The Energon Pub

ExciKaiser wrote:

Wolfman Jake wrote: Of course, we can mix and match till' our hearts are content once we get them all.

I already planned to pair not-yet-released Metalhawk shell with my not-yet-received TR Metalhawk...

Yeah, I'm hoping that, for the inner Pretender robots, we get more traditional figures that are reimaginings of the G1 characters, like ROTF Bludgen, Universe 2008, Skullgrin, and Titans Return Metalhawk. Then we can just put their little Decoy Shell buddies with them, homaging the G1 gimmick, while still retaining much better detailed and articulated robots for our displays.

Let's not forget how they weren't much use against Superion or anything else of any significance in pre-Dark Cybertron RiD; not to mention Grimlock being sicced on Tarn before promptly being beaten into the ground seconds later.

...

Man, the Dinobots suck.

Cobotron wrote:"And on this day a chasm opened on the surface of Seibertron. Birthing an entirely new sect of the fandom.
PRETENDER PURISTS!"



LOVE IT!

If he's the first then let me be the second. I loved me some Pretenders back in the day, I'll bring the BBQ sauce for the chicken tenders.

So I noticed something with Jazz, his limbs, and possible transformation looks very similar to Cyber Series Battalion Prowl. Probably just a coincidence.

Kurona wrote:

Caelus wrote:

Kurona wrote:

o.supreme wrote:We talked about that a little a few pages back. Other than a few Primes known to be Good, and a couple known to be Evil, some are kind of unknown. I'm kind of surprised Solus Prime is with a Decepticon (Octopunch)

So am I -- I would have figured that she'd be one of the ones Hasbro would want to make 'good', if only because she's the token girl. Octopunch also seems a strange choice for the blacksmith; wouldn't Stranglehold have worked better?

For what it's worth, I think in IDW Octopunch is a Junkion.

Nah, he was a straight-up Decepticon. He fought during the battle of Junkion though.

I guess I need to look at the panel again. I thought I remembered them talking about how the Junkions were strange and unpredictable, and showing Octopunch along with some other bizarre characters fighting the more normal looking Cybertronians. Him being an amalgem of discarded parts and technology from other worlds made much more sense to me than him being a Cybertronian who randomly looks like a character from a mashup of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Street Sharks.

Sabrblade wrote:

Prowl4 wrote:

Albatross250 wrote:

Prowl4 wrote:If the dinobots combine that's pretty disappointing as the whole idea of them is they're powerful enough alone and don't need to combine.

Well, with Predaking as a Titan, they might gonna Combine now since Predaking is gonna be a gigantic Titan half-sized than Devastator

They didn't in G1 or subsequent media save a bad idea in a comic. Like I said it kinda takes away from their unique ability to terrify the decepticons as an individual unit as opposed to a collective. That's just my opinion. I like thinking of them as the most hardcore autobot unit.

While I agree that one of the Dinobots' whole schticks ought to be that they're imposing and powerful enough to not need to combine with each other, in the history of their existence they don't exactly have the best track record of team victories against powerful opponents.

G1 cartoon: They couldn't beat Devastator in both "Heavy Metal War" and the 1986 movie.

G1 Marvel comics: They were losing to Shockwave before all six of them (counting Shockwave) ended up drowning in a tar pit in the past. And in the present, Megatron beat all five of them before Ratchet had to be the one to (just barely) beat Megatron. And later, while they held their own against Trypticon, the latter was only called into retreat by Ratbat since the city-dino had used up his quota of energy, giving the Dinobots a hollow victory. And all of them were finally killed as a team by the Underbase-empowered Starscream.

G1 Marvel UK comics: The Dinobots all got curbstomped by Guardian, and later couldn't beat Galvatron even with the combined assistance from Blaster's Autobots and Shockwave's Decepticons.

G1 toy commercials: The Dinobots were made out to be inferior to Predaking in more than one commercial.

IDW G1: The Dynobots couldn't beat Shockwave in "Spotlight: Shockwave", and needed help from the Monsterbots, Hot Rod, and Hunter O'Nion to defeat the Sunstreaker clones and Scorponok in "Maximum Dinobots".

Weird isn't it how they're touted as being a serious unit but don't quite accomplish it in some circumstances . In fairness in the original movie they did take on Devastator in a movie that ramped con power through the roof. They stormed the quintesson stronghold and established themselves as the bosses after taking out sharkticons. They then showed no fear by attacking Unicron on his exterior.

TFA Dinos weren't to be messed with and in bay verse they're incredibly powerful.

FOC dinos also were a strong unit that eventually led to defeating shockwave.

I do feel they've been misused and continuity errors have actually not helped them. I don't think many writers outside of furman actually like using them nor get their purpose.

I do envisage them as a wrecking ball crew. Making them a combiner kind of takes away from that along with the fact that they do not get along.

Kurona wrote:Man, the Dinobots suck.

They don't suck... they just always fight characters out of their leagues. Partly because it's an easy way for a writer to establish a new villain's superior strength (She-hulk gets pwned by that a lot too), and partly because that's who they are - always pushing their limits, and (almost) always getting back up again when they lose.

Plus, half the time cheap editing leaves them a bot short in any given battle.

Cobotron wrote:

Va'al wrote:

Cobotron wrote:"And on this day a chasm opened on the surface of Seibertron. Birthing an entirely new sect of the fandom.
PRETENDER PURISTS!"



LOVE IT!

*ahem*

Pure-Tenders.

Oh yeah! Legues above chicken-tenders.

Sorry Burn, I was busy approving posts.

Are pre-tenders appetizers for the Chicken Tender entre?

I think the Dinobots down fall is that they are normally perceived (by writers maybe?) as bumbling comic relief. But my knowledge of their portrayal in fiction is limited to the toon and the movie.
I'm all for the notion that they are not dumb, but instead cold, calculating, hardass warriors. Taking it to the next step of destructiveness, being a combiner makes sense to me.

chuckdawg1999 wrote:If he's the first then let me be the second. I loved me some Pretenders back in the day, I'll bring the BBQ sauce for the chicken tenders.

Good! they're gonna need all the suport they can get. And...... DELICIOUS!

chuckdawg1999 wrote:So I noticed something with Jazz, his limbs, and possible transformation looks very similar to Cyber Series Battalion Prowl. Probably just a coincidence.

Only one way to skin a Jazz?

Is it me, or im guessing that Fasttrack could be retooled from CW Rook?, just only adding that Titan master slot.


Hmm, looks like i'll wait for Hascon for more Deluxes

So what's this Leader Class sized Optimus Prime that we're getting? & is it G1?(a bit like MP10) coz haven't we already fairly recently had a Leader Class one with PMOP

oh....& if we're getting Predaking & Abominus, are they leaving the likes of Monstructor, Piranacon ect out

Stuartmaximus wrote:So what's this Leader Class sized Optimus Prime that we're getting? & is it G1?(a bit like MP10) coz haven't we already fairly recently had a Leader Class one with PMOP

From the leaked pictures it appeared to be another take on the PMOP / Ginrai mold or similar. It may have been a placeholder however. So we likely won't know exactly until Hascon.

Overcracker wrote:

Stuartmaximus wrote:So what's this Leader Class sized Optimus Prime that we're getting? & is it G1?(a bit like MP10) coz haven't we already fairly recently had a Leader Class one with PMOP

From the leaked pictures it appeared to be another take on the PMOP / Ginrai mold or similar. It may have been a placeholder however. So we likely won't know exactly until Hascon.

I feel its more of a new take on the G1 theme.

That was not a placeholder image, it was an image that was never sen before and looked like the 3d renders we get at shows now.

While the concept looks like PMOP, the aesthetic is really G1 Prime. The functonality though will be that to achieve that look, the transforming cab (which I assume turns into Orion pax) will have to combine with the trailer turning it into G1 Prime, recreating (thematically) how G1 Orion Pax became G1 Optimus Prime. And I think its pretty cool since it will look like his trailer dissapears when he transforms, just like in G1

william-james88 wrote:

Overcracker wrote:

Stuartmaximus wrote:So what's this Leader Class sized Optimus Prime that we're getting? & is it G1?(a bit like MP10) coz haven't we already fairly recently had a Leader Class one with PMOP

From the leaked pictures it appeared to be another take on the PMOP / Ginrai mold or similar. It may have been a placeholder however. So we likely won't know exactly until Hascon.

I feel its more of a new take on the G1 theme.

That was not a placeholder image, it was an image that was never sen before and looked like the 3d renders we get at shows now.

While the concept looks like PMOP, the aesthetic is really G1 Prime. The functonality though will be that to achieve that look, the transforming cab (which I assume turns into Orion pax) will have to combine with the trailer turning it into G1 Prime, recreating (thematically) how G1 Orion Pax became G1 Optimus Prime. And I think its pretty cool since it will look like his trailer dissapears when he transforms, just like in G1

You may be right. It's likely to be an evolution Prime in the same vein as Hot Rod-Rodimus.

Though the end result ends up being a bit too "PMOP-ey" still.

Stuartmaximus wrote:So what's this Leader Class sized Optimus Prime that we're getting? & is it G1?(a bit like MP10)

I'd say it's gonna be Cybertron/Galaxy Force version of Optimus Prime but the way he plugs into his battle suit it kinda looks like Super Ginrai..

Albatross250 wrote:

Stuartmaximus wrote:So what's this Leader Class sized Optimus Prime that we're getting? & is it G1?(a bit like MP10)

I'd say it's gonna be Cybertron/Galaxy Force version of Optimus Prime but the way he plugs into his battle suit it kinda looks like Super Ginrai..

Nope, not even remotely similar to Cybertron/Galaxy Force in any way. Assuming like WJ says its an actual render and not a placeholder.

Blocky and very G1-ey with gray G1 Trailer even.

william-james88 wrote:

Overcracker wrote:

Stuartmaximus wrote:So what's this Leader Class sized Optimus Prime that we're getting? & is it G1?(a bit like MP10) coz haven't we already fairly recently had a Leader Class one with PMOP

From the leaked pictures it appeared to be another take on the PMOP / Ginrai mold or similar. It may have been a placeholder however. So we likely won't know exactly until Hascon.

I feel its more of a new take on the G1 theme.

That was not a placeholder image, it was an image that was never sen before and looked like the 3d renders we get at shows now.

While the concept looks like PMOP, the aesthetic is really G1 Prime. The functonality though will be that to achieve that look, the transforming cab (which I assume turns into Orion pax) will have to combine with the trailer turning it into G1 Prime, recreating (thematically) how G1 Orion Pax became G1 Optimus Prime. And I think its pretty cool since it will look like his trailer dissapears when he transforms, just like in G1

I didn't think this new Optimus was related to the PMOP mold until I saw the rear part of the truck on his back, like PMOP. Maybe it is similar, but from what I've seen it looks awesome. I don't actually have a CHUG Optimus yet, if I find the right Megatron to go with him I may pick him up!

Overcracker wrote:

Albatross250 wrote:

Stuartmaximus wrote:So what's this Leader Class sized Optimus Prime that we're getting? & is it G1?(a bit like MP10)

I'd say it's gonna be Cybertron/Galaxy Force version of Optimus Prime but the way he plugs into his battle suit it kinda looks like Super Ginrai..

Nope, not even remotely similar to Cybertron/Galaxy Force in any way. Assuming like WJ says its an actual render and not a placeholder.

Blocky and very G1-ey with gray G1 Trailer even.

Are we going to the past again where all leader class are Blocks with safety reasons?

Although I gotta catch 'em all, the Prime Master 'Cons will never replace their G1 originals for me either. #puretender #sweetnsoursauce

I hope they include Longtooth as a Prime Master. But if I had the original, there'd be no contest as to which one I'd prefer -- kaiju should be BIG.

EvasionModeBumblebee wrote:

william-james88 wrote:

Overcracker wrote:

Stuartmaximus wrote:So what's this Leader Class sized Optimus Prime that we're getting? & is it G1?(a bit like MP10) coz haven't we already fairly recently had a Leader Class one with PMOP

From the leaked pictures it appeared to be another take on the PMOP / Ginrai mold or similar. It may have been a placeholder however. So we likely won't know exactly until Hascon.

I feel its more of a new take on the G1 theme.

That was not a placeholder image, it was an image that was never sen before and looked like the 3d renders we get at shows now.

While the concept looks like PMOP, the aesthetic is really G1 Prime. The functonality though will be that to achieve that look, the transforming cab (which I assume turns into Orion pax) will have to combine with the trailer turning it into G1 Prime, recreating (thematically) how G1 Orion Pax became G1 Optimus Prime. And I think its pretty cool since it will look like his trailer dissapears when he transforms, just like in G1

I didn't think this new Optimus was related to the PMOP mold until I saw the rear part of the truck on his back, like PMOP. Maybe it is similar, but from what I've seen it looks awesome. I don't actually have a CHUG Optimus yet, if I find the right Megatron to go with him I may pick him up!

I'm telling you now, the right Megatron for Power of the Primes Leader Optimus Prime is Combiner Wars (or Takara Legends) Leader Megatron. Trust me on this.

Boy, so I legitimately missed this whole thing! It was an interesting game of catch-up, let me tell you. But now that I've brought myself up to date on the situation, I'm ready to talk with everyone about all the interesting-

william-james88 wrote:We can't force you to erase it from your mind like the MIB

...swamp gas? I'm a little fuzzy on the details to be honest, but I feel like I need to exercise more caution before discharging my firearms.


Anyways in all seriousness, a few LOT of thoughts:

- It seems pretty clear by this point that the leak wasn't intentional but it certainly did a great, albeit unintended, job of hyping everyone up for PotP (and for Hascon)! I was extremely lukewarm on this line before, but now I'm hyped like no tomorrow. Finally, a proper full Dinobot crew! And an Abominus! And a nice big Predaking! And fembots! And Legends-class Duocons?! And... urgh, I'm already feeling the intense(-ly good) pain in my wallet.

- I don't mind the Dinobots combining at all! I wouldn't yet say that I'm too excited about it either (at least not before we see pictures of the combined mode; that'll be when I get excited), but it certainly doesn't bother me. From the looks of things - it seems like the images of Grimmy, Slaug and Swoop (who's actually 'Swoop' again!) are of the actual figures at least - the combining thing is probably the least intrusive it's been on any figures of that kind so far. If it comes down to it, I'm pretty sure people can ignore the combination gimmick in favor of still having what looks to be a full set of incredibly cool updated Dinobots.

- Somewhat related to the above point, I can say with about 80% certainty that some enterprising new 3P company is going to come out with a Beast-based (heh) upgrade kit for this Dinobot combiner. And then promptly go under because nobody's gonna buy that ever.

- It looks like Vector Prime's 'spark mode' or whatever is based heavily on his Cyber Key from the old toy. I adore this and he will be mine forever and ever.

- Interestingly, Grimlock's robot mode is in two different poses for his two releases (and a third for the stylised artwork on a different slide). I know it's not anything important, but I just thought it was an amusing observation. (Unless... his colors look a little different too, even between the two dino modes. I might be wrong, but what if they're planning on doing a toy-color and cartoon-color release? It's not outside the realm of possibility I suppose, if they're already planning to do two releases a fair while apart.)

- Elita-1 provides a great example of how much better PotP Starscream would look if his entire lower arms weren't the same color! It looks like they're still the same piece (or nearly so) but because the outer part is colored differently, they read as regular arms with bulky armor on top, as opposed to Starscream having consumed a large quantity of gamma-irradiated spinach.

- I cannot wait for the inevitable Ultra Magnus repaint/tool of that leader OP. I missed out on CW Magnus and this looks like it'll bring the best of both UM-worlds - A delicious white Prime repaint, and the classic big ol' trailer bot! I'm still not that psyched about Prime himself, though that may change if his inner Deluxe robot turns out to be spectacular.
And last but not least...

- I TOLD YOU that there'd be a re-issued Skrapnel coming down the pipes! I told you ALL, and I was right! (For the wrong reasons I'm sure, but still!)

Annnd sorry about the huge post there, guys. I guess I just had a lot to catch up on.

Micronus is Red :
Leige Maximo is Pink :
Vector Prime is Blue :
Alpha Trion is Yellow :
Alchemist Prime is also Blue :
Quintus Prime is sort of magenta/purple or near black
Megatronus is Blue (again with the blue)
Solus Prime is Green

There are a few more shown on the Optimus Primal Poster too.

Also the colours of the folded spark mode are different from the humanoid modes in colours to some degree.

So Alpha Trion isn't going to look to bad on the TR body due to the purple face but the yellow is likely going to match Leo Convoy better.


I can see how some of those colours will match existing TR bodies like Getaway or Skullsmasher rather well.

But I will admit I'm puzzled what made them pick that combination of colours and characters.

--------

On a technical point though - I wonder if Hasbro has considered making toys in such a way that the number of plastic colours is upped as it's shared across multiple toys.

For example : Solus Prime is likely green as she shares the leg colour with Octopunch. But why not pair your manufacturing so Leige Maximo is green and made on the Octopunch mould and Solus Prime is pinkish and made on the Skulgrin mould and then simply swap them over during production.

That way if you do that the colour of the interior figure won't match the shell - now there is some advantages to it matching but also it might pop more on the shelf and look better if they don't actually match.

-------

Oh and to return to the idea of "Weapons packs" that I keep going on about - I mostly started mentioning this as I wanted Dreadwind to have two guns.
but what about this as an idea the weapons of the primes would make nice accessories.

Sabrblade wrote:

Prowl4 wrote:

Albatross250 wrote:

Prowl4 wrote:If the dinobots combine that's pretty disappointing as the whole idea of them is they're powerful enough alone and don't need to combine.

Well, with Predaking as a Titan, they might gonna Combine now since Predaking is gonna be a gigantic Titan half-sized than Devastator

They didn't in G1 or subsequent media save a bad idea in a comic. Like I said it kinda takes away from their unique ability to terrify the decepticons as an individual unit as opposed to a collective. That's just my opinion. I like thinking of them as the most hardcore autobot unit.

While I agree that one of the Dinobots' whole schticks ought to be that they're imposing and powerful enough to not need to combine with each other, in the history of their existence they don't exactly have the best track record of team victories against powerful opponents.

G1 cartoon: They couldn't beat Devastator in both "Heavy Metal War" and the 1986 movie.

G1 Marvel comics: They were losing to Shockwave before all six of them (counting Shockwave) ended up drowning in a tar pit in the past. And in the present, Megatron beat all five of them before Ratchet had to be the one to (just barely) beat Megatron. And later, while they held their own against Trypticon, the latter was only called into retreat by Ratbat since the city-dino had used up his quota of energy, giving the Dinobots a hollow victory. And all of them were finally killed as a team by the Underbase-empowered Starscream.

G1 Marvel UK comics: The Dinobots all got curbstomped by Guardian, and later couldn't beat Galvatron even with the combined assistance from Blaster's Autobots and Shockwave's Decepticons.

G1 toy commercials: The Dinobots were made out to be inferior to Predaking in more than one commercial.

IDW G1: The Dynobots couldn't beat Shockwave in "Spotlight: Shockwave", and needed help from the Monsterbots, Hot Rod, and Hunter O'Nion to defeat the Sunstreaker clones and Scorponok in "Maximum Dinobots".

In fairness, the comics versions don't seem to be as tough as their G1 cartoon counterparts. Cartoon Grimlock could take Megatron solo, but all five comics Dinobots were beaten by Megatron with ease.

But then, Marvel Megatron is far, far, FAR stronger than Cartoon Megatron -- impossibly so. I've only read just over a third of the Marvel UK run so far and Marvel Megatron is a very intimidating opponent.

Wolfman Jake wrote:
I'm telling you now, the right Megatron for Power of the Primes Leader Optimus Prime is Combiner Wars (or Takara Legends) Leader Megatron. Trust me on this.

You're probably right, but I do want to wait and see if they release a leader megs for POTP. I just don't like the thin legs on CW Megatron.