HasCon loosens its autograph policy and confirms Stan Bush, Peter Cullen, Frank Welker and a Power of the Primes showing. With The Last Knight a week out, the crew predicts an opening at or below $100 million. DX9’s Gabriel prototype photos show off its full size, and Diecast plans to buy both Omega Supremes. Brian finds a dozen Fortress Maximus figures at Ollie’s, only to watch a scalper clear the shelf. Plus a Diaclone guide book, Twinferno in hand and a 13-minute MPM-3 Bumblebee transformation.
News
Last Knight Opening Weekend Predictions
One host predicts The Last Knight opens at or below $100 million, probably around $90 million. Another hopes he is wrong, but every instinct says he is right. The crew notes a tough year for movies outside Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and Wonder Woman.
Robots in Disguise Combiner Force Twinferno In Hand
In-hand images show the Combiner Force Warrior Class Twinferno, priced at about $20 US in Hong Kong. One host likes it more than the Titans Return Twinferno, while Diecast finds it bland. The crew pitches recolors, from a Decepticon two-headed dragon to Dino Rider colors. [Source: TFormers]
HasCon Update: Stan Bush, Peter Cullen and Frank Welker; Power of the Primes to Be Shown
HasCon loosens its autograph policy, so guests will now sign any official item, not just merchandise bought at the show. The crew wonders how staff will spot knockoffs. Stan Bush will attend and perform, alongside Peter Cullen and Frank Welker. Hasbro confirms a show exclusive and says Power of the Primes will be shown. The crew still expects some reveal at SDCC to keep momentum, since San Diego draws mainstream press. Don is 95% sure he will not go because of admission and travel costs. [Source: TFormers]
Titans Return Wave 5 Stock Photos
New stock photos show Trypticon, Misfire, Twin Twist, Windblade, Octone and Blitzwing. The crew loves a shot of Trypticon in a more correct, horizontal T-rex pose. Windblade’s thin forearms come up again. Don still has no desire for Trypticon unless he turns up cheap at Ollie’s next year. [Source: TFormers]
Hobby Japan Diaclone World Guide Book and DVD
Hobby Japan’s Diaclone World guide book and DVD arrives in July for about $35. The crew calls Diaclone under-covered in the fandom and hopes the DVD has high-quality toy commercials. Nobody knows yet how complete the coverage is. [Source: TFormers]
Movie Block
Last Knight Tickets $5 Off With an Age of Extinction Rental
Renting Age of Extinction from Redbox earns a $5 ticket code, emailed after the movie is returned. The code works only at the theater, not for advance online purchases. The crew also reminds listeners that Crush promo packs offer up to $11 off a Fandango ticket. [Source: TFormers]
Last Knight TV Spot Calls It “The Final Chapter”
Rob says the new TV spot adds Hot Rod poking his head in to say “bonjour.” It also bills the movie as the final chapter, which the crew notes was said of Dark of the Moon too. Jokes follow about a French-accented Rodimus Prime and Bumblebee getting the Matrix. [Source: TFormers]
Walmart Exclusive Movie Blu-ray Set With Bonus Figure
TFW2005 member Ice Magnus found the first four movies on Blu-ray with a Beast Hunters Legion figure at Walmart for $26. Bumblebee, Prowl and Soundwave versions are confirmed. Don points out the digital copies are handy for families on summer trips. [Source: TFormers]
MPM-3 Movie Masterpiece Bumblebee Transformation Video
A nearly 17-minute hands-on video spends about 13 minutes on the transformation to car mode. The crew has seen worse, and one host compares it to Sunsurge. [Source: TFormers]
1980s Setting Confirmed for the Bumblebee Movie
The Bumblebee movie is confirmed for the 1980s. The crew hopes he is an IROC-Z Camaro with T-tops, and that the hero has a mullet. [Source: TFormers]
Toys R Us Mission to Cybertron Megatron and Skullitron
The Toys R Us exclusive pairs Megatron and Skullitron for $39.99, the going rate for two Deluxes. One host likes Skullitron’s rust-toned deco but wishes it covered more of the silver plastic. [Source: TFormers]
Target Exclusive Reveal the Shield Optimus Prime
New images show the Target exclusive Voyager, the Dark of the Moon Optimus Prime mold in red. It and the other Reveal the Shield exclusives carry printed tech specs that show a hidden faction symbol. [Source: TFormers]
Third-Party News
DX9 Gabriel Prototype Photos Show Its Full Size
Prototype photos next to official Masterpiece figures show Gabriel’s scale, possibly taller than FansToys Terminus Giganticus. The articulation looks good, and the knees have faux pistons. Diecast is getting both, for comparison reviews. Another host had been banking on the FansToys version and now wants test-shot reviews of Gabriel before August. The crew says DX9 should rush a review sample out. [Source: TFormers]
What’s on TFormers
Transformers: Salvation Review
Rob reviews Transformers: Salvation, a one-shot by John Barber and Livio Ramondelli. It wraps up the Punishment and Redemption one-shots with some of the best Ramondelli art he has seen. It is also the first story he can recall where Trypticon is an actual character. [Source: TFormers]
Exvee reviews Optimus Prime #8 and praises its art team. [Source: TFormers]
This Week in History
In 2003, Hasbro announced plans for a live-action Transformers movie. By the 15th anniversary, the crew notes, there will be six. In 2009, Shout! Factory released the complete first season 25th anniversary DVD set in the US. The crew debates whether a G1 Blu-ray release would ever sell enough to justify the cost.
What We Got This Week
Brian found a dozen Titans Return Fortress Maximus figures at Ollie’s for $40 and put one in his cart. When he went back ten minutes later for Triplett’s, a scalper had cleared the rest.
Diecast bought a second FansToys Phoenix from Taobao, about $140 plus around $30 shipping. One stays in robot mode and one in jet mode, earning him the nickname Big Money Diecast.
Chris bought Shuffler on eBay after Don pointed him to a fair auction. Then he found two more Shufflers and a Repugnus at Toys R Us, and Diecast claimed one Shuffler. Chris calls Shuffler probably the best self-contained Titan Master toy. He also bought Repugnus, and is still hunting Octone.
Matt said he got nothing this week.
Rob got Titans Return Topspin and Perceptor, thanks to Phil. Topspin is his favorite, with collapsing forearms and the bulk of a 2010 Deluxe. Perceptor does not tab together as firmly as he would like, but he finally has a complete microscope Perceptor.
John got Devil Stinger, the Black Zarak version of Pandinus, from a retailer. It adds claw extensions, and most changes are from the neck up and the wrists down.
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.