Radio Free Cybertron looks back at 2024 in Transformers, month by month, from HasLab Omega Prime’s 28,000-backer campaign to a Transformers One that turned out to be good. The crew revisits Party Wallop, Studio Series 86 Optimus Prime, Missing Link and TakaraTomy’s attempt to make the prototype Arcee real, plus the fall Hasbro layoffs that hit John Warden. Brian wins the 2024 predictions scorecard with two points. The RFC Awards, decided by host and fan votes, crown Studio Series 86 Optimus Prime, Gears, Party Wallop and Missing Link Convoy.
News
2024 News Recap: January to March
January brought bad news for Earthbound Hound fans, who could only get him in a Selects Autobot five-pack. The Doctor Yellow Trainbot leaked, Legacy Tidal Wave sold out almost immediately on Hasbro Pulse, and JTPrime’s listings revealed the GoBots three-pack. The 40th anniversary HasLab turned out to be Omega Prime, which cleared its minimum in two weeks and finished above 28,000 backers. Don backed three. Comic Edition Grimlock and Shockwave and Leader Class Sandstorm were revealed, and Hasbro’s revenue dropped another 20 percent. March brought the Star Raiders leaks, Target’s Legacy four-pack with Squeezeplay, and Brian’s preorder of the Dr. Wu Grand Galvatron set.
2024 News Recap: April to June
April revealed MPM-15 Brawl and Party Wallop, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles collaboration the crew calls the best collaborative yet. John Warden returned to Transformers in a management role, and the Transformers One trailer was launched to the edge of space. May brought Studio Series 86 Springer and Bumblebee, Comic Edition Straxus, Missing Link Bumblebee and Cliffjumper, and the $80 Mattel Creations Hot Wheels Optimus Prime. Shizuoka teased Masterpiece Super Ginrai, and Marvel artist Don Perlin died at 94. In June, TakaraTomy cancelled its EarthSpark Prowl, Chris’s heartbreak of the year, and Masterpiece DK-2 Guard and Lift Ticket were announced.
2024 News Recap: July to September
July’s first side view of Studio Series 86 Optimus Prime showed a big backpack that turned out fine in hand. Fans Hobby’s Clinch tempted the crew at TFCon Toronto, and TFRaw shared Beast Machines production documents. Studio Series Devastator was announced at San Diego Comic-Con, and PulseCon revealed the Dinoking set. September marked RFC’s 900th episode and brought MPG-14 God Bomber. The biggest news was TakaraTomy trying to make the unproduced prototype Arcee for Missing Link. Don is cautiously optimistic.
2024 News Recap: October to December
RFC turned 25 in October, as JTPrime listed Titan Star Convoy, Commander Silverbolt and the Selects G2 Dinobots. Missing Link Sunstreaker added Diaclone drivers, and the ReAction Ark playset disappointed Don. The fall Hasbro layoffs hit John Warden only months after his return, and the crew thanks him for his work. Studio Series Devastator got its first full look, and Transformers was finally inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame. December brought the passing of Morgan Lofting, voice of Moonracer, the Star Convoy and Aerialbots reveals at Cybertron Con, and Missing Link Sunstreaker preorders.
2024 Predictions Scorecard
Brian wins with two points, for more online-only SKUs and more repaints and reissues. Diecast takes second with one and a half: half a point for a second Titan, which arrived early, and a full point for Hasbro’s continued revenue decline. Don gets half a point for comics characters becoming figures, though not in Studio Series. Matt, Rob and Chris score zero. Masterpiece Jazz, a Devastator HasLab and a delayed Transformers One all missed.
RFC Awards 2024
The RFC Awards combine host votes with a fan survey, and the fan vote breaks ties. Tasmania Kid beats Core Class Cheetor for Legacy Core Class, to Don’s relief, and Bumblebee movie Starscream takes Studio Series Core. Gears wins Legacy Deluxe, with Deluxe G1 Optimus Prime a close second among fans. Studio Series 86 Bumblebee wins Studio Series Deluxe.
For Voyagers, the hosts pick Animated Motormaster while fans pick Animated Optimus Prime, and Scrapheap wins Studio Series. Hosts pick Sandstorm and fans pick Magmatron at Leader and up, while Studio Series 86 Optimus Prime wins its category in a landslide. Aftermath wins EarthSpark Deluxe, Brawl and Rhinox split Masterpiece, and C-01 Missing Link Convoy wins Missing Link.
Origins Wheeljack is the best Target exclusive, Farrak tops the Star Raiders, and the Retro G1 Optimus Prime with trailer edges out Retro Soundwave. Chop Shop and company take Amazon, Pulse Dinoking takes events, Straxus leads the Comic Editions and the GoBots Guardians three-pack wins Selects. Party Wallop wins best collaborative.
Studio Series 86 Optimus Prime is the best Optimus Prime of 2024, with Missing Link second. Legacy United Soundwave wins best toy bought again, since so many people paid $60 for Buzzsaw, and Legacy Sideburn is the worst remake. Favorite toy of the year splits among the hosts, and the fans pick Missing Link Convoy by a hair over Studio Series 86 Optimus Prime. Best news goes to the Missing Link prototype Arcee and Transformers One being good. Sad trombones go to Titan Class Tidal Wave, Studio Series Steeljaw, the Hasbro layoffs and Transformers One underperforming.