#Botcon2016 Transformers Collector Club Figures: Counterpunch, Toxitron, Scorponok and More

I'm all for that GI Joe set!!

Seeing that there is a Pretender Megatron to go with Optimus, I now want both.

Masterpiece Ratbat? That's surprising.

Fractyl and Scorponok, eh. Sounds like something Sabrblade would be into.

Toxitron is awesome, surprised they're not using the Optimus version of the mold.

Generally good stuff, giving Pretender Optimus an arch-nemesis is a nice touch. The head retool on Toxitron seems like a bit of a waste though, especially considering that there are already two Optimus Prime molds for the Optimus/Motormaster body. (Is it still possible to mix-and-match between retools? Last I recall that happening was a helicopter exclusive, relatively recent.)

That is freakin' awesome to hear about Toxitron. I had mentioned a while back why HasTak hadn't considered this mold for him. Not that they heard me but good things come for those that wait...epic!

So I think it's safe to assume that 4.p and 5.0's 7th figures will be combiner wars decepticons so they can finish this combiner.

steals_your_goats wrote:So I think it's safe to assume that 4.p and 5.0's 7th figures will be combiner wars decepticons so they can finish this combiner.

If this is the case, he'd still need two more limbs. I guess you might could slap Offroad on there, but then you'd take away from either Menasor or Galvatronus (depending on if you've got Wildrider or not and are a stickler for team cohesion).

steals_your_goats wrote:So I think it's safe to assume that 4.p and 5.0's 7th figures will be combiner wars decepticons so they can finish this combiner.

Well if you count Terrorsaur then only one more would be needed. Isn't the seventh figure for 4.0 heavily rumored to be a CW Decepticon? I would imagine the 5.0 seventh figure would be Punch but that may just be too easy. Then again, Eject and Rewind. I'm more confused about the wasted potential of a fully complete combiner with Scorponok being made from Scamper and not Blackjack. Sure, there's Runabout and Runamuck but one should go to Grand Scourge and the other isn't out yet and will be fairly limited and expensive.

It's also pretty cool that they're reusing that Oilmaster Pretender shell and making another shell for Megatron but I'm not into those. I see them as wasted potential that could've gone to another larger figure or more extra smaller figures or weapons. They have to cater to all types though, or at least try, so it's ok though as I'll still get them and keep them.

Scorponok seems kinda odd - when I see a blue + bronzey orange little guy paired with Fractyl, my first thought is Packrat. Without a Scorponok paintjob or head, there isn't much tying this car guy to Scorps.

Edit:

Alpha Weltall wrote:It's also pretty cool that they're reusing that Oilmaster Pretender shell and making another shell for Megatron but I'm not into those. I see them as wasted potential that could've gone to another larger figure or more extra smaller figures or weapons. They have to cater to all types though, or at least try, so it's ok though as I'll still get them and keep them.

FunPub creating a last minute Pretender shell surprised me too, but it turns out it's a redeco of an existing Pretender - Grand Maximus's toy featured a Pretender shell for his Cerebro;

Double Headmaster Pretender Cityformer, yes.

That's pretty neat that Megatron's partner is Astrotrain! I think Cobra Commander or Donny Finkleberg might have been a better choice but its neat none the less.

RevTibe wrote:

Alpha Weltall wrote:It's also pretty cool that they're reusing that Oilmaster Pretender shell and making another shell for Megatron but I'm not into those. I see them as wasted potential that could've gone to another larger figure or more extra smaller figures or weapons. They have to cater to all types though, or at least try, so it's ok though as I'll still get them and keep them.

FunPub creating a last minute Pretender shell surprised me too, but it turns out it's a redeco of an existing Pretender - Grand Maximus's toy featured a Pretender shell for his Cerebro;

Double Headmaster Pretender Cityformer, yes.

Thanks for the info but I knew that already as I recognized it (I never said it was a NEW shell) and it's already in the description described by D-Maximus as well. It's still kind of a waste either way though.

Mindmaster wrote:

steals_your_goats wrote:So I think it's safe to assume that 4.p and 5.0's 7th figures will be combiner wars decepticons so they can finish this combiner.

If this is the case, he'd still need two more limbs. I guess you might could slap Offroad on there, but then you'd take away from either Menasor or Galvatronus (depending on if you've got Wildrider or not and are a stickler for team cohesion).

The other two would be the two in this set.

Kinda pissed that the domestic release of MP Ratbat is for a club exclusive. Anybody else notice Cobra Commander is coming with the Megatron gun again?

I'm calling it now the 7th figure in FSS 5.0 will either be CW Mirage as Crasher/Fracture or CW Groove as Wreck Gar

I want that FSS (except for the Paradron medic), but I'm not sure I can drop that kind of money on it again.

Counterpunch losing Punch doesn't bother me because it's not a sudden development; the possibility has been hinted at since his Universe profile.

Not thrilled about Fractyl losing the HFG (or that Terrorsaur lost his) but it still looks nice. Scorponok doesn't appeal to me as much.

Toxitron looks badass, and the Pretender leaders are are both cool ideas, although Optimus turned out better.

steals_your_goats wrote:So I think it's safe to assume that 4.p and 5.0's 7th figures will be combiner wars decepticons so they can finish this combiner.

I'm guessing the 4.0 7th figure is Quake from CW Brawl. Their heads look similar enough, they have the same alt mode, Brawl's tank cannon can be used as a handheld weapon just like Quake's could, and it's confirmed to be a CW Deluxe. Quake's original toy was released alongside those of Needlenose and Spinister, so he'd fit in with the team even if he's not technically a member.

The G.I. Joe figures intrigue me and frustrate me at the same time.

Ninja Force Scarlett - The original was a hideous piece of junk with badly-malformed legs to accommodate her kicking action feature. I had her back in the day. I really wish Hasbro would've had NF Scarlett in their retail releases at some point (back before the current iteration of the retail line died).

Cobra Commander - Oh, wow, another reuse of the Crimson Guard torso, though this time it looks like they're mixing in the upper legs of the original 25th Anniversary Cobra Commander. It would be nice if Hasbro could actually do a new torso to represent CC's dress uniform, like they did back in the 90s.

Dr. Biggles-Jones - I have no issues here.

As to the Transformers stuff... I have concerns about that MP Ratbat deco. Guessing it's supposed to be a Generation 2 theme, but that doesn't make much sense because Ratbat was one of the few characters killed in the G1 comic who stayed dead in G2.

Shegotron wrote:As to the Transformers stuff... I have concerns about that MP Ratbat deco. Guessing it's supposed to be a Generation 2 theme, but that doesn't make much sense because Ratbat was one of the few characters killed in the G1 comic who stayed dead in G2.

I thinnnnk the blue instead of black's just a tribute to how he looked in the Marvel comics thanks to how they inked things (there was an MP Grimlock release with a similar visual tribute).

Not sure if he's really there to be a G2 tribute - I think it's just to give club members the chance to land a Masterpiece Ratbat without buying the Soundblaster set.

Zeedust wrote:Not thrilled about Fractyl losing the HFG (or that Terrorsaur lost his) but it still looks nice. Scorponok doesn't appeal to me as much.

Toxitron looks badass, and the Pretender leaders are are both cool ideas, although Optimus turned out better.

steals_your_goats wrote:So I think it's safe to assume that 4.p and 5.0's 7th figures will be combiner wars decepticons so they can finish this combiner.

I'm guessing the 4.0 7th figure is Quake from CW Brawl. Their heads look similar enough, they have the same alt mode, Brawl's tank cannon can be used as a handheld weapon just like Quake's could, and it's confirmed to be a CW Deluxe. Quake's original toy was released alongside those of Needlenose and Spinister, so he'd fit in with the team even if he's not technically a member.

Neither one of those guys lost their HFG they're just not pictured with them. And I think the two secret figures will be quake from brawl like you said and crankcase from first aid.

RevTibe wrote:

Shegotron wrote:As to the Transformers stuff... I have concerns about that MP Ratbat deco. Guessing it's supposed to be a Generation 2 theme, but that doesn't make much sense because Ratbat was one of the few characters killed in the G1 comic who stayed dead in G2.

I thinnnnk the blue instead of black's just a tribute to how he looked in the Marvel comics thanks to how they inked things (there was an MP Grimlock release with a similar visual tribute).

Not sure if he's really there to be a G2 tribute - I think it's just to give club members the chance to land a Masterpiece Ratbat without buying the Soundblaster set.

If it looked the same as the blue on Cobra Commander, I'd buy it, but it looks pastel in that shot. Yes, I know it's a pretty iffy photo of a projected Powerpoint image, so it's not exactly 100% clear, but until we get that clear image of it, I'm going to remain skeptical. Plus, the storyline in question was the lead-in to G2, and as I said before, Ratbat wasn't in it, so it still baffles me why he's included in this particular group shot if he doesn't have anything to do with G2.

My question is why the grand max shell, is there a reissue coming or is sdcc maximums coming with a shell.

* Masterpiece Ratbat is surely a nice surprise. Shame that's as far as the Club will go with MP releases, seeing as, y'know, FunPub's not going to have the license anymore.

* Now that I see there's going to be a Pretender Megatron, I suddenly want Pretender Optimus even more. That thing looks really awesome!

* Not into Lifeline. Not that I don't like her, it just doesn't pander to me, personally.

* Toxitron looks badass! Though why bother making a brand new head when you can just use the already-existing head mold?

* Punch seems pointless without Counterpunch... why couldn't it had been Slicer/Shattered Glass Wheeljack?

* Don't care about Fractyl. I'm not far enough into the BotCon legends to get into him.

* Pre-BW Scorponok from Scamper seems like an odd decision... would've preferred something like Waspinator from Viper or something.

*

steals_your_goats wrote:Neither one of those guys lost their HFG they're just not pictured with them. And I think the two secret figures will be quake from brawl like you said and crankcase from first aid.

Sorry, just been hearing over and over that Terrorsaur doesn't have the HFG. And I like the HFG, so that disappointed me a little.

I almost forgot one more reason for it to be Quake: It gives them the opportunity to use Scoop's Targetmasters YET AGAIN.

And if you're right about Crankcase, I'm gonna be kind of annoyed that he got to be an FSS bonus, while Ratchet is only available as a custom class figure. So much for making a Team Prime themed combiner.

Wow, this almost makes me happy that funpub's license is expiring. The only worthwhile figure is the Paradrome Medic.

The combiner wars style Toxitron, is so fucking boring. It is literally the most obvious thing they could've done. At least they gave a new head, though I wouldn't doubt they considered just making it a straight repaint of Battlecore prime. If the club really wanted to be daring with Toxitron, they should've used the 2015 Year of the goat Laser prime reissue. I know the original was on the botcon tour of "Things you've never seen before (and will never get)" but since this is the Funpubs' last year, they should've went balls to wall crazy, make the things we would never get, and not dumbass things like pretender megatron.

Removing the Punch aspect from Punch/CounterPunch, really makes the figure bland and uninteresting, there's no way they could've made a new Punch/CounterPunch considering there isn't a figure as modular as the Universe Sideswipe/Sunstreaker mold. It really makes me wonder why those choose to make a massively unfaithful, and almost insulting representation of the character. I wouldn't be surprised if the "Super Duper Secret Chocolaty Fudge Covered; Spank my ass and call me Susie" bonus figure is a generic looking Punch.

A DoTP style Fractyl isn't a bad concept, but the issue is they used that horrible Filthy Frank headsculpt ruins it. Again, if they wanted to be daring, try the Armada terrorsaur mold to make the unreleased Transmetal Fractyl. Otherwise, I feel that this release is superfluous. As a side note, using the beasthunters Starscream as Terrorsaur/Fractyl would've been allot more fun.

Scorponok. I don't know why they keep changing the design for a Pre-beast wars scorponok. There's the Theft of the Golden Disk shortround repaint, the DoFP energon scorpinok repaint, and now this. Honestly, the deco on the samper mold, almost makes it look like Cybertron cannonball. Not sure why he was included, especially at such a small scale, or if this is supposed to be another character called scorponok, I don't get the point.

Pretender megatron and Pretender Prime. Again i don't get it. Just like oilmaster, the dissidence between the late 80's he-man style, low articulation, pretender shells, and the contemporary highly articulated robot figures, makes both aspects look bad. they just look like shit in my opinion. Though the mini astrotrain's neato.

So, If I were making the club's subscription line up, I'd make the theme based 100% off of unreleased toys and unused concepts :
Toxitron from Year of the Goat laser Prime as the centerpiece, (much like ultra mammoth)
Paradrome medic from gens arcee.
Transmetal 2 Fractyl from Beast Hunters Starscream
Horrorcon/Waruder Blackarachina from Legends Blackarachina
Generation 1/Armada Dropshot from Generation/FoC Seeker
Generation 2 Laser Cycle Jazz from CW Groove.

(Surprise figure; The Fem Fatale only known as Cy-kill from FE Arcee)

Or they do something shocking and develop their own characters.

SW's SilverHammer wrote:Removing the Punch aspect from Punch/CounterPunch, really makes the figure bland and uninteresting, there's no way they could've made a new Punch/CounterPunch considering there isn't a figure as modular as the Universe Sideswipe/Sunstreaker mold. It really makes me wonder why those choose to make a massively unfaithful, and almost insulting representation of the character.

His TFU profile, from way back in 1990, actually says there's a danger of Counterpunch taking over completely, and I've heard that his MTMTE profile says this too. It might still bore you, but it's a concept that's been there since G1 was still on shelves and comic racks.

Burn wrote:Or they do something shocking and develop their own characters.

Why would they do that? Hasbro and Takara focus mostly on pre Beast Era retreads, why wouldn't FunPub do the same?

So Toxitron is Motormaster with a Prime head? Cool cool. I like how it's styled after G2 Laser Prime that the original (canceled) release was based on. Any news on a new Combiner Head like Bludgeon?



Ok, no comments on the Legends partner I see Spacewarp homage for the win! And another canceled deco (G2 Combat Hero Megatron this time)? Sweet. O, on the side, I can't tell if it's new or the G1 original. The G1 original is plausible in that Encore Fortress Maximus may have had the mold on standby, but it could also be newly sculpted because of the design of the cavities. Could anyone try and fit both Gen. Legends Megatron and Payload inside the Grand Maximus shell?



The inevitable has happened, Counterpunch has taken over completely... But why the Wheeljack mold? Don't tell me the Dead End mold is starting to wear out (both its welcome and its use)



Seen it before, but I will say this is the ultimate Club Troll figure



Anyone know who the little guy is supposed to represent?



We should have expected that one But why use Scamper for Scorponok?

So am I right in saying 'no more Botcon after 2016, no more fun pub TFCC after 201??'

Tsukaistarburst wrote:So am I right in saying 'no more Botcon after 2016, no more fun pub TFCC after 201??'

This is the last subscription service set - I think they usually mail all of those out before the year end? Club memberships are also ending this year.

This is the last Botcon "in its current format.", per Hasbro. Kinda vague what that might mean, practically speaking.

After the news of the GI Joe/Transformers Crossover figures, we are proud to show to you our first look at the actual figures themselves: G2 Megatron and Ratbat! Megatron is a translucent Green redeco of his legends class figure meant to mimic a holographic image that Cobra would use to rebuild him into his G2 body, while Ratbat is a redeco of his Masterpiece toy. Check out the image mirrored below, and stay tuned to Seibertron.com for all your latest Transformers News and Galleries!

Dat Ratbat

It's neat, but I have no desire for either of these two I'm afraid.

ARG!!! I was all excited about G2 Megatron and they just had to ruin him by making him #$@! @$%^ @$#% ^&&% TRANSLUCENT!! Why would they do that!? That crossover was one of my favorite comics from the G2 era and that Marvel Ratbat looked so great so why make Megatron *(#@ %#(@ translucent? Man, what a downer, I was completely sold on that set just for Megatron and Ratbat alone, but now I need to seriously rethink this. I get their reasoning, but it's dumb, especially since only the green parts are translucent. Nothing I hate more than poorly done translucent figures, it needs to be all or nothing or it looks stupid if you want us to believe it represents an entirely see-through character (or in this case, image). As far as I'm concerned the only place for translucent plastic is lights and windows, nowhere else.

Emerje

Couldn't they pick better deluxe figure to be g2 megaton repaint that megaton figure never like ratbat is nice like how his wings are more poseable not stiff

How would these be available to the public? I'd be willing to join a group in order to get them. But what and how much and deadlines and etc?

What does Ratbat have to do with Cobra?

This slagging sucks, they go and slagging make a slagging new slagging G2 slagging Megatron figure and they slagging make him slagging translucent! And to slagging add slagging insult to slagging injury they slagging make him a slagging collectors' slagging club exclusive! This is complete slagging slag, I will just not slagging tolerate this slag! I slagging agree with you slagging wholeheartedly slagging Emerje. This is complete slagging slag. Not even slagging that but he also slagging looks like a slagging legends slagging class! How can a slagging bad@$$ slagging G2 slagging Megatron bring his slagging enemies to slagging fear when they slagging hear his slagging name when he's slagging tiny and not slagging big enough to slagging do any slagging good in slagging battle!

You must have a lot of spare time on your hands.

dragons wrote:Couldn't they pick better deluxe figure to be g2 megaton repaint that megaton figure never like ratbat is nice like how his wings are more poseable not stiff

That's not a Deluxe.

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

The inevitable has happened, Counterpunch has taken over completely... But why the Wheeljack mold? Don't tell me the Dead End mold is starting to wear out (both its welcome and its use)

At first I was like...



But then I was like...



...Pardon the memes.

As for the Wheeljack mold? I think it might just be that the Dead End/Streetwise mold has seen nearly twice as much use, so it's kinda the Breakdown/Wheeljack mold's "turn".

Emerje wrote:As far as I'm concerned the only place for translucent plastic is lights and windows, nowhere else.

What about eyes? "Energy" weapons and/or projectiles?

The slagging Dead slagging End mold is the slagging best they can't slagging be slagging getting rid of the slagging mold!

Okay, it does look like they were trying to mimic the comic coloring for Ratbat, but the blue is way too pale. It's supposed to be a dark grayisn-blue, not slagging baby blue! FAIL.

[BW] Rainmaker wrote:SLAG

Dude. A chill pill. Take one. Take ten.

Madre de Dios.

Nemesis Maximo wrote:

[BW] Rainmaker wrote:SLAG

Dude. A chill pill. Take one. Take ten.

Madre de Dios.

Slagging slagging slaggers slagging telling me what to slagging do on a slagging monday slagging evening who do you slagging think you slagging are slagger.

But...the slagging G2 megs...

Now that I've had a moment to calm down...

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

Anyone know who the little guy is supposed to represent?

Girl, apparently it's supposed to be Quickslinger. I actually thought it was Storm Cloud at first. TFWiki also says they're calling the medic Lifeline.

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

We should have expected that one But why use Scamper for Scorponok?

Good question, can't say I'm a big fan of that choice. He sure does grow a lot later on. The Energon Scorponok mold would have been the best choice, but probably too big for this set considering how many large figures are already in it. If they only did this figure because of the head sculpt then I'd rather they went for BotCon 2014 Canonball instead

Zeedust wrote:As for the Wheeljack mold? I think it might just be that the Dead End/Streetwise mold has seen nearly twice as much use, so it's kinda the Breakdown/Wheeljack mold's "turn".

I think it's really just a matter of the chest windows to look like the original figure. Mark my words, the mystery figure for 5.0 will be Punch using this same mold with a new head and the Breakdown chest if it fits in there.

Zeedust wrote:

Emerje wrote:As far as I'm concerned the only place for translucent plastic is lights and windows, nowhere else.

What about eyes? "Energy" weapons and/or projectiles?

If it's a melee weapon like an axe or sword I'm fine with it, but no guns.
You have no idea how much I hate light piped eyes. I'll never understand why people would think it's a good idea to make half of a figure's head translucent just so they kinda look like they're glowing under direct light. I don't know why anyone would choose that over some well painted eyes that will look good all the time.

Emerje

Emerje wrote:You have no idea how much I hate light piped eyes. I'll never understand why people would think it's a good idea to make half of a figure's head translucent just so they kinda look like they're glowing under direct light. I don't know why anyone would choose that over some well painted eyes that will look good all the time.

Emerje

I hate light piped eyes too. It's so rare to get it working well without rendering the rest of the head in a sillouhette and the rest of the time you just end up with a nice looking figure with black-looking dead eyes and yeah I hate having the back of the head transparent in that eye colour too. I tend to open up the heads, paint the translucent eye section whatever colour is most suitable (like light blue on my Gen Springer) then paint the back of the head it should be (green on Springer obviously) and it just looks so much better with nice bright blue eyes and a more complete looking head. It really is something I absolutely loathe about modern Transformers cos so many otherwise great figures have that damn thing.

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

We should have expected that one But why use Scamper for Scorponok?

Honestly, they probably would have done fine with Fractyl on his own, so the other question is why is it there in the first place?

RiddlerJ wrote:What does Ratbat have to do with Cobra?

Lol dude you're funny. Quit messing with the new joins.

First Gen wrote:

RiddlerJ wrote:What does Ratbat have to do with Cobra?

Lol dude you're funny. Quit messing with the new joins.

well I think turning a masterpiece figure into any other run of the mill transformer is a crime.

is this going to be next years subscription service? (Starting in October or so?) I thought Fan Pub was no longer doing TFCC?

wait...are they not accepting memberships anymore? like I cant buy this TFSS set now? Confused

foir those complaining about the size of megatron or his translucency;it is not meant to represent a full size transformer;it is supposed to be a hologram of meg's g2 body to explain the clear parts

Any word on when Ramjet will ship out yet?

Moonshot wrote:Any word on when Ramjet will ship out yet?

At least a month. There were significant issues with the head construction on the sample.