Wow, where did the time go? I blinked and 4 months passed by. Back to catching up with this blog.
July 2012 was a pretty big month for purchasing toys. While I'm usually on the road in June and July, mostly for work, I managed to pick up a bunch of stuff, mainly due to preorders and San Deigo Comic-con. July 2012 is noted for the release of the first wave of the Fall of Cybertron toys, final completion of my Transformers Animated toy collection, and a few Transformers Prime toys.
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| *Image Courtesy of Tformers.com |
Top of the list is the notable SDCC Hasbro Exclusive Transformers toys for 2012. They were the early bird "Rust in Piece" Transformers Prime Terror-con Cliffjumper figure and the Fall of Cybertron Bruticus Set in G1 color scheme. First off is the Terror-con Cliffjumper figure. This figure has a dubious origin as it was originally announced in 2011 under the Transformers Prime First Edition toy line. When that line sputtered out due to what really is considered a mismanagement of channel marketing and sales by Hasbro, the figure was shelved for future release. At the time most Transformers toy collectors did not know if the figure would ever see the light of day until Botcon 2011 when collectors found out the figure was going to released not once but twice. The first release is the SDCC 2012 exclusive figure. The second would be the re-release of the Transformers First Edition Prime series in Fall 2012.
The origins of this figure is also quite unique as well. Spoiler alert, in the first episode of the Transformers Prime animated series, Cliffjumper is killed by Starscream. In the following subsequent episode, Cliffjumper is resurrected as a zombie Transformer by Megatron using a fragment of Dark Energon. Poor Cliffjumper has become the first Transformer zombie in the 30 years of Transformers fandom!
Regarding the figure, "Rust in Piece" Transformers Prime Terror-con Cliffjumper, comes in a special box and insert. The box is created to mimic the characters torso and the inner plastic carton that holds the figure is molded and painted in the colors of Cliffjumper's head. Essentially, this give the collector a mini bust of the character to display.
For the toy, the figure takes the First Edition Cliffjumper mold and adds a new damaged paint scheme with a new zombie head. Additionally, the "Rust in Piece" Transformers Prime Terror-con Cliffjumper comes with 2 exclusive accessories, including a clip on shard of Dark Energon that attaches to the figures chest and a separate larger Dark Energon shard piece that the figure can hold. It's important to note that this is the same exact figure that was released earlier in April 2012 under the Takara Tomy Arms Micron Transformers Prime toy line. The only difference is that Japanese exclusive released figure was molded in Translucent Purple, did not come with any accessories but came with his own Arms Micron mini-con. Overall, I like the more show accurate figure than the Japanese version but this figure is not overly necessary for someones Transformers Prime collection unless you think Transformers zombies are cool.
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| *Image Courtesy of Seibertron.com |
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| *Image Courtesy of Seibertron.com |
The second SDCC 2012 exclusive release is the Fall of Cybertron Combaticon team which combines to form FOC Bruticus. The set includes Blast Off, Brawl, Onslaught, Swindle, and Vortex in what is considered the game accurate G1 color scheme. This massive 6 figure box set was much anticipated and sadly sorely disappoints. While the individual figures are great representations of their in-game selves, the color schemes lack a certain authenticity with the original G1 color scheme. Additionally, the combined form of Bruticus is probably one of the most awful combiner Transformers to be released in some time (that's saying a lot considering the horrible Energon/Super Link combiner era). Sadly, Bruticus' arms and legs are disproportional to his body. Some of this is due to the fact that every single Combaticon figure are deluxe class leading to Onslaught (who forms the torso and chest of Bruticus) being too small and thin for his position on the team.
Another issue that exasperated the above situation is the fact that all the other Combaticons are too big when they transform into their limb forms. The original G1 Transformer Scramble City Transformers were made up of what we can consider a single Voyager class figure and 4 scout class figures which lends the size deferential to a perfectly proportioned combiner Transformers for Menasaur, Superion, G1 Bruticus, and Defensor. It's sad that the lessons learned in 1985 have been completely forgotten in 2012, 27 years later.
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| *Image Courtesy of TFW2005 |
On top of that, the set was a limited exclusive that many had to stand in line for up to 6 hours for and shell out $100. AND ... the one I got was defective!!! Yup. My Brawl figure has a huge chunk missing from his head where one of his horns would be. It looks like a piece of plastic was removed from his head while the part was being taken off the plastic sprue during assembly. What a pile of poo.
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| *Image Courtesy of Seibertron.com |
Moving on, I picked up 2 Transformers Prime figures in July. I preordered The Takara exclusive Jet Vehicon and also picked up Airacnid at SDCC. I was surpirsed that Jet Vehicon was so similar to the Robots in Disguise Car Vehicon. He's basically the same figure, with wings and a Arms Micron accessory buddy. Overall, this figure is a good toy though and I'm super happy to add another Vehicon to the Decepticon Army.
Airachnid on the other hand is pretty horrible. She has a great helicopter mode, no arachnid mode at all, and a basic articulated robot mode. Her robot form is more basic than most of the Cyberverse 2-inch figures that price range easily half as much as this figure's MSRP. While my previous rant about FOC Bruticus was bad, Airachnid should not have been released with her crappy articulation and bad engineering. This figure is probably the worse deluxe class figure, per value and design, that has been released in the last 15 years. Wow, what a turd ... and sadly my dumb ass paid $20 for her at SDCC. Damn my completionist impulses.
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| *Image Courtesy of Seibertron.com |
I also finished up my Transformers Animated collection by purchasing on eBay the last figure I needed Black Arachnia. I have to say this figure is pretty good and probably the best representation of the Black Arachnia character to date. The original Beast Wars figures were either too skinny or way to fat and top heavy. You've read my opinion on the Prime figure in the paragraph above. The Animated figure has a great transformation sequence, a awesome spider mode, and a very well engineered and sculpted robot mode. Over all, pretty top notch for a deluxe figure.
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| *Image Courtesy of Seibertron.com |
Additionally I picked up Transformers Generations eHobby Scrapheap on eBay. This figure is only available in the eHobby exclusive 3-pack that comes with Battle Damaged Kup and a transparent blue Matrix Hot Rod. Scrap Heap is the rarest of the Junkion warriors and pretty had to come by on his own. I was lucky enough to outbid my competitors and paid $80 (including shipping) to get him. Overall, he shares the same body as Junk Heap and Wrek-gar but comes with an exclusive retooled head and is molded in a darker brown color scheme. I am super happy I got him and he is by far my favorite of the Junkion figures, including the Maiden Japan and Jolly Rodger add on its.
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| *Image Courtesy of Seibertron.com |
My last eBay purchase for July is Transformers Cybertron Ramble (AKA Transformers Galaxy Force Scrap Heap). I really did not want this guy other than my compulsion to complete my collection. I had previously purchased the Yellow Japanese Scrap Heap at Mandrake Akiba late last year on my trip to Tokyo, Japan. I decided I should collect all the Ramble / Scrap Heaps and took the plunge to pick up the red version. This figure is actually pretty decent for a scout class figure. He has the Force Chip action gimmick which springs out a hidden blade from his barrel and a decent walking tank vehicle mode. I wish he had a little pilot inside his cockpit but for a scout class figure, he's quality. Now I need to keep an eye out on the last blue colored figure. Then there is the infamously difficult to attain Cody Ramble which as a TRU Gift Set Exclusive. Ugh.
The last trio of purchases in July is the first wave of Fall of Cybertron figures, Optimus Prime, Jazz, and Shockwave. I was excited for these figures and they kind of disappointed me. Optimus Prime was very small compared to the War for Cybertron Optimus Prime. The scale comparison was jarring. While I really liked the mold, simplified transformation (because face it the WFC Prime figure was insanely hard to transform right the first few times around), and a competent robot mode, the small stature of the figure really set the product back. when you think of Optimus Prime, you think heroic leader, brave, strong, large and in charge. This guy looks short and lacking.
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| *Image Courtesy of Seibertron.com |
The same principle goes for Shockwave. He's a great figure. Good transformation. But his short stature and skinny limbs just make him look diminished. This is definitely not the same G1 Shockwave that stands close to 12-inches tall and towers over all other Transformers. Lastly, Jazz. Poor, poor Jazz. Easily the worst of the trio. His huge chest (man breast hood area) stands out like a sore thumb. Transformation is on the level of a Mc Donald's Happy Meal toy and his gun is more of a pistol.
Well at least I got my eHobby Scrap Metal this month.
The main thing I loved is the all out assault nature of this episode which adds a "all or nothing" feeling to the final conflict between the Decepticons and Autobots. It just feels definitive. We haven't seen anything like this yet. Set dramatically over the Earth's orbit, the full Autobot force (both Scout Team and Wreakers) launch an all out assault on the Decepticon Nemesis warship to stop Megatron from cyberizing the Earth. Characters carry both their default weapons, as well as some of their assault weapons load outs, including Bumble Bee's force shield and the Wreckers heavy weapons. It's also a great nod to see both the Star Saber and the Dark Star Saber make their return.
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