Transformers Earthrise reaches US shelves, with Micromasters turning up at Target from Portland to Virginia. Earthrise packaging art surfaces from Bangkok, showing the Ark, a Quintesson and a Bumblebee built on Cliffjumper’s engineering. X-Transbots teases an unofficial Quintesson. Diecast shows off Toyworld’s cel-shaded Constructor. Brian fills holes in his collection with Takara’s United and Henkei figures.
News
Transformers Earthrise First US Sighting: Micromasters Found at Target
The Hot Rod Patrol and Trip-Up and Daddy-O have turned up at Target in Portland, Sacramento and central Virginia. One host is sure the Deluxes are already moving through distribution. He expects Earthrise on shelves in force around Toy Fair. [Source: TFormers]
Check Out Earthrise’s Beautiful Package Art Plus In-Hand Photos of Optimus Prime
A Transformers Collectors Club Australia member found a packaged Earthrise Optimus Prime in Bangkok. The side-panel art shows a Quintesson, Arcee, Hound, Sideswipe, Shockwave, the Ark and the Nemesis. Trailbreaker appears in his 2014 toy design. A Bumblebee uses Cliffjumper’s engineering, with what may be Spike nearby. One host says Hasbro’s team reacted with interest when he asked for an Ark a year ago. The crew floats a pop-up cardboard Ark playset. [Source: TFormers]
Will the Seacons Ever Reach US Retail?
Brian asks whether the Pulse-only Seacons could reach US stores. The crew says no, since Takara-style pricing marks them as a Takara initiative like Masterpiece. One host suggests a God Neptune set could appear as a convention exclusive. Takara reusing the molds seems more likely, as it did with Shackwave.
Transformers Year of the Mouse Official Hasbro Limited Edition Commemorative Medal
Jack posted Hasbro’s Year of the Rat coin. The crew thinks it is someone’s jam but not theirs. [Source: TFormers]
The crew calls the timing bad, right after the Cyberverse Quintesson. One host will still buy it and hopes it does not transform. Another wishes X-Transbots would finish the Autobot bike shown years ago. [Source: TFormers]
Giveaway Winners and Patreon
Throne of the Primes goes to @RAURQUIZ and the prize pack to Hyper Shouta. Maketoys Gundog goes to Icon Dispatch and Unique Toys Maniac King to Hot Convoy. One winner was swapped for not following both accounts. Touched patrons will vote on the first RFC trading card, starring Diecast. The first RFC Throwback episode posts for patrons this weekend.
What’s on TFormers
Toys R Us Inspired G1 Optimus Prime Custom by strata32000 Is More Than Meets Toy Aisle
Rob loves this blue Optimus Prime custom with full Toys R Us packaging. It has a Toys R Us-font logo and a bio on the back. Its ‘You’ll never outgrow us’ line was the chain’s slogan in the late 1980s. [Source: TFormers]
What We Got This Week
Diecast finally received Toyworld’s cel-shaded Constructor, a Devastator he ordered about a year ago. Its cel-shaded Legends Wheeljack ships after Chinese New Year. He also got X-Transbots Gravestone, his third Motormaster, with the best truck mode but his least favorite robot of the three. Don warns of a reported stress point on its waist connector. Diecast added a Magic Square Legends gold Optimus Prime with trailer for about $40 and Autobot cable protectors in Disney packaging.
Chris bought leftover Nonnef Productions parts, including rifles for Titans Return Fastlane, Cloudraker, Pounce and Wingspan. He also grabbed a pile of 99-cent mystery weapons, landing a second G2 Sideswipe sword.
Rob completed Abominus thanks to Chris, who sent Blot and Cutthroat. Rob calls Blot the best combiner-limb mold in Power of the Primes. Chris also sent Singe to go with Spinister.
Matt had nothing this week.
Brian ordered Takara United and Henkei figures from a Big Bad Toy Store find. He got the Windcharger and Wipeout two-pack, Scourge, Devcon, Optimus Primal, Wheeljack, Thunderwing and Axalon. He says Titans Return Scourge is more fun to transform than the more complex United version. He finished his Masterpiece Seekers with Dirge and Thrust at half price but will never transform them. He also got World’s Smallest Transformers Optimus Prime, Starscream and Bumblebee, which do not transform.
Don had nothing this week either.
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.