Scans for Comics from Takara Tomy Transformers Legends Skull and Hardhead

Rattrap and his friends are surprised to see numerous giant heads descend from a portal in the sky and transform into robots. Their leader, Fortress, explains that they're Headmasters from the "G1 World" who have lost their larger bodies and seek assistance in using the Legends Universe's energy to build new ones. Rattrap and Optimus Primal respond that they don't work for free, so Fortress strikes a deal with Primal to share Headmaster technology with the Axalon Trading Company, and the two groups start working together at a newly constructed office building.

During an after-work karaoke session, Hardhead sings about how nice and peaceful Legends Universe is and how he'd like to stay there forever, annoying Chromedome, who is bored of this world and reminds him that they're soldiers with duties in their homeworld. They're interrupted by a message from Fortress that a body is finished, and return to find it to be a new transtector for Hardhead. A jealous Chromedome demands one too, and is instead told to ride into battle on Tankette, Hardhead's energetic new drone partner. Hardhead immediately has a chance to try out the transtector when he's sent out to stop a meteor from impacting with the city, accepting the fact that no matter how much he enjoys being a salaryman, he must return to being a soldier for the sake of protecting his comrades. He combines with his new body and, with his friends manning his guns, opens fire on the meteor, only for their blasts to have no effect. Determined to defend the peaceful world he's come to love, Hardhead shows how he got his name by headbutting the meteor, successfully destroying it. But since his head is his real body, this heroic act ends up landing him in the hospital.

Jealous that his Axalon Trading Company rivals are collaborating with the Autobot Headmasters, President Megatron organizes his own partnership between Tera-Kura Co. and the Decepticon Headmasters. Using information gathered from the Autobots by Laserbeak's espionage, Tarantulas of Tera-Kura first creates a new transtector and partner drone named Batora for Skullcruncher. When presenting his creations to Skullcruncher, he finds the Decepticon fast asleep, and Weirdwolf explains that his comrade has been narcoleptic ever since being hit by Mindwipe's hypnotic rays. Once he's woken up, Tarantulas sends Skullcruncher out to rampage in streets, hoping to lure out and destroy the Autobots in order to remove his competition on the robotics market.

Though Skullcruncher soon dozes off again, the plan proves successful when Hardhead and Chromedome break off their usual karaoke session to stop him. Weirdwolf then swoops in on Batora, captures Chromedome inside the drone by forcing him to form part of its dinosaur mode, and uses this mode to violently wake Skullcruncher. With Chromedome as their hostage, the Decepticons then prepare to take on Hardhead, only for Hardhead to work with Twincast to sing a lullaby that sends Skullcruncher into a deep slumber. Weirdwolf and Tarantulas make their escape with the sleeping crocodile, leaving Chromedome still stuck in Batora's body as he tries to continue life as normal.

Sabrblade wrote:

That Bot wrote:As for that manga, why is Airazor a secretary? Do I want to know? More Japanese sexism?

He is an office lady, a Japanese female office worker (even though he's really a male). The Maximals all work in a corporate office building of the Axalon Trading Company. Optimus Primal is the company president, Rhinox is a section manager, Rattrap is a rookie salaryman, Cheetor is another salaryman, Dinobot is another employee, Nightscream is another office lady, Silverbolt is a teenaged part-timer, and Tigatron is another employee.

That Bot wrote:

fenrir72 wrote:

That Bot wrote:A fortress should be smaller than an entire city, if you ask me. It can be a miniature city, sure, but not a "Metroplex". So I really feel like Metroplex and Trypticon should be the HUGEST transformers (aside from the planetbots), followed by Fort Max and Scorponok, who are regular headmasters after all, followed by Omega Supreme and the combiners, and then big but still reasonably sized guys like Jetfire and Magnus, and then everybody else.

But in the JP continuity, 'plex more or less reached Fortress' knees. That and the tech that inspired him was kind of supernatural technology.

I've seen half of Masterforce, that's the extent of my exposure to JG1. Look, I was born in 1990, G1 in general is before my time. I look back at it differently than people who lived through it, and it is my opinion (which you are welcome to disagree with) that Metroplex should be bigger than Fort Max.


As for that manga, why is Airazor a secretary? Do I want to know? More Japanese sexism?

Cyberpath wrote:Pre-orders are up on HLJ & AmiAmi. Super Ginrai is $63-66 btw.

SillySpringer wrote:I'm really curious to see what the Takara Legends Astrotrain will look like. From the way the outline looks, it seems like his train mode is going to have a more earth-like look.



I wonder if the back of the train will look different from the front also. That would be an interesting thing indeed. It would make sense because the only spots they'd show up in the robot mode would be on the backs of the legs as a bit of kibble. Kibble doesn't have to be symmetrical.

fenrir72 wrote:

SillySpringer wrote:I'm really curious to see what the Takara Legends Astrotrain will look like. From the way the outline looks, it seems like his train mode is going to have a more earth-like look.



I wonder if the back of the train will look different from the front also. That would be an interesting thing indeed. It would make sense because the only spots they'd show up in the robot mode would be on the backs of the legs as a bit of kibble. Kibble doesn't have to be symmetrical.

He gonna be gray purple. Like henkei.

Cyberpath wrote:I Futured Skruncher's floppy legs yesterday, now they are tight! (Maybe a little too tight, didn't realise it took that amount of time to take effect.) So proud!

btw, anyone notice that the three Decepticon Headmasters have open hands while the four Autobot ones have closed hands?

SillySpringer wrote:

fenrir72 wrote:

SillySpringer wrote:I'm really curious to see what the Takara Legends Astrotrain will look like. From the way the outline looks, it seems like his train mode is going to have a more earth-like look.



I wonder if the back of the train will look different from the front also. That would be an interesting thing indeed. It would make sense because the only spots they'd show up in the robot mode would be on the backs of the legs as a bit of kibble. Kibble doesn't have to be symmetrical.

He gonna be gray purple. Like henkei.

Did I mention color one time in my post? No. I was talking about the sculpt, and what differences this one will have. I was saying how the outline of train mode looks more like a real-life locomotive rather that a "space train".

fenrir72 wrote:

SillySpringer wrote:

fenrir72 wrote:

SillySpringer wrote:I'm really curious to see what the Takara Legends Astrotrain will look like. From the way the outline looks, it seems like his train mode is going to have a more earth-like look.



I wonder if the back of the train will look different from the front also. That would be an interesting thing indeed. It would make sense because the only spots they'd show up in the robot mode would be on the backs of the legs as a bit of kibble. Kibble doesn't have to be symmetrical.

He gonna be gray purple. Like henkei.

Did I mention color one time in my post? No. I was talking about the sculpt, and what differences this one will have. I was saying how the outline of train mode looks more like a real-life locomotive rather that a "space train".

I read that. The silhouette still looks like the Hb mold. As you already mentioned it, your speculation is waaaaaaaaaaaay off base for Takara to drastically remold an already existing mold for a second...........or third tier character (unless they do a rush job like Blast-off which hopefully won't be the case for the technobots). Not in a thousand years unless it's Ginrai/Optimus Prime etc. It does not make any business sense.

Hence I choose to respond in more practical realistic terms. Any changes will most likely be the color apps.

SillySpringer wrote:Did I mention color one time in my post? No. I was talking about the sculpt, and what differences this one will have. I was saying how the outline of train mode looks more like a real-life locomotive rather that a "space train".

william-james88 wrote:

SillySpringer wrote:Did I mention color one time in my post? No. I was talking about the sculpt, and what differences this one will have. I was saying how the outline of train mode looks more like a real-life locomotive rather that a "space train".

Its the same mold, it seems. The black silouette cuts off the back, but clearly it has to extend out there. Otherwise, its just that particular angle.

primalxconvoy wrote:I tell you what; both Skull cruncher and hardhead are IMPOSSIBLE to buy in Japan right now. Galvatron too. The week they came out, they were all gone from toys r us, Yamada denki, bic camera, Amazon Japan, etc. Even more, fortress maximus, which is meant to be available for pre order at Amazon Japan, is sold out, yet the scumbags that scalped them from Amazon are selling them as pre orders back at Amazon Japan for 300 dollars.

This isn't always the case with tfs, just specific Japanese only characters...

primalxconvoy wrote:I tell you what; both Skull cruncher and hardhead are IMPOSSIBLE to buy in Japan right now. Galvatron too. The week they came out, they were all gone from toys r us, Yamada denki, bic camera, Amazon Japan, etc. Even more, fortress maximus, which is meant to be available for pre order at Amazon Japan, is sold out, yet the scumbags that scalped them from Amazon are selling them as pre orders back at Amazon Japan for 300 dollars.

This isn't always the case with tfs, just specific Japanese only characters...

primalxconvoy wrote:I tell you what; both Skull cruncher and hardhead are IMPOSSIBLE to buy in Japan right now. Galvatron too. The week they came out, they were all gone from toys r us, Yamada denki, bic camera, Amazon Japan, etc. Even more, fortress maximus, which is meant to be available for pre order at Amazon Japan, is sold out, yet the scumbags that scalped them from Amazon are selling them as pre orders back at Amazon Japan for 300 dollars.

This isn't always the case with tfs, just specific Japanese only characters...

That Bot wrote:One could argue that they got better focus in Japan than America, if you weren't a comic reader.

Cyberpath wrote:

primalxconvoy wrote:I tell you what; both Skull cruncher and hardhead are IMPOSSIBLE to buy in Japan right now. Galvatron too. The week they came out, they were all gone from toys r us, Yamada denki, bic camera, Amazon Japan, etc. Even more, fortress maximus, which is meant to be available for pre order at Amazon Japan, is sold out, yet the scumbags that scalped them from Amazon are selling them as pre orders back at Amazon Japan for 300 dollars.

This isn't always the case with tfs, just specific Japanese only characters...

If it helps, Skullcruncher and Galvatron are still in stock at pre-order prices, and Fortress Maximus is still avaliable to pre-order at HLJ --

http://hlj.com/search/go?utm_source=seibertron.com&af=selectserie ... erslegends&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=news%20post

primalxconvoy wrote:Meanwhile, toys r us is littered with Black Arachnias, Night Birds, Skids, and even the Ikebukero branch has Unite Menasors, masterpiece Tracks and Shockwaves warming the regular shelves

EmirateXaaron wrote:Speaking of Skullcruncher, are the hip joints on the Legends figure just as bad as the Titans Return one? I'm planning on ordering Skullcruncher and Scourge, but I'm wondering if I'll need to break out the nail polish when they arrive.

william-james88 wrote:

EmirateXaaron wrote:Speaking of Skullcruncher, are the hip joints on the Legends figure just as bad as the Titans Return one? I'm planning on ordering Skullcruncher and Scourge, but I'm wondering if I'll need to break out the nail polish when they arrive.

Turns out they arent. We wrote about that here if you are interested: http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/ ... mic/35940/

primalxconvoy wrote:

Cyberpath wrote:If it helps, Skullcruncher and Galvatron are still in stock at pre-order prices, and Fortress Maximus is still avaliable to pre-order at HLJ --

http://hlj.com/search/go?utm_source=seibertron.com&af=selectserie ... erslegends&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=news%20post

Cheers. When i checked last time, both were unavoidable, although Fort Max was available for 2-man.

primalxconvoy wrote:As for "Japanese only", I meant that they are Japan-centric. These are Japan only remolds of the heads, which are of possibly the most popular and Japan-centric lines, "Headmasters". It was the same with Masterpiece Star Sabre, too.

Meanwhile, toys r us is littered with Black Arachnias, Night Birds, Skids, and even the Ikebukero branch has Unite Menasors, masterpiece Tracks and Shockwaves warming the regular shelves, in a corner, behind Adventure toys (usually, MP and Unite boxed sets are kept in a glass cabinet, usually in a different aisle, sold alongside collector edition SW figures, Gundam figs, Square Enix play arts figures etc), so it can be clearly seen just how much these have been scalped and/or how little stock TT have our off these figures.

william-james88 wrote:

EmirateXaaron wrote:Speaking of Skullcruncher, are the hip joints on the Legends figure just as bad as the Titans Return one? I'm planning on ordering Skullcruncher and Scourge, but I'm wondering if I'll need to break out the nail polish when they arrive.

Turns out they arent. We wrote about that here if you are interested: http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/ ... mic/35940/

Cyberpath wrote:My Skruncher had tight arms and floppy leg joints.

takara-tomy-transformers-legends-thread-t101179s5075.php#p1813218

EmirateXaaron wrote:

Cyberpath wrote:My Skruncher had tight arms and floppy leg joints.

takara-tomy-transformers-legends-thread-t101179s5075.php#p1813218

Oh? That's worrisome. Maybe the loose hips were less pronounced in the TT release?

primalxconvoy wrote:As for "Japanese only", I meant that they are Japan-centric. These are Japan only remolds of the heads, which are of possibly the most popular and Japan-centric lines, "Headmasters". It was the same with Masterpiece Star Sabre, too.

Cyberpath wrote:

EmirateXaaron wrote:

Cyberpath wrote:My Skruncher had tight arms and floppy leg joints.

takara-tomy-transformers-legends-thread-t101179s5075.php#p1813218

Oh? That's worrisome. Maybe the loose hips were less pronounced in the TT release?

That is the Takara release though. A little Pledge polish fixed it. Now he can pull off some poses that he couldn't before.

william-james88 wrote:

primalxconvoy wrote:Meanwhile, toys r us is littered with Black Arachnias, Night Birds, Skids, and even the Ikebukero branch has Unite Menasors, masterpiece Tracks and Shockwaves warming the regular shelves

And yeah, I momentarily forgot about the exclusive heads, I can see how people would scalp them to sell to an iternational audience.

EmirateXaaron wrote:

Cyberpath wrote:

EmirateXaaron wrote:

Cyberpath wrote:My Skruncher had tight arms and floppy leg joints.

takara-tomy-transformers-legends-thread-t101179s5075.php#p1813218

Oh? That's worrisome. Maybe the loose hips were less pronounced in the TT release?

That is the Takara release though. A little Pledge polish fixed it. Now he can pull off some poses that he couldn't before.

Glad to hear it, I'll definitely have to snag him this weekend.

Cyberpath wrote: MP Tracks & Shockwave are always in-stock on HLJ, they even gone through several worthwhile sales.

william-james88 wrote:

Cyberpath wrote: MP Tracks & Shockwave are always in-stock on HLJ, they even gone through several worthwhile sales.

My assumption with Shockwave is that he is an expensive figure and that just goes with the curve of a higher price means less folks can afford him. But with Tracks, he and Roadrage really proved unpopular in Japan. And people's initial fears with the mold and its look were validated too (unlike Ironhide for instance who proved much better in hand).
I dont know what the general concensus on Track is now though. I know I am not a fan (I own roadrage, who has an extra problem of no locking head) but now that he has been out for a while and the hype has gone I am wondering if I am not the only one to see him as a missfire among all the recent MP releases. I remember whe Windblade was being hyped and now no one really claims she is a good toy. Wondering if its the same with Tracks

william-james88 wrote:

Cyberpath wrote: MP Tracks & Shockwave are always in-stock on HLJ, they even gone through several worthwhile sales.

My assumption with Shockwave is that he is an expensive figure and that just goes with the curve of a higher price means less folks can afford him. But with Tracks, he and Roadrage really proved unpopular in Japan. And people's initial fears with the mold and its look were validated too (unlike Ironhide for instance who proved much better in hand).
I dont know what the general concensus on Track is now though. I know I am not a fan (I own roadrage, who has an extra problem of no locking head) but now that he has been out for a while and the hype has gone I am wondering if I am not the only one to see him as a missfire among all the recent MP releases. I remember whe Windblade was being hyped and now no one really claims she is a good toy. Wondering if its the same with Tracks

Cyberpath wrote:

Cyberpath wrote:I do like to fiddle with Hardhead's drone while watching TV..

Kind of reminds me of Blitzwing.

Cyberpath wrote:And "Shockwave" instead of "Destron Laserwave." It makes no difference to me. But does it have any meaning?

Sabrblade wrote:For the name "Cancer", however, with his name being written as such in both Katakana and Latin script, that further emphasizes how he's a completely separate character from Hasbro's original Squeezeplay/Crashbash character, and I'm all for their doing it since he very much is his own character (being an Earth human rather than a Cybertronian robot, for one).

william-james88 wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:For the name "Cancer", however, with his name being written as such in both Katakana and Latin script, that further emphasizes how he's a completely separate character from Hasbro's original Squeezeplay/Crashbash character, and I'm all for their doing it since he very much is his own character (being an Earth human rather than a Cybertronian robot, for one).

But they are still using that G1 squeezeplay/crashbash toy in their pics. Its kind of hard to see him as completely different when they still show a connectio between the two, no?

Cyberpath wrote:LG24 package image from Yuki:



And the new head with the original transtector:

Cyberpath wrote:I do like to fiddle with Hardhead's drone while watching TV..

Kind of reminds me of Blitzwing.

william-james88 wrote:

Cyberpath wrote:I do like to fiddle with Hardhead's drone while watching TV..

Kind of reminds me of Blitzwing.

Hasbro released it as "Flywheels" which I find pretty cool.

fenrir72 wrote:

Cyberpath wrote:LG24 package image from Yuki:



And the new head with the original transtector:

Ya'y! Bruticus will now have his gun!

Wait? Cancer new fits on cancer G1?

Kurona wrote:It balances there.

Sabrblade wrote:For the name "Shockwave", Takara always the Hasbro names in Latin script on the Legends packaging, while using the original Japanese Takara names in Katakana. But in this case, since the Katakana name is also written as "Shockwave" instead of "Laserwave" (along with several other Takara Shockwave toys of recent years using "Shockwave" instead "Laserwave"), that tells me that Takara must have lost the rights to the name "Laserwave" and are now using "Shockwave" as a substitute, with the MP being an exception to this since it seems Takara absolutely wanted to use "Laserwave" for that toy in some manner that they could (which make sense given how the MP line is their bread and butter celebrating the original cartoon with the authentic Japanese names), which resulted in their going with "Destron Laserwave" (essentially an equivalent of Hasbro using "Decepticon Shockwave") for the MP.

For the name "Cancer", however, with his name being written as such in both Katakana and Latin script, that further emphasizes how he's a completely separate character from Hasbro's original Squeezeplay/Crashbash character, and I'm all for their doing it since he very much is his own character (being an Earth human rather than a Cybertronian robot, for one).