Radio Free Cybertron hits episode 600, and Diecast reports back from an early screening of the Bumblebee movie. He calls it a smaller, character-driven family film, and the crew urges listeners to see it. Lorenzo di Bonaventura dodges the reboot question, while Generations Selects Ricochet and Red Swoop open for preorder. The crew also covers the Hasbro USA edition of MP-44 Optimus Prime, the G1 reissue poll and Planet X’s Star Saber. Most of the crew now has Siege wave 1 in hand, and Cog is the star.
News
RFC Daily Returns
Brian announces that the RFC Daily news update returns next week, including on the RFC Alexa skill. He also thanks Sean Hamilton for finishing an 80-issue run of daily Transformers covers inspired by Don and the crew.
Transformers: Bumblebee Not a Reboot, According to Producer
Diecast saw Bumblebee at an early advance screening, while Brian lost his chance to the snow. Diecast calls it a family Transformers movie with no crude humor. It is smaller in scale, with fewer Autobots and Decepticons, and runs under two hours. He likes that Charlie is written as a normal teenager. The crew urges fans to see it more than once to keep Transformers films going. Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura told Slash Film he does not like the term reboot. The crew calls his answer double talk and is glad he also dislikes Unicron as a plot element. Several hosts would rather get a good animated Cybertron film or a strong TV series. [Source: TFormers]
Generations Selects Ricochet and Red Swoop Up for Preorder
Entertainment Earth opened preorders first, at about $20, for a February release. The crew loves Ricochet, though Matt says the chest gap breaks up the flame decal. Don questions leaving out a Targetmaster when Siege Weaponizers retail for $6. He also notes most fans know the character as Stepper, not Ricochet. The crew then pitches more Selects. Ideas include a Counterpunch redeco as Pointblank, G2 Dinobots and Cog in Grand Maximus colors. [Source: TFormers]
Hasbro USA Edition MP-44 Optimus Prime Announced
Like MP-43 Megatron, the US edition is an official import through Hasbro’s distribution partners. It runs about $10 less than the import list price but ships a month or more later. The crew notes that early Amazon Japan preorders can still come in cheaper. In Canada, EB Games will carry it. [Source: TFormers]
Leaked MP-44 Optimus Prime Details from Generations 2019
Leaked instruction images show the cab sides folding into the legs. The crew finds it easier to follow than Masterpiece Dinobot’s instructions, though the grille seems to vanish between steps. The included Spike and Carly figures have no painted faces, which one host thinks is the safer choice at that size. [Source: TFormers]
More G1 Reissues Coming, and Hasbro Wants Your Input
Astrotrain won the first round of Hasbro’s reissue poll, and Skywarp leads the next round. The winners will not reach Walmart until 2020. One host suggests a cartoon-color Astrotrain would still feel new. Others would rather see Ultra Magnus or the Insecticons again. One host is glad the slower schedule should keep the reissues from turning into shelf warmers. [Source: TFormers]
G-Shock x Transformers Master Optimus Prime In-Hand Photos
New photos show the watch-carrying Optimus Prime next to Siege Optimus, and it is basically Leader-sized. The chest cavity is built to close around several watch models. The version without a watch runs about $150, and Brian says he will pick one up. [Source: TFormers]
PX-C02 Kadmos MP-Style Star Saber from Planet X
Planet X’s Kadmos leans on the IDW design of Star Saber rather than the Victory toy. The crew notes several Star Sabers are on the way, including one from Flame Toys. One host says it does not look bad but is not something he needs. [Source: TFormers]
Beast Wars Masterpiece Wish List
Don has a Perfect Effect Transmetal 2 Megatron coming, at about $85 after selling items and stacking coupons. The crew notes the Masterpiece Cheetor reissue is now listed at $100. Don’s must-have Masterpiece is Tigatron. The crew’s wish list also includes Rattrap, Tarantulas and Rampage, and one host would love a Masterpiece Thrust from Beast Machines.
What We Got This Week
Brian finished his Siege wave 1 set with Optimus Prime, Megatron, Cog and the Weaponizers. He calls the Voyager Optimus Prime and Megatron genuinely excellent and much better than Power of the Primes. He has not tried combining Cog yet. Chris says that is the secret to Cog and to Siege as a whole.
Rob got Hound and Cog through the Hasbro Toy Shop sale. He likes Hound, though the black nylon joints feel gummy. Cog clicked once he attached it to Sideswipe five different ways. Sideswipe is solid, and Skytread is the weakest of the wave because the turret will not stay put. Chris adds that shaving two hidden tabs inside the legs helps the tank lock together.
Diecast opened Siege Sideswipe and Hound, and he likes Optimus Prime and Megatron. Megatron’s head panel tends to droop, and the tank mode was harder than expected. He also got a Turbo Changer from the Bumblebee screening and traded a friend for a Bot Shot. His Masterpiece Prowl animation version stands out for its blue windows.
Jason found a fresh restock of Power of the Primes wave 4 at Target.
Matt picked up BotBots blind packs at two Walmarts, including the boxing glove, chocolate bar, soap and scissors. His favorites are the hot chocolate cup and the deodorant bar. He also got Masterpiece Prowl animation version and agrees the blue looks great against the white.
Chris‘s pickups this week were not Transformers.
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.