A securities class action accuses Hasbro of misleading investors about the inventory it piled up after the pandemic toy boom. Transformers One is now streaming on Paramount+, and the crew wishes the film had done better in theaters. A first look at Age of the Primes Armada Red Alert shows a Voyager half the size of the original toy. The crew also covers Gamer Edition Ironhide, a gold vinyl Transformers One soundtrack, FigPin mystery pins and a seven-foot Yolopark Optimus Prime. In What We Got This Week, Chris reviews the Amazon-exclusive Ruckus and Bludgeon two-pack, and Brian adds G1 Erector, Seaspray, Cosmos and a gold box Sideswipe.
News
Securities Class Action Accuses Hasbro of False Claims About Its Inventory
Hasbro investors have filed a class action alleging the company misrepresented its owned inventory from 2022 into late 2023. The complaint says Hasbro called its stockpile a response to pandemic-era demand, when it had really overbought. The case is led by the West Palm Beach Firefighters Pension Fund, which owns Hasbro shares. One host pointed to the complaint’s claim that moving and marketing the excess cost $50 million in October 2023 alone. Brian explained why nobody wants to own inventory, since carrying costs can sink a manufacturer. The crew guessed much of it was vintage Beast Wars stock now sitting at Ollie’s. A Discord listener said the Walmart Transformers two-packs from last year make more sense now. One host expects the case to settle out of court under seal. [Source: Business Wire]
Transformers One Is Now Streaming on Paramount+
Transformers One is now included with a Paramount+ subscription, on the same timetable Rise of the Beasts followed. One host wondered whether subscription streaming cannibalizes paid on-demand rentals. Others said this was always part of the plan, no matter how the movie performed. The Blu-ray arrives December 17, and some of the crew have already preordered it. Everyone agreed it is a good movie that deserved better box office. One host argued that a Transformers animated film had little audience appetite, especially a year after Rise of the Beasts. [Source: TFW2005]
Age of the Primes Voyager Armada Red Alert Gets a First Look
A vehicle-mode test shot of Age of the Primes Armada Red Alert surfaced. One host sees a lot of the Crankcase engineering in it. The original Armada toy was a Voyager too, but this one is about half its size. One host asked whether anyone was clamoring for Armada Red Alert. Another host argued the Armada toys are unbeatable as toys, especially Armada Scavenger. One host spotted a flip-around hinge for the shoulder cannon, so the gun piece is simply missing from the photo. Every Mini-Con port is now a 5mm port, including one on the clear spine piece. [Source: TFW2005]
Studio Series Gamer Edition War for Cybertron Ironhide Official Images
Stock photos are out for Studio Series Voyager Gamer Edition Ironhide. One host has handled Gamer Edition Ratchet and called it an interesting, well-made toy that is tedious to transform. Expect the transformation to hold your attention for a good half hour. Another host’s one nitpick is the gray, which is too dark and too cool. The design also served as Ironhide’s look in IDW’s first continuity, so it has a place in some collections. [Source: TFW2005]
Transformers One Soundtrack Gets a Gold Vinyl Release
The Transformers One soundtrack is getting an audiophile heavyweight vinyl release on a gold disc. Barnes & Noble has it for about $63. One host plans to frame it rather than play it, and joked it might suffer from mustard plastic syndrome. Another host ran through a Transformers record collection that includes the 1986 soundtrack and The Touch on 45 and LP. Nobody could recall a memorable music cue from the film, which is a tough sell for a soundtrack. [Source: TFW2005]
FigPin Transformers Mystery Series 1 Enamel Pins
FigPin’s blind-packed Transformers Mystery Series 1 pins come in common, uncommon, rare, super rare and ultra rare tiers. A case of eight runs about $100 on FigPin’s site. Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Soundwave and Shockwave are the commons, while Starscream is a super rare and Megatron an ultra rare. The crew found it silly to make characters rare instead of variant finishes. One host’s advice: wait six months and check GameStop’s website. [Source: TFW2005]
Yolopark Teases a 2.2-Meter Rise of the Beasts Optimus Prime Statue
Yolopark is teasing a seven-foot Rise of the Beasts Optimus Prime. Brian would love one, but at TFcon a two-foot Yolopark Prime was about $2,500. One host guesses this one lands close to $10,000. Brian’s show notes warned that Diecast is going to need a bigger boat. Diecast asked whether Yolopark could ship it one leg at a time as a subscription. [Source: TFW2005]
What We Got This Week
Diecast
Diecast built the Blokees classic-scale Rise of the Beasts Mirage. The build and instructions were great, but it came out close to Core Class size, not the Deluxe scale he expected. At about $30, he wishes he had bought a blind box instead. He also got the Deluxe Slipstream, built on the Windblade mold.
Don
Don picked up the Yolopark Starscream to go with his Megatron and Optimus Prime. He hasn’t built any of them yet, but calls the series phenomenal.
Matt
Matt had nothing in Transformers this week.
John
John had nothing in Transformers this week.
Rob
Rob had nothing in Transformers this week.
Chris
Chris thanked Paladin, who sent the Amazon-exclusive Ruckus and Bludgeon two-pack from his wish list. Both figures have looser joints than the single-pack releases, and Bludgeon’s shoulder cannons like to wander. Bludgeon’s mustard plastic matches the mustard paint on his legs well. Ruckus is the star, a full third taller than Beachcomber and sharing less than a quarter of its parts. Elevator-shoe shins and the integrated backpack limit his posing a little. Chris loves the quick, chunky transformation, which reminds him of mid-2000s toys. The vehicle mode is big and solid, though the head has nowhere to hide. He enjoys Ruckus far more than Beachcomber, and it’s the one Triggercon that needs no add-on kit.
Brian
Brian picked up G1 Erector, his first Micromaster transport, and liked it more than he expected. He thinks he can finish his American G1 collection. He also got a lifted-bubble G1 Seaspray and a G1 Cosmos, two favorite minibots. His last pickup was a European Classics gold box G1 Sideswipe with a resealed bubble. He explained that Hasbro reissued many 1984 to 1986 figures in Europe in this gold Classics packaging. The Constructicons in that format came without combiner parts, so they couldn’t form Devastator.