Movie Masterpiece Jazz and Megatron are officially revealed, and the crew is split on both. Bumblebee earns a one-month extension in Chinese theaters and passes $440 million worldwide. Encore Big Convoy shows off its bright colors, and Figure King scans reveal MP-44’s parts storage. Siege Galaxy Convoy’s truck mode also leaks. With Toy Fair two weeks away, the crew makes its Toy Fair 2019 predictions.
News
RFC Toy Fair Livestream
Brian announces the annual Toy Fair livestream on Saturday, February 16, starting around noon Eastern.
The Bee Soars: Bumblebee Given One-Month Extension in Chinese Theatrical Release
One host explains that foreign films get strictly limited runs in China, so an extension means Bumblebee is doing well there. It has earned about $157 million in China, more than its $122 million in the US. The worldwide total is about $445 million, close to The Last Knight on a much smaller budget. The crew calls it a quality-sells, long-tail success. [Source: TFormers]
Official Images and Details: Movie Masterpiece Jazz and Megatron
MPM-8 Jazz can be torn in half like his death scene in the 2007 movie. He also includes a tiny Sam Witwicky. Diecast loves the gimmick but finds the Sam figure too Human Alliance. Chris sees the extras as added value for a small, $90 car. Megatron runs about $160. Brian notes fans who grew up with the movies love it, but he would not buy it at $20. Another host worries Movie Masterpiece prices are climbing faster than the toys are growing. [Source: TFormers]
We Almost Got a Transformers and My Little Pony Crossover Comic
IDW artist Andrew Griffith shared cover art for a Transformers and My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic crossover that never happened. The crew calls it a tragedy, especially since Tom Scioli was not involved. [Source: TFormers]
Encore Big Convoy In-Hand Photos
The Encore Big Convoy’s bright animation colors look clean and bold, and Brian’s arrives tomorrow. One host owns several versions and still calls Ultra Mammoth the best. The crew thinks the shrink wrap in the box keeps the shell panels from shifting. One host might pick one up on a discount just for how good it looks. [Source: TFormers]
Figure King Scans: MP-44, Studio Series Drift with Baby Dinobots and Golden Lagoon Soundwave
The scans confirm a Japanese release of Studio Series Drift with the baby Dinobots, an Entertainment Earth exclusive in the US. Golden Lagoon Soundwave on the Titans Return mold gets a thumbs-down. MP-44 has a storage compartment in the truck for its option parts, which one host loves. TFormers also posted a translation of the MP-44 feature from the Generations 2019 book. [Source: TFormers]
Siege Leader Optimus Prime Truck Mode Image Leaked
Brian is excited for the Galaxy Convoy homage. The truck mode is stubbier than the original toy and no more convincing as a fire truck. Don still prefers the Robots in Disguise Optimus Prime. [Source: TFormers]
Toy World TW-F03 Bulldog: The Last Knight WWI Tank
Toy World’s Bulldog is up for preorder at $75 and appears to be Voyager-sized. One host finds the gas-mask head unsettling in a way he kind of likes. Don is impressed that the tank mode packs away cleanly and is considering it. A chat member reports Toy World is also working on triple-changing Shatter and Dropkick. The crew expects those to be a mess. [Source: TFormers]
Toy Fair 2019 Predictions
Most Siege figures have official images, except fan-vote Mirage and Impactor and Voyagers Thundercracker and Springer. The crew expects Omega Supreme and possibly a painted Devastator mock-up as display centerpieces. Rob wants the rumored Firestormers pack with G2 Sideswipe and the last female combiner member. Another host hopes for Lancer. Rob also points to a listed Voyager Skywarp battle pack with a likely surprise inside. One host thinks Hasbro’s new store could launch the online multipacks at Toy Fair.
Don predicts a working HasLab Sail Barge and the next HasLab announcement, plus MP-44 on display. Diecast hopes for a box set such as the Seacons, while another host thinks Monstructor is likelier. The crew would love Delta Magnus as a Selects release and a Snowcat. One host also expects word on the next Bumblebee movie, though others say that belongs to Paramount at San Diego Comic-Con.
What We Got This Week
Brian found the Target exclusive Bumblebee movie Soundwave on clearance for $25. He also got the cassette set with Bumblebee at a discount. He finally tracked down Hasbro Asia’s Red Knight, a redeco of Age of Extinction Galvatron, through Collect-a-Con Toys. From Chris he got Universe Sideswipe and Superion Maximus. Diecast gave him Toyworld’s Christmas Exhaust, with orders never to sell it.
Diecast had nothing new arrive this week. He showed off DX9’s Omega Supreme, Gabriel, and Mastermind Creations’ Skylynx from last week. Skylynx’s neck droops when tapped, but he can live with it.
Rob got Power of the Primes Elita-1 from his wish list and likes it more than expected. He wishes it had fewer or better stickers. Chris points out the feet are on the wrong sides.
Don got a $7 reissue Hot Rod.
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.