Transformers

⇒ eHobby Guardian Robot (link from May 1, 2008)

The eHobby repaint of Omega Supreme as a Guardian Robot has been a long time coming. I made a Guardian Robot from a mini SCF Omega Supreme figure years ago, but it wasn't quite as awesome as this new full-size version. Because it was, y'know, two inches tall.

⇒ Ad Malum! (link from Mar 27, 2008)

My friend Frank, the priest, came up with this wonderful Latin-ish toast a long time ago. Good for all situations, a cry of “Ad malum!” is always well received. I think I'm eventually going to use the domain for my blog-of-a-law-student, but until then, it'll be one of those splash sites that are so popular with the hip internet crowd these days.

⇒ Premium Movie Leader Optimus Prime (link from Mar 21, 2008)

A short video showing the modifications we'll see in the upcoming "premium" Optimus Prime figure. Looks like that sword arm is extra-sharp, which is absolutely crazy for a Hasbro toy. It also looks like it's got a remolded head, and makes the classic G1 transformation sound when you activate the automorph feature.

⇒ Transformers Animated Grimlock robot mode images (link from Mar 11, 2008)

Every image of toys from this series, particularly re-imaginings of old characters, makes my wallet hurt. I'm trying to save for law school, damn it Hasbro! Why do you torture me?

⇒ I must have this Prime transfer on a onesie (link from Mar 11, 2008)

Check out all of these wonderful kiddie Transformers products the author is putting together! I must have onesies of the Optimus, Rodimus, and Shockwave designs for Warren, and shirts for Veronica.

⇒ Shockwave and Ultra Magnus Revoltech customs from Wonderfest (link from Feb 25, 2008)

Takara-Tomy featured two custom Revoltech figures in their booth at Wonderfest: Ultra Magnus (linked above) and Shockwave, both of which I would purchase in an instant if they were actual retail products. This is extremely similar, if not the same one as, the Shockwave custom Revoltech figure that showed up at Botcon last year.

For more about the Transformers exhibit at Wonderfest, check out the Wonderfest image gallery at TNI, and this discussion at the Allspark with some folks who were actually at the show.

⇒ Transformers Classics at WizardUniverse (link from Feb 16, 2008)

Now these look superb. Each figure is incredibly posed, and they all scream buy me. Are you looking at this, Transformers Fan Club magazine photo person? Because this is how it's done.

Even though we should have expected it, particularly in a line called Universe, I'm kind of sad to see recycled Cybertron figures. Particularly Blaster, because that means we won't get a new Classics-ized mold of one of my favorite characters. The Cybertron Soundwave mold is not one of my favorites; ergo, I'll not be purchasing Blaster.

By the way, the New York Toy Fair is starting, so look for more links in the coming days to new toys. Of course, if you're the type who's coming here looking for links to Toyfair coverage, you're only looking because you're idly curious, not because you actually care about new toys introduced this week. That's okay with me.

⇒ Botcon "Shattered Glass" Optimus Prime revealed (link from Feb 12, 2008)

I'm glad I didn't pay two hundred someodd dollars for this Optimus Prime repaint. I collect the evil Optimus figures as well as the regular ones, but this is one I won't need for my collection. Here's why: Optimus Prime is often depicted with the broken windows and battle damage, which he's received from protecting the innocent, etc. An evil, mirror-image Optimus Prime would never wear such scars; he'd be immaculate at all times, just like Megatron. Let's think these concepts through, folks.

⇒ Sneak Peak: Transformers Universe Classic Deluxe and Ultra Wave 1 (link from Jan 29, 2008)

It's a big day for Transformers - Hasbro posted images of the prototypes for the upcoming Universe line. This month's club magazine has colored images, but prototype images like these are so much better for seeing detail (and I haven't gotten the magazine yet - this is the magazine I got the e-mail below about). The stars of the line are Sunstreaker and Prowl, who both are just amazing representations of the classic characters. Prowl's shoulder cannons and Sunstreaker's head, in particular, are making me drool. I'm not sold on the others yet; they look great, but they don't necessarily invoke the G1 nostalgia Sunstreaker and Prowl do. But I imagine the retail versions of the figures will be amazing, just like the original Classics figures. It'd sure be cool if these were out before Botcon in April.

⇒ They were always real to me (link from Jan 29, 2008)

The website for Transformers: Universe, or Classics II, is really pretty. I love the art of Classics Prime in the masthead. But the home page for it includes a wonderful little animation, taking the Prime/Megatron battle from Transformers: The Movie and doing it in semi-realistic CG. They cut Hot Rod's role in the battle, but it's pretty graphic nonetheless. Neat website, Hasbro!

⇒ G1 Optimus finally gets a new head (link from Jan 29, 2008)

They've done about a hundred reissues of the original Optimus Prime figure in the last few years, between Japan and the US. But finally, they're releasing a version with a new head sculpt that's much closer to the classic "Optimus Prime" look than the head sculpt from the original toy.

That's right. Look at that sentence. It'd funny how much ol' Prime has evolved from that original Convoy toy, isn't it?

It's too bad that this remold comes on the iPod Player Prime (which is even a reissue of a previous Music Label Convoy figure), which is gonna run more ($140) than a standard reissue, else I'd snatch it up. Because you can never have too many versions of the same damn figure.

⇒ Encore Reissue 10? OMEGA SUPREME! (link from Jan 15, 2008)

TakaraTomy has announced they'll be reissuing the first of the giants, Omega Supreme. Even more than the citybots, even more than Fortress Maximus, I wanted this toy when I was a kid. That hasn't dimmed any since then. I've never been able to find one in good shape for a decent price. While TakaraTomy's price for the guardian probably won't be what I'd consider decent, I can at least get one in good shape.

⇒ Transformers 2.0 (link from Jan 14, 2008)

Along the lines of my musings on the Autobot military conundrum, this great fanfic (which I've linked to before) is probably what got me started thinking along those lines in the first place.

⇒ Transformers Animated FTW (link from Dec 27, 2007)

I missed Transformers Animated last night, so I'm just now watching it. I loves it. From the homages to G1 (in the intro animation, and the Spike, Daniel & Carly combo to name two) to the actual characterization, this series is far and above superior to any other post Beast Wars series.

⇒ The Little Sticker in the Corner: The Truth about Early-1990's Chinese G1 Transformers Toys (link from Aug 11, 2007)

A really interesting 'proof' of the legitimacy of the "Chinese Transformers" released in the early nineties. While these were mostly sold as knock-offs, they were apparently the real deal, if you accept the proofs in this article. It it's true, some folks got a steal on some authentic and new TFs. Good for them.

⇒ Transformers Version 2.0 - Episode 54: Self Mutilation (link from Aug 11, 2007)

Another chapter of the best Transformers fiction ever has just been posted. It's a shame that the official fiction is never, ever this good.

⇒ Jin Saotome's custom movie Megatron (link from Aug 6, 2007)

Finally, a Megatron toy that does the character justice. In addition to the incredible paint job, Jin has added a new neck joint which eradicated the hobbit-neck look that plagues the retail version of this figure.

⇒ Transformers Animated Bumblebee (link from Jul 30, 2007)

I think I might like this even more than the classics line.

⇒ TF Energon Shockwave custom by Jin Saotome (link from Jul 12, 2007)

This custom figure, made from a TF Energon Shockblast, is just beautiful. If I keep seeing more Shockwave customs like this, I'm going to have to get my paints back out and try my hand at it. Also check out Jin's TF Movie repaints: Bonecrusher, Brawl and Wreckage.

⇒ Cracked - The 7 Most Useless Transformers Ever (link from Jul 6, 2007)

You stop liking/fearing/respecting Soundwave, however, when you realize that he uses all of his robot powers for the sole purpose of spying on his fellow Decepticons to detect mutiny. Seriously, he quietly hangs around his evil pals, waits for them to take issue with one of Megatron's orders and then records the shit out of it.

Thanks Rob!

⇒ How GM scored a two-hour ad (link from Jun 17, 2007)

From Forbes.com:

And remarkably, GM didn't have to pay Paramount to get the product placement--at least not with checks payable to Paramount. The car company contributed $1 million worth of cars and will pay for loads of ads that will showcase its vehicles and the movie.

⇒ Transformers Movie voice actor list revealed (link from Jun 14, 2007)

So I'm watching the G1 episode The Key to Vector Sigma, and I realize who's missing from this list. There are two more Transformers movies coming after this one, so I hope the producers realize that to miss the opportunity to have comedian Steven Wright play Dirge, the depressed seeker jet, would be nigh-criminal.

⇒ TV Links - Transformers G1 Archive (link from Jun 14, 2007)

For as long as it lasts, this site has every episode of Transformers Generation One available for online viewing. They've also got a metric ton of other television faire. How is this site still open? It's amazing!

⇒ My avatar collection on Flickr (link from Jun 12, 2007)

I've started collecting avatar shots from my favorite toys, which you have my permission to use anywhere you might need a pretty headshot to go with your online identity. I'm at 19 right now, but I'm trying to add one for nigh-every toy I shoot from here on out.

⇒ #TV-Nihon (link from Jun 11, 2007)

A site specializing in excellently-done, high-quality fansubs of shows that have NOT been legitimately imported to the US. Unfortunately, their bittorrent tracker is currently down, but once it's back up, you'll find complete runs of almost every Japanese Transformer series, and all kinds of other anime and sentai shows. In the meantime, they're offering direct downloads of their new releases.

⇒ Creation of Adam (link from Jun 10, 2007)

I'd go to the Creation Museum if it was filled with exhibits like this. Humans and dinosaurs living together? Stupid and silly. Humans and Transformers? That's a different story.

⇒ Wal-Mart Exclusive Robot Heroes Decepticon Sneak Attack (link from Jun 8, 2007)

No wonder I can't find it - it's apparently an online exclusive! You'd think if they're only going to sell it online, they'd at least spell the name of the item correctly.

⇒ That's tricky: A Leader for the Ages Optimus Prime (link from Jun 7, 2007)

This is just tricky. The promotional text on the Hasbro page reads:

This special two-pack contains G1-inspired OPTIMUS PRIME—perfect for the Dad who played with OPTIMUS PRIME as a child. The kid today can enjoy the new movie version of OPTIMUS PRIME.

But the box art doesn't say anything about "G1-inspired"; the labels under the figures read '2007 Optimus Prime' and '1984 Optimus Prime'. But it's not Prime from 1984, it's instead the most horrible G1 style Prime to be released in years, the one from the Classics two-pack with tank Megatron. I can imagine guys my age, walking through the toy aisle with their kids, thinking to themselves, "Damn, I remember that guy being so much cooler."

⇒ Custom 'Hearts of Steel' Optimus Prime on eBay (link from Jun 6, 2007)

Holy frijoles. Did you read the 'Hearts of Steel' miniseries? It was okay, but Prime never really appeared in it. Looking at this, I wish he had.

⇒ Transformers: Battle for the Allspark (link from Jun 5, 2007)

An online turn-based combat game, with a decent variety of attacks, defenses and whatnot. Battle damage seems to be nigh-random, just like any dice game (and just as frustrating as any dice game). Hint: don't pick the red bot. You can't change your bot once you've chosen, and there are at least 3 red bots for any other model.