Transformers Combiner Wars G2 Menasor spotted at brick-and-mortar retail

Eh Him, Victorion, Computron , G2 Superion and G2 Bruticus have been shelfwarming at my local Toys R Us for ages now along with a few MPs yes Takara non KO MPs #Oldnews

Hopefully the high price will deter would-be scalpers. The Cartwheel discount... I need to get my fluffy rear over there and see if other sets will be available there. Me wants Computron!

I always did like the horns on that figure. Though I tend to wait for sales on combiners.

Prime Target wrote:Eh Him, Victorion, Computron , G2 Superion and G2 Bruticus have been shelfwarming at my local Toys R Us for ages now along with a few MPs yes Takara non KO MPs #Oldnews

What part of the world do you live in?

This was newsworthy because of the randomness of the sighting, years after the set's release, at a place it'd never been available before, and where, it just happens, is one of the largest retailers of toys in the U.S.

Bounti76 wrote:

Prime Target wrote:Eh Him, Victorion, Computron , G2 Superion and G2 Bruticus have been shelfwarming at my local Toys R Us for ages now along with a few MPs yes Takara non KO MPs #Oldnews

What part of the world do you live in?

Australia. They've really been shelf warming at TRU AU for a bloody long time. Probably because of how TRU AU jacks the prices up on their crap.

Prime Target wrote:Eh Him, Victorion, Computron , G2 Superion and G2 Bruticus have been shelfwarming at my local Toys R Us for ages now along with a few MPs yes Takara non KO MPs #Oldnews

They been shelfwarming the Forbidden Planet shop in Cambridge UK for ages too.

I assume someone decided to return this.

TimothyR wrote:I assume someone decided to return this.

Could be, but I did check Target.com for store availability. Sadly, that info is unavailable, but people have been looking for the other sets, plus the Bruticus one is one of the first to appear in the total list.

What? G2 Menasor was at my local Toys R Us a few months ago.

And should you get one? Revisit the reviews and see!

The G2 Bruticus and Superion both ended up at Marshalls and whatever the other named Mashalls store is called last year between Halloween and Christmas and then they were only $40.
I would like to find a good deal on a Computron though. I got the Takara version, but I'd like to Hasbro one s well.

Rodimus Knight wrote:The G2 Bruticus and Superion both ended up at Marshalls and whatever the other named Mashalls store is called last year between Halloween and Christmas and then they were only $40.
I would like to find a good deal on a Computron though. I got the Takara version, but I'd like to Hasbro one s well.

He was on clearance at one point too....

Any Box Set sighting at a retail store in the United States is significant, because they are generally only available online. All you fans in the rest of the world don't realize how good you have it...feel fortunate.

Still I feel this may have been a fluke. Probably someone returned the set, perhaps once purchased at Target.com

I actually had G2 Superion & Menasor at one time, but when it became apparent that no G2 Defensor was in the works I sold them both, thankfully before HTS 66% sale so I got full price back for each... However there are still plenty of them at BBTS. They are currently $70. If they ever dip below $50 each I may reacquire them, along with Fruiticus just for CW Completion sake.

o.supreme wrote:Any Box Set sighting at a retail store in the United States is significant, because they are generally only available online. All you fans in the rest of the world don't realize how good you have it...feel fortunate.

So many of the toys I actually want don't get released here at all and these things do.

Carnivius_Prime wrote:

o.supreme wrote:Any Box Set sighting at a retail store in the United States is significant, because they are generally only available online. All you fans in the rest of the world don't realize how good you have it...feel fortunate.

So many of the toys I actually want don't get released here at all and these things do.

I feel the same way. So many figures I don't want/need, probably some of the ones you are wanting too, but I cant easily access the ones I want. Too bad we as fans have to act as redistributors/ambassadors of the product.

Is it too much just to ask for TR Ramhorn at Target Walmart or TRU?

I really wish Motormaster wasn't such an awful torso, because otherwise I'd get the G2 Stunticons. As is I'm waiting for an enterprising 3rd party company to make a non-terrible MM (yes I know of the Bold Forms one, that thing sucked though). A shame as MM makes for a cool truck and an imposing robot but that torso mode suuuuuuuuuuuuucks.

These sets never came to US regular brick and mortar? Huh. In Canada we got them in store at TRU's, but Walmart was online only.

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:Hopefully the high price will deter would-be scalpers.

All the G2 sets are shelf-warming even on ebay at 70$. There's never been scalping on those.

On the contrary, they may rise their price if they sell at 99$ (which is far from being the case currently. Biggest shelf-warmer ever).

shajaki wrote:These sets never came to US regular brick and mortar? Huh. In Canada we got them in store at TRU's, but Walmart was online only.

Well I hear tales that supposedly CW Dev was available at TRU in the U.S...., but I personally never saw one. Other than that, no. Why do you think WJ takes so much sadistic pleasure in taunting me with his photos . Anyway...It's not so much as they are impossible to get (online shopping is not fun, but it is, what it is)...so much as reliving that feeling I had as a kid, when you could walk into any toy store and see practically any transformer toy available at that time.

Black Hat wrote:I really wish Motormaster wasn't such an awful torso, because otherwise I'd get the G2 Stunticons. As is I'm waiting for an enterprising 3rd party company to make a non-terrible MM (yes I know of the Bold Forms one, that thing sucked though). A shame as MM makes for a cool truck and an imposing robot but that torso mode suuuuuuuuuuuuucks.

It doesn't solve every issue with that torso, but turning its legs backwards (instead of the sideways position that they're officially supposed to be in) can make it just a little less awful (and slightly taller a bit).

Sabrblade wrote:

Black Hat wrote:I really wish Motormaster wasn't such an awful torso, because otherwise I'd get the G2 Stunticons. As is I'm waiting for an enterprising 3rd party company to make a non-terrible MM (yes I know of the Bold Forms one, that thing sucked though). A shame as MM makes for a cool truck and an imposing robot but that torso mode suuuuuuuuuuuuucks.

It doesn't solve every issue with that torso, but turning its legs backwards (instead of the sideways position that they're officially supposed to be in) can make it just a little less awful (and slightly taller a bit).

I am aware of that fix, I may try it if I ever handle the mold.

Speaking of G2 Menasor I'm pretty sure he has the worst stock photo ever taken.



"Drat! Those Autobuffoons have vexed me with their Hasbrophotographizer ray! Now I am but a caricature of my normal glorious self!"

Black Hat wrote:Speaking of G2 Menasor I'm pretty sure he has the worst stock photo ever taken.

"Drat! Those Autobuffoons have vexed me with their Hasbrophotographizer ray! Now I am but a caricature of my normal glorious self!"

One does not know the extent of malformed official TF stock photography until one has beheld the wonderment of...

BuiLD-ThINg

Rodimus Knight wrote:The G2 Bruticus and Superion both ended up at Marshalls and whatever the other named Mashalls store is called last year between Halloween and Christmas and then they were only $40.
I would like to find a good deal on a Computron though. I got the Takara version, but I'd like to Hasbro one s well.

I would keep an eye on walmart.com. twice they had 20% off on these sets, I got my computron for $80 (I think maybe in the spring?).... admittedly not an amazing deal, but better than nothing. would not be surprised if they get some markdowns for the holidays.

Sabrblade wrote:

Black Hat wrote:Speaking of G2 Menasor I'm pretty sure he has the worst stock photo ever taken.

"Drat! Those Autobuffoons have vexed me with their Hasbrophotographizer ray! Now I am but a caricature of my normal glorious self!"

One does know the extent of malformed official TF stock photography until one has beheld the wonderment of...

BuiLD-ThINg

Image link is broken at my end but I remember him well. Oh, BuiLD-ThINg, you poor monster.

If I ever get to write Transformers comics, I'll include BuiLD-ThINg. I'm thinking he was originally Build King who ran into the eldritch abomination that is Mach Kick, whose "Unhorse" mode has the power to warp the very Transformation Cog of his victim, mangling and contorting them into a mistransformed mess.

Ah...that joke comes around again. Might as well add my part. I still maintain Menasor was just cosplaying as his favorite D&D villain.

Black Hat wrote:Image link is broken at my end

How 'bout now?

Nope, still broken. Might be my internet provider though, Vodafone is absolutely useless like that.

Sabrblade wrote:One does not know the extent of malformed official TF stock photography until one has beheld the wonderment of...

I remember a database of mistransformed TFS but lost the link. Do somebody know where it was ?

Black Hat wrote:Nope, still broken. Might be my internet provider though, Vodafone is absolutely useless like that.

OK, there we go! That's better. Or worse, depending on your thoughts on Build-Thing.

o.supreme wrote:Any Box Set sighting at a retail store in the United States is significant, because they are generally only available online. All you fans in the rest of the world don't realize how good you have it...feel fortunate.

Yes, all you other countries please be sure to enjoy this AMERICAN toy line that America can't even get in stores. Because this world makes so much sense.

Aimless Misfire wrote:

o.supreme wrote:Any Box Set sighting at a retail store in the United States is significant, because they are generally only available online. All you fans in the rest of the world don't realize how good you have it...feel fortunate.

Yes, all you other countries please be sure to enjoy this AMERICAN toy line that America can't even get in stores. Because this world makes so much sense.

Since when has Hasbro's Transformers toylines ever only been American? It's just been mostly a non-Japan toyline, since Takara has that taken care of.

mordhelm wrote:

Aimless Misfire wrote:

o.supreme wrote:Any Box Set sighting at a retail store in the United States is significant, because they are generally only available online. All you fans in the rest of the world don't realize how good you have it...feel fortunate.

Yes, all you other countries please be sure to enjoy this AMERICAN toy line that America can't even get in stores. Because this world makes so much sense.

Since when has Hasbro's Transformers toylines ever only been American? It's just been mostly a non-Japan toyline, since Takara has that taken care of.

It was a failed attempt at sarcasm. I can play that game too though. Its nice to know the design team for Hasbro's world HQ, based in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, U.S., is designing toys for fans the rest of the world, not the U.S. can enjoy.

I saw and bought FOC Soundblaster two days ago, not sure if finding him is newsworthy though. I'm guessing Target wants to empty out their inventory because they're preparing for some major incoming shipments. For further proof of that, I saw some two-year old Pokemon tin boxes too with stickers that read "Do not back stock" on the back.

Etseterrestrial wrote:I saw and bought FOC Soundblaster two days ago, not sure if finding him is newsworthy though. I'm guessing Target wants to empty out their inventory because they're preparing for some major incoming shipments. For further proof of that, I saw some two-year old Pokemon tin boxes too with stickers that read "Do not back stock" on the back.

You seem lost, dude. Share your haul and post a picture DATTAWAY---->

Although Transformers are made in Vietnam these days, some just won't get sold in South East Asia* e.g. CW Legends Blackjack (which only appeared a few waves later but as an imported version), CW Legends Huffer, and CW Platinum Edition Liokaiser.

*Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia... though Philippines I've seen gets more things, while Singapore tends to get things earlier than Malaysia. I have no idea if Vietnam itself is well stocked, while Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar are mysteries - I've not heard of any sightings there.

East Asia gets better coverage, or at least I'd assume, given the sightings in Taiwan, Hong Kong and China. Apparently, Japan has Takara Tomy but Hasbro is rare.

In Malaysia where I live we got loads of Titans Return Brainstorm. What is up with Hasbro everywhere in general? It's as if the factory can only make one batch and then ship that one batch to one country only.

...

In another retrospective look from artist Marcelo Matere, and his official Facebook page, we have a less lengthy stroll through the solar calendar instead, and back into the first part of the Prime Wars trilogy of the new Hasbro Transformers alleged 'story-first'direction: Combiner Wars.

The image mirrored below is none other than the protagonist of the second arc of IDW Publishing's Till All Are One, the first Gestalt love of many a fan, the second version of itself in the Generations line - the more successful compared to the first, no doubt - and the merging of the five Combaticons: Bruticus! Check out the packaging art below, and refresh your processors with a browse through our gallery here, where you will also find individual galleries for Onslaught, Blast Off, Swindle (Lives), Vortex, and Brawl.

What is with this reaching-and-pointing schtick/stock pose for all the box-art?



It's all very Dreamwave. In the bad way.

Deathsanras wrote:What is with this reaching-and-pointing schtick/stock pose for all the box-art?

They need to ..grab your attention.

Marcelo has done thousands of amazing pieces of Transformers artwork over the past 15 years.

While I agree the hand reaching out or finger pointing pose is way over done, what is the alternative? The fist clenched pose that has been way overused in comics and action figure artwork for decades?

Seibertron wrote:Marcelo has done thousands of amazing pieces of Transformers artwork over the past 15 years.

While I agree the hand reaching out or finger pointing pose is way over done, what is the alternative? The fist clenched pose that has been way overused in comics and action figure artwork for decades?

Since the artwork isn't even articulation-accurate, the answer would be "anything".
The hands have to be doing something, obviously, and the options can be summarized as either "open" or "closed". However, it's the pathological need to have them outstretched to the buyer ("Buuuuuyyy meeeeeee") that is tiresome and Dreamwavey/unimaginative. A running pose, for example, has context for the arm movements.






I would argue the alternatives are extremely simple: anything that does not make a single hand the central focus of your entire art piece. Unless maybe it's Shockwave or Scrounge. These characters/toys have body parts and features other than their hands. Use them.

They should draw them picking their own noses.


What?


You'd rather they were drawn picking another bot's nose? You're a bunch of weirdos...

Agamemnon wrote:They should draw them picking their own noses.


What?


You'd rather they were drawn picking another bot's nose? You're a bunch of weirdos...

Well, yeah. You can pick your friends, you can pick your nose, but you can't pick your friend's nose.

Sabrblade wrote:

Agamemnon wrote:They should draw them picking their own noses.


What?


You'd rather they were drawn picking another bot's nose? You're a bunch of weirdos...

Well, yeah. You can pick your friends, you can pick your nose, but you can't pick your friend's nose.

Wait, I thought it went: You can pick you nose, and you can pick your friends, but you can't wipe your friends behind the couch.

We saw some concepts from Combiner Wars a couple of weeks ago, from artist Marcelo Matere, featuring Bruticus in all his glory. We now have some additional pieces of Combiner Wars concept art this time from Ken Christiansen! His works would end up being the box art for the leader of the Aerialbots, Silverbolt, and leader of the Autobot, Optimus Prime! While they might have gotten cut off on the box, he has posted the full shots over on his Facebook page. Take a look at the concepts down below, included with his Facebook captions, and then tell us what you think down in the Energon Pub forums!

I did the character pencils for this Silverbolt packaging art!

Which showed almost nothing of the full figure art on the box...which was one of my favorites of the batch, Silverbolt with his feet on the ground, mustering up the courage to blast off and join the fight!

I did the character pencils for this Combiner Wars Voyager Optimus Prime packaging art!

Only the head and shoulders appeared on the front of the box, so here's the full figure.

©Hasbro, Inc. 2017

Ken Christianses! There’s a name I haven’t heard for almost ten years! Did spotlight Wheelie and nothing! I wish he’d do more work for IDW

Randomhero wrote:Ken Christianses! There’s a name I haven’t heard for almost ten years! Did spotlight Wheelie and nothing! I wish he’d do more work for IDW

Huh?

Ken/Klaus....they both start with K's

His art is nice, though he seems to have a little trouble with guns. Silverbolt's gun has an awkward black blob under it because he forgot where the handle was supposed to go. Prime's right handed gun is at a weird angle from his arm.

Emerje

Whoops!

I don’t know how but I got them mixed up for whatever reason. Probably because their bot faces are similar.