Super7 puts its two-foot Super Shogun Megatron up for $435 while Brian is away, and Exvee can’t talk him into buying it. John DeLuna returns to fill Brian’s seat, and the crew shares memories of JD Church in the annual memorial episode. A rumored Masterpiece yellow Trailbreaker and toy-color MP-44 Optimus Prime split the room. The EarthSpark show bible surfaces in a Paramount document leak. Legacy Devcon wins over nearly everyone in the hauls.
News
Takara Tomy Beast Wars Again BWVS-05 Rattrap vs Terrorsaur New Stock Images
New stock photos show the Kingdom-based BWVS-05 Rattrap vs Terrorsaur set. Exvee is dismayed that Terrorsaur still has odd black parts on his hands and ankles. Rattrap gets painted whiskers, which the crew finds cute. Exvee is glad the set exists because it sets up Fractyl and Packrat. One host guesses those two will come with a second Death on the Shuttle set next year. [Source: TFW2005]
Rumor: Masterpiece MP-44 Toy Deco and MP-56 Diaclone Yellow Trailbreaker in the Works
A likely genuine solicitation points to a Diaclone yellow Trailbreaker and a toy-color MP-44 Optimus Prime. Exvee likes that the Trailbreaker mixes Trailbreaker and Hoist parts for toy accuracy. Matt’s reaction to the toy-color Optimus Prime is a yawn. Don already has a yellow Trailbreaker and wants a Diaclone Hoist instead. Don says the new Optimus Prime does nothing his other Masterpiece-style Primes cannot. One host thinks the trailer should have come with this version, not the original. Rob suggests a separate Diaclone trailer, possibly through Takara Tomy Mall. [Source: TFW2005]
Transformers: EarthSpark Show Bible Leaked
The EarthSpark show bible surfaced among roughly 500 gigabytes of leaked internal Paramount documents. Exvee explains it is an early writers’ guide with little new information. Its value is in early concepts, different names and concept art that differs from the finished animation. He compares it to a Star Trek: Voyager writers’ bible he bought from television writer Christy Marx. [Source: TFW2005 boards]
Funko and Loungefly Reveal SDCC Transformers Exclusives
Funko’s SDCC exclusive is a $30 two-pack of toy-deco Rodimus Prime and Galvatron Pops. Diecast says he would buy them just because they are Transformers. One host is impressed by the toy-accurate sculpts. Loungefly offers a $125 Soundwave mini backpack and a $20 pin set limited to 500 pieces. The pins are Soundwave in Walkman mode with cassette pins that fit his chest door. Exvee loves the pin concept, but its SDCC exclusivity gives the episode its title. [Source: GameSpot]
Buzzworthy Bumblebee Studio Series Ironhide and Prowl 2-Pack In-Hand Images
A video review gives the best look yet at the Buzzworthy Bumblebee Studio Series 86 Ironhide and Prowl set. Exvee dubs it the Shuttle Massacre set. It shows the new Prowl face sculpt and the battle-damage detailing. One host wishes the figures came with undamaged parts for normal display. Another praises the Studio Series backdrop of the shuttle with a hole in its hull. Exvee expects the set and the troop builder pack in stores within weeks. [Source: TFW2005]
First Look at the Retro Reissue Kickback Box
A European retailer listing shows the box for the Retro reissue Kickback. Don says Kickback was his first Insecticon but balks at paying $35 for one. One host notes the Platinum Edition Insecticon three-pack cost about $80 in 2014, so $35 is about right. The retailer lists Kickback about five euros below Hound and Thundercracker. The crew expects any Diaclone Insecticons on Legacy molds, and notes Mark wants a cartoon-color Bombshell. [Source: Pulps.fr]
Numskull Reveals a Cel-Shaded Optimus Prime Statue
Numskull’s cel-shaded Optimus Prime statue runs about $150, and Rob spots it at $175 on Big Bad Toy Store. Don shows his Pop Culture Shock cel-shaded Optimus Prime and says it is better. His has an extra arm and subtler shading that matches the G1 credits. One host also finds the new statue’s blue a little too light. [Source: Numskull]
Super7 Opens Orders for the Super Shogun Megatron
Super7’s two-foot Super Shogun Megatron now has a product page at $435, with roller-skate feet and a rocket fist. Exvee wanted to talk Brian into it, but Brian is out for his 15th anniversary. One host had Shogun Warriors toys as a teen but cannot pay $400. The crew agrees Megatron should have had rocket fists in the cartoon. [Source: Super7]
Remembering JD Church
This episode is the annual JD Church memorial. JD was one of the original hosts of the 2009 RFC reboot and passed away in early 2014. Don remembers JD and Chris McFeely improvising a full synopsis of a Wonder Woman teen drama. Exvee brought JD onto his own tokusatsu podcast and praises his gift for filling the air with real conversation. Another host recalls JD’s synopsis of the first Goranger episode. The crew agrees JD could lead any show without shutting others out.
What We Got This Week
John DeLuna
John got Legacy Axlegrease and Legacy Devcon. He loves Axlegrease’s colors, exposed-brain head sculpt and big visor eyes, but has not opened Devcon. He also got his fourth Masterpiece Trainbot. He calls them very good individual robots but dreads assembling the combined mode. He wishes Hasbro would create new characters like the Junkions more often.
Rob
Rob’s pickups this week were not Transformers.
Matt
Matt got the Dion and Ariel two-pack. Dion’s original arms will not stay on the torso, and one went missing during the show. Ariel feels flimsy, and her ponytail peg is stressed, but Matt likes her new motorcycle front. Matt also got Studio Series 86 Snarl from CMD Store and calls him the best Dinobot. He loves the seamless transformation and finds the molded gold plastic barely noticeable.
Diecast
Diecast’s Dion also loses an arm at the slightest touch. His Ariel arrived with a chipped face, which he touched up with a pen, and she feels delicate. He also got Legacy Devcon and loves the colors and boosters. Legacy Axlegrease is still in the box, and he loves her face sculpt.
Don
Don used a Target birthday offer to buy Studio Series 100 Bumblebee, and it turns out to be the updated face paint version. Legacy Beachcomber arrived but is unopened. Legacy Devcon is close to his deluxe of the year, and he bought two. Don also got the Dion and Ariel set from CMD Store. Because of the Amazon listing mix-up, his order delivered Miner Megatron and Senator Ratbat instead of the set he wanted.
Exvee
Exvee’s Legacy Devcon and Legacy Beachcomber were stuck with FedEx, so nothing arrived this week.