The first Transformers: Cyberverse episodes are online, and a feverish Brian calls the show substantially better than its toys. David Sobolov, the voice of Depth Charge, joins the Bumblebee movie. Fan Expo Canada brings a first look at new Studio Series Deluxes, and Toys R Us deadstock lands at Ollie’s. The crew also covers the MP-10 Golden Lagoon Convoy packaging and Planet X’s unofficial IDW Star Saber.
News
Watch Cyberverse Now: First Four Half-Episodes Up on Cartoon Network
Brian watched the opening Transformers: Cyberverse episodes on the Cartoon Network website and liked them more than he expected. He praises the painted-looking backgrounds and smooth animation. He says it could almost pass as G1 after season three. The voice acting beats Combiner Wars, even though one host suspects a non-union cast. Brian fully endorses the show, which airs online in five-minute chunks. Nobody else has watched it yet. A side debate ranks Transformers: Prime as the third-best Transformers series. [Source: TFormers]
First Look: New Studio Series Deluxes Revealed at Fan Expo
Hasbro showed new Studio Series Deluxes at Fan Expo Canada, ahead of its panel there. Bumblebee appears in his World War II flashback look from The Last Knight, complete with a hammer. The figure’s head is unmistakable, though the colors and gun remind the crew of Hound. [Source: TFormers]
Toys R Us Deadstock Goes to Ollie’s
Ollie’s promises $200 million in retail value from the supplier of the former Toys R Us. Brian found about a hundred Titans Return refresh figures and shelves of Premier Edition movie Hot Rod. Rob hopes for Misfire and Twin Twist, and several hosts have checked their stores for him. Brian explains how liquidation pallets are bought sight unseen, which is why stock varies so much. [Source: TFormers]
MPM-7 Movie Masterpiece Volkswagen Bumblebee Preorder Coming Soon
The preorder is due soon, with release in mid-October. Brian doubts the photo even shows MPM-7, since it looks like an existing stock image of a yellow Beetle. [Source: TFormers]
MP-10 Golden Lagoon Convoy: Packaging and In-Hand Images
Brian likes the packaging, which echoes Takara’s recent Street Fighter boxes. The in-hand photos look more golden and less butterscotch than the official images. He wants it but will not pay the price. The crew notes that nearly every Autobot and Decepticon was exposed to the Golden Lagoon in the G1 episode, which Transformers University just covered. [Source: TFormers]
MP-34S Shadow Panther Package Images and Hasbro Asia Exclusive Coin
Brian jokes that the crew talked Star Trek for 45 minutes waiting for Jason, only to reach a coin. One host keeps his Masterpiece coins in a drawer. Another was annoyed that his Unite Warriors Computron came without the coin his other sets had. [Source: TFormers]
Cyberverse Warrior Class Wave 2 and Scout Optimus Prime on Target Website
One host dubs the Scout Optimus Prime’s alternate mode ‘Gerdrive’, the opposite of Gerwalk. The Warrior Class figures look less bad by comparison. One host thinks Warrior Megatron looks decent but needs bicep swivels and folding fists. [Source: TFormers]
Figure King Magazine August 2018 Transformers Images
An inset compares the original Evasion Mode Optimus Prime to Takara’s new larger Bumblebee movie version. Siege images show Cog’s vehicle splitting into Gasket and Grommet. The new Masterpiece Convoy still has no number. Brian preordered Encore Big Convoy from Amazon Japan for about $80, only $30 more than he paid for the original. Another host is content with his Ultra Mammoth. [Source: TFormers]
Transformers: Bumblebee Movie Gains Voice Talents of David Sobolov
David Sobolov voiced Depth Charge in Beast Wars, one of Brian’s favorite Transformers. Brian would love a Depth Charge in the movie and calls Sobolov phenomenal. [Source: TFormers]
Shockwave’s Lab to Offer Extra Accessories for MP-41 Masterpiece Dinobot
The weapon rack nods to the Beast Wars episode where Dinobot pulls down an arsenal, and it works with the figure’s display base. The crew calls it a neat option that they do not need. [Source: TFormers]
Planet X PX-C02 Kadmos: Unofficial Third-Party Star Saber Renders
Kadmos is an IDW-style Star Saber whose back end forms most of the robot, with the Saber jet as an add-on. The crew dislikes it and expects Hasbro to do a better, cheaper Star Saber eventually. One host points to Masterpiece Star Saber, which now looks like a bargain at about $150. [Source: TFormers]
Art of Duplicates Knocks Off a Masterpiece Powerglide
Diecast shared a Taobao listing from a knockoff maker called Art of Duplicates, or AOD. It copies DX9’s unofficial Masterpiece Powerglide, and two knockoff makers are doing the same figure at once. Brian calls it the best knockoff company name ever. [Source: not found]
Breaking: Studio Series Crankcase Revealed
A late link shows a Studio Series Crankcase that retools Crowbar with a new head and gold hands. The crew is not thrilled, though one host still likes the World War II Bumblebee. Brian notes that a whole generation’s first Transformers were Armada or later, and the current Studio Series may be aimed at them. [Source: not found]
What’s on TFormers
Rob points to Bumblebee movie toy commercials, including Energon Igniters Power Plus teasers. [Source: TFormers] Brian finds the DJ Bumblebee spot cute, and Power Charge Bumblebee might interest Rob at a discount. [Source: TFormers]
What We Got This Week
Brian got Cyberverse Starscream at the $15 price point and calls it sort of terrible, with no knees. He compares it to mid-2000s Happy Meal toys. He also found Cyber Battalion Shockwave at Walgreens, a crappy toy that looks great on the shelf. Chris Triplett bought the $30 Optimus Prime and Megatron, and Brian fixed his tight Megatron head by easing the tension with a screwdriver. Diecast argues the action features hold the line back, while another host says the incomplete transformations are the real problem.
Diecast got X-Transbots’ unofficial Hoist, named Paean. He also has four of Make Toys’ upscaled unofficial Protectobots and needs only Hot Spot to finish his Defensor. His odd find is a third-party BotCon homage display stand marked ‘Non-Sale Samples’ and ‘Club Souvenirs’. He bought all six and plans to use them for Legends-scale figures.
Don had nothing at all this week, and still no Novastar.
Chris had nothing in Transformers this week.
Jason had nothing yet, with an order on its way from China. He took his son, who turns four in January, to see Cyberverse at Target. The boy spotted Bumblebee and walked straight to the Mario toys.
Matt had nothing in Transformers this week.
Rob had nothing this week. He finally saw Rippersnapper in a store but passed on starting another combiner.
John had nothing this week, though his MP-34S Shadow Panther preorder is processing at about $90.
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.