Blackarachnia, and more redundant third-party figures. He expects TakaraTomy to announce a new Masterpiece Megatron and thinks Age of Extinction will be slightly better than Dark of the Moon. His top pick is a Generations Arcee with Daniel as a Headmaster. Don agrees Arcee is coming but doubts the Headmaster part. JD Church had no predictions of his own.
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.