HasLab Unicron shipping notices go out, and Diecast is left off the first wave, which sparks #EveryoneBeforeDiecast. Selects G2 Ramjet goes up for preorder, and TakaraTomy lists Commander Class Rodimus Prime before Hasbro says a word. The crew braces for a Monday Walmart Collector Con. Chris reviews Kingdom Dinobot, Kingdom Inferno and Ultimate X-Spanse, and Don splurges on Fans Toys Crystal Phoenix.
News
Walmart Collector Con Returns March 15
Walmart’s second Collector Con launches Monday, March 15, at 1 p.m. Chris expects Beast Wars reissues to replace the retro Headmasters, while another host predicts Netflix wave 3. One host hopes for more Real Ghostbusters figures. The crew recalls last fall’s event, with unnamed, unpictured listings and cancelled preorders. Don’s Walmart preorder for R.E.D. Arcee was just cancelled for demand. The crew also mocks Walmart’s sprawling collectibles page, which sells everything from trading cards to gold bullion. [Source: Walmart]
Hasbro Pulse revealed Selects G2 Ramjet, and the crew loves it. Big Bad Toy Store and Entertainment Earth list it too, and its date slips from July to August during the show. Chris says preordering has stopped being fun without free Pulse Premium shipping. Smaller shops he would rather support have not offered Selects preorders this year. One host hopes a retailer’s G2 Tuesday label means Selects G2 Starscream is next. [Source: TFRadio]
Commander Class Rodimus Prime Lists in Japan
TakaraTomy and Amazon Japan opened preorders for Commander Class Rodimus Prime while Hasbro stayed silent. Chris notes midnight Japanese preorders usually signal a coordinated Hasbro launch. The cab seems to sit too far forward, but extra tabs suggest it slides back for a cleaner look. The set includes 10 effect parts, likely Sky Lynx’s blast effects plus a new Matrix glow. A size comparison by a Japanese fan suggests Rodimus will stand about as tall as Earthrise Optimus Prime. Chris expects the robot to be sold alone later. [Source: TFRadio]
HasLab Unicron Begins Shipping
HasLab Unicron shipping notices went out, but Diecast and Brian were not in the first batch. Diecast got a separate, vaguer email and has no FedEx label yet. He ordered two Unicrons on launch day, but hours after others. The crew notes Unicron needs a direct signature, so backers may need a day off work. Brian urges Diecast to talk out his feelings with his Unicron tattoo.
What We Got This Week
Chris got Kingdom Dinobot, whose face sculpt rivals the Masterpiece, though the raptor mode barely poses. The rotating blade only hinges, and the keyed sword fits only Dinobot’s hands. Kingdom Inferno is short-packed, and shorter crane pegs fix Grapple’s breakage problem. Ultimate X-Spanse, the X-Men collaboration, disappoints him with loose wings, a wobbly waist and fiddly legs. Gigawatt remains the only collaboration he truly likes.
Don got a second Studio Series Jazz on sale at Target, after hearing about cracked windshields. He also found Highbrow to finish his boxed retro Headmasters, plus Kingdom Dinobot and Inferno. A reviewer sold him a third-party Cryotek-colored Transmetal 2 Megatron at a fair price. His big splurge, funded by selling much of his collection, is Fans Toys Crystal Phoenix. A black thruster arrived broken, but the clear plastic is intact.
Diecast got the Transformers Generation 2 handheld game on sale at GameStop and plans to keep it sealed. He also got a R.E.D. Arcee from Walmart.
Rob got Studio Series Jazz, which he finds fun to handle. Studio Series Grimlock is the best Grimlock he has handled in a long time, and it comes with Wheelie. His first Core Class Kingdom Rattrap broke apart, but a replacement from Chris works well.
John opened the Galactic Odyssey Botropolis set and says photos do not do it justice. He praises the white Sky Lynx-style deco and the redeco Micromasters.
Brian got Ultimate X-Spanse and will keep it sealed for the packaging. He opened R.E.D. Cheetor, which he likes, and R.E.D. Arcee, whose loose legs disappoint him. He also got a sealed red and green McDonald’s Brawn minibot and a sealed Beast Wars Airazor with its VHS tape.