Legacy United Animated Optimus Prime and Bumblebee get their official reveal, and the crew calls Optimus the clear winner. Animated Bumblebee draws fire for its clear plastic and off-model proportions. The hosts preview the Pulse Con schedule, and Target’s annual clearance kicks off the Toys for Tots stockpile. In What We Got This Week, Chris gives Studio Series 86 Ultra Magnus a full review, and Brian finds a beautiful boxed G1 Mirage.
News
Transformers Legacy United First Look: Animated Voyager Optimus Prime and Deluxe Bumblebee
Screen Rant got the exclusive reveal of Legacy United Animated Optimus Prime and Bumblebee. The crew agrees Optimus is the winner, and one host called it an early contender for Brian’s toy of the year. A leaked listing also points to an Animated Motormaster retool of the Optimus mold in January 2024. Bumblebee fared worse. Hosts disliked the heavy clear plastic and said the head looks wrong on that body. One host explained that Animated Bumblebee used a fake car-hood chest, and this toy uses the real roof and windshield instead, which throws off the proportions. Another liked how the legs transform and said the body would make a good IDW Bumblebee. The crew would rather see repaints like Wasp, Glyph and Tapout. [Source: TFW2005]
Transformers Legacy Animated Universe Bumblebee New In-Hand Images
Leaked in-hand photos of Animated Bumblebee surfaced a few hours before the official reveal. They show a small Deluxe, about the size of Earthrise Cliffjumper, which keeps him in scale with Prowl. One host would like Hasbro to try another Bulkhead based on Animated instead of Prime. [Source: TFW2005]
Pulse Con runs about four hours and opens with the Transformers panel at 11:15 a.m. Eastern. That gives Transformers 45 minutes, while Power Rangers gets 20 and G.I. Joe follows at 2:30. The crew noted there is no Ghostbusters or Fortnite this year, which may explain the single-day stream. Matt took Friday off to watch, and Don will follow along from work. [Source: TFW2005]
Transformers Trunk-or-Treat Kit Lands at Target
Target now sells a Transformers trunk-or-treat kit. Brian joked it helps lure children to your car with candy, then admitted he preordered it immediately. The kit is a set of die-cut roll-ups with 3M foam tape, and Brian may use it to decorate his desk at work. [Source: not found]
Target Clearance Opens Toys for Tots Shopping Season
Target’s annual clearance is underway. Don found the Studio Series 86 Death on the Shuttle two-pack marked down to $39, with others reporting $29. Marvel Legends and G.I. Joe Classified figures are also half off in places. Brian urged listeners to stock up on cheap toys now and set them aside for Toys for Tots. One host added that the newest Legacy Evolution wave, including Trashmaster, Detritus and Strongarm, is hitting Target too.
What We Got This Week
Matt
Matt had nothing in Transformers this week.
Chris
Chris got the Amazon exclusive Nova Prime from Hasbro Pulse after missing the chance to cancel it. The new super robot head looks great, but the new wings crowd the cannons in vehicle mode. He then got Studio Series 86 Ultra Magnus from Big Bad Toy Store, thanks to a tip from Josh Wheeljack64. In hand he is not nearly as wide as photos suggest, and the robot mode is solid and heavy. The light piping in the eyes is the best Chris has seen in ages. His complaints are a non-ratcheted outward shoulder hinge and a stiff knee sub-joint. The trailer’s front panels bow inward, and the instructions never explain the sliding boot tabs. The cab also falls off during transformation. Even so, Chris likes Ultra Magnus more than Commander Motormaster and plans for it to be his last Ultra Magnus.
Rob
Rob’s only pickup was off-topic.
Brian
Brian got the Transformers trunk-or-treat kit and Amazon Nova Prime, which he likes far more than Galaxy Convoy. He picked up Commander Armada Optimus Prime but has not transformed it. A Temu mystery order turned out to be a knockoff Studio Series 38 Optimus Prime, which is headed to his desk at work. He found a boxed G1 Mirage on eBay Marketplace, complete except one shoulder cannon, and it would make his top five. He also got a boxed Japanese G1 Blitzwing missing its sword. From John DeLuna’s eBay sale he got a Beast Wars basic, Transmetal 2 Night Glider and a sealed BotCon 2002 Cyclonus.
Don
Don got a third-party Point Blank Targetmaster that the crew suspects is unauthorized, sold as a Make Toys release. A listener named James in Canada sent Don a custom Arcee made from Dark of the Moon Sideswipe, with a new head and paint. A trade got him the Deluxe Airazor and Mirage from Target’s Rise of the Beasts jungle set. He bought Legacy Titan Nemesis on sale and got a courtesy refund when the price dropped. He also got Amazon EarthSpark Deluxe Grimlock, a Mastermind Creations Reformatted Cheetor set from Toy Dojo, Legacy Dreadwing and Nova Prime.