Comic Review: Transformers: Autocracy #2

February 1, 2012 Phil Comics, Reviews, Transformers

The Geek Bits
Title: Transformers: Autocracy
Issue #: 2
Title: Chapter 2: Parasites
Price: $0.99 US – Digital Only
Release Date: February 1, 2012
Publisher: IDW Publishing via ComiXology.com
Written by: Chris Metzen & Flint Dille
Art by: Livio Ramondelli
Letters by: Robbie Robbins
Editor: John Barber & Carlos Guzman
Worth the price? Once again, it’s worth your $0.99 and more.

IDW’s digital-only Transformers: Autocracy enters its second chapter. After a strong opening issue, we need to delve more into the actual storyline this time around. Do Chris Metzen and Flint Dille succeed? » Read more..

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Comic Review: Transformers: Robots in Disguise #1

February 1, 2012 Phil Comics, Reviews, Transformers

Image via IDW Publishing

The Geek Bits
Title: Transformers: Robots in Disguise
Issue #: 1
Title: The Autonomy Lesson
Price: $3.99 US
Release Date: January 25, 2012
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Written by: John Barber
Art by: Andrew Griffith
Color by: Josh Perez
Letters by: Shawn Lee
Editor: Carlos Guzman
Worth the price? Yes. Not as good as More than Meets the Eye #1, but still it’s a good starting point for those who have shied away from IDW’s offerings for quite sometime.

“Spiraling out of the literally world-changing events of the “Chaos” storyline, Transformers: Robots in Disguise (hereafter referred to as RID) is the first issue in a brand new storyline that will change the Transformers forever!”

I used that made-up line in my review for MTMTE #1, but it could have been used for RID #1 as well. However, I didn’t find RID #1 as compelling as the other series. It’s good, don’t get me wrong, but MTMTE is just slightly superior. » Read more..

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Press Release: The Transformers Collector’s Club 2012 Exclusives Up for Pre-Order This Week

January 30, 2012 Phil News, Press Release, Toys, Transformers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

EXCLUSIVE Over-Run and Shattered Glass Drift available for Pre-order early this week!

Fort Worth, TX – January 30, 2012 – Fun Publications, Inc., licensee for Hasbro’s official Transformers Collectors’ Club, The TCC, is thrilled to show off the final images of this years two member exclusives… Over-Run (AKA Runabout) and Shattered Glass Drift!

 

The Transformers Collectors’ Club features a bi-monthly magazine, discounts on product from the TCC store and packages to the official Transformers Collectors’ Convention BotCon, Prizes from Club contests, Members Only Forum, Free Membership to the online auction site MCAX.com, ability to purchase Members Only exclusives and T-shirts and of course, the FREE Membership Incentive Figure shipped to members in a white mailer box! This year’s FREE figure is the hotly anticipated Runamuck!

Now, the BIG news! The Over-Run package will come with a slot in the foam for members to store their Runamuck figure. These two “RUN” partners will never be far apart when chaos comes calling! Also, as previously announced, Drift will come with both his swords AND two guns. The first time this mold has been offered with a mix of both!

For more information on The TCC, please visit http://www.transformersclub.com/

About Hasbro

Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS) is a branded play company providing children and families around the world with a wide-range of immersive entertainment offerings based on the Company’s world class brand portfolio.  From toys and games, to television programming, motion pictures, video games and a comprehensive licensing program, Hasbro strives to delight its customers through the strategic leveraging of well-known and beloved brands such as TRANSFORMERS, LITTLEST PET SHOP, NERF, PLAYSKOOL, MY LITTLE PONY, G.I. JOE, MAGIC: THE GATHERING and MONOPOLY.  The Hub, Hasbro’s multi-platform joint venture with Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) launched on October 10, 2010. The online home of The Hub is www.hubworld.com. The Hub logo and name are trademarks of Hub Television Networks, LLC. All rights reserved.

About Fun Publications, Inc.

For over 15 years, Fun Publications, Inc. has been a Hasbro licensee offering fans and collectors of pop culture memorabilia news, exclusive product and family events through different print offerings, websites, collector clubs and brand specific conventions such as GIJoeCon and BotCon.  Located in Fort Worth Texas, Fun Publications reaches a large audience, serving the United States and many other countries such as Japan, Great Britain, Brazil, Australia and Canada. For more information visit TransformersClub.com, GIJoeClub.com, GIJoeCon.com, and BotCon.com.  BotCon is a registered trademark of Fun Publications, Inc. (C) 2011 Fun Publications, Inc.  All rights reserved.

GIJoeClub.com, GIJoeCon.com, and BotCon.com.  BotCon is a registered trademark of Fun Publications, Inc. (C) Fun Publications,  Inc.  All rights reserved.

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BotCon 2012 Toy Reveal – Autobot Pretender Metalhawk

January 19, 2012 Phil BotCon, Conventions, News, Toys, Transformers

The sixth and final toy of BotCon 2012‘s box set has been revealed. We’ve known for some time that it was Metalhawk. We saw a blurry picture of him on the registration page. We saw control art for the toy. But BotCon has finally revealed the toy in full.

Metalhawk was a Japanese-only Pretender released in 1988, and for the longest time he was one of Transformers fandom’s Holy Grails. He was unlike other Pretenders as Metalhawk had a removable helmet, had a full face, and most importantly, he was made of die-cast metal. But now he’s been reborn as a Transformers Timeline exclusive.

Image via BotCon.com

Let’s look at the jet mode. As a blue jet with red and white highlights, it re-imagines the deco of the original jet toy extremely well. It’s not a direct copy of the deco, and it uses white instead of grey, but on the whole it looks good and brings to mind the original toy. Some yellow on the jet might have been a good complementary color as well as bring to mind the gold undercarriage of the original toy, but as it stands, it’s got the blue and the red, a good look.

Image via BotCon.com

As for the robot mode… this is where it gets weird. This obviously attempts to recreate the Pretender shell and not the original robot toy. And it does it quite well. The chest especially gets the deco right — red with yellow. Blue shoulders, white and blue legs — check and check. It’s when we examine the head that things are a bit… off.

Image via BotCon.com

First off, I think my own design aesthetics would prefer a bit of a sunken face to make the helmet portion stand out better. Plus, a bit of red on the crest would do wonders as well. But the thing that gets me the most is how small the head seems in comparison to the rest of the body. Transformers fan awa64 commented that because it’s a human face, perhaps we expect human proportions, and a robot face can get away with different proportions. I think he’s right. It’s not that the head on this Metalhawk is bad. It just looks off by a bit.

Is this the homerun I was hoping for? No, not quite. A bigger head — or even a bigger helmet — might have made the toy a four-bagger. As it is, though, it’s still a solid toy. Some might say the colors are bright and garish, but so was the 1988 version.

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Comic Review – Transformers: Autocracy #1

January 19, 2012 Phil Comics, Reviews, Transformers

Image via IDWPublishing.com

The Geek Bits
Title: Transformers: Autocracy
Issue #: 1
Title: Chapter 1: Law and Disorder
Price: $0.99 US – Digital Only
Release Date: January 18, 2012
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Written by: Chris Metzen & Flint Dille
Art by: Livio Ramondelli
Letters by: Robbie Robbins
Editor: John Barber & Carlos Guzman
Worth the price? Hey, it’s only $0.99, so it’s hard NOT to recommend it. For those who yearn for more of pre-war Cybertron history, it’s worth picking up this book

Transformers: Autocracy is IDW’s first entry into the digital-only realm of comics publishing. While their Transformers comics have been released digitally for months now, this is the first Transformers comic you won’t see on the shelves. It’s a bold experiment, and I’m the right guy to try it. » Read more..

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BotCon 2012 Toy Reveal – Evil Ultra Magnus

January 12, 2012 Phil BotCon, Conventions, News, Toys, Transformers

The fifth toy in the box set for BotCon 2012 has been revealed, and it’s Shattered Glass Ultra Magnus.

Based on the Generation 2 Optimus Prime mold from the “Reveal the Shield” line in 2011, Magnus — wow.  He’s got a face only his mother could love…

But let’s get to the vehicle mode first.

Image courtesy BotCon.com

Sporting the colors of the original Diaclone “Powered Convoy” toy (which was homaged by the Japanese redeco of the Generation 1 toy as “Movie Preview” Ultra Magnus), Magnus here is a blue truck with a silver stripe and red highlights.

The deco is… plain.  I appreciate the red deco on the hood to break up the blue, but there’s no disguising the fact that the Powered Convoy deco is extremely plain.  That being said, it’s a nice color scheme.  It’s a very nice blue color they’ve chosen.

Image courtesy BotCon.com

That is one ugggggly head there, Maggy.  If you don’t like this face, though, don’t blame Fun Publications; this is the actual head that Hasbro created when they molded the original G2 Optimus Prime RTS toy, as confirmed by BotCon’s Twitter feed.  They also went on to say that the face is molded out of translucent plastic with blue eyes. That, to me, means that it’ll look very skull-like.

Interesting, to say the least.  It’s an interesting deco choice, and I’m glad they went with something different to distinguish him from just another Optimus Prime.

As for the robot color scheme, wow, this is pretty.  Once again taking a look at the homage to the Powered Convoy toy, everything maps out.  Red head and arms, black shoulders, blue chest and feet, with grey thighs.  They even tampographed his leg decals!  Nice touch!

So, Magnus is ugly, but he’s supposed to be ugly by design.  I approve.  It’s definitely unique.  It’s not my favorite toy of the bunch (that title still belongs to Treadshot), but it’s pretty good.

Now… how long till we see Metalhawk?  Next week?  Drat.

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ASM Poll: What Did You Think About TF: MTMTE #1?

January 12, 2012 Phil Comics, Polls, Transformers

So, the issue came out yesterday, you’ve read it and hopefully you’ve read our review here. But don’t let us tell you what to think — tell us what you think!

What did you think of Transformers: More than Meets the Eye #1?

  • It was the Best Issue EVER! (50%, 1 Votes)
  • It was a great start to a new storyline! (50%, 1 Votes)
  • It was pretty good. A few flaws, but enjoyable. (0%, 0 Votes)
  • Eh. It was okay, average at best. (0%, 0 Votes)
  • I don't like this new direction. Probably will only read a few more issues. (0%, 0 Votes)
  • Why did I buy this issue? It's garbage! (0%, 0 Votes)

Total Voters: 2

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Comic Review: Transformers: More than Meets the Eye #1

January 12, 2012 Phil Comics, Reviews, Transformers

Image courtesy IDWPublishing.com

The Geek Bits
Title: Transformers: More than Meets the Eye
Issue #: 1
Title: Liars, A to D — Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It
Price: $3.99 US
Release Date: January 11, 2012
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Written by: James Roberts
Art by: Nick Roche
Color by: Josh Burcham
Letters by: Shawn Lee
Editor: John Barber
Worth the price? Emphatically YES. Not only is it a great starting point for new readers, it’s a hell of a good issue.

“Spiralling out of the literally world-changing events of the “Chaos” storyline, Transformers: More than Meets the Eye (hereafter referred to as MTMTE) is the first issue in a brand new storyline that will change the Transformers forever!”

As far as I know, that line never was used as hype for this issue, but it sure sounds like it could have been. But here’s the wacky thing. » Read more..

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