The Energon Pub

News Credits: 4876 · by **william-james88** » Wed Dec 09, 2020 11:20 am

The Forbidden Planet website has uploaded new images for their Retro Headmasters reissue listings. These are the second wave of the reissues coming to Walmart (and different exclusive retailers, depending the country). The wave consists of Highbrow, Wierdwolf and Skullcruncher. These are the Titans Returns molds with different decos and the heads found on the Takara versions. So there is something new to them aside from the fancy G1 styled boxes they come in. Hopefully the breakage issue on Wierdwolf is fixed though that is yet to be seen. Both the Hasbro and Takara releases had the same breakage issue.

News Credits: 101 · by **-Kanrabat-** » Wed Dec 09, 2020 1:13 pm

Does Scullcruncher have a clear pilot cockpit door?

News Credits: 23 · by **aronjlove** » Wed Dec 09, 2020 1:18 pm

-Kanrabat- wrote:Does Scullcruncher have a clear pilot cockpit door?

It definitely looks translucent. I wonder what material it is since TR Skullcruncher and Krok has a rubber door with Skullcruncher's being solid green and Krok's is translucent yellow.

by **Solipsist** » Wed Dec 09, 2020 1:23 pm

As a kid I had many TF toys including Headmaster Highbrow. I was going to try to find the TITANS RETURN release of Highbrow but missed out and by the time I was looking for it the price at most sites had listed it at almost $40 so I passed on it. I hope I can find this new reissue of TITANS RETURN version of him. At least I am looking each day for when it is scheduled to be released. I don't want to miss him again, especially if its in the classic-G1-style-boxes and hopefully a little bit less expensive this time around. I am also looking for Chromedome and his "kissing Cousin", Getaway. I had the G1 Getaway figure although he was NOT a Headmaster then. Getaway was originally one of the G1 deluxe POWERMASTERS. I had a few TARGETMASTERS too but the Headmasters were my favorite gimmick as seeing the "transtectors" with no head was just awesome to me. The Powermasters were like my second favorite gimmick. I stopped collecting G1 back then as they came out with the Micromasters which I really did like, but the PRETENDERS line and the ACTIONMASTERS' line were just uninteresting to me. ;)^

News Credits: 101 · by **-Kanrabat-** » Wed Dec 09, 2020 1:29 pm

Happy hunting and let's hope this line is not really an exclusive. Meaning being available from other online retailers at the normal retail price.

News Credits: 461 · by **Sabrblade** » Wed Dec 09, 2020 2:02 pm

aronjlove wrote:
-Kanrabat- wrote:Does Scullcruncher have a clear pilot cockpit door?

It definitely looks translucent. I wonder what material it is since TR Skullcruncher and Krok has a rubber door with Skullcruncher's being solid green and Krok's is translucent yellow.

The Takara Legends version had the same rubbery plastic material used for its door as the Hasbro version, and was translucent too.

by **Solipsist** » Wed Dec 09, 2020 2:28 pm

Logical. I didn't think of that but she's right.

News Credits: 241 · by **Jelze Bunnycat** » Wed Dec 09, 2020 4:41 pm

Changes in material between redecos (like ABS to PVC or vinyl) has rarely happened, if ever. If anything, the rubbery parts are made even softer, BUT that may be a good thing for Weirdwolf as the cockpit window is that rubbery plastic that doesn't move well along joints. That forces the solid cockpit frame outward when it's full closed, causing many if not all to snap off.

by **ZeldaTheSwordsman** » Wed Dec 09, 2020 4:52 pm

The saving grace is that the soft plastic itself doesn't break so easily, so it holds things together.

I wonder if that plastic could have been avoided by having blunter tooth tips. That's the whole reason the Weirdwolf and Skullcruncher molds use soft plastic in the first place, is the teeth.

News Credits: 1646 · by **D-Maximal_Primal** » Thu Dec 10, 2020 11:21 am

Of all the headmasters, I think Highbrow might be the one I get here. He looks really nice to me. I already have all 7 in TR form, but Highbrow is nice enough I want him again if I see him

News Credits: 42 · by **TF-fan kev777** » Thu Dec 10, 2020 11:33 am

I also have all 7 from TR. The only ones that are maybe for me are Highbrow, Skullcrusher and WeirdWolf. But my interest in all 3 are dependent on QC issues from TR being fixed. For Weirdwolf the canopy and Skullcrusher the hips. For Highbrow, mine has a bobble head and extremely loose wrists.

News Credits: 332 · by **chuckdawg1999** » Thu Dec 10, 2020 2:16 pm

I had all from Titans Return but I sold off the TR versions as I replaced them with the Legends versions except the beasts. I might go for these now if they're cheap and easy to find.

News Credits: 241 · by **Jelze Bunnycat** » Thu Dec 10, 2020 3:26 pm

I know I want Highbrow, Chromedome and the beasts, but don't know if I should double-dip on Brainstorm and Hardhead. I have the mouthplated TR ones (with Furos' head slightly chipped, a common fault), I guess it depends on finances. :-?

Hoping for a Jumpstarter 2-pack!

News Credits: 1350 · by **ZeroWolf** » Mon Jan 18, 2021 5:18 pm

Greetings Seibertronians! For all those looking forward to the Walmart Exclusive Transformers Headmasters, we've got great news as thanks to twitter user, @RoboMonsterNerd, we've now had a sighting that these toys are at retail!

These toys were spotted at a Walmart in Michigan.

Thats not all folks, thanks to fellow Seibertron users, and toy reviewers, Lore Keeper and Soundwave8084, we have reviews for most of the wave!

We've embedded the reviews for your convenience:

Chromedome

Brainwave

[

Hardhead

One thing to remember about these figures is that although they come in G1 style boxes, these are not reissues, but instead Titans Returns Deluxe figures with new decos.

What do you think of these figures, have you bought any already? Let us know in the Energon Pub and stay tuned to Seibertron for all the latest news and reviews!

News Credits: 4 · by **Quantum Surge** » Mon Jan 18, 2021 5:33 pm

I own Mindwipe since he was the only one that was available on the site. I know the original TR Mindwipe had PVC wing problems, but does the same apply for the Legends version and Convobat?

News Credits: 241 · by **Jelze Bunnycat** » Tue Jan 19, 2021 12:23 am

Quantum Surge wrote:I own Mindwipe since he was the only one that was available on the site. I know the original TR Mindwipe had PVC wing problems, but does the same apply for the Legends version and Convobat?

I have yet to see reports on his redecos/Japanese release breaking, but I'm chalking that up to people being more careful with those. Weirdwolf has the same type of issue with his cockpit window with both the TR and Legends release.

For the uninitiated: the cockpit window piece on TR Wolfwire/Weirdwolf, and the wingtips, head and back wings on TR Mindwipe are made of a soft rubbery plastic. The problem here is that soft plastic has a hard time moving around joints, putting a rough grip on where it attaches on the pins. Over time, the joints get so stiff it's easy to break the (weakened) hard plastic housing of those pins from the forces exerted in all directions.

The Weirdwolf one was known early om, but Mindwipe's stems FROM LAST YEAR. :shock:

News Credits: 3 · by **SGMLordMirage** » Tue Jan 19, 2021 12:31 am

So I guess I can do this under the correct forum. Apparently I got severely confused but nevertheless I saw Hardhead and Brainstorm at a local Walmart in Mo.
I do love the G1 package look.

News Credits: 1350 · by **ZeroWolf** » Tue Jan 19, 2021 4:48 pm

Greetings Seibertronians! Following on from yesterday's sightings and video reviews, fellow Seibertron user, Lore Keeper, has sent over a link to the last toy in Wave 1, Mindwipe!

As before, this is not a reissue of the original Mindwipe Headmaster from the 1987 Generation 1 toyline. Instead this is a redeco'ed Titan's Returns version of the character. Featuring a deco different from the previous versions of the two past releases of this toy. Mindwipes Decepticon Headmaster allies will be released along with the Autobot Headmaster Highbrow.

We have embedded the review below for your convenience:

Will you be picking up this Decepticon? Or are you happy enough with one of this molds past releases? Let us know in the Energon Pub and stay tuned to Seibertron for all the latest news and reviews!

News Credits: 241 · by **Jelze Bunnycat** » Wed Jan 20, 2021 6:21 pm

You know... I know people are wondering why Skullcruncher's cockpit hatch and Weirdwolf's cockpit windows are that soft plastic. I have a better question: why did they choose those pieces to be gang-molded with the teeth?

News Credits: 51 · by **Nemesis Primal** » Sat Jan 23, 2021 4:05 pm

So I haven't been on this thread for a few pages, because the only figure in both waves so far that maybe interests me is Mindwipe, and even then, I'm not going to go out of my way to look for him.

BUT.

This image has been floating around since sometime yesterday:

Headmaster leak maybe.jpg

And I am VERY curious to see what people here think about it. On one hand, these would be the first new figures in this line, the fact that they seem to have just grabbed an Arcee-colored Chromedome boxart off Deviantart is a bit sketch, and what mold would they even use for Armada Sideways. On the other, this feels veeery similar to the PotP leak (where they just used old images/art to display figures that weren't done yet), they've done new-mold exclusives in the past (PotP Punch/CP, SS Leadfoot, etc), and they did release two other UT references/updates semi-recently in Siege/Selects (and a third one was supposed to come with Sky Lynx before getting cut).

Thoughts? I honestly would love for this to be real just for Sideways alone.

News Credits: 241 · by **Jelze Bunnycat** » Sat Jan 23, 2021 4:36 pm

Arcee, Fangry and Armada Sideways? :-?

Dunno what to think, but the Blurr retool Arcee is in the cards, if true. Maybe a Monsterbot retool for Fangry (maybe Grotusque) with Squeezeplay using Repugnus in the future. Sideways... Outside of a straight reissue of the Armada figure (what a disappointment that would be) I'm blank on that one.

News Credits: 1646 · by **D-Maximal_Primal** » Sat Jan 23, 2021 8:28 pm

that was already confirmed to be fake

News Credits: 51 · by **Nemesis Primal** » Sun Jan 24, 2021 4:10 am

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:that was already confirmed to be fake

Aw man, was it? I saw people speculating it was fake, but I haven't seen any of the trustworthy sources confirm that. I was really hoping for Sideways, dang it.

News Credits: 241 · by **Jelze Bunnycat** » Sun Jan 24, 2021 3:11 pm

Nemesis Primal wrote:
D-Maximal_Primal wrote:that was already confirmed to be fake
Aw man, was it? I saw people speculating it was fake, but I haven't seen any of the trustworthy sources confirm that. I was really hoping for Sideways, dang it.

Kinda figured in all honesty: the code on top was off, but I was hoping it wasn't a Hasbro product code. The Retro Headmaster assortment code is F0930 if you must know.

News Credits: 9 · by **Sowndwave76** » Sun Jan 24, 2021 4:24 pm

I like the look of Skullcruncher...
At least the bot made. The alt mode is fine, but isn’t anything impressive imo.
What I surprisingly like is the look of the tail attached to the forearm as a weapon.
I haven’t liked to look of the battlemaster or parts-forming shields for Siege/ER/Netflix.
But for me this really works & looks much more intentional than other similar gimmicks.
He’d probably need to be on sale for me to buy, but this guy definitely has my interest.