At best, it has been really difficult to find the Toys R Us exclusive Transformers Animated Arcee and Cybertron Mode Ratchet. Rumor has it that these two figures have been cancelled after their extremely limited initial release. Can you let us know what's going on with those two toys as well as the rest of the remaining Transformers Animated figures we saw revealed last summer at BotCon 2009 such as Rodimus and Blackout?
Hasbro's Answer: The current plan for the release of the current Animated figures is this: Toys R' Us will be carrying two waves of Animated Deluxe. The first wave will be released this Spring and will include Arcee and Cybertronian Ratchet. The second wave will be released this fall and will include Rodimus Minor and Cybertronian Ironhide. While we cannot promise that any other figures will be released, we continue to examine all of our options to make those figures that were completed available to you.
As for availability of these figures, while we do not know what Toys R' Us stores currently have inventory of the Arcee and Ratchet, we can state with certainty that orders have not been cancelled and are currently available.
Question #2:
It seems like Hasbro's toys and IDW's comics are missing an opportunity to cross promote each other. In the past, it seemed like it was a very successful venture of promoting current toys in the current comic books (such as the G1 toys in the Marvel comic books back in the 80s). Can you explain why the current comics are not being used as a marketing device by Hasbro to directly promote a current series of Transformers toys (outside of the ROTF comics ... this is more of a reference to the Classics / Universe toys in relation to the ongoing G1-themed comics)?
Hasbro's Answer: The comic and toy markets are in a very diferent place than it was in the 80's. Currently the comic and toy business speak to very different audiences. We work with IDW on our in-pack comics and behind the scenes help us in various ways to enhance the brands. You will see characters like Drift in the toy line soon that is where the most cross pollination fits in.
