Hasbro’s Evan Brooks and Mark Maher say Studio Series 86 Optimus Prime was designed to beat Masterpiece MP-10, and Studio Series Devastator will show at Pulse Con. Comic Edition Straxus wows the crew in hand, while Studio Series 114 Transformers One Megatron gets canceled preorders. Burger King quietly launches Transformers One kids meal toys, and Yolopark shows its Transformers One AMK lineup. Chris hosts while Brian is out, and in What We Got This Week, Don lands a boxed Japanese Beast Wars Manterror.
News
Interview With Hasbro Transformers Team Evan Brooks and Mark Maher
The YouTube channel Toys Are Russ interviewed Evan Brooks and Mark Maher, and TFW2005 posted the highlights. The design brief for Studio Series 86 Commander Class Optimus Prime was to beat Masterpiece MP-10. The crew agreed MP-44 is a shelf piece, not a toy. The Knight Rider collaboration was not built to any scale, so its Masterpiece-like car size is a happy accident. Hasbro will show Studio Series Devastator at Pulse Con, and the team cut its rollout from two years to five or six months. Chris called that aggressive but welcome, and the crew hopes it works well enough to repeat for Liokaiser or a better Predaking. Evan is not a fan of the old Fortress Maximus Titan, and Mark said Broadside would fit the Titan class. Most of the crew would rather see Broadside as a Commander. [Source: TFW2005]
Burger King Transformers One B-127 Bumblebee Toy Found in the US
Burger King kids meals now include Transformers One toys, with Bumblebee and Elita-1 found so far. The rollout arrived with no buildup a month before the movie. The crew called the Elita-1 figurine sad and remembered the surprisingly good Beast Machines Happy Meal toys from 1999 and 2000. [Source: TFW2005]
Comic Book Edition Decepticon Straxus In-Hand Images
New in-hand photos of Comic Edition Straxus look excellent. Chris was not following the character but still likes it, and he may circle back to preorder one. One host never expected a real Straxus toy and loves the flying tank mode. Another hopes the Decepticon symbol on the forehead is better centered. The comic-style tampo looks less intrusive in hand than in the promo shots. The crew agreed the Starscream throne suits Straxus perfectly. Chris noted that John Warden has said non-comics decos of these molds are possible. [Source: TFW2005]
Knight Rider x Transformers Autobot Agent Knight In-Hand Images
Video screen captures show Collaborative Agent Knight next to Ectotron and other figures. It is slightly shorter than Ectotron but bigger than any Deluxe, close to Studio Series 86 Optimus Prime in height. One host who watched a video review called the transformation simple compared to other collaborations. Chris is excited and wants to hear the electronics, and one host found that William Daniels has made convention appearances as recently as March, so new lines are possible. [Source: TFW2005]
Studio Series 114 Deluxe Transformers One Megatron In-Hand Images
In-hand photos of Studio Series 114 Transformers One Megatron did not go over well. The crew called it dull, with legs far too long for its body. Next to Studio Series Transformers One Optimus Prime, the two look like toys from different lines. One host said it reminds him of an Authentics toy, and another compared it to an inner Pretender robot. At least one host is canceling his preorder. Rob would welcome a Megatron in the non-Studio Series Transformers One Deluxe line instead. [Source: TFW2005]
Yolopark AMK Series Transformers One Figures Official Stock Images and Preorders
Yolopark revealed eight AMK Series Transformers One figures: Bumblebee, Elita-1, Megatron and Optimus Prime, each before and after receiving their cogs. The cogless figures run about 12 to 14 centimeters for $14.99, and the cogged ones about 20 centimeters for $29.99. The cogless versions include a small transformation cog accessory. Chris likes the gold paint on cogged Bumblebee and sees these as a possible first Yolopark purchase. [Source: TFW2005]
Yolopark AMK Pro G1 Nemesis Prime Preorders to Be Available in September
The AMK Pro Nemesis Prime, a Hong Kong show exclusive, will be offered on yolopark.com on September 1. Diecast was thrilled. The crew then spent several minutes failing to convert Indonesian launch time to Eastern. [Source: TFW2005]
Transformers x Super X New Activewear Collection Announced
Super X added Bumblebee and Optimus Prime hoodies to its Transformers apparel line. Chris does not hate the color blocking. One host thinks the Bumblebee hoodie looks more like Wolverine, and another wants Transformers clothing to be recognizable as Transformers. [Source: TFW2005]
What We Got This Week
Don
Don picked up Transformers One Quintesson High Commander for about $20 on Walmart.com. At GameStop he found Studio Series Bumblebee movie Skywarp, whose purples and grays look richer in person than in photos. His big score was a sealed, boxed Japanese Beast Wars Manterror from Suruga-ya for $40 shipped, a figure he has seen go for over $100 on eBay.
Rob
Rob had nothing on topic this week.
Matt
Matt had nothing on topic this week.
John DeLuna
John had nothing on topic this week.
Diecast
Diecast finally got the Dr. Wu Galvatron with its little Unicron planet, and he loves that Galvatron folds up into Unicron. During the show, he also ordered all eight Yolopark Transformers One figures and plans to review them on his YouTube channel.
Chris
Chris found Legacy United Windblade restocked at Walmart, though the $19.97 rollback had ended. He calls it a pretty okay Windblade, roughly equal to the Robots in Disguise Warrior version but behind Titans Return. He has a Nonnef wing filler kit in black, plus the clear blue lucky draw inserts, to fix the hollow wings. He also opened Transformers One Quintesson High Commander. The articulation is limited and it needs paint, but the transformation is more involved than he expected. The alt mode reminds him of a Wraith Dart from Stargate Atlantis, and he may want a small squad.