The Energon Pub

[El Duque]

Site sponsor BigBadToyStore dropped by let us know they have listed the pre-order for Takara's MP-11S Masterpiece Sunstorm. The figure features the coronation kit and mold modifications from MP-11 Starscream Version 2.0. Priced at $249.99 (price has not been finalized, they're hoping it ends up being a bit lower) and estimated to arrive in August.

[GuyIncognito]

$250?

Based on the reception that the announcement of this figure generated on this board, I'm guessing they'll be selling it at half that price by year's end.

[Kung Fu Man]

Well I think it's safe to presume the "them trying to beat iGear at their own game" argument has gone out the window and hitched a ride to Vegas at this point.

[Rodimus Prime]

I was looking forward to this. especially with the updated mold, but $250? F**k. That. I'll wait a year or 2 until it drops to $150 or below. I don't even care about the coronation kit, I just want the figure.

[mattwhite924]

The Starscream version at $160 was already pushing it. There's no way I would pay $250 for this.

[G1 Legacy]

D'oh
I wanna preface the following criticism by saying that I enjoyed and followed the DreamWave comics storyline several years ago when they were attempting to fleshout this charater and I was very frustrated that they were never able to wrap up and resolve that storyline before going bankrupt or whatever it was that caused them to go belly up.
But that being said, I'm not too impressed with this figure. First off the paint apps are a little distracting. Why is the bottom half of the figure a lighter shade of orange (praticly yellow) as opposed to the top portion? Thats not how he was portrayed in the comics (and lets face it, his comic appearance seems to be the most we have to go on thus far). I've yet to see a paint job that accuratly captures his metallic orange hugh in any official figure. The Botcon exclusive Hero's of Cybertron PVC figure is closer to it than this thing and thats sad. I've also seen customs that look better than this and more comic accurate.

Second, why does he include the cape and crown of Starscream's coronation? I mean yeah I get it, I know he's a repaint and all, but so are the other Seekers and they don't all come with the same gear. I mean the MP Skywarp add on crown/cape was funny a few years ago but that still doesn't seem to justify this. And yes, I'm aware that Sunstorm is a genetic clone of Screamer storyline wise and all but he certainly didn't mimic Starscreams behavior in his portrayal in the comics. He had more of an ordained mesianic napolean syndrom (with a kick ass light show for added measure) as opposed to Starscreams limited sociopathic tendancies and shallow grabs for power. So the addition of the cape and crown seem somehow out of place to me. Why couldn't they come up with a new unique gimmick to compliment Sunstorm.

And third, the price...ouch. This hobby is getting harder and harder to absorb in these financial times. I mean yeah I can afford it but I would feel like an idiot for spending that kind of cabbage on this as opposed to waiting for something more original and fun to come down the pipeline.

*And I bet that it's being produced in a more limited number than the Starscream version (El Duque?) making this the rarer of the two, hence the price. Seems like a blatant moneygrab, but then again, you could say that about this hobby as a whole these days lol.

I don't know thats just my take, I have no doubt that there are those of you that'll disagree.
Meh, it's a pass for me.

[sky_fire12]

While i agree with everyone here about the price being ridiculous compared to MP-11, don't think these things get cheaper in the long run, when such toys get old they become rare and even more expensive.

[zappatton2]

I'll save my $$ for a new mold, Sideswipe, hopefully Soundwave. I haven't really seen a close-up of the new Sunstorm/Starscream face, but from afar it seems to have a slight Planet of the Apes quality.

[El Duque]

*And I bet that it's being produced in a more limited number than the Starscream version (El Duque?) making this the rarer of the two, hence the price. Seems like a blatant moneygrab, but then again, you could say that about this hobby as a whole these days lol.

Yes, this one is "limited" though I don't recall the actual production numbers. Lower than the general release MP-11 though.

[AutobotMR2]

GOODGODALMIGHTYINHEAVEN!!!!!!!! Even if it is a "limited" run....i'll keep my $$ thank you.

[Prime Evil]

AAAAAAHHH no.

[kirbenvost]

lol, good thing I don't care about Sunstorm, because that price is ridiculous.

[Vicalliose]

It would actually be nice if there was a feasible US release. But no, I have my doubts that Hasbro will even try seeing as we haven't heard jack about a US release of MP-10.

[Court Jester]

The price has my "sleeper hit" sense tingling.

What if it comes with a throne and scepter? Why not - a preorder doesn't cost anything... until Aug.

[prowl123]

Will not be getting this. Make a new masterpiece for god's sake. There's only, like, four molds and like 20 masterpiece figures. Not cool.

[Dead Metal]

While I know the price includes the e-Hobby mark-up and the expenses BBTS has to go through to get them from e-Hobby, the price is just too much for what it is.

[Grahf]

As much as I love this character, this is just too much. It will be easier to track down one of the Wal Mart MP Skywarps and paint it myself.

[jamiko]

More awesomeness I will NEVER own.

[Stormrider]

Well, that's quite the mark up from Amazon.jp

http://www.amazon.co.jp/%E3%83%88%E3%83%A9%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B9%E3%83%95%E3%82%A9%E3%83%BC%E3%83%9E%E3%83%BC-%E3%83%9E%E3%82%B9%E3%82%BF%E3%83%BC%E3%83%94%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B9-MP11S-%E3%82%B5%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B9%E3%83%88%E3%83%BC%E3%83%A0-%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E5%9B%BD%E5%86%85Amazon-co-jp%E9%99%90%E5%AE%9A%E8%B2%A9%E5%A3%B2%E5%93%81/dp/B007JCUH82/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1332282288&sr=8-1

[Fortress_Maximus]

What a joke! This is almost as bad as Yamato milking fans on the molds for Macross. PASS.

[amtm]

Man. I thought $250 was pushing it for MP-10, but for Sunstorm it's just crazy. I'd like a Starscream, but I'm still hesitant to pay $160 for it.

[LOST Cybertronian]

One thing that wasn't mentioned in the news post was that this is just a preliminary preorder and the price is subject to change as they are waiting final pricing confirmation. It's very possible that the price could go down.

[Rated X]

$250 ??????????



I want some of whatever theyre smoking !!!

[Blurrz]

Production run is 1k, as sources tell me. Hence the rather hefty tag. I'll take MP-10 over this so...

[President-prime]

This is one of the few figures I actually would like to get. But again, not sure why theses masterpieces are all of a suddent went up past the hundreds. I remember the first few masterpieces, optimus, starscream, ultra Magnus. They were on about 80 bucks. What happened?