A cross-sell image gives the best look yet at Hasbro’s Generations Liokaiser set, which looks like a Platinum release. A surprise Toys “R” Us exclusive Robots in Disguise assortment turns up in Ontario with a new Starscream. John Barber steps down as IDW’s Transformers editor to focus on writing, and Hasbro buys animation studio Boulder Media. Titans Return Legends and the second Titan Masters wave arrive: Wheelie and Brawn win praise, and Stripes does not. Diecast heads to TFCon.
This Week in History
In 2001, BotCon 2001 opened in Durham, North Carolina. It was Brian’s first BotCon, and Don remembers seeing the famous Unicron prototype there. In 1992, the first episode of the Headmasters English dub aired in Malaysia, and Brian celebrates with a “Head on!”
News
Robots In Disguise Toys R Us Exclusive Warrior Class Assortment Found – Including Starscream!?
A Toys “R” Us exclusive Robots in Disguise Warrior Class assortment turned up in Ontario with no warning. It includes what looks like a new-mold Starscream, a recolored Powersurge Optimus Prime and a Scorponok recolor named Paralon. The crew expects Thundercracker, Skywarp and Sunstorm repaints to follow. [Source: TFormers]
Generations Liokaiser Combiner Set Cross Sell Image Better Look – Combiner Wars? Platinum?
A cross-sell image from Singapore gives a better look at the Generations Liokaiser set. Because it appears on a Platinum box, the crew expects a Platinum release. It includes an Arms Micron and mismatched black hands and silver feet. The crew is thrilled, since no one expected Hasbro to make Liokaiser. Sky Lynx is also turning up at Ross for about $13. [Source: TFormers]
Hasbro Animation Studio Rolls Out with the Purchase of Boulder Media
Hasbro bought Boulder Media, the animation studio behind the new Danger Mouse. The crew hopes it means animation for Hasbro properties, from Rom to M.A.S.K. [Source: TFormers]
Transformers Cybertron Con 2016 – Official Details For Shanghai, China Transformers Convention
Official details are out for Cybertron Con 2016, a Transformers convention in Shanghai. The crew had hoped the press release was news about BotCon’s future. [Source: TFormers]
IDW Transformers Editor John Barber Steps Down – Sarah Gaydos & Denton Tipton Promoted
John Barber is stepping down as IDW’s Transformers editor to write more, including two Revolution books. Sarah Gaydos takes over the Hasbro block, and Denton Tipton is promoted to group editor. Rob calls Barber the best editor Transformers has had, citing his range of books and the many women he hired. [Source: TFormers]
Third Combiner Wars Series Prelude Video – Starscream, Ruler Of Cybertron
The third Machinima Combiner Wars prelude, “Starscream, Ruler of Cybertron,” is out. Brian calls it his least favorite and thinks Starscream is out of character. Others see it as Starscream’s own political ad, and Don thinks it looks better than the first prelude. [Source: TFormers]
WalGreen Exclusive Brainstorm Preorder Transformers Generations 2016 Titan Returns Deluxe Figure
Robot Kingdom will take preorders on the Walgreens exclusive Titans Return Brainstorm for $25 plus shipping. Walgreens is clearing its action figure aisle, and Exvee expects an SDCC announcement with the figure soon after. The crew asks collectors to sell extras at cost to fellow fans. [Source: TFormers]
Sega showed new R360 rotating pods for a version of its Transformers: Human Alliance arcade shooter. So far it is in one place in Japan. [Source: TFormers]
Legends Series LG31 Fortress Maximus – Cerebros Meets Fortress!
Hisashi Yuki posted Takara Tomy’s Cerebros next to its Fortress head. Brian still loves his Hasbro Rebirth Cerebros, and the crew hopes the Takara Autobot symbol is printed rather than a sticker. [Source: TFormers]
Hasbro Masterpiece Bumblebee & Spike To Be ToysRUs First Sale Exclusive At #SDCC2016
Hasbro’s Masterpiece Bumblebee and Spike will be a Toys “R” Us first-sale exclusive at SDCC 2016. The crew notes Hasbro has done this before, and the figure stays available afterward. [Source: TFormers]
MP-33 Inferno Official Photography Reveals Full Accessory Loadout
Official photos reveal MP-33 Inferno’s full accessory loadout, and Brian says it looks awesome. Don is happy with the unofficial Hellfire he won for under $60. He asks listeners whether anyone else likes Kronos, and the crew invites replies on Twitter and YouTube. [Source: TFormers]
Legends Series LG32 Chromedome, LG33 Highbrow, LG34 Mindwipe – Official Images
Official images show Legends LG-32 Chromedome, LG-33 Highbrow and LG-34 Mindwipe with new head sculpts. The crew is most excited for Mindwipe’s bat wings, and one host must have Chromedome. [Source: TFormers]
Transformers The Last Knight – Autobot Sqweeks Full Body Render Image
A full-body render shows Autobot Sqweeks, and Brian finds him cute. [Source: TFormers]
Transformers The Last Knight – Britain’s Loneliest Dog Finds A Home After #TF5 Role
Britain’s loneliest dog, who has epilepsy, found a home after her role in The Last Knight. [Source: TFormers]
Iron Factory Reveals Legends Scale Unofficial Sixshot
Iron Factory revealed a Legends-scale unofficial Sixshot. The crew thinks it can pull off all six modes, as its Overlord did. Brian quotes Sixshot’s Headmasters dub line as “the ninja consultant from Cybertron.” [Source: TFormers]
Also on TFormers
Rob reviewed Titan Masters Crashbash and Terri-Bull, the two best of the first wave, and Legends Stripes. Exvee reviewed Skullsmasher with Grax and Blurr with Hyperfire, and the crew notes Blurr needs paint. IDW will give away a free Revolution sample at SDCC. Transformers: Earth Wars adds squad selection, and Robots in Disguise season 4 dialogue recording is underway.
What We Got This Week
Brian got Legends Wheelie, whose robot mode is fantastic and whose car mode falls apart. Rewind is nice, and he calls Stripes garbage. He loves Wave 2 Titan Master Brawn and wants to troop-build him. He also got Fortress Maximus and the Voyagers, and Sentinel Prime is better than he expected. Cloud Starscream finally arrived from his old address, and its Seeker blasters work better than he feared.
Diecast got the Wave 2 Titan Masters, Fortress Maximus, which he calls Cerebros with a free Fortress, and Legends Wheelie, which he loves. MakeToys Iron Will arrived with a discounted parts bag that makes Platinum Omega Supreme more accurate. His Voyagers are still boxed.
Don found Skullsmasher on the hook at his local store. He got the G2 Boosticus set from a friend on Twitter for his spare G2 Bruticus. He also picked up Unique Toys Sworder to go with Kronos.
Rob got the Wave 2 Titan Masters, with Apeface a standout and Brawn’s tractor the best weapon yet. Legends Wheelie is great except the car mode, Rewind’s arm hinge shows a stress mark, and Stripes “exists.”
Matt got the Wave 2 Titan Masters, with Apeface the clear winner, and all three Legends. He also got the Deluxes, the Voyagers and Fortress Maximus. He ordered G2 Bruticus for $70 on Prime Day.
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.