Commander Class Rodimus Prime leaks with a sword from ReGeneration One, and a March 10 date hints at a reveal event. The crew likes the simpler look of the Masterpiece Skids prototype. Hasbro Pulse starts carrying a share of retailer exclusives, and new Nickelodeon and BotBots series are announced. Chris returns with Kingdom Ultra Magnus and BotCon Machine Wars Stryka. Brian’s McKay’s haul turns up a Metalhawk figurine and the Beast Wars 10th anniversary set.
News
RFC News Desk 132 – Latest Leaks Shows Us Commander Class Rodimus Prime
A Japanese solicitation image shows Commander Class Rodimus Prime without his trailer. The robot should be about the size of Earthrise Optimus Prime, and the trailer should be a proper battle station. Chris identifies the sword as the Sword of Primus from ReGeneration One. The image carries a March 10 date, which Chris reads as a coordinated Transformers Tuesday reveal in the US. One host says he cannot wait to pair it with Galvatron. [Source: TFRadio]
Masterpiece Skids Prototype First Look
Gray test shots of Masterpiece Skids suggest simpler engineering. Chris hopes that brings the price closer to $100. The crew prefers this aesthetic to the Masterpiece Autobot cars of recent years. Chris would likely wait for a Crosscut version, and one host would buy both if the price is right. [Source: TFRadio]
Hasbro Pulse Adds Retailer Exclusives
Hasbro Pulse opened a section for retailer exclusives, starting with the R.E.D. figures. The report Chris cites says Pulse will get 5 to 10 percent of each exclusive run. Walmart’s R.E.D. orders are filling in random order, with some hosts shipped and others delayed. One host also had a Target preorder for Ultimate X-Spanse cancelled. [Source: not found]
HasLab Unicron Gets Accessory Ports
John notes that the final HasLab Unicron added ports for accessories and blast effects that the prototype lacked. The crew also confirms Pulse Premium lapsing will not add shipping charges to existing orders.
Comic-Con and Convention Outlook
San Diego Comic-Con is pushed back and likely cancelled, with a smaller November event under consideration. Chris says New York Comic-Con and TFcon Baltimore in October could still happen if vaccines roll out. One host plans to attend TFcon Baltimore if it goes ahead. [Source: not found]
New Transformers Series for Nickelodeon and Netflix
Hasbro announced a new Transformers comedy series for Nickelodeon and a BotBots series for Netflix. One host worries the BotBots show arrives too late to help the toys. The crew also expects War for Cybertron: Kingdom on Netflix in July. Brian is happy if Peter Cullen never voices Optimus Prime again. Chris notes Hasbro is not using union voice talent right now. [Source: The Hollywood Reporter]
What We Got This Week
Chris got Studio Series 86 Kup, but prefers the Titans Return Legends mold. BotCon 2013 Machine Wars Stryka and Obsidian surprised him with great head sculpts, and Stryka’s Warpath mold is a favorite. He added a second Combiner Wars Rook and the Toys R Us exclusive Robots in Disguise Paralon. The Galactic Odyssey Micromaster six-pack and Botropolis set stay sealed for now. Kingdom Ultra Magnus survived a crushed shipping box, and he likes the cleaner retool despite the exposed cab fists.
Don got the Galactic Odyssey Botropolis set and two Ultimate X-Spanse figures, one from his fiancée. He returned a Pop Culture Shock Megatron statue because the matching Optimus Prime looks poor.
Matt picked up the retro Headmaster Decepticons. He likes Studio Series 86 Kup and thinks the face looks better in person.
Rob got three Slitherfangs for a full-armor custom idea. His Big Bad Toy Store box brought his first Selects Conehead, Selects G2 Megatron in vivid green, and Selects Hot House. He also got Omega Supreme, which is big, satisfying and fits back in its box.
Diecast got the Galactic Odyssey Botropolis set and a sealed Ultimate X-Spanse. He also opened three Hershey’s Kisses Transformers mini figures and got two Optimus Primes and a Starscream instead of Grimlock.
Brian got the Hallmark Starscream and Megatron ornaments, the Botropolis set and Walmart’s second wave of retro Headmasters. He also got the BotCon product guide. At McKay’s he found Rescue Bots figures, Bumper Battlers Bulkhead and pewter Super Collection Figures of Rodimus and Metalhawk. He also found an Armada Optimus Prime keychain light and the Beast Wars 10th anniversary Optimus Primal versus Megatron set.