Chris hosts with Brian, Diecast and Matt out, and the news now opens the show. Hasbro reveals RED Bumblebee and Starscream, and Rob spots a likely Cliffjumper retool in Bumblebee’s construction. Combiner Wars Devastator returns at its original $150 price, and Cyberverse Deluxe Prowl and Soundwave stock photos arrive.
A long-delayed Transformers Online MMO reappears with a 2021 date, and Mondo announces a $60 Grimlock tiki mug. In the hauls, Selects G2 Sandstorm and Netflix Soundwave win the crew over.
News
RED Bumblebee and Starscream Plus Devastator Reissue
Hasbro revealed the next RED Collection figures, Bumblebee and Starscream. The crew feels the second series departs from the first, with non-show details like black inner forearms. Rob notes Bumblebee’s separate chest and slipper-like feet, and predicts a Cliffjumper retool. The crew is baffled by Bumblebee’s face. One host dislikes the Dreamwave-style Starscream and compares it to the old Revoltech version. Don hopes RED does not end up like Power Core Combiners, with no marketing or story behind it.
Hasbro also announced a Combiner Wars Devastator reissue on Hasbro Pulse for late January 2021, at the original $150 price. The stock photos show the Hasbro version, not the TakaraTomy Unite Warriors revision. The crew still wants G2 colors, and floats a Black Zarak as the dream limited Titan recolor. [Source: TFRadio]
Cyberverse Deluxe Prowl and Soundwave Stock Photos
Stock photos show Cyberverse Deluxe Prowl and Soundwave, which look better than the Starscream from the same assortment. Chris says Prowl resembles Robots in Disguise Spy Changer Prowl 2, a tweet that drew plenty of agreement. Prowl comes with two blast effects and a Datsun-style rifle. Soundwave includes a transforming Laserbeak, a shoulder cannon and a blast effect. The figures are already turning up at retail in Illinois and Virginia. [Source: TFRadio]
Transformers Online MMO Still In Development, Set for 2021 Release
A Chinese developer acquired by Tencent disclosed a Transformers MMO among its current projects, with a late 2021 release slate. Chris says it reportedly targets consoles and PC for a general release. The crew recalls earlier attempts, including the one that took character-name reservations at BotCon 2012. That game sold founder’s packages, sat in beta for months and then shut down with refunds. [Source: Game Rant]
Grimlock Transformers Tiki Mug
Mondo is making a Grimlock tiki mug, handmade to order and likely hand painted, for $60 each. It holds 18 ounces, though the crew doubts you could drink from it without a straw. John says he wants the rest of the Dinobots. Don thinks it looks like a Chia Pet, which sends the crew on a long Chia Pet tangent. [Source: ComicBook.com]
What We Got This Week
Chris got Selects G2 Sandstorm, completing his classic Coneheads trio with Dirge and Ramjet. He likes the desert camo deco and the rare black face. John gave him Netflix Bumblebee, a near-perfect Volkswagen Beetle with clean paint and the best version of the mold. He tried RED Megatron for $11 on markdown and found it spiritless, with awkward joints and a glued-on fusion cannon. Rob sent him the third volume of the Transformers manga collection, covering Victory through Operation Combination.
Don finally opened Studio Series 86 Hot Rod and thinks no other Hot Rod is needed for a while. His one gripe is shoulders that want to pop up. He also likes Scourge, though the instructions are unclear. Selects G2 Sandstorm just arrived and looks better in hand than expected. Selects G2 Megatron is the only way he would buy this mold. He also picked up Netflix Impactor.
Rob got Earthrise Snapdragon from Chris and calls it remarkably better than Apeface. Netflix Soundwave from Walmart is everything he wanted from the Siege tooling, and possibly the best G1 Soundwave he can imagine. He wants a Soundblaster with Buzzsaw on this mold. His brother also brought him the World’s Smallest Transformers from Dollar Tree.
John opened three Megatrons. Selects G2 Megatron’s deco justifies the mold. Hades Megatron is the chrome Arms Micron release of Transformers Prime Megatron. Super Megatron is very impressive, and he added an eBay filler kit. He also has Cordon and Spinout waiting in his backlog.