Transforming Toys
LEGENDS
---VERSUS WAVE 3: Bumblebee (slight battle damage) vs. Scorponok (new
mold), Battle Jazz (black crack paint apps on robot mode) vs. Ice Megatron
(mainly replace black with metallic blue). 2/16/08: Wal-Mart in Torrance
CA. 2/19: Wal-Mart in Manhattan KS (passed on the Jazz/Megs set). 3/8:
Wal-Mart in Junction City KS.
BASIC
---REAL GEAR WAVE 5: Twitcher F451 (green High Score as a Decepticon
profiler who likes to creep out Autobots), Farsight T-20 (blue Longview as an
Autobot scientist) and Midnighter XR-4 (lighter gray Meantime as a Decepticon
who's chronically late). 4/5/08: Available at kbtoys.com.
---TARGET REPAINTS WAVE 4: Just a note, TRU in Canada has loads of
these (Warpath, Crosshairs, Storm Surge).
---TARGET REPAINTS WAVE 5: Gunbarrel (blue and purple recolor of the
tank limb from the Energon Combaticons, Decepticon), Decepticon Reverb (green
recolor of the helicopter limb from the E.Combaticons) and Backtrack (blue
and gray recolor of Lugnutz/Hightail from Cybertron). 6/10/08: eBay scalper
samples seen.
---CYBER SLAMMERS: Cutesy Throttlebot-ish figures. Bumblebee and
Barricade are the first wave, Optimus Prime is in the revision. 6/2/07:
Target, TRU everywhere. Just got Barricade. 7/11: Wave 2 has Autobot
Ratchet, Brawl and the 2009 Bumblebee, spotted in specialty stores. 7/12:
Wave 2 at retail in Singapore. 8/4: Wave 2 at Wal-Mart in Torrance CA.
8/23: Wave 2 at Target in Western Hills OH. 8/24: Wave 2 at Target in
Manhattan KS, Florence KY. I got Brawl. And then kitbashed it. Third wave
is Cliffjumper (Bumblebee recolor) and Autobot Jazz. 12/8: TRU in
Hamburg/Blasdell NY. 12/12: Wave 3 at Wal-Mart in Manhattan KS. I
passed. 12/18: Wal-Mart in Topeka KS. 1/26: Target in Topeka KS. Lots of
apathy everywhere, it seems. 1/27: Wal-Mart in Junction City KS. 1/29: A
running change, Cliffjumper and Jazz joined by Recon Barricade. Wal-Mart in
Torrance CA. 2/19: Patrol Barricade (Recon Barricade colors) and Ironhide
(new mold) at K-Mart in Manhattan KS...for $11.49. ACK. It's like K-Mart
doesn't want to sell toys anymore. 2/22: Also spotted at Wal-Mart in
Manhattan KS, for $7.84. 2/23: Wal-Mart in Topeka KS.
DELUXE
---ALLSPARK POWER WAVE 2.5: Running change, adds Stealth Bumblebee
(black Concept Camaro) and Salvage (red Dropkick) plus Premium Jazz ("sword"
version) and Barricade. Drops Camshaft and Stockade. 4/28/08: Wal-Mart
in Torrance CA. 4/30: Target in Torrance CA, Irvine CA; Wal-Mart in
Helena MT. 5/3: Wal-Mart in Muncie IN. 5/6: Target in Manhattan KS. Note
that Target has all Deluxes on sale for $6.99 for an extended period. 5/13:
Wal-Mart in Manhattan KS. 5/24: Target and K-Mart in Topeka KS. 5/29: What
appears to be another running change has replaced Stealth Bumblebee with
Premium Bumblebee...same battle-masked mold, but in regular movie colors with
"premium" paints. TRU in Torrance CA. 6/10: Premium Bumblebee version at
Target in Manhattan KS.
---ALL OTHER REDECOS: There's a bewildering number of repaints of
early molds coming up, both store exclusives (Target has a quartet with more
AllSpark Blue on them, reportedly hideous in many cases), Premium, and I don't
care what else. I will not be tracking sightings of this profusion of
color-tweaks any more than I care about packaging variations. To the Pit
with Hasbro on this one. Don't bother submitting sightings of any of these.
4/8/08: Yeah, the Target ones have started coming out. 4/12: Spotted them
locally. Eh. They're likely to be in endcaps near checkout, along with
exclusive Star Wars and GIJoe. Jazz and Brawl are just the originals with
some blue splashes. Barricade has a red Frenzy in addition to the blue
splashes. Bumblebee is the Concept Camaro version with a dark face paintjob
and the obligatory blues.
---WAL-MART EXCLUSIVE OTHER RECOLORS: Wal-Mart has another bunch of
"off screen" movie exclusives coming. Fracture is meant to evoke Gobots
Crasher (the psycho chick race car, the actual trademark was unavailable) and
is a red/white/black recolor of Classics Mirage. Breakaway is meant to evoke
G1 Powermaster Getaway (another lost trademark), and is a blue and white with
clear red bits recolor of Cybertron Hot Shot. Finally, Crankcase is based on
the G1 Triggercon of the same name, and is a blue and silver recolor of
Cybertron Red Alert done up as a hazmat cleanup truck.
---FAB WAVE 4: More recolors! Night Attack Megatron (in black),
Rescue Torch Ratchet (G1-style colors), Desert Blast Brawl (desert camo) and
Rally Rocket Bumblebee (still yellow, but with more black and a Buckaroo
Banzai style rally logo). 2/16/08: Wal-Mart in Torrance CA. 2/22:
Ratchet only, Wal-Mart in Manhattan KS. 2/23: Wal-Mart in Topeka KS (I was
tempted by all of them, but settled for just Brawl for now). 2/26: Target in
Manhattan KS (Ratchet only). 3/25: Target in Manhattan (entire wave).
VOYAGER
---WAVE 5.5: Incinerator, a new mold V-22-style VTOL, joins Wave 5 in a
running change (not sure who he displaces, but from the shelf assortment I
saw, it looks like he replaces First Strike Prime despite Prime being in his
co-sells on the box). 2/9/08: Wal-Mart in Muncie IN, Junction City
KS. 2/18: Target in Torrance CA, confirms that the case assortment is 2
Incinerator, one Offroad Ironhide and one Evac. 2/23: Wal-Mart in Topeka
KS. 2/29: TRU in Torrance CA; Wal-Mart in Manhattan KS. 3/4: Wal-Mart in
White Plains NY.
---BEYOND?: I haven't heard of any new molds, and with Animated on the
horizon I doubt they'd bring any out. A recolor of Megatron is possible, I
suppose. I will not be bothering with Premium or store exclusive
tweak-recolors of earlier molds, however. There's just too many and I care
too little to want to keep them straight. 3/29/08: Premium Blackout and
Ironhide have started hitting stores. 6/11: Target Exclusive Deep Space
Starscream has started shipping. It's slightly shiny.
---TOYS R US ULTRA EXCLUSIVES: TRU is selling "off screen" movie
characters that are essentially recolored Ultras from previous lines. The
first pair is Wingblade (Cybertron) in taupe and light gray with green and
yellow accents, and Jetstorm (Cybertron) in shades of gray. Price is $24.99.
4/18/08: Available on ToysRUs.com. Code 921356 will get $5 off $25
today and tomorrow. 4/20: In-store in Muncie IN. 4/26: Topeka KS (I
passed). 5/8: Rockville MD. 6/14: Inferno (Armada Red Alert recolor) and
Mudflap (yellow recolor of Cybertron Mudflap) are the second wave of this.
You'll notice they're not Ultras. Spotted in Muncie IN. 6/15: Mudflap
and Inferno in Torrance CA. 6/28: Mudflap and Inferno in Topeka KS. They're
$19.99. 6/29: Springfield MO. 7/10: Rockville MD. 7/25: Edmonton AB.
LEADER
---PREMIUM WAVE 1: Optimus Prime and Megatron redone with "premium
deco treatments" that I will in no way be dropping $40 a piece on. Due in
Spring. Prime is remolded with a more movie-accurate head and gets his sword
weapon from the brief Bonecrusher-skewering scene in the movie. Megatron
still has all the engineering problems that plagued the first version. Both
have G1 transformation sounds now instead of their original transformation
sounds. 4/8: Target in Manhattan KS; Wal-Mart in Buena Park CA, Long Beach
CA; K-Mart in Carson CA. Megatron looks nicer than the first release, but
not $40 worth of nice if you already have the first. 4/12: Wal-Mart in
Junction City KS. 4/15: K-Mart in Manhattan KS ($45). 4/16: Meijer in
Muncie IN. 4/22: Target in Florence AL. 4/26: Wal-Mart in Topeka KS. 5/2:
TRU in Hawthorne CA.
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NonTransforming Toys
UNDER $10
KEYCHAINS: Those Optimus Prime and Bumblebee
keychains (limited articulation, non-transforming) have been joined at some
point by Megatron and Barricade ones, $4 price point. 3/6/08: Spotted at
Wal-Mart in their cheapo-toy section.
ROBOT HEROES: These are cute little non-transforming
(and barely poseable) chibi figures in the same vein as the Star Wars
Galactic Heroes and the Marvel Heroes. They come in two-packs for $6 or
thereabouts. Reviews will be in the "Kiddie Lines" section.
---WAVE 5: Third movie wave, new molds but mostly previously-done
characters. Autobot Jazz vs. Megatron, Optimus Prime vs. Megatron, Bumblebee
(raising AllSpark over his head) vs. Starscream, Ironhide (diving aside)
vs. Dispensor (the transforming Mountain Dew machine). 4/21/08: Available
at Hasbrotoyshop.com. 5/15: Target in Manhattan Beach CA. May be
mixed in with Indiana Jones Heroes in the cases. 5/16: Target in Torrance
CA, Manhattan KS.
$20-29
ALLSPARK BLASTERS: Light-and-sound weapons with
Ratchet and Bumblebee color scheme and design elements. It mode-shifts a bit
(from searchlight to blaster, think of it as an oversized T.E.C.H.), but
doesn't transform into anything, and you put your hand inside a molded fist.
The fit is a bit tight for an adult hand, though. It makes a variety of
sound effects. Wave 1 is just Ratchet's blaster, the package claims a
Bumblebee weapon is due in February, but that clearly is optimistic and based
on the assumption that the Ratchet blaster would have been out before
February. 2/26/08: Ratchet at TRU in Torrance CA. 3/2: Ratchet at
Wal-Mart in Manhattan KS ($19.76, I left it on the shelf). 3/4: Ratchet at
Wal-Mart in White Plains NY. 3/8: Ratchet at Wal-Mart in Junction City KS.
3/18: Ratchet at Target in Manhattan KS. 4/8: Bumblebee's blaster at
Wal-Mart in Manhattan KS. 4/12: BB's blaster at Wal-Mart in Junction
City KS. 4/26: Both at Wal-Mart in Topeka KS.
$30 and up
---1:1 SCALE IRONHIDE: 3/9/08: You can buy a GMC Topkick with Ironhide
Package. Completists should start looking into auto loan terms. ;)
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Other Merchandise
Note: I will be less detailed about sightings in this column.
PLAY IT
KITES: Spring is here, and that means kites! 2/23/08: Cheap
diamond kites of Optimus and Bumblebee at some dollar stores.
DECORATE IT
BEDDING / FURNISHING: 9/25: With cooler temperatures comes the flannel
sheet sets. Found at K-Mart for $23, it's a three-piece set in a zipped
plastic bag, a different pattern than the one seen on the older bedding.
10/8: There's a two-sided fleece blanket with Blackout on one side and a sort
of Sector 7 meets Blackout deco on the other, $15 at Wal-Mart. 12/30:
Target's clearancing a lot of their stuff. Walmart.com has "room decoration
in a box" with bookends, picture frames, hangers and storage boxes all in a
set with Optimus and Megatron images.
EAT IT
VITAMINS: Gummy children's multivitamins in bottles with either
Bumblebee's or Prime's head. Essentially vitamin fortified candy. I didn't
buy any to see what the actual gummies look like (the container is opaque).
4/26/08: Spotted at Wal-Mart for $5.92.
WEAR IT
SWIM TRUNKS: Two styles of swin trunks in Boys'
sizes are available. Both designs are pretty busy and feature multiple
characters, but one is more red and the other is more yellow. 3/18/08:
Spotted at Wal-Mart, $9 price point.
HOODED TOWEL: A hooded towel (like, for wearing when
you get out of the shower and it's cold) is now available for about $11. A
bit small for me, but I like huge towels anyway. 1/27/08: Spotted at
Target.
OTHER
MEDICAL: 7/18/08: "Bye-Bye Boo-Boo" therapeutic ice pack in the shape
(more or less) of Optimus Prime's head, in movie-style packaging. This line
has been around a while, with other licensed shapes (like Spongebob), but
this is the first I've seen of Prime. $5 at Target.
FISHING GEAR: 3/19/08: I've heard tell of a fishing pole with Prime on
it. Haven't seen it yet, though, and don't know the price. Just that it was
spotted at Wal-Mart. 4/8/08: Finally remembered to check the fishing aisle,
and there's quite a bit of gear. The "best" of the lot is a casting kit with
collapsable pole and other stuff in a bag for $12.94. There's also a very
basic kiddie pole for $9.96, a "critter catcher" net for $4.96, a tackle box
(molded "TF" on the clasp, otherwise just some really badly applied stickers)
for $6.96, and an "Outdoor Adventure Kit" with sunglasses, flashlight and a
plastic box that will hold neither item for $6.94.v
SCHOOL SUPPLIES: 4/8/08: A few new backpacks have shown up here and
there, otherwise the same stuff as last Fall is still available some places.
DINNERWARE: There's a set with 8oz. tumbler, small bowl and plate,
decorated with images of Optimus Prime. 6/23/07: $10 at K-Mart. 7/6:
$8 at Target. Also, Target has a lunchbag (Black with silver Autobot symbol,
has two compartments that can separate into two bags) for $10 and a fancy 8
oz thermos for $15. I got the bag, passed on the thermos. 7/21: K-Mart has
one of those rigid shatter-resistant water bottles with movie characters on
it, $5. 12/27: A five-piece set with a tumbler, bowl and plate plus fork
(Megatron image) and spoon (Prime image) for $7.99 at Target. The plate,
bowl and cup have Optimus vs. Megatron images.
PARTY SUPPLIES: 5/24/08: There's more general party stuff out now. A
Pop-up Placemat with punch-out Bumblebee vehicle mode, pack of 4 for $2.99.
A Happy Birthday banner with the letters interspersed with images of various
characters, $3.99. And "Blow Outs" with character images for $3.29.
BOOKS: Nothing recent in this category.
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