In the last episode of 2017, the crew makes its Transformers predictions for 2018, from the Bumblebee movie’s box office to Masterpiece Arcee and a third-party Unicron. Figure King reports that Hasbro and TakaraTomy will unify their brands with Power of the Primes, and Chris explains why fans need not panic yet. Hasbro Studios sets episode counts for Cyberverse and Rescue Bots Academy, and Masterpiece Cassettebot vs. Cassettetron arrives in hand. May Mayhem-style leaks reveal Power of the Primes Blast Off, and Studio Series listings surface. Chris also finds Power of the Primes Leader Rodimus Prime at Target.
2018 Predictions
Brian says he won last year’s predictions, and Matt got about half of his roughly 50 guesses right. The crew will check these in December 2018. Everything below is opinion, not news.
Chris predicts a disappointing year for collectors, since leaks have already spoiled most of Power of the Primes and Studio Series. Brian predicts the Bumblebee movie with John Cena will gross less than The Last Knight. His bold call is an official Transformers convention, run by a third party, announced in addition to HasCon.
Diecast takes the other side and predicts Bumblebee beats The Last Knight. He also expects a third-party Unicron and a 2019 Titan Class Unicron, teased with a piece of his ring. Don predicts news on the official collectors club, Masterpiece Arcee and an announcement of Masterpiece Beast Wars Megatron. He also expects an animated-style Omega Supreme, plus an Omega Spreem from Fans Toys or DX9.
Matt predicts Paramount sets low expectations for Bumblebee and the movie still misses them, though Brian will see it three times. He also expects Unite Warriors-style box sets with Liokaiser, a Masterpiece Trailbreaker and Legends updates of Huffer, Cliffjumper and Warpath. Rob predicts Bumblebee makes its budget back on better reviews, and a 2019 Power of the Primes Leader Star Saber. John expects Bumblebee to overperform, a Unite Warriors G2 Protectobots set, and a new Masterpiece seeker mold with all three seekers out by year’s end.
This Week in History
In 1985, the Transformers episode “War Dawn” premiered in the US, introducing Orion Pax, Ariel and Dion. One host would love third-party versions of the episode’s cube-shaped Decepticon troopers. In 2007, Transformers Animated premiered with “Transform and Roll Out,” and one host can hardly believe it has been ten years. [Source: TFWiki]
News
Unifying the World Brands With Power of the Primes: Figure King Magazine
A Figure King summary, via Autobase Aichi, says Hasbro and TakaraTomy want their brands in closer sync, starting with Power of the Primes. Chris notes the trend already shows in co-branded Movie Masterpiece and Studio Series. He argues this need not rule out market-specific sidelines like Legends or Unite Warriors. One host hopes syncing means more paint for Hasbro releases. Chris doubts it, since matched lines settle at the lower budget, and deluxes are already going to $20. [Source: TFormers]
Hasbro Studios Catalog Reveals the Length of Transformers Cyberverse and Rescue Bots Academy
Cyberverse follows Bumblebee as Windblade helps him repair his damaged memory. It runs 18 episodes of 11 minutes each for ages 6 to 11. Rescue Bots Academy arrives in 2019 with 52 eleven-minute episodes for ages 3 to 5. Brian finds its Hot Shot so adorable that he made it this week’s album art. [Source: TFormers]
Masterpiece Cassettebot vs. Cassettetron Set MP-15/16-E First In-Hand Look
The four-cassette set, with the new Enemy mold, runs about $120. One host has already paid for his. One host thinks Masterpiece Rumble and Frenzy are barely better than the G1 toys, but he still wants Enemy. The crew debates how TakaraTomy will package Blaster’s cassettes later. [Source: TFormers]
Power of the Primes Leaders Rodimus Prime and Optimus Prime Found at US Retail
Chris wrote up the first US sightings, and he found his own Rodimus Prime at a Target in Nashville. [Source: TFormers]
Free Comic Book Day 2018: Look, It’s Unicron
IDW’s Free Comic Book Day issue debuts Unicron, and the solicitation hints at a reboot of the IDW Transformers universe. One host is fine with that, especially if it separates Transformers from G.I. Joe and the other Hasbro crossovers. Rob would welcome a reboot every five years. Don would rather see the war told from Elita-1’s side. [Source: TFormers]
Transformers Video Games No Longer Available for Digital Purchase on Steam and PSN
Several Transformers games, including Transformers: Devastation, have been delisted from Steam and PSN. One host bought Devastation cheap on Xbox One. Another notes most of those games are on sale on Xbox Live, which often happens right before a delisting. Anyone who wants the DLC should buy it now. [Source: TFormers]
May Mayhem Returns? Power of the Primes Package Leaks
Marked-up package leaks show Voyagers Elita-1, Hun-Gurrr and Inferno, plus Deluxes Moonracer and Blast Off. Blast Off is the real surprise, after he never appeared in Titans Return. He may come with a Prime Master Megatronus in new colors. One host is tired of leakers marking up other people’s work for attention. [Source: TFormers]
Transformers Movie Studio Series Leaked Images and Store Inventory Product Info
Listings include Jazz, two Ratchets, Crowbar, Stinger, a Voyager Brawl, two Strikers that are likely Bumblebee, Starscream, Megatron, Optimus Prime, Ironhide, Grimlock and Blackout. Leaked images show Ironhide and Megatron. The crew jokes about the code names and groans at the Dark of the Moon Ratchet. [Source: TFormers]
Generation Toy GT-06 Sergeant: Unofficial Masterpiece Streetwise
Generation Toy’s Streetwise turns into a Nissan 370Z, part of a Protectobots team that updates the vehicles. The crew likes that approach, and that it keeps the windshield chest while dropping the hood. A US version adds police markings. [Source: TFormers]
Bumblebee: The Movie VW Bug Official Image
A new set photo shows Bumblebee as a Volkswagen Beetle. Brian says that is what Bumblebee is supposed to look like, not a Camaro. He is also glad the film puts a girl in the lead role. [Source: TFormers]
Toys R Us UK Follows US Division Into Financial Woes
Toys R Us UK must pay a large sum into its pension fund before it can restructure, but it cannot afford that without restructuring. One host explains that the US bankruptcy prevents the American company from helping. [Source: TFormers]
Fansproject LER-07SP Pinchar Exclusive Edition
The convention exclusive Pinchar comes in Diaclone colors. Most of the crew is lukewarm, but one host preordered it to go with his three earlier Fansproject convention exclusives. [Source: Fansproject]
IDW Transformers Comics Writers and Artists Sweep ComiXology Reader’s Choice Awards
Lost Light won best series, James Roberts best writer and Joana Lafuente best colorist. Sara Pitre-Durocher won best artist and Tom Long best letterer. [Source: TFormers]
What’s on TFormers
Chris’s review of Lost Light #12 is his breakup letter with the series, and he and Rob will stop reviewing it. Rob reviewed Optimus Prime #14. Chris’s review of the Till All Are One Annual praises Mairghread Scott and Sara Pitre-Durocher. Chris also posted Prime Master galleries of Vector Prime, Liege Maximo and Micronus.
What We Got This Week
Chris found Power of the Primes Leader Rodimus Prime at Target. He likes the basics but worries the friction C-clips holding the arms will loosen over time. The trailer stickers get damaged the first time you transform it, and the Hot Rod and trailer parts are mismatched reds. The chest is a tampograph, and the Hot Rod mode is bigger than a Voyager.
Brian got the rest of the Power of the Primes Deluxes, along with Ramhorn, Starscream and Grimlock. His favorite is a gift from listener Sean Hamilton: the carded miniature Fortress Maximus from Tuesday Morning, plus a carded Robots in Disguise Spy Changer Crosswise with its $3.99 KB Toys tag.
Don found bare shelves around town, though Target had marked down the Seaspray wave to about $7.30.
Diecast had nothing this week.
Matt had nothing in Transformers this week.
John had nothing in Transformers this week.
Rob found Titans Return Ramhorn at Aldi for $4 and likes its pointless but fun rhino-head mechanism. For Christmas he got Titans Return Blaster, the last Leader mold he needed, with the best base mode of the Titans Return Leaders.
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.