The Energon Pub

We have uncovered a couple of preorders for the Japanese Transformers Generations 2012 book by Million Publishing.

These preorders can be viewed at Amazon Japan and Ami Ami. We have no information as yet of what if any exclusive figure offer that might come with the book.

The description on the Ami Ami order page gives us a little detail about what the book covers courtesy of Google translation.

• Japan finally landed! Full CG animation feature large "Transformers Prime" latest
• Masterpiece, and Revoltech, · · ·! Thoroughly research the latest items in 2012
  overseas edition toys from all public!
• "Transformers / Dark Side Moon"
  development literature that appeared Transformers toys, mail order magazine interview designers valuable
• ! ? [Appendix] 1. Special double-sided poster and highly material 2. "Gaiden Super God Masterforce Pretender - Transformers" comics to draw down the full

This book is scheduled to be released around April 17 or 18.

nice, looking forward to getting my hands on this new book

I wonder if there will be another exclusive associated with this book. I hope so

Thanks for the tip.
FYI, here's a refined translation of the contents:

*Finally arrived on Japan! All-new 3D CG animated series 'TRANSFORMERS PRIME' cover story
*Brand new releases for year 2012 including Masterpieces, Revoltech, and so on
*Full catalogue for overseas(i.e. 'outside japan') exclusive toys of 'TRANSFORMERS / DARK OF THE MOON' movie
*Precious archival materials for classic toy development, interviews with toy designers, and mail order service for a certain famous character!

Bounses:
1. Double-sided special poster
2. Exclusive mini comic 'TRANSFORMERS CHOJIN MASTERFORCE : PRETENDER SIDE STORY'

Enjoy!

Here's the direct link over to Amiami's own website: http://www.amiami.com/top/detail/detail ... agecnt%3D1

Million Publishing have posted a few preview images from their upcoming Transformers Generations 2012 book. This of course being the book that comes with the mail-away certificate to acquire Artfire. This volume will feature Transformers Prime, Revoltech, Masterpiece, DOTM, designer interviews, and a Super God Masterforce Pretender comic, and more.

The preview images are mirrored below.

Waitasec ... it has Manga in it? And Manga of Hasbro exclusive Pretender Transformers that Takara never released in Japan? Hmm ...

I kinda want that t-shirt.

I hope they mean "Hero is Inside" on that first page.

Seibertron wrote:Waitasec ... it has Manga in it? And Manga of Hasbro exclusive Pretender Transformers that Takara never released in Japan? Hmm ...

Well, the previous books had manga in them. 2009 for Henkei! Henkei!, and both 2010 and 2011 for United.

As for all these Pretenders, I'm guessing the story will somehow involve United Thunderwing (since he was seen in the foreshadowing end of the 2011 manga story), and they just threw in these guys to enhance the amount of Pretender characters so thunderwing would fit better. Maybe.

Though, the e-Hobby G1 manga issues that came with MP-1B Convoy Black Ver. and MP-3G Starscream Ghost Version both featured Splashdown, who also wasn't sold in Japan. And the one with MP-1B also had Waverider instead of Diver (I know that the two look alike, but the author specified that this was the American Waverider character instead of the Japanese Diver character).

Sabrblade wrote:

Seibertron wrote:Waitasec ... it has Manga in it? And Manga of Hasbro exclusive Pretender Transformers that Takara never released in Japan? Hmm ...

Well, the previous books had manga in them. 2009 for Henkei! Henkei!, and both 2010 and 2011 for United.

As for all these Pretenders, I'm guessing the story will somehow involve United Thunderwing (since he was seen in the foreshadowing end of the 2001 manga story), and they just threw in these guys to enhance the amount of Pretender characters so thunderwing would fit better. Maybe.

Though, the e-Hobby G1 manga issues that came with MP-1B Convoy Black Ver. and MP-3G Starscream Ghost Version both featured Splashdown, who also wasn't sold in Japan. And the one with MP-1B also had Waverider instead of Diver (I know that the two look alike, but the author specified that this was the American Waverider character instead of the Japanese Diver character).

Splashdown was sold in Japan, unless I'm misunderstanding you.

Seibertron wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

Seibertron wrote:Waitasec ... it has Manga in it? And Manga of Hasbro exclusive Pretender Transformers that Takara never released in Japan? Hmm ...

Well, the previous books had manga in them. 2009 for Henkei! Henkei!, and both 2010 and 2011 for United.

As for all these Pretenders, I'm guessing the story will somehow involve United Thunderwing (since he was seen in the foreshadowing end of the 2011 manga story), and they just threw in these guys to enhance the amount of Pretender characters so thunderwing would fit better. Maybe.

Though, the e-Hobby G1 manga issues that came with MP-1B Convoy Black Ver. and MP-3G Starscream Ghost Version both featured Splashdown, who also wasn't sold in Japan. And the one with MP-1B also had Waverider instead of Diver (I know that the two look alike, but the author specified that this was the American Waverider character instead of the Japanese Diver character).

Splashdown was sold in Japan, unless I'm misunderstanding you.

Splashdown was an American toy Japan never got, yet the author put him in two Japanese manga issues e-Hobby sold with two Masterpieces.

Japan got the following 1988 Pretenders:
Metalhawk
Lander (Landmine's toy, mail order figure for them)
Diver (Waverider's toy)
Phoenix (Cloudburst's toy)
Grand Maximus
Blood (Bomb-Burst's toy)
Dauros (Skullgrin's toy)
Gilmer (Submarauder's toy)


Also, I made a typo. "2001" should be "2011". My bad.

Sabrblade wrote:

Seibertron wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

Seibertron wrote:Waitasec ... it has Manga in it? And Manga of Hasbro exclusive Pretender Transformers that Takara never released in Japan? Hmm ...

Well, the previous books had manga in them. 2009 for Henkei! Henkei!, and both 2010 and 2011 for United.

As for all these Pretenders, I'm guessing the story will somehow involve United Thunderwing (since he was seen in the foreshadowing end of the 2011 manga story), and they just threw in these guys to enhance the amount of Pretender characters so thunderwing would fit better. Maybe.

Though, the e-Hobby G1 manga issues that came with MP-1B Convoy Black Ver. and MP-3G Starscream Ghost Version both featured Splashdown, who also wasn't sold in Japan. And the one with MP-1B also had Waverider instead of Diver (I know that the two look alike, but the author specified that this was the American Waverider character instead of the Japanese Diver character).

Splashdown was sold in Japan, unless I'm misunderstanding you.

Splashdown was an American toy Japan never got, yet the author put him in two Japanese manga issues e-Hobby sold with two Masterpieces.

Japan got the following 1988 Pretenders:
Metalhawk
Lander (Landmine's toy, mail order figure for them)
Diver (Waverider's toy)
Phoenix (Cloudburst's toy)
Grand Maximus
Blood (Bomb-Burst's toy)
Dauros (Skullgrin's toy)
Gilmer (Submarauder's toy)


Also, I made a typo. "2001" should be "2011". My bad.

I read Splashdown, but was thinking Powermaster Slapdash. I own all of the Japanese Pretenders that you mentioned.

Seibertron wrote:I read Splashdown, but was thinking Powermaster Slapdash.

Ah, okay. I've done that a few times myself with Soundwave/Shockwave in the past.

So, yeah, I guess Japan isn't above using U.S.-only characters in their fiction.

What's kinda funny is that something like this happened in TF: Energon. While Energon Six Shot was a main character in the last few episodes of that show (which was made in Japan), he somehow never got a Japanese toy release. Go figure.

Seibertron wrote:Waitasec ... it has Manga in it? And Manga of Hasbro exclusive Pretender Transformers that Takara never released in Japan? Hmm ...

I wonder if it foreshadowing more Pretender releases....

Looks like there is a shirt to order.