Transformers: The Cybertronian Enquirer 5/23/07

News

Opening Salvo

Well I’m back for another action packed week. Last weeks column was like an eight course meal so I hope this weeks’ goes down like a hearty snack. Put your bib on and grab your sporks; it’s time to Transform.

Toys: What I got, what they got, and some news too

Besides having my Nike Shoeformers POLed at BBTS I didn’t buy anything new TF wise this week. I preordered the 15” R2-D2. The drink holder sold me; if it had a spring-loaded lightsaber launcher I would’ve bough two. I did post the old TPCBTFF about Beast Wars on my MySpace page which can be found here.

Well hot on the heels of auctions for MP Megatron being pulled from Ebay Australian custom agents seized 50 of the figures on their way into the country. Apparently Australia has some law that requires citizens to get permission before purchasing replica guns. For those of you in the US who are scratching your heads keep in mind that while our gun laws in some states are down right oppressive, out side the US they’re INSANE. On a positive note I believe the 50 people waiting for Megatron were given a chance to get the proper forms filled out and such.

Images have been floating around the net of the all-but-confirmed Bot-Con exclusive Alpha Trion. Alpha Trion is a repaint of Vector Prime with a remolded head. With the exception of Jixhaus I don’t think there has been a more demanded toy than Alpha Trion and the Vector Prime mold is the closest to his cartoon likeness available. I’ve always liked the mold so I’ll definitely be trying to pick one of these up. Just to throw this idea out; wouldn’t it be cool to have a Transformers comic that was in the vein of WHAT IF with Vector Prime in a watcher type role?

Michael Bay is basically locked in for Transformers 2 if there is a Transformers 2. What I find funny is people are already complaining before the first movie is out. Remember last week when I mentioned that Transformers got the highest test screening score for Bay since Armageddon? Well it can now be confirmed that “Transformers” has scored the highest of any Michael Bay film ever. Just keep in mind way back in 1986 UHF had the highest test screening in Orion pictures history since Robocop and it was trounced by the likes of Lethal Weapon 2. Daniel Ross has been confirmed as the voice of Starscream in the Transformers video game. Ross is a fan who is known for making English dubs of some of the Japanese only series like Victory and Beast Wars Neo. I’m kinda happy for him since he’s probably living out one of his life long dreams. Normally I don’t cover interviews with the cast of the movie but Megan Fox did one recently which really struck a nerve with me. Basically she came off as conceded and doesn’t mind that she gets hired based on her looks. On a related note Maxim is running a contest where the winner will get to go to the US premier of the movie with Ms. Fox. Yeah, I’d like to see how that’s going to go down.

File this one as a rumor but screen shots of the new cartoon series have leaked on the net. The style appears to be the same as Teen Titans. I’m not entirely thrilled since I’m not a big fan of that Anime style but I figure we shouldn’t pass final judgment until we see full shots of the bots.

Listings for two prototypes of WST Dirge and Ramjet have appeared on E-bay. These are not official Takara/Tomy product but the work of a highly skilled KO artist. The guy is known for making a WST G2 Prime trailer as well as various ghost/clear figures.

The Pros and Cons of Being a Transformer Fan: To Much of a Good Thing

Just a short thought this week since I’m basically all ranted out.

By now most of you have seen all of the tie-in merchandise that is being produced for the new movie. Unfortunately most of it has nothing to do with Transformers at all. I’ve seen the logo and characters slapped on just about everything from sandals to bed sheets. Lucas Films did the same thing for Episode I and most of that crap was still on shelves by the time Episode III came out. Now correct me if I’m wrong but didn’t Hasbro state that all of the tie-in merchandise was supposed to have some sort of transforming gimmick like an interchangeable shirt? I’ve seen none of that which is disappointing since I feel this movie is going to have a hard enough time making money with out a plethora of crap warming shelves. What really sucks is that most of the merchandise is geared toward a much younger market than the movie is intended. A person going to a PG-13 movie isn’t going to be all that interested in having bed sheets emblazoned with Optimus Prime, or a pillow with Megatrons face on it. By the way, if you are interested in any of the afore mentioned items, I don’t want to know.

Surfing The Space Bridges

So what do you think? Is there too much movie merchandise on the way or just the right amount? Will we be saturated with crap like Episode I or will we get just the right amount?

The Transformer Site(s) Of The Week

Haven’t done this in awhile but I just had to mention this site.

Lilformers.com– This site is hilarious. Matt Moylan is a somewhat well known cartoonist is beloved in the Trans Fan community due to his one-panel strips that show the lighter side of being a Cybertronian.

Sixty-Second Review

Transformers: Star Wars/Transformers
Darth Vader
MSRP:$19.99
OUT NOW

He is widely considered the greatest villain in screen history so it’s no surprise that Hasbro would use Darth Vader over and over this time he is a Jedi Starfighter retooled into a Sith Starfighter.

Before you ask, yes this is the same mold that has been used for Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Mace Windu but with a nice mat black finish with sparkly-silver accents. Obviously the head is new, a sculpt that I’ve never seen before on any other Star Wars figure. I really like the new finish and I’ve always liked the mold since it is one of the best of the entire SW/TF line.

Transformation is fairly simple although you must remember to push the seat all the way back in the cockpit so the head locks into place. Also with the seat back the mini pilot figure can fit inside in robot mode. The plastic doesn’t feel as flimsy as on other Starformers but the mold still suffers from limited arm articulation. I’ve always wondered if the mini pilot was a nod to Diaclone the predecessor to Transformers.

Since this is the fourth incarnation of the mold the decision to buy it is entirely up to you. I can tell you that most Star Wars fans have already picked the guy up since I had to buy him online. Personally I’m a sucker for black figures especially if they have sparkly highlights and if you are too then you’ll be happy. On Elohims Energon ranking scale I give Sith Starfighter Darth Vader nine cubes.

Parting Shots

Well that’s it for this week. Mike should be back next week so enjoy, and I’ll see you in two.

The King of the Fanboys,

Charles