Toys R Us is closing 180 US stores, about a fifth of its locations, and many of them are Babies R Us sites. TakaraTomy’s Power of the Primes waves 2 and 3 match the Hasbro releases, which dims hopes for Japanese-exclusive Buster and Hydra. Masterpiece Shadow Panther gets high-res photos, and Rodimus Unicronus turns up in Kansas with a Decepticon symbol. Transformers: The Last Knight leads this year’s Razzie nominations. Matt buys Power of the Primes Starscream purely as a combiner torso.
News
Toys R Us Closings: 180 Stores to Close. Did Yours Survive?
Following last year’s bankruptcy filing, Toys R Us will close 180 company-owned US stores, roughly 20% of its locations. Many are Babies R Us stores, and about half are Toys R Us. Only three are in North Carolina, two in Durham and one in Asheville. The crew thinks high rent and property value drove the picks, much like Kmart’s closures. Will West warned on Twitter that liquidation sales will likely offer no real bargains. The crew sends good wishes to a chat regular who works at a closing store. [Source: TFormers]
TakaraTomy Power of the Primes Waves 2 and 3 Stock Photos Reveal Only Disappointing News
TakaraTomy’s waves match the US releases, which is good for wallets. One host worries that Masterforce’s Buster and Hydra will come later as pricier exclusives. Another notes this design team has recreated so much of Headmasters that Hasbro could still make them. The crew points out Takara still does its own thing through exclusives like the Titans Return Headmasters sets. [Source: TFormers]
Masterpiece MP-34S Shadow Panther Hi-Res Images: Mutant Head, Communicator and More
Diecast has been asking who Shadow Panther is. The crew explains he was a Japanese Beast Wars repaint of Cheetor, an early Japan-only character. The release adds the toy-accurate mutant head and Cheetor’s communicator from the show, so completists need it. Most of the crew calls it a fill-in release to recoup costs toward a new mold and would rather have Tigatron. One host fears a Beast Wars Grimlock repaint of Masterpiece Dinobot is next. [Source: TFormers]
Rodimus Unicronus In-Hand USA Images of the Power of the Primes Leader Class
The figure turned up in Kansas, which the crew finds odd but not unheard of. One host recalls finding the last Beast Machines deluxe wave at his Walmart before anyone else. The final toy has a Decepticon symbol tampo instead of the Shattered Glass Autobot symbol from early stock photos. [Source: TFormers]
MPM-6 Movie Masterpiece Ironhide Package Images
One host says the images are printer-proof layouts, not photos. Chat regular Eric says Ironhide is due in July. Another host likes the truck mode but is happy with his upgraded Leader Ironhide and will pass. [Source: TFormers]
New Rescue Bots Toys Leaked: Rescue Dinobot Optimus Primal and Dinobot Mini-Cons
One host genuinely loves the Rescue Dinobot Optimus Primal. The crew notes Rescue Bots are the least promoted official line, so new items often surface only on store shelves. [Source: TFormers]
Mech Planet Hot Soldiers: Prototype Photos of a Hearts of Steel Bumblebee
Don has wanted more Hearts of Steel and will buy this one. One host explains the early IDW miniseries woke the Transformers in a steam-powered era. Don notes the Rolling Thunder figures are being redone too, sold separately this time. [Source: TFormers]
Perfect Effect PC-23 Kit Upgrades Grimlock and Volcanicus
The kit replaces Grimlock’s forearms and thighs and adds weapons for the Dinobots. One host hates the extra gear, though it makes Grimlock look better in Volcanicus torso mode. Another handled Power of the Primes Grimlock over the weekend and has no interest in it now. [Source: TFormers]
At Least Part of the Planned Hasbro Cinematic Universe Is Scaling Back
ROM and M.A.S.K. look unlikely to happen. One host had hoped they would fold into G.I. Joe, as IDW did in the comics. One host jokes that ROM would end up a set piece for explosions. [Source: io9]
Transformers: The Last Knight Receives Multiple Razzie Nominations
The Last Knight leads this year’s Razzie nominations and ties Age of Extinction for the most of any Transformers film. Nominations include Mark Wahlberg, Josh Duhamel, Anthony Hopkins, Laura Haddock and Michael Bay for worst director. The crew expects it to win worst picture, though Don still calls it one of the better Bay films. [Source: TFormers]
TFcon USA and Toy Fair
TFcon USA returns to Chicago October 26 to 28 at the Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare, and Diecast’s room is booked. Toy Fair coverage is February 17 at tfradio.net/live, the fifth straight year with Diecast reporting live from New York.
This Week in History
The Beast Wars episode Dark Voyage premiered in the US, and the crew splits on whether season one holds up. In 2010, IDW released The Last Stand of the Wreckers #1. The crew calls it the gateway to modern IDW Transformers, though one host rates the first year of IDW’s Robots in Disguise higher. Rob praises Nick Roche’s art and Josh Burcham’s colors on the follow-up, Sins of the Wreckers, but finds its story weaker.
What’s on TFormers
Rob covers Figure King scans, more Shadow Panther and TakaraTomy’s Japanese release of the Last Knight Armor Up Turbo Changers. IDW’s April solicitations have strong covers. Lost Light #13 is out with Alex Milne’s Red Alert redesign and interiors, though TFormers has stopped reviewing the book. Diecast posted a Power Baser transformation update, a Playmates Voltron review and a Zeta Toys Flyfire review.
What We Got This Week
Brian
Brian had nothing in Transformers this week.
Matt
Matt bought Power of the Primes Voyager Starscream only because it is a combiner torso. The crew pictures him and Broadside in a triple changer support group.
Don
Don got tired of waiting for Toys R Us-exclusive Last Knight Cogman to show up at retail and bought one on eBay for retail plus shipping. He skipped the Bumblebee since he has Masterpiece Bumblebee. The rest of his orders are still sitting at Origin Post.
Chris
Chris got the Transformers: Beast Machines complete series on DVD, which the crew calls a garbage fire.
Diecast
Diecast got the Zeta Toys Flyfire, a Masterpiece-scale Aerialbot. His had many problems, which he covers in his RFC Reviews video. He also did some Taobao ordering for a local friend, including an Infinite Transformation knockoff of Masterpiece Megatron.
Rob
Rob had nothing in Transformers 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.