Hasbro Pulse Fanstream: Studio Series TLK Hot Rod and Crosshairs, SS86 Bomb-Burst, more!

Hasbro’s Transformers Fanstream on Hasbro Pulse is upon us, and with it some cool reveals!

First up are Royal Mail Transformers stamps, which feature two sets: an 8-piece versus pairing, and a five-piece Dinobot team mural (from which you can take the individual character portraits). There are multiple display and packing options available, too.

IDW’s Transformers work continues to move forward, with Shattered Glass II releasing its first issue alongside the TPB for the previous Shattered Glass Collection comics, and the James Roberts-curated “The Best of The Rarities” as well as the last issue of Last Bot Standing.

Studio Series got a sharp dose of more live-action film love from the first five movies: Hot Rod and Crosshairs from The Last Knight, and The Fallen from Revenge of the Fallen! The Autobots show off more of the Transformers team’s “witchcraft”, pulling unprecedentedly screen-accurate robot modes (with new approaches to things like Crosshairs’ duster) out of incredibly sleek vehicles (while also including specific touches like the altmode spoilers and Hot Rod’s I STOP DE TIME gun, “the only Transformers weapon that needs to be announced when it’s used”). It was noted that they also pulled from the CAD files from ROTF for The Fallen, who sports his weird shoulder/arm appendages and who, yes, comes with GIVE ME YOUR FACE action!

Also officially shown was the Core class Laserbeak (in pink “Bumblebee” disguise) from Transformers: Dark of the Moon, a heck of a way to debut the movie Bumblebee design at this price point.

G1 is also still represented in Studio Series 86, with Core class Wheelie and Voyager class Ironhide officially revealed (and with notes explicitly establishing that Ironhide’s height is based on in-show robot mode scale and the engineering brought about by the lack of partsforming), as well as Core class The Blue One (Rumble?), who comes with his piledrivers. Paraphrasing: “Is this the new standard for Core scale? Of course not, this was just the way we could release him”. (Mark pointed out later on that Rumble’s design moves the cassette drums (with structural rivets) a bit in order to allow for 3mm pegs for weapon attachments, a neat touch.)

Next was a set of reveals for Transformers Legacy, where we saw more of Pointblank (the box does say Pointblank, not Blanker) and his included Battle Master Peacemaker (who was first Hasbro-revealed this show). This was followed by a closer look at Crankcase and his retooling from Skids (including the spare tire in the back and the front grille that turns into a blaster for robot mode — and even an approximation of his shoulder blasters! Next, the team showed off the fourth Legacy Stunticon, Dead End and how he locks onto the Menasor frame for combined mode. (Breakdown was teased for Hasbro Pulse Con.) This was then followed by a better look at Skullgrin, confirming the decision to blend the robot and Pretender shell looks for Legacy’s robot mode, alongside the packaging (and confirming that the weapons will work with blast effects).

The team took a minute to mull the merits of Pretenders and shells (let Hasbro know in the comments there if you want to bring back the shells!), and apparently it was Mark who suggested the blending of designs since it wouldn’t be feasible to release robot-in-shell at retail (“Would they be Leader class?”).

After this the next Legacy topic was Beast Wars Inferno, whose articulated jaw allows for lots of “FOR THE ROYALTY” fun and whose blender-butt, while not spring-gimmicked, does still spin. It’s also worth noting that Mark clarifies that the initial samples have black insect eyes but they managed to pull a “switch key” (?) for more accurate blue eyes.

What followed was Legacy’s Armada Starscream, who comes with a non-clear wing sword and a sword-form-only Star Saber (and whose boosters/null cannons work with blast effects)! Echoing discussion at July’s SDCC, the team also said this figure kicks off “the 20th anniversary of Armada” and “foreshadows” more from Legacy, so… more Armada in the future?

We then got to see some more of Legacy Transmetal 2 Megatron, with packaging and amazing paint work shown off as well. This was followed by some more Core class reveals: Pretender Bomb-burst (sporting another blended Pretender shell/robot mode look, and having his inner-robot altmode) and a repack of WFC Kingdom Core class Soundwave (for those who had trouble finding one at the tail end of that line). (Bit of trivia: Core class Soundwave’s non-transforming Laserbeak cassette originally had a little head that could pop out for an approximation of robot mode, and even THAT had to get cut for budget!)

That was all for this round, but in Mark’s words, ” ‘Oh, they’re doing those guys too’… Just wait til you see where else we’re gonna go!”

Again, a nice blend of expected stuff, confirming leaks with better looks, and this brand team era’s refreshing and contagious enthusiasm for the brand and for engaging with the fans. Let us know how these reveals landed with you, on the Allspark Facebook page , on our partnered Discord at discord.gg/allspark , and on the Allspark Forums !