Titans Return Fortress Maximus is being reissued at $199.99, and the crew would much rather see Brave Maximus or an all-new Fort Max. Pulse Con 2023 is confirmed for September 22 with Legacy reveals and the Powerlinx Hot Shot exclusive. New photos show Studio Series Ultra Magnus towering over older versions. In What We Got This Week, Matt raves about Commander Armada Optimus Prime and gives the Stunticons gift set mixed marks.
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Titans Return Fortress Maximus Reissue – Hot Preorder Alert
Hasbro is reissuing Titans Return Fortress Maximus at $199.99, up from the original $149.99. One host called it the most disappointing Transformer he had owned, a floppy toy that does not match the G1 original. Another wished the reissue included the Master Sword, which was only sold separately in Hong Kong. Don asked why Hasbro reruns molds without the matching variant, such as Shattered Glass Jetfire. The crew agreed fans would rather have a Selects Brave Maximus. Several hosts want an all-new Fortress Maximus with a proper battle station and play features. One host suggested HasLab could now make a Brave Maximus viable. Brian added that he would pay $200 for a Titan he wants rather than $150 for one he does not. [Source: TFW2005]
Hasbro Pulse Con 2023 Details and HD Powerlinx Hot Shot Pics
Pulse Con 2023 lands Friday, September 22, as a roughly four-hour stream. The Transformers panel will reveal the next part of Legacy, and the Powerlinx Hot Shot exclusive goes on sale the same day. The crew wondered whether Pulse Con is shrinking now that conventions and Toy Fair are back. One host praised Hasbro for hiring knowledgeable fan hosts instead of outside talent. [Source: TFW2005]
Transformers Studio Series Core Class Rise of the Beasts Exo-Suit Noah Diaz In-Hand Images
In-hand photos of Studio Series Exo-Suit Noah Diaz surfaced, likely from Hong Kong retail. One host was disappointed that the sword on the right arm is molded in place, though the backpack does come off. [Source: TFW2005]
Transformers Studio Series Commander Class Ultra Magnus Additional In-Hand Images
More photos of Studio Series 86 Ultra Magnus show him about as tall as Combiner Wars Ultra Magnus but much chunkier. He stands roughly head and shoulders above the Kingdom version, which one host always found too small. Another host saw a comparison with Titans Return Sixshot showing similar heights. [Source: TFW2005]
Transformers x Bobby Abley Collaboration
Fashion label Bobby Abley released a Transformers apparel range that the crew found baffling and ugly. One piece is an Optimus Prime one-piece called a union suit. The hosts compared it with Fun.com’s more affordable Transformers apparel. Don sees a broader licensing push, with recent costumes, masks and watches, as Hasbro looks for revenue. One host added that a watch friend called the Seiko Transformers watch a good buy, since earlier Seiko collaboration watches appreciated quickly. [Source: TFW2005]
Peripheral Maker PDP Announces a New Line of Controllers With Figurines Inside Them
PDP’s REALMz controllers put a small molded figure inside a clear shell, and an Optimus Prime version is coming. One host thinks it is ugly but wants one. Another said PDP controllers are a durable kind of cheap, which became the episode title. [Source: VGC]
Hasbro Investigates Diecast’s Moldy Nacelle
Diecast reported that Hasbro reached out on X after he posted about his Amazon Nacelle arriving with mold on it. Hasbro sent him a prepaid shipping label so its quality control department can examine the toy. Don has heard Hasbro does the same when a figure cannot transform through no fault of the owner.
What We Got This Week
Matt
Matt got a birthday gift from Diecast: the Amazon Cascade and Javelin two-pack. The Studio Series Arcee-based figure looks nice but will not stay pegged together in robot mode. He bought Commander Class Armada Optimus Prime and says it is far better than anyone told him, incredibly solid. He also got the Stunticons gift set from Hasbro Pulse. As a box set it disappoints, because the plastic-free packaging hides most of the toys. As toys, the added paint helps a lot, especially on Wild Rider. Breakdown comes with both heads, but Dragstrip is now an American cheese yellow. Matt recommends it for the figures, not the box.
Rob
Rob’s large order of Japanese pickups was off-topic except one: a copy of the Transformers vs. Mazinger Z manga. It reads left to right in full color, and the art is good.
Diecast
Diecast got the Amazon exclusive Nova Prime and was impressed with its Hascon-level packaging, which he calls a big step up from recent Amazon sets.
Don
Don got Trouble Bubble and a translucent light-up version of the DX9 Pangu. He also picked up the Stunticons gift set. He likes the extra tampos, like Dead End’s and Dragstrip’s stripes. Now he can build a second, slightly different Menasor.
Brian
Diecast sent Brian a G2 Sideswipe. Brian also got a Japanese boxed G2 Strafe Cyber Jet, plus Skyjack and Space Case Cyber Jets. During the show he bought Nova Prime and Commander Armada Optimus Prime from Amazon.