Via Loopaza Megastore, we have a look at this month’s Figure King Magazine. Transformers gets a massive amount of focus this month, with over 40 pages of coverage all told, thanks to the combination of next month’s launch of Bumblebee’s solo movie in Japan and this month’s Tokyo Toy Show. There’s a lot of show and plenty to enjoy, including:
- A large celebration of the Bumblebee movie and focus on the toys for the movie.
- A celebration of Bumblebee as a character including the dozens of Bumblebee toys released over the last 35 years – including the recognition of Armada Hot Shot as Bumblebee’s “missing link”.
- A showcase of the other new toys from Tokyo Toy Show, including Siege Jetfire and Brunt, Studio Series Dark of the Moon Megatron, and MP-45 Bumble version 2.
- A showcase of licensed Transformers merchandise including Kaiyado’s Amazing Yamaguchi Revoltech Optimus Prime and ThreeA’s Blitzwing.
- Some preview panels of the upcoming Mazinger Z vs Transformers manga.
- And perhaps most impressive of all, an interview that includes many images of early Transformers and Diaclone prototypes. There’s some familiar ones like Optimus Prime and Metroplex and some stuff we’ve never seen before like a triple changer Cessna aircraft that turns into a construction vehicle as well as a robot.
W-P38
True, no real development into a Prime. But then, Armada never really delved into all that. Suddenly Optimus was just offering the Matrix to him, a device that hadn't been shown at all in the series, as if handing him keys to his old pick up. Ha. In any case, Armada brought me back to Transformers after a decade of Beastformers and to date is the only collection I have (DVD set, every Dreamwave comic and variant covers, and every original figure) other than Generation One. The figures are solid, unique, no multiple repaints or reuses of molds within the series other than Powerlinx evolutions which were also (mostly) represented on the show, etc. And I get hooked when I watch the show in a way in which I don't with G1.
Okay, enough, I'm obviously an Armada fan.
BoneheadsOfVoodooIsland
Cykill 1
That is a lot of yellow.
onnsake
Pics?
Wh33ls
Well, if I ever needed a bumblebee visual reference check list to see which ones I'm missing or want, this would be it. And yes, I see a few I'm interested in.
SunSwipe5
A swarm of his yellow muteness……
Someday, we will get spreads of Autobots that are not named Bumblebee or Optimus Prime.
Don't get me wrong, I like both. It's just become ludicrisily oversaturated with these two. An entire Bot army they do not make.
samisham
To be fair in canon he never actually became Shotimus Prime and one of Energon's few good points is seeing him as an experienced and mature commander and being a mentor to Ironhide (if only Energon had done something with that potential eh?) I honestly wish they'd bench Bee for a while and put Hotshot back in that place.
Now how long until Figure King gives us more Armada Prime and Star Convoy?
Primus00
I wonder why Utra Bee is shown depite it not beibg in Japan at all.
W-P38
I get the whole Hot Shot originally intended as either Hot Rod/Bumblebee ambiguity. But I was impressed with Armada's character development in that he really became his own "person". That being said, his story arch definitely recapitulated Hot Rod's, not to mention his eventual Hot Rod Powerlinx repaint, and that his name in Japan was Hot Rod.
Flash1087
I think my favorite part of this is the clear insertion of Hot Shot to explain how he was a Bumblebee stand-in for a few years.
Otherwise, I do love how comprehensive this is, even covering the Bees they never got in Japan like the Action Master. Were the G2 Gobots ever released over there, or at least in the "G1-name-slap-repaint" versions?
Berser Car
I don't have any of those Bumblebees. I only have a Happy Meal Animated Bumblebee with Jumpstarter gimmick.
He was supposed to be Bumblebee when Armada was being developed, but it happened that Hasbro didn't have the rights for the name, so he was turned into Hot Shot.
shamanking282
Bummed that we aren’t getting any news on Armada Prime or Star Convoy.
BLOODRAGED189
1. I feel like the fact that new prototypes for unreleased G1 figures have surfaced should have been in the headline when they posted this to the frontpage, I almost missed it!
2. How cool would that be for Hasbro to have a Collector oriented line releasing figures that have only reached prototype stage from throughout the years! (sidenote: it would also be dope to see them make a series rereleasing gps prone figures in sturdier plastic)
Sam
Yes he can.
タカラトミャー on Twitter
\予約始まりました/ トランスフォーマーの最高峰ブランド「マスターピースシリーズ」で完全アニメスタイル版「バンブルVer2.0」が新登場です! スパイクのフィギュアはビークルモードで載せることもできちゃいます( ^ω^ 三 ^ω^ )ヒュンヒュン
Google Translation:
\ Reservation has started /
Full animated style version "Bumble Ver 2.0" is new appearance at Transformers' highest peak brand "Masterpiece series"!
You can also put the spike figures in the vehicle mode (^ ω ^ 三 ^ ω ^) Hyun Hyun
onnsake
I feel like that time Louis CK kept asking Donald Rumsfeld if he was a lizard, and Rumsfeld refused to answer, over and over; which only convinced Louis he really as a lizard.
SO….CAN SPIKE SIT INSIDE BUMBLBEE??? Or does he just stand there with the door open posing like he's getting in or out?? Every time I ask, I get ignored. Nobody has given me a straight answer. Personally I don't see how he can possible fit.
Can Spike fully sit inside Bumblebee???
Darkstone
These cassette prototypes are so interesting. That’s the kind of stuff I want to be done eventually.
Also, Amazing Yamaguchi Optimus Prime is… well, amazing. Probably the best looking joints on a Revoltech figure yet.
Rodimus Prime
Why do they show Hot Shot?
Ikkstakk
I legit want a copy of this issue.
stad
That's a LOT of urine-colored pages!