TF RPMs | Autobot Rachet

Transformers have been universally a favourite brand, because of transforming mass-shifting robots battling out fighting for “Good versus Evil” Hasbro making it so popular that the brand needs to expand trying to capture a different market that they don’t even have a reach. Back in 2009, Transformers was already at its peak with a second film “Revenge of the Fallen” a follow-up to Michael Bay’s blockbuster phenomenon two years earlier that made Transformers explode in mass appeal, and with that, the products need to “go beyond” from just transforming toys into other markets that Hasbro doesn’t, and that’s is where the “Robot Powered Machines” came to be.

Generations Selects | Hubcap

Transformers are a big franchise not only for its expanded universe spilling over various media from graphic novels and videogames, but also a plethora of characters that rarely gets a spotlight. Some of them are just background characters that in the original G1 animated series are also mistaken error. But since most of the characters never got screen time in the original cartoon their stories are told in the comicbooks originally published by Marvelm its UK piblication, then by Dreamwave, and now with IDW Publishing. Hubcap is one of these characters are considered deep cut from this expanding TF universe.

TF Cybertron | Beast Megatron

Megatron is the baddest Cybertronian that others emulate his villainy in the next iteration of the Transformers series. In Beast Wars, there was a new Megatron, though not as brutal as the original this one had personality and idolized him to the point taking the name meant more than just mere influence. In the last part of the Unicron Trilogy there was also a Megatron, but this one was supposed to be taking the form of a “Beast Wars character” when the Decepticons reached the Jungle Planet. At that time Hasbro was set to celebrate Beast Wars 10th Anniversary by producing an all-new Beast Megatron, which resulted in this figure that didn't get notice only BW fans would know.

War For Cybertron: Siege | Rescue Patrol

The Autobots has taken form of cars, trucks, boats, and aircraft. Mostly, they are also recognizable as emergency crews and rescue vehicles with the exception of Barricade that changed the dynamic as the first Decepticon to be able to disguise as a law enforcement vehicle in the movies and now with Siege. But despite all that there are still Autobots that continue to take the form of Police and Fire Rescue like these two Micromasters introduced in the second wave of War for Cybertron: Siege in 2018-2019 release. The Rescue Patrol Team has been known for not only its name, but the team behind it. They make their return as part of the characters introduced in this new trilogy from the franchise.

War For Cybertron: Kingdom | Rattrap

Beast Wars is 25 years in 2021 and that means Hasbro and Takara Tomy is celebrating the series in a subtle way by including some of its iconic characters to the current toyline, namely, War for Cybertron Trilogy’s third series Kingdom. It’s no surprise that these characters have been added or being sneaked into the toyline going as far back to Unicron Trilogy. In the past, they were never part of the main narrative or just added to bolster the toyline. But in recent years with the last story in the Prime Trilogy, which is Power of the Primes it was Optimus Primal becoming main protagonist. For War for Cybertron: Kingdom, a slew of Beast Era characters have been produced and one of them is the Maximals smelliest rodent, Rattrap!

Beast Machines | Longhorn

When a new character toy or released as part of the Transformers franchise and brand they appear on the animated series or in the comicbooks. Rarely, you’ll ever appreciate a “non-show” character that gets immediately forgotten. With the resurging nostalgia and interest of the Beast Era through the War for Cybertron toyline some only knew a few characters that only scratched the surface of the 1990s series. As the Chinese Lunar Year inches close by here’s a spotlight for an unsung character that is typically unknown and immediately forgotten. If you haven’t heard of Longhorn then you only know what’s popular with Beast Wars that gave a renewed interest for the Transformers brand, but with Beast Machines then you’ll be surprised.

TF Sightings | Earthrise Wave 2 at Toys R' Us!

There has been a slow build of updates of new Transformers toys in the retail front that some might not be updated. Lately, with the pandemic there was a pushback on the release of new case assortment of succeeding wave from War For Cybertron: Earthrise, though the allotted quantities were not enough they still keep arriving in spurts with all that they are still good news. In the past weeks the figures has arrived like the Commander Class Sky Lynx and the Titan Class Scorponok is fully stocked now in major retail stores. This includes the Hasbro Selects exclusives that is only sold online can be seen on retail like Grease Pit, Exhaust, and the Micromaster Cassette which gives the locals this special opportunity.

MR-18 Truck Robo | Road Ranger

Challenge of the GoBots has endeared and found a cult following after the toyline and its animated series went off-air. The concept and stories that built the mythology was not as polished as Transformers, but presented a solid range of transforming figures that populated the world of Gobotron. Since being acquired by Hasbro they have incorporated some of the characters in their stories even producing toys that have “Go-Bots” or just straight up Gobots in them. But the comicbooks were these characters shined in 2018/2019 run of the mini-series redefining their narrative introducing Road Ranger as its New Leader.

Dream Tomica | Transformers Optimus Prime

Optimus Prime has been a semi-truck in various iteration, shape and form. When you mention of his name the first thing that comes to mind is the alternate mode that he turns into since making his first appearance in the classic cartoon that Teletran has scanned his vehicle form that would become part of the character’s identity. Takara Tomy, the Japanese toy manufacturer has produced countless Optimus Prime merchandise outside the action figure that appeared in 1984. The most significant product would be the non-transforming diecast cars. The company that also owned a diecast brand Tomica expanded to include Opitmus Prime as part of Dream Tomica.

War for Cybertron: Siege | Mirage

03.06.2020 – The Last Wave of Siege from the first part of War For Cybertron was colorful and surprisingly impressive at the same time underappreciated. This is due to distribution depends in every country. The Deluxe Class range was the most sought after aside from the rarity of most Voyager Class in the same wave. Mirage is one of those much awaited characters getting an upgrade to the last figure was from Combiner Wars, which was not entirely an original figure but based on Stunticon Dragstrip. The new Siege version is based on its cartoon model from the classic cartoon and also one of the most sought after figure from the fourth wave.

Studio Series | Cogman

02.26.2020 – The Studio Series under the Generations banner continues to celebrate tenth anniversary of the live-action films. Hasbro and Takara Tomy continue to mine and re-release characters from the said film with new molds and take with updated versions, which also streamline the Movie Series. Cogman is one of those recent figures that appeared in the Transformers: The Last Knight which was the faithful manservant and protector of the Burton Family that accompanies Sir Edmund Burton in his adventures in the film. He was considered a Headmaster which seems to be in the Studio Series toyline.

TF Sightings | Babes Children's World

01.26.2020 – In case you haven’t been to Babes Children’s World, a specialty toy store which is located in the second level of Virra Mall in Greenhills has been around importing and also selling toys from local distributors in the Philippines. The last time sighting reports on what they have in stock was almost eight months ago. This time just a quick look at the store’s available assortments from the Transformers brand at the same time a sneak peek of their other products that you may find here. Interesting enough as an alternative for those who can’t find the character or toy that they can’t get at local retail is the second or third best thing to make a visit.

Power of the Primes | Dinobot Slug

12.11.2019 – Power of the Primes may be the last of the Prime Wars Trilogy and it gave something fans has been hoping for since Hasbro introduced their Generations range of figure assortment recreating what could be the modern G1 beyond the CHUG (Classics, Henkei, Universe, and Generations) toyline. The Dinobots were the major favorites in this last part of the Prime Wars Trilogy and Hasbro delivered in bringing out the all-time favorites to the point that retail was sold out only a few were leftovers in the pegs as clearance before WFC: Siege was released months later. Dinobot Slug is no exception featured in this spotlight!

AoE Evolution 2-Pack | "1984" Grimlock

12.04.2019 – Grimlock is one of the favorite characters in the Transformers brand that has transcended and reincarnated in various forms of the succeeding series. The Dinobot Commander is so popular that there’s a plethora of merchandise based on the character alone ranging from action figures to even a Happy Meal toys. There have been better designed reiterations of Grimlock that’s from the Masterpiece range and recently with Generations as part of the ‘Power of the Primes.’ Almost five years ago there was also a revival of sorts with celebrating the ‘Thrilling 30’ from the brand it produced the Evolution 2-Packs and one of these three is Grimlock!

TF Sightings | Babes Children's World

05.29.2019 – In Metro Manila there have so many options for collectors to acquire their coveted toys ranging from diecast cars to high end actions figures. Local retail is fairly standard default option for anything that appears in every toy shelf in the country. But sometimes it’s quite a challenge if the one you looking for is sold out. There are A LOT of specialty shops out there that offer the same toys, but sometimes the price is not about right. You’d be surprised that some of the toys that already disappeared in toy shelves end up in those stores, but not Babes Children’s World.

TF Sightings | Search for LG-25 Hot Rod

05.28.2019 – There was an unexpected sighting yesterday at Toy Kingdom’s flagship store in SM Megamall. The toys that were sighted are Evolution Nemesis Prime (Amazon Exclusive), Transformers Legends Hot Rodimus, and Bumblebee Vol. 1 Retro Rock Garage that were available in the store. In the three mentioned the most sought after is the Transformers Legends LG-25, which Takara Tomy version of Titans Masters Autobot Hot Rod that was only available in selected markets outside Japan until it became available locally.

Power of the Primes | Quintus Prime with Bludgeon

05.23.2019 – Power of the Primes has an interesting play feature that connects the brand’s previous toyline and its present interest for the expansion of the modern reinterpretation for the Generations overall range of figures and assortment. The Titans Return might be the modern Headmasters for this toyline. The Prime Masters could probably a combination of concepts that collaborative with an “engine” concept of the Power Masters and Pretenders themes to complete the Prime Wars Trilogy with the idea of how they address the thirteen Primes story.

Power of the Primes | Micronus with Cloudburst

07.23.2018 – Power of the Primes toyline just like its animated series will cease to end, but that doesn’t mean the toys will be immediately discontinued as some markets they’ve started to be sold on clearance as news on the next Generations range of assortment will be the next hot topic for 2019. But with all that fans still not getting enough about Power of the Primes, the tail end of this toyline still bring nostalgia to long-time fans taking back to the late 1980s with inspiration to the Titan Masters for the series taking the form having their individual Pretender shells or Decoy Armor and one of them is Micronus!

Titans Return | Chasm with Quake

07.18.2018 – The Titans Return tail end releases where mostly retool and repainted characters reusing pre-existing molds that were the basis from the first wave releases. Interesting enough some of these characters is interesting as the toys themselves that kept this toyline going for most that collected hem all. Decepticon Quake is one of those characters that stood out from the second to the last wave of Deluxe Class assortments for Titans Return. Not because Hasbro has recently announced that Power of the Primes that completes the Prime Wars Trilogy this figure started being included on the clearance isle in Australia.

Titans Return | Apeface

07.14.2018 – There are a few interesting Transformers characters from the vintage toyline that was overlooked that had small screen time in the cartoon. Rarely, most are into the characters that had vehicle alternate forms. But when Titans Return was released it was more of nostalgic throwback to what was the best with Headmasters. Few would remember Decepticons that stand out from its subline and Apeface is one of those interesting toys that came out from the Headmasters that was mostly didn’t get that kind of fandom attention. But this Decepticon gets a second chance as part of the second wave release of the Titan Masters.