The Loyal Subjects + Transformers Hot Topic Exclusive!

05.29.2014 – For those not only collecting the toys by Hasbro you might not be familiar with Designer Art Toys. They are not regular toys or action figures, but more of something you can display at your office table or special calling at home. We previous reported which also featured The Loyal Subjects with Hasbro bringing Transformers collaboration to produce a series of collectible Designer Art Toys of your favorite Autobots and Decepticons. The line of vinyl figure versions of Transformers is growing in numbers.

Strange Positions: Robots in Disguise # 29!

AT the end of “Transformers: Robots in Disguise” (“TF: RID”) # 28, the Autobots—led by Optimus Prime—return to Earth for the first time in a long time in search of ancient sage Alpha Trion. But upon finding the reformed Thundercracker, the Autobots find themselves trapped by the combined, allied forces of the Earth Defense Command (EDC) and the Galvatron-commanded Decepticons! How did that happen? Written by John Barber and illustrated by Andrew Griffith, “TF: RID” # 29 begins with the tense and confused face-off between Prime’s troops and the Decepticon/human forces. The back-and-forth soon leads to a firefight and a pursuit. “TF: RID” # 29 then goes back and employs two distinct flashback sequences. The first flashback sequence explains how the Decepticons, helped along by a disillusioned Soundwave, manage to find common ground and convince the EDC to ally with them. EDC leader Marissa Faireborn (introduced in the Generation 1 Sunbow cartoon) believes this to be their best option. The second flashback sequence explains how Prowl and the Constructicons wound up involved in Prime’s Earth mission immediately after the trial of Megatron on Cybertronian moon Luna 2.

The Usual Suspect: Windblade # 2!

The quirkiest of IDW Publishing’s Transformers comic titles continues with “Transformers: Windblade” # 2, featuring the female Autobot in the lead role. Two issues in, “Windblade” starts to expound on the mystery established in last month’s inaugural issue. Written by Mairghread Scott and illustrated by Sarah Stone, “Windblade” # 2 picks up where the first issue left off. In the aftermath of the attempt on her life, city speaker Windblade suspects that Starscream is behind the assassination attempt and isn’t quite done yet. Together with Chromia, Windblade tries to get to the bottom of the plot, while Starscream and Rattrap whisper about what’s next (“I’ve got something real special in mind,” Rattrap says). A journey to Metroplex reveals nothing. But they find something—or rather, someone—in Blurr’s bar: Waspinator. It turns out life’s favorite chew toy (as the character page says) turns out to have heard something important, even as he says trademark Waspinator lines: “Everyone hurtzzz Wazzpinator.” At trip into the bowels of Metroplex’s filtration systems reveals that Starscream may be mining a dark secret.

Mixable Mashable Heroes: Optimus Prime!

05.22.2014 – When the launch for the latest Transformers toys was unveiled last weekend there were mixed reactions from the long time fans that followed the franchise since its birth 30 years ago. But there are also the fans that have been interested in the latest movie designs. Those who are still hoping, that the upcoming film may have its chance to be seen in Philippine cinemas are just adoring the new merchandise. Then there are casual fans that just enjoy seeing every bit anything which is related to the Transformers brand.

New Transformers Toys Launched But No Movie?

05.20.2014 – Transformers: Age of Extinction is gearing up its international release sometime next month, and still pondering the question if the Philippines will get the chance to see the film in its scheduled date? The fans that have seen the three previous films, and into the merchandise cast aside their doubts to see the launch of the latest toys based on the upcoming film during the weekend. It’s surprising that SM Megamall and Playkit (the Philippine distributor of the Hasbro brand) has extended the event yesterday (Monday).

Ghost Ship: More Than Meets The Eye # 29

IT is clear from the brand new characters page that “Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye” (TF: MTMTE) # 29 is barreling straight into the depths of its first post-“Dark Cybertron” story arc as part of “Dawn of the Autobots.” The issue’s Cover A, by the series’ penciller Alex Milne, shows not only the two important characters for the issue, but also the different moods, with a glowering Megatron towering over a humorous and tiny Tailgate. The scary and funny moods work all throughout the issue. Written by James Roberts and illustrated by Milne, “World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air” continues the events from last issue. The Lost Light is out to space again in its search for the Knights of Cybertron and Cyberutopia, but with Megatron as the ship’s captain. Very quickly we get a taste of Megatron’s new leadership as he stomps around the ship issuing orders and fixing problems. He is scarily effective. The fact that Swerve does the summation of the past issue’s events all by himself confirms the issue’s intent to amuse. Meanwhile, Tailgate (welcome back! Plus he has an IDW-accurate toy now!) has just awakened from recovery and is shocked at all the changes even as he earnestly tries to lighten the mood.

FCBD 2014: G.I. Joe VS Transformers #0!

05.18.2014 – G.I. Joe and Transformers both brands owned by Hasbro which still continues to be relevant in the current generation. Both brands have success and failures still continues to be re-introduced in all aspect of the medium. Both have popular animations and live action movies, but never were known to have a successful crossover that defined them. In Hasbro’s world both exist in the same universe or alternate worlds written in comic books but never in other form of media.

Big Bot Books: Transformers Generation One More Than Meets The Eye Official Guidebook Vol. 1 & 2

WHEN I first began collecting Transformers in 1984, the thing that fascinated me the most was those short bios on the back of the Generation 1 (G1) packages. Not only did the bios include a function (Beachcomber was a geologist and Doublecross was a supply procurer) and a motto (Optimus Prime: “Freedom is the right of all sentient beings.”).

Add to that the cool tech specs, which initially could only be read with a special decoder (it was a red plastic strip). The bios made every TF a true individual and made Cybertron seem like a huge place teeming with diversity—and the mind-blowing idea of robots with personality problems. This is important because the G1 TFs are the rock stars of the entire TF line. All the succeeding series had something to offer, but for me, the G1 TFs are the OG TFs. If anything, the only real criticism I had of the bios/tech specs was that they were too short.

What I didn’t know at the time was that Hasbro had hired Marvel Comics writer Bud Budiansky to write much longer bios for each character and Hasbro had actually shortened them to fit on the back of the packages.

Big Bot Books: Transformers The Ultimate Pop-Up Universe!

Pop-up books represent an altogether different dimension as far as being books are concerned. They’re more like feats of engineering rather than reading material. The recent years have delivered more elaborate pop-up books and more talented pop-up book designers. Matthew Reinhart is certainly one of the two best pop-up book artists in the world (the other one is Robert Sabuda). Together, the two worked on the impressive Encyclopedia Prehistorica trilogy. But on his own, Reinhart has already visited the science fiction dimension with the popular 2007 “Star Wars: A Pop-Up Guide to the Galaxy” and 2010’s “DC Super-Heroes: The Ultimate Pop-Up Book,” making him the perfect person to devise a pop-up visit to Cybertronian space. Licensed by Hasbro and published by Little, Brown and Company, “Transformers: The Ultimate Pop-Up Universe” came out in 2013 and easily represents Reinhart’s best work yet. While it usually helps to have some familiarity with pop-up books to fully appreciate volumes such as this one, such a lack of familiarity will actually help you be amazed by what “Transformers: The Ultimate Pop-Up Universe” can offer.

Robot Masters RM-05: R-Blade!

05.02.2014 – Almost 10 years ago Takara had a similar toy line to Hasbro’s ‘Transformers Universe’ prior to 2008. It was dubbed ‘Robot Masters’ and most of the figures in the line are recycled and redeco from previous toy line with exception to Optimus Primal (Beast Convoy), Beast Megatron, G1 Starscream and Optimus Prime. The rest like the Japanese Beast Wars series and Cyberjets from G2 are reused to fill up the character roster. One of the Cyberjets that gets a second look is R-Blade...