We’ve got another new photoshoot to share with you, and we’re carrying on with Titans Return Wave 4 with Repugnus.
As a Titan Master, this version of Repugnus is quite diminutive, but still looks fantastic with the insectoid mode capturing the look and spirit of the original. Special shoutout to the head design of the bug mode which really captures the insect monster angle the original was going for, and doubly so for having the Titan Master head fit under it, like it is an exosuit piloted by the Titan Master. The vehicle mode is the weakest mode of the set, but manages to look vaguely like some kind of futuristic alien spacefighter based on a bug. The Titan Master itself has several nice features that recall the look of the original Repugnus’ robot mode, and the headsculpt does a decent job of capturing the look of Repugnus’ head design.
Overall, he’s an inoffensive little figure who has a couple of great elements to his design and some other not so great ones. Perhaps his biggest weakness is that he’s a mere head with accessory, where fellow Monsterbot Doublecross got the full figure treatment, but so far he’s doing better than Grotusque – and Brawn demonstrates that Titan Masters can get larger figures later on.
Automorpher
Honestly, from where I am, collectors don't usually have hard times getting both Hasbro & TakaTom releases including most of the exclusive pieces. I could argue that the collectors in my country are spoilt for choices…Hasbro, TakaTom & even third party stuffs could be had easily. Departmental stores are well stocked with updated waves of figures that we don't have to make a mad rush for. (It only takes like less than 3 hours to travel from one end of the island to another.)
Probably because of this mentality/mindset that we've, we gotten so spoilt rotten so when something isn't coming, we panicked, we complain, we get angry.
I am trying to see what we've lost out (just on TR line alone, not gonna start talking about other TF lines) & it's just Brainstorm for me? I'm talking about a country where you can generally walk into any TRU stores & grab both Chaos On Velocitron & Siege On Cybertron set off the shelves & pay over at the cashier. No competition.
When collectors panicked over earlier pieces like CWs Quickslinger, Brake-Neck & Groove, we had it all easy here…Some of the retailers had so much stocks that these pieces eventually went into clearance bins for USD $11 per piece.
These are the 2 examples I'm sharing, there are a lot more but we shan't delve too deep into those.
Now this is the mindset I was referring to earlier…Probably because we were too pampered (which leads to us not fully aware of bad distribution simply because it rarely occurs from where we are), we started getting nervous because something ain't appearing on the shelves yet.
But the overall situation is alot better than collectors from some other countries I would say.
I'm not against anyone who collects third party stuffs but I try not to swim too far out into those waters. Occasional upgrade kits to help enhance the official release works for me so I am well covered.
Guess we have much to learn about bad distributions…Maybe even to the point of getting used to it, for the occasional one or two figures we missed getting from our retail shelves. (Well, we all needs to start at some point, no?)
ZapRowsdower
Good points!
Except that your last paragraph was pure opinion! I mean, ANY of those toys could be replaced if you liked Repugnus like I do. You don't. That's fine.
But let's talk repaints – what can you do with Repugnus? Oh yeah, NOTHING. So he gets a tiny, forgettable toy? That's terrible. It's not like Doublecross can get repainted into anything, right? In other words, let's throw out the classic arguments for why Hasbro is doing what Hasbro does: this TR line PROVES that they are breaking their own pattern. 1) Headmasters, 2) Obscure characters getting new toys, 3) Repaints NOT being a primary factor (what does Perceptor get repainted into?), etc.
Bass X0
A few things to remember.
Someone has to fill the smallest price point role. And I'd rather have a little Repugnus than a little tank or car that doesn't resemble anything familiar.
Wanting a new mold Deluxe of Repugnus means that one of the other new molds have to be replaced by it. And no, even in a hypothetical discussion, you can't replace a repaint with a new mold or add a new slot. Looking at the new mold Deluxes for Titans Return, there aren't any suitable toys to be replaced. Topspin deserves to have a new mold. Perceptor deserves to have his microscope mode back despite having recent toys, and Windblade is being pushed by Hasbro as being the fan choice character. If I *had* to choose any deluxe I'd rather see replaced by Repugnus, then it is Windblade.
ZapRowsdower
Mostly true, ya.
But this wave did manage to make it to Target stores… randomly. I mean, some stores will have it, others not. And it's not because they sell out. The distribution is so bad, you just don't know what to expect (other than Wave 1-2 from 2016 ; those are easy to find).
Honestly? I have one word of advice for you: 3P.
It gets to a point where you have to order these toys online because you literally have an easier time finding a Sasquatch or Leprechaun locally! If that's the case, buy from a company that doesn't give you such a hard time. If it need be transforming robot, go 3P. There are some excellent Legends-scaled toys out now that cost just barely above Hasbro product (and for you international fans, the price may even be the same as Hasbro import prices! ). Stop worrying or complaining about Hasbro; buy from someone else.
Also, do write Hasbro corporate a bunch of times. Most companies remain blissfully unaware of problems because their employees aren't quick to volunteer the gaps and issues. Maybe if you write Hasbro enough times, you'll get someone's attention.
Hope distribution gets better for you (and everyone else, too!). On the bright side, Hasbro is focused on the TLK toys, which makes the TR line even more screwed over than usual – so maybe going forward, the distribution won't be so bad… Because one thing you seldom read on these boards? "I can't find movie figures!" Stupid movie figures messing up Generations… AGAIN…
ZapRowsdower
This guy was horribly disappointing. And not just because he's not a proper deluxe voyager.
He doesn't ACTUALLY transform. His conversion is to basically pop his bug head down and rotate the wings. I mean, it's like taking ANY figure, laying him on his back, and then calling him a "plane".
I can forgive the smaller toy, but I can't really forgive the half-assed design for a TRANSFORMER. This is seriously a failed intern project.
Hasbro, make a proper Repugnus! Come on. I know not to expect spark-shooting features (although, you could easily include one inside his chest or something, as you did with those AoE dino racers!)… but at least make a proper figure of this guy! It's an Autobot… and he's NOT a car! That has some value, right?
We can have more monster-bots, ya?
G1 Evac
Im surprised this toy made it past consumer testing, even at that small size I don't see kids today wanting to bring that home.
Even when I was a kid I went for the two-headed dragon instead
ljacone
Thanks for the great gallery! I tend to agree that maybe Repugnus is meant to be smaller than Twinferno… if we got a Deluxe scale Grotusque, we'd be in business. Two bigger bruisers, and then the smaller psychopath in charge.
I really want to pick up Repugnus, great smaller version of the old character, and I am a sucker for monsters. However, I have not seen anything past Wave 3 on the shelves for Titan Masters, Legends, or Deluxes, and I am loathe to buy him online. But I may have to.
Gallade
I really do. Doublecross is just so lonely by himself.
Automorpher
I'm sorry but…
I just AIN'T seeing THIS or Shuffler in my country so my blood's boiling to a certain degree.
Spoken to the Hasbro's product manager in my country yesterday when the team swinged by to oversee the setup of Star Wars Force Link aisle in a general retail store & was told not to have my hopes high on seeing this wave of Titan Masters appearing on the shelves. (Oh cr@p, good job there)
He then explained that this line is near the tail end & they received words from US that its literally the same situation for you boys (is that true some/most of you haven't found these pieces yet?)
Whatever stocks are out there in the wild & production is getting ready for POTP…
Now this has me worried.
jestermon
That would mean the toy company would go out of business not a store selling them.
This and Shuffler seem to be TRU exclusives in my area.
Insectabot
You're missing the point, I'm saying all toys of this caliber, obviously not just this one toy brought down tru. Let's be real
geekatron prime
Hopefully down the road they will make both as deluxes.
Gallade
I wish he got his own TR deluxe with Grotusque…
He looks nice though
iacon45
Repugnus is awesome. I wish Takara or Hasbro would repaint this into a Generations Scraplet though.
scrapmetaru
What kind of idiot would think doublecross is a better name than Twinferno? Anyway, Repugnus looks good, sure hope I can find one.
Mumble-bee
At present, Transformers toys take up about 1/4 of one side of an aisle at every TRU I've been to in the last year. That's a small space and it didn't expand with the movie like in the past. Of that, there's one peg of Titan Masters, which are a cheap accessory that can function as a head or a weapon, but also can be made into a vehicle (sometimes 2) and/or a monster.
Most Toys R Us stores have two full aisles (or more) of unsold Star Wars junk, at least 1 aisle side each for Turtles, DC, Marvel, and Toy Story, 2 sides of scale cars (1 of which is SOLELY Hot Wheels), two aisles full of toys-to-life video game stuff (Skylanders, Lego Dimensions), 4 aisle sides of overpriced Lego with overflow into the attraction display AND five endcaps, Plus another whole 2-sides that's just Lego's competitors; an eighth of every store devoted solely to video game stuff, Bikes, Playmobil, Baby gear (clothes, furniture, appliances, etc), decorations, Pop Vinyl crap, Thomas the Tank Engine, and hundreds of everything you can name or think of and you're blaming the $5 price point accessory? Really?
edit, aside: I have one of these because it's a neat bug monster to have on the desk. I never looked at the instructions, didn't even know there was a spaceship mode
AutobotAlvaron
The last image with both the old & new Repugnus toys looks like a "Bring your kid to work" photo!
TR Repugnus falls into the "It's SO UGLY that IT'S CUTE" category. My Brother bought the G1 version years ago at a Comic Store, and he loves weird/cute monster/animal things so I sent him one of these. I still hope that HasTak will make proper Deluxe or Voyager versions of him & Grotusque eventually like they did with DoubleCross.
Black Convoy
Awesome little guy!
AutobotAvalanche
Insectabot
This is ridiculous. I'm sorry but wtf. These shitty toys are the reason toys r us filed bankruptcy because consumers refuse to buy it, but companies still make them.