Brian calls Transformers: Rise of the Beasts the best Transformers movie ever in the crew’s spoiler-free review. JTPrime’s 2024 listings confirm Rock Lords are coming to Legacy, alongside Vector Prime, Armada Galvatron and Origins Wheeljack. Takara Tomy’s Lunar Cruiser Optimus Prime and a second Jurassic Park collaborative open the news. The crew splits on the battle-damaged Studio Series 86 Prowl. Diecast also interviews the organizers of CybFest NW about their 10th anniversary show.
News
JAXA, Toyota and Takara Tomy Team Up for Lunar Cruiser Optimus Prime
Takara Tomy’s Lunar Cruiser Optimus Prime is based on a real moon rover concept from JAXA and Toyota. It is sold through a Japan-only crowdfunding campaign. Diecast loves space and wants it, which leads to the episode title, Space Abhors a Diecast. The crew guesses it sits between Voyager and Leader size. [Source: BWTF]
New Jurassic Park x Transformers Collaborative Revealed
The second Jurassic Park collaborative pairs a Jeep with a robot loosely based on Dennis Nedry and the Dilophosaurus. It marks the film’s 30th anniversary, and insiders say it was Project Island. One host suspects the dinosaur is a pretool for a Legacy Iguanus. Another wants the Jeep redone in Postal Service colors as Seinfeld’s Newman. [Source: BWTF]
Takara Tomy Mall Exclusive MPG-06 With Raiden Box
A Takara Tomy Mall edition of the final Masterpiece G Trainbot adds the full Raiden storage box and extra accessories. One host calls it sunk-cost fallacy, while another admits he would pay $20 more. The crew notes a G1 Raiden box set still costs far more. [Source: Takara Tomy Mall]
Official Images of MP-58 Hoist
Official images show Masterpiece Hoist, which looks like the mold was designed for Hoist first. Don already has an X-Transbots Hoist and is waiting for a Lift-Ticket. One host bought it. [Source: Amazon Japan]
BWVS-04 Tigatron vs Blackarachnia Stock Photos
Blackarachnia’s spider legs are black plastic painted heavily orange. Tigatron is a cleaner white. Blade Raider reports in the RFC Discord that Tigatron is the same Kingdom mold with better paint. One host calls the set a strong candidate if he only buys one Versus pack. [Source: Amazon Japan]
JTPrime Reveals More 2024 Legacy Listings, Including Rock Lords
JTPrime’s listings include a Deluxe Optimus Prime, Voyager Vector Prime, Armada Galvatron and Origins Wheeljack. Rock Lords Magmar and Boulder appear as Legacy Deluxe Magneous and core class Boulder Crash. One host who was adamant it was not Rock Lords is the most surprised. Another wonders if Vector Prime will partially reuse Jhiaxus. The crew hopes the Rock Lords work like Weaponizers. [Source: TFW2005 boards]
Legacy Evolution Leader Prime Dreadwing First Look
Dreadwing is Skyquake with a new deco and gun, like in Transformers: Prime. One host thinks the colors are accurate but questions the red canopy. He has little fondness for Prime but will probably buy it because it is a Tony Todd character. He would rather have a Selects G1 Skyquake. [Source: Autobase Aichi]
First Look at Buzzworthy Bumblebee Studio Series 86 Prowl
The battle-damaged Prowl swaps clear plastic for opaque parts, which one host loves, but the damage leaves him cold at 90 percent of what he wants. One host wants it more gruesome, with smoke effects or a blast-effect port. Diecast wants a Dark Awakening zombie Optimus Prime. He would buy every version of this Datsun mold again in opaque plastic. [Source: Autobase Aichi]
Transformers Legacy Evolution Deluxe Bombshell First Look
Early comments say Bombshell is a heavy partial of Shrapnel. The crew finds the toy colors flat without chrome and not cartoon accurate. [Source: Autobase Aichi]
Super7 ReAction Beast Wars Figures Sighted at Retail
Super7’s Beast Wars ReAction figures are already out at FYE. The crew calls them the nicest ReAction figures ever, and one host may buy Megatron on a discount. [Source: TFW2005 boards]
G1 and Rise of the Beasts Non-Transforming Poseable Figures Revealed
China is getting official non-transforming G1 and Rise of the Beasts figures. The crew says they look nicer than R.E.D. figures. [Source: TFW2005]
Transformers Come to Fortnite and Roblox
The Fortnite collaboration is now official, and a Roblox collaboration is also coming. [Source: TFW2005]
Moor Art Gallery Releases Vincent Aseo Beast Wars Print
The crew likes Vincent Aseo’s Beast Wars print. [Source: Moor Art Gallery]
Rise of the Beasts Popcorn Buckets in Thailand
Thailand gets an Optimus Prime bust popcorn bucket, which one host calls his favorite theater item. [Source: TFW2005]
Bettinardi x Hasbro Launch All-New Transformers Collection
Bettinardi’s G1-themed Transformers golf gear puzzles the crew, who wonder who the audience is. [Source: TFW2005]
Spoiler-Free Review: Transformers: Rise of the Beasts
Brian calls Rise of the Beasts the best Transformers movie ever, including the 1986 animated film, while noting it is a popcorn movie and not high art. He says it never talks down to the audience, the human leads are smart and likable, and the action is easy to follow. Brian calls Scourge the best villain of the live-action films and this the best live-action Optimus Prime, with real character growth. His family loved it.
Another host calls it the best live-action Transformers film, with a story that makes sense, and says it finally felt like a Transformers movie. He also likes Mirage despite doubts about Pete Davidson. Diecast liked it better than Across the Spider-Verse, though Brian prefers Spider-Verse. The crew notes Nightbird, Scourge and Battletrap echo the comics’ Hook, Line and Sinker. They also recommend staying for the mid-credits scene.
Interview: CybFest NW Organizers
Diecast talks with the organizers of CybFest NW, a fan-run Transformers convention in Kent, Washington, on July 8. Ben explains the show grew out of Greg Gobb’s CybCon, which started around 2000, and is now in its 10th year. The dealer room expands to the full gym, with robotics teams, a Bumblebee car, contests and voice actor Paul Eiding. The convention exclusive is a 30-piece handmade figure called Wheelless Jack, designed by Greg’s son Alex Gobb, with box art by Ashley Artley. Details are at CybFestNW.com.
What We Got This Week
Don
Don’s pickup this week was not Transformers.
Brian
Brian got the AMC Optimus Prime truck popcorn tin, which has a drink holder in the cab and rolling wheels.
Matt
Matt got the Retro Hot Rod in pink from Hasbro Pulse. He loves it, says Hot Rod should always have been this color and calls it a fidget toy.
Diecast
Diecast also got the AMC Optimus Prime truck. His main pickup is an unofficial version of Fans Toys’ Cyclonus mold in Hot Rod colors, which he calls the same quality for about $80.