The Energon Pub

Nemesis Primal wrote:

ZeroWolf wrote:I'm now picturing a mini shockwave on your shoulder.

...I may have a need to pick up at least one of this year's 2 Core Shockwaves now.

Man, if I had a nickel for every time a board member convinced me to get a new Shockwave, I'd have 2 nickels, which isn't a lot, but it''s weird that it happened twice, right?

A phineas and ferb reference?

I'm curious as to what the other time was now...

Sowndwave76 wrote:agree to disagree

This is the most sensible course of action, though I'm still confused at what your dogged insistence is in aid of. Taking what we argued as fact...nothing changes, things are as we see them.

ZeroWolf wrote:

Sowndwave76 wrote:agree to disagree

This is the most sensible course of action, though I'm still confused at what your dogged insistence is in aid of. Taking what we argued as fact...nothing changes, things are as we see them.

Sure.



Has there been any word on when Sludge will be released?
I don't follow the regular SS line, but is there any way to know based on confirmed future releases of that line?

No word yet, it depends on when hasbro decides how they're going to preview things at the moment. Possibly another Fan First Friday

ZeroWolf wrote:

Nemesis Primal wrote:

ZeroWolf wrote:I'm now picturing a mini shockwave on your shoulder.

...I may have a need to pick up at least one of this year's 2 Core Shockwaves now.

Man, if I had a nickel for every time a board member convinced me to get a new Shockwave, I'd have 2 nickels, which isn't a lot, but it''s weird that it happened twice, right?

A phineas and ferb reference?

I'm curious as to what the other time was now...

Indeed, good fellow.

And the other time in question was Stargrave selling me on Siege Shockwave with the aid of an Amazon sale late into it's year of release, since I typically only do 1-figure-per-character (with the exception of repurposings, like the SS WW2 Bee I bought to use as IDW Centurion) and was still reticent to replace the DotM Shockwave I had had for years.

I didn't mind Siege Shockwave, he's actually quite fun

ZeroWolf wrote:I didn't mind Siege Shockwave, he's actually quite fun

Oh I agree, I'm very glad to have been convinced to snag him.

Randomhero wrote:

Rodimus Knight wrote:

Randomhero wrote:

BW Megatron wrote:

Randomhero wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:I hate the window-less packaging that doesn't allow us to check for any blemishes or other imperfections on the figure. Now's it's a complete gamble as to whether the figure is flawed or not.

No different then a Titan or commander class or ordering anything online.

Plus now it makes it impossible to tell if the figure was switched with another.

Again, titan, commander class and ordering online. It’s no different. The alternative is an open window where someone can just rip his head off.

or they give up on the virtue signaling and go back to using windowed packages to avoid people purchasing the item not liking it's appearance and having it returned.

Rainbow High is putting out a special edition doll with special edition packaging for $80 US which if it was in a standard package would be $26 US. Why am I mentioning this you may be asking, because they also have decided that they will do a windowless package. Doll collectors are a lot more particular about flaws and sadly even though RH is generally a higher quality doll line, their quality control is getting awful. I foresee many of those being opened and returned which can be a costly prospect for the stores and MGA.

I think the TF community should start doing the same thing.

They’re not going to go back to the way it was. Hasbro’s reason for this is for a good reasoning and cause. It is not hasbro or any other companies fault for having scummy fans who will return something with the wrong figure in or with nothing in.


Again, if you don’t like this at all because you feel you should be able to see what’s inside 1. You’re being selfish. They’re doing this to minimize disposable plastic waste. Sorry but the the environment is more important then your toy hobby. 2. You can just quit collecting and move on. Or 3. You can do what everyone already does and order it online through a legitimate retailer. Something everyone already does whether they wanna admit to it or not. Don’t act like y’all don’t have takara imports from Japan that ya didn’t order online like Mps or legends or their selects line etc. It mainly guarantees you’re getting the figure but does guarantee what’s inside is the toy.

Im just gonna order my leader class online. Just like I do with my Titan class and my commander class. Problem solved.

Having a window box is pragmatic for collectors. This will be very problematic for toy collectors who will be forced to return a greater number of toys that are flawed. It is being done for political reasons that you clearly support - however, it is insulting to others to call them "selfish", because they do not agree with your political "solutions" to the problem.

And no, it isn't Hasbro's fault that people swap toys, but it isn't my fault that consumers don't responsibly recycle the plastic components of the packaging. I shouldn't be penalized for that.

And I want to shop locally, not online, so your solution to preventing swapping doesn't work for me

The fact that you don't feel my toy collecting needs are very important and that you would rather have collectors quit the hobby to appease your political elitism clearly says more about yourself than it does about those who disagree with you.

But it's been made clear that anyone who has a problem with this is a political "nihilist" who has ****ed over the world by not doing our part - yet we're the extremists'? You don't know me, nor could you possibly know me.

My guess for Sludge is a May reveal with September release date to match slug last year.

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:My guess for Sludge is a May reveal with September release date to match slug last year.

I'm hoping for a bit earlier, but this makes sense.

Next question...
With figures like the Insecticons and Blitzwing being released in Legacy, the Dinobots in SS86 (with the last 2 possibly in the regular line next year),
does anyone think this may be the last year for SS86?

I get that sharing slots with Studio Series means it doesn't need a full line-up...
But out of the characters that had any sort of remotely significant screen time who haven't already been made in these recent lines, who's even left?
The Constructions don't seem likely. Brawn? Some of the other cassette minions? I suppose another OP and Megatron are possible, but that seems like a stretch. Especially if Megatron is never going to have a gun alt mode again.
Even if we got Swoop at leader class and two more Junkions, the options are still thin.
I could see an '86 Springer landing in Buzzworthy before SS86.

To add to this, if the Rise of the Beasts opening date holds, would any of those toys get released within the first few months of '23?
Because those initial waves could really push SS86 out the door.

*Edit
To add to this, some have said they think there are plenty of G1 characters that could be released in this subline... However, imo this doesn't completely make sense because all of these have been characters seen in the movie. Snarl, Grapple, Windcharger, and Wheeljack would all be unlikely imo.
Then to think how these figures have all be new molds (minus the few repaints/retools) until ER Starscream. If Hastak made a SS86 Hoist sans worn paint apps I'd be very surprised.
I'd also think that as Hastak maybe trying to stretch this line a bit longer to get closer to RotB, that may be why we're getting an Ironhide and Arcee that may have little to no differences from their previous releases. No guarantee, but turning to repaints/retools seems like a yellow flag that the end is near.

I thought SS86 would've been over by now since the anniversary is over. Technically every bot from the first two seasons, minus the combiners, could show up in the line, but then it's less about the movie and more of a Masterpiece lite line.

IIRC there were nearly a 100 characters in TF:TM so the line could keep going until we get to all of them. Minus Megatron of course.

Rodimus Prime wrote:IIRC there were nearly a 100 characters in TF:TM so the line could keep going until we get to all of them. Minus Megatron of course.

Minus the ones we got in wfc of course

ZeroWolf wrote:

Rodimus Prime wrote:IIRC there were nearly a 100 characters in TF:TM so the line could keep going until we get to all of them. Minus Megatron of course.

Minus the ones we got in wfc of course

Minus the ones not named Cliffjumper you mean?

In all honestly, I think the line will go on as long as the design team wants/needs to include G1 figures under the Studio Series line. Having to do Unicron, TFTM figures and BW figures all at the same time is what created the SS86 subline. Now there is a break between the movies and the design team clearly isn't as interested in the regular Studio Series based on how they've treated reveals, so I can see it sticking around at least until the new Rise of the Beasts figures are ready for release. It also wouldn't surprise me if they come back to it every so often in the future when there is a lull in regular SS designs.

There are tons of Earthrise figures that could get new decoes or tooling as part of this line, but I also don't know why there couldn't be reissues or new figures for older SS releases. I don't see SS86 going away soon, but I don't think it's going to continue to have the same place in the line that it's had for the last year.

ZeroWolf wrote:

Rodimus Prime wrote:IIRC there were nearly a 100 characters in TF:TM so the line could keep going until we get to all of them. Minus Megatron of course.

Minus the ones we got in wfc of course

Not necessarily. If Hasbro followed Buzzworthy Kup's example, they could take all the WFC guys, like Soundwave, Springer and Galvatron, clean them up and put them in a SS86 box and voila! Others like Cyclonus and Ultra Magnus can get a minor paint change (again, Kup) and get released in a SS86 box that way. It's not like Hasbro hasn't done anything like that, especially recently. It's also a perfect way to rerelease Netflix Bee, assuming VW agrees.

All of those types of situations are possible for sure.

Here’s a couple more thoughts:
The external packaging for SS86 hasn’t been anything fancy…
I get, there was definitely a bit of work put into the display/backdrop pieces.
But who’s to say since the anniversary year has been over, that Hastak does keep the basic premise of the line going (also including repaints & retools) with different packaging?

My other thought is I feel confident in the assumption this subline has sold well. Really well.
Being that RotB doesn’t come out until later in June,
That gives Hastak some time to see how Legacy sales are at least initially going…
I could totally see SS86 becoming the line that includes almost any G1 character, at most with slight retools in an effort to help make up from any poor Legacy sales.
However, I will say, it seems obvious imo that SS86 (even with a different name) isn’t going to sell as well if it’s just repaints or even retools of previously released figures.
It’s going to lack at least some wow factor, & maybe a lot.
For me personally, I’d bite if Astrotrain, Shockwave & Soundwave were retooled to have substantially less greebling.
I don’t have either of those first 2. But then that would make them new to me.
I could totally see others thinking, “Nope, I’m good with what I have”.

I don’t want SS86 to end; it’s been my favorite since it started.
But if it’s not going to bring new molds and the same, cleaner aesthetic, I believe it will fizzle-out.

Sowndwave76 wrote:All of those types of situations are possible for sure.

Here’s a couple more thoughts:
The external packaging for SS86 hasn’t been anything fancy…
I get, there was definitely a bit of work put into the display/backdrop pieces.
But who’s to say since the anniversary year has been over, that Hastak does keep the basic premise of the line going (also including repaints & retools) with different packaging?

My other thought is I feel confident in the assumption this subline has sold well. Really well.
Being that RotB doesn’t come out until later in June,
That gives Hastak some time to see how Legacy sales are at least initially going…
I could totally see SS86 becoming the line that includes almost any G1 character, at most with slight retools in an effort to help make up from any poor Legacy sales.
However, I will say, it seems obvious imo that SS86 (even with a different name) isn’t going to sell as well if it’s just repaints or even retools of previously released figures.
It’s going to lack at least some wow factor, & maybe a lot.
For me personally, I’d bite if Astrotrain, Shockwave & Soundwave were retooled to have substantially less greebling.
I don’t have either of those first 2. But then that would make them new to me.
I could totally see others thinking, “Nope, I’m good with what I have”.

I don’t want SS86 to end; it’s been my favorite since it started.
But if it’s not going to bring new molds and the same, cleaner aesthetic, I believe it will fizzle-out.

The new movie was pushed back to next year when Hasbro will be selling what comes after Legacy.

A fun idea could be to do Studio Series what if? And bring some toy only live action characters like Wreckage or Incinerator and give them the SS upgrade treatment.

ZeroWolf wrote:

Sowndwave76 wrote:All of those types of situations are possible for sure.

Here’s a couple more thoughts:
The external packaging for SS86 hasn’t been anything fancy…
I get, there was definitely a bit of work put into the display/backdrop pieces.
But who’s to say since the anniversary year has been over, that Hastak does keep the basic premise of the line going (also including repaints & retools) with different packaging?

My other thought is I feel confident in the assumption this subline has sold well. Really well.
Being that RotB doesn’t come out until later in June,
That gives Hastak some time to see how Legacy sales are at least initially going…
I could totally see SS86 becoming the line that includes almost any G1 character, at most with slight retools in an effort to help make up from any poor Legacy sales.
However, I will say, it seems obvious imo that SS86 (even with a different name) isn’t going to sell as well if it’s just repaints or even retools of previously released figures.
It’s going to lack at least some wow factor, & maybe a lot.
For me personally, I’d bite if Astrotrain, Shockwave & Soundwave were retooled to have substantially less greebling.
I don’t have either of those first 2. But then that would make them new to me.
I could totally see others thinking, “Nope, I’m good with what I have”.

I don’t want SS86 to end; it’s been my favorite since it started.
But if it’s not going to bring new molds and the same, cleaner aesthetic, I believe it will fizzle-out.

The new movie was pushed back to next year when Hasbro will be selling what comes after Legacy.

A fun idea could be to do Studio Series what if? And bring some toy only live action characters like Wreckage or Incinerator and give them the SS upgrade treatment.

Also for the timing, lines are usually planned a year ahead of time, so if they wait to see how Legacy does and use that to adjust their plans, we are talking 2023 before anything would show up.

I would definitely be down for some updated non-film movie toys.

There's always this guy, too.

I'm so excited that we got bailiff, prosecutor, and Kranix figures in the Pit collection, and I'll still be happy if that's all they they do. But yeah, if they really want to go all-out and exploit this line to its fullest potential, we should get each of them as proper deluxes. Rerelease the Allicons, too, get some more army builders going.

Related I will buy at least one of every Junkion redeco they make.

AcademyofDrX wrote:I'm so excited that we got bailiff, prosecutor, and Kranix figures in the Pit collection, and I'll still be happy if that's all they they do. But yeah, if they really want to go all-out and exploit this line to its fullest potential, we should get each of them as proper deluxes. Rerelease the Allicons, too, get some more army builders going.

Related I will buy at least one of every Junkion redeco they make.

Seriously, Hasbro should just look at the TF:TM credits and use it as a checklist and not stop until all character names have been checked off. Even if some of them are just straight rereleases. CW Devastator in SS86 packaging, either as a set or 6 individual retail releases, much like the Bayverse version, anyone?

Rodimus Prime wrote:

AcademyofDrX wrote:I'm so excited that we got bailiff, prosecutor, and Kranix figures in the Pit collection, and I'll still be happy if that's all they they do. But yeah, if they really want to go all-out and exploit this line to its fullest potential, we should get each of them as proper deluxes. Rerelease the Allicons, too, get some more army builders going.

Related I will buy at least one of every Junkion redeco they make.

Seriously, Hasbro should just look at the TF:TM credits and use it as a checklist and not stop until all character names have been checked off. Even if some of them are just straight rereleases. CW Devastator in SS86 packaging, either as a set or 6 individual retail releases, much like the Bayverse version, anyone?

If they're reissuing CW Dev instead of making a new one--a perfectly valid choice--he'd better be all in one box. I think it's a great figure on balance, but the individual figures are not up to contemporary standards. I have the UW version, and the increased poseability like in the elbows is welcome but still limited.

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:

There's always this guy, too.

As per using the Movie credits to fill the roster of this line...



Arblus, too then.

Rodimus Prime wrote:

AcademyofDrX wrote:I'm so excited that we got bailiff, prosecutor, and Kranix figures in the Pit collection, and I'll still be happy if that's all they they do. But yeah, if they really want to go all-out and exploit this line to its fullest potential, we should get each of them as proper deluxes. Rerelease the Allicons, too, get some more army builders going.

Related I will buy at least one of every Junkion redeco they make.

Seriously, Hasbro should just look at the TF:TM credits and use it as a checklist and not stop until all character names have been checked off. Even if some of them are just straight rereleases. CW Devastator in SS86 packaging, either as a set or 6 individual retail releases, much like the Bayverse version, anyone?

Some of the characters in the credits weren't even in the movie. Inferno, for one.

Prime vs Prime and Chefatron have posted reviews of Core Class Exo-suit Spike Witwicky.

I have to say for what it is, this isn't a bad little figure.
It really should have waist rotation, but still it's not too shabby.
The face (or lack thereof) actually doesn't bother me that much. I think because it's such a small figure, that it still works overall.

I'm really considering making a Planet of Junk diorama for my most of my movie figures, especially if I end up buying Junkyard. So this Spike could be used as Daniel in my set-up...
Yeah, I think there's a good chance this guy may end up in my collection.


*Edit
No, I won't be shocked if Hastak continues this line into the future and just throws in '86-'88 characters. But whether you like this Core class Spike or not, it's an example of what this line should be-- new molds of characters that have a significant association with the movie, that haven't been released in other lines.
But between Coronation SS, Ironhide, and Arcee, this obviously seems to be changing.
Imo, it's just not anywhere close to an ideal change or way to extend what has been a phenomenal subline.