Big Bot Books: The Total Package in Transformers Legacy!

WHEN the Transformers Generation 1 toys first came out from Hasbro in 1984, I fell in love with the idea of toys that turned into another toy. There was just something about the ingenuity of action figures that turned into vehicles or other machines that sparked interest with the coherent themes of subterfuge and duality. But as the years went on, I came to a stunning conclusion: As much as I loved the toys, what I really loved was the packaging! The packaging for the G1 TF line was just perfect. The boxes or cardback were coded red for heroic Autobots and purple for evil Decepticons, with that splashy and iconic Transformers logo. On the front was this amazing depiction of the robot poised to attack, on the back was a sweeping battle scene with so many TFs transforming to face their counterparts, the tech specs (which could “only” be decoded by the provided red plastic strip, and, of course, the bio complete with motto, function and personality (provided by, among others, Marvel comics writer Bud Budiansky).

Throwback Thirst-Day: Pepsi Convoy!

07.24.2014 – If you’ve been a long time Transformers Fan to see some early releases in the 1980s you won’t be surprised about the collaboration with Hasbro and another brand shall we say Pepsi. For those who have been drinking another beverage maybe it’s time you support Pepsi Convoy. Transformers had been once had a tie-up with the famous soda beverage in 1985 when they released a redeco of the original Optimus Prime toy with Pepsi stickers featured on the side of the trailer. Twenty years later in 2005 Takara has similar in mind only this time Optimus Prime delivers Pepsi.

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...

Beast Wars NEO: C-36 Mach Kick!

01.24.2014 – This year would be in the Chinese Zodiac calendar as “Year of the Horse” and Hasbro has taken advantage in marketing Transformers in their “premium” editions. Previously you’ve seen the “Year of the Dragon” and “Year of Snake” releases. But what if Hasbro literally released a “Year of the Horse” Transformer? It would be great as Takara previously had released a Transformer, which turned into a horse back in 1999 when Beast Wars was popular with robots turning into animals. Takara expanded that concept and idea to two Beast Wars series that was not shown in the US…

Transformers Dark of the Moon: DA-15 Jetwing Optimus Prime

Presenting, Takara's DA-15 Jetwing Optimus Prime from the Transformers Dark of the Moon Series.

Now unlike the Ultimate Optimus Prime (Which for some strange reason is sooo popular on this blog, despite the bashing that I gave it), DA-15 Jetwing Optimus Prime actually appeared in the 3rd Transformers movie - albeit it was a lame appearance and Prime ended up hanging upside down on suspension cables where he had to be rescued by the Wreckers - which makes the DA-15 Jetwing armor pretty lame I suppose (Wait for the DA-28 review) but you have to admit it still looks cool - waaay cooler than the Ultimate Optimus Prime in my opinion.

This particular DA-15 Jetwing Optimus Prime was purchased on a trip to Singapore for roughly PhP 6,600 (Roughly US 153) that was a thousand pesos cheaper (Roughly US$ 23 cheaper) than the price of the DA-15 Jetwing Optimus Prime here in Manila's blackmarket. Here in the Philippines, the Jetwing Optimus Prime sells for as much as PhP 7,800 on the blackmarket (US$ 181 plus shipping).  Jetwing Optimus Prime is available on Amazon for a whopping US$207.99 (Roughly PHP 8,943 plus shipping). So I got a steal.

Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I'm shooting with a new camera - Hey you people at Sony - and I cant' figure out why the photos turn grainy yet. So forgive me.

Pepsi + Transformers: Pepsi Convoy!

01.02.2006 – There have been several iterations of Optimus Prime (Known in Japan as ‘Convoy’), but there’s one version that is not part of fiction which is being brought back to be reintroduced in this era. This is one of those licensed collaboration with Pepsi Co. in the US that is getting a reissue. But this time Takara is making Optimus Prime not only have the Pepsi colors they also made an actual trailer to hold either a 500ml drink or two cans of soda just to give you an idea how immensely popular the Autobot Leader as ‘Pepsi Convoy’ and this not even released by Hasbro for the US market.