Hasbro’s investor presentation reveals Transformers Cyberverse, a new 2018 animated series told in chapters, with Rescue Bots Academy to follow in 2019. MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rod comes with Firebolt, and Takara’s Legends Overlord gets new Giga and Mega Titan Masters. HasCon’s official guest list grows to Susan Blu, Stan Bush and Isabela Moner. Diecast spends two days with Fans Toys’ 11-pound Terminus Giganticus, and Don lands Make Toys’ Devil Stinger. Guest Chris Triplett joins the crew.
This Week in History
In 1989, Transformers: The Movie finally opened in Japanese theaters, after Masterforce and Victory had aired. This week also marks 31 years since its US release. The crew notes that the Japanese laserdisc became a grail for fans.
News
New Transformers Animated Series for 2018: Cyberverse, Chapter 1
Rob explains that a slide from Hasbro’s presentation to press and shareholders names Cyberverse as the 2018 replacement for Robots in Disguise. It uses G1 art as a placeholder, targets kids 6 to 10 and lists chapters instead of seasons. Rescue Bots Academy premieres with Cyberverse Chapter 2 in 2019. A Robots in Disguise writer confirmed he is not on staff. The crew speculates about a G1 retelling and hears that Generations outsells movie toys with kids. One host spots an old newspaper photo of Rob Springer, Hooper X and Chris in the deck. [Source: TFormers]
HasCon 2017 Official Press Release Confirms Susan Blu and Stan Bush
The release confirms Susan Blu and Stan Bush and adds Isabela Moner, Flo Rida, Chewbacca Mom and Stan Lee. The crew jokes there may be as many celebrities as attendees. The crew pushes Don to get a Headmaster Arcee signed by Susan Blu at HasCon. [Source: TFormers]
MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rod Images: Firebolt Revealed
MP-40 pairs the recent Masterpiece Hot Rod mold with the Firebolt mold from Hasbro’s Toys R Us release of MP-09. The new colors are darker with more paint, and one host loves them. A couple of hosts do not need another copy. The crew expects Firebolt’s handle to be retooled so Hot Rod can hold it. [Source: TFormers]
New Legends Photos: Autobot Clones, Blitzwing and Overlord
Takara’s Overlord comes with new, more accurate Giga and Mega Titan Masters. The chest compartments get non-transforming engine inserts, which disappoints the crew. One host already bought the Hasbro version, figuring Takara could not change enough. Blitzwing looks nice, and the Autobot Clones are an option for anyone who missed the box set. [Source: TFormers]
Siege on Cybertron Set Spotted at a Toronto Toys R Us
Breaking during the show, the Siege on Cybertron box set turned up at a Toronto Toys R Us with Big Bad Toy Store exclusive stickers still on it. [Source: not found]
Overpower Upgrade Kit Turns Titan Masters into Powermasters for Overlord
This TF Nation exclusive includes hand-chromed Mega and Giga engine blocks and a new backing plate for Overlord’s face. It works out to about $25, and the first edition is limited to 25 pieces. [Source: TFormers]
The Last Knight Dragonstorm Breakage Warning
In-hand photos show unimpressive paint on Dragonstorm. The plastic connecting the dragon heads to the necks can break right out of the package. One host’s Trypticon also broke as soon as it came out of the box. [Source: TFormers]
Viacom Execs Reassure Huahua Media Investors After Paramount Underperforms
Viacom executives went to China to address concerns about a $1 billion slate financing deal with Paramount. The investors want assurances that upcoming films, after Baywatch, Ghost in the Shell and The Last Knight, will do better. [Source: TFormers]
Transformers Tribute Bumblebee Evolution 3-Pack Packaging Revealed
The garage-style packaging wins over one host who did not want the set until he saw it. Others wish the twist ties were less obtrusive on a collector piece. One host notes that Sara Pitre-Durocher said on Twitter that the package design is her work. [Source: TFormers]
G1 Cartoon Hits Blu-ray in Japan
Japan is getting the G1 cartoon and 2010 on Blu-ray for about $175. It uses the existing DVD masters, so it is not HD. [Source: TFormers]
Perfect Effect PC-16 Jinrai Prime In-Hand Photos
The transforming Powermaster cab looks much better in color, though the chest smokestacks bug one host. At about $60, plus about $30 for PC-15, it is a big extra spend for a Powermaster Optimus. [Source: TFormers]
X-Transbots MX-III Eligos Clear Purple Edition
The clear purple not-Cyclonus captures his creation scene, but the crew finds a solid lavender block less interesting than the original. Don, a fan of crystal plastic, would rather have the grid treatment or Killing Jar colors. [Source: TFormers]
Transformers Tribute 10th Anniversary Movie Optimus Prime
Don flags the 2007 movie Optimus Prime with a new high-detail deco and chrome on Amazon for $79.99. He still likes the mold, while another host balks at $80 for a ten-year-old Leader. [Source: Seibertron]
What’s on TFormers
Rob points to Exvee’s Titans Return Windblade gallery, which makes the figure look as good as it ever will, and Exvee’s review of Till All Are One #12 as the series winds down. Rob reviewed First Strike #1 and liked it more than expected, because Mairghread Scott writes a capable Scarlett.
What We Got This Week
Diecast got a knockoff of the gray BAPE MP-10 Optimus Prime, since the real one runs $500 to $600. He also had Fans Toys FT-20 Terminus Giganticus for two days to review. It weighs 11 pounds, and the production backpack star is white instead of red. He compared it with Trypticon and Fans Toys’ Skyfire before returning it. He also has the DX9 clear Starscream, still unopened.
Brian got Squeeks from Exvee and finally found the Titans Return Deluxe Wave 5.
Chris Triplett got nothing this week. Last week he got the Wave 5 deluxes, The Last Knight Leader Megatron and Titans Return Ramhorn from Big Bad Toy Store, and he says he paid too much.
Don got Make Toys’ Devil Stinger, an unofficial Black Zarak, secondhand from a reviewer at a price too good to pass up. He has not reassembled the tail yet and is wary of the instructions.
Matt got Deluxe Twin Twist and Windblade thanks to Exvee, who found three of each plus a Misfire at two stores.
Exvee had nothing new this week.
John DeLuna had nothing this week.
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.