Transformers 5 finally has a title, Transformers: The Last Knight, along with a grim first look at Optimus Prime and filming news from Cuba. Hasbro registers HasbroCon, a clearer name than HasCon, and the crew hopes the LG31 Fortress Maximus rumor about new voice clips is true. Takara Tomy shows off its Titans Return Blaster and Unite Warriors Bruticus box. Don answers a listener who calls him a hypocrite over Devastator and Cheetor.
This Week in History
The First Live-Action Movie Trailer Goes Online
In 2007, the theatrical trailer for The Transformers was released online. Several hosts say the first film holds up better than its sequels. The crew agrees the movie money helped fund Generations, Animated and Transformers: Prime. [Source: TFWiki]
News
HasbroCon: Hasbro Registers Possible New Convention and Domain Names
The crew likes HasbroCon far better than HasCon, since anyone can tell it is a Hasbro convention. [Source: TFormers]
Subscription Service 4 Ruckus Now Shipping
John has Ruckus in hand and calls him fine. With figures now shipping every few weeks, the crew worries about installment billing stacking up. The Subscription Service 5.0 order window closes around May 24. [Source: TFormers]
Rumor: LG31 Fortress Maximus to Include New Voice Clips From the Original Voice Actor
Rob posted the story as a rumor, since it comes from a single site. The crew hopes for the theme music and a “Head on!” line, and they play clips of the infamous English dub. Don wants a recordable sound chip instead. [Source: TFormers]
Takara Tomy Titans Return High-Res Images: Fortress Maximus, Blaster and Galvatron
Takara Tomy’s Blaster looks better than Hasbro’s, especially the legs, but costs around $75. One host prefers Takara Tomy’s Galvatron colors even if they are not accurate. Fortress Maximus looks plain, and the crew dreams of a Grand Maximus recolor and Masterforce follow-ups. [Source: TFormers]
Transformers 5 Has a Title: Transformers: The Last Knight, June 2017
The crew dismisses an online rumor that the title points to ROM. One host notes Hasbro told investors its cinematic tie-ins center on G.I. Joe. [Source: TFormers]
First Look at Transformers: The Last Knight Optimus Prime
Paramount’s teaser shows a scary Optimus Prime that one host says will haunt your dreams. [Source: TFormers]
Transformers: The Last Knight Invades Cuba
Michael Bay says filming starts in Cuba this week, earlier than the June start the crew had heard. [Source: TFormers]
Unite Warriors UW07 Bruticus Package Art
The crew questions how orange Blast Off looks, and one host blames lighting in the photo. Vortex follows the Japanese Dark of the Moon toy rather than the cartoon, which makes the set distinct from Hasbro’s. [Source: TFormers]
Third-Party News
Unique Toys Sworder: More Photos of the Unofficial Sandstorm
The crew likes the helicopter and the head but not the car mode. One host compares it to a stage in an old Capcom game. [Source: TFormers]
MMC Carnifex Measures Up in Size Comparison Photos
Carnifex is up for preorder at about $185 and stands close to Hexatron. Don hopes Hasbro’s Overlord leans on the G1 toy and Masterforce. [Source: TFormers]
Toy World Unofficial Masterpiece Dirge and Ramjet
The crew questions the timing, since Takara Tomy is likely to make more Masterpiece Coneheads. They also note the flaws in the official Ramjet mold. [Source: TFormers]
Iron Factory IF-EX15 Soul Reaper: Unofficial Black Shadow
The Legends-scale design looks great to the crew, and one host would buy it at a larger size. [Source: TFormers]
Also on TFormers
A Wheeljack-based Exhaust custom looks good. [Source: TFormers]
Custom Beast Wars Dinobot on the Generations Springer Mold
Rob calls it really nice. [Source: TFormers]
TFormers Review: Kids Logic MechaNations MN-08 Devastator
Rob’s final review covers parts problems and fragility that soured an otherwise nice toy. Exvee’s Victorion reviews continue with Rust Dust. [Source: TFormers]
Listener Feedback
Nightwingnum1 asks on YouTube why Don defends Masterpiece Cheetor but says the world needs no more Devastators. Don explains that fans have many Devastators to choose from and almost no good Cheetors. He wants third parties to move on to other combiners. The crew adds that Hasbro has no Beast Wars anniversary plans, which leaves room for third parties.
What We Got This Week
Diecast
Diecast got Victorion from Hasbro Toy Shop the day after ordering it. He was on the fence, but its fan-built history won him over.
John
John got the Subscription Service Ruckus. He also preordered MakeToys Pandinus with birthday money and side work.
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.