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A lot of fans have wanted a Generations voyager Shockwave for a while, and the new Cyber Battalion Shockwave that just came out (in Taiwan and the US) is really close. But is he close enough? How does he look like in a Classics/Generations collection? Well, hopefully we will answer your questions with this post. Several fans found this toy at Walgreens already (though he is still very sparse and commanding high secondary market prices) and have posted images online. Below you will find images from TF fans LastActionBastard and allew, who posted them on the TFW2005 boards. You can even see a fan made gun mode, which would help fans wondering if such a mode was achievable.
We also found a pictorial review from Robots78, who posted it on TFW2005's boards, and which you can read below:
Robots78 wrote:I found Cyber Battalion Shockwave tonight at Walgreens and figured I'd post some pics and impressions.
Overall, I like this figure. It has serious problems, but the bot mode has such good presence that I can overlook them.
Let's start with the alt mode. It's a sad "spaceship" where the legs are pressed together to form something reminiscent of Shockwave's classic laser gun barrel, while the chest folds down, the head tucks away and the arms just sort of hang out.
There is a little landing skid under the front that I neglected to fold out, which would lift the front end up a bit.
As we switch modes here, I wanted to point out that the instructions are printed on the back of the box instead of being on a separate piece of paper, and they're MUCH easier to read than the gray-on-gray diagrams we get with Generations figures.
The robot mode is much more successful. This is a great rendition of G1 Shockwave. The sculpt is very faithful to the original, the proportions are nice, and the colors are perfect. The few tampos used are high quality, especially his Decepticon symbol, however the paint on the cyclops eye on my copy was a bit messed up.
Yes, the back of his lower legs are super-hollow, but that and the inside of his forearms are really the only hollow parts, which isn't too bad. His lack of a meaningful alt mode helps him have almost no backpack or other kibble.
Articulation is obviously where these Cyber Battalion figures really come up short, and Shockwave is no exception. The knees do not bend. It sucks, but since in the cartoon Shockwave mainly just stood around around saying "Yes, Lord Megatron", I can deal with it. His knees do swivel. His arms cannot reach back because they run into his backpack wings. But there's enough here to work with to get him into some decent standing poses.
The figure feels nice and solid. Plastics quality is good and he feels very durable. Joints were all good on my copy.
Size-wise, he's about perfect IMO. A solid voyager size that's a bit shorter than my Megatron (Hegemon) and Optimus (MP10-V), and a good counterpart for FoC Soundwave.
Here he is with some other Shockwave figures. The Cyber Battalion figure is far and away the most G1-inspired. He'll be replacing TFP Beast Hunters Shockwave in my CHUG display.
Because of it's limited possibility and weak alt mode, Cyber Battalion Shockwave is certainly not the "total package", and not the voyager-class Shockwave that CHUG collectors have been waiting for. But if you can accept its faults and are content with it pretty much just being a display piece in a relatively-static bot-mode pose, it's a great figure.
Thanks to one of the Facebook fans of Seibertron.com, we have a video review (in Mandarin) of the extremely anticipated Transformers Studio Series leader class figure Blackout - of which you can see a full set of images in this previous post here - thanks to YouTube toy reviewer Kevin Liu!
His channel includes some of the other Studio Series figures so far, such as Stinger, Bumblebee, Starscream, and Optimus Prime, and you can check it out here - but as for Blackout, just head below and let us know what you think in the Energon Pub discussion boards!
Fellow Seibertronian Ironhidensh has bought the latest Transformers Studio Series voyagers, both Optimus Prime and Starscream, and has given us a pictorial review for both. Without further ado, here it is below and let us know if his words change your mind about wanting to own them or not or even convinve you to pay the high price they are currently going for at the Kroger family grocery stores (where they have been found). If you want to see videos showcasing the transformation of either figure, we have posted one for each toy at the end of the article.
...
So here are my thoughts on the first two voyager class studio series figures, Starscream and Optimus Prime. Hope you enjoy!
First off, we will take a look at the packaging.
It is really quite sturdy, as well as good looking. By just holding the boxes, you can tell this line was made for collectors first, and not children. A nice and welcome change from the norm.
Then you get inside the boxes, and find not only the figure, but a nice little diorama display stand. The artwork on it depicts a seen from the movies that the figure appeared in. Starscream's is from the city battle at the end of the first movie. Prime's is from the forest fight towards the beginning of the second movie. Sure, many will find them a bit cheesy, and I myself will not use them for display, but it's still a really nice touch, and I like it.
Starscream is a hair large for his though.
Let's look at the Robot modes.
As you can see, Starscream is great. You can't tell in a picture, but this guy is super solid in n hand. All his joints are tight so he can hold a pose and stand just fine on his own. The same holds true for Prime, though he could use quite a bit more paint apps. The black hinge in the middle of his chest is honestly not as bad in hand as it looks in pictures. I also find his arms to front of semi transformation worth it.
They also have nice weapons storage on their backs. Always a plus.
Here are a couple of comparison shots with previous versions.
In vehicle mode Starscream is, once again, the clear stand out. His design actually manages to hide his parts rather nicely for a jet mode transformer.
The underside is still a tad ugly, bit much better than the standard "legs pushed up and arms held at sides" take.
Prime turns out to be a fairly clean semi, but once again he needs more paint apps. For god's sake, Hasbro, paint the goddamm rims.
The weapons have storage points in alt mode as well.
Honestly, this whole line has knocked it out of the park for me. This is the first line of non masterpiece style figures I've been truly xcited about in several years, and I'm not even that huge of a movie fan.
Free of any explicit spoilers, but some may be unintentionally implied. Rolling out and into your Wednesday
Lost Light 16 rejoins the goings on with Team Rodimus, last seen in issue #13 in some form of perilous peril. Mystery, danger, and lines that will be quoted for years await as the latest effort from writer James Roberts, artist Jack Lawrence, colorist Joana Lafuente, and letterer Tom B. Long arrives just in time to keep up a satisfyingly aggressive release schedule. Read on to find out whether or not Lost Light puts those pieces together into something you should pick up.
Cyclonus, aka The Dude
This has never been a book to shy away from difficult topics, and the main question posed by this issue for me is, "if you suddenly find yourself in purgatory what will you do?" This is handled with the characteristic wit and charm that only this crew of Transformers could get away with - no pun intended, seriously! Surreal moments are balanced by grounded ones while emotional moments are bound on each side by humorous dialogue, though sometimes it comes through more as a relief valve for nervous tension especially in the case of Brainstorm. While the thought of funny, quippy dialogue will make some readers roll their eyes, it's nothing new for or unique to this issue and unless this winds up being your first ever reading within the series you already know whether or not that's a positive development.
Put another way, I find the dialogue well balanced and incredibly charming, but recent reminders from some others on site staff lead me to believe that some readers will, for whatever reason, find something not to like in it.
Would you like to buy some encyclopedias?
The surrealism is a significant part of this first chapter of a three part story. As demonstrated in part by the image above, the world that the team has found itself on is part Cybertron, part dreamscape, and all mystery. The creation myth teased in earlier stories is expanded and even debated upon by some characters in what could be pre-emptive meta-humor. Is what occurs really happening, or is it some thoroughly crafted illusion? Does the answer to that matter when you're having fun just following the story wherever it may lead? Your own answers will frame how you feel about this installment. It works for me, but fellow staffer Counterpunch found a lack of feeling delivered by the uncertainty, stating "I don't think anything was bad, but there's nothing to do with the information. Every bit of it is as likely to be false as it is true."
Another mystery, or just coincidence?
The pacing is brisk but always feels natural, with even a two-page break for an exposition dump framed in a way that both pokes fun at itself for being an exposition dump and for still leaving related questions unanswered. While that could have been an unnecessary chunk of story best left to the imagination or a couple referential lines of dialogue, it's helpful here given the abrupt nature of the opening pages. Additionally, it serves as a reminder of a conspicuously absent character, though that absence will only remain conspicuous if it continues for the remaining two chapters of this story arc.
Thok-ing the grumpy away
After three issues away, Jack Lawrence returns to line art duties for "The Everlasting Voices" and provides excellent, consistent mechanical designs for each Transformer while also making sure to playfully use alternate modes where possible and appropriate. Joana Lafuente's colors give superb visual continuity making the changes to and fro in lineart from issue to issue as seamless as possible. Overall it's a great effort and execution, with even the silent (and close to silent) pages managing to ooze story.
Tom B. Long does a couple things with "letters" that are so clever they need their own call-out in this section. Large, outlined reds stand out at one point to convey the tone of the words in a way that makes them distinctly Rodimus' words, and another moment with Whirl is wacky fun that only Whirl could get away with. A less skilled letterer could have tried the same thing and failed miserably, but these examples added to the experience in an unexpected, visually advantageous way.
Lawrence and Lafuente team up for the "A" cover, while Alex Milne provides the "B" cover featuring colors by Josh Perez as seen in this review's news post thumbnail. A colorless version of the same cover is also available as the 10-copy retailer incentive for this issue. As always, you can find images of all of those covers and full credits for the issue in our Vector Sigma Database page for Transformers: Lost Light #16, but please note it contains a character appearance list and in this case that will mean huge spoilers!
Lost Light #16 feels like the start of a part of this story that will put all the pieces in place for a confluence of huge events as both the plot and geographic scope of the series begins to narrow in on a tipping point. The last page contains what is a very big, long awaited development and should allay concerns some readers have had about the pace of the series. While some of the character moments needed a bit more space to breathe, that doesn't take away from what they were and I think the experience of reading a physical, printed copy of the book will address some of that. For an opening act, this is about as good as it gets for me but some of the other staff feedback makes me wary enough to not bump this a notch higher on the numerical score front. Very good and potentially the start of a truly great arc.
. out of
Bonus! James Roberts' soundtrack suggestions for this issue:
Queen - "Let Me Live"
Air - "Kelly Watch The Stars" (ed. - I second this, fantastic song from a fantastic band off a fantastic album!)
Synopsis
The clock is ticking! Leoric finds himself exiled from New Prysmos by Virulina, who Merklynn has named the new leader of all the Visionaries. Can Leoric and his loyalists save Cybertron from being totally changed into a new homeworld for his people? Should they?
For broad definitions of 'saving'
I'm going to do something different with this issue's review, as we're behind schedule, the series has a very thin connection to Transformers, but I still believe it warrants coverage (the database entry is here, in case) and review was due a couple of weeks ago as it stands, anyway! Namely, I'll let some of the commenting readers speak their thoughts on what is and isn't working, and coming in to cover aspects that haven't been addressed.
Like the blue tusked tigerlion in the room
And we start with the major points:
Daniel Adkins wrote:Honestly, this series biggest problem is that the Transformers are in it. All the book's biggest problems (the discontinuity with First Strike, Kup’s death, etc.) wouldn’t be here if the series was just a straight up Visionaries book.
Burn wrote:Another way to look at it, it's Transformers vs Visionaries.
Unfortunately it's more Visionaries vs Visionaries with Transformers taking a back seat even though it's THEIR planet.
This is a comment that has often circulated in our previous reviews, and one that still applies, constantly, and viciously, to this third issue. The only saving moment, in this regard, is the appearance of a Transformers specific character which cannot exactly be called mainstream (to non TF fans, anyway) and some development of plot from the side of the Cybertronians.
cc
But we also have a good point about Virulina and Visaggio's writing in general, that echoes some wider sentiments about the miniseries:
Sunstar wrote:Ultimately I am not entirely sure if the root of my anger is because it's ultimately good writing that makes me feel something (like how TAAO annual made me cry) or because I feel they are not doing any justice to the story, or anything that will further the story of the Transformers on Cybertron. I get the feeling I won't get my answer until after the last book.
---
Art wise, something that users haven't really touched other than once more to talk about Virulina, we still have Fico Ossio and David Garcia Cruz do some really, and I mean, really good work on pretty much the entire organic cast, including the more spectral or hologrammic (not a word) of it.
The issue, once more - though less so I thought compared to previous issues too - is with Cybertronians, and specifically with their faces. Ossio is working hard, and he's working into a style that makes the angular robotic physiognomy fit to his own.. but we're not quite there just yet, and it mostly shows in background shots, rather than close-ups.
On the other hand, Sassy Ironhide
And that last point circles back to the main ones made about the series above: arriving to the Transformers is always on the background, or backburner, be it with the fittingness of the artist's style to the characters or the writing that is still relying on not-exactly IDW characterisation of the cast (see previous reviews for more on this point).
see review title
Overall, the issue is an improvement on the previous two, though for the Transformers side of things that doesn't really amount to much, but it does build to more of the characters having more or less of an agency than initially seen - up to the final act of the book, at least. It's still unfortunate, but there may be a lot in this particular book that Visionaries fans will appreciate I feel, even more than previously in the series; it just comes at the (literal) expense of Transformers.
While we posted in hand images of the wave 1 deluxes as soon as fans got them from Hasbro Toy Shop, we never posted video reviews for all of them (just Bumblebee and Stinger). Most of the world still doesn't have them since they are scheduled to appear in stores next month so below you will find a video review for all of wave one inlcuding new reviews for Bumblebee and Stinger, to go with Crowbar and Ratchet, just to give you another perspective. We also included some comparison shots after the video reviews for those who wish to compare these molds with previous renditions.
We also have an excellent review of this line from Scotty P in the latest Twincast Podcast where he and the other participants are disappointed that these aren't quite the premium line-up they're hyped up to be. Go to the 54 minute mark to hear their in depth analysis on what we have so far in the line.
Fellow Seibertronian MaverickPrime has pointed us towards Mexican toy collector, reviewer and photographer Diatron, who has obtained a copy of the new Transformers Studio Series 09 Toys R Us exclusive figure Thundercracker!
The toy is a redeco of the Transformers The Last Knight Nitro Zeus figure, with Titan Master / Headmaster gimmick and a new headsculpt - while the gimmick is intact, there is no smaller figure formed by the head, however - and mostly blue and grey to cover the light grey of the original toy. You can check out some comparison images below, and a full video review in Spanish!
UPDATE: Diatron sent us some more images, if you prefer your visual to be static instead of video! Check them out below, including some shots of the underside of the box showing the codes you might need to seek out what is most likely to be the last Toys R Us exclusive figure, not only for Transformers.
Synopsis
The Falling, Part 2: The arrival of Onyx Prime throws Cybertron into chaos—because he hasn’t come alone. Onyx’s treacherous companion forces Soundwave to finally make a choice: is Optimus Prime a friend... or foe?
...
Story
John Barber is extremely busy this week, with his handiwork appearing in two major stories for the Optimus Prime series, and one of his greatest strengths appears loud and clear in both: his knowledge of the franchise and how to weave together multiple pasts into something that makes complete and utter sense in a new story thread, be it through one line comments to Aligned, cameos from Beast Wars, or anything in the Annual (see review here!).
Hey, it's Alpha Bravo!
To add to all that, Barber's Soundwave is one of the better developed, multi-faceted, and narratively functional for experimentation in script and page layout characters that has emerged out of the IDW universe of Transformers - and this issue cements it. You almost miss the point of view just before the climax of the issue, until you realise you hadn't, you just skipped a beat.
my heart just did again
That said, I'll also reiterate what I had mentioned previously to ScottyP about Onyx Prime, with an added caveat that comes out of this issue specifically: he is terrifying, imposing, well-crafted and grounded in enough lore and versions of reality to make him come across as the threat that he is, and what his presence means to the different characters who face him.
More Beast Wars!
With those two major points in mind, though, there is one dangling issue I want to address with regards to the pacing and the narration: the story will most definitely feel chaotic, fragmented even, at times - but hold on to those fragments, as they serve a purpose, and they're never entirely unintentional.
Art
Kei Zama on lineart truly does wonders with her darker inks and shadows, even for an issue that deals a lot more with nuance than it might initially look like. The art, then, perfectly fits the script, the fear and threat that both Onyx Prime and Liege Maximo have brought to Cybertron are physically palpable. Additionally, the page and panel layouts are gorgeous and gorgeously functional, especially with Soundwave at the centre.
literally, at times
And if Zama's art is well suited to the script, Josh Burcham's colouring work on the lineart just makes sure that is most definitely indeed the case. It helps us work through the fragments and the parallels alike, where the art might at times throw a little more shade over comprehension than is perhaps necessary.
unf
What is left of the visuals, then, is what holds the narrative together - which would otherwise be a headache-inducing task, were it not for the balancing act of Tom B Long and his careful lettering of dialogue, captions, and placing on the page and in the panels. There is no unintended misdirection.
As for the covers, the one thumbnailed spotlights Casey Coller and John-Paul Bove's variant for this arc, with the silhouette suggesting the point of view taken in the issue. The other two, the main Zama/Burcham early Cybertron take on a happy family (*my heart*) and the Marcelo Matere (no colour credit given) Prime on Prime action can both be seen in our database entry here.
Thoughts Spoilerish ahead
Any story that features John Barber's Soundwave is already looking good to me (there are some exceptions in the recent past, but let me have this), and linking current day situations with the character's parallels from his own personal and ideological past is a great way to frame a story that already did something similar, yet entirely different, with the Mistress of Flame last month.
lol jk
There is politics, there is personality, there is a strand of dark humour that just works when spoken deadpan (again, Soundwave) and with the artistic team working so hard to make this story come across for the weighty matter that it is, you might even miss a twist that may or may not be there - but if it is, and once it kicks in, you'll grin worse that Onyx Prime's apparently permanent grimace.
Fellow Seibertronian chuckdawg1999, speedy as ever, has shared with us a new video review, this time focusing on the latest release in the Takara Tomy Transformers Masterpiece line - that is to say, MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus with Firebolt!
The figure is shown next to the previous version of the mold, MP-28 Hot Rodimus, to get a better idea of the new deco, other differences, and in both robot and vehicle mode, along with the different accessories, Targetmaster included. You can check out the video embedded below, and join the discussion in the Energon Pub!
Targetmaster Hot Rodimus is a strange figure, based on its appearance in The Rebirth mini-series that ended the G1 cartoon in the US. Most fans consider the color pallet used a mistake but I quite like it as it differentiates pre and post Rodimus Prime Hot Rod. While I can't say it's a definite purchase, the inclusion of Firebolt from the Hasbro US release MP-09, makes this figure worth a look.
NOTE: The Annual is out on Wednesday, but to avoid discussion about it clashing too much with the other Optimus Prime comic book also out this week, this review is published before the release of the book. There are no spoilers insofar as we were able to keep them in check.
Synopsis
THUNDERCRACKER IN: STARSCREAM: THE MOVIE! The good news: somebody finally gave Thundercracker money to make a film. The bad news: it's Starscream, and he wants a biographical picture to win over the people of Earth. Will Thundercracker stand by his principles or... well, no, he makes the movie.
His FACE
Story
Annuals are a strange thing, in comics series, arriving as they do from outside the narrative, but still usually relevant to the main strands of stories told in the main series they refer to. In Till All Are One's case, we saw it actually being a conclusion; in Optimus Prime, we see a long-frame of rounding out and rounding up some moments regarding Starscream (in deferred time) and Thundercracker himself.
our noble hero
And the result is something that truly excels at highlighting the troubled past of the Seekers and the Decepticon ranks and faction, through the focus of the former's leader Starscream, and the lens of Thundercracker - and it does so injecting some actually surprisingly serious, resonating moments in an apparently light-hearted framing.
what humour
The story, then, takes place across a number of moments that follow Starscream's rise to power and later fall (hence my reference to the TAAO annual above), as Thundercracker starts the work and only concludes it much, much later. Barber's script, as I will say in the other Optimus Prime comic review this week, is a mine of delights for anyone with any interest in Transformers lore, and choc-full of cameos and references.
you're gonna need a bigger bot!
And that is something that Barber is very good at, leaning onto it in full force for a lot of beats in the issue. Using the framing of Thundercracker to give us a story about Starscream was good. Very good. It then turns to Thundercracker again, almost suddenly, and it gets perhaps even better, reminding us of how powerful he actually can be, and what his background is.
Art
The general framework of the light-heartedness of the script suits Priscilla Tramontano's art style perfectly, and John-Paul Bove's colours just help it that little more, keeping in line with the likes of MTMTE #57 in Titans Return, and the general silliness-but-not-really of Thundercracker's emotive side, even just as we open the issue on the title page. It's just.. fun.
niiiiiiice
An unexpected - though entirely by my own fault - surprise comes in the small parts in which regular Thundercracker artist (from xRID and Transformers days) Andrew Griffith was brought in, with colours by Josh Burcham, to round out some flashbacks and cutscenes. And paired with Tramontano, and the framing of the narrative devices, it just works. Beautifully so.
Seekers: Origin
As for the joyous touches added by the lettering, we see Shawn Lee feature back in, and having probably as much fun as the rest of the creative team on this, with some particularly fun parts in Buster's various noises, and the sound effects that manifest in various forms throughout.
We've seen both of the covers available for the issue, and both are viewable in our database entryhere, but I chose the Andrew Griffith / Josh Perez for the points made above: having him show one of his old 'creations' was a lovely touch.
Thoughts WARNING: this may contain spoilers
A script that takes itself nowhere too seriously, with art that combines the more significant beats with the overall joyful, gleeful fun that the team clearly had while working on this project, with a spotlight on some of the lesser seen moments of Decepticon and Cybertronian history, and a bot-load of character work worthy of the best bottle episodes out there. You really should pick this annual up, with one caveat...
me, humbly, with this review
...Barber's strengths may also be the hurdle to new readers coming to see Thundercracker doing fun movie fanfic things and being more influenced by humanity than Decepticonism. The references, the interviews, the cameos - they may not work for a newer Transformers fan (but which also speak to readers of Revolutionaries, GI Joe, xRID, and more). At the same time, they do not, in any way, detract from the overall enjoyment of the story, as those very same references also branch out to wider points, such as commentary on fandom, and popular media in general, references to specific franchises, and more. I repeat myself: pick this up.
. out of
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