The Energon Pub

Wed Dec 21, 2022 11:29 am

DeathReviews wrote:"Optimus, help! My LEGS are fused together!"

Awesome, i checked your channel it's amazing.

News Credits: 332 · Thu Dec 22, 2022 11:50 pm

With two days to go I feel the need to state again that there was ZERO Earthspark toys on shelves in the US for the Christmas shopping season.

News Credits: 101 · Fri Dec 23, 2022 5:59 am

chuckdawg1999 wrote:With two days to go I feel the need to state again that there was ZERO Earthspark toys on shelves in the US for the Christmas shopping season.

I never saw a single one at my local Walmart nor even at my local Toys R Us. Must be a Montréal thing.
>:oP

News Credits: 4877 · Sat Dec 24, 2022 11:45 pm

AcademyofDrX wrote:To me it feels like a step up from the Cyberverse Deluxes, though I didn't get Slug or Cheetor. The transformation complexity and poseability are definitely up there with Legacy, though it didn't have the kind of heft or solidness I expect in Generations. On the other hand, it's very similar to smaller figures like Black Arachnia, so maybe I'm not taking a wide enough view of the line.

I also need to take back my criticism of the alt-mode: once I slotted the weapon in and adjusted some of the tabbing, it all locked together really well. I don't like fiddling that much, but it's an acceptable trade-off given how well it poses.

The next thing I need to do is dig out a flight stand. She has a port in her back and everything about her design suggests she should be in the air. I'm having more fun with her than I usually get from Generations, so maybe I'm approaching this the wrong way. Maybe I shouldn't see animated Deluxes as less collector-friendly than Generations, but as more play-friendly.

Definitely, I see everything you see and you write it out perfectly. I only mention Slug because he felt like a step above the other deluxes in that Cyberverse line. Others had a lot going for them (like Megatron and Bee) but there was something about them that held them back.

chuckdawg1999 wrote:With two days to go I feel the need to state again that there was ZERO Earthspark toys on shelves in the US for the Christmas shopping season.

This is absolutely bonkers. I was certain these would be in the US for the holiday season, now is the time to sell them with a whole line made up of perfect gifts for young transformers fans in gift giving season, plus as a tie in with a brand new show on air. Something was fumbled. They won't be as necessary next year when the entire ROTB line, also aimed at kids, will be on shelves during the holiday season.

News Credits: 332 · Sun Dec 25, 2022 12:32 am

Amazon has the drone one and Elita-1 up for pre-order with a January 1st stock date.

News Credits: 1646 · Fri Dec 30, 2022 12:30 pm

chuckdawg1999 wrote:With two days to go I feel the need to state again that there was ZERO Earthspark toys on shelves in the US for the Christmas shopping season.

still nothing. Pulse fulfilled preorders for the 3 deluxes, but that was it.

News Credits: 332 · Fri Dec 30, 2022 8:06 pm

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:
chuckdawg1999 wrote:With two days to go I feel the need to state again that there was ZERO Earthspark toys on shelves in the US for the Christmas shopping season.

still nothing. Pulse fulfilled preorders for the 3 deluxes, but that was it.

I got ONE Deluxe (Twitch) and ONE Warrior (Elita-1) coming next week from Amazon. That's all they have available. They have a listing for Megatron under its code name but it's sold by third parties.

Right after I posted this I went to the Megatron listing and found that the Flip-Change Bumblebee and Wheeljack are up for pre-order but under their code names. Prime was available too but only by third-party sellers.

I hate code names, I hate having to look for them, and I hate ordering figures piecemeal because figures might sell out and not be restocked.

News Credits: 4877 · Fri Jan 06, 2023 6:25 pm

2 months late but for those still interested, the Earthspark line has finally arrived to US stores. The deluxes, one steps and warriors have all been found in a Target in New Jersey. Below are reviews for most of the figures to give you an idea of the figures if they interest you.

If you have found them, share your sightings with our community in the sightings section and on our boards in your region related thread.

This sighting was originally posted by AutbotJazz1 here.

News Credits: 6 · Fri Jan 06, 2023 8:07 pm

william-james88 wrote:2 months late

Was there a release date previously announced that they missed?

News Credits: 4877 · Fri Jan 06, 2023 8:29 pm

RotorstormNZ wrote:
william-james88 wrote:2 months late

Was there a release date previously announced that they missed?

The toyline should have been out when the show debuted and for the holiday season.

News Credits: 332 · Fri Jan 06, 2023 8:52 pm

I ended up canceling Twitch because the delivery date changed to "We don't know when the figure will ship" the same as the flip changers that Amazon has in stock. I got Warrior Prime instead.

Fri Jan 06, 2023 9:40 pm

"Finally"

News Credits: 332 · Fri Jan 06, 2023 9:41 pm

I really thought this line would end up heavily delayed like Animated and Prime.

News Credits: 4877 · Fri Jan 06, 2023 10:25 pm

chuckdawg1999 wrote:I really thought this line would end up heavily delayed like Animated and Prime.

The toys were in the hands of the retailers for months now so it was a matter of time. Either this or we see it all at a liquidator, which is what is happening in the UK.

News Credits: 1646 · Sat Jan 07, 2023 8:03 pm

Glad they are finally showing up, hopefully BBTS finally gets the deluxes.

I do think, after skimming Chuck's review, that I need Elita. I love her design so much, girl-boss for the win!

News Credits: 4877 · Sat Jan 07, 2023 8:08 pm

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:Glad they are finally showing up, hopefully BBTS finally gets the deluxes.

I do think, after skimming Chuck's review, that I need Elita. I love her design so much, girl-boss for the win!

Her lack of basic articulation is real rough though. That warrior Optimus excels in that department by comparison.

News Credits: 1646 · Sat Jan 07, 2023 8:13 pm

william-james88 wrote:
D-Maximal_Primal wrote:Glad they are finally showing up, hopefully BBTS finally gets the deluxes.

I do think, after skimming Chuck's review, that I need Elita. I love her design so much, girl-boss for the win!

Her lack of basic articulation is real rough though. That warrior Optimus excels in that department by comparison.

I am going to get Deluxe Prime, so I will be skipping him. Only character I have any immediate plans to purchase twice is Megatron, both his toys look fun and I love his design.

She has enough articulation, you are talking to someone who bought and enjoyed a lot of Cyberverse despite the limitations of the line as well, for me a good character can offset some toy limitations.

News Credits: 6 · Sat Jan 07, 2023 9:44 pm

william-james88 wrote:
RotorstormNZ wrote:
william-james88 wrote:2 months late

Was there a release date previously announced that they missed?

The toyline should have been out when the show debuted and for the holiday season.

Ah, I missed Hasbro's announcement about that.

News Credits: 4877 · Sun Jan 08, 2023 1:04 am

RotorstormNZ wrote:
william-james88 wrote:
RotorstormNZ wrote:
william-james88 wrote:2 months late

Was there a release date previously announced that they missed?

The toyline should have been out when the show debuted and for the holiday season.

Ah, I missed Hasbro's announcement about that.

Just to be clear, Hasbro never announced anything regarding this toyline. I am just saying that these toys should be out with a show's debut and for the holiday season. The whole point of this toyline was to have new stuff on the shelves for the holiday season, as we saw with the specially made displays in Canada, that were even in the special holiday aisle. I'm just going by business logic here and what should happen.

But they never promised anything.

Sun Jan 08, 2023 12:24 pm

Found these guys earlier today but unfortunately a huge pass on these. They are charging $24.99 and the quality is that of Cyberverse or 5 Below figures. They look so cheap in hand but the price is steep. All the Megatrons had that swirly look on the silver plastic and he is TINY. Not a good look for this line at that price point I say hold off for inevitable clearance on these.

News Credits: 4877 · Mon Jan 09, 2023 12:06 am

The Earthspark line arrived in the US earlier in the week, two months after the show debuted on Paramount +, but there were some classes missing. Well, those classes, the Tacticon and Spin Changer class, have now been found as well. The images below come from a Puerto Rico Target and were taken by Electro Rush, though they have shown up in various states in the US. We have reviews for all of these below, starting with a review from chuckdawg1999 for Spin Changers Optimus Prime and Bumblebee.

chuckdawg1999 wrote:Don't kid yourself, the Spin Changers are gimmick first and only. Of the two Optimus has the most articulation since its arms bend due to the transformation, but the gimmick works slightly better with Bumblebee. The figurines are nice but feel out of place with Prime and Bee. These are definitely best enjoyed by a younger audience.

News Credits: 1 · Mon Jan 09, 2023 12:15 am

Well, that's one way to give TFs intended for younger kids in-scale human figures that won't just instantly get lost.

Broken, mutilated, scuffed up, and possibly chewed on, yes, but not immediately.

News Credits: 4877 · Mon Jan 09, 2023 12:19 am

morganprime wrote:Found these guys earlier today but unfortunately a huge pass on these. They are charging $24.99 and the quality is that of Cyberverse or 5 Below figures. They look so cheap in hand but the price is steep. All the Megatrons had that swirly look on the silver plastic and he is TINY. Not a good look for this line at that price point I say hold off for inevitable clearance on these.

Everything you write makes sense, these arent targetted towards you (or us) in general. A small megatron won't speak to anyone who cares about scale, but to a parent, getting the main bad guy for $25 instead of $35 for a voyager, that speaks to them and their wallets. I did get all the deluxes, to do reviews, and while I don't recommend the megatron to anyone, I feel I get as much for my money with Twitch and Bumblebee as I do with Legacy Skids or Skullgrin. It's a different look and feel for sure, but those two had an enjoyable and novel transformation. I expected Bumblebee to be a bore, but that figure surprised me and the alt mode won me over. It felt like an improved version of the original deluxe generations/IDW design.

As for clearance, that could be inevitable in the US since these toys missed the 2022 holiday window but in Canada the deluxes are almost completely sold out at the Walmarts I go. They sold well for the holidays.

Also, as far as money goes, these are cheaper in Canada, so there's that too affecting my thoughts on value. They are $30CAD/$22 USD here. It's not a huge difference from $25, but that slightly lower price point makes them feel like they are in a seperate class from the Legacy toys.