X-Entertainment's Christmas Season & Advent Calendar, 2008.

03/12/2004: The Best of Toy Fair.

My apologies for being so sparse this week, I’ve had a lot going on. Couple of assignments, couple of fires. Actually, we’ve been doing loads of construction work in our Don Lapre apartment for the efforts of creating me some kind of office (I hit the wall with the amount of times I lost work because a cat knocked out the plug or pissed on the outlet), and that’s just about done. In this, I bought some fancy office furniture from Ikea, and in that, I now vow to never touch, look at or speak of a fucking Allen wrench again for the rest of eternity. Those God damned Swedes. Anyway, now that I’m done pretending to know how to put planks of wood together, I’m free to write more articles on bad movies and stupid cartoons. Few of those coming up. Meantime, check out my last word on this year’s Toy Fair — a look at the cream of the crop. My personal picks for the eleven best toys and action figures that’ve either just come out or will debut sometime in 2004. Oh, the Transformers “Alternators” are on that last, but I’d like to add one thing: as great as those figures are, they’re also real cheap. I totally wasn’t expecting a 20 dollar price tag on figures that seemed poised to fetch at least double that. I’ll give you a review on one of ‘em tomorrow.

Having gotten the second post, I feel kinda empty. It reaffirms what I’ve felt since I’ve started visiting the blog– the first 2 or 3 people to post there invariably haven’t read the article, and are just trying to get bragging rights. It adds nothing to the blog comments page itselvf. Enough already!

I like the "Spidey & Friends" Rhino, but I saw the Lizard before and it looks even more incongruous with its Spider-man Classics version. It’s way too cute to be the Lizard. But go ahead and get ‘em all, they’re readily available, unlike the short-packed Spidey villains.

Galactus needs to be a Mini-Mate! Maybe on par with a common 6-inch figure. It would menace your ‘Mates, and be dwarfed by every other figure you own.

Clawful should’ve been a regular ol’ MOTU figure, not a big sculpture. The fact that MOTU’s been around for near two years and still hasn’t made a Clawful is further proof that their marketing strategy isn’t so sound.

Again, I reiterate: after Hound, the Alternators I’ve seen are all screwed up. Tracks really should be yellow, "Dead End" is a mish-mash (Sideswipe’s body, Sunstreaker’s head, colored like Wildrider and yet named, you know, "Dead End," and "Meister" who would’ve been named Jazz if they still had the name copyrighted. I’m strictly Energon from now on.

Now I want a Transformer. My birthday is less than a month away, but that is the sort of thing I’d have to go pick out for myself. Like a puppy, it’s just not the same if someone brings home a random one that you didn’t get to pick out. And I like shopping. But maybe this year I’ll finally get Transformers: the Movie. Oh, and I really want NECA’s Kill Bill lunchbox, and the GoGo figure. I was so sad when they pushed Volume 2 back from February. Soon now, soon…

Heroclix rules and Galactus is the best Heroclix yet. You just don’t get it Matt Heroclix is a Game Not just regular old figures. You and a friend gather a team of clix figures and you use thier special powers and ablities to beat your opponents team. So no Galactus isn’t just a statue he’s the most powerful figure ever. An MVP on any self respecting Heroclix player’s team.
That’s where the hype is coming from it’s not because he’s nice to look at.

I started re-collecting Transformers a few years ago: at the end of the Beast Wars run and before Armada’s. I couldn’t understand why they couldn’t make a car transform into a robot without having a goddamn dashboard sticking out of its head, or a fender jutting out of a calf, when they were so easily doing just that in the ’80’s.

Finally, FINALLY, they’ve figured it out. Godspeed you little Hound… Godspeed.

Gabbylicious: Those Alt’s are a real bitch to transform correctly. I wouldn’t get one unless you reeeeally want to see the robot mode, and then reeeeeally want to see the car mode again. If you want it, I’d recommend Smokescreen: he’s the first and in my opinion best Alt. But if you look into the Energon line, you’ll find cheaper, less complicated, yet still awesome figures. Whatever floats your canoe.

Holy Heck SHAMROCK SHAKES ARE BACK! omgomgomgomgomgomgomgomgomgomgomgomgomgomg!
I even wrote about it on my site. Yay for Shamrock Shakes!

Alt-Tab - Some of the things you state are beyond the control of Hasbro or are just comprimises due to current circumstances.

Nearly of the car colours are chosen by the CAR MANUFACTURERS as part of the licensing agreement. The Corvette C5, of instance, is most recognisable in yellow. This is so the manufacturers can have free advertising.
Dead End is called that because its one of the few Decepticon car names Hasbro still has, and its the most recognisable Stunticon name. He is a major retool of Sideswipe, and no doubt the mold will be repainted as Sunstreaker further down the line.
Meister is a compromise, no doubt because Mazda wouldn’t want a product named Mazda RX-8 Autobot Jazz, since there’s a Honda car called the Jazz. It would be confusing, like if there was a robot named Ferrari it would be like ‘Dodge Viper Autobot Ferrari’

Matt, Hasbro and Takara are pushing on with Alternators. They have apparently secured the rights for the Dodge Ram and the Chrysler Neon. Fans speculate the Ram will be Ironhide and the Neon will be Bumblebee (since Volkswagen, along with other German car manufacturers, don’t want to be associated with weapons of war…).

I just got into Heroclix and it is a pretty fun game. I still think there are a few problems with the rules that house rules will have to remedy.
I don’t know if any of you have heard of the comic book called "The Gift", but I met the writer at the Megacon in Orlando, and he agreed to pick us up a Galactus at the Con in L.A. They are giving them away free to participants. He is a really cool guy, and if you haven’t seen it yet, check out The Gift. It will probably be a movie someday (because it is really good, not because they are turning everything into a movie now) and you will be able to say you were into it before it was cool.

I nod in agreement with this list. There ain’t a thing on there I wouldn’t purchase. Didn’t know most of this stuff was coming out, thanks!

Haven’t been wowed by much of anything from Energon so far, though Starscream’s pretty cool and Rodimus looks nice. Beyond that, I’ll stick with Alternators. Totally agree with Matt about the pricing, too- it’s getting mighty hard for me to justify shilling out $40 for a G1 reissue when I could get a much more poseable, cooler-looking toy based off an actual car for half that. Kinda disappointing that they’re only doing cars — some Alternator seekers would be awesome, and honestly, how many cool Decepticons were cars? — but as great as the toys are, I can’t complain too much. (Kinda wish Tracks was still blue, tho’…)

So I know you’re not a huge comics fan, Matt, but were there any Marvel Legends on display? Those things have got mad articulation and detail. I’m not even that big an action figure fan, but when Wolverine in his classic brown costume comes out in the next wave, even I’m gonna have to pick that sucker up. (And come on, what other line is gonna give you a friggin’ Howard the Duck figure? That’s worth a mention right there…)

Yup, they looked great. Didn’t see the Duck, tho. If I had, he probably would’ve made my top list.

Transformers all the way.
It’s almost depressing thinking about how many of the original G1 line I had and broke when I was a stupid-destructive little kid.
I guess I’ll have to buy the 20th anneversary Optimus to make up for it.

Did anyone notice that he comes with a transformed "Megatron"
(gun mode) cool shit!

Aside: I’m sure this has probably been mentioned before, but why did they make Optimus Prime look like a bootleg Voltron?

Ok, Matty-matty-boombalatty, we need a pic soon of Galactus vs Unicron! Heroclix takes on Armada/Energon! Loser busses the tables.

holy crap! SECOND post!
The Alternators need to get their colors straight, otherwise I’m not getting anything beyond Hound.

Yeah, Hound was clearly the leader of the ones I’ve seen. Couldn’t find him at the store, though — I picked up my 2nd best pick, while the third figure didn’t seem too special. I do hope they continue on with the Alternators theme for more figures, tho.

I love all that stuff. Definatly more high brow toys than the six-inch crap you pick up at the local K-Mart. As Rainman once said, K-Mart sucks.

Hey Matt, have you seen the line of Smallest Transformers? I have a set of the first wave, and they are quite awesome. Optimus Prime is around the size of my thumb.

"just one classified ad from my tiny 1 bedroom apartment" Man, I miss Don. Haven’t seen him for years.

It’s definitely looking to be a strong toy year, for people like us at least. I wasn’t shilling at all with the NECA gushes on UGO…between everything seen already and the fact that they’re probably going to be the ones to keep He-Man alive for the next few years, that’s definitely the company to watch.

The sad thing about Prime, he looks the best in his "And I’ll form the head!" mode. That, and the fact that I bought one anyway. Still planning on Unicron and 20th anniversary Prime. Now I need Hound, Prowl, Jazz, Wheeljack, and the ‘Bee. what would a Alternators Grimlock look like?

klash- well, since Alternators is all cars, guess we’d need to pick one for the Big Grim. Whaddaya think… a Ford F-250? A Hummer? (And Prowl would be great, but since they’ve already used the same mold for Smokescreen and "Silver"streak, they might be hesitant to use it again for Prowl. Maybe he’ll be a redecoed "Meister" (Jazz).

And Matt, the Duck was the "accessory" for the Silver Surfer figure in the current wave. I don’t give a rat’s ass about the Surfer, but shit, I picked it up anyway just for Howard.

In the WWII G.I. Joe vs TransFormers mini, Grimlock was a Mark V tank. Maybe an older, classic car. Like an Buick Roadmaster, or Ford Edsel. Something big, old, chopped and channeled. I have a tape of car commercials from the 50’s and 60’s that makes good imagination fuel for our favorite DinoBot. All the DinoBots could be classic cars. Or old military vehicles.

I loooooove Alternators! I can’t wait to get my hands on Hound and Silverstreak. Who cares if they’re not 100% accurate to their G1 namesakes? They still look awesome in both modes and are the best Transformers ever made.

Yeah, but the car companies are going along with this whole deal to sell *current* cars. I’m not disagreeing with you that it’d be cool to see Grimlock as a classic car, but it wouldn’t actually happen. It’d have to be a vehicle currently on the market.

DUDE!!!
Hound is/was my fav Transformer next to Soundwave of course…and StayPuff kicks so much tail - Matt you have made my day dude!!!!!!!!!

lucky one - according to the pics own owners of Silverstreak’s prototype/test shot, he’s significantly different to Smokescreen, due to the fact one’s a road car and one’s a rally car (trust me, they’re quite different). However, Hasbro/Takara also went to the trouble of making new body parts for old Streak’s robot mode, so that he has a new head, new shoulder plates, arms, stomach plates ect.

I’m broke and my apartment is the size of a closet, so I won’t be adding any of these to my crates-that-pass-for-shelves any time soon. Not to mention I’m not a big fan of any of these lines but "Ghostbusters," "TMNT," and "He-Man."

However…I am glad to hear someone’s going to be continuing with the He-Man line, which has been awesome even if I can’t afford them and really have no place to put them. The detail on that Clawful is amazing. Looks 8 times better than the original show. The new Turtles line is great, too. I’m tempted to buy a few for a "Turtles"-crazy girlfriend.

Speaking of detail, Mr. Stay-Puff is something else. I love his expression. Looks like he’s about to step on Dan Ackroyd. Can’t ask for more than that.

There’s a vague chance they could retool the mold for a third time into Prowl The Japanese police ministry recently unvieled its WRX Sti pursuit vehicles, which, as with all japanese police cars, have the same paintjob as G1 Prowl.

According to Hasbro, the Decepticons for the moment will be retooled versions of the Autobot cars (probably because no car manufacturer wants to be a ‘bad guy’).
Probably no Decepticon jets, either, since the US military manufacturers also don’t want to be ‘bad guys’.

The first Alt. Decepticon was unveiled recently as Deadend. A black and red Dodge Viper.

I haven’t gotten any Alternators yet, but that’ll probably be my first one when he’s released.

And on a completely unrelated note, does anyone have any Resaurus Street Fighter figures they wanna sell?

Palisades will own 2004 just like they owned 2003. This company cannot be defeated when it comes to toys. They shouldn’t really be called toys at all, they should be called masterpieces. Let’s have a look, shall we?

1)G.I. Joe
2)Transformers
3)Muppets
4)Pink Panther
5)Ren and Stimpy
6)Predator/Alien
7)Adult Swim
8)Invader Zim
9)Army of Darkness
10)Buffy
11)Fairly Odd Parents

And I won’t even begin to mention the fact that they’re working on Factory X (props) stuff. Mezco and NECA will be getting some good business as well though. Especially with the Freddy and Jason stuff that will be out soon.

FFN- yeah, the Streaker does look different from Smokescreen, no argument here. But I’m still not convinced they’ll want to do yet another one as Prowl. Like you said, one’s a road car, one a rally car (or one a WRC, one a WRX), but then what would that leave for Prowl? It’s possible, I just don’t know.

Little Brother bought himself Hulk Hands, so I’m gonna get Hellboy’s stone gauntlet. Let the sucker punches commence.

I have Alternator Smokescreen and once you figure out a good transform pattern he’s easy to switch between modes. I find it easier to accept the new modes by ignoring the Japanese origin for the new forms and just conclude they’re seperate characters. I have my Autobots seperated into different combat units based on what line their from. (The originals and reissues are seperate units. My Robots in Disguise and Spychangers are also seperate units, as are the Armada and Energon teams.)

I just picked up Anniversary Prime and damn he’s cool!
It’s the first time I ever spent that much (usually I have to think about it for just a $15 TF) without blinking, and while I made my credit card company happy, I probably should have waited until I payed off the rest of the bill. Ah, well, he’s worth it.

Re: Japanese origin for the new forms - well, the original Smokescreen (as well as Bluestreak and Prowl) was a Datsun 280ZX, specifically the Electromotive/Devendorf Datsun 280ZX Turbo Racer, which was a japanese car.

Anyone interested in "Hellboy" should head for their local Best Buy. They have a "free" DVD that contains a 10 minute featurette and trailers for the movie. It will actually cost you a penny, so don’t just walk out the door.

As for Hellboy I hear the comic is good. So if you have any intrest in seeing the movie you should defenitly check out the comic.

Well, in the Japanese version, "Binaltech", which has no story beyond the packaging last I heard (and I do pay quite a bit of attention to Transformers), is that a group of Transformers are hit by Cosmic Rust, and a bunch of humans repair them. Maybe Smokescreen was found by Subaru, or they won the bid on a few different Transformers or however the companies were chosen.

Yeah, that’s as far as it goes for the story and there probably won’t be a show (since its not a mass-market line). Maybe a comic from Dreamwave…

Hasbro retooled their Smokescreens so that the robot’s back (the underside of the roof) has a place to store the weapon.

I was browsing eBay looking for odd stuff, and I found this which I thought might amuse:

The alternators are cool, but the Binaltech line is just better…all die-cast, baby, just like vintage.

The ‘Harry Potter’ line for this year is going to suck. No new Professor Snape figurines. I don’t care if they want the line themed with the movies, I want a Snapie and a Gilderoy!
Also, WTF is up with Playmates? They still haven’t made a Cecil Terwilliger ‘Simpsons’ figurine! That was an estimated figureine for the line this year!

Has anyone seen the Dragonball Vegeta gloves that were floating around for a while?

They were these enourmous white gloves that talk like Vegeta when you perform certain hand movements. Usually when you smacked your palms together.

Now we’re getting into "Dr. Forrester and TV’s Frank dressed up as Wishnik Trolls" territory here.

Add A New Comment!

This entry was posted on Friday, March 12th, 2004 at 12:44 pm and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.