Toys and Collectibles

Masterpiece Thundercracker TRU-exclusive Review

This is TFviews.com’s review of Toys R Us-exclusive Masterpiece Thundercracker. Â This MP Thundercracker is based on the TakaraTomy MP-11 Coronation Starscream figure, itself a significant remold from the original MP-3 Starscream, correcting several issues with that original Masterpiece Seeker figure. TRU is charging $69.99, and this is their first Masterpiece Seeker US release after the first 2 – Starscream and Skywarp – were released through Walmart in ’07 and ’09, respectively, with the former releasedÂ at $49 and the latter at $60, so inflation on the Masterpiece Seekers hasn’t been too painful at least; meanwhile, non-Seeker Masterpieces Rodimus and Grimlock went for $50 and $70, respectively, in the last few years. Keep in mind that Takara release their own MP Thundercracker in ’08 in Japan, but that was a different mold.

This will be another primarily-photos review, I’ll keep notes in list form in their various sections. Once again, great care was taken to present this figure in realistic light whenever possible. Please be sure to check out the large-sized images, this time linked from the medium-sized photo pages. Also, note that some images are comparing the original US Masterpiece Starscream set to this one.Â Continue reading Masterpiece Thundercracker TRU-exclusive Review

Masterpiece Thundercracker Sighted in SoCal

Masterpiece Thundercracker, exclusive to Toys R Us and based on the Takara MP-11 Coronation Starscream remold, was sighted by my own eyes and wallet yesterday at Culver City, CA TRU, as well as by my friend Bikerscout who found his at Glendale, CA TRU. The pricetag on the set is $69.99 and comes in a keystone box meant to evoke the shape of the original US MP Starscream, only simpler. The instructions on Thundercracker call back to the wrong figure though, using the Starscream v.1 instructions which deviate from this transformation after step 5 of 27. More details will be coming soon.

Fall of Cybertron Bruticus SDCC-exclusive 5-pack Review

This is TFviews.com’s review of the HasbroToyShop Comic Con-exclusive FOC Bruticus 5-pack.

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For those who don’t know, this set is an exclusive paint scheme meant to represent the Combaticons as they appear in the upcoming video game, Transformers: Fall of Cybertron. While the mainline releases of the 5 Combaticon figures won’t be coming for a few more months, and the game itself won’t be released for a few more weeks, fans who were fortunate enough to either be at the 2012 Comic Con International in San Diego from July 11th through the 15th, or online at the exact right time when HasbroToyShop’s website released their small held-back cache of sets a few weeks after get to experience the Combaticons as they were originally planned for release, before the character colors were changed to brighter mainline looks.

This review will be primarily a photo review, most of you who know my style have seen very long written reviews, but for this review I will list only the broad strokes in brief lists and notes for each character. For those interested, great care was taken to shoot these photos in an extremely natural, realistic lighting so as to present the authentic visual impact of every aspect of this monumental figure set.

Continue reading Fall of Cybertron Bruticus SDCC-exclusive 5-pack Review

Super7 Announces Transformers Super Shoguns

Super7 teams up with Hasbro to bring the most popular Japanese giant robots of all time to the Super Shogun format! OPTIMUS PRIME and other Autobots and Decipticons will be realized as jumbo-scaled, 24â€ tall retro-bot complete with rocket punch! These will be among the largest TRANSFORMER collectibles ever produced!

As part of this multi-year licensing agreement, Super7 will also produce TRANSFORMERS merchandise in a variety of categories, including Designer Japanese Vinyl Figures, retro-themed Glassware, Designer T-Shirts, and Limited Edition Art Prints!

Transformers joins Super7’s line of licenses, following Star Wars, Godzilla, and Alien. The image put out so far is just a teaser, not representative of the final product. But for fans of a certain age, this is a dream come true: Transformers that can battle with other 2-foot-tall Shogun Warrior-sized figures (eat it, Godzilla! EAT FLYING ROBOT FIST OF DEATH!), so keep an eye out for more Super7’s Transformers Super Shogun news.

New Star Trek and Transformers Kre-O Sets Unveiling at Comic-Con

At Comic-Con, theÂ KRE-OÂ brand fromÂ Hasbro, Inc. boldly goes where no one has gone before.Â Based on the upcomingÂ STAR TREKÂ sequel from Paramount Pictures and directed by J.J. Abrams, the KRE-OÂ STAR TREKÂ line, under license from CBS Consumer Products, features a variety of vehicles from the movie along with fun KREON figures based on iconicÂ STAR TREKÂ characters.Â Â Fans will be able to see the KRE-OÂ STAR TREKÂ U.S.S. ENTERPRISEÂ set and KIRK, SPOCK and BONES KREON figures for the first time in person at the Hasbro Comic-Con booth (#3213) beginning on Preview Night, July 11. Continue reading New Star Trek and Transformers Kre-O Sets Unveiling at Comic-Con

Hasbro’s San Diego Comic-Con 2012 Exclusives

In what has become a highly anticipated annual tradition,Â Hasbro is coming to Comic-Con International in San Diego, California, with an array of special edition action figures and toys that are set to be some of the hottest items available at the show. This year, the special edition figures are drawn from the lore of some of Hasbroâ€™s most popular brands, as well as eagerly anticipated movies, animated series and video games.

The special edition items will be available at theÂ HasbroToyShopÂ booth (#3329) at Comic-Con International starting on Preview Night, July 11^thÂ (while supplies last), as well as in very limited quantities after the show at HasbroToyShop.com. Highlights of the range of special edition toys include Continue reading Hasbro’s San Diego Comic-Con 2012 Exclusives