"And our prayers were answered by fists of steel and rain of blood..."

Today was a day where the mighty returned and the weak were silenced. Today was a day where wrongs were made right and a solidarity that has been fragmented for years was made whole again. Today was the day that the true king to the throne returned and that king is a company named Hasbro.

Let’s get a bit more realistic now and explain what happened this week in Transformerland. This year (it’s only been one month long so far!) has been one of the most insane years to be a Transformer fan since the movies started in 2005. Let us list the notable events, shall we?

• We’ve already weathered through the madness of registering for Botcon
• Tolerated Funpub’s dismal track record with a webstore they’ve only had, well, about 5 years to perfect
• Discovered rather shockingly that Transformers Prime contains a rather large multitude of toys that we were kept very successfully in the dark about (jolly show, Hasbro secret service, jolly show)
• Discovered even more shockingly that all the fabulous, and expectantly readily available First Edition Prime toys were to become exceedingly desirable and hard to find, especially in the USA
• SDCC will featured another GI JOE / Transformers crossover, this time with a Shockwave-styled Hiss Tank

It’s already been a topsy-turvy year and without going into begrudging detail about the Transformers Prime toy fiasco, let’s just set the stage to a world where everyone is feeling a bit frustrated and disappointed. Put yourself on that stage, and then feel yourself get nailed by a giant cream pie of surprise. Hasbro just knocked everyone’s socks off with the announcement of a figure no one dared dream would become a reality – a fully formed gestalt figure the way it was meant to be done. Five (supposedly) deluxe individually transforming figures that include minimal extra parts or internal connections. There is not a ton of data other than what was discovered in the latest issue of Game Informer, but it’s enough to drop any current transfan to their Primus worshiping knees.

Bruticus! Bruticus! Bruticus!

Beyond the excitement, what does this all mean? Well I couldn’t call myself a Collecticon if I didn’t figure this shit out for you so here goes.

- Some say that these 5 figures are what remains of the supposed 8 figure count for the Fall of Cybertron line, as reported at the UK Toyfair. While possible, to me this seems unlikely due to a weighted consistency of Decepticons amongst the ranks. We are likely to see Grimlock, maybe Jetfire, Ironhide or Ratchet, and with any luck, some seekers. They didn’t just re-design Megatron for nothing, either.

- Another question is whether these will be sold individually or as a large set. The answer? Who fucking cares. You’re going to buy them so move on.

- Is this really happening? After what feels like a prison riot full of 3rd party companies doing “everything that Hasbro won’t”, did the giant just stir in its sleep? It sure seems like it to me. Like always, Hasbro follows through but not in the 3 day timeframe that the Transfan manbabies decree. Enjoy your shoddy-plastic 3rd party Devastators boys, they will all be made obsolete soon. And that, my fellow Collecticons, is a fact.

Bruticus says: Don't fuck with hasbro

Fall of Cybertron Shockwave and Jazz!!! Wait a sec... that's not... oh weird

Thanks Kapow toys for blowing the lid off of what Hasbro is surly expecting to be a big reveal at this year’s Toyfair – the identities of 3 of the upcoming Fall of Cybertron toys!

We are getting Optimus Prime (duh), Jazz (already noted), and Shockwave who should’ve been in the first round of figures last year.

Can’t wait for this one!

He's not just tending the bar, he was born this way.

This wonderful photo from my friend Joe is a perfect example of how all owners of the original Masterpiece Grimlock ought to do it. You need to revel in the fact that you own that little apron and drink set. MP-08 was meant to be the silliest looking Transformer ever, so let its dim light shine and display that bitch in alt-mode slangin’ some scotch! If you’re not, then YOU’RE DOING IT WRONG!

"Hello, is it me you are looking for?"

Years ago, a bunch of rare Transformers artwork was put up for sale by a dealer who found a huge bulk of it from a few Hasbro employees. Pieces included original box art, the original air brushed autobot and decepticon symbols, back of box art, you name it! Also included was production artwork for never-before-seen Generation 2 figures including a purple Sludge, Black Starscream, and a desert-camo themed Ramjet. These were apparently scrapped like many other figures from the line and thought to have never made it past the employee-created custom mock-up phase. However yesterday, history was rewritten!

Why didn't I buy this when I had the chance?!? Oh right, I was a college grad and I didn't have any god damn money to waste.

Apparently someone searching the great pyramids of China stumbled upon a treasure greater than any ancient aliens theorist could’ve imagined – prototypes of some of the un-released G2 figures!!! These include a real G2 Sandstorm, a black prototype of G2 Starscream, a spray-painted mock-up of G2 Sandstorm and some boring G2 Stunticons. Pff, like those are worth anything…

Black Death or Night Attack Starscream?

Whomever is selling these relics ain’t no dummy either. With prices like 10,000 and 20,000 Yuan, we are talking well over $1000 USD for either of these prize items. It’s taking everything in my being to stop from purchasing that G2 Black Starscream… only time will tell.

Too legit to quit

So with great discoveries like this, who knows what may still be out there? Purple Sludges? Skywarps with purple missiles and nose cones? BLUE BLUESTREAKS?!?! Keep your eyes peeled Collecticons, Unicorns are still out there.

I'm not saying it's aliens...

Diacloooooone!!!! Well, sort of.

Yay, a clear look at Botcon 2012 Ultra Magnus, a REAL CLEAR look at his clear face!!!! Ultra Ghostnus! From what I can gather, Shattered Glass Ultra Magnus is some sort of cross-over with G2 laser Optimus Prime and Bludgeon. I get that from the box art I suppose, but it’s really anyone’s guess until we get the comic that goes with this peculiar set.

Public outcry is, as expected, at a whiny fever pitch (myself included) and most of the distaste comes from the head, which if you look closely, is another remold. That’s quite a few heads we’ve gotten so far this year! Woo hoo! You can’t say that Fun Publications didn’t give it their all this year, at least from a production standpoint.

Evillll

Just to get a taste of what fans are saying, here is one of the more heated comments I’ve seen:

wtf is up with the tribal bullshit! i’ll say it. its fuckin lame/stupid, what is this?… some “just got into college” shattered Ultra magnus that got drunk after a weezer concert in florida and tatooed is hood like a dumbass. WTF! Jesus! WTF!

So there you have it. We don’t like tribal bullshit on our toys. Or Zartan heads.

Here is an updated look at Magnus’ head thanks to Botcon

Bug eyes

It's the Transformer every transfan wants to be but wouldn't admit it!

Check out this humorous comic from Doug Savage and his blog savagechickens.  I want more new characters!

Just 3 cool dudes hangin' out, being custom

Alas, what could’ve been! Here we get a look at some titillating custom generations figures from Ebay user venom_7.  It’s funny how close his Skram figure actually looks compared to the Treadshot figure we are actually getting at Botcon 2012.  Of note is the pretty nice Nemesis Prime in the photos from the ebay auction.

Don’t get too greedy folks, I’m bidding on this little Shockwave, or Shockblast if you want to be really nerdy.  It is based on the Alternator Shockblast that was a remold of Alternators Jazz.  Repetition kills.  The head is from a spare Action Master Shockwave.  I guess Action Masters can be good for SOMETHING once in a while…

Oh Botcon 2012, what could have been!!!