The Energon Pub

[ZeroWolf]

I'm really digging the deluxes in this line. The blast effects from the battle masters are fun too. I used those and some explosions from the Disney Store Exclusive Black Series Stormtrooper.

Looking good! Hound looks awesome as I expected but Sideswipe looks better than I imagined.

Regarding the Cybertronian vehicle modes, one of the things I love about this line is that the vehicles could kinda sorta work as future Earth modes (like how Animated is IIRC set in either the future or a high-tech present thanks to reverse engineering Megatron)- so Sideswipe doesn't turn into a Cybertronian car that looks suspiciously like a Lmaborghini, he IS a Lamborghini, but one made in 2088.

Actually, slightly off topic but I wouldn't mind a Transformers series set in the future- partly for an excuse to have effectively Bubblegum Crisis WITH TRANSFORMERS and partly because you could have a really interesting dynamic where the Decepticons (and initially the Autobots before the Earth authorities realize they're the good guys) are actually vulnerable to Earth weapons and are caught unawares; they expect to be facing organics with primitive munitions of no use against Transformer biology and tech, and instead have to contend with ray rifles capable of seriously injuring them.

I would be down with your series idea with one tiny little addition, humanity basically had gundams to throw against the Cybertronians.

Anyway, okay RodimusConvoy13's picture has pushed me over the line on Sideswipe, so I think I'm now after all the Siege Deluxes Curse you hasbro.

[RodimusConvoy13]

I'm really digging the deluxes in this line. The blast effects from the battle masters are fun too. I used those and some explosions from the Disney Store Exclusive Black Series Stormtrooper.

So the US is getting that stormtrooper afterall. Does the desney store also have the exclusive Phasma?

Yes. The Disney Store got Phasma, the stormtrooper and Zuckuss.

[ZeldaTheSwordsman]

Got Sideswipe today. He's definitely on the short side as Generations Deluxes go, but still cool and fun and the size difference doesn't look too bad in person. I also think it's a cool touch that his off-white plastic is the same ivory color that a lot of G1s had under their chrome.

[Emerje]

I'm really digging the deluxes in this line. The blast effects from the battle masters are fun too. I used those and some explosions from the Disney Store Exclusive Black Series Stormtrooper.

Sideswipe really benefited from the excessive amounts of red paint used when they could have just done red plastic. It makes the colors really pop and feels like a sign of Takara Tomy's influences (something they regularly did through to Legends) and the biggest benefit of their shared releases. It finally feels like the new practice is starting to pay off.

I didn't realize Disney still had physical stores, both of the stores here in Maine closed down a long time ago (between 10 and 15 years ago).

Emerje

[Wolfman Jake]

Got Sideswipe today. He's definitely n the short side as Generations Deluxes go, but still cool and fun and the size difference doesn't look too bad in person. I also think it's a cool touch that his off-white plastic is the same ivory color that a lot of G1s had under their chrome.

Glad you’re enjoying him!

[william-james88]

I'm really digging the deluxes in this line. The blast effects from the battle masters are fun too. I used those and some explosions from the Disney Store Exclusive Black Series Stormtrooper.

Sideswipe really benefited from the excessive amounts of red paint used when they could have just done red plastic. It makes the colors really pop and feels like a sign of Takara Tomy's influences (something they regularly did through to Legends) and the biggest benefit of their shared releases. It finally feels like the new practice is starting to pay off.

I didn't realize Disney still had physical stores, both of the stores here in Maine closed down a long time ago (between 10 and 15 years ago).

Emerje

They have a major online store too with many exclusive products, like the star wars ones that would have gone to TRU instead.

[Galvatronian]

Thanks so much Zelda for fantastic scale pics. Seeing Sideswipe with a nice selection of deluxes from loads of generations lines really shows how well he fits in.

[Skritz]

BBTS has the Siege stuff for sale now, not just pre-order: my stuff (except the deluxes) has been sent to my Pile of Loot.

I havent gotten my notice for that yet. Magnus too?

I cancelled my preorder for Magnus and Shockwave...on the basis that, if my past experience with Leader class figures, they won't be that hard to hunt down later down the line. Plus Leaders take a bit of space in a box. So I can't say if these two have shipped.

[Emerje]

They have a major online store too with many exclusive products, like the star wars ones that would have gone to TRU instead.

That I did know about as I've had to write articles about whatever exclusive vinyl figure or doll they got, I just didn't realize the physical locations were still open (outside of the theme park locations).

(PS, I got your email, I'll contact Ryan soon.)

Emerje

[Flashwave]

BBTS has the Siege stuff for sale now, not just pre-order: my stuff (except the deluxes) has been sent to my Pile of Loot.

I havent gotten my notice for that yet. Magnus too?

I cancelled my preorder for Magnus and Shockwave...on the basis that, if my past experience with Leader class figures, they won't be that hard to hunt down later down the line. Plus Leaders take a bit of space in a box. So I can't say if these two have shipped.

Thats ehy I didnt preorder Shockwace, I dont care enough about the one w6ed four armed flying purple people eater to be fariad of missing him. I would however like to ha e Magnus sooner than later, ao I preordered him with the thinking I can cancel if I fund them. But so far, thats not happening in Indiana.

[Skritz]

Now personally I do want Magnus and Shockwave and think they look good: it's just that Leaders are the size class which seem to sell the least at retail, likely because they're so big and pricy.

[ZeldaTheSwordsman]

Perhaps. Although, Siege Magnus and Shockwave both have a fair bit of "Wow!" factor to them that should help them shift more readily than some past Generations Leaders have. And if the mystery Leader-class Optimus is a remake of Cybertron Optimus like some speculate, that's gonna fly off the shelves.

[Skritz]

Perhaps. Although, Siege Magnus and Shockwave both have a fair bit of "Wow!" factor to them that should help them shift more readily than some past Generations Leaders have. And if the mystery Leader-class Optimus is a remake of Cybertron Optimus like some speculate, that's gonna fly off the shelves.

I'm frankly expecting a Magnus recolor. Best cause scenario is that it's a massive retool, meaning it would still use the same engineering skeleton but would have a 'super robot mode' which look drastically different from Magnus. That would be neat but my gut tells me it's just going to be a cheap redeco.

[Sentinel_Primal]

Perhaps. Although, Siege Magnus and Shockwave both have a fair bit of "Wow!" factor to them that should help them shift more readily than some past Generations Leaders have. And if the mystery Leader-class Optimus is a remake of Cybertron Optimus like some speculate, that's gonna fly off the shelves.

I'm frankly expecting a Magnus recolor. Best cause scenario is that it's a massive retool, meaning it would still use the same engineering skeleton but would have a 'super robot mode' which look drastically different from Magnus. That would be neat but my gut tells me it's just going to be a cheap redeco.

If it is just a redeco, my hope is that it will look like Delta Magnus in super robot mode and they just call it Optimus Prime because a casual fan might not know Delta Magnus and Hasbro just looks at it as a way to sell more figures. But, there is the potential that it could be the base Magnus figure in Prime colors, but he comes with the Apex armor/Godbomber (similar to Maketoys' Divine Suit) instead of Magnus' armor. Of course, they'd lose the individual robot mode for Godbomber if they did that

[william-james88]

And if the mystery Leader-class Optimus is a remake of Cybertron Optimus like some speculate, that's gonna fly off the shelves.

Why? Fan driven stuff is not that much of a hot ticket. Overlord was one of the most wanted released from the community and its still rotting at some Ollies. Sixshot didnt sell too well either. The only leader which sold really well across the board was the recent G1 styled Optimus Prime.

[Nemesis Maximo]

And if the mystery Leader-class Optimus is a remake of Cybertron Optimus like some speculate, that's gonna fly off the shelves.

Why? Fan driven stuff is not that much of a hot ticket. Overlord was one of the most wanted released from the community and its still rotting at some Ollies. Sixshot didnt sell too well either. The only leader which sold really well across the board was the recent G1 styled Optimus Prime.

CW Magnus and Megatron seemed to do decent at retail didn’t they?

[william-james88]

And if the mystery Leader-class Optimus is a remake of Cybertron Optimus like some speculate, that's gonna fly off the shelves.

Why? Fan driven stuff is not that much of a hot ticket. Overlord was one of the most wanted released from the community and its still rotting at some Ollies. Sixshot didnt sell too well either. The only leader which sold really well across the board was the recent G1 styled Optimus Prime.

CW Magnus and Megatron seemed to do decent at retail didn’t they?

Yeah, they did fine because they are recognisable G1 characters. Then again Rodimus aint doing too well. If that eventual leader prime sells well it will be bcause he is optimus and thats about it.

[Skritz]

Well in general, Leaders seem to be a poor sale at mass retail. Presumably because parents are less likely to buy them randomly, being bigger and pricier. Commanding a price of around 50 to 60$ (depending where you are in North America, no clue about Europe or Asia) once you account for taxes they're not exactly something a parent would just casually buy or be willing to let their kid walk away because they want it, not unless the parent has money to spare.

Deluxes or smaller, sure, I can see a parent splurging and indulging in one for a kid but a Leader-class figure just doesn't scream 'casual purchase' to me and that is likely why they fly less quickly off the store shelves. I suspect Magnus and Shockwave will fly more quickly due to brand recognition but given the smaller line size it is very likely Hasbro will put them back in a later wave like the POTP leaders anyway.

So yes, even with such big names I fully expect to see these guys at retail often enough.

[ZeldaTheSwordsman]

And if the mystery Leader-class Optimus is a remake of Cybertron Optimus like some speculate, that's gonna fly off the shelves.

Why? Fan driven stuff is not that much of a hot ticket. Overlord was one of the most wanted released from the community and its still rotting at some Ollies. Sixshot didnt sell too well either. The only leader which sold really well across the board was the recent G1 styled Optimus Prime.

Allow me to quote my original post in its entirety:

Perhaps. Although, Siege Magnus and Shockwave both have a fair bit of "Wow!" factor to them that should help them shift more readily than some past Generations Leaders have. And if the mystery Leader-class Optimus is a remake of Cybertron Optimus like some speculate, that's gonna fly off the shelves.

The key part is in bold. I'm saying that he would sell well based on "Wow!" factor, on the coolness of his size and features impressing kids when they see him in the store. I mean, just look at him:





Even shrunken down to Generations Leader size and bereft of electronics and most likely missiles, he would still be one impressive and cool figure that would (in my opinion) inspire kids to say "That's the one I want for Christmas/my birthday!" or save up their allowance for weeks on end, scrounge recycling and whatnot to cash in, etc.

[Skritz]

I really don't see it hapenning in GEEWUN Pandering: The Line. Best we can, maybe hope, is a different take on Powermaster Prime (maybe going from small robot to Apex Armor, ignoring the step which already existed in TR!) or maybe Star Convoy.

I do not and will not expect anything not from some corner of GEEWUN in this line.

[ZeldaTheSwordsman]

I really don't see it hapenning in GEEWUN Pandering: The Line. Best we can, maybe hope, is a different take on Powermaster Prime (maybe going from small robot to Apex Armor, ignoring the step which already existed in TR!) or maybe Star Convoy.

I do not and will not expect anything not from some corner of GEEWUN in this line.

I'm not expecting a non-G1 either, but I keep seeing people speculate that so I felt like weighing in on it since I was talking about "Wow!" factor anyway. I personally wouldn't want a remake of him in Generations anyway, I have the original and a Generations remake, while cool, would be a shadow of what the original was. Same goes for a lot of Unicron Trilogy figures tbh.

I'm personally expecting either Laser Prime or maybe Star Convoy. Star Convoy would go nicely with the return of Micromasters. If it is just a UM redeco/retool hopefully they at least give a more Optimus-looking super robot head.

[Skritz]

I do think a reshelled trailer is possible. At the very least we could expect a new head and paint job if POTP is any indication but if this isn't a new mold, it's possible a part of the budget went into said reshell, meaning we could see something about on par with TR Sky Shadow and Overlord, which were the same basic mold structure but had a completely new upper torso.

So, for me, the 'best case scenario' is either:
-A solid reshell of Ultra Magnus, with at the very least a new head and chest. Hopefully more.
-This is the third Leader mold and it's not a Magnus retool after all.
However the first option does open the possibility that there is another Leader mold we haven't seen and that Optimus Prime's Leader figure is 'filler' sort of like how Rodimus Unicronus was. Granted that one was lovely-looking filler and a great SG homage but it still was just a Rodimus redeco with a new head at the end of the day.

[Nemesis Primal]

GEEWUN Pandering: The Line....I do not and will not expect anything not from some corner of GEEWUN in this line.

Ah yes, featuring such famed G1 aspects as...police car Barricade and Magnus's RiD alt mode.

[ZeldaTheSwordsman]

GEEWUN Pandering: The Line....I do not and will not expect anything not from some corner of GEEWUN in this line.

Ah yes, featuring such famed G1 aspects as...police car Barricade and Magnus's RiD alt mode.

The first is just a convenient redeco to flesh out the Decepticon deluxes, the latter is because going with the RiD altmode was the only way to accommodate a Voyager-size cab robot without the trailer getting comically compressed horizontally. He makes up for it with a VERY G1-pandering robot mode.

[Skritz]

GEEWUN Pandering: The Line....I do not and will not expect anything not from some corner of GEEWUN in this line.

Ah yes, featuring such famed G1 aspects as...police car Barricade and Magnus's RiD alt mode.

The first is just a convenient redeco to flesh out the Decepticon deluxes, the latter is because going with the RiD altmode was the only way to accommodate a Voyager-size cab robot without the trailer getting comically compressed horizontally. He makes up for it with a VERY G1-pandering robot mode.

Yeah I'm pretty sure Barricade was chosen because they needed to have more deluxe 'cons and get their mileage out of some molds.