The Energon Pub

[primalxconvoy]

Completely unacceptable that mainline G1 transformer characters are only coming out for the "American Collectors' Club". Hardly anyone outside the USA can afford to get these.

This is "Botcon Coneheads" all over again.

I'm honestly shocked and disgusted.

[Desslok2201]

As far as sales go, I think they could drum up more subscriptions if they made one of the limbs the free figure.

[Burn]

huh ... I'm actually interested, and I haven't cared about the club stuff for years.

This just in...the part of every helicopter in transformers history will now be played by Alpha Bravo.

That should make a certain Alpha Bravo hater incredibly happy!

[Easy Tiger]

I don't want to be a downer, but I'm frankly amazed that after taking a mold that is basically Ruckus, using the colours found in Ruckus, the result is so unrecognisable as Ruckus.

The grey peg, the orange boots, the blue thighs - there's less plastic that's actually the right colour than the wrong.

Of course, I realise that these are only shopped - I'll wait until the actual product is shown before making my mind up.

[Noideaforaname]

[Gearslide]

I'm willing to bet that in combined mode, "Mayhem Maximus" has Bludgeon's signature Skull face and samurai helmet.

[YoungPrime]

Wow so much for getting a IDW Scavengers set with Spinister.

I swear Hasbro can be so d@mn backwards at times. Needle Nose should be a retail release as well but whatever. These combiner repaints are beginning to wear out their welcome.

What is this set like $300? FOH!

[Zeedust]

I was going to cancel my subscription, but those Mayhems look far enough off the beaten path to interest me, and more Combiner Wars 'cons are definitely needed (to the point where I'm tempted to try to get both versions of Bruticus and rename one of them.

Plus, Mayhem Maximus will probably be the perfect foe for Sky Reign, who also seems to have come from way out in left field.

...But yeah, like a few others, I'm not thrilled seeing those targetmasters used twice. Would Universe Nightsick or a PCC Mini-con or something have not been an option? Not a deal-breaker though. If I can squeeze this thing into my budget, I want it.

But Ramjet's totally going on ebay or something. Meh. Only thing I'm curious about is how the head fin works.

[Diem]

Congrats FunPub, after your poopy Orion Pax repaints this year you have my attention again. I've been on the fence about getting a Universe Ramjet for a while and this just made my choice even harder. Tell Walky never to try being funny again and you'll have me for life.

Using the Sub Service with the Combiner Wars line was a no-brainer, in the best possible way. Speaking of no-brainers, Offroad already pretty much was Ruckus, so no real surprise there. I'm digging that post-1986 guys whose name isn't Nightbeat are getting a spin of the wheel, but I definitely didn't need a replacement Bludgeon, and it's a bit mad that he'll be twice the size of the others. He might look nice next to BotCon Octopunch though. Now when are we going to get our mustachioed wrestler to round out that team?

The sub service has always been too rich for my blood but this is the hardest to pass on yet.

As for the GI Joe stuff, who gives a toss?

[Joetx]

If the Wreckers combine to form Ruination then shouldn't the Mayhem Attack Squad combine to form Baldigus..?

I had to look up Baldigus.

Your idea makes perfect sense. Make it so, TFCC!

[Diem]

Completely unacceptable that mainline G1 transformer characters are only coming out for the "American Collectors' Club". Hardly anyone outside the USA can afford to get these.

While I agree with your sentiment here ONE HUNDRED PERCENT I have to disagree with the specifics. The odds of the likes of Windsweeper coming out at retail are insanely low; if the club wasn't releasing them they just plain wouldn't exist.

Sure, we had a nice little string of insanity for a while, with the likes of Thunderwing, Straxus, Scoop and Crosscut getting released, but with the exception of Armada Megatron the Combiner Wars line so far is pure 1984-1986. Even the most left field character shown so far, Sky Lynx, is still a prominent character with a number of cartoon episodes under his belt. Yeah, if they announce Joyride or Squeezeplay or someone tomorrow I'll eat every hat I own, but right now I feel like we're back on the Cartoon-Only Pony for a little trot.

[Joetx]

Since next year's TFSS theme is the Mayhem Attack Squad, the 6th and bonus figures should be among:

Carnivac
Catilla
Battletrap
Flywheels
Chop Shop
Venom
Snarler
Octopunch
Stranglehold
Roadblock

Battletrap already has a figure (Botcon 2015 set), as will Chop Shop.

To achieve a sense of symmetry, perhaps the 6th & bonus figures are Flywheels & Venom?

[chuckdawg1999]

This is the first year I'm interested in the full FSS, but I'm concerned how well the molds will hold up after all the reuses. I might wait to pick these up after we know how good the molds are.

[Wolfman Jake]

As for the GI Joe stuff, who gives a toss?

Aligned/Prime Soundblaster, anyone? Bonus: repurpose the "Laserbeak" unit as Aligned/Prime Buzzsaw! But, yeah, the rest of the G.I. JOE stuff is not of interest to me.

[Diem]

As for the GI Joe stuff, who gives a toss?

Aligned/Prime Soundblaster, anyone? Bonus: repurpose the "Laserbeak" unit as Aligned/Prime Buzzsaw! But, yeah, the rest of the G.I. JOE stuff is not of interest to me.

Go! Hunter Soundwave already makes a better Soundblaster to this mold in my opinion, even though he still has some blue on him.

[Wolfman Jake]

Transformers GO! Hunter Soundwave makes a better Soundwave to me, based on the color of blue used. It's much closer to Soundwave's traditional colors. SoundBlaster has GOT to be primarily black, though, and those Cobra B.A.T.s fit the bill nicely. I like the yellow accents too, which I've come to associate with SoundBlaster for some reason, probably because of the FoC figure, and that yellow is reason enough for me to name the "Laserbeak" drone as Buzzsaw. Slap a couple of Decepticon stickers over the Cobra emblems, as we're good to go!

[leokearon]

Aggh, the Mayhems should have been main releases, the Deceptions need more limbs released

[Henry921]

I kinda want Spinister. Wish he was getting a proper new head, but it's much closer than the BotCon 2012 one.

[rickdraco]

Hmmm.. looking at the Skywarp and Universe Ramjet.. I wonder if the remaining figure will turn out to be... Armada Thundercracker!! Considering how much they seem to be maximising the use of the armada Starscream mold it would make sense.

[Fireback]

As for the GI Joe stuff, who gives a toss?

Aligned/Prime Soundblaster, anyone? Bonus: repurpose the "Laserbeak" unit as Aligned/Prime Buzzsaw! But, yeah, the rest of the G.I. JOE stuff is not of interest to me.

G.I.Joe sure but 'Future Cobra Commander' is technically A Transformers epsd (post movie) epsd. So its really GIJ/TF i'd say.
Anyways,
I'll be picking The First Official 'Old Snake/Cobra Commander' up
As soon as it hits the con-floor. Its Dope!
Future Cobra Commander (2006). I don't get how everyone is like "Junk", I loved that episode, as A kid I was like- "WoW, What¿ Did anyone else even see this, Cobra Commander Lives in the Future!"
It's the First Hasbro official figurec ever, 27yrs late.

But 'Bruticus' aka 'UTILITARIAN' (Phuc Warbotron) takes home the overall prize.

[OptimalOptimus2]

Everybody looks awesome, except for Bludgeon. He's too colorful unlike his fellow counterparts.




This one was just terrible.
Let's just hope the figures' plastic qualities do not affect your nostalgic experience.

[prjkt]

I'm liking this a lot. Bludgeon is probably the least of the 5 announced, but hey, Deception Combiner ftw.

[Zeedust]

Orange Soundwave looks good, but I don't want two of them or "Old Snake". So it probably won't be worth the cost for me, especially if I'm trying to squeeze the FSS into my budget.

I get the feeling that either FSS figure six or the bonus figure will be made from the CW Powerglide or CW Shockwave mold and be a gun for Mayhem Maximus. Unless the Onslaught retool can still wear Groove as a chestplate, in which case that may be an option too.

[Wolfman Jake]

G.I.Joe sure but 'Future Cobra Commander' is technically A Transformers epsd (post movie) epsd. So its really GIJ/TF i'd say.
Anyways,
I'll be picking The First Official 'Old Snake/Cobra Commander' up
As soon as it hits the con-floor. Its Dope!
Future Cobra Commander (2006). I don't get how everyone is like "Junk", I loved that episode, as A kid I was like- "WoW, What¿ Did anyone else even see this, Cobra Commander Lives in the Future!"
It's the First Hasbro official figurec ever, 27yrs late.

But 'Bruticus' aka 'UTILITARIAN' (Phuc Warbotron) takes home the overall prize.

Oh, I get the reference they are making with "Old Snake." I know the episode to which this set is partially paying homage, but I consider that more of a cameo or guest appearance. Just the same, I don't consider Marissa Fairborn a real "Transformers" character any more than the mustached TV reporter who appears in every Sunbow cartoon of the 80's. Cobra Commander and Marissa belong in a JOE display, at least for my purposes. Similarly, I don't consider "Death's Head" a real Transformers character either, just a special guest star in his Marvel comic book appearances (sorry Seibertron, et. al.).

[Counterpunch]

Completely unacceptable that mainline G1 transformer characters are only coming out for the "American Collectors' Club". Hardly anyone outside the USA can afford to get these.

This is "Botcon Coneheads" all over again.

I'm honestly shocked and disgusted.

Paging 2007, paging 2007... We're relapsing. We need a stiff drink, 3-4 hundred dollars, and a skewer of meat to roast over this flamewar and we need it STAT.



...

......

But seriously, this is possibly the best line up of cool figures the Club has set up for the SubService.

Well done on their part taking some unloved, unnoticed characters and putting them in the spotlight.

Everybody looks awesome, except for Bludgeon. He's too colorful unlike his fellow counterparts.

Meow?



Looks pretty close to the inner robot to me.