Radio Free Cybertron opens 2017 with the crew’s predictions for the year ahead. Matt bets on a Unite Warriors Liokaiser, Don calls an eHobby reissue of Black Zarak, and Brian wants Titans Return Dinobots. In the news, Hasbro reveals Movie Masterpiece MPM-3 Bumblebee and Premier Edition Shadow Spark Optimus Prime for The Last Knight. MP-38 turns out to be another Optimus Primal, and the third-party Springer count hits six. Fans Toys’ two-part Terminus Giganticus draws the loudest groans.
2017 Predictions
Each host makes picks for 2017, to be graded on the year-end show. Diecast predicts a Hasbro release of Masterpiece Ultra Magnus, then adds Masterpiece Megatron and a third-party 1986 movie Unicron. Matt calls a Unite Warriors Liokaiser, Titans Return Voyager Springer, Deluxe Twin Twist and a Legends Beachcomber. He also says the Takara Tomy Legends Kup will look better than Hasbro’s, and that Masterpiece Trailbreaker is coming.
Rob says the Broadside mold will never become Tidal Wave, and he wants movie faces on Titan Masters. Don predicts a Toys “R” Us holiday set of Legends Ginrai and Godbomber, styled after the old Apex Armor set. He also expects an eHobby Encore reissue of Black Zarak and the first Masterpiece Car Robots figure. Chris predicts a Titans Return Leader Scorponok plus a Takara Tomy Black Zarak in the same year. Brian predicts Hasbro will crack down on or publicly address third-party toys, and that Titans Return Dinobots arrive.
Last Week in History
With no show the week before, the crew covers last week in history. In 1992, Marvel UK’s The Transformers ended with issue #332. In 2005, Dreamwave Productions declared bankruptcy, ending its Transformers comics. The crew remembers the Dreamwave Armada and Energon comics as better than the cartoons.
News
More MPM-3 Bumblebee Images: Transformers Masterpiece Movie Series
Hasbro sent out photos of Movie Masterpiece MPM-3 Bumblebee, released by Hasbro Asia. The crew notes the numbering continues from the earlier Movie Masterpiece Starscream. It looks like a new mold based on Bumblebee’s look through Dark of the Moon. One host finds the design so busy it is hard to read. The packaging also shows Drift’s new Mercedes alt mode, which the crew calls a downgrade. [Source: TFormers]
Official Images: The Last Knight Premier Edition Leader Shadow Spark Optimus Prime
Shadow Spark Optimus Prime is a recolor of the Age of Extinction Leader. It skips the retooling Takara Tomy did for its Black Knight release. The crew wants purple eyes on it. [Source: TFormers]
Masterpiece MP-38 Revealed: Optimus Primal Again?
MP-38 will be another Optimus Primal, and the crew speculates on what it is. Guesses include Burning Convoy, a flocked release and a toy-accurate version with the mutant head. One host notes space for a mutant head was spotted on MP-32. Its unique number suggests Takara Tomy sees it as a different character. [Source: TFormers]
Transformers: The Last Knight Toyline Info Revealed: Waves and Price Points
Chris wrote this story. At least three waves of Deluxes and Voyagers are planned, all tagged Premier Edition. Placeholder names come from planets and celestial phenomena, including Gas Giant and Hot Gas. Chris guesses some names could mark upgrade figures, such as a Hot Rod and a later form. [Source: TFormers]
Masterpiece Dirge NP-11ND: In-Hand Photos of the Final Conehead Seeker Retool
A Weibo user posted in-hand photos of Masterpiece Dirge. It is a Takara Tomy Mall exclusive in Japan, due in May. The crew guesses the photos came from someone with a factory connection. [Source: TFormers]
Titans Return Roadburn Was Almost Chase, Plus More in New Early Photos
Roadburn’s instruction sheet labels the figure Autobot Chase. The crew expects the name was changed because Chase is a Rescue Bots lead. They are happy to get a red minicar that is not called Cliffjumper. Gold Bug, Hubcap and Glyph come up as possible future uses of the mold. [Source: TFormers]
Robots in Disguise Combiner Force Soundwave Mini-Con Activator Shown in New Video
The Activator figure uses the Robots in Disguise Soundwave design. Plugging in Laserbeak opens a turret in either mode. The crew calls the transformation surprisingly involved for its size. [Source: TFormers]
Legends Godbomber, God Ginrai, Masterpiece and More in Figure King Issue 227 Scans
New scans show Legends Godbomber alone and combined with Ginrai. Godbomber’s own head is a Titan Master. The article says Godbomber does not need to disassemble to form its robot mode. One host adds that Super Ginrai originally had red eyes. [Source: TFormers]
Comic Artist Rob Liefeld Has Seen the Future of the Transformers Cinematic Universe
Rob explains that Akiva Goldsman showed Rob Liefeld the cinematic universe production bible. Liefeld called it impressive while discussing his own film universe. That is the whole story, the crew jokes. [Source: TFormers]
Third-Party News
X-Transbots adds the sixth unofficial Masterpiece-style Springer. The crew notes it dropped two days after their Springer jokes on episode 500. Its Seaspray looks good, and the crew still wants Beachcomber and a better Swerve or Gears. [Source: TFormers]
Fans Toys Terminus Giganticus and Phoenix on Display: Unofficial Skyfire and Huge Omega Supreme
Terminus Giganticus is so large that Fans Toys’ Skyfire looks small beside it. Part A is $269.99 and Part B is $199.99. The crew loves the look but hates the two-part model, since some buyers will end up with half a toy. Diecast notes Chosen Prime lists both parts for August, while Big Bad Toy Store lists June and August. Don is weighing it against the Black Zarak repaint of Pandinus. [Source: TFormers]
Fans Toys Third-Party Masterpiece Prototypes on Display: Kup, Seaspray, Blitzwing and More
The crew thinks the Fans Toys Kup prototype looks rough, though its truck mode is nice. They also spot Mindwipe concept art in the background. [Source: TFormers]
SXS Reveals Hot Flame Unofficial IDW-Styled Rodimus Prototype
The robot mode nails Nick Roche’s More Than Meets the Eye look. The vehicle mode is less loved, and one host compares it to a dune buggy. One host still wants a Hot Rod that copies the arm twist from the 1986 movie. [Source: TFormers]
Perfect Effect PC-16 Upgrade Kit to Provide Cab Robot for Legends Super Ginrai
The kit is due in May. One host hopes it also works with Powermaster Optimus Prime. [Source: TFormers]
Botlanta at Joelanta
Brian announces a Transformers track called Botlanta at Joelanta in Atlanta, March 10 to 12. Crazy Steve dubbed the track Botlanta, and Don is slated to host a panel despite his protests.
What We Got This Week
Brian got Combiner Force Starscream and Springload from his friend Joey, plus the Strongarm Optimus crash combiner. He calls the combiner very toyetic and fun. He also got Bat Primal, which he likes but finds overpriced. His other pickups were two Gnaws, Legends Bumblebee and Super Ginrai, which he likes except for the feet.
Matt got Legends Soundwave and Super Ginrai, and his Super Ginrai stands just fine.
Chris found Stormshot from the first Combiner Force Warrior assortment. He calls it his favorite Robots in Disguise toy so far, with a clean jet mode. He says it is hard to find and worth grabbing.
Don also got Stormshot, plus Blastcharge. He believes Blastcharge is a reworking of the Megatronus mold.
Diecast got a third-party upgrade kit for Battle Core Optimus Prime. He also got Kickback, another Gnaw and Legends Bumblebee, which he reviewed on RFC Reviews. Toys “R” Us price-matched all four Twinfernos at $9.99. He also loves Trigger Happy.
Rob got the wave 3 Titan Masters and calls Sawback fantastic. He also tested a Bandai Hobby Base stand with Transformers for a TFormers article.
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.