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YouTube reviewer emgo316 has uploaded a video of Transformers Prime "Beast Hunters" Deluxe Lazerback. Lazerback is the only truly new mold in "Beast Hunters" Deluxe Wave 1, as Bumblebee, Wheeljack, and Soundwave are remolds. Check out his review embedded below.
Site sponsor Kapow! Toys has provided us with a great pictorial review of Takara Tomy's recently released Transformers Prime Arms Micron AM-29 Shockwave with Bido. Enjoy the review and images found below!
Now this is a strange one, Takara kick off their own Generations line this very month with TG-01 & 02 FOC Optimus and Jazz yet Shockers got rammed in the Arms Micron line which has left him somewhat overlooked. Coming in a lighter shade of purple than his Hasbro compatriot he appears closer to the cartoon Shockwave which will please a lot of people. Size wise he's definitely not any bigger ( just kidding ) and suffers from some quite thin legs, I however think it works and is a very nice representation of whats seen on screen in the video game. He has a bundle of articulation in the arms and legs, the head swivels but sadly there is no waist swivel which in these days of cutting costs is understandable on a deluxe class figure. The micron is neatly put together but has a very strange alt mode, it does come across as a gun with bug legs, it is also not capable of snapping onto Shockwaves arms and entirely concealing the fist so must always be hand mounted which is a little bit of a letdown but not the end of the world.
Alt mode is improved by the bulkier Micron figure in that it helps the ship hold together very tightly, you also get some nice battle damage stickers to plaster over the bulkhead making him look nice and worn. The style of the alt mode is fully Cybertronian appearing to be a cross between a flying cannon / ship, I personally like it but know some people don't having hoped for a full on space gun.
To conclude, FOC Shockwave has been a paint to find and when people do its usually at a premium but still cheaper than this version, does a Micron add enough value to warrant a purchase ? probably not so this will only be for you if you fancy completing your AM collection, like the lighter shade of purple or just flat out cannot find the FOC version.
Seibertron member Transformermegazord brings us a review of Hasbro's upcoming Transformers Generations: Fall of Cybertron Voyager Class Blaster with Steeljaw. Check out his video embedded below.
Seibertron.com member Transformermegazord has uploaded his video review of the latest figure in Takara Tomy's Transformers Masterpiece line, MP-14 Red Alert. The figure is a redec/remold of the recently released MP-12 Lambor/Sideswipe figure. Check out his review embedded below.
Site sponsor Kapow! Toys has graciously supplied us with a video review of the highly anticipated Transformers Generations: Fall of Cybertron Voyager Class Grimlock! Enjoy the review performed by our Seibertron.com member Transformermegazord embedded below.
Scorponok. Scorponok and his plans for Cybertron. Or is it Soundwave’s plans for Thunderwing’s remains? How about the AFTERMATH of the EPIC battle for Earth?
“One shall stand, one shall fall!” (not used in the last issue surprisingly...)
Last issue Optimus did it, he killed Megatron. Spoiler alert by the way. It’s really not one though, he’s done it before, and chances are he’ll end up having to do it again somehow. So how do you come back next issue and beat that?
In this issue, Optimus is dealing with his short-sighted 21 year error (a blink to Transformers, right?) and it’s effect on Earth. He and the Transformers are being told to get out. No ‘thank you’s, no ‘see you later-thanks for the freedom’, just ‘we want you gone’. Can you blame the humans for having this attitude? The Autobots have been very irresponsible, and even though they cleaned up their mistake with heavy casualties of their own, counting Springer and Ratchet amongst their dead, and deactivated; the humans do not once again count them as friends or allies. The humans want no help, they simply want to be left alone to start again. I’m so cool with that story element from the book. Less humans and Earth the better in my Transformers fiction.
“It’s a shame you Autobots die so easily, or I might get some satisfaction out of this...”
Another piece of the story in this book has Grimlock dealing with his nucleon birthed guilt. Of course, he has some help in this as Scorponok explores the halls of Grimlock’s mind, inducing more guilt, and ultimately, getting Grimlock to help him in his current plans for Cybertron. I’m good with this part as well. Dinobots are excellent characters to exploit, I mean use.
“Me Grimlock kick butt....”
Meanwhile at the Hall of Silence, the justice league of Autobots has been dealing with Soundwave trying to get Thunderwing’s remains out from the sacred, impenitrable hall, and Hot Rod has to make a command decision to stop him, which Soundwave is counting on... I’m not yet interested in this ‘stuff’. Not at all. Well, maybe slightly.
"Insert Harry Potter line here"
This issue is enjoyable. It’s sad when a favorite character dies, be it Megatron, or Springer, or any of the Decepticon zombies. But, I don’t feel either/any death in this series has a huge impact. The story has been slow building, and 5 issues in we lose two major characters? It’s like, “See you later Megatron, Springer, we barely knew ya’.”
Which is oddly reflected in the Autobots burial and subsequent destruction of the ‘zombies’. This part had me scratching my head. No real emotion shown as they dump piles of bots in a hole to then be vaporized. Really? I had to assume none of the Autobot dead were put in the pit (although Monstercons are mentioned as being a part of the Decepticon hordes, oops), so I’m not sure that they would feel much towards bots they already thought were dead--and they were enemies nonetheless, I suppose--it just felt oddly handled. Situations like this are rarely perfect, so I guess I can give it a pass. In either case, I really feel like the lack of emotion by everyone else, is foiled by Optimus over-emotional reaction to EVERYTHING going back to last issue where he beat Megatron to death. And it’s a comparison that is not needed. Autobots in general are supposed to feel, care, etc. They should all be super-depressed (or at least somewhat) after what they have seen and experienced. I guess they are, but just not remorseful toward the Decepticons, which is causing my uncomfortable itch, I suppose.
“I thought you were made of sterner stuff...”
Okay, over-analyzing aside, if you’ve been reading the issues you’ll grab this and not bat an optic, read it, consume it, and wait until a few issues down the line where Springer and Megatron, and others will be brought back to life (death is never final in comics...except in GI JOE, right?). Fine, this time they are dead, and Prime may have a nervous breakdown, and Thunderwing’s remains may or may not be vaporized too, which means no more creation matrix pieces... I guess. Hot Rod will lead and somehow become Rodimus and Unicron will return even though he was destroyed and eat Cybertron as Scorponok tries to stop him for the second time, because he has his own dastardly plans for Cybertron.
A word on the art. I think it’s getting better.
“Me Grimlock need new strategy...”
Me read book, and forget next day... Time to play with my toys. Enjoy next issue that comes out, when comes out. You could do worse. But could you do better? I am sure as REGEN goes, I probably can't.
I am a fan of Transformers fiction and toys. Seibertron.com generously allows me to continue to try to share ideas and opinions about this fiction, even though I have no other qualifications. I’m full of inconsistencies, and overlapping ideas and opinions. Please excuse my grammar and thought errors as this is done on my ‘free’ time to create conversation amongst collectors and readers. -tt24
Seibertron.com member Transformermegazord has posted a review of Deluxe Ultra Magnus from the upcoming wave three assortment of Transformers Generations: Fall of Cybertron. The figure is redeco/remold of wave one's Optimus Prime with a new head and weapons. Check out his review embedded below.
Seibertron.com member Azrail has received Takara Tomy's recently released Transformers Prime Arms Micron AM-26 Smokescreen and posted a pictorial review. The figure is a repaint/remold of AM-13 Medic Knock Out with a new head in robot mode and new spoiler in vehicle mold. The figure also comes with a brand new Arms Micron, S.2. Check out Azrail's review below.
Here is a quick look at Transformers Prime: AM-26 Smokescreen. He comes with his Micron S.2.
HUGE thanks to Kapow Toys! - http://www.kapowtoys.co.uk It came at an amazing speed and as always they give exceptional service and are highly recommended.
As always I apologise for some of my camera work but I try my best.
Smokescreen has just been released and is a Takara exclusive. The current buzz is that Hasbro will create a new mold and release in 2013 for the Beast Hunters line. Here's hoping as the repaint doesn't look like the screen version too much.
Smokescreen is a repaint of Knock Out. This is the Hasbro version not the AM one as it is missing the hood port.
I say repaint it's almost a no-paint! It's very light swirly grey plastic, not white. Almost reminds me of a prototype figure. The top of the roof is a painted silver. It doesn't stand out too badly but it is noticeable.
The colour for me is one of the biggest annoyances. It would look so much better in white rather than grey and I really can't understand why Takara did this? In some lights I would say it's almost a pale lilac. I'm sure I've seen the shade in soap dispensers!
The main change to the figure is the rear. A new section has been added with a spoiler. Without this addition the car mode wouldn't have worked. Also it includes 2 long pegs and 2 Micron ports. While you can add weapons sadly it spoils the sleek car form.
Here he is in robot mode with no labels. The figure itself is good, nice tight joints. I kinda wish my Knock Out was as tight as this. It may not be show accurate but it's still a nice figure.
The other only change is the all new head. It's a pretty good representation of Smokescreen.
He has painted eyes and a clear light piping rear. This doesn't work as the only area that shows the light is the corner of his eyes. Kinda giving him a twinkle in his eye but it looks poor. A coloured piece may have worked.
As with all AM figures it comes with labels to add the colour. These are the only things to associate him with Smokescreen. They are nice and shiny but that's also part of the problem I feel. The reflective nature makes the centre blue stripe trickier to see.
The labels go on the headlights, over the hood and roof, spoiler and side. The number 38 is added to both doors. The car rear area is left blank.
They do go a long way to make it resemble Smokescreen but again I wish he was white.
Robot mode gains labels for his waist and knee spikes. You can see him holding his large Micron figure. The hands are the only place suitable for it.
I decided to try and vary his look from Knock Out in the chest area. Smokescreen is a mix of Bumblebee and Knock Out in the show so using the Knock Out is only a partial success. His arms are wrong, the shoulders and he should have doors on his back.
His Micron S.2 is really good and one of the best ones so far I think. He's a proper simple robot mode for once. Even has a small laser on his wrist. The rear weapon area can be popped off to leave the robot mode only.
He transforms into like a Laser Crossbow weapon. The wing areas can be folded in for a more simple look. It is a large weapon but there is lots of detail! Again it's the same plain grey plastic.
You can mount the Micron on the side or rear in a couple of ways. I doubt he can get to 150 on his dial carrying S.2 though!
Lastly a couple of comparison pictures of Smokescreen.
This is a look at him without my camera flash to try and get an idea of the plastic colour.
Next to the Hasbro version of Knock Out.
Comparing Smokescreen with the proper white of United Drift.
In summary I feel a little let down with Takara. Until now all the repaints they've done haven't been bad. Ironhide, Dead End, Hot Shot, Frenzy, all nice figures. The problem with Smokescreen is not the Knock Out mold it's the fact that it shouldn't have been used! Smokey is too different and needs a new figure. Added to that not using white paint all strikes me as a lazy cash in.
There are talks of an Ariel Lemon Shapeways set coming to add doors and other fixes. Also it's highly likely a Reprolabel set will improve on the accuracy of this as they did with Knock Out. All good additions but they make an already high price exclusive even more expensive.
I do hope Hasbro make a deluxe Smokescreen to go with the Cyberverse version. I dread though it will be covered in Beast Hunter spikes. If you can't wait several months for that and like the Knock Out mold then grab AM-26. It's actually sold out in many places already.
I hope you've enjoyed my review and thanks for taking the time to read it.
SPOILER FREE
(CONTAINING SPOILERS FROM PREVIOUS RID ISSUES, HOWEVER)
It is quite the whirlwind this week for IDW Transformers comics this week, as their two biggest titles hit the shelf this Wednesday. My first review is for Robots In Disguise, and time certainly flies as we're already on the 11th issue. It has been a handful of weeks since we've been in the forefront of Cybertron politics as the RID Annual and the time travel filled Orion Pax RID #10 were the recent additions from Barber and company. To summarize our latest happenings with Bumblebee and friends, the Metrotitan, first discovered by the crew of the Lost Light, made its way back to its motherplanet, Cybertron. Before imploding due to unfortunate circumstances he had one last phrase; Starscream is the chosen one. Plot twist!
I think one of the biggest griefs some fans, including myself, have with the previous Robots In Disguise issues is that they tend to force the story to fit within the 22 page limit. While I am not the biggest fan of cliffhangers (the predecessors of both MTMTE and RID were full of them), I think comics are successful when they mix good story telling and make you yearn for more. At last I feel that Robots In Disguise #11 has hit the bullseye and is now on par with MTMTE. This issue feels like Barber's best!
I can't say that I was in league with those that thought RID would improve, but with hindsight, each story has been setting us up for what we have now. Whether this is our only climax in this series, or the first of many, we're being treated to some great characterization and storytelling.
One of the characters that I felt that had mistreatment in past issues (more in regards to just being hindered from using their true capabilities) was Arcee. In the IDW continuity, I think it's common knowledge that you shouldn't mess with Arcee. By the end of the issue, well let's just say that you really, really shouldn't mess with Arcee. She steals the show from Bumbleebee, Prowl, Starscream and 'hawk.
Ultimately, this is my favorite RID issue so far. The art (Guido stepping in for Griffith), storytelling, plot, dialogue, action and cliffhanger set this apart from any issue so far. Get it!
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Here's hoping as the repaint doesn't look like the screen version too much.
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