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[Emerje]

It probably will be Prowl, but I agree that the head looks more like Ratchet.

Just because the current looks from IDW are being used, releasing Prowl as a Devastator component would be outright confusing for many people who don't follow the comics.

That's not exactly a valid excuse anymore when all of the deluxe figures come with comics.

Emerje

You do know that not all of us actually get comics with our releases.

Yes, and I also know Hasbro considers those people a secondary market, that's why the releases are so spotty (however improved). Again, it's a comic book based toy line, you're either expected to buy the figures because you think they're cool or be willing to figure it out on your own if you haven't read the comics.

How did the War for/Fall of Cybertron figures sell so well without coming with the game?

Emerje

[peaces]

ratchet and iron hide in the same combiner would be sweet. rather have that than prowl.

[william-james88]

Yes, and I also know Hasbro considers those people a secondary market, that's why the releases are so spotty (however improved). Again, it's a comic book based toy line, you're either expected to buy the figures because you think they're cool or be willing to figure it out on your own if you haven't read the comics.

How did the War for/Fall of Cybertron figures sell so well without coming with the game?

Emerje

Wait a minute there, this is not true. At all. Since the beginning of the brand's existence, the supplementary comic book fiction has been simply to sell toys. I get that you know comic readers are not the principle audience (boys from 5-12 are) but I believe that this alone is enough to justify that this is not a comic book based line. Toys take much longer to produce than comics, as if evident from the Skids spotlight issue. The comic book storyline was made to work in conjunction to the release of the toys, which is the principle event. It is not the other way around.
The combiner War comics are as secondary to the toys as the prequel comics are to the films.

[Ironhidensh]

I hate to sound like "that" kind of transformer fan, but Prowl is an important enough character to deserve his own mold. Yes, I know his original G1 was a multiple, but that was then and this is now. Prowl's IDW incarnation is a much more major player. I feel just making him another combiner variant is a very large disservice to his character, IMHO.

[peaces]

we just got mp prowl. we don't need a cw prowl with his own mold. i wish we weren't getting a cw prowl at all. give other characters a chance.

[Deadput]

No...it doesn't. Some silly doodle in the back of a comic does not mean squat. Making Prowl an SUV doesn't even make sense.......

Ummmm Prowl is an Suv in the comics right now so it does make some sense.





Do you not read the comics or something?

[sol magnus]

we just got mp prowl. we don't need a cw prowl with his own mold. i wish we weren't getting a cw prowl at all. give other characters a chance.

Masterpiece Prowl does nothing for people who only collect Generations figures. I haven't seen a Prowl for the Generations line for some time now. I think he's one of the characters who does "need a chance" in that line. There are others, of course.

[william-james88]

No...it doesn't. Some silly doodle in the back of a comic does not mean squat. Making Prowl an SUV doesn't even make sense.......

Ummmm Prowl is an Suv in the comics right now so it does make some sense.

Do you not read the comics or something?

We have to be fair though. While Prowl is an SUV in the comics right now, he is also part of devastator. And the toys are not doing that. So the comics are clearly not the clear cut indicator of what the toys will look. And plus, right now, every single comic book design has a cybertronian alt mode, which is not what I am seeing in these toys (although I must admit that the protectobots are very futuristic in design compared to the aerial bots and the stunticons).

[Deadput]

We have to be fair though. While Prowl is an SUV in the comics right now, he is also part of devastator. And the toys are not doing that. So the comics are clearly not the clear cut indicator of what the toys will look. And plus, right now, every single comic book design has a cybertronian alt mode, which is not what I am seeing in these toys (although I must admit that the protectobots are very futuristic in design compared to the aerial bots and the stunticons).

To also be fair a Prowl toy would not be able to go from a truck to a head without being a brick like the Contructicons are.



So I don't think that a barley articulated voyager Prowl released separately would sell very well especially since I don't think most of the kids would get it.



Plus I think that Prowl is going to leave the Contructicons soon since comic previews and such suggest that Scrapper is coming back.


With Mirage coming back to Cybertron with the Protectobots where Ironhide, Prowl and Optimus are we only need Sunstreaker to make that Optimus combiner from the toy listings.

[YoungPrime]

Hey! It could be Ratchet. I like that idea. I need a Ratchet. Never got Classics after the fiasco known as Classics Ironhide.

If I recall (sorry don't feel like digging for OG post), the listing was for...
Deluxe Ironhide
Deluxe Mirage
Deluxe Prowl
Deluxe Sunstreaker.

If that is Ratchet, than maybe Rook CAN be Prowl.

Nevermind. Was at TRU today, and they raised the CW deluxe price to 19.99

UP YOURS TOYS R US! Who do you think you are? How dumb do you think WE are?
I'm never shopping there again.

Here's hoping HTS hits us with another sweet promo code just before wave 3 shows up.

Yeah, I haven't bought a thing from TRU in like 2 years and with these idiots charge BBTS rates you might as well get them online early.

[Autobot032]

No...it doesn't. Some silly doodle in the back of a comic does not mean squat. Making Prowl an SUV doesn't even make sense.......

Ummmm Prowl is an Suv in the comics right now so it does make some sense.





Do you not read the comics or something?

You'd be amazed how many don't read the comics. I'm one of those people. Nothing personal against the comics themselves, I just don't have any interest in any comics, period.

Onto the toys...

I don't know if anyone else has mentioned such a thought (and I'm not going to read through this entire thread...) but there's a tremendous missed opportunity for Hasbro, Takara and Toys R Us.

Much like the AOE Evolution 2-Packs, they could've made some money (and fans happy) by packing current Combiner Wars figures with their G1 counterparts. Seriously would've made some big collector money, because we'd have thrown down cash for complete G1 combiners along with the current ones.

I know figures like Alpha Bravo would be left out of the loop (but they could still have a place on the pegs and shelves) and I can't figure out why they haven't cashed in on such an idea. Scrap the die-cast, make 'em all plastic to cut costs, and beat the KO makers at their own game. Even compete with 3rd party as well, and BEAT them.

It's a shame they haven't done it.

[King Kuuga]

Much like the AOE Evolution 2-Packs, they could've made some money (and fans happy) by packing current Combiner Wars figures with their G1 counterparts. Seriously would've made some big collector money, because we'd have thrown down cash for complete G1 combiners along with the current ones.

I know figures like Alpha Bravo would be left out of the loop (but they could still have a place on the pegs and shelves) and I can't figure out why they haven't cashed in on such an idea. Scrap the die-cast, make 'em all plastic to cut costs, and beat the KO makers at their own game. Even compete with 3rd party as well, and BEAT them.

It's a shame they haven't done it.

Where I'm at, the Evolution packs are still shelfwarming. Only the deluxes sold any significant amount because it was a way to get Strafe before his single release. And the G1 versions they packed in with those weren't the actual G1 toys, they were more recent renditions with a semblance of modern articulation, in order to hopefully attract kids. The G1 combiners have nill articulation and look like junk compared to today's toys. They're as likely to turn away potential customers as attract them, and I reckon TRU doesn't want that kind of risk. Nobody else would even bother with them. Also they might not even still have the molds. We know they've lost track of the Dinobot molds, it wouldn't surprise me if some of the combiners are in that boat as well. If by some miracle they have them all, I think the most likely route for getting the G1 combiners out there is in reissued box sets like the other G1 reissues.

[william-james88]

The G1 combiners have nill articulation and look like junk compared to today's toys. They're as likely to turn away potential customers as attract them, and I reckon TRU doesn't want that kind of risk. Nobody else would even bother with them. Also they might not even still have the molds. We know they've lost track of the Dinobot molds, it wouldn't surprise me if some of the combiners are in that boat as well. If by some miracle they have them all, I think the most likely route for getting the G1 combiners out there is in reissued box sets like the other G1 reissues.

I agree, the money involved with reissuing these and having twice as many toys in production would make those sets mega expensive turning away a lot of people (just look at what they are charging for the insecticons reissue and those are not moving at all at Kmarts apparently). You would lose the collectors who just want them without bothering with the new toys and you would obviously lose parents who wouldnt spend that kind of cash. Hasbro is not losing any money in their current condition, scoring a record first quarter. They wouldnt risk selling stuff only a select amount of people would buy.

Oh, and That Bot, there are rumours that hey recovered the dinobot molds, fingers crossed.

[BERSEKAEL]

I only see there streetwise

[Hero Alpha]

I know Prowl is an SUV in IDW but this robot mode looks nothing like IDW Prowl. I'm all for IDW style figures and prefer them since I love the comics(Whirl looking at you). Alt mode will almost work for IDW Prowl, although I would like them to throw a spare tire on him. But its a definite no on robot mode. Guess I will wait some more.

Do you expect 100% accuracy from Hasbro of all people?

After awesome IDW figures of Skids, Swerve, Springer, Tailgate and etc, yeah I do kinda.

[King Kuuga]

I know Prowl is an SUV in IDW but this robot mode looks nothing like IDW Prowl. I'm all for IDW style figures and prefer them since I love the comics(Whirl looking at you). Alt mode will almost work for IDW Prowl, although I would like them to throw a spare tire on him. But its a definite no on robot mode. Guess I will wait some more.

Do you expect 100% accuracy from Hasbro of all people?

After awesome IDW figures of Skids, Swerve, Springer, Tailgate and etc, yeah I do kinda.

This doesn't rule out a better, non-combining Prowl down the road. And that's if this even is Prowl. The fact that it doesn't resemble his iconic look in bot mode is an unfortunate carryover of using somebody else's mold. Maybe the colors will help.

[Sabrblade]

Prowl will more likely be made from the Streetwise mold since the Streetwise mold contains very certain Prowl-based design cues, such as the chestplate resembling a flat version Prowl's traditional police car front end.

[Agamemnon]

Prowl will more likely be made from the Streetwise mold since the Streetwise mold contains very certain Prowl-based design cues, such as the chestplate resembling a flat version Prowl's traditional police car front end.

I am very curious how they would do that and not make it look like a Streetwise clone. I am betting on some clever paint and a bit of remolding, if it happens this way... (I do agree with you that the design of Streetwise makes this a logical conclusion. If there was a greater separation of time between the combiners, I think this would be a no brainer.)

[GuyIncognito]

Yes, and I also know Hasbro considers those people a secondary market, that's why the releases are so spotty (however improved). Again, it's a comic book based toy line, you're either expected to buy the figures because you think they're cool or be willing to figure it out on your own if you haven't read the comics.

How did the War for/Fall of Cybertron figures sell so well without coming with the game?

Emerje

Wait a minute there, this is not true. At all. Since the beginning of the brand's existence, the supplementary comic book fiction has been simply to sell toys.

Very true. Transformers is not a comic-based toy line. The Transformers comics are a toy-based comic line. The toys came/come first, and the comics are written to support them. Hasbro isn't making their money off the comics; the comics are promotional materials to sell the toys.

[Agamemnon]

Yes, and I also know Hasbro considers those people a secondary market, that's why the releases are so spotty (however improved). Again, it's a comic book based toy line, you're either expected to buy the figures because you think they're cool or be willing to figure it out on your own if you haven't read the comics.

How did the War for/Fall of Cybertron figures sell so well without coming with the game?

Emerje

Wait a minute there, this is not true. At all. Since the beginning of the brand's existence, the supplementary comic book fiction has been simply to sell toys.

Very true. Transformers is not a comic-based toy line. The Transformers comics are a toy-based comic line. The toys came/come first, and the comics are written to support them. Hasbro isn't making their money off the comics; the comics are promotional materials to sell the toys.

Almost like 30-minute cartoons could be...

[william-james88]

Very true. Transformers is not a comic-based toy line. The Transformers comics are a toy-based comic line. The toys came/come first, and the comics are written to support them. Hasbro isn't making their money off the comics; the comics are promotional materials to sell the toys.

Almost like 30-minute cartoons could be...

Oh for sure, but I dont mind.I think its awesome.You get these amazing toys to play with and then those characters can have their own adventures on the screen in scenarios you didnt think of. You even get a good idea of how to play with them (like who to pose against who). Women's shoes and Apple Products dont come with their own fiction but our awesome TF toys do.

Hell, I am already sold on the RID Decepticons, so come on Hasbro just give me the toys you are trying to sell me with the show. I will happily give in to buying them

What I like about all this is that we arent kidding ourselves and Hasbro is never coy about it. Which is totally different to the way Disney is giving the green light to Cars sequels and spinoffs. Those films are just made since they make the easiest toys to sell but they arent admitting that and instead are bringing down the quality and name Pixar was known for (to the point of masking themselves as Pixar in the Planes movies).

[Sabrblade]

Prowl will more likely be made from the Streetwise mold since the Streetwise mold contains very certain Prowl-based design cues, such as the chestplate resembling a flat version Prowl's traditional police car front end.

I am very curious how they would do that and not make it look like a Streetwise clone. I am betting on some clever paint and a bit of remolding, if it happens this way... (I do agree with you that the design of Streetwise makes this a logical conclusion. If there was a greater separation of time between the combiners, I think this would be a no brainer.)

Prowl being made from Streetwise is likely the reason Streetwise has so much blue in his deco when G1 Streetwise had no blue. They probably gave Streetwise all that blue so as to make him not look too much like Prowl.


Regarding the "Generations toys vs. IDW comics" bit about which medium supports the other (whether it's the comics promoting the toys or the toys based on the comics), we seem to have come to a point where the two mediums support each other more equally. Though both originated completely independent of one other, (with the comics originally using designs that were based on no toys, and the toys originally using the designs that weren't fully guaranteed comic appearances), the current status quo seems to be that both mediums are far more willing to use each other's designs in unison. We saw this first with the Thrilling 30 Dark Cybertron toys and now we see it in Combiner Wars.

However, there were previous cases where one medium did promote the other. Like, Warpath and Black Shadow were made into Generations toys before those designs of theirs started showing up in the comics, and all of the following Generations toys were based on preexisting comic character designs:

• Deluxe Drift
• Deluxe Blurr (head design only)
• Deluxe Thunderwing (head and feet designs only)
• Legends Optimus Prime
• Legends Bumblebee (which in turn was modified from the WFC Bumblebee design)
• Legends Starscream (though, only Thundercracker used this design in the comics)
• Legends Megatron
• Legends Swerve
• Legends Tailgate
• Deluxe Trailcutter
• Deluxe Orion Pax
• Deluxe Megatron
• Deluxe Bumblebee
• Voyager Springer
• Voyager Sandstorm (kind of, more loosely inspired by some concept art)
• Voyager Whirl (head design only)
• Voyager Sky-Byte (Anchor Arm design and other little bits only)
• Voyager Brainstorm

All the rest of the Thrilling 30 toys, and most of the Combiner Wars toys, use designs that were either made to be just toys on their own or to be featured in the comics. Likewise, a lot of IDW comic character designs are nowadays made to either be made into toys or to just be for the comic. It's a sketchy situation where it could go either way for either medium.

[Blastback]

Meh, I'll just stick with my Classics Prowl.

[Jelze Bunnycat]

Prowl will more likely be made from the Streetwise mold since the Streetwise mold contains very certain Prowl-based design cues, such as the chestplate resembling a flat version Prowl's traditional police car front end.

I don't think so, if my "2 vehicle shells, 3 heads" theory stays true. The Dead End mold hit that mark with the upcoming Wildrider, and the alternative, Offroad, hit his with the supposed Ironhide.
Then again, the sketch shows Ratchet/Prowl using the First Aid shell, as opposed to Ironhide using Offroad's, and nobody has yet confirmed the theory (or Ironhide for that matter), it may even be "2 vehicle shells, 4 heads (2 per shell)"

[Emerje]

Regarding the "Generations toys vs. IDW comics" bit about which medium supports the other (whether it's the comics promoting the toys or the toys based on the comics), we seem to have come to a point where the two mediums support each other more equally. Though both originated completely independent of one other, (with the comics originally using designs that were based on no toys, and the toys originally using the designs that weren't fully guaranteed comic appearances), the current status quo seems to be that both mediums are far more willing to use each other's designs in unison. We saw this first with the Thrilling 30 Dark Cybertron toys and now we see it in Combiner Wars.

However, there were previous cases where one medium did promote the other. Like, Warpath and Black Shadow were made into Generations toys before those designs of theirs started showing up in the comics, and all of the following Generations toys were based on preexisting comic character designs:

• Deluxe Drift
• Deluxe Blurr (head design only)
• Deluxe Thunderwing (head and feet designs only)
• Legends Optimus Prime
• Legends Bumblebee (which in turn was modified from the WFC Bumblebee design)
• Legends Starscream (though, only Thundercracker used this design in the comics)
• Legends Megatron
• Legends Swerve
• Legends Tailgate
• Deluxe Trailcutter
• Deluxe Orion Pax
• Deluxe Megatron
• Deluxe Bumblebee
• Voyager Springer
• Voyager Sandstorm (kind of, more loosely inspired by some concept art)
• Voyager Whirl (head design only)
• Voyager Sky-Byte (Anchor Arm design and other little bits only)
• Voyager Brainstorm

All the rest of the Thrilling 30 toys, and most of the Combiner Wars toys, use designs that were either made to be just toys on their own or to be featured in the comics. Likewise, a lot of IDW comic character designs are nowadays made to either be made into toys or to just be for the comic. It's a sketchy situation where it could go either way for either medium.

There we go, that's the point I wanted to make (I work 12 hour night shifts so I'm just getting back to this thread). The comics and toy line comingle so much at this point that it's hard to see one as existing without the other, that's what I mean by it being a comic based toy line. People wouldn't argue that Robots in Disguise 2015 is a cartoon toy line, so why are people so read to jump on the idea that Generations is a comic toy line? Hasbro might make the figures, but it's IDW giving them a story.

Another more recent example of the comic creating a character (an entirely new one at that) before the toy is Minimus Ambus. He first appeared in the comics way back in 2013, but may have been conceptualized as far back as 2012 depending on how long the lead time is on their story planning. This was back when they were busy with Fall of Cybertron figures and long before we had any idea we'd be getting Leader class figures in Generations.

Emerje