Buzzworthy Bumblebee Tuesday brings a Troop Builder four-pack that Matt says will bankrupt him, plus the Studio Series 86 Shuttle Massacre set and a Studio Series Grimlock reissue. JTPrime leaks 2024 listings including Studio Series 86 Leader Springer and a Legacy Leader Soundwave. Hasbro plans to share G1 3D files with licensees for the 40th anniversary. Skybound and Image Comics land the Transformers and G.I. Joe licenses. Kross Studio’s roughly $111,000 Rise of the Beasts watch leaves the crew speechless.
News
JTPrime Leaks 2024 Legacy and Studio Series Listings
JTPrime’s new listings include Legacy Deluxe Cybertron Hot Shot, Rok-3, a Strongarm package refresh and a Legacy Leader Soundwave. Studio Series adds core class Age of Extinction Steeljaw and Studio Series 86 Leader Springer. One host guesses the Soundwave is a G1 Soundwave with cassettes and hopes for Buzzsaw. Several hosts would like a Soundblaster redeco. The crew doubts Springer is a simple Siege reissue and expects new engineering at the Leader price. One host hopes Springer’s pop-up arm blaster can take a blast effect. [Source: not found]
At Licensing Expo 2023, Hasbro’s Casey Collins said licensees will get 3D files of the original G1 toys for the first time. Partners can also reissue licensed products using vintage G1 toy and Marvel comics art. Hasbro is digitally releasing the 1980s cartoon soundtrack with a bonus track. One host wonders whether licensees could eventually reproduce lost G1 molds. The crew is glad the soundtrack is finally coming out. [Source: Animation & Brand Media]
Skybound and Image Comics Get the Transformers and G.I. Joe Licenses
Void Rivals #1, out now, includes the first Transformers and G.I. Joe appearances under Skybound. Transformers #1 arrives in October from writer and artist Daniel Warren Johnson. Duke and Cobra Commander books follow in December and January from Joshua Williamson. One host reports that Larry Hama’s G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero continues at Skybound with issue #301. A retailer incentive cover features G1 Skyfire. [Source: Bleeding Cool]
Buzzworthy Bumblebee Troop Builder Four-Pack
Target’s Troop Builder pack includes a Quintesson Trooper, a G2 Cybertronian Trooper, an Animated Universe Autotrooper and a Decepticon Seeker. Matt says Hasbro now knows exactly how many he will buy. The Seeker is a lavender background Seeker, not Thundercracker, which photos do not show well. The Skullgrin-based Jhiaxus troops blew one host away. Another calls the price a bargain, roughly a free Voyager. The Autotrooper includes a Kiss Players-style head that one host calls the officer. [Source: Autobase Aichi]
Buzzworthy Bumblebee Studio Series 86 Ironhide and Prowl
One host has come around on the battle-damaged set because he owns the Amazon Optimus Prime corpse. Better photos show blast-effect ports in both chests. Another host likes it more now too. One host will pass because the battle damage only suits one display. He wants clean versions with these colors, and he expects a Ratchet and Brawn set next year. [Source: BWTF]
Buzzworthy Bumblebee Studio Series 07 Grimlock Reissue
Target is reissuing Studio Series 07 Leader Grimlock. The crew cannot tell whether it uses the improved Japanese paint. One host preordered one and will cancel if the paint is unchanged. [Source: BWTF]
Takara Tomy Previews BWVS-05 Rattrap vs Terrorsaur at Tokyo Toy Show
Rattrap looks like a lateral move, but Terrorsaur makes odd choices, with black parts and a gray that should be silver. One host still prefers his golden disk Terrorsaur, and another will buy the set as Packrat and Fractyl. [Source: Takara Tomy]
Takara Tomy Teases Masterpiece Rhinox and a New MPG Combiner
Takara Tomy teased Rhinox as the next Beast Wars Masterpiece by showing art of his chain gun. It also teased a new MPG combination, suspected to be Diaclone Raiden. Matt loves the Headmasters and Trainbots but refuses to buy them again. The crew jokes that Brian will buy it and hate himself for it, which becomes the episode title. [Source: not found]
First Leak of Legacy G2 Dead End
Matt wants G2 Dead End immediately. The crew wonders how the G2 Stunticons will ever be completed, especially Motormaster. [Source: Autobase Aichi]
More In-Hand Photos of Legacy Shadow Striker
Side-by-side photos show the original Sideburn is taller than Legacy Shadow Striker. One host says it tries to blend the BotCon and Cyberverse versions and does neither well. [Source: Autobase Aichi]
Super7 Shows Off the Super Shogun G1 Megatron
Super7’s two-foot Super Shogun Megatron has a rocket fist. The crew suggests talking Brian into it. [Source: Instagram]
Rocket League adds a Bumblebee-inspired car with goal effects and other cosmetics. One host calls it the most appropriate recent game tie-in. [Source: Rocket League]
Yolopark G1 Megatron Model Kit Kickstarter
Diecast spotlights Yolopark’s $50 G1 Megatron kit on Kickstarter, already past its goal with 10 days left. He describes the kits as build-a-figures with diecast parts. Wheeljack64 hears they still feel like model kits. [Source: Yolopark]
Kross Studio Rise of the Beasts Collector Set
Kross Studio’s Rise of the Beasts watch set includes an Airazor-inspired display case. The 98,000 Swiss franc price converts to about $111,000. One host works out that equals about 90 Unicron lamps. The crew suspects only 10 sets exist. One host suggests Hasbro sell the Airazor display piece on its own. [Source: Kross Studio]
What We Got This Week
Chris
Chris found Legacy Armada Megatron at Walmart. It nails the Armada look and has tight joints and ratcheting legs. Half the fake Mini-Con track is unpainted nylon, which he thinks became necessary late for durability. The antlers need glue, and the fixed shoulder treads keep the arms from swinging back. He has no Mini-Con ports either, but Chris calls it a really solid figure overall.
Don
For his birthday, Paladin gave Don core class Thundercracker. He also got the Optimus Primal Battle Master and Magic Square’s Swindle, the next part of its Legends-scale Bruticus.
Matt
Matt had nothing this week.
Rob
Rob’s pickups this week were not Transformers.
Diecast
Diecast got Studio Series Airazor and the Transformers Lite-Brite from the Pulse sale. He also ordered a Titan Guardian Omega Sentinel. Thanks to Chris, he got the Cinemark Optimus Prime popcorn bucket. Chris got one too and notes the eyes light up the whole thin gray face.