Takara Tomy Transformers Masterpiece MP-23 Exhaust In-Box Images

I love that photo on the back of the box of him interacting with Soundwave. Huzzah more Decepticons!

Soundwave: Exhaust, you know what you must do.

Exhaust: I-I don't know if I can betray my sponsor.

Soundwave: They betrayed you long before this day; they wrote you off; you meant nothing to them. Take this and seek your revenge against all who forgot about you; all who those who wronged you; all at Philip Morris...

OK. I just read TFormers take on this. And... I don't know where they're getting their info from.

MP-23 Exhaust Box Images of Cancelled Takara Tomy Transformers Masterpiece Figure
By BaCon on Sunday, March 08, 2015

Looks like the wheel are still turning on the Takara Tomy Transformers Masterpiece MP-23 Exhaust figure thanks to some new In-Box Images that just appeared on Yahoo! auctions Japan via seller totosouen2. Could this mean the figure is still coming soon or will there be some of these cancelled figures floating around? Only time time will tell. Get a look at the box front and back in the meantime.

I'd like to point out, that no one anywwhere had confirmed that the figure had been entirely cancelled. Lots of speculation, news about no importing, and that recent bit about Hasbro Asia, but it being completely cancelled? Totally unconfirmed.

Sabrblade wrote:

shajaki wrote:OK. I just read TFormers take on this. And... I don't know where they're getting their info from.

MP-23 Exhaust Box Images of Cancelled Takara Tomy Transformers Masterpiece Figure
By BaCon on Sunday, March 08, 2015

Looks like the wheel are still turning on the Takara Tomy Transformers Masterpiece MP-23 Exhaust figure thanks to some new In-Box Images that just appeared on Yahoo! auctions Japan via seller totosouen2. Could this mean the figure is still coming soon or will there be some of these cancelled figures floating around? Only time time will tell. Get a look at the box front and back in the meantime.

I'd like to point out, that no one anywwhere had confirmed that the figure had been entirely cancelled. Lots of speculation, news about no importing, and that recent bit about Hasbro Asia, but it being completely cancelled? Totally unconfirmed.

I'd wager they're jumping the gun. Only foreign market e-tailers have canceled their orders of the figure. Domestic Japanese sellers will likely still get it.

I would say so - HLJ still hasn't cancelled my preorder, so I'm hopeful.

Hell yes; he gets closer and closer to release.
The packaging looks pretty sweet too.

fenrir72 wrote:Just read an article about him. The poster(in another site) kind of presented that the item was cancelled.

Distribution wise, in the American market, there will be "issues" to put it lightly but the figure was not cancelled. Tomy went even further to re design the "M" pyramid pattern.

Sometimes, I wish the so called "reporters" would proof check their posts.

I just read the same article. They are really pushing that cancellation angle. I dropped the news about Hasbro Asia in this thread late last week I think.

shajaki wrote:

What does this mean? I can only speculate, but when places like Toys R Us in Australia get Takara MP's on their shelves, isn't it technically Hasbro Asia doing the distribution? Or am I just really jumbled here?

All I'll say is, I'm still unsure what role Hasbro Asia has. But them cancelling distribution of Exhaust doesn't mean he's cancelled entirely.

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

shajaki wrote:

fenrir72 wrote:Just read an article about him. The poster(in another site) kind of presented that the item was cancelled.

Distribution wise, in the American market, there will be "issues" to put it lightly but the figure was not cancelled. Tomy went even further to re design the "M" pyramid pattern.

Sometimes, I wish the so called "reporters" would proof check their posts.

I just read the same article. They are really pushing that cancellation angle. I dropped the news about Hasbro Asia in this thread late last week I think.

shajaki wrote:

What does this mean? I can only speculate, but when places like Toys R Us in Australia get Takara MP's on their shelves, isn't it technically Hasbro Asia doing the distribution? Or am I just really jumbled here?

All I'll say is, I'm still unsure what role Hasbro Asia has. But them cancelling distribution of Exhaust doesn't mean he's cancelled entirely.

Australia has its own local Hasbro department, much like the UK and Europe. They are the ones who periodically import high-end TakaraTomy figures like Masterpieces. Hasbro Asia does the same for its own territories in China, Hong Kong and Singapore, but having close ties to the main office in the US means no local branch can release MP Exhaust under the pressure of you-know-who.

That being the case, collectors will be importing them by bypassing Hasbro then. Somoene must really be hedging on getting this fig to make a killing in the secondary market.

It seems our pal Exhaust is spinning around the rumor mill once again. As reported in the past, MP-23 Exhaust is the Diaclone inspired retool of MP-20 Wheeljack which has come into conflict with US laws prohibiting the sale of children's toys with advertising of tobacco products. And due to intervention of lawyers representing Phillip Morris the figure will not be allowed to be imported to the USA, causing many retailers to issue cancellation notices to all those who have preordered him. See BigBadToyStore's official statement below:

Hello,

We regretfully must announce that all preorders for the Takara MP-23 Exhaust have been cancelled. There has been an ongoing legal problem with this figure due to trademarked Marlboro roof/hood design that is not approved for sale in the USA. Takara modified the original design and went into production using a modified paint deco. It appears the redesigned paint deco did not go far enough to fix the problem, and Phillip Morris USA will still not allow this item for sale in the USA. We have been in contact with the law firm representing Phillip Morris and they told us that the changes were not substantial enough to eliminate potential consumer confusion between the Marlboro trademarked design and the current paint deco on the MP-23 Exhaust.

We apologize for the problem on this item, but we must abide by the requests made by Phillip Morris. We look forward to less complicated future Takara Transformer releases.

Sincerely,

Joel Boblit
BigBadToyStore

Retailer Toyer City has also reported that Hasbro Asia will be cancelling distribution of this cigarette inspired retool. But what does that mean exactly?

In the past you may have read stories of chain stores like ToysRus in Australia seeing Takara Tomy Masterpiece figures on their shelves. That is thanks to the distribution from their local office Hasbro Australia. This is much like the often reported Hasbro Asia which covers territories like China, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Such a cancellation could mean that those territories will not receive the scandalous MP-23. However this does not mean the figure is outright cancelled. An announcement such as that would likely have to come from Takara Tomy themselves which has yet to happen. Many have also speculated that with the recent in-box shots and being slated to release this month, that an outright cancellation is unlikely.

Stay tuned to Seibetron.com for any developments in this Exhausting Saga....

(Special thanks to the all knowing Seibertronian Jelze Goldrabbit!)

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:Why do I get the feeling I was indirectly quoted...

You were

Also credited. Your help was invaluable, thanks Jelzy

Seibertron wrote:All of this back and forth is exhausting. Makes me want to have a cigarette.