The Energon Pub

News Credits: 1235 · by **LOST Cybertronian** » Mon Sep 01, 2014 11:34 pm

If you are itching to know what comes between MP-22 Ultra Magnus and MP-24 Star Saber, Taghobby has the answer in a newly revealed Masterpiece MP-23 Exhaust. Being a Decepticon, Exhaust is a redeco of the upcoming MP-20 Wheeljack with a new head. The figure also seems to come two new shoulder rocket launchers and the Wheeljack Instant Immobilizer. The deco is based on a Diaclone retool of the toy that would one day become Wheeljack. It has also come to be known as Marlboor Wheeljack by most fans.

by **jindrak** » Mon Sep 01, 2014 11:49 pm

/DIES

by **The Thuggernaut** » Mon Sep 01, 2014 11:51 pm

Two words:
GIMME GIMME!!!

by **cloudballoon** » Mon Sep 01, 2014 11:54 pm

Paint app on the car mode is great (missing the most important brand on there for obvious reason). The colors just don't look good on robot's mode. Head's proportion is a little off IMO.

News Credits: 456 · by **Sabrblade** » Mon Sep 01, 2014 11:55 pm

Was wondering who MP-23 would be with Ultra Magnus being MP-22 and Star Saber now confirmed to be MP-24.

News Credits: 60 · by **fenrir72** » Mon Sep 01, 2014 11:58 pm

News Credits: 3597 · by **Seibertron** » Tue Sep 02, 2014 12:00 am

"EXHAUST" is a hilarious name for Marlboro wheeljack. Absolutely awesome. Can't believe they are doing this and that it is not an exclusive.

http://www.youtube.com/user/Pepsimus · by **Black Bumblebee** » Tue Sep 02, 2014 12:53 am

Something tells me that Reprolabels will get a lot of sales from this :-)

News Credits: 6 · by **RotorstormNZ** » Tue Sep 02, 2014 1:00 am

Black Bumblebee wrote:Something tells me that Reprolabels will get a lot of sales from this

Hahaha amen! He HAS to be Marlboor!

This is effin' bizarre, I'm loving it!!

News Credits: 1 · by **helli0n** » Tue Sep 02, 2014 1:07 am

Advertisement paragraph translation:

"(2) MP-23 Exhaust

A new character "Exhaust" was added to the popular sports car line among TF foremost series "Masterpiece."

It is the first time to commercialize Decepticon army in sports car line.

Racing car from the world popular "Lancia Stratos Turbo" transforms into a robot.

Vehiclemode obtained Fiat company's legitimate license. Parts such as in the head and missile are new formative parts.

Wheeljack's famous invention "Immobilizer" is included.

Contents: Exhaust (1) missile (2) handgun (1) Immobilizer (1) Instruction (1)"

Image translation

:"Here comes the Exhaust.

Point (left): The vehicle mode has acquired the legitimate license of "Lancia Stratos mode."

Point (below): Red line was adopted on the head of new formative parts like the other enemy character.

Point (below): Wheeljack-invented "Immobilizer" is included. "

by **morphobots** » Tue Sep 02, 2014 2:22 am

"Sometimes crazy works." :DANCE:

by **morphobots** » Tue Sep 02, 2014 2:23 am

"Sometimes crazy works." :DANCE:

News Credits: 372 · by **Cyberpath** » Tue Sep 02, 2014 3:01 am

Hm, why is this getting a new number? Sunstorm and Tigertrack didn't. I hope it doesn't mean that the MP line will lose its way after Magnus. :-?

News Credits: 1 · by **RhA** » Tue Sep 02, 2014 3:06 am

Exhaust is just glorious. I might even get him.

News Credits: 3 · by **No One** » Tue Sep 02, 2014 3:10 am

I can't believe it, even the new head is correct. But WHY put any Decepticon logos on this? They should have placed the decals exactly like the original, while leaving open spaces for customizers to place the Marlboro wording.

News Credits: 1235 · by **LOST Cybertronian** » Tue Sep 02, 2014 6:35 am

Black Bumblebee wrote:Something tells me that Reprolabels will get a lot of sales from this

Reprolabels wont touch anything named marlboor with a ten foot pole. It's like a dirty word for them.

News Credits: 6 · by **MemphisR56** » Tue Sep 02, 2014 6:50 am

MR Optimus Prime wrote:But WHY put any Decepticon logos on this?

It's a reference to the lampooned cigarette sponsor on the original.
Smoking is bad, hence decepticon.

Not to mention, the name exhaust evokes the idea of choking dark smoke.

by **WildclawPrime** » Tue Sep 02, 2014 7:11 am

REALLY nice retooling of MP Wheeljack. I'm also glad to see that a Decepticon is getting the MP treatment. I think we need more Decepticons for this line. Bravo, Takara, bravo. :APPLAUSE:

News Credits: 456 · by **Sabrblade** » Tue Sep 02, 2014 7:28 am

Cyberpath wrote:Hm, why is this getting a new number? Sunstorm and Tigertrack didn't.

Yet, Streak and Smokescreen did.

My guess is the differing faction was enough to make him get his own number instead of being a mere special version of MP-20.

News Credits: 1 · by **Doc bot** » Tue Sep 02, 2014 7:36 am

I don't know if I'll bite on this one yet, but the more variants/retooled MPs that Takara sells means more money for them to seek out car company licenses for new MPs. Come on Porsche!

Maybe this cigarette-themed MP means Takara won't be averse to giving us an MP Mirage? He's covered in cigarette company logos too.

by **Vin Ghostal** » Tue Sep 02, 2014 7:36 am

That thing is...fugly.

I don't begrudge squeezing a second MP toy out of the mold. In their position, I would do the same. However, Exhaust has officially displaced Tigertrack in last place on my Masterpiece priority list. Yikes.

News Credits: 372 · by **Cyberpath** » Tue Sep 02, 2014 7:39 am

Sabrblade wrote:
Cyberpath wrote:Hm, why is this getting a new number? Sunstorm and Tigertrack didn't.
Yet, Streak and Smokescreen did.

My guess is the differing faction was enough to make him get his own number instead of being a mere special version of MP-20.

Bluestreak and Smokescreen (and Red Alert) are characters from the cartoon though. This Evil Wheeljack is like Tigertrack and Sunstorm.

Don't get me wrong, I don't care about the numbering, and I'm all for esoteric repaints if it means that we get new molds for the "real" characters.

It's just that Takara was consistent and strict with the new incarnation of the MP line, I hope this piece of news isn't a sign that they ran out of steam.

by **griftimus prime** » Tue Sep 02, 2014 7:40 am

a repaint? no way?

News Credits: 456 · by **Sabrblade** » Tue Sep 02, 2014 7:46 am

Cyberpath wrote:
Sabrblade wrote:
Cyberpath wrote:Hm, why is this getting a new number? Sunstorm and Tigertrack didn't.
Yet, Streak and Smokescreen did.

My guess is the differing faction was enough to make him get his own number instead of being a mere special version of MP-20.

Bluestreak and Smokescreen (and Red Alert) are characters from the cartoon though. This Evil Wheeljack is like Tigertrack and Sunstorm.

Don't get me wrong, I don't care about the numbering, and I'm all for esoteric repaints if it means that we get new molds for the "real" characters.

It's just that Takara was consistent and strict with the new incarnation of the MP line, I hope this piece of news isn't a sign that they ran out of steam.

Hence why I'm guessing that the new faction is what did it. Though Tigertrack and Sunstorm are their own characters, their having the same allegiances as Lambor and Starscream could have the less informed thinking that they're just "special" versions of Lambor and Starscream, respectively, like how Lambor G-2 Ver. is a special version of Lambor and how Silverstreak is a special version of Streak.

With Exhaust not only being his own character but one of the opposite faction as Wheeljack, they might have wanted to further differentiate him from Wheeljack than they did for Tigertrack and Sunstorm with Lambor and Starscream, and could have felt that giving him his own ID number instead of a modified version of Wheeljack's would be a good way to spell out his individuality.

News Credits: 767 · by **Dead Metal** » Tue Sep 02, 2014 7:59 am

Sabrblade wrote:
Cyberpath wrote:
Sabrblade wrote:
Cyberpath wrote:Hm, why is this getting a new number? Sunstorm and Tigertrack didn't.
Yet, Streak and Smokescreen did.

My guess is the differing faction was enough to make him get his own number instead of being a mere special version of MP-20.

Bluestreak and Smokescreen (and Red Alert) are characters from the cartoon though. This Evil Wheeljack is like Tigertrack and Sunstorm.

Don't get me wrong, I don't care about the numbering, and I'm all for esoteric repaints if it means that we get new molds for the "real" characters.

It's just that Takara was consistent and strict with the new incarnation of the MP line, I hope this piece of news isn't a sign that they ran out of steam.
Hence why I'm guessing that the new faction is what did it. Though Tigertrack and Sunstorm are their own characters, their having the same allegiances as Lambor and Starscream could have the less informed thinking that they're just "special" versions of Lambor and Starscream, respectively, like how Lambor G-2 Ver. is a special version of Lambor and how Silverstreak is a special version of Streak.

With Exhaust not only being his own character but one of the opposite faction as Wheeljack, they might have wanted to further differentiate him from Wheeljack than they did for Tigertrack and Sunstorm with Lambor and Starscream, and could have felt that giving him his own ID number instead of a modified version of Wheeljack's would be a good way to spell out his individuality.

What about MP10b Nemesis Prime? He's also his own character and a Decepticon, but still sold as a special version of Prime.

This looks pretty good, but yeah, one of the 3rd party sticker companies is going to make a killing.