Hasbro outsells Mattel for the first time in 24 years, despite a soft fourth quarter and the Toys R Us crisis. Transformers Authentics appear at Dollar General, and leaked packaging points to more evergreen product. A Peruvian shipping list confirms Studio Series Deluxe Wave 1, and TakaraTomy says Legends will live on through its online mall. It is also Cliffjumper season, with three unofficial Cliffjumpers in one week.
News
Hasbro Tops Mattel’s Annual Sales for the First Time in 24 Years
Brian reports that Hasbro had a disappointing fourth quarter but a strong year, and its annual sales beat Mattel’s for the first time in 24 years. Hasbro shares rose as it told investors it would be fine with or without Toys R Us. On the call, Hasbro also said it was happy with how The Last Knight product sold. The crew notes that Hasbro is the smaller company, even though it once tried to buy Mattel. Don points out that Mattel owns Hot Wheels and Barbie, which makes the result more impressive. One host wonders who ever saw waves three and four of The Last Knight on shelves. Another host answers that what stores bought and sold through is what counts. [Source: The Motley Fool]
Transformers Authentics 4.5 Inch Figures Sighted in Wichita, KS Dollar General
Transformers Authentics turn up at a Dollar General in Wichita, Kansas, and the crew expects them to spread. One host thinks the Authentics Optimus Prime looks like the Legends figure scaled up, while Megatron is clearly new. Another loves dollar-store exclusives and wants the larger Authentics Grimlock if it is only about $10. Another host may prefer it to the Voyager alongside his Power of the Primes Dinobots. [Source: TFormers]
More Evergreen Products on the Way? Voyager and Deluxe-Style Packaging Designs Leaked
New packaging posted on Weibo points to more evergreen product. The crew explains evergreen as a shared pool of default character designs used by Authentics and probably Cyberverse. These toys have no special play pattern, so they can sit on shelves for years without markdowns. One host would buy a Voyager of the evergreen Grimlock. Cyber Battalion is named as a precursor to the idea. [Source: TFormers]
Black Convoy Exclusive: Wonder Festival 2018 Winter TakaraTomy Transformers Booth Information
TakaraTomy’s Wonder Festival exclusive is a Black Convoy based on Evasion Mode Optimus Prime. Fans sign up at the show and have it shipped later, much like an OTFCC special. Brian wants one. Another host dislikes the bright blue, which reminds him of the AllSpark blue on Power Core Combiners connector points. [Source: TFormers]
Legends Lives On: TakaraTomy Addresses Legends Series’ Future in Hyper Hobby Magazine
According to Autobase Aichi, Legends will continue through the TakaraTomy Mall. One host expects a scaled-back line built on available molds and thinks Buster and Hydra are likely. Releases will probably be fewer, harder to get and more expensive. [Source: TFormers]
Transformers Studio Series Deluxe Wave 1 Contents Confirmed by Peruvian Shipping Lists
A Transformers Peru Facebook group posted an import list confirming the first Studio Series Deluxe wave, sold under the Generations imprint: Bumblebee, Stinger, Crowbar and Ratchet. The list also includes Power of the Primes and the Cyber Battalion assortment with Prowl, Jetfire, Shockwave and Sideswipe. One host jokes that a Peruvian shipping list sounds like something from an Indiana Jones movie. [Source: TFormers]
Ocular Max Hellion: MP-Style Unofficial Cliffjumper Color Photos
One host likes Ocular Max’s Masterpiece-style Cliffjumper but will wait, since TakaraTomy will eventually make one. Another host thinks the waist area looks odd. Matt points to a similar Ace Collectables Cliffjumper from November, which Diecast already owns. [Source: TFormers]
It’s Cliffjumper Season: Grasshopper Is the Next Unofficial Autobot Mini Vehicle
Grasshopper is still only a CAD model and looks more like a Throttlebot or Bot Shot than a Masterpiece figure. Its reverse knee bend bothers one host. Of the Cliffjumpers discussed, one host picks Ace Collectables’ as the best, and another host likes an X-Transbots version. [Source: TFormers]
DX9 x Uniquetoys K3 La Hire: Unofficial The Last Knight Hot Rod
The crew agrees it looks nice, but nobody cares much about The Last Knight’s Hot Rod. One host had to look up a French general from the Hundred Years’ War to understand the name. [Source: TFormers]
This Week in History
In 1997, the Beast Wars episode “The Low Road” premiered in the US. Brian sums it up in two words: Rhinox farted.
Fandom History
Memories of watching an old read-along video at BotCon 1995 lead Brian and Don to the fandom’s early days. They remember Raksha, a devoted early BotCon regular whose energy helped keep the convention going after 1994. One host recommends the TFWiki article on the history of the Transformers fandom. Diecast was not around for that era, and another host argues newer fans do not need that history to understand the brand.
Listener Feedback
This is a feedback episode. Brian promises the RFC Insider newsletter will return before Toy Fair. Kent says the go90 Titans Return series has two qualities of a classic Nicolas Cage film: every line is whispered or screamed, and everything is on fire. Mark from England agrees with Don that the series showcases the product badly. A returning collector learns that the TFormers wave trackers show what is shipping and when.
From the chat, the crew splits on G2 Dinobots. Some put the odds high, while others doubt Hasbro will risk another G2 repaint set. Don suggests online retailers such as Big Bad Toy Store could pick up exclusives as Toys R Us shrinks. The crew shares how they display their collections, from IKEA cube shelves to boxes in closets. Scorponok, Doubledealer, Reflector, Perceptor, Autobot X and better Ironhide and Ratchet figures top the list of G1 characters still owed a better toy. For Studio Series, wishes include a better Leader Grimlock, Rescue Bots and a Cogman reissue.
What’s on TFormers
Rob starts a series on the brands Hasbro has used for Transformers, beginning with Playskool. He also writes the first Countdown to Toy Fair 2018 article and covers Fans Toys FT-39 Jabber, an unofficial Masterpiece-style Blurr. One host owns Unique Toys’ Buzzing, the rival Blurr being reissued, and likes the figure but not its Targetmaster.
Toy Fair Live Stream
RFC’s ninth annual Toy Fair live stream is Saturday, February 17, around noon Eastern, at tfradio.net/live.
What We Got This Week
Brian got Robots in Disguise Bludgeon, which he calls the cutest little Bludgeon ever, and Thermidor, which he opened 15 minutes before the show.
Diecast got a replacement head from TF Direct for Weijiang’s upscaled knockoff Arcee, plus gap-filler pieces for Rendorza, Weijiang’s upscaled Last Knight Megatron. He also got TakaraTomy’s Transformers Prime Arms Micron Ironhide, which turned out small and sticker-heavy. He bought a Mastermind Creations Reformatted DJD figure for the third time after a lost Taobao shipment, plus MMC’s electric chair figure. He also got a knockoff Legends-scale Overlord and a Perfect Effect upgrade kit that keeps Power Master Optimus Prime from falling backward. MMC Reformatted Wing in Jetfire colors and FansHobby Gunfighter round out his haul.
Rob got Power of the Primes Slug and already has Swoop. He is enjoying G1 Dinobots with modern articulation.
Jason got the Power of the Primes Leader Optimus Prime, after buying Rodimus Prime first. He also got the TakaraTomy Legends Blurr reissue, one of his favorite toys in years, for about $40.
Matt had nothing in Transformers this week.
Don finally received a third-party Onslaught, the second piece of the War Giant combiner he and Matt are collecting, with a bonus small Arcee in Combiner Hunters colors. He also got the small Bike Robo from Big Bad Toy Store’s Black Friday sale to face his Leader One. On air he opened FansHobby’s Megatron recolor, a former Singapore exclusive now about $120 in the US.
John finally opened Legends Slugslinger, completing his Legends Targetmaster trio with Misfire and Triggerhappy.
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.