The third toy revealed in the BotCon 2012 box set is the Heroic Decepticon Soundwave. Featuring a remolded head, this toy uses the 2008 Universe Ratchet/Ironhide mold in white, with blue and yellow/green highlights. And it’s… well, let’s get the good stuff out of the way. If you remember the minicomic “Desert Heat” that the Transformers Collectors’ Club released (see here and here if you don’t), then this should look awfully familiar. Soundwave was reformatted into this mode from his old Device Label MP3 player mode. This toy accurately reflects the art, down to the Cold Slither logo on the side. Sure, the side
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2012 – The Geekly Fast Forward (Part 1)
Happy New Year! Okay, so it’s a few days past New Year’s, but really, we’re only about 1% of the way through the year; that’s not too much time to have passed. This year is shaping up to be another banner year for geekly stuff, but it’s hard to keep it all straight. So that’s where ASM comes in — to continue making it hard to make sense of it all. This list is not all-encompassing, nor do I make any claims as to its accuracy. Consider it just some ruminations on the year ahead. Let’s dive in!
Continue readingBotCon 2012 Toy Reveal – Evil Tracks
The second toy revealed in the BotCon 2012 box set is the Evil Autobot Tracks. Using the same mold as Reveal the Shield Turbo Tracks, this is a new character from the Shattered Glass universe. It’s a dual homage to the Diaclone version of the Generation 1 toy and the eHobby exclusive Road Rage, which was itself an homage to the Diaclone toy (and a European version of the toy released in the Diaclone colors.) So maybe it’s only one homage. Or maybe it’s three homages. Or maybe it’s a recursive homage. Or… something. I liked the original Turbo Tracks toy (okay,
Continue readingBotCon 2012 Toy Reveal – The Overlord Gigatron
Over the holidays, BotCon.com began revealing the toys in the BotCon 2012 box set. The first one to be revealed was The Overlord, Gigatron, a remolded Revenge of the Fallen Bludgeon, making the first time a quasi-movie mold has been used for a BotCon exclusive. Granted, Bludgeon was created to be both a “Movie-style” and “Classics-style” toy, and it’s not a Paramount copyrighted design, but still, it’s a first. The toy is meant to be a reimaginging of the Generation 1 character Overlord, but with a new name, it’s hard to say what the characterization will be. It’s said he
Continue readingC2E2 2012 Guest Announcement – Joe Kubert
While it’s cold and the holidays are on us, we here at ASM can’t help but look towards April and C2E2 in Chicago. This has become a favorite convention for us in its short existence, and we’re looking forward to the third year. The first guest announcement has us jazzed as well — Comics Legend Joe Kubert will be in attendance! To many, the Kubert name is synonymous with comics, much like Jack Kirby, Stan Lee, Joe Simon, or any of a dozen or more others. Joe has worked on DC Comics’ Batman, Hawkman, and Sgt. Rock, and the Flash
Continue readingJulian Glover to Appear at Cyphan in Chicago!
Actor Julian Glover is slated to appear at Cyphan3 in Chicago! This science fiction and fantasy convention will held at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Rosemont, IL, on July 27-29, 2012. Mr. Glover is most recently known for his work as Grand Maester Pycelle on HBO’s Game of Thrones, a role which has garnered much praise from fans of the series. Fans of the Star Wars saga will remember him as General Veers in The Empire Strikes Back. Mr. Glover is also as fan-favorite in the science fiction and fantasy genre for his work as the voice of Aragog in
Continue readingNYCC 2011: Transformers and Star Wars Presentations Slides Online
We’ve got the high-res presentation slides from both the Transformers presentation and Star Wars presentation from New York Comic Con! Thanks to Hunter PR and Hasbro for the pics. Check them out in the Geekly Rewind Gallery via these links: Transformers: http://www.asmzine.com/gallery/conventions/New-York-Comic-Con-2011/hasbro/transformers-presentation-slides/index.html Star Wars: http://www.asmzine.com/gallery/conventions/New-York-Comic-Con-2011/hasbro/star-wars-presentation-slides/index.html Don’t forget, you can see other NYCC pics in the Geekly Rewind Gallery: http://www.asmzine.com/gallery/conventions/New-York-Comic-Con-2011/index.html
Continue readingNYCC 2011: What the Heck is Unit:E?
So, Justin Aclin tweeted this picture earlier this afternoon, calling it the “sleeper hit of the con?” It’s a promotional poster of Unit:E, which is, well, just look at it: It appears to be a new story that combines a lot of Hasbro properties into one continuity. Or something. We’ve got Jem and the Holograms, M.A.S.K. (holy crap M.A.S.K.!), Stretch Armstrong, Candy Land, Battleship Galaxies, the Action Man, The Micronauts, and Primordia. What does it mean? TFW2005 found a trademark earlier this year that claims it will be for a new Hasbro Studios movie. Whatever it is, it’s piqued our
Continue readingNYCC 2011: Hasbro Preview Night Thoughts
While ASM wasn’t at Hasbro’s Preview Night yesterday (congrats to the lucky ones who were!), that doesn’t mean we didn’t go searching the net for pictures of what was on display. Here’s a quick smattering of thoughts from me. Transformers From TFormers.com’s gallery (see it here), I think I’m most psyched about Cyberverse. I used to hate having characters in multiple size-classes. It ruined scale, plus it meant that in my completist days, I had to buy the same character over and over. Well, my completist days are over, and now I love the idea of Cyberverse. If you are
Continue readingToy Review – Transformers – Decepticon Slice
The Geek Bits Name: Decepticon Slice Toyline: Transformers Subline: Transformers Timelines – G2 Redux Size Class: Deluxe Released: BotCon 2010 Availability: The Official Transformers Collectors Club Includes: Slice, Energon weapons, tech specs card, instructions Worth the price? Since you’d have to buy this from a dealer or eBay, it’s hard to say. You’re getting this toy for the character more than the toy, in my opinion. DECEPTICON SLICE, also known as Slicer… or Shattered Glass Wheeljack… or… hang on, let’s start this again. DECEPTICON SLICE is the new trademark-friendly name for SLICER, a Decepticon who appeared in toy form very
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