The Energon Pub

News Credits: 56 · by **o.supreme** » Mon Jul 06, 2020 3:54 pm

Haven't seen the seekers or Clones in Targets near me. They do have the endcap, and labels for them, but even those displays look pretty sad, 75% empty.

I really have no interest in the clone re releases, but just for fun. I would like to see a comparison of all 3 (TR, Legends, and ER) to see the subtle differences, if any in the newest release.

I've heard conflicting reports. Some say they are exactly the same as TT Legends, others say there are slight variances in paint...???

by **Starseeker** » Mon Jul 06, 2020 3:58 pm

sol magnus wrote:
Starseeker wrote:Yeah same in CT, I haven't seen them in any Target. Grrrrrrr!
How much were they?

24.99 plus tax, which may vary where you live.

Nice! That's not bad. Thanks for the info.

News Credits: 241 · by **Jelze Bunnycat** » Mon Jul 06, 2020 4:00 pm

o.supreme wrote:I've heard conflicting reports. Some say they are exactly the same as TT Legends, others say there are slight variances in paint...???

I'll take that as the differences being subtle to non-existent, depending on lighting and personal color interpretation. I'm more interested in news about their Autobot counterparts FastclashFastlane and Cloudraker.

News Credits: 65 · by **Wolfman Jake** » Mon Jul 06, 2020 4:15 pm

o.supreme wrote:Haven't seen the seekers or Clones in Targets near me. They do have the endcap, and labels for them, but even those displays look pretty sad, 75% empty.

I really have no interest in the clone re releases, but just for fun. I would like to see a comparison of all 3 (TR, Legends, and ER) to see the subtle differences, if any in the newest release.

I've heard conflicting reports. Some say they are exactly the same as TT Legends, others say there are slight variances in paint...???

It's the same here in the Twin Cities. Several Targets have endcap displays, in varying areas of the toy sections, with the tags already on the shelves, but no product displayed or in stock anywhere. I'm checking daily so as not to miss out. I can't wait to have my Season 1 Earthrise Seekers complete!

News Credits: 251 · by **Mindmaster** » Mon Jul 06, 2020 4:50 pm

Wolfman Jake wrote:
o.supreme wrote:Haven't seen the seekers or Clones in Targets near me. They do have the endcap, and labels for them, but even those displays look pretty sad, 75% empty.

I really have no interest in the clone re releases, but just for fun. I would like to see a comparison of all 3 (TR, Legends, and ER) to see the subtle differences, if any in the newest release.

I've heard conflicting reports. Some say they are exactly the same as TT Legends, others say there are slight variances in paint...???

It's the same here in the Twin Cities. Several Targets have endcap displays, in varying areas of the toy sections, with the tags already on the shelves, but no product displayed or in stock anywhere. I'm checking daily so as not to miss out. I can't wait to have my Season 1 Earthrise Seekers complete!

Nothing in El Paso either, I’ve been checking BrickSeek daily to see if any local Targets have them and no dice, and once every few days I’ll pop into a random Target just in case because sometimes BrickSeek isn’t accurate and stores actually do have what I’m looking for. Very rarely is it off but it has happened to me at least once where I plugged in a code for something and it said nobody had it yet I walked into a Walmart and sure enough they had what I was looking for.

WJ, I have a second Seeker set if you’re interested. I was going to keep it MISB for display purposes but times are rough and despite what a bridge in El Paso says, it is NOT a great day to be a US soldier. Let me know if you’re interested

by **adamage1** » Mon Jul 06, 2020 5:11 pm

LeAwesome1 wrote:And finally, some comparison shots with the correctly transformed feet!
20200704_105345.jpg

20200704_105527.jpg

20200704_105621.jpg

20200704_105657.jpg

And, my favourite photo
20200704_105755.jpg

FINALLY someone who knows how to take proper comparison photos in good lighting. These look fantastic.

by **ZeldaTheSwordsman** » Mon Jul 06, 2020 6:19 pm

Still curious as to if Scorponok can ride Trypticon. I've reason to hope based on comments by Rodimus Prime, but confirmation would be nice. It'd be great if so, because then you could have Scorponok on Trypticon's back, stabbing and slashing at hapless Autobots with Fasttrack's spear mode.

News Credits: 1350 · by **ZeroWolf** » Mon Jul 06, 2020 6:38 pm

Greetings Seibertronians! Following on from the Wave 2 Battlemasters being found in Australia, Australian Transformers fan group page, Ozformers, has reported on a series of sightings of Transformers Earthrise Leader Class Wave 2! The sightings were made at various Toymate and Toy World stores around New South Wales and Victoria.

Wave 2 consists of a re-pack of Optimus Prime and new mold Doubledealer. His Australian price is $89.99 The sightings were reported to Ozformers by members of their community.

Are you planning on getting Doubledealer? Have you already got his partners waiting for him? Let us know in the Energon Pub and stay tuned to Seibertron for all the latest news and reviews!

by **ZeldaTheSwordsman** » Mon Jul 06, 2020 6:44 pm

Ooh, he's looking real good in-package.
Although I wonder how many people will even notice this news right now...

News Credits: 1 · by **Gauntlet101010** » Mon Jul 06, 2020 7:22 pm

Well, I passed on Prime twice. But now I went ahead and grabbed him from Walmart.

The upcoming weapons pack is what finally tippd the scales. I figured there'd be a premium version with, maybe, a better paintjob but the upcoming weapon pack really just completes ER Prime in such a way that I dis want the guy.

I wasn't gonna replace Henkei with him, but damn. He really is very, very good.

News Credits: 101 · by **-Kanrabat-** » Mon Jul 06, 2020 7:31 pm

Gauntlet101010 wrote:Well, I passed on Prime twice. But now I went ahead and grabbed him from Walmart.

The upcoming weapons pack is what finally tippd the scales. I figured there'd be a premium version with, maybe, a better paintjob but the upcoming weapon pack really just completes ER Prime in such a way that I dis want the guy.

I wasn't gonna replace Henkei with him, but damn. He really is very, very good.

I was a naysayer too at first but I went and bought it at full price with no regrets. The classic mold is good, but ER is now the reining champion for a "voyager" sized "G1" Optimus. It's really a mini Masterpiece. Something even the Hybrid was never able to achieve.

As for the unexpected weapon pack, I jumped on it at HP before it's too late. All because of Roller. The rest of the box are just layers upon layers of delicious icing on that marvelous cake!

by **ZeldaTheSwordsman** » Mon Jul 06, 2020 7:44 pm

ER Optimus is cool, but still not perfect. Much like Classics, SIEGE and ER Optimus are still a tad undersize.. And his trailer is especially undersize.. But still cool, and nice that there's a Roller to complete it.

News Credits: 1642 · by **D-Maximal_Primal** » Mon Jul 06, 2020 7:51 pm

Wheeljack finally arrived at my place this weekend and i opened him up. He's not too bad. Will have some more thoughts on him to come, but I am now finished with the wave 1 Earthrise figures I wanted.

News Credits: 101 · by **-Kanrabat-** » Mon Jul 06, 2020 7:54 pm

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:ER Optimus is cool, but still not perfect. Much like Classics, SIEGE and ER Optimus are still a tad undersize.. And his trailer is especially undersize.. But still cool, and nice that there's a Roller to complete it.

IMO, the only thing truly unperfect about ER Optimus is the blandness of the trailer and that back hip panel. Still way better than the partforming or the classic mold and especially those damn annoying arms panels.

by **ZeldaTheSwordsman** » Mon Jul 06, 2020 8:00 pm

The trailer's blandness doesn't bother me as much as being undersize relative to the other Autobots does. But it's as good as could be had with him being a Leader-class and not a Commander-class, so wygd.

That back hip panel could have been avoided if they didn't try replicate the stupid cartoon waist.

News Credits: 101 · by **-Kanrabat-** » Mon Jul 06, 2020 8:12 pm

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:The trailer's blandness doesn't bother me as much as being undersize relative to the other Autobots does. But it's as good as could be had with him being a Leader-class and not a Commander-class, so wygd.

That back hip panel could have been avoided if they didn't try replicate the stupid cartoon waist.

True that the trailer is undersized, but I prefer that over being oversized like too many trailers. Also, the ER trailer is just adorable and is not a shelf hog like the other trailers. When Toyhax will have a sale (or not), I'll buy the repros to fix the blandness issue. Eh, I already paid an arm and a leg for the Weapon Pack so might as well fully commit.

News Credits: 30 · by **DeathReviews** » Mon Jul 06, 2020 8:37 pm

So, Australia still can't find any kids dumb enough to buy those 'make me look like Skweeks' helmets, eh?

News Credits: 101 · by **-Kanrabat-** » Mon Jul 06, 2020 8:44 pm

DeathReviews wrote:So, Australia still can't find any kids dumb enough to buy those 'make me look like Skweeks' helmets, eh?

Bay-hating as usual, eh?

Regardless, may be some weird TLK overstock. Those keep reappearing out of nowhere over and over.
One day, my TrU suddenly have a ton of TLK voyager Hounds. Then a full shelf of TLK deluxes. and online, that horrid giant TLK Dragonstorm reappeared for a few days. Thankfully at 30$CAN instead of the initial 120$CAN.

TLK toys are like surprise zombies. Popping up when you least expect them.

News Credits: 65 · by **Wolfman Jake** » Mon Jul 06, 2020 9:02 pm

Jelze Bunnycat wrote:
o.supreme wrote:I've heard conflicting reports. Some say they are exactly the same as TT Legends, others say there are slight variances in paint...???

I'll take that as the differences being subtle to non-existent, depending on lighting and personal color interpretation. I'm more interested in news about their Autobot counterparts FastclashFastlane and Cloudraker.

Me too. The obvious expectation is that the Autobot set will be identical to the Takara version from a few years ago. However, nothing has proven that is the case yet. They might also redo the Hasbro versions, or create a new deco altogether. The Takara Decepticon Clones looked more cartoon accurate already, Rebirth or Headmasters, than the Hasbro deco. It really is all about which cartoon version Hasbro is going for, and I would assume they’d prefer the Rebirth character models.

News Credits: 1 · by **Gauntlet101010** » Mon Jul 06, 2020 9:11 pm

Optimus' trailer

I brought down my Henkei Prime and it's definitely beefier in vehicle mode. And, yeah, FP's or BTS' trailer is even larger.

But still. The trailer is such a small part of the figure. And the figure is fantastic. Not perfect. But so close. The grey in the legs is more of a problem than the trailer. I think the trailer helps the vehicle mode immensely even if it's not as large as I'd want. Henkei does a lot differently than this figure does, but overall ER is still superior. I mean, I'd really have to put on my blinders and fill my post full of caveats to not see that. I still like Henkei Prime, but ER is fantastic. The new bar.

I was tempted to buy Bumblebee's Prime since it's another boxy truck alt mode. Between Siege, ER, and Evasion I've managed to get a small collection of boxy voyager Primes and I could compare them all directly.

by **ZeldaTheSwordsman** » Mon Jul 06, 2020 10:12 pm

My preferred Voyager G1 Optimus is still Combiner Wars for now. He has the look, and he scales better than SIEGE/ER or the Classics version - he's chart-perfect with SIEGE Sideswipe, in fact.

News Credits: 1 · by **Gauntlet101010** » Mon Jul 06, 2020 10:41 pm

To each his own.

I'm not sure if ER will actually take Henkei's place in my display right now. But he very well might. I don't have a lot of room and it may be nice to change things up a bit.

News Credits: 22 · by **Rodimus Prime** » Tue Jul 07, 2020 2:09 am

Jelze Bunnycat wrote:Maybe a bit of a silly request but... are there comparisons of the ER Seeker mold with PotP Starscream?

It's a week late, but here you go. In jet mode ER is a bit longer, but PoTP has a wider wingspan. Their transformations are similar.

News Credits: 22 · by **Rodimus Prime** » Tue Jul 07, 2020 3:01 am

Sabrblade wrote:and to think that there was a time when Bob Budiansky was going use this toy as a female without any hesitation:

Considering the character's arc in the Marvel comics from beginning to end, it would have made her a practically unparalleled heroine in the 80s. But if the personality was female, would the character have retained the bulky form, or would she have been treated like Arcee was? (After all, there was no Arcee in the comics, the US version anyway.) And would they have changed the character's storylines, relegating her to background character status?

by **ZeldaTheSwordsman** » Tue Jul 07, 2020 3:04 am

I think Ratchet would have been a hard-partying girl, based on other early info. Or possibly simultaneously that and a battleax nurse. Battleax nurse is fairly likely considering who Ratchet is originally named after.

Re: the Starscream comparison, I knew PotP would be taller well before you took the pics. PotP Starscream has the height of Voyagers of yore.