Another disappointing SDCC for toys! After last year I told myself not to get my hopes up, but I just had a feeling there was going to be some exciting stuff. We already knew about the Enchantress/Executioner 375" set so nothing exciting there. Transformers wise, I'm glad we're getting Rodimus Prime, Darkwing and Dreadwing, but when you're hoping for Deszaras, Apeface, Snapdragon, Crosshairs, some Throttlebots and maybe a sneak preview of the next Titan it really doesn't measure up! Could be some big reveals at Hascon I suppose.
It looks like Rodimus Prime could have an easy remold into Thunderclash at least, which would be awesome (IDW Rodimus would love that). It's funny, I can't seem to stop liking any character which is described as 'fan-favourite'.
In other smaller scale news, I'm still going with my Konami Thunderbirds models. This time Thunderbirds 4 and 5. These models are great, something about them is very pleasing, similar perhaps to the diaclone based G1 figures, they make me appreciate toys in general. The models are beautifully painted, TB4 has a little weathering and even a little Gordon visible. TB5 is something of a milestone for me, I had the Matchbox die-cast figures in the 90s, but I've never had a TB5 model before. Very happy to have them both in my collection.
I'm on holiday at the moment and there's a white tiger statue, makes me think how much I would like a Masterpiece Tigatron!
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Rumours!!! Predacons, Dinobots, Terrorcons and Pretenders!!! Oh, yeah. The Dinobots are deluxes, possibly a combiner. Don't care about the combining, but I feel they should be the same size as the Titan class Predacons, though if I keep Predaking combined then I think that's fine. I think that leaves Scorponok as my one figure I really really want (I think he's becoming the Transformers equivalent of Kingpin in 3.75" form).
I think I'll have to go Takara for Abominus - he (along with Astrotrain for some reason), is one that I need anime colours on.
The other reveals (Pretenders), leave my Masterforce lineup looking pretty good, Seacons don't seem so crazy for a future wave, so along with Darkwing and Dreadwind, it's pretty much there (Minerva and a couple of Autobot Powermasters shy). The Headmasters lineup also has a few gaps still, but I'm optimistic we'll see the Autobot Targetmasters and Throttlebots eventually.
We could even see some of the Victory combiners out of the new molds which have been created. I don't think any of them would be first choice uses of a mold, but they could be clever uses a bit like Lio Kaiser was (would like Takara to have a crack at him with Leozack as the central robot). For Road Caesar, a yellow Lamborghini limb already exists, just need a couple of extra members. Landcross and Dinoking equally could be done with a bit of change to the formula (5 rather than 6 members, or use a legend as the sixth).
Seeing these leaks in this format, specifically where the later waves are holding pictures makes me think back to the Titans Return leak, and that the leaks for the later waves were also likely holder pictures. That would explain why almost of the rumours came true, but the ones that didn't were the later wave ones which were still under consideration (which kinda explains why Hasbro didn't make them public!). Several of the 'unreleased' figures are those that could easily be repaints of figures we did see (the Throttlebots for instance).
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I think 2018 is going to be an incredible year for all the geeky things I love - Black Panther, Avengers Infinity war (I can understand actually having listening to descriptions of the trailer shown why they are holding off a release until November after Thor 3), Ant-Man and the Wasp and the above Transformers releases.
Not sure if I've mentioned this before, but I'm a bit of an Avengers EMH fan, so to see more of Black Panther and the introduction of Wasp will be brilliant.
I think in some ways it will be the pinnacle, yes there will be more MCU films, but Infinity War will be the culmination of ten years. I've invested a lot into these films, it's been absolutely amazing, but at some point the actors will leave. Some might be replaced, but RDJ will always be my Iron Man, Chris Evans and Hemsworth will always be Cap and Thor, in the same way that 90s cartoon X-men will always be my X-men. It coincided with a particular point of my life, I've not quite grown up with it but I have moved into the next phase of my life during it.
Similarly with Transformers, there are still loads of characters for them to do, but with the Dinobots, Predacons and Terrorcons they will have done all of my favourite characters. They'll be more, they'll redo some of the older figures, but I think Classics/Generations for me will wind down a little. It will be about filling gaps rather than a wholesale, I need every figure they're releasing because I haven't got a toy of that character (incidentally, that's where I think 3.75" Marvel figures are for me now - there are gaps, but it's pretty damn close to everything I want).
I could probably pick a reason why most years were significant, but 2008 was significant for me because I got into the 2006 Classics line late, but I was into the 2008 Universe line from the beginning - that's when my collecting really changed - I started collecting a mainstream line and so followed anything related to it.
I think this viewpoint could be setting myself up for disappointment, what if it's not as exciting as I hope? What about 2019? Things can't keep getting bigger and more exciting. Everything has to end eventually and I'm fine with that, it's been one hell of a ride. Toys and films are an important part of my life, that won't change.
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I've spent the last few days mulling over Victory combiners! Lio Kaiser is basically already there, guess you have to miss Jaraguar out, but replace Deszaras with Leozack, so either the Silverbolt mold or the new Starscream if it really has combiner ports. Could add Deathcobra is as well for fun. Landcross would also be easy to do, probably miss Waver out and make Wing the torso (again with Silverbolt or Starscream). Road Caesar's legs are easily done (see above) not quite sure about Blacker, the Hot Spot/Onslaught mold I guess. Dinoking from the new Dinobots and Terrorcons, probably missing Rairyu out. Done!
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Having just missed out on Trypticon last month I saw he was available again. I had the option of going to get him straight away, but thought better of it as I needed to get home early. A few days later I had the time and so went and got him, there he was sitting on the shelf waiting. In the event it made no difference, but I feel quite proud of for putting other people ahead of myself. I've got TRYPTICON now though, mwa ha ha ha!!! I was so excited when he got announced, Call of the Primatives is one of the episodes I had as a kid so to get a little bit closer to a modern complete version of that lineup is incredible. I'm waiting until next week to open so will let you know what I think!
