Hasbro’s Handling of the Transformers 40th Anniversary

Hey, this is Ian James Corlett, and you're listening

to the GeekCast Radio Network. Sentinel Online.

Now loading all things Transformers. Welcome

to All Things Transformers. I'm your host, Steve

Megatron, and joining me on this episode is TFG1

Mike. Hello. Hello. We are back, yes, with the

Tide episode with AG at this point. Yes, 436.

Yes. And we're not on YouTube music. No. We're

not on YouTube music. YouTube doesn't know how

to do podcasts. YouTube videos are knows how

YouTube videos are not podcasts. They are YouTube

videos Like well, there is a distinction and

a difference. Yes. I have a I have an entire

tangent article Yes, you do cast radio comm the

misnomer that is video podcasting why it's not

a real podcast Which is why YouTube should not

have them I am just prefacing this before we

get into the episode here about that conversation.

If people want to get a hold of this podcast,

they can of course find it on all the other platforms

that isn't Google. I had all of the shows on

Google podcasts. However, Google had this bad

habit and I've noticed this... in my day job

now as well. Google has a bad habit of just deciding

when they want to use different sources of information

rather than the actual source. Point in case,

when we had the various feeds over the years,

we had the stuff self -hosted on GeekCastRadio

.com. We had the stuff on BlogTalk Radio, stuff

on Spreaker, stuff on RSS .com, stuff on Podcast

Mirror because it was just pulling from wherever,

and then the random feed burner stuff, which

I... terminated all of them at the source like

years ago and put redirects and all that stuff.

Somehow Google was still profiling the different

podcasts with old feeds that no longer existed,

which is why a lot of the feeds were dead on

various sites for no apparent reason because

I went and investigated when we were moving to

RSS and I'm like, why are these feeds not updating?

And then I saw old podcast art from the first

four years. And I was like, oh, that would be

why. And so I just started having them remove

them completely from the databases and then just

resubmitting those that would allow it. And then

obviously Google is famous for just killing stuff

that they don't care about anymore that they

don't think is useful. Well, the fact that Google

podcasts is now. So it's changed names three

times since we started podcasting. It was Google

Play Music. Yep. Then it became Google podcasts

and then it became YouTube music podcast And

it's like how much of a contradiction and I and

to be honest the only reason I haven't submitted

them to YouTube music or YouTube podcast is because

Every time I've submitted and had to try and

manage them Through Google they screw it up.

Yeah, and so that to me tells me I don't need

More of a mess up with a company that can't even

get their own platform straight I don't like

Apple, but I got to give them they don't screw

with the formula. They it works It works and

same thing with Spotify. It just works. It just

works. So Spotify is my new Google podcast Exactly,

if you're an Android user, which is superior.

Yes, go to Spotify if you're an Apple user you

can use the Apple podcasts app or you know in

my case you can use the iTunes store because

the iTunes store is still a thing I will never

until they finally kill the iTunes store I will

always remind people that the iTunes store is

still a thing it is it is superior. Yeah. And

you can still leave us reviews on the podcast

in iTunes. Yeah, actually, that would be awesome

if we got some new ones, some of them ages old,

and we don't just complain about Transformers.

No, we complain about stuff we enjoy. Yes, that

is true. So since we mentioned Transformers now,

that's a pretty good segue into the actual Transformers

news. So this one you put in here obviously you

put all of these in here, but it's okay. Yeah,

this was more up your your alley Don't wait till

you get home Daffy just shoot me now so folks

y 'all know we don't Dude up to the minute have

to release an episode every week news We collect

news over let's say a month month and a half,

etc, etc We are recording this just to date this

podcast recording October 7th 2024 and the stories

that I've gathered range from September 15th

through October 2nd or 3rd. So over the last

15 days or so And the first one that popped out

to me because I need to put my rage hat on. U2s.

Everybody know what U2s is? Some people do, some

people don't. U2s is a Canadian company that

manufactures licensed vinyl collectable figurines.

And now, they're bringing their first Transformers

collaboration. Okay, so first of all, the first

time I ever heard anything about U2s as a thing...

a actual physical vinyl figure was from YouTube

personalities literally we're just talking about

YouTube so there's a guy on YouTube he's been

the kid on YouTube he's I don't know he's probably

in mid -20s I forget how old he is maybe I don't

know anyway he's a lot younger than us But he's

been doing YouTube videos. He's actually the

most popular Funko Pop top pops. His name is

Tristan. He's up in Canada. He's got over two

million subs on YouTube. He's been doing a Funko

Pop, some sort of Funko Pop YouTube video a day,

every day since like 2019, 2020, whenever it

was that he started. Anyway, that was the first

time I heard about YouTube's because he was like,

ooh, I'm getting my own YouTube's figure. And

U2s, to my knowledge, without having to look

up anything else, they're basically like celebrity

vinyl figures. They're this vinyl figure, then

that vinyl figure kind of thing. Like I have

the one of Tucker Budson, who is a dog, who was

a famous dog on YouTube. That's what they are,

to my knowledge. And again, if I have to do more

research and if I have to say next episode I

was wrong, I'm sorry I'll do that, but I'm not

doing that at 10 o 'clock, 11 o 'clock at night.

They have never been licensed things. If they

have been licensed things, they had like, to

my knowledge, there aren't Star Wars U2s. There

aren't this. There aren't that. There aren't

whatever. And now they're doing Transformers.

I don't know. I don't get it. And I don't like

it because these things are ugly. Oh, since we're

on this train. Mm hmm. I decided because you

mentioned, you know, some of the other stuff

like I looked at Mighty Mug Transformers, I looked

at Funko Pop Transformers, and I looked up U2s,

Transformers. What ones look the worst are the

Mighty Mugs. Okay, yes, but those are the type,

yeah, that's the, okay. Different company, different

stuff. The ones that look good from Mighty Mugs

are the ones where they have the actual helmet

on them. And you could push and rotate the head.

Right. And it would allow you to put a different

face plate, you know, because it would rotate

the face. Those ones look halfway decent for

Mighty Mugs. That being said, looking at these

U2s, I don't have a love of statue -esque figures,

ones that have no movable parts, no movable limbs,

you know, poses. These are pretty much statues,

and I'm not a big fan of them in general. I I'm

very much like I would rather have a possible

figure that I can maneuver even if I never do

it. The fact that it has the ability to do it

means more to me and not and then also. I'm looking

at that and I'm looking at the funko pops and.

Honestly. Despite the dead eye syndrome that

comes from the funko's yes yes. They at least

have heads and bodies that somewhat resemble

the character in kind of a chibi kind of look

Yeah, the mighty mugs look like Repainted shells

of crap and then the you twos Again, like yes,

they are shaped like the character but they're

kind of ridiculous and stupid looking and so

like if I had to pick from the three mm -hmm,

I would choose a Funko pop hands down because

at least then I could get something that, you

know, for the most part resembles it at a very

low cost and has the, you know, like I could

get G1 Prime and he looks, you know, has the

body of the original toy or, you know, something

like that. Like I'm not a huge fan of these vinyl

figures. Like I don't love the vinyl figures

at all because I looking them up, I see a bunch

of these like weird Plastic formations. Uh -huh.

And so like that to me is not something that's

enticing I get that some people just like those

and that's not an issue with them Like everybody

has different tastes and what they collect but

out of these three I would take Funko Pop hands

down. So my Problem with these is that i don't

mind the eyes like red and blue red blue eyes

for bumblebee uh blue eyes for prime and blue

eyes or red eyes for megatron that's fine you

want them to kind of whatever what i have a problem

with is the mouth on but like that's the worst

paint job like megatron's is better than bumblebee's

but bumblebee it just looks like he has a Piece

of his mouth just like like put a line through

his teeth to make him look like yeah, I'm Contra

bubble be everybody look at me like he's tater

to mater Yeah, tell me and there's nothing wrong

with mater at all. What's the way this is designed?

This is designed horribly at least prime is our

tick not articulated, but it's it's defined like

in Prime is the only one that looks good out

of this crew. Yeah and I just don't understand

because, like, before I have to do a retraction

or whatever else next time, I'm on the U2's website

right now. And all of these, like, Legend of

Vox Machina, Legend of Vox Machina, Heartstopper,

other new things that they have, Hell of a Boss,

War Queen, like, these are all unique things

and they look cool as the U2's characters, but...

Trance like I Think the only major lice. Okay.

It's not the only major license. I need to not

say that Nickelodeon the last of us avatar sponge

Bob's Call of Duty like all of that kind of fit

the u2's model that they have here the Transformers

doesn't it just doesn't well Hasbro also doesn't

want to make toys. That's true It's like watching,

you know, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, you

know. Hasbro doesn't want to make toys. Hasbro

doesn't want to make toys. Did you hear that?

Hasbro doesn't want to make toys. You know, it's

funny. All I can hear is the elf boss. What?

I love the elf boss. Yeah. So I mean, like, it's

just it's just humorous in general, like, but

yeah, it's just ridiculous. But it just makes

and I'm wondering, like, I'm Curious cuz this

oh, okay All right, never mind. So pre -orders

are planned to go live. They were planned to

go live on September 20th of 2024 So last month

they are priced at $30 each Okay, no a Funko

is $10. Yeah Generally, yes, but I can go on

to funco .com right now You could buy a lights

and sound optimus prime funko for $34. Yes, you

can So why would I buy this crap? Exactly. I

want to have I want to have you know Peter Cullen

speaking to me you rather than Yeah, yeah that

that's far superior because you get Peter Cullen

like yeah, exactly but even Just okay. So alright.

No, no. No, this is vervet Those U2s individually

are $30 each. The current, and I believe, is

it metallic? If it's metallic, it's even better.

Hot topic. Yeah, because that's why I bought

that one. It was supposed to be metallic. Anyway,

the Megatron and Optimus 2 pack on Funko's website

that was a Hot Topic exclusive. $30 for two funko

pops so $15 each right now Most of the transformers

funko pops are $12 each even the ugly movie ones

that they have like No one in their right freaking

mind Unless you really again you choose to me

every time anyone would bring up that company

and bring up what they do They were specific

either licenses or specific famous, blah, blah,

blah, blah, blah, people, whatever, that got

an action figure. It's kind of like if you went

to Funco yourself, which you can do this, you

can pop yourself. If you went to Funco - Oh no,

that's just dirty, Mike. Not as dirty as some

other things that have come out of my mouth in

the last 16 years. That's what she said. That's

right. But I mean like $30 for no like at least

with the yes I was right the two pack of Optimus

and Megatron is metallic because oh why didn't

I just look to my right Megatron's right there

but if you look at the because technically Funko

Pops usually don't have mouths most of the time

But even the ones that do have mouths now, like

they're doing better. They look better than these

YouTube's things. Just no, don't, and stop. So

with that off my chest, moving on. I don't know

if I rewatched this or if I watched it for the

first time. The Hasbro Pulse YouTube channel

has a 21 minute interview with Peter Cullen and

Frank Walker. I wanted to watch that again because

I wanted it and I think it was during The press

screening or whatever screening it was. I forget

what they were doing Script reading or something.

I forget what it was And I just love seeing the

two of them talk. I really do. So this isn't

exactly New news. Well, it would know it technically

is because that's what it was It was for the

anniversary and the script reading that they

that's what it was The they did the the movie

theater event thing where they read the script

part of the g1 script stuff for the 40th anniversary

So I rewatched that and I love seeing frank and

peter together. I love seeing them just joke

with each other. It's so fun So there is that

and then speaking of funko pops And this is where

i'm gonna rage again because funko Hasbro, what

are you all doing? This is the 40th anniversary,

I know technically all three of these characters

that are supposedly coming did not come out until

85 and 86, but supposedly possible new Funko

Pop Transformers Omega Supreme, Cyclonus, and

Hot Rod with Matrix. Now, I will say that it

was just a listing, and Omega Supreme is supposed

to be a six -inch figure, which makes me kind

of upset. Not that because of Omega is gonna

be a six inch figure, but it makes me upset because

they did not make Devastator a six inch Funko

pop figure they made him a regular four inch

size Which makes no sense because Devastator

is bigger than everybody else anyway moving on

Yeah, so omega supreme a cyclonus and hot rod

with matrix. I can't wait to see Previews or

leaks or whatever of these actual toys However...

They're not expected until June of next year!

What have you been doing all year, Funko? Seriously,

what the f - Have you been doing all mother -

year? And I did that specifically for Michael

Wilson because he thought - Oh, this is so funny.

I gotta get them online. They'll probably be

online at the same time this will, but we recorded

two new episodes of the Phineas and Ferb podcast

that we do. And I was doing my you mother thing.

He thought I was pressing the mute button when

I did that. He's like, wait, you trained yourself?

I said, yeah, I've trained myself to bleep myself

because there are certain podcasts that Steve

doesn't want. You mother. Okay, fine. I just

do it that way. But yeah, like, why? Why June

of 2020? If they just started working on these

now, fine, great. I understand that it takes

time. But you've had all freaking year, Funko.

What the hell have you... Oh, I know what you've

been doing. Because anime is your bread and butter.

You've been releasing a thousand anime figures

from every single anime that has ever been. Well,

probably not every single one, but... Like, there

are probably more One Piece and other anime figures,

I can't think of any other animes off the top

of my head, than anything else right now on store

shelves for Funko Pops. Can you tell, folks?

He said at the beginning of the show, we do like

stuff, and I like that these are coming. That's

great, but like, 40th anniversary, people! Do

your job! Okay. So, folks, this is October. Solicits

usually come out two months in advance. I am

not gonna go back and get the November solicitations.

I think I did that the last episode we did, so

I'm gonna talk about the Skybound solicits for

December. So coming out in December is Transformers

15 and Void Rivals number 15. A new story arc

for Transformers. Soundwave moves to finish the

war with the Autobots, and all of Earth will

suffer. Meanwhile, Optimus Prime and Wheeljack

search for the answers to a mystery that may

change everything they ever thought they knew.

Everyone's favorite Autobot Hot Rod finds his

way to the Sacred Ring. What news of Cybertron

does he bring to Springer, and how dire are things,

and how much trouble can two Autobots cause in

Agoria? Tons. Discuss blah blah blah blah blah.

So I remember seeing first initial things about

this at San Diego Comic Con about Transformers

and void rivals number 15 The thankfully it's

the main cover I think if it's not I'm gonna

be really mad the main cover is giant pink and

and red and orange hot rod other covers include

one of hot rod and Is that Springer I can't tell

Hot Rod and the Battle Pose and other things.

I still think you would like Void Rivals. It's

very sci -fi. It's a new sci -fi thing, and one

of these days I'll end up seeing if I can get

you a couple of copies. I'm gonna combine two

stories, folks, because they're basically the

same thing, if I can find the other tab for it.

There was Super 7 talking about... Figures that

are kind of whack Which they're better than some

of the other things but talking about super 7

here They are releasing their own Super 7 deluxe

VHS exclusives. I don't understand this. I don't

either I don't understand it whatsoever. It makes

no ding -dang sense, but they're releasing that,

and they're releasing also these Super 7 Deluxe

VHS Optimus Prime Macy's exclusive official images.

So... I will say that figures like this, this

reminds me of... Funko started doing these things

called Funko Rewinds, and they're essentially

the same thing but with less than what these

are. These at least look cool, like literally,

it's the funko stuff, it's the same box, it's

the same everything, I don't think they have,

they do not have funko transformer rewinds yet,

but they have like Batman and other characters,

and they just look wrong, they just look bad.

These look good, but at the same time, I don't

really need them. These are not ones I really

need. I do like, like I said, the way that the

Optimus looks, but my thinking is do you have

a... Oh, you do have an open hand. Okay, good.

I'm like, why would they include his gun if he

didn't have an open hand? And the crazy thing

is this Optimus Prime, I'm wondering if it's

designed after the Power Master Optimus Prime,

the little truck cab part of Power Master Optimus

Prime. The little, um, transforming part where

it shows him as regular -sized Optimus before

he just fits into the chest piece and becomes

Power Master, because that's what this design

looks like to me. But I will probably never buy

these things. 7 -inch, highly articulated deluxe

action figure comes equipped with Optimus Signature

Ion Blaster as packaged, unique VHS -style cassette

box. Mesa's exclusive is the Purge Edition, blah,

blah, blah. I do not see a price for Optimus.

I'm not a huge fan of anything Super 7 puts out.

Me either whatsoever. It looks like and I get

like they might be good for some. I feel like

everything Super 7 puts out looks like crap.

Yeah. I mean these look better like the Soundwave

one looks better than most of the other stuff

that Super 7 puts out but at the same time I

don't feel like I need this. Like there's super

seven retro figures that are like the three inch

tall things and they charge you $20 for them.

Yeah are ridiculous and then these two like I

And again, like this is they do put more paint

decals or decor on them than hasbro Which is

sad But it's still not an incentive No Like they

show sound way and I get it the cover of the

VHS you're supposed to show the figure in action

or whatever but like the you've got three different

you've got a side by side because. And that's

funny they're they're both different the sound

wave is an Amazon exclusive the office prime

is a Macy's exclude who the hell's go. We're

gonna do a GeekCast radio show where toys are

exclusive to stores that they should not be exclusive

to. Like Macy's and, uh... I hate exclusives

to be honest. I understand that and I get it,

but it is what it is, but like... Macy's and

there's other stores that get exclusives that

I'm just like, whoa! The biggest w - it's ho

- we'll talk about that later, it's not Transformers

related. But yeah, the sound wave almost got

me, but it isn't articulated and, like, maybe

if some of these pictures - pictures actually

showed him in a pose, like, the one where it

says it's an Amazon exclusive, side by side of

the figure and the thing, but it doesn't even

show him - like, it shows him coming with Laserbeak,

but it doesn't show if his chest can open to

hold Laserbeak, like, at least do a photo of

that. I mean, come on. But no. Alright, moving

on. Happier times, folks. Something I did not

realize about Transformers 1, and we will not

be covering Transformers 1 until it comes to

physical media, which I think it's doing that

later this month, and I'll probably end up getting

it in November, most likely. However, I did not

realize, because I had not, other than some of

the trailers that I've seen, I had not been paying

too much attention about it. The score, the soundtrack

score, is now currently out. It's on YouTube

and Spotify and Apple Music and Amazon Music

and everywhere you find your music. It's composed

by Brian Tyler, so Brian Tyler returns to Transformers.

The last time Brian did a Transformers thing,

as far as I can remember, was he was the composer

on Transformers Prime for the animated series

back in 2012. I was already really looking forward

to watching transformers 1 to see what the story

and how the film is and whatever else but now

that I know it's Brian doing the music and has

me a little bit more excited. Yeah I I've seen

the movie. And it's nothing right home about

no actually it's it's really good considering

some of the stuff and I honestly I honestly didn't

mind it there were certain aspects that I didn't

care for like. Some of the stupid stupidity with

bumblebee and the swearing and i don't get what

it is with movies and using my name for everything.

Like i'm going back to like there's adam sandler's

big daddy where he does like scuba steve and

then which everybody called me for years and

then claudia the chance meatballs with the stupid

monkey that goes stole and then there's the minecraft

movie. with Jack Black going, I am Steve. And

then there's this scene with Bumblebee. And I

won't spoil anything about it, but he's sitting

there with a bunch of scrap heaps and one of

them's a busted up robot. And he says, Oh, that's

Steve blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Like, you

know, and I'm just like, what, what, why? Like

anyways, but the music was great in the film.

I think that the evolution worked really well.

I liked how they kind of portrayed some of it.

They definitely played to Optimus and in Megatron

being friends. Yeah But it it wasn't bad like

there was some voice acting voice acting issues

that I didn't care for much but Overall, it was

it was a good movie. I feel like it's done for

Transformers What you know had the marketing

worked great on it? What the 2007 film did before

Transformers back in that time and what Beast

Wars did in the 90s? So I feel like it's given

this generation their their Beast Wars like they're

like it was so much stronger because There were

no humans Mm -hmm. Yep Not yet. Anyway, that's

for Transformers 2 and 3 and 4 and 5 and look

I'm not saying that to to complain about it.

I'm like finally just a regular title We don't

need all these complicated titles for movies

in general not just specifically for Transformers

You forget - I don't think you forgot this, I

don't even know if you remember this or not,

but I think it's coming up? Or maybe we already

did it, I forget. Again, going back to Phineas

and Ferb, the best Steve cameo was the lizard

whisperer. They named the chameleon Steve in

Phineas and Ferb. Hey, I've seen one of these

before. According to the Fireside Girls manual,

that lizard is a North American chameleon. Then

we'll name him Steve. Okay. Why Steve? Cause

he looks like a Steve. Can't argue with logic

like that. Again, why? Why does my name incite

violence? It doesn't incite violence, it incites

humor. It's funny, Steve. No, it doesn't. Oh,

what was... You forgot about Waterboy. Well,

I'm sitting here all day with nobody to keep

me company, except Steve. The chickens are coming

home to roost, Bobby Boucher. this is the way

mama said steve moving on dramatic capture three

pack astro train uh the the crown star scream

coronation star scream and blitzwing i wanted

to look at this again because this story is basically

that it's finally hitting u .s retail kind of

thing And I like the robot mode on Astro Train

and Blitzwing. I'm not a Starscream fan, so I

don't give two rips about that. These are just

the War for Cybertron figures re -released. Really?

That's all they are? I thought this was more.

They're just repainted. This is all they continue

to do. They're milking these figures with slight

paint alterations. They're refined decos of the

original figures that came out. These dramatic

captures are literally More of a g1 inspired

figure, but they're literally the same toy with

a different paint job See, I kind of got excited

for the astro train because I was like, ooh Astro

train he looks very gray silver shiny and then

you know me in purple I saw the train I'm like,

you know, that's a really good train mold. I

think that would look really cool against my

g1 Astro train that I have but I hate that shuttle

mode on this thing Yeah, they're just too many

negatives on these that I would not buy this

three pack Is it in a three pack or is it three?

Oh, it's a three pack. Okay, that's what I thought

That's what I thought it was. Yeah. Now what's

funny is each of these figures probably cost

50 bucks a piece. Oh And start normally. Yeah,

like blitz weighing an astro train and then Starscream

is like 40 So it's like your 30 so it's your

your Yeah. So I don't know if this was reported

yet or not, because I have not seen any stories

on it. I searched on TFW 2005. I went to other

places, but our good old buddy Matrix Prime in

our chat that he and I and Ryan have for when

we do another comic review, which is Jesse's

podcast, where we're covering the Skybound Transformers

comics over there. He shared with me BotCon 25

June 12th to 15th 2025 Fort Wayne, Indiana. And

my first thought was did we even have BotCon

this year? I know it was supposed to be a thing

and I looked at the BotCon like oh yeah BotCon

June blah blah blah blah blah. I completely forgot

that BotCon was in June this year Completely

forgot all about it. Like they didn't and I get

it BotCon technically isn't tied. They have no

ties with Hasbro anymore which Kind of sucks,

but like, I don't know. But yeah, BotCon 2025

in June of 2025. So there's that. This is interesting

to me, and I think this is going to be a good

conversation for us. Official permanent standalone

Transformers store is coming to the UK. Via some

power station shopping center website that I'm

not pronouncing, we have information about a

new official permanent stand -alone transformer

store coming to the UK. Blah blah blah. Event

merchandising in partnership with Hasbro is bringing

the world's first stand -alone transformer store

to Battersea Power Station? Battersea? Is that

supposed to be battery? No Battersea power station.

Yeah, I understand that but I'm saying like is

that supposed to be Fish batteries fish batteries

that you go in the sea for I don't freaking know.

Sorry if I'm offending people Apparently it's

gonna be here in November of 20 or there in November

24 opening in time for the Transformers 40th

hit opening inside Oh, we're gonna talk about

that after all these last two news stories Opening

in time for the Transformers 40th anniversary,

the store is a must -visit for fans. Offering

hands -on experiences with the iconic characters

loved by millions, you'll also find a wide range

of the hottest Transformers products, films,

comics, toys, and more all in one place. With

a designated area showcasing the vast Transformers

universe, the store is set to become a top destination

for fans in the UK. A striking graffiti mural

by Merwalls featuring Transformers alongside

Battersea Power Station will greet visitors and

there will be an exclusive limited edition cover

of Skybound Entertainment's award winning Transformers

comics available. This immersive experience dives

into 40 years of Transformers history with nostalgia

and unique feature for fans of all ages. Okay

look, I love that the UK is getting it for those

people who live in the UK, for those Transformers

fans that are over there. What the - Are you

going to do here in the US has bro? How come

this like yeah, they don't they don't love us

anymore. I know I know we're the whiny fans that

you know, we we're just not happy. We're you

know, we're going to complain and we're going

to and we're going to whine and we're just not

going to take it anymore. Not going to take it.

Nope, nope, nope. Final story is listings for

2025 product info, Age of the Primes, Commander,

Silverbolt, Titan, Star Convoy and more. So Silverbolt

is going to be a commander class. I like this.

I think this is really cool. The only problem

is if you want to do the other aerial bots, they're

all going to have to be commander class to make

sure the sizing is the same because you can't

have a Voyager or a leader. Air like afterburner

or so well no they they would make silver bold

leader class because he's going to be the core

of the figure i understand that but wouldn't

you have to also make the others leader class

to measure up with no really no no cuz when.

When my kid got a defense or hotspot was the

biggest figure like he was he was technically

the the leader class of them and then. All the

other ones were deluxes. Yeah. So it'll work.

And I do like that they've got the Titan Star

Optimus Prime or Star Convoy. Yep. Which looks

cool. And I do find it funny that they've got

retro inspired C -Spray and Braun. Yep. They've

got the G2 Dinobots. I'm not sure if it's core

leaders yet. And then they've got Studio Series.

Voyager work for Cybertron Optimus variant work

for Cybertron Megatron variant deluxe side swipe

and Wheeljack in other words more repaints, but

here's the stupid thing about this you're missing

the very Stupidest thing about this. Okay. Look,

I love target. I love bullseye on Principle.

I love their dog mascot But this is Bullseye

dressed up as Optimus, Megatron, Side Swipe,

and Wheeljack. This is just like when Funko put

Bullseye in a Superman outfit. Or something.

This is not going to... This is like the Optimus

Prime target truck. Color. Repaint. This is not

going to be good. And that concludes the news

here on All Things Transformers for this episode.

Well, I actually have something else, but this

is kind of cool, though. So something not on

a depressing note. Culture Fly has a Transformers

1 Matrix of Leadership in decals. It doesn't

light up. However, it's a Matrix of Leadership

replica. I'm pretty detailed well painted and

has four decals of the Autobot and decepticon

insignia transformers one logo in a movie accurate

Megatronus insignia looking at it like I mean

it's not perfect to the G1 aesthetic but it is

pretty stinking close I don't know it looks kind

of cool and it's you know it's big enough for

a kid to stick their fingers through the holes

of the to open you know the like opening the

matrix type thing and it doesn't open or anything

but Mean if you're wanting a display piece of

the matrix, it's kind of neat. It's all one piece.

It's you know, they have obviously like other

versions of it for like Halloween and things

like that, but if if you're just Looking for

you know, the display piece nothing wrong with

it. I still want that I know I will never get

this because they're never gonna sell it I still

want that matrix they had at whichever convention

it was That would have been super cool but no

this is a good substitute yeah it looks very

very cool uh what i was gonna say was something

i said to jesse and ryan earlier before we started

the show do you feel like hasbro has really celebrated

the 40th anniversary of one of their biggest

brands no oh did i say that out loud me either

no like it's little things like the script reading

before the screening of the thing Okay, that's

cool for the people that got to go to those and

for the people that got to meet Peter and Frank

and everybody that was there That's fine, but

not all of us got that chance to do so Literally,

I forgot that BotCon had even happened this year

The only reason why I know various TF cons happen

is because I see more about TF con on social

media than I do anything else We got commander

class optimus. That's great He looks cool. We've

already talked about his design before in past

episodes, so we're not gonna rehash that but

Okay, cool. We got commander optimus great But

the rest of it Oh No, it just feels like a nothing

year pretty much Sadly, yeah, and I feel like

they haven't spent the money on the marketing.

They should have For this for Transformers 1

for really anything Yeah, like they've kind of

just been like meh Yeah, pretty much and the

the yeah So I do know and I haven't listened

to them yet and I will listen to them eventually

but I do know that Evan Brooks Bob Budiansky

and All these are all separate episodes And who

is the other one? Oh, damn it. Triple Takeover,

the Triple Takeover UK podcast that I've been

listening to since 2021. They have had interviews

with Evan Brooks, designer at Hasbro, Bob Buddyanski,

obviously, comic writer. And then I forget what

the... Oh, they had an interview with Josh Cooley

and D 'Bonnaventura for Transformers 1. So I

guess You know it pays to have UK marketing and

not US marketing. Yeah, cuz I apparently Well,

it's it's sad because I I Felt like we were going

to get some pretty cool coverage of it. However

because I Apparently the US side just didn't

want to do it. Yeah I mean we had it lined up

with UK, we just didn't have the means to do

it. I wish we would have been able to get that.

Yeah, that would have been cool. And hey, look,

I'm not saying this because Triple Takeover got

it and we didn't. I'm just saying that those

interviews are there. I'm actually interested

to hear them. I'm very much interested to hear

them. All I'm saying is what I've been saying

this entire episode, Hasbro is doing nothing

major here in the United States for Transformers

for its 40th anniversary. No, sadly, they're

not. They just don't care. And the fact that

it doesn't seem like we're getting... Oh, that

was the other thing. There was more and this

isn't this is old news there I there was more

there was a second wave of NFT physical funko

pops you could get They were supposed to be out

already. They got pushed back till supposedly

the end of this year beginning of next year And

I'm sitting here thinking wait. What how does

that what why? Why why are you throwing transformers

under the bot like? Okay, good good good good

good excited for the soundtrack for Transformers

1 I'm not really excited to actually watch the

movie at some point once it gets its physical

media release because yes folks physical media

matters Everything else I don't know. I just

don't know This is why we do these episodes monthly

or every other month folks because you don't

want to hear us complain Pretty much Because

there's like do you feel as a transformers fan?

Do you feel like you're in like as far as like

yeah? We have what we like we talk to the friends

that like similar things to what we like but

as a consumer slash fan Do you feel like you're

even in the transformers fandom right now? I

do But I don't yeah I feel like they just don't

want to service us anymore. I feel like they're

just kind of like, you know what? I'm done. Yeah,

I'm pretty much there, too. Like, the most exciting

thing for me is the Skybound comics right now,

because they're really good. But when it comes

to toys and stuff, whatever. All right, I will

say that we do want to talk to other Transformers

fans because we are going to be bringing back

at some point Probably not till next year most

likely because we're probably gonna take a break

or something I don't know what the hell we're

doing But I do want to get more all things transformers

origins done 30 questions all about your transformers

fandom We've got I don't know something like

20 different episodes of the origin series for

the transformers side So if you want to come

on and tell your Transformers fan story, you

can send an email to feedback at geocastradio

.com. Just put ATTF origins in the subject line

and we will get that scheduled and set up and

all that good stuff. I've I had thoughts and

this is more behind the scenes we'll talk about

later. I had thoughts about doing character profiles

not in the way that Chris McFeely does it for

the basics on it. Like I'm not trying to cop

a bit like. Let's pick our favorite characters

and go through and wire. They are favorite characters.

Maybe we could do something like that for the

show. I don't know, folks. It's the 15th anniversary

of the TFG one podcast. And I'm just like. Whatever.

And I'm usually not like that because I'm usually

like, oh, 15th anniversary time to get the band

back together. Let's go. So, yeah. Anything else

you would like to say sir not I think you could

close it out if you want I I mean, I don't think

there's anything else I mean, I'd love to see

more come out of the franchise and more love

and more care to it But I don't know what Hasbro

has up their sleeve or what they plan to do because

as we know like even like Power Rangers is going

to playmates next year and and Hasbro's kind

of like into the licensing and owning the owning

the material but licensing it out rather than

Dealing with it themselves. Yeah, and I think

too. I think it helps if they have More of a

unified presence In the fandom and I think that

part of the issue is they have too many lines

going They have the studio series they have the

movie they have you know, they 86 they have They

have legacy Legacy and then something else that's

tagline onto it They had the G2 figures. They

had Earth Spark, which sold like crap. They have,

you know, they tried that red figures. They tried

some of the plastic crap. They tried, um, you

know, Rise of the Beast sold like crap. And then

Transformers 1, which they look nice. I just

don't care. Like, I'm, I'm, I've kind of hit

peak capacity on it, like, cause they're just

not giving me figures I want. And it's not that

they have to cater to me or everybody else. I

think there's this point where everybody is,

one, broke because of inflation and everything

else. And two, when they've been putting out

subpar stuff since pre -COVID, quality -wise

or mismatched parts or lack of paint, it just

makes it that much more sour for fans to want

to get involved. Or want to spend their money

on it and when third party is doing it better

than they are and with the advent of 3d printing

I mean What room did they have left? I mean,

yeah, i'm excited for like I would love to get

studio series 86 prime, but I would almost rather

get a third party figure because they just put

more detail into it and it's not you know, it's

not like i'm The sliding you know Hasbro on that

sense. I mean, but I can get a bigger figure

masterpiece level With better detail better paint,

you know And I don't necessarily need to have

the trailer like I feel like they could sell

that I mean They have no problem milking Megatron

with like eight different paint jobs There's

no reason why they can't milk prime and not sell

them with a trailer or other accessories and

get like 30 bucks out of them You know Or or

get 40 bucks, you know, whatever I mean I I would

I would just assume get a prime and not get the

trailer and then just doctor it up or get a premium

finish prime without the trailer and you know,

I mean just I Feel like there's a lot of stuff

that Hasbro kind of misses the boat on They undersell

the things that probably would sell or don't

even offer it or and then they over offer things

that nobody wants Not that I'm saying Prime is

one that nobody wants. I'm saying, like, there's

certain figures that they just release a stupid

amount of, and then nobody buys them. Pretty

much, yeah. So, yeah, I mean, I think they've

got a lot they've got to figure out logistically,

though. Yeah. I mean, you've talked about it

on here before, where you've gone into some of

your local Walmarts and Targets, and you've seen

stock on the shelves from, like, a year and a

half ago. Sadly, yeah. I'm sure if you made it

in tomorrow, you'd probably see the same stock.

I've I've seen a lot of the same stuff Like it's

it's sad, but yeah, it's just it's not been changing

Nope So it can't be the area we live in because

I'm sure like, you know If I actually went to

stores and I actually look like I did when I

first got here two years ago here in Indiana

I actually went to a couple of Walmart's and

was looking for stuff. I'm sure that exact same

stuff is still there at those Walmart's because

Walmart technically isn't a toy store. They're

a chain retailer and Again, you're you're out

of the two of us. Obviously you're the parent

I'm not but I'm wondering how many parents out

there are actually Going and getting anything

for their kids. So and this is the other issue

Kids don't play with toys True kids do not play

with toys anymore. My kids were into transformers

for a brief stint they played with them off and

on for a couple of weeks and then Like for the

most part the modern kids play with toys for

about three days And then they're back to like,

I want electronics. I want, you know, I'm bored.

I don't, I don't like what I got. I want this.

And like, they're just, I don't know what there's

a total, like tonal shift with kids today. And

it doesn't matter how you raise them. Like they're

all this way. It's something with that generation.

I don't know what it is. Um, I don't know if

it's cause we were all screwed up as kids or,

you know, I really don't know, but kids nowadays,

they just don't care about stuff. They, they

want. They want more entertainment they want

more like Dead filler space stuff that's like

kind of just things that they can play or watch

and not things that they can actually like be

creative and you know Entertain themselves create

your own story, you know as a kid. That's what

I did. I Played with my transformers. I played

with my Legos. I played with my GI Joe's I mixed

and matched with like he man figures and with

you know Power Rangers and like whatever I happen

to have, you know Star Trek figures and I'd mix

universes and I'd have giant storyline plot lines

with characters and and you know, just write

my own stories and but I mean That's also why

I enjoyed all the franchises was because I watched

all those things and I would come up with my

own I mean, I was into Dragon Ball Z and Mega

Man X for a while and me and a friend in middle

school wrote Combined crossover universe of Dragon

Ball Z and Mega Man X And I still have those

files like as humorous as they are like it's

it's it's funny, but like I Played with Legos

till I was 15 like my kids don't even like they'll

play with it for a short like a day or two And

then they don't care anymore. It's it's just

the weirdest thing and so I think parents nowadays

Unless they're collectors themselves or are interested

in whatever is being sold I don't think the toys

move the way they used to and I think that's

partly why Hasbro has gotten away from a lot

of the toys and they've gotten to more like the

collectible stuff or they've gotten to just mill

it out to whoever because then they're not on

the hook for the loss when it doesn't sell. They

either way they get a profit and I think that's

why they're licensing and doing less of the figures

themselves and less of the variations and less

of the paint decor and all of that because they're

like yeah, I don't care we're gonna you know,

people are either gonna bite or they won't and

Yeah, that's kind of the boat. I'm in is like

Like I'm getting what I want and then other than

that. I'm not going above and beyond Yep Pretty

much unfortunately So I would be interested to

hear what other parents or other individuals

are kind of running into with their collections

or their figures or kids that they know or that

they have that don't play with toys or that they

do. It would be interesting to hear other perspectives

on it, I guess. But people can leave comments

on this website post for the episode. at geekcastradio

.com. They can also let us know on the Facebook

post and let us know what you guys think or you

can email us feedback at geekcastradio .com.

Be sure to let us know the answer to that question

if you have it or your thoughts and opinions

so that we can talk about it next episode. Absolutely,

absolutely. So thank you as always for listening

to all things Transformers. I've been your host

Steve Megatron along with TF2 and Mike and until

next time transform and roll out The Megatron

button get turned off I wish to speak to my lawyer.