Transformers Site Articles News on Seibertron.com

Out This Week! Transformers Escape #1 and Transformers Galaxies #12 Mini-Reviews

Date: Thursday, December 31st 2020 10:49am CST
Categories: Comic Book News, Reviews, Site Articles
Posted by: Tigertrack | Credit(s): IDW Publishing

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Views: 91,199

New this week!

'I don't know what's gnu with you?'-- some joke from my childhood.

Transformers Galaxies Finale - Issue #12



Leading into…

Transformers: Escape - #1


And, finally Transformers War World (ongoing) Issue #26 is available digitally this week, and printed next week! Review by ScottyP coming next week.




You can buy these issues including variant covers like the one above in the Seibertron.com eBay store!

Exclusive Transformers ReAction Dead Prime and Toy Megatron Redecos Found at Target

Date: Sunday, October 11th 2020 8:45am CDT
Categories: Toy News, Site Articles
Posted by: william-james88

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Views: 41,563

The Target exclusive Reaction figures are available in the US. The picture below comes from Rob on Facebook's Cybertron Cafe. These include a grey redeco of prime called Fallen Leader Optimus Prime, so this means we are getting two exclusive dead Prime figures in the same year. The other exclusive is a silver/chrome version of Megatron, to reflect his toy colours. These should be available at targets everywhere around the country by now.

Exclusive! Q&A With Shawn Hawkins, Voice of Mirage in Netflix's War for Cybertron: Siege Series

Date: Monday, September 28th 2020 8:29pm CDT
Categories: Cartoon News, Event News, Site Articles, People News, Digital Media News, Interviews, Contests
Posted by: Bounti76

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Views: 206,525

Greetings Seibertronians! Even though the Earthrise toyline is in it's waning stages, and the Siege cartoon dropped on streaming service Netflix just a couple of months ago, we got a trailer for the upcoming Earthrise cartoon this weekend at Hasbro PulseCon.

That doesn't mean we're done with Siege stories, however. Seibertron is proud to exclusively bring to you an interview/Q&A with actor Shawn Hawkins, who voiced Mirage in the Siege cartoon! Read on to find out what he knew about Mirage prior to voicing him, how he feels about the Transformers fandom, and find out the 'bot he originally auditioned to voice before landing the role of the disappearing Autobot illusionist, Mirage!




Shawn Hawkins: Taylor! What a great surprise to wake up to this morning! Huge thank you to you and Ryan for having me on!

Taylor: It's our pleasure! So, Shawn, Tell us a little about yourself, your career, and how you came to voice acting. Is it a main focus of your career?

Shawn: Yeah so I’m originally from Upstate New York where I started in music. Ever since I was a kid I had a guitar in my hand and ended up playing in a few bands around New York. Then I went to college in Nashville, TN for music and business and ended up touring with some bands up and down the east coast. But at one point I just knew I wanted to get back in to acting. I had been a part of some theatre in high school but was interested in film and TV. So I ended up joining the theatre department at my college and then moving to Los Angeles right out of school. It was the best decision I ever made but it was definitely a big move. I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of some really fun and creative projects in my time here. A lot of indie film work and some television stuff as well, but voice acting was something I always wanted to do. I would make voices, probably just like everyone else as a kid but for me it continued and continued haha. I did some smaller (voiceover) stuff along the way but finally got this audition for Transformers WFC and I was sold. It was an absolute blast and I’m so thankful to have been a part of it. Sharing it all with the fans has been an incredible pleasure in my life!

Taylor: What was the audition process like for the Siege series? Did you read or audition just in general, or did you always know you'd be playing Mirage specifically?

Shawn: So I originally auditioned for the role of Bumblebee. We weren't told at the time what the project was. It had a code name and character code names but I knew reading it that it sounded a lot like Transformers. Of course, then I found out it was and that I was up for Bumblebee. Then after a few callbacks, they ended up giving me Mirage. And I am so incredibly thankful they did. I feel right at home with Mirage and I love his role in the series. As well as his role with the fans! I’m excited to share the next two seasons with you all and see what unfolds!

Taylor: How much did you know about Transformers before landing the role of Mirage? How much do you know now?

Shawn: Oh man! Well I grew up watching some G1 and saw all the Bay movies but I didn’t dive in until taking on Mirage. Now I’m learning things everyday. And it is mainly thanks to the fans! The Transformers community has been so welcoming and supportive. I am amazed at the interaction we get to have together. I wouldn’t trade it for the world and I look forward to many more meaningful interactions over the years. But yes, my capacity for Transformers material just keeps growing haha!

Taylor: How much interaction have you had with Transformers fans since the series aired? Were you a fan yourself before you got the role?

Shawn: Oh man! A ton!! I love it more than anything. Getting to meet all the fans and hear their stories. I actually pride myself on running a really interactive Instagram account where I connect with the fans on a daily basis, run giveaways and answer questions. If you’d love to connect, hit me up @shawn_hawkins. I was a fan before but not to the extent that I am now. It’s a whole new ball game!



Taylor: What did you know about the character of Mirage from the original cartoon series? Did you ever listen to the original voice actor to get a feel for his interpretation of the character?

Shawn: Well I knew he was the elite and also walked both sides of the fence. I knew that I was diving in deep because Mirage had such a unique voice in the original cartoon and I wanted to live up to that but also bring my own spin to it. Our sound engineer for WFC brought some great ideas and feedback to the table in a way that made me feel comfortable and confident with what I was bringing to set. For me I envisioned him sounding a little younger and I think the WFC team did as well. It was like watching this spunky rich kid who thought he knew more than everyone else but also sometimes.. he did. Haha! I loved it. And from what I’ve heard so far, the fans have been happy with the interpretation. I can’t ever predict that but I just brought my heart and soul to it and I always said, “There’s a reason I’m here on this mission... maybe this is it!!”


Taylor: What kind of direction were you given for the character? How is direction given for voice acting? Is the director in the studio with you when you record?

Shawn: Yeah so the direction was great. The VO director, Phil Bache, the engineer and the rest of the team had a really great idea of what they wanted already which made my job a lot easier. So we would go over individual lines and what they meant and I would just give a couple takes of each that were my interpretation of that. And we would go back and forth until we got something we were happy with. But yes, the director was always in the room and the guidance was top notch. I felt incredibly comfortable and free to play as well which is something you really appreciate as a voice actor.


Taylor: What's next for Mirage? Do you know if you'll be reprising him in the follow-up series to Siege?

Shawn: What’s next?! Well I’ve got some things on the plate. I don’t know what I’m allowed to say but I believe you’ll be seeing more Mirage in the near future! I am so stoked for the next two seasons to air and to celebrate with the fans. Other than that I’ve got a few smaller projects in the works and I’m also launching a Youtube channel for the Transformers fans and community. I’m incredibly excited to share that with you all. Be sure to check me out on Instagram @shawn_hawkins for when that drops and more cool Mirage stuff!

Taylor: What's next for you professionally?

Shawn: Professionally, I’m going to take a nice vacation haha. We have planned to go visit some family in Sedona Arizona here in October to just relax and reconnect. I keep myself pretty busy all the time so remembering to relax is important for me. But lots of cool things. I’m working on that Youtube channel and I also oversee a couple small businesses as well as audition regularly here in LA. There are a few films and shows on the horizon so I will have to keep you all posted! Thank you guys so much for having me and keep up the awesome work you’re doing at Seibertron! Such a pleasure to chat with you and connect with the fans.




And as for keeping connected with fans, Shawn has some exciting news for you, Seibertronians!

We wanted to do a special GIVEAWAY with everyone who keeps up with Seibertron. I will be giving away a signed Mirage figure from the WFC Netflix series to one lucky winner. If you’d like a shot at winning this you just have to follow Seiberton (Instagram @seibertroncom) and go over and give a follow to @shawn_hawkins. After you follow me, shoot me a DM with the word SEIBERTRON! So stoked to get to meet you guys and good luck with the giveaway! We will run this for two weeks from the date of posting. Much love to you all and thanks for letting me be a part of your world! )

Many thanks to Shawn for your time and talent, and willingness to share with us some fun insights into the world of a Transformers voice actor!

Pictorial Review for Transformers Masterpiece MP-50 Tigatron

Date: Monday, September 28th 2020 3:40pm CDT
Categories: Toy News, Reviews, Site Articles
Posted by: william-james88

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Views: 50,836

Tigatron just arrived from Amazon Japan. He had shipped Friday so this is pretty lightning quick for a toy arriving from literally the other end of the world.



We have had many in hand images, so you know he looks great.
We had a conversion video so you know he's complex.

But two questions remain: Is he a good toy and, more importantly, is he worth it?

That's what we will explore now in this review, that's all that's left to discuss and it's what matters most.

I will start by addressing something, though his design has callbacks to Cheetor's (since their original toys were the exact same), this is a completely different toy. Then only aspect of the transformation that is similar is that the front legs end up in the back and can connect together in a cross pattern. That is it. Every single other element is completely different offering fans a new transforming experience.

And I'll tell you, this is a better toy than Cheetor. With Cheetor, you had a very sleek build so there was some extra kibble in the rear area. But with Tigatron, the designers really went out of their way to highlight the musculature of tigers, which are the largest felines out there.





That larger mass permits the leg kibble and feet to integrate within the beast mode. It becomes my favourite part of the transformation. While a lot of it is panel-y (or shellformer-y to some), that foot transformation is just one of those wow moments that use simplicity and precision to fully convert an elements while using the some of the same parts. You can see it below.







The Tiger mode does suffer from a lot of panels though, so posing him or inserting the gut gun will have some panels detach while to try to reconnect others. I don't know why they didn't have the thigh panels fasten properly. They end up leaving gaps and it's not like they are shaped this way to fasten more properly in robot mode.



The eyes are articulated and can be green or orange since the spheres that make the eyes are green on one side and orange on the other and they can turn on a 360 axis for you to alter colours. It's too bad that the exposed part of the gut gun is not the part with the tiger stripes, making the beast patter on the gun fake kibble. It is the only fake bit though, since, unlike Cheetor, the Tiger head is used in both modes.



So, back to conversion, while there is a lot of undoing panels and flipping and folding, I found this far more enjoyable than Cheetor or other recent MPs. There are tiny pegs and latches that do require some finesse, and folding certain pieces of Tiger skin was really stressful due to how tight they were, but nothing broke on me. And best of all, I did something rather risky, I didn't use the instructions. While I recommend you follow instructions, the fact that I was able to get from one mode to the next without them meant that it wasn't obtuse. My favourite part was the legs since that is a completely different transformation to any Beast Wars MP to date. Another part I liked was at the very end where it seemed I had finished but the hips still seemed to be facing backwards, since that robot detail was on the back. What usually happens is you reorient the entire hip but the swivel didn't allow for that kind of movement. As it turns out, that specific robot mode detail can rotate around the hip to face any direction you want.









Most joints are super tight, except for the knees. And that is my biggest gripe about the robot mode, his knees suck. They kind of remind me of Siege Megatron's ankle tilt where you felt you were undoing something rather than bending. I have a neo dodging bullets pose below that shows how he looks like with bent knees. Not great. Another aspect that could have been easily dealt with is the arm kibble does not tab into his arms. I guess it makes it slightly easier if you want to pose his hands but that could just as easily be achieved if you had a small peg you could unpeg.





He is back heavy but his heels are extra tight so I have had no problem keeping him up. And speaking of the backside, the muscular frame of the tiger alt mode is really highlighted there. He has these massive calves (probably from holding up so much upper body mass), it's pretty cool that the strength of the animal mode is conveyed in the robot mode. As for the head, while he comes with 4 extra faces, I really did not care to change them. Aside from my memory of him being really frightened once or twice, the face I most associate with Tigatron is a stoic one with his mouth closed. He was always more of the silent type. The light piping is excellent.







So, let's get down to brass tacks with the following questions:

a)Is this a good figure?
b)Do I see where all my money went?
c)Do I regret spending this much on a toy?



Answers:

a)Yes
b)Yes
c)No

Mine cost $160 USD (before shipping and duty fees). That's almost double Optimus Primal. While I can see exactly where all my money went, part of me will always think that these figures are more than they should be. But that's just the name of the MP game at this point. I prefer this toy to almost all other Beast Wars MPs and I feel as satisfied with him as I do with Dinobot or Megatron, both of which were far more costly.

I will tell you this though, he is definitely the type of figure that is way more fun to convert from alt mode to robot than from robot to alt mode. I'm going to bring him back to beast mode now, wish me luck!

Top 5 Best Transformers Toys Redecos

Date: Sunday, September 6th 2020 11:28am CDT
Categories: Site Articles, Editorials, Top Lists
Posted by: william-james88

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Views: 79,484

Every two weeks, Seibertron.com brings you a Top 5 list related to all things Transformers written by me, your fellow editor. These are our opinions so what matters most is what you guys think of the topic or list, and I hope to see your own lists or comments on omissions and ranking. Let's have fun! All previous lists can be found here.


Top 5 Best Transformers Redecos


Redecos are very common within the Transformers brand. We've had them since the very beginning and the initial batch of the G2 line was mainly all about that. Every once in a while though, we are given a truly ridiculously awesome redeco and those are the ones I am looking at today. Some of these do also sport some slight retooling, like new heads, but some are just straight redecos with nothing changed aside from the colours.

5. Transformers Convention & Club Exclusives Shattered Glass Thundercracker

I don't often put club exclusives on these lists, but a list without this Thundercracker just wouldn't feel the same. It's a wonderful homage to the ridiculous colours found on Action Master Thundercracker.






4. Transformers Prime: Robots In Disguise Dead End

This redeco came out of nowhere and it sure ain't your G1 Dead End. This is probably the loudest colour scheme I have ever seen and that new head with the light piping in the mouth just adds to how insane the look of this toy is. Insane in a good way of course.






3. Transformers Cybertron Cannonball

Cannonball is a pirate themed Transformer and this redeco goes to town with that idea. The face deco is meanto to simulate and eye patch and there are skeletons "airbrushed" on the roof and two sides. While that is of course a reference to the Jolly Roger iconography, the fact that they are fluorescent on a black station wagon also gives it a 70s black light poster look which I just think is awesome.










2. Transformers Cybertron Longrack

I still can't believe this is a thing that happened. We had an excavator Transformer in the Armada line and it was repainted into Longrack with a nice new head (and other slight modifications to make it work with the Cybertron line). Longrack was a transforming Giraffe from the Japanese Beast Wars animated show and this was the first time that character had a toy released in the west.










1. G2 Combiners

These redecos are RAD!!!! They scream pure 90s as loud as can be possible. What I love most though are the Combiner Wars redecos which give us the best rendition of these crazy colours. We finally have a G2 Menasor that everyone can own and we finally have a G2 Superion whose gold plastic arm doesn't shatter. I really love the attention to detail on these redecos, like that lovely multicoloured tampograph on Wildrider.


Transformers Generation 2 Bruticus Gallery


Transformers Generations Combiner Wars Superion Gallery


Transformers Generations Combiner Wars Menasor Gallery


Transformers Generations Combiner Wars Brake-Neck Gallery


Transformers Generations Combiner Wars Motormaster Gallery

Quick Reviews of Transformers Galaxies #9, Transformers 84 #3, and Transformers My Little Pony #2

Date: Wednesday, September 2nd 2020 5:59pm CDT
Categories: Comic Book News, Reviews, Site Articles
Posted by: Tigertrack

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What’s new in Transformers comics this week - 9/2/2020

It’s new comic book day again, the first in September, and we find ourselves here with a slew of new comics fiction to chew on and enjoy.



This week’s offerings include Transformers My Little Pony Friendship in Disguise #2, Transformers Galaxies #9, and Transformers 84 Truth and Lies #3. All 3 issues feature several covers some drawn and colored by IDW Transformers heavy hitters, for your collecting specifics.

No local comic shop? You can conveniently order them from the Seibertron.com eBay store!!!


Mini-Review of Transformers 84 Secrets and Lies #3 (Tigertrack)

This issue really had me at hello…as soon as Counterpunch said, “Megatron and Shockwave BOTH sleeping with the fossils…” like he’s a stereotypical 1920’s gangster stooge. I knew we were going to get to focus on some new (old) Decepticons. And that’s exciting, capiche?

Yes, this issue really more than the last issue goes it’s own direction and fills in details revolving around Straxus, Scorponok, and Thunderwing before they get their future moments to shine. Reminiscent of the IDW’s earlier Stormbringer mini-series bringing these big cons together (along with Shockwave) to discuss Thunderwing’s science, this issue tugs at those fond memories of that series, as these cons basically divide Cybertron.

That’s not all it has in common with that series. At the request of our spy-ally, Punch, our friends the Wreckers make their origin appearance. It’s nice to have the definitive start, and thankfully, it comes about a bit unconventionally. I was thinking they were started by Emirate Xaaron, Kup, or Magnus, maybe even Impactor, but I was at least, mostly wrong - Or at least by Punch's possibly skewed point of view, anyway. And that my friends is amazing, as well.

Just waiting on Ralph...I hear he really likes to Wreck-It.

BUT NOT ONLY ALL OF THAT… a little bot by the name of Star Saber makes an appearance (no misrepresenting cover syndrome here). I could go on, but I might ruin EVERYTHING, and you guys have to have something left unspoiled, right?

Cons to the left of me, cons to the right of me.

I can’t say enough how I love what Guido Guidi, and John-Paul Bove are doing with the art here. John-Paul shared via twitter his process and just how much effort and time it took to research and experiment to come up with the coloring and shading as he did, working to mix colors to get the original look, but with a little bit more modern twist. Phenomenal… And I will say his name one more time since I messed it up before, well done, John-Paul Bove (super-kind and forgiving individual, btw).

For the 3rd of 4 issues in a mini-series, I think this one has been my favorite so far, which is hard for 3rd issues to do. It did something with characters that I wanted or expected to see happen, perhaps in the Regeneration series. Didn’t happen there, but here it is! Good on you Guido, Simon, and John-Paul, another entertaining issue. My only teeny tiny quibble with the issue was for me there was no clear cut cover that I really wanted. Nick Roche and Casey W. Coller’s were too similar, in an inverted kind of way, so I am going with the regular cover by Guido Guidi of commander Star Saber! Plus plenty of other cool cameos and story additions that I don't want to entirely spoil. Think opposites of the Decepticons presented, and the Autobot I just mentioned.

Battle Up!

4.75 out 5 symbols


Mini-Review of Transformers My Little Pony Friendship in Disguise Issue #2 (Tigertrack)

Welcome back fans of kindness, silliness, and friendship! If you were hoping that Issue #2 would pick up where Issue #1 left off... I'm sorry, that's a different comic. Instead, we have two new crossover stories following entirely different cast members from each of these unlikely collaborators; the Transformers and the My Little Pony-ies.

Broken into two short stories like last issue. These stories are not disguising any silliness.

The first short focuses on Grimlock, who did appear for a moment in the first issue, left behind as the other Autobots headed to Equestria via the dimensional spacebridge.

This short sees Grimlock battling Devastator on Earth defending the ark from the those dastardly, cunning Constructicons. The dinosaur leader finds himself allied with Spike, a spunky, smart dragon and royal advisor in Equestria. Spike finds himself in a perilous situation after Grimlock is punted and squashed into submission. And the ending leads to a nice new friendship, and excellent, feel good message.

Me Grimlock, butt kicked!

The 2nd story is the Equestrian equivalent of a Food Network culinary chef show led by cute as a button pony, Pinkie-Pie.

Shockwave is ready to..."mix it up."

The surprising part of this is not the odd partnerships of ponies and robots, BUT the inclusion of brand new Transformers star Gauge. She's featured in Galaxies and also seems to be quite a successful chef, as well. Shockwave shows up as Gauge's foil, ready to -in a very twisted Grimm's fairy tale kind of way- see how many ponies it takes to make a pony-powered energon smoothie. It's another fun, silly story with more than a few slapstick moments. Gauge and Pinkie-Pie beating Shockwave on any day of the week is far-fetched, but the chuckle moments are many and it just adds to the story's expected over-the-topness.

"BAAAAMMMM!!!...time to KICK it up an notch."

Stay to the end, so you can experience the fun cultural 'food' exchange.

4 out 5 ! It had a dinobot and combiner!




Mini-Review of Transformers Galaxies Issue #9 (william-james88)

Full of spoilers below.

This is the story that closes out the Gauge, Greenlight, Arcee story. I'd say this is the best of the recent issues in this Galaxies arc, but there is still a lot to be desired. This is basically the story of someone who was indoctrinated into a cult and then rebels against the cult leader. What is tough here is that we the audience clearly know that Arcee and Greenlight are good guys and the cult leader isn't, so when Gauge talks about conflicting emotions and ideologies that battle in her mind, there is no conflict going on in the reader's mind since we know where she will side with. And even though Gauge states that she must become her own person and not listen to either side, we know that's also bogus because there isn't enough character development for her to be more than a "good" bot.



I do like that Heretech was fleshed out in this reboot. While he was a James Roberts character, we saw very little of him (though I did make the most of it by breaking down a James Robert script page starring Heretech and Megatron in gun mode). He is of course very much a copy of the cult leader archetype trying to make every drink the Kool Aid but I think that's fine since Transformers fiction is always incorporating archetypes into the Transformers world/lore.



Thew best part of the issue, and why I think a Transformers fan should look into it, is the final fight with the three heroines and Heretech. It is almost fully in alt mode. So not only do we have transformations in a Transformers comic, but we see how the alt mode can be weaponized. Heretech becomes a drill tank, which is a vehicle very dear to the heart of Transformers fans. I also like the callback of him (wrongfully) thinking he is the chosen one and becoming the same vehicle that Rung was forcibly converted into in the James Roberts comic book run. Both lend to the theme of false beliefs, lies, heresy and not being the chosen one after all.

In the end, this was fine. Not amazing or groundbreaking, but I still enjoyed it and appreciated seeing more Heretech and drill tanks.

3 out 5 symbols

Comic Reviews for TF vs Terminator #3, TF '84: Secrets and Lies #2 and TF / My Little Pony: Friendship in Disguise! #1

Date: Wednesday, August 19th 2020 8:03pm CDT
Categories: Comic Book News, Reviews, Site Articles
Posted by: Tigertrack

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Views: 68,181

Happy comic book day everyone!

We just wanted to remind you that there is a great variety of comics fiction to be consumed coming out this week (and one from previous weeks).



Just in case you missed it, ScottyP reviews the Transformers Rise of the Decepticons Issue #22.

Also coming available this week, Transformers Vs. The Terminator Issue #3 (mini-review by williamjames)

A lot has happened since the first issue was released for Terminator Vs Transformers 1 but the main things in relation to this books as that since then I watched Terminator Dark Fate and Netflix's Siege series. Both left me underwhelmed. They were both trying something new but also failing at it. Transformers vs Terminator 3 acts as a palette cleanser to both of those by being a fun retelling of the first episodes of the G1 Cartoon and adding the Terminator to it. Everything you'd want as a G1 fan is here including a fight between Optimus and Megatron using their respective energon weapons. And there are transformations aplenty. Everyone feels on point, especially Optimus who is truly the Optimus of yore. It was impossible not to hear Cullen's voice, as it was in the 80s, while reading this comic. All the classic lines are said, and while I didn't need them there, I didn't mind. They at least fit with the G1 pastiche the author is going for. I also really like the fact that the cast is much smaller than other Transformers comics and the Siege show. It makes for a more focused story. Then again, smaller casts on both sides, and one side being warriors while the other one is scientists really speaks to me as a big Beast Wars fan. It's a good formula.

It's basically a greatest hits album

This issue also reminded me of how much of a failure All Hail Megatron was. In just a few panels, this issue shows us just how easy the Decepticons could take over if they were unopposed and we see the destruction and death they cause, something lacking from the actual story of Megatron taking over Earth unopposed. As for the Terminator angle, it was most present at the cliffhanger and while I am impressed at Starscream's genius, it isn't clear how he arrives at his conclusions. I did like the interactions between the Terminator and Arcee.

Speaking of Arcee, she is given a nice new alt mode and Alex Milne has a field day with how it integrates into her robot mode, creating a similar silhouette. I like Milne's art for the most part though I do really miss the cleanliness from his MTMTE days. He adds a lot of lines here to add shadow (like cross hatching without the cross effect) but I don't think it works with the colourist's attempt to show that shadow by using a darker colour. Hand drawn shading is meant to be used to differentiate light and dark against the same colour, so using a darker colour for the shaded parts just makes everything much darker than it needs to be. Still, that doesn't detract from some really mouth watering splash pages. Overall, not only did I enjoy this issue but it's something I needed.

out of 5 stars

Would you believe it, also available for purchase this week, is Transformers 84 Secrets and Lies Issue #2 (tigertrack shares some thoughts)

I think this series is being written for me. I’ve read and re-read the original US Marvel comics series many time, and also the UK Marvel comics series and kind of love consuming them, but they have gotten a bit too familiar, somewhat stale. This series adds a new level of detail and understanding to what previously was. It’s amazingly and lovingly drawn by Gudio Guidi to match classically created character art…even down to the color work done by Jean-Paul Bove being simpler-reminiscent of the 80’s style. Do I think it’s necessary? No. Is it fun. Yeah, I think it is -it totally immerses you into feeling like you are consuming material from the original time period. I also think it allows people newer to the fandom to experience and consume the older stuff without making commitments to whole collections, or graphic novels.


So Marvel TF readers, if you’ve ever wondered what the heck the Dinobots were doing on Earth, when they did not seem to be a part of the ark crew that we knew about (remember this is comics, so not cartoon origin), why Shockwave was not boarding the ark to attack the Autobots pre-planetfall and yet ended up on Earth, or how warlord Straxus received his new home (with a smelting pool even!), you get your answers here. For those up on current and previous IDW lore some of this is going to look REALLY familiar, something writer Simon Furman confirms in his afterthoughts.

Yes, all to familiar and repetitive (*clears throat, whistles*)

I recommend this comic for G1 Dinobot, Shockwave, and Counterpunch fans, as well as, fans of 80’s Marvel series Transformers (hence the title), or someone looking to dip a toe into that end of the fandom. It really is fun, and a nice change of pace from other current fiction. It includes a lot of action, ‘easter eggs’ and adds to the lore, albeit a bit needlessly...Fun, overly thought through continuity hole filling fun.
1/2 out of 5

And finally, from last week, a little share about a little comic subtitled, 'Friendship in Disguise'. There's no doubt about it 'Transformers and My Little Pony' is an unexpected, and fun crossover (thoughts shared by tigertrack and sons).

Fun and friendship is the name here. My boys loved it—and I enjoyed it too). I’m a casual MLP participant, but my boys (8yo and 11yo) are much more refined reading the comics, and watching the movie and cartoons. They were surprised by the crossover idea, and immediately opened it to read when I gave it to them, consuming it in no time.

There’s a lot of tongue-in-cheek fun, and this issue doesn’t take itself too seriously, as I imagine the series probably will reflect that as a theme, as well. Plenty of silliness, and some great sincere messages as well. Sometimes characters play very simple (Windblade, Bumblebee, Optimus Prime), trying to stick close the the main themes, and sometimes they play pretty deep (Arcee). The art reminded me of the ol’ ‘Robot Heroes’ toys from a few years back working to match the style of the ponies in their world. I don't think it's 'just for kids' though. There's fun to be had here for older Transformers (and pony) fans too. Just don't expect anything much above G-rated fun (maybe a little PG). For those with loved ones who like MLP, this is a nice way to introduce them to your love of Transformers, and get to understand their world of MLP, a little better too.

Oh Bumblebee, there's our innocent, thoughtful youth
Yes, there's evil in this book, but it's nice evil...CUTE evil

If you want to be a part of something pretty different in Transformers crossovers, give this a try. You may be happily surprised. And the next issue features a cover with Grimlock and combiners, so… interest level even higher? Or a cover lie? I excitedly cannot wait to find out!



It's worth a shot on cute and fun, but not a great story, yet.
out of 5

All three issues have several covers to choose from, and of course, your mileage could vary from ours.

Check out the VSD entries to see them all.

Transformers Vs. The Terminator Issue #3
Transformers 84 Secrets and Lies Issue #2Transformers and My Little Pony Friendship in Disguise Issue #1

Top 5 Best Shark Themed Transformers Toys

Date: Sunday, August 16th 2020 3:52pm CDT
Categories: Site Articles, Editorials, Top Lists
Posted by: william-james88

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Views: 73,988

Every two weeks, Seibertron.com brings you a Top 5 list related to all things Transformers written by me, your fellow editor. These are my opinions (just like movie or game reviews hosted by sites are still just the opinion of one person) so what matters most is what you guys think of the topic or list, and I hope to see your own lists or comments on omissions and ranking. Let's have fun! All previous lists can be found here.

Top 5 Best Shark Themed Transformers Toys

There are some animals that the Transformers line keeps going back to for inspiration and cool designs. The shark is one of the main ones, and it's been a staple of the brand since the 86 film. So now, let's look at the best shark themed Transformers we got so far.

5. Transformers Beast Wars Fuzors Air Hammer

I just like the insanity of this toy. It combines water and air together, as a Sharknado predecessor and I feel it pulls it off quite well. The beast mode looks good, especially with the awesome paint job that we would never see today which has that fading metallic blue and every feather's tips painted, even on the underside of the wings. While I am not a gimmick guy, I do like chomping options whenever a beast mode has sharp teeth and we get that here in both modes. While the transformation is not mind blowing, I do like that the axis of the figure is flipped and I really like that the dual beast theme is present on the robot mode as well with he head being reminiscent of Airrazor with the three crests but having the middle crest be more prominant, referencing a shark fin. It's just a brilliant design.









4. Transformers Cyberverse Spark Armor Battle Class Skybyte

This toy came out of nowhere. Firstly, the Cyberverse line, in its first year, was just for a younger audience with emphasis on gimmicks with simpler transformations and less articulation and only had G1 characters (or retroactive G1 characters like Windblade). And then we get a line with scout sized figures that had traditional complexity (for a toon based line) and articulation and no obtrusive gimmicks aside from small vehicles that could split up into armour and weapons that attached with 5mm ports, and are also compatible with the Siege line. Plus, we got a new Sky Byte out of that, a character from RID who was a redeco of a Beast Wars toy. So it was really a breath of fresh air in a toyline that seemed rather uninspired in every way. The Transformation to shark mode is great. I really like how the legs are just the right shape to become the shark body. It’s the perfect complexity for a toy this size and both modes look great for an adorable little Sky Byte.








3. Transformers Super God Masterforce Submarauder (Gilmer)

This is one creepy looking Pretender. Submarauder is a mixture of a lot of horific designs like the Creature from the Black Lagoon, a classic Kaiju and something out of the late great H.R. Giger’s twisted imagination, all rolled up into a Shark themed monstrosity with the gills and very prominent fin. There is a lot more at play with the combination of the carapace-like armour design, gribbly pseudo-organic tubes on his chest, strange fin and sucker details and those horrible orange gills in place of a mouth that take him up a notch than just being an upright shark. His inner robot, whilst abstract like most Pretenders, kinda resembled a horseshoe crab in vehicle mode too so at least they keep the water theme going there too. This toy is as good as any other pretender but its look really sets it apart fro the rest.










2. Transformers Legends Gelshark (Generations Sky-Byte)

This is an extremely underrated toy which came and went with few caring. And that is a shame. Not only was this the representative of the Robots in Disguise 2001 / Car Robots line in the thrilling 30, he was also one hell of an update. He was still a shell former like his previous Beast Wars mold roots but unlike his original toy, the shell was very compact and made for elegant wings in robot mode which did not take any attention away from the robot mode. Also, and I can never stress this enough, Takara outdid themselves on the engineering of the chest. The original toy was a shark who transformed into a robot who had a shark-like face on his chest that was a different colour on each side (giving a hint to his states of mind). Of course, the real shark head was still somewhere on the toy (part of his massive shell) so the chest was more of a reference that he was a shark and not supposed to be the shark head. This update however had the shark head actually be the chest as well. No fake parts this time, reducing the shell considerably and making the robot far more sleek. There was even a nice panel flip on the shark's nose to give the chest new robot mode detail and to further look like the original cartoon model. Takara's improved deco for Gelshark goes a long way, longer than any other improved deco, turning a toy many dismissed into, what I consider, a must have. The deco has the head of the shark mimic the asymetric deco of the original toy's chest, something the Hasbro version ignores.












1. Transformers Beast Wars Cybershark

An extremely efficient transformer whose body length shell serves as a great disguise to a very poseable robot. The shark mode has beautiful deco which looks as good as any plastic shark toy found in toy stores in the 90s. What is amazing is that, despite it being a shellformer, it has great alt mode integration that is very reminiscent of traditional transformers with having the head of the alt mode as the chest. A main aspect of the original toys that make up what we call G1 was the disguise component and how they could infiltrate other toylines which didn’t transform. With its phenomenal alt mode, this sharkformer is a perfect example of this legacy. The deco on this toy is as masterful as that headsculpt and he comes armed to the teeth with extra shark themed projectiles (that can be stored within his back) and his pincertail. Of course, that is aside from his hammerhead shark head which he can shoot from his body!









Honourable Mentions: Sharkticons!!!!!!!!!!!!

The main army builder in any Transformers collection turns out to be shark themed too. I was personally never a huge fan of the more rotund look but I won't write a best shark themed list without mentioning these guys!











Also, very important caveat, I did not consider Energon Sharkticon for this list. Though the name is shark themed I felt the figure itself was just tangentially related to the animal and thus I considered more shark-like toys. If you want to see a proper entry for that toy, here it is: /transformers ... oys/35168/

The Netflix Transformers Spoiler Pack was a Spoiler After All

Date: Sunday, August 2nd 2020 1:55pm CDT
Categories: Site Articles, Editorials
Posted by: william-james88

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Views: 71,541

For those who did not watch the show, we will reveal the biggest spoiler of the series before moving on, so you have been warned.

The infamous $50 Walmart exclusive Spoiler Pack had the words "spoilers inside" that referred to the Netflix series we had not seen yet and Hasbro had advised we only open it after watching the Netflix show. Now I see that the advice was sound. Not because it meant that we would spoil ourselves (which is probably what they meant) but because it would only make sense once we watched the show.

In the show, Ultra Magnus dies. It is a rather brutal death at the hands of Megatron and is what makes Jetfire switch sides.

Now that we know this, the toy's deco makes much more sense. For those who do not have the spoiler pack Ultra Magnus, the toy is made up of a lot of grey plastic with colour sprayed on. Many found the deco underwhelming as it didn't really look like battle damage. That's because it is not. It is Ultra Magnus having just been killed and his colour fading, making him become grey, just as Prime did in the original 86 film. Below is an image of the toy and you will see how that interpretation makes far more sense than anything else. The inclusion of rung, along with that pink colour scheme remains unexplained.

Top 10 Best Shockwave Transformers Toys (Updated)

Date: Monday, July 13th 2020 12:12am CDT
Categories: Site Articles, Editorials, Top Lists
Posted by: william-james88

Discuss This Topic · Permanent Link
Views: 90,149

Every two weeks, Seibertron.com brings you a Top 5 list related to all things Transformers written by me, your fellow editor. Nathaniel Prime also joins us this week. These are our opinions so what matters most is what you guys think of the topic or list, and I hope to see your own lists or comments on omissions and ranking. Let's have fun! All previous lists can be found here.


Top 10 Best Shockwave Transformers Toys


This will be my third time doing a list of best Shockwaves, something I haven't done for any other character. There is a reason though, for a long time there was some sort of drought for the character to the point where people (including me) were using redecos of Whirl and Jazz as stand ins on their shelves for a decent Shockwave. Well, with Hasbro doing their best to give us definitive toys of the various versions of Shockwave out there, I can finally do a list including only toys that were made primarily with Shockwave in mind. It's pretty cool that we live in an age now where I can make a list of top 10 Shockwave toys and no longer need to include redecos. Hopefully this list can stay as it is for a while, now let's get to it!


10. Transformers Energon Shockblast (Laser Wave)

Now this is a fun figure and a nice new take on Shockwave. He has all that you would expect from a Shockwave figure such as a gun arm (the biggest he has ever had!), a perfect headsculpt, and a hexagonal chest. This is a solid figure where everything perfectly clicks and fits together just fine. What I really love is how his cybertronian cannon mode has his head and chest visible (since as with most Shockwaves, the alt modes are rearranged robot parts with no new alt mode detail) but the angle of his head is flush with his shoulder making a smooth uninterrupted surface, hiding the head in plain sight. The robot chest also blends well by being mirrored on the back, adding a nice sense of symmetry and integrating the chest as the alt mode’s body. This figure is an interesting study of contrast between symmetry in the alt mode and asymmetry in the robot mode. It’s like Shockwave himself, perfectly logical, but dark and twisted.









And for fun, he also has a 4th fan mode that works ok.




9. Transformers Combiner Wars Legends Shockwave

Combiner Wars Legends Shockwave is a perfectly fine legends class toy and deserves some praise. His alt mode can be both a space ship or a gun which fits in the hands of Combiners, like Bruticus, letting fans recreate a favourite G1 scene. The robot mode is spot on for Shockwave and I like how they used clear plastic effectively on this toy for a stunning deco.








8. Beast Hunter Shockwave

This is a solid and great feeling toy. He has a hulking robot mode with the widest chest/shoulders found on any Shockwave design. Unlike most versions, this mad scientist seems to be as strong as he is intelligent. The legends class "Cyberverse" figure transforms just about the same way. While that makes for a great smaller figure, that means that the transformation is a bit lackluster for a voyager class figure. The alt mode is thus not much to go on but the robot mode works well. I especially like how they hide the hose as a tank thread in the voyager, as well as the working wheels found under the feet that only touch the ground in alt mode, it’s very well done. Speaking of things that were well done, the cyberverse version of the mold was surprisingly well served as Bludgeon. This toy does pale in comparison to the other toys found in the Prime line and the odd alt mode and big gimmicky gun arm (two issues also found with Energon Shockwave) keep him from being higher on the list.






7. Transformers Cyberverse deluxe Shockwave

The colour, is a nice full grape colour. Not too dark ala G1 toy but still very full. The deco is pretty great, with a nice use of panel lining on both the front and back. There are some neatly painted pink highlights across the figures, as if to give a sense of the energy coursing through him. While the alt mode is new for Shockwave, a spider-tank, the designers did keep gun barrel element from the G1 design on his legs. It's a nice touch. They also went out of their way to fully transform the hands to spider tank feet and make the spider tank head more different than just his robot mode chest, by adding palps. This not only makes him more screen accurate but it also adds to the spider theme.








6. Studio Series Shockwave

Say what you want about the Bay movies, the design for Shockwave was pretty spot on for that world. He looked like a badass sci fi robot. The portrayal is another story, but the movie design translated perfectly well into the toy, who looked a bit smoother than the usual movie figures up to that point. I would even say Shockwave is the best movie Bayverse design we got. It looks enough like Shockwave, yet also very alien and robotic, yet with some organic aspects adding the fact that these mechanical beings are a living species in their own right. The single eye helps a lot to convey the robotic elements.

I was gonna put the two best movie Shockwave toys on this list as a tie since I like them both as much but in different ways. However, I have a top 10 for different Shockwave molds so I wanted to highlight them separately and give my thoughts on them individually. While it's a marginal range in my admiration of the figure, I would say that while this toy looks amazing in robot mode, imitating the best Transformers design from the Michael Bay series, as a toy I still prefer the voyager. But I'll talk of that one shortly, let's get back to this behemoth. I just love how imposing that robot mode is. The rib cage has a nice Geiger feel to it, creating an unsettling feeling. The dry brush paint job is a big plus too. I could have done with more articulating with the hands though, along with less of that easily mishapen soft plastic and greater stability in the ankles. He will stand fine, but posing him is always a bit harder than it should be. I also totally buy him as a leader class toy. While he may seem small for one, especially since he takes some cues and parts from the voyager Megatron mold, when comparing to the previous voyager Shockwave we have, its clear this is much bigger. And I never heard complaining about the DOTM Shockwave toy not living up to its voyager name, so this leader toy warrants his class name just as much.












5. Transformers Dark of the Moon Voyager Shockwave (Movie the Best Shockwave)

While the Studio Series leader is more accurate, I really love what the designers did with this toy. For a simple example, look at the thrusters on the robot mode's back. The leader class doesn't do anything with them, while in the voyager toy they are split up into becoming wheels for the alt mode. It's a rather complex transformation with a lot more folding than you'd think, especially in the leg area, creating different panel detail for the robot and tank mode. I also love how the hands fold away into groove on his arm and attach to the vehicle. It just feels really structured as a transformation. Plus we have a nice face mask, to help the aspect of visible head syndrome and add another level of uniqueness to the alt mode, making it more than just the robot in a different pose. All this effort to provide us a classic conversion experience for a character that didn't transform in the movie really scores bonus points for me. And even better, the most recent release of this toy, the "Movie The Best" version, has an amazing deco.








4. Transformers Animated Shockwave

This toy is unlike any other Transformer ever designed by Hasbro. Spoilers for the Transformers Animated series abound. The idea behind this toy is for it to be Shockwave disguised as an Autobot who looks completely different with a different alt mode. The real fun is converting him from small stocky Autobot Longarm into the Decepticon Shockwave. The little hands turn into claws, the normal looking autobot face loses his mouth, nose and eyes for only the red cyclops eye to remain and the stocky limbs lengthen to reveal a tall and lean creepy silhouette. Speaking of height, this is a tall voyager figure, just look at that picture of him next to Megatron. I can’t think of that many Transformers which had as much value as this one. Definitely one of the best Transformer toy designs of all time.










3. Transformers G1 1985 Shockwave (Laserwave)

The G1 toy is still an amazing toy. Any lack in articulation is offset by the playability factor and heft. It's an awesome space gun that turns into a cool looking robot, the argument stops right there!

It still holds up and I really like how he looks, his articulation, and his lights and sounds. - Nathaniel Prime






2. Transformers Masterpiece MP 29(or 29+) Shockwave

While not overly complex, this Masterpiece gets the job done. It's Shockwave as anyone may have expected him. They basically modernized his transformation, and added more articulation from his G1 toy. I really like the light piping here, Takara really made sure it would pick up any light around and amplify it as much as possible. Both decos are nice, depending on what you want though I can definitely see how that + version's purple may be more appealing. And this is one MP toy what I find really warrants those electronics.











1. Transformers War for Cybertron Siege Shockwave

I love how unlike the Mastepriece version, this being a definitive Shockwave figure was just a building block to build more upon. To me this is not the Shockwave figure to own if you can't own the MP (ala POTP Leader Prime). Instead it is simply THE Shockwave to own. - William-James88

He has everything a Shockwave could have in a CHUG size package( properly voyager size too). I really like his extra bits he comes with, and some of his combinations with them are really cool. I really like his superstarship mode, but come on, he finally gets a gun mode in this size, even if he has to Sixshot his way for one. Did I mention his colors and articulation are perfect too? -Nathaniel Prime