Takara Tomy revealed Missing Link prototypes of G1 Arcee and Sunstreaker, and Don calls it the news of his lifetime. PulseCon brought Legacy United wave 5, full of redecos like Overcharge and G2 Breakdown, while Walmart’s Transformers Day stream flopped. Hasbro is also shopping for a Boston headquarters, and Super7 teases prototype-colors Arcee. Brian shares spoiler-free praise for Transformers One after the fan event. In What We Got This Week, Don calls Lord Straxus perfect, Chris dissects Legacy Cybertron Hot Shot, and Brian lands a sealed G1 Rotorstorm.
Brian’s First Take on Transformers One
Brian saw Transformers One at the fan event and calls it easily the best Transformers movie ever made. He found it respectful of the source material without being slavish to it. Box office projections sit at $25 to $35 million, and one host read the production budget was only $75 million. The movie made him care about the Transformers One toys. Matt keeps hearing positive buzz and plans to see it.
News
Takara Tomy Reveals Missing Link G1 Arcee and Sunstreaker
Takara Tomy is developing Missing Link versions of G1 Arcee and Sunstreaker. Don is thrilled, since his long campaign for an Arcee toy began because she never got one. A plaque said the Arcee models don’t transform yet, but both modes share the same parts breakdown. One host loves that Sunstreaker looks like a modern toy, while another wants Missing Link to stay pure G1. The crew expects Missing Link to fill gaps like Mirage, Wheeljack and Grimlock, and one host will wait for a Diaclone Spin-Out repaint. Don balks at Missing Link Sentinel Prime’s $159 price, while another host is still getting one and now wants a prototype Unicron. [Source: TFW2005]
PulseCon 2024 Reveals Legacy United Wave 5 Redecos
PulseCon mostly showed physical versions of earlier reveals, including former Walmart exclusives returning to retail. The Legacy United lineup includes Ramjet, Overcharge, Cosmos and G2 Breakdown. Mark Maher said there are no current plans for G2 Motormaster, so a G2 Menasor is likely years away. Two hosts pre-ordered Dinoking. One host lost interest in Armada Wheeljack once Hasbro confirmed it ships without a Mini-Con. [Source: TFW2005]
Walmart’s Transformers Day Stream Reveals Threezero MDLX Redecos
Walmart held the exclusive Transformers Day stream on September 18. Instead of its retro G1 items, it showed minor threezero MDLX redecos and a timed Bumblebee movie Optimus Prime exclusive. It also launched pre-orders for Studio Series Transformers One figures already revealed. One host calls the stream a dumpster fire, since many viewers couldn’t find it or play it. [Source: TFW2005] [Source: TFW2005]
Hasbro Explores Moving Its Headquarters to Boston
Hasbro is publicly exploring a move from Pawtucket, Rhode Island, to Boston. One host’s cynical theory is that the noise is leverage for tax breaks, a bit of star-saber-rattling. A real move would hurt Rhode Island’s economy, though Boston is a manageable commute for current staff. [Source: The Boston Globe]
Super7 ReAction Redecos Include Prototype-Colors Arcee
Super7’s next ReAction redeco wave features prototype-colors Arcee and a sparkly Ghost of Starscream. Don will probably buy Arcee but hates paying full price for ReAction figures. The crew jokes that Don has made a Faustian bargain this year. [Source: TFW2005]
Sunbow Marvel Archive Adds Flint Dille’s Character Binder
The Sunbow Marvel Archive posted Flint Dille’s character binder, with model sheets and descriptions for the 1987 lineup. It also includes Bob Budiansky’s 11-page treatment for Marvel’s Headmasters miniseries. The crew debates the Headmasters concept, and one host still prefers the Japanese version. [Source: Sunbow Marvel Archive]
Mark Maher shared designer notes for the Legacy G2 Breakdown. One host says it misses the red splash of the original G2 toy. [Source: Instagram]
New comparison images show Legacy United Overcharge. Don is getting it, and one host notes the eHobby Overcharge now sells for hundreds of dollars. Matt and another host disagree again over the Legacy Blitzwing mold. [Source: Snakas Blog]
40th Anniversary Expo Exclusives Shown In Package
In-package photos show the Transformers 40th anniversary Expo exclusives. One host won’t pay $80 for Starscream Super Mode, and the crew says Throne Collection 01’s blister looks like a bootleg. [Source: TFW2005]
Missing Link Sentinel Prime In Hand
In-hand images show Missing Link Sentinel Prime, and at least two hosts have ordered one. The crew identifies its green matrix as the Creation Matrix. [Source: TFW2005]
Rise of the Beasts Nemesis Prime In Hand
Takara Tomy’s Rise of the Beasts Nemesis Prime appears in hand alongside Throne Collection 01. One host likes it enough to consider it before Starscream Super Mode. [Source: TFW2005]
What We Got This Week
Don
Don found Hot Wheels Optimus Prime at Target. The fourth piece of Show-Z Store’s Legend-class Liokaiser, Leozack, arrived. He also likes Brave Commander Prime, which he rates above the other Transformers One Optimus Prime figures, with hands that hide inside the truck mode. Lord Straxus arrived too, and Don calls the head sculpt dead on. He thinks the comic-style boxes could be packaging of the year.
Matt
Matt grabbed Vector Prime for $10 off on Amazon and likes how much differs from Jhiaxus. He also assembled his LEGO Bumblebee, which looks good despite short-looking arms.
Chris
Chris found Legacy Cybertron Hot Shot, completing his set of Generations Hot Shots. The car mode is sturdy and the look is right, but loose neck and toe joints make the transformation feel gummy. He thinks its size comes closest to justifying a $25 deluxe price. He also found Ferric from Walmart’s Star Raiders collection and praises the new face sculpt and two-tone gray deco.
Brian
Brian’s Transformers One fan event swag included a Bumblebee poster, an Optimus Prime keychain and the Skybound reprint of Transformers #1 on newsprint. He grabbed the Walmart reissue of Beast Wars Iguanus at Ollie’s for about $5. A Thunder Machine Soundwave arrived with colors far brighter than vintage. His favorite was a sealed G1 Rotorstorm, won through an eBay second-chance offer.