Official photos of MP-44S Optimus Prime and MP-56+ Riggorus split the crew, mostly over Optimus Prime’s yellow eyes on a gray face. Ben Maccrae shares design notes on the G.I. Joe collaborative Thunder Machine Soundwave, including a blue Masterpiece Ravage. Legacy Bludgeon’s behind-the-scenes photos do not win anyone over. The crew also previews next week’s SDCC Transformers panel, and Chris calls Legacy Devcon the deluxe that made him happiest in recent memory.
News
Replacement Victory Saber Arrives With a Missing Antenna
Spencer Wyld in the RFC Discord received what may be one of the first replacement HasLab Victory Saber figures. His came with a broken or missing antenna but was reportedly fine otherwise. The crew discusses Hasbro’s return process for the replacement program. One host worries the missing antenna does not bode well for the second run’s quality control. Another misses the old BotCon help desk, where a staffer kept a bin of spare parts for defective exclusives.
Hasbro Sets a Transformers Toy Reveal Panel for San Diego Comic-Con 2023
Hasbro’s SDCC panel promises the first Studio Series Commander Class figure and more Generations exclusive reveals. One host calls Commander Class Ultra Magnus 99% certain and expects a first look at the Amazon-exclusive Nova Prime. The crew expects Ultra Magnus to skip the cab robot. Talk turns to the next Transformers HasLab, with the G.I. Joe Dragonfly campaign five days from closing. One host expects the Transformers HasLab around October, so it does not cut into Nemesis hype. Guesses include Metroplex and a Studio Series Devastator. The crew also argues over whether the Night Force Crazylegs unlock means a standard Crazylegs later. [Source: SDCC schedule]
Retro Skywarp and Shrapnel Stock Photos Revealed
Stock photos show Retro Skywarp and Retro Shrapnel, the first plastic look at the Retro Insecticons. Shrapnel lists $5 cheaper than earlier Retro figures. He has no chrome, and his chest hatch is opaque yellow. Diecast likes how the purple arms pop, and Brian agrees the cartoon adaptation works. Rob notes the two Decepticon symbols sit close together. One host dislikes the direction for Kickback, one of his first Transformers. The crew is most curious about the Retro Bombshell deco. [Source: Autobase Aichi]
Takara Tomy Reveals MP-44S Optimus Prime and MP-56+ Riggorus
Official photos show MP-44S Optimus Prime in toy colors and MP-56+ Riggorus, a Diaclone-inspired Trailbreaker repaint. Prices are 30,000 yen and 22,000 yen. One host already owns two versions of the MP-44 mold and calls it the weakest Masterpiece Optimus Prime. Another says the yellow eyes clash with the gray face, since the original toy has a blue face. The chest windows also draw criticism for being blue instead of smoke or amber. One host dislikes that many details are stickers instead of tampos. The crew likes Riggorus’s vehicle mode, and one host welcomes the new Decepticon medic character. Several hosts want a Generations version. [Source: Takara Tomy]
Ben Maccrae posted development notes for the G.I. Joe x Transformers Dreadnok Thunder Machine Soundwave. The included Ravage uses the Masterpiece Ravage mold and is blue on purpose. Soundwave’s cassette door works, so any Masterpiece cassette fits inside. The rocket doubles as Soundwave’s sonic cannon, and the figure stands 10 inches tall. Ben pushed for the chain accessory to recreate a classic comic cover. Panda Strong shared an early Ravage character model in blue and red. The crew wants to talk with the actual designers of the collaborative figures. [Source: Instagram]
Legacy Bludgeon Behind the Scenes From Mark Maher
New photos of Legacy Bludgeon do not change many minds. One host loves the head sculpt and colors and will buy it anyway. Another wishes the chest were not a blend of Tarn and Bludgeon. He calls the mold extremely posable but notes the shoulders are jointed backwards, and admits he still kind of wants one. [Source: Instagram]
Super7 SDCC Exclusive Super Cyborg Good-Bye Megatron
Super7’s SDCC exclusive Super Cyborg Megatron borrows the Good-Bye Megatron look, with a matching box art shirt. One host loves the shirt but does not get the figure. Another jokes that Super7 needs to recoup its mold costs. The crew would rather see a Safety Megatron variant. [Source: TFW2005]
New Zealand Mint Releases a Starscream Silver Coin
One host mentions another New Zealand Mint Transformers collector coin, this time featuring Starscream. [Source: New Zealand Mint]
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts Arrives on Digital
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is now available to buy at home while still in theaters. One host rewatched it alongside Bumblebee. He says Rise of the Beasts feels more like a Transformers movie, but Bumblebee looks better and hits higher highs. [Source: The HD Room]
Hasbro Pulse Opens to the Entire European Union
Hasbro Pulse is now open to the entire European Union. [Source: Star Wars Collector]
What We Got This Week
Matt
Matt got another Legacy Scraphook. He also found the last Origins Jazz at Target for about $17. He calls the Buzzworthy Bumblebee release fine but not spectacular, with some parts that do not line up smoothly. Still, he says Hasbro nailed the on-screen design.
Don
After last week’s Amazon mix-up, Don finally received the Legacy Senator Shockwave and Orion Pax two-pack he wanted. Amazon’s listings appear to be fixed. He also picked up Legacy Axlegrease.
Rob
Rob’s pickups this week were not Transformers.
Diecast
Diecast picked up the small Legends-scale Nemesis Prime for about $6 on Amazon. He also bought a second Studio Series 100 Bumblebee with the newer face paint, which he says makes Bumblebee look older. His big item is the Japanese version of Fans Toys Thomas in white and black, which he will display in shuttle mode.
Chris
Chris got Studio Series Battletrap from Target for about $30. His copy was misassembled, so Target refunded him without a return, and he reordered from Amazon. Amazon sent him Orion Pax and Senator Shockwave instead of Ratbat and Miner Megatron, and refunded that too. Legacy Beachcomber has a great robot mode but a gummy transformation, and Chris prefers the Power of the Primes version. He would still buy a G2 Beachcomber. His highlight is Legacy Devcon, retooled from Blurr. He calls it the deluxe that made him happiest in recent memory.
Brian
Brian got Studio Series Battletrap and Studio Series 86 Leader Snarl, which he rates a step up from Sludge. He imported Rise of the Beasts Voyager Optimus Primal from Amazon Japan for less than eBay prices. Swoop and Dirge also arrived. Brian’s Dion arms keep falling off, and he agrees with Diecast that Ariel feels fragile. For his anniversary, he bought a boxed G1 Targetmaster Kup with a Service Merchandise price sticker. He also got a boxed G1 Metroplex, complete with the movie poster. Brian says some shelf wear on a vintage box proves its age.