Takara Tomy’s T-Spark livestream revealed MPG Soundwave, a cartoon-accurate redeco of the classic Masterpiece Soundwave mold, with silhouettes teasing Blaster and Twincast. The crew also covers Masterpiece Movie Sideswipe, the Masters of the Universe crossovers and Hasbro’s trademark filing for the transformation sound. Auldey shows two flavors of Action Elite Grimlock at Wonderfest Shanghai, and Missing Link Arcee and MPG-15 Rattrap turn up in hand. In What We Got This Week, Seaspray splits the panel, Matt praises Horri-Bull, and Brian completes a boxed set of G1 Insecticons.
News
2025 Transformers Hall of Fame Voting Opens
Fan voting is open for the 2025 Transformers Hall of Fame. Brian admits he stopped caring about it once BotCon ended. Chris voted for Studio Series 86 Megatron and Skybite, calling Skybite the first new toy in years he wouldn’t change. One host’s exclusive pick was the Mandalorian N-1 Starfighter crossover, which won him over despite his indifference to Star Wars. Another host went with Star Optimus Prime, the long-awaited Star Convoy. [Source: TFW2005]
Takara Tomy T-Spark Livestream Reveals MPG Soundwave and Teases Blaster
Takara Tomy’s T-Spark livestream showed MPG Soundwave, a cartoon-colored redeco of the existing Masterpiece Soundwave. Outlines of Blaster and Twincast followed, along with cassette shapes like Rewind, Eject and Ramhorn. The crew expects Soundwave to sell well, since the old mold has been scarce for years. One host who has quit Masterpiece admits Blaster and Twincast might tempt him back. The stream also showed a gray prototype of the Evangelion collaboration Optimus Prime and announced Masterpiece Movie MPMN-01 Sideswipe. One host is excited, since Sideswipe is a favorite from the movie lines. [Source: TFW2005]
Masters of the Universe Crossover Puts Scareglow in Starscream Armor
The next Masters of the Universe and Transformers crossover pairs Scareglow with Starscream armor and He-Man with Optimus Prime armor. Scareglow can wield Starscream’s null rays and wings as axes. Brian pre-ordered the Mattel Creations exclusive, and the crew agrees the pairing makes far more sense than Bumblebee and Man-At-Arms. The panel thinks He-Man looks a bit off, and one host plans to wait for it at Ollie’s. [Source: TFW2005]
Hasbro Files a Trademark for the Transformation Sound
Hasbro applied for a trademark on the Transformers transformation sound, filing it both forward and reversed. One host is surprised Hasbro hadn’t protected the sound long ago. The crew debates whether a reversed sound is really a separate mark and agrees it would make an interesting court case. [Source: USPTO]
Hasbro Brings a Brands Panel to MCM London Comic Con
Hasbro will hold a brands panel, Transformers included, at MCM London Comic Con on October 25. It lands soon after New York Comic Con, so the crew expects Hasbro to hold back a reveal or two for London. One host predicts online anger that the reveals didn’t happen in New York instead. [Source: TFW2005]
Blokees Shows New Kits at Wonderfest Shanghai
Blokees showed new products at Wonderfest Shanghai, including six-inch Action Edition kits at the $50 price point. The crew likes the proportions and the attention to Transformers: Prime designs, which suit non-transforming toys. Blokees Wheels, a larger vehicle-mode series, includes an F1-car Mirage and Hound. Two other cars left the panel guessing. [Source: TFW2005]
Auldey Action Elite Prototypes Bring Two Flavors of Grimlock
Auldey’s new Action Elite prototypes at Wonderfest include two versions of Grimlock, with a dinosaur mode much larger than the robot. The lineup also has Shattered Glass Ultra Magnus, Shockwave, IDW Cyclonus, a Powermaster Optimus Prime and an Outback and Beachcomber blind-box pair. One host thinks the Powermaster Optimus Prime truck front looks too small on his chest. Most of the samples look like 3D-printed static models, but the crew likes the base work. One host wishes Auldey had distribution like Blokees instead of AliExpress and crossed fingers. [Source: TFW2005]
Missing Link Arcee Turns Up in Hand
In-hand photos show Missing Link Arcee in both prototype and cartoon decos. One host’s order from Amazon Japan hasn’t shipped yet, and he wants both colors. The crew agrees the figures look like a real G1 toy, with far better posability. The back of Arcee’s head is hollowed out for car-mode clearance. Still, the crew agrees it is nowhere near as bad as the BotCon Tigatron from 2015 and 2016. [Source: TFW2005]
In-hand images of MPG-15 Rattrap show the faces nailed in both modes. Brian loves how closed-up the rat mode is, though the robot’s knees still poke out the back. He has it on pre-order and is waiting for breakage reports. One host half-regrets skipping it, since it leaves a gap in the Beast Wars crew. [Source: TFW2005]
What We Got This Week
Don
Don loves the colors and robot mode on Retro Seaspray, but the hovercraft’s front half buckles during transformation. Seaspray won’t dethrone Gears and Brawn, and Don keeps his Brawn carded for the card art. Walmart’s clearance landed him a Blokees Classic Optimus Prime for $5. Venom nails the original colors, though Don wishes the wings could tuck away. Flatline’s colors make him striking enough that Don plans to return Red Alert. From the Target four-pack of Ultra Magnus, Bumper, Horri-Bull and Nemesis Prime, he mainly wanted Horri-Bull’s Headmaster Junior. He may not keep Nemesis Prime.
Chris
Chris finds Seaspray’s vehicle mode sturdy, but the head sticks off the back. He thinks it uses simplified tooling with only three plastic colors, and the ankle tilt is very shallow. He still rates it highly and expects a Retro Wheelie early next year. Venom stays sealed, because Chris isn’t sure he cares about updated Deluxe Insecticons anymore. He may sell the full set of four.
John
John had nothing new beyond what others covered, and offered a one-line review: Venom stinks.
Matt
Matt opened the Target four-pack. Ultra Magnus is glorious, with blue face highlights his childhood figure lacked. Animated Nemesis Prime is gorgeous, though the axe won’t fit his right hand. Horri-Bull reworks far more of Skullcruncher than expected and is easily the best Headmaster Junior. Bumper uses the Studio Series 86 Bumblebee mold with stiff joints, and Matt is glad to have an official Bumper after 41 years.
Diecast
Diecast bought unlicensed Shattered Glass Optimus Prime and Nemesis Prime figures on the Studio Series 86 mold from AliExpress for about $25 shipped. They feel solid despite some odd mold flashing. Walmart shipped his Retro Brawn with a creased card, while his Seaspray arrived in perfect packaging. He ordered two Seasprays, one to open and one for the wall. He also added a black and purple 1985 McDonald’s Transformers Happy Meal toy, missing one windshield post.
Brian
Brian’s Retro Brawn card has the same damage as Diecast’s. Rain soaked his Target four-pack box, but the toys are fine. From Mattel Creations he received Bumblebee Man-At-Arms and Megatron armor Skeletor, and Skydive finally completes his Aerialbots. He bought about six vintage sticker sheets, including Swoop, Snarl and Astrotrain, plus a Dollar General Transformers cereal bag. Two Optimus Prime soaky bottles arrived in great shape. Boxed Shrapnel, Kickback and Bombshell complete his mint-in-box G1 Insecticons. He also added a replacement Mirage box, a boxed U.S. Cyclonus and a complete Astrotrain with unapplied stickers. From Mandarake, a mint-in-box Road Fire leaves him one Sonic Bomber short of Big Powered.