The Energon Pub

Power of the Primes was a pretty short line, and many thought Optimal Optimus and Novastar were going to be the last figures of the line. But new listings on Midtown Comics tells us otherwise. These two listings use an interesting sub-title: "Select Series." Even more interesting: the two characters themselves. We have Red Swoop and Ricochet. Red Swoop seems to be a G1-toy redeco of Power of the Primes Deluxe Class, done up in the same colors as the one in the original stock renders for the figure. We also speculate Ricochet will be a redeco of Power of the Primes Deluxe Class Jazz, maybe even come with one of the new Battle Master figures.

The Red Swoop listing can be found here.
The Ricochet listing can be found here.

Thoughts? Be sure to tell us below!

Hmm. If these prove real, I'm gonna need to rethink my CW/UW/Potpie Combiner plans to see if I can fit them in somehow, which there is a possibility since I've given up my plans to make a definite Magnificent Six survivors combiner out of Inferno.

If it's true we're getting Richoet/Stepper, I might actual retire my United Jazz from my Classics shelf and replace him with his Power of the Primes self. I like traditional mold-mates from G1 to match each other in my modern displays, so if I can get a "PotP" Richoet to go with Jazz, I'll be set. I love the RtS/United Jazz mold, but it's just getting to be too big compared to recent figures. He'll dwarf even Siege Ironhide and Ratchet, unfortunately. It's time to downsize to a more modern scale friendly version of Jazz. At least PotP Jazz is still a pretty good figure, and it's got an more cartoon accurate robot mode what with the lack of door wings.

This also gives me some hope that, through this so called "Select Series" line, we might get Greenlight and Lancer combiner limbs (probably from the Moonracer/Firestar mold) for Elita Infin1te, and if we're REALLY good, maybe Buster and Hydra repaints from Dreadwind and Darkwing to go with Megascream. I hope this is real.

Wolfman Jake wrote:This also gives me some hope that, through this so called "Select Series" line, we might get Greenlight and Lancer combiner limbs (probably from the Moonracer/Firestar mold) for Elita Infin1te, and if we're REALLY good, maybe Buster and Hydra repaints from Dreadwind and Darkwing to go with Megascream. I hope this is real.

Do keep in mind it could just be these 2 as they were "teased" via packaging, with Ricochet possibly being Elta Infinte's right leg and Swoop being red in his render.

Well, Elita-Infin1te will be officially complete if true, as her art shows a dark grey leg using Jazz' design:



You can barely make it out. Also, toy Swoop head or bust!

YES YES YES!!!!! PotP may have a little life left. Just enough *hopefully* to finish those combiners. Though a Red Swoop holds no interest for me (unless it can somehow be head cannoned as a different character), but Riccochet definitely does. I was 5 Heroic Deluxes way from perfect completion, now It's down to 4. Today was a good day.

Got it, thanks!

Optimal Optimus: Yes, please, THANK you, this is a load of rubbish that the FAN-VOTE Prime is so impossible to find here in the US.

Red Swoop and Ricochet: That's...really interesting, if that's true. It seems really likely to be true, given we already know that the toy-accurate Swoop head exists and the art for Elita-1's combined mode has had what appears to be a Ricochet on it from the start. I am really curious now though: Are these figures going to have different accessories than Swoop and Jazz, how exactly are they going to be released (are they exclusives?), and how many other previously unreleased PotP tooling remnants are going to see show up in this "Select Series"?

Nemesis Primal wrote:(...) and how many other previously unreleased PotP tooling remnants are going to see show up in this "Select Series"?

WAVERIDER!!!

I hope they finally release the demolishor headed onslaught.

notirishman wrote:[...] We also speculate Ricochet will be a redeco of Power of the Primes Deluxe Class Jazz, maybe even come with one of the new Battle Master figures. [...]

As both figures are at the same pricepoint I guess both come with a Battle Master or none of them.

[EDIT]:

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

Nemesis Primal wrote:(...) and how many other previously unreleased PotP tooling remnants are going to see show up in this "Select Series"?

WAVERIDER!!!

Maybe he's the additional figure for Red Swoop if Ricochet gets a Battle Master. But is that possible at this pricepoint because Arcee's, Grotusque's, Blast Off's, Repugnus' and Counterpunch's pricepoint has been at $25 and they only came with a Titan/Prime Master? And I know they also had better paintjobs.

ausbot wrote:I hope they finally release the demolishor headed onslaught.

That would be nice but I still want a War for Cybertron (2010 game) Demolishor. Would be awesome if they release him in the new WfC Trilogy.

Maybe Swoop will come with a Pteraxadon repaint.

Caelus wrote:Maybe Swoop will come with a Pteraxadon repaint.

...into a little Targetmaster Swoop? That really wouldn't make any sense.

If they do any Armada characters i would prefer they do a fresh take on the original designs and not just stick their heads on older moulds

Now that I have Blue Swoop, not sure I want to double dip on Swoop. Richochet could be tempting. But as someone else said, not quite ready to give up my RTS Jazz, even if the tampos are rubbing off.

Coptur wrote:If they do any Armada characters i would prefer they do a fresh take on the original designs and not just stick their heads on older moulds

Fresh Takes mean all new molds which mean far higher sales figures to break even than an Exclusive is going to bring in. We know about Demolisher because we have seen Demolisher. When they made the head for Onslaughtm they made the head mold for Demolisher as well. It already exists, its a matter of whether Hasbro follows through and uses them or not.

Lunatic Prime wrote:

Caelus wrote:Maybe Swoop will come with a Pteraxadon repaint.

...into a little Targetmaster Swoop? That really wouldn't make any sense.

Am I the only one that has Titans Return Deluxe Repugnus wielding Titan Master Repugnus?

Caelus wrote:

Lunatic Prime wrote:

Caelus wrote:Maybe Swoop will come with a Pteraxadon repaint.

...into a little Targetmaster Swoop? That really wouldn't make any sense.

Am I the only one that has Titans Return Deluxe Repugnus wielding Titan Master Repugnus?

But he comes with a cartoon-accurate Repugnus head as well as TR Ptero comes with a cartoon-accurate Swoop head. Or the Mini-Con they released in G1 Swoop colors in an Evolution 2-Pack together with AoE Strafe for the movie line. Those actually make sense.
I mean of course it's not totally impossible but just because both are Pteranodons? That seems a bit too mindless to me. I would except that of a kids toys line but not for the stuff meant for collectors. Or at least not without a good background story but I don't think they'll do that just for a minor recolor.

Will Red Swoop and Ricochet be exclusives for Midtown Comics or will they have a wider release?

Rodimus Knight wrote:Will Red Swoop and Ricochet be exclusives for Midtown Comics or will they have a wider release?

nobody knows right now

Sparkimus Prime wrote:

Cobotron wrote:Sabrblade! Was it you who mentioned that Wreck-Gar's elbows are swapped from the factory?

Mine were. A minor repair, but not necessarily an easy one. Just took some slightly scary pushing and twisting to get those mushroom pegs to slide out. Not to mention correcting the position of the front fork was a bit freaky. It's turned 180 so it fits in the blister. The plastic is soft and should be handled delicately.

I bought 2 more Wreck-Gars for my brother and another friend, and their elbows are on the wrong side too. I'm guessing this is a widespread mis-assembly.

What's with all the factory errors/mis-assemblies lately?

I just wanted to thank you for the insight you gave on the fix. I am an amateur when it comes to taking apart/putting together. I had 2 Wreck-Gar to fix and 3 of the 4 mushroom pegs were fairly easy. The last peg was hell on earth, my thumbs are still stinging. Thankfully I managed to fix them with very little issues. The ratchet on one arm is a little loose but overall it's good. I used my CW Groove as a reference point. Thanks again.

Any advice on getting those mushroom pegs out? The ones on my Wreck-Gar won't budge.

Red Swoop and Ricochet,

RiddlerJ wrote:Any advice on getting those mushroom pegs out? The ones on my Wreck-Gar won't budge.

I pulled the entire arm off the ball joint then twisted the mushroom peg as I pulled it out. Still very tight and expect dents in your fingers.

It's purely aesthetic, so don't sweat it too much if you can't get them out.

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:I'm glad I got my Primal, but man, maybe Hasbro should consider the Studio series approach: 1 wave of leaders per year (so far). Gives them distribution, and allows for stores to discontinue the larger size later in the year but get it back at the beginning of every year.

I think they are slowly getting there with Siege with only 3 leaders in 2 waves.

ausbot wrote:I hope they finally release the demolishor headed onslaught.

It's an excessive amount of Voyagers that got us out of balance in the first place. I love this "Select" idea, but if there are going to be any more future releases, we need more deluxes, or failing that, a box set of an entirely previously unreleased combiner.

carytheone wrote:

RiddlerJ wrote:Any advice on getting those mushroom pegs out? The ones on my Wreck-Gar won't budge.

I pulled the entire arm off the ball joint then twisted the mushroom peg as I pulled it out. Still very tight and expect dents in your fingers.

It's purely aesthetic, so don't sweat it too much if you can't get them out.

Pretty much this.
I had the thought afterwards, that maybe you could use a book or something hard and flat that can lift the arm off the table. Place the shoulder piece on the elevated surface peg slot down, with the elbow hanging over the edge. Stand over the pieces. Hold the shoulder with one hand while pushing down on the elbow with the other. The raised surface could act as a sort of fulcrum and might make it a little easier.

Hope that made sense.
But, yeah, expect some dents in your fingers.