Transformers Titans Return Skullsmasher Toy Designs by Emiliano Santalucia

Thursday, February 9th, 2017 4:05AM CST

Category: Toy News
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As we have seen before from toy concept designer and artist Emiliano Santalucia, we now have another look at the ideas and sketches behind a figure in the Transformers Titans Return line: Skullsmasher, now also available as Krok! The croco-tastic robot can be seen in the images below, showing the initial idea for the cockpit (in the beast head), preliminary transformation, and the back panel that became a removable tail. Check them out!

Credit(s): Emiliano Santalucia

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Re: Transformers Titans Return Skullsmasher Toy Designs by Emiliano Santalucia (1858104)
Posted by Evil Eye on February 9th, 2017 @ 4:06am CST

That is some seriously neat artwork. As much as I love what we got, I'm a little sad we didn't get something a little closer to that.

Re: Transformers Titans Return Skullsmasher Toy Designs by Emiliano Santalucia (1858108)
Posted by Stuartmaximus on February 9th, 2017 @ 5:09am CST

Black Hat wrote:That is some seriously neat artwork. As much as I love what we got, I'm a little sad we didn't get something a little closer to that.

Aye, very true, i'm still waiting on an Optimus Prime redeco of the TR mold

Re: Transformers Titans Return Skullsmasher Toy Designs by Emiliano Santalucia (1858117)
Posted by fenrir72 on February 9th, 2017 @ 6:52am CST

Black Hat wrote:
Burn wrote:
Black Hat wrote:Hopefully we'll get a Twin Twist to go with him.

If we don't, I say we riot.

I'll be right there with you. Question is, do you want to hold up the placard or throw the firebombs?

In all seriousness though I don't see how they couldn't make Twin Twist. It's such an obvious (not to mention minimal) retool job, and you really can't have one without the other. Though given we still haven't gotten a TR Frenzy (or rather, a Rumble in the correct colours) or an Eject in spite of them being straight redecos of each other...I'm a bit worried.

Remember how long it took Hb/Takara releasing the Legend sized Insecticons? I wouldn't hold my breathe for Twintwist.

Re: Transformers Titans Return Skullsmasher Toy Designs by Emiliano Santalucia (1858123)
Posted by OptimalOptimus2 on February 9th, 2017 @ 7:34am CST

fenrir72 wrote:

Remember how long it took Hb/Takara releasing the Legend sized Insecticons? I wouldn't hold my breathe for Twintwist.

Don't forget Salt-Man Z, Salt-Man X, Robot-Man Z, and Robot-Man X!

Re: Transformers Titans Return Skullsmasher Toy Designs by Emiliano Santalucia (1858135)
Posted by Kurona on February 9th, 2017 @ 8:46am CST

... man that would have made the figure so much better. The hind legs actually forming the back of the robot legs rather than awkwardly hanging off and the Titan Master cockpit being in the mouth... I'm sad now :-(

Re: Transformers Titans Return Skullsmasher Toy Designs by Emiliano Santalucia (1858141)
Posted by Targetmaster Kup on February 9th, 2017 @ 8:59am CST

The alligator head as the chest I love, but I love the tail gun we have now.

Re: Transformers Titans Return Skullsmasher Toy Designs by Emiliano Santalucia (1858146)
Posted by WreckerJack on February 9th, 2017 @ 9:16am CST

I love that detailed sketch. I think one of my favorite things about Titan Masters is all that detail in the molded plastic, especially in the military vehicles.

Re: Transformers Titans Return Skullsmasher Toy Designs by Emiliano Santalucia (1858155)
Posted by fenrir72 on February 9th, 2017 @ 9:47am CST

Kurona wrote:... man that would have made the figure so much better. The hind legs actually forming the back of the robot legs rather than awkwardly hanging off and the Titan Master cockpit being in the mouth... I'm sad now

The cockpit in the mouth is reminiscent of the original Skullcruncher would have looked good but would have required a much bigger body/head leading to a much more wonky body proportions. 3rd party dealt with this but then we have to deal with a higher price point.

Also, using the croc head as the chest would deviate further from his lore established looks.

This would indeed be a perfect world were the conceptual illustrations would be 100% translated into a practical functional form

Re: Transformers Titans Return Skullsmasher Toy Designs by Emiliano Santalucia (1858166)
Posted by Albatross250 on February 9th, 2017 @ 10:20am CST

TR G2 Optimus Prime seems a little off to me :-?

Anyone does have their TR Optimus repainted to Nemesis Prime?

or Black Convoy? :RENEGADE:

Re: Transformers Titans Return Skullsmasher Toy Designs by Emiliano Santalucia (1858169)
Posted by Albatross250 on February 9th, 2017 @ 10:28am CST

Black Hat wrote:Hopefully we'll get a Twin Twist to go with him.

If Twin Twist is about to be retooled, i'd say it's going to be a Topspin Retooling to be done :DANCE:

Re: Transformers Titans Return Skullsmasher Toy Designs by Emiliano Santalucia (1858224)
Posted by Megatron Wolf on February 9th, 2017 @ 1:49pm CST

As much as i like the one we got this design is 10 times better & its a shame they didnt use it. If hasbro was smart they'd use it for a beast wars megatron and repaint it into aligator optimus.

Re: Transformers Titans Return Skullsmasher Toy Designs by Emiliano Santalucia (1858240)
Posted by Autobot N on February 9th, 2017 @ 2:12pm CST

Found something interesting on TFW2005. As always, take with many grains of salt:

Hoffman wrote:I have no idea if this info came out and got buried in speculation threads or something, but I have some info on the next wave of TR Deluxes.

The new figures in this wave are Misfire, Twintwist, and Windblade. All retools.

The other figure listed in the assortment is Wolfwire. No packout details.

Hoffman wrote:Misfire - Triggerhappy
Twintwist - Topspin
Windblade - Highbrow

The guy owns a Canadian online store, so it's not out of the blue, but I still have my doubts.

Re: Transformers Titans Return Skullsmasher Toy Designs by Emiliano Santalucia (1858242)
Posted by Evil Eye on February 9th, 2017 @ 2:13pm CST

Yay! Burn can put away the firebombs!

But...Windblade out of Highbrow? Huh. Not exactly who I'd envisioned as a base body for Windblade, if I'm honest.

Re: Transformers Titans Return Skullsmasher Toy Designs by Emiliano Santalucia (1858244)
Posted by Cobotron on February 9th, 2017 @ 2:15pm CST

Windblade? Really?... :roll:

Bah!

Re: Transformers Titans Return Skullsmasher Toy Designs by Emiliano Santalucia (1858245)
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on February 9th, 2017 @ 2:15pm CST

Triggerhappy and Twintwist? Yeah I can see. I'd like.

Windblade? What the actual crap. Why? And is the titan masers name gonna be M. Scott?

Re: Transformers Titans Return Skullsmasher Toy Designs by Emiliano Santalucia (1858247)
Posted by Autobot N on February 9th, 2017 @ 2:16pm CST

Hoffman wrote:I run a toy store an TFs are a small part of what we sell. This info came from a solicitation from a distributor. I was told the info was ok to share, however with how strict Hasbro has been with their solicitations, I'm still wary about how much info I should divulge.

Re: Transformers Titans Return Skullsmasher Toy Designs by Emiliano Santalucia (1858248)
Posted by Evil Eye on February 9th, 2017 @ 2:18pm CST

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:Triggerhappy and Twintwist? Yeah I can see. I'd like.

Windblade? What the actual crap. Why? And is the titan masers name gonna be M. Scott?

Maybe they'll give her a cool, creative name like Nadeshiko or Naginata. Or maybe we'll just get Xindxlade.

Re: Transformers Titans Return Skullsmasher Toy Designs by Emiliano Santalucia (1858249)
Posted by william-james88 on February 9th, 2017 @ 2:18pm CST

We have some strange Titans Return related news for you. Hasbro seems aware of the lack of Generations deluxe figures in stores and is employing different case strategies to ensure that there is product on the shelves. For isntance, there is a revision case currently found across he US which includes the wave 1 delues as well as Highbrow and Chromedome. That means that Wolfwire and Mindwipe wouldn't be as readily available right? Well Hasbro has an asnwer for that: solid cases. This means cases filled with the same figure. This was more common in the 80s, when Hasbro would constantly rerelease G1 toys throughout the years (like the seekers/coneheads) but it has been found recently as well like RID Drift in Europe last year. Well, solid cases are back for Titans Return and this solid case of Mindwipes was found in Canada at a freshly restocked Toysrus. Let us know if you find other solid cases in your neck of the woods, it only makes sense that there would be one for Wolfwire too.

Re: Transformers Titans Return Skullsmasher Toy Designs by Emiliano Santalucia (1858250)
Posted by Cobotron on February 9th, 2017 @ 2:19pm CST

D-Maximus_Prime wrote: And is the titan masers name gonna be M. Scott?

That's what she said.

Oh. Wrong M. Scott. :-P

Re: Transformers Titans Return Skullsmasher Toy Designs by Emiliano Santalucia (1858251)
Posted by Evil Eye on February 9th, 2017 @ 2:19pm CST

That is a looooooot of Mindwipes...

Re: Transformers Titans Return Skullsmasher Toy Designs by Emiliano Santalucia (1858252)
Posted by william-james88 on February 9th, 2017 @ 2:21pm CST

Cobotron wrote:Windblade? Really?... Bah!

So much for this being all about G1 >:oP

Re: Transformers Titans Return Skullsmasher Toy Designs by Emiliano Santalucia (1858253)
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on February 9th, 2017 @ 2:22pm CST

Black Hat wrote:
D-Maximus_Prime wrote:Triggerhappy and Twintwist? Yeah I can see. I'd like.

Windblade? What the actual crap. Why? And is the titan masers name gonna be M. Scott?

Maybe they'll give her a cool, creative name like Nadeshiko or Naginata. Or maybe we'll just get Xindxlade.

Or maybe they'll name it Chromia or Metro or Plex.

But, thinking about this: if this is true, her Titan master would be small enough to actually go inside Metroplex's head and speak to his brain like she does in the comics

Re: Transformers Titans Return Skullsmasher Toy Designs by Emiliano Santalucia (1858254)
Posted by Bumblevivisector on February 9th, 2017 @ 2:23pm CST

Okay, this might explain that store where I saw 4 Mindwipes but no other deluxes last week.

Re: Transformers Titans Return Skullsmasher Toy Designs by Emiliano Santalucia (1858255)
Posted by Cobotron on February 9th, 2017 @ 2:24pm CST

william-james88 wrote:
Cobotron wrote:Windblade? Really?... Bah!

So much for this being all about G1

It's not that. I'm just not a HUGE fan of Windblade or Hasbro's "agenda" with her.

Plus Voyager Prime isn't exactly G1. Or Kroc for that matter.

Re: Transformers Titans Return Skullsmasher Toy Designs by Emiliano Santalucia (1858256)
Posted by william-james88 on February 9th, 2017 @ 2:31pm CST

Bumblevivisector wrote:Okay, this might explain that store where I saw 4 Mindwipes but no other deluxes last week.

It explains this pic I took the other day too:

I couldnt tell though if it was just Mindwipe being unpopular though, like 2 cases on the shelf and the 4 mindwipes left, but now that there are 16 (!!!!) on a shelf that explains it.

Where are you located?

Black Hat wrote:That is a looooooot of Mindwipes...

16!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And this is what I was talking about earlier

Cobotron wrote:
D-Maximus_Prime wrote: And is the titan masers name gonna be M. Scott?
That's what she said.

Oh. Wrong M. Scott.

Beam me up!

By the way, this new info goes agains the previous rumours which were allaccurate so far. The next wave was supposed to be the following:

Needlenose
Crosshairs
Slugslinger
Misfire

Only Missfire is getting released out fo those. I guess the rest will be kept for the final wave of Titans Return.

Re: Transformers Titans Return Skullsmasher Toy Designs by Emiliano Santalucia (1858257)
Posted by Stuartmaximus on February 9th, 2017 @ 2:38pm CST

Windblade from Highbrow! i dunno how that's quite gonna work :-?

Re: Transformers Titans Return Skullsmasher Toy Designs by Emiliano Santalucia (1858258)
Posted by william-james88 on February 9th, 2017 @ 2:39pm CST

Cobotron wrote:Plus Voyager Prime isn't exactly G1. Or Kroc for that matter.

We can at least agree that both Optimus Prime and Krok are charaters that originated in the G1 era.

Re: Transformers Titans Return Skullsmasher Toy Designs by Emiliano Santalucia (1858259)
Posted by Burn on February 9th, 2017 @ 2:42pm CST

Cobotron wrote:
william-james88 wrote:
Cobotron wrote:Windblade? Really?... Bah!

So much for this being all about G1
It's not that. I'm just not a HUGE fan of Windblade or Hasbro's "agenda" with her.

You will take every drop of Windblade Hasbro gives you and you will swallow it and enjoy it!

Or just drink another beer. :-P

Re: Transformers Titans Return Skullsmasher Toy Designs by Emiliano Santalucia (1858260)
Posted by Mr Skram on February 9th, 2017 @ 2:43pm CST

If Windblade is true at least it's an easy pass. I really don't like the Highbrow/Scourge mold. That plus zero attachment to the character means it's money I can spend elsewhere since TR is getting a little tight for me.

Re: Transformers Titans Return Skullsmasher Toy Designs by Emiliano Santalucia (1858264)
Posted by william-james88 on February 9th, 2017 @ 2:50pm CST

Fellow Seibertronian Autobot N has found some probable spoilers for the next wave of deluxes as part of Titans Return. The owner of Canadian collectibles site Canucktables, Hoffman, has heard from his distributor of the next wave of figures. Now please remember that distributers are not Hasbro and do not know all the facts so there can always be something lost in the translation (like when a distributer said there would be an MP Tank Megatron after misinterpreting the image of Legends Tank Megatron shaking MP 10's hand). Here are Hoffman's quote below for you to interpret as you wish:

Hoffman wrote:I run a toy store an TFs are a small part of what we sell. This info came from a solicitation from a distributor. I was told the info was ok to share, however with how strict Hasbro has been with their solicitations, I'm still wary about how much info I should divulge.

Hoffman wrote:I have no idea if this info came out and got buried in speculation threads or something, but I have some info on the next wave of TR Deluxes.

The new figures in this wave are Misfire, Twintwist, and Windblade. All retools.

The other figure listed in the assortment is Wolfwire. No packout details.

Hoffman wrote:Misfire - Triggerhappy
Twintwist - Topspin
Windblade - Highbrow

Wolfwire being rereleased makes sense since he is the only figure from the first 2 waves to not be rereleased yet. Let us know what you think! We will see it this is all true next week at Toy Fair 2016!

In any case, for those keeping track, this is how Wave 5 is shaping up to be:

So this is Wave 5 then and what they will show us at Toyfair:

Titan Master

C2389 Optimus Prime
C2390 Toraizer
C2391 Ramhorn

Legends

C2398 Cosmos
C2399 Seaspray

Deluxe

Misfire
Topsin
Windblade

Voyager

C2396 Octane
C2397 Blitzwing

Leader

C2388 Overlord

Re: Transformers Titans Return Skullsmasher Toy Designs by Emiliano Santalucia (1858265)
Posted by shauyaun on February 9th, 2017 @ 2:58pm CST

I still don't get it
What's different about these cases?

Re: Transformers Titans Return Skullsmasher Toy Designs by Emiliano Santalucia (1858266)
Posted by Decepticon Stryker on February 9th, 2017 @ 2:58pm CST

A Windblade from Highbrow? I'm intrigued. I can already imagine what it'll look like, but I want to see what it'll actually be.

Re: Transformers Titans Return Skullsmasher Toy Designs by Emiliano Santalucia (1858272)
Posted by william-james88 on February 9th, 2017 @ 3:06pm CST

Shauyaun wrote:I still don't get it
What's different about these cases?

Usually a case has different figures in it. Deluxes cases have 8. So if your store restocks with a case, you will have 2 of each deluxe from that wave on a shelf. But with a solid case, you will just have 8 of the same toy on the shelf. So instead of your store getting a case of different figures, it will just get the same figure 8 times.

Re: Transformers Titans Return Skullsmasher Toy Designs by Emiliano Santalucia (1858273)
Posted by Bounti76 on February 9th, 2017 @ 3:18pm CST

I think that the Windblade isn't correct. Yes, a retool of Highbrow would be simple enough- just change the cockpit, wings on the arms instead of rotors, retool the legs to be less chunky, and maybe redo the chest- be there's zero reason to have her in the lineup. She's getting a retooled RID figure, and that one makes her third figure in four years (Generations, RID, retooled RID), and that's not counting the straight up recolors. Hasbro isn't that dumb to make a fourth.

Re: Transformers Titans Return Skullsmasher Toy Designs by Emiliano Santalucia (1858275)
Posted by ThunderThruster on February 9th, 2017 @ 3:20pm CST

fourth, as RiD also did a legends class Windblade.

Re: Transformers Titans Return Skullsmasher Toy Designs by Emiliano Santalucia (1858276)
Posted by Bounti76 on February 9th, 2017 @ 3:21pm CST

ThunderThruster wrote:fourth, as RiD also did a legends class Windblade.

I stand corrected. Forgot about that one.

Re: Transformers Titans Return Skullsmasher Toy Designs by Emiliano Santalucia (1858277)
Posted by RiddlerJ on February 9th, 2017 @ 3:22pm CST

I'd like to see a Fastlane and Cloudraker from Blurr and Brainstorm.

Re: Transformers Titans Return Skullsmasher Toy Designs by Emiliano Santalucia (1858278)
Posted by o.supreme on February 9th, 2017 @ 3:23pm CST

Black Hat wrote:
D-Maximus_Prime wrote:Triggerhappy and Twintwist? Yeah I can see. I'd like.

Windblade? What the actual crap. Why? And is the titan masers name gonna be M. Scott?

Maybe they'll give her a cool, creative name like Nadeshiko or Naginata. Or maybe we'll just get Xindxlade.

Nijika

, though I was half expecting that to be Perceptor's TM name.

Re: Transformers Titans Return Skullsmasher Toy Designs by Emiliano Santalucia (1858279)
Posted by no-one on February 9th, 2017 @ 3:25pm CST

Windblade, the new Bumblebee. Soon to be warming pegs near you :-P

Re: Transformers Titans Return Skullsmasher Toy Designs by Emiliano Santalucia (1858281)
Posted by william-james88 on February 9th, 2017 @ 3:32pm CST

Bounti76 wrote:
ThunderThruster wrote:fourth, as RiD also did a legends class Windblade.

I stand corrected. Forgot about that one.

I wouldnt count different classes, they serve different purposes. If we do then Thunderhoof has as many toys as her, so it get ridiculous to compare when the real deal here is that we have bering rbought to the foreground again in another line.

The only logic I see to this is that Hasbro wants to cross market their Prime Wars web series of which she is the main character and thus wants her on the shelves for 10 year old kids who watch any 5 min clip on their I pad to notice as they go through a store with their parents.

Re: Transformers Titans Return Skullsmasher Toy Designs by Emiliano Santalucia (1858282)
Posted by o.supreme on February 9th, 2017 @ 3:35pm CST

william-james88 wrote:
Cobotron wrote:Windblade? Really?... Bah!

So much for this being all about G1

Seconded. Also...Just FYI just wanted Cobo to know I read that line in Trace Beaulieu's "Angry Crow" voice

Re: Transformers Titans Return Skullsmasher Toy Designs by Emiliano Santalucia (1858283)
Posted by Emerje on February 9th, 2017 @ 3:37pm CST

Bounti76 wrote:I think that the Windblade isn't correct. Yes, a retool of Highbrow would be simple enough- just change the cockpit, wings on the arms instead of rotors, retool the legs to be less chunky, and maybe redo the chest- be there's zero reason to have her in the lineup. She's getting a retooled RID figure, and that one makes her third figure in four years (Generations, RID, retooled RID), and that's not counting the straight up recolors. Hasbro isn't that dumb to make a fourth.

Yeah, it's five with the two consecutive SDCC exclusives. I really hope somebody lost their mind and it's actually Spinister being repainted from Highbrow.

Seems really strange that we'd get an entire wave of remolds/repaints and a single re-release.

Emerje

Re: Transformers Titans Return Skullsmasher Toy Designs by Emiliano Santalucia (1858284)
Posted by Burn on February 9th, 2017 @ 3:41pm CST

carytheone wrote:Windblade, the new Bumblebee. Soon to be warming pegs near you

If that happens, the firebombs are coming your way!

Re: Transformers Titans Return Skullsmasher Toy Designs by Emiliano Santalucia (1858285)
Posted by Deadput on February 9th, 2017 @ 3:43pm CST

Ah cool if this is true I can have a Windblade in my Titanmaster group as a Titanmaster.

That would make BlastWave, Stormshot and ROTF Breakaway the only deluxe Autobots that are not Titanmasters in said collection.

Re: Transformers Titans Return Skullsmasher Toy Designs by Emiliano Santalucia (1858287)
Posted by Deadput on February 9th, 2017 @ 3:46pm CST

Ah just saw the other post about solid cases that would explain why there were over 10 Mindwipe's in my Toys R Us a few weeks ago they were shelf warming then and probably still are.

About 4 Wolfwire's there too.

Re: Transformers Titans Return Skullsmasher Toy Designs by Emiliano Santalucia (1858289)
Posted by VanOscuro on February 9th, 2017 @ 3:49pm CST

Decepticon Stryker wrote:A Windblade from Highbrow? I'm intrigued. I can already imagine what it'll look like, but I want to see what it'll actually be.

I'd prefer Nautica or Velocity from at least one of the these molds. I'm more of a MTMTE/Lost Light fan. Plus Nautica is overdue.

Re: Transformers Titans Return Skullsmasher Toy Designs by Emiliano Santalucia (1858290)
Posted by no-one on February 9th, 2017 @ 3:49pm CST

o.supreme wrote:
william-james88 wrote:
Cobotron wrote:Windblade? Really?... Bah!

So much for this being all about G1

Seconded. Also...Just FYI just wanted Cobo to know I read that line in Trace Beaulieu's "Angry Crow" voice

Now that's a very specific reference I get ;)^

Misties worldwide :BOWDOWN:

Burn wrote:
carytheone wrote:Windblade, the new Bumblebee. Soon to be warming pegs near you

If that happens, the firebombs are coming your way!

You should see the Transformers RID section of my local TRU. I could start a Windblade clone war and have enough firebomb fodder to survive the initial volley. :michaelbay:

I personal really like the character and the Generations toy, but hey one less thing to buy :ic$:

Re: Transformers Titans Return Skullsmasher Toy Designs by Emiliano Santalucia (1858292)
Posted by Kurona on February 9th, 2017 @ 3:54pm CST

Windblade from Highbrow... just... doesn't... work. At all.

I kinda miss when Hasbro would re-issue figures from a line or two back with a few changes to inflate the latter waves without resorting to redecoes. Like Blurr and Longrack and Runamuck and all that in Cybertron. That way we could get a somewhat better Windblade without resorting to making her a recolour of a mold that doesn't work for her at all.

It's a shame, really, because between her being okay in RiD and incredible in IDW I really like her. But all this incessant pushing by Hasbro to such ridiculous degrees is gonna make her the fandom's new Hot Rod. ... who I also like when everyone hated him.

Re: Transformers Titans Return Skullsmasher Toy Designs by Emiliano Santalucia (1858293)
Posted by william-james88 on February 9th, 2017 @ 3:55pm CST

Emerje wrote:Seems really strange that we'd get an entire wave of remolds/repaints and a single re-release.

Emerje

Right because Combiner Wars didnt give us 2 entire waves of just retools/redecos

And anyways, wave 4 has 5 deluxes so we can all assume any sense or pattern is non existent.

Re: Transformers Titans Return Skullsmasher Toy Designs by Emiliano Santalucia (1858295)
Posted by william-james88 on February 9th, 2017 @ 3:58pm CST

Kurona wrote:I kinda miss when Hasbro would re-issue figures from a line or two back with a few changes to inflate the latter waves without resorting to redecoes. Like Blurr [...] in Cybertron.