Michael 
Another year has come and gone, and the Allspark staff are here to mark the occasion. 2023 was an interesting year, with the Transformers brand and Transformers fans continuing to make their way through a time period still defined by the ripple effects of the pandemic and the inflationary wave that has followed. But there was a lot to enjoy this year as well, and so we choose to look back at the bright spots that the year had to offer.
The Allspark staff got together (on our partnered Discord at discord.gg/allspark ) and mulled over the 2020 III that was, answering the following prompts:
- Best Transformers toy of 2023
- Best Transformers news of 2023
- Best non-Transformers toy of 2023
- Reaction to “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts”
- What are you looking forward to in 2024?
BEST TRANSFORMERS TOY of 2023
alArts – Mexicano Mundano: It’d be easy to choose one of the Commanders or even the Haslab Deathsaurus, which is still impressive. However I wager Legacy Bludgeon being the best out of the bunch at a regular retail price. While a head retool and recolor of Tarn, (who is also fantastic), giving this skullface killer a sword enhances the mould, and let’s loose all the poseability this tooling has to offer. Would I have liked a more G1 Bludgeon? Perhaps. But this will still remain the best Bludgeon toy around.
MadameVixen (Sarah): It’d be cheating to say HASLAB Deathsaurus or Nemesis. Studio Series Optimus Primal surprised me on being so great. But I need to admit I’ve played with Armada Prime a lot. Along with Reactivate Prime.
GodSentinelOmega: Legacy Armada Prime. It does nearly everything the original did, while making Super Mode articulated. Plus he looks awesome. SSROTB Primal would’ve been me pick if not for Prime. But Armada Prime has an extra bit of nostalgia, because his original figure is what got me back in collecting Transformers again. The only missing part is a new Mini-Con Sparkplug.
lastmaximal: It’s a tossup between Shattered Glass Rodimus and my boy, Snarl, who gets a surprising Studio Series 86 rendition despite only really being in the 1986 movie sporadically. Rodimus does some interesting new things for the design, from the retooled head to the darker gunmetal grays, and Snarl gets the full chonky boi Leader class treatment.
CoffeeHorse (David): Legacy Armada Prime. This toy had to live up to many years of anticipation if we count the prototype Takara showed off that one time, possibly setting the current franchise record, and it still managed to exceed all expectations.
MadameVixen (Sarah)’s best of 2023
BEST TRANSFORMERS NEWS OF 2023
alArts – Mexicano Mundano: I say the announcement of Skybound’s Transformers comics sure made the rounds. While IDW’s 2 runs will be cherished, it’s good to have a new publisher and creative team, taking a new direction with these characters. With how solid the comics have been, this does feel like a new air has been breathed in for this latest run.
MadameVixen (Sarah): Hard to pick. Either Unicron being in ROTB or TFA prime getting revealed.
GodSentinelOmega: Hmm. Either the reveals of Legacy United figures like Magmatron, Thundertron or TFA Prime. Or the Skybound TF Comics. They might be G1 based, but they certainly not going quite the way you’d expect.
lastmaximal: I’m finding it harder and harder to keep track of what news shows up when, and it’s all so good it’s hard to pick. But I think the reveal of the cast for Transformers One made waves big enough that everyone took notice, and it seems like a great lineup to boot.
CoffeeHorse (David): The launch of Skybound’s Transformers run may be it. It has been an incredibly long time since Transformers comics had to find a new publisher. To put it in perspective, Transformers: Cybertron was still on TV when IDW began its Transformers run. They left big shoes to fill, but at this point it seems safe to say that Transformers Comics are in good hands. We made it.
Combinations from GodSentinelOmega
BEST NON-TRANSFORMERS TOY of 2023
MadameVixen (Sarah): I, uhh, didn’t get many this year….I guess my PS5 that I bought to honor my late mother with goat sim 3. She loved goats.
GodSentinelOmega: Lego Optimus (does that count as non-TF)? If not, I think it’ll have to be either Haslab HISS TANK, or Lego Avengers Quinjet. Because i’m going to enjoy building some Lego this year.
lastmaximal: The last few years have been a Sentai (okay, Power Rangers) rediscovery journey for me, sort of. Got around to watching Dino Fury last year (still need to make time to watch Cosmic Fury), enjoyed the Once and Always anniversary special, and got the last few Lightning Collection things I needed before the line (and I think the Power Rangers brand at large) went under hiatus. While I haven’t been able to get a Master Morpher yet, this non-TF spot definitely goes to something from this genre. As such, it’s a tossup between the Remastered (armored) Red Ranger from Lightning Collection, and the amazingly-done SMP Gosei Gattai Dairenoh (Thunder Megazord), which is a beautiful design that finally gets some sweet, sweet articulation.
CoffeeHorse (David): I didn’t buy any. Does the release of Commodore OS 2.0 count? It’s certainly more of a toy than a serious daily driver, though I’m seriously tempted to use it as one.
Valkitus’ Top 10 of 2023
REACTION TO “TRANSFORMERS: RISE OF THE BEASTS”
alArts – Mexicano Mundano: Rise of the Beasts is the most safest Transformers film made possible by Paramount/Hasbro. A film that, while fine on paper, lacks a sense of enthusiasm and risk to do anything bold with the visuals, characters and story. It’s going through the motions of a blockbuster film without anything new added other than some of the robots transform into animals. If you’re a G1 or Beast Wars fan, this a background noise movie as you work on your taxes or play with your Transformers.
MadameVixen (Sarah): Pretty fun film. Nice popcorn flick to enjoy and watch in the top 4 Transformers films for me. I’m counting Darkness Rising as a film since it was technically billed as one at one point.
GodSentinelOmega: On the whole, I enjoyed the film while watching it in the cinema. The more I think on it, though I’ll still enjoy it, the more it comes across as both too by-the-numbers and too complicated. By that I mean, the plot is straightforward, yet muddles details about the Maximals, Unicron etc. it is a lot of fun, but Paramount/Hasbro seem like they were trying to fit a sequel to Bumblebee, a big Michael Bay-style blockbuster, and a Beast Wars movie into one film. Good, but not great.
lastmaximal: This movie was enjoyable and inoffensive, which seems to be the direction that Transformers movies must deliberately go in post-Bay. However, while it does put in a good effort, it just lacks the heart and charm that made the Bumblebee solo movie so good. Optimus Prime gets a character arc that seems unnecessary (just commit to the reboot and start out with a non-murderous non-asshole Optimus Prime rather than grow him into it). Pete Davidson does a great turn as Mirage, giving us a new kid/POV character that can actually banter and free up Radiobee to just keep his own schtick going. The designs are all right (save for Prime’s oddly high waist), mostly avoiding the weirdness of the Bumblebee movie designs (Shockwave and Soundwave in particular, whose legs are hilarious), with Scourge and Nightbird standing out as very cool. And to be honest the GI Joe tie-in did nothing for me.
I’m looking forward to the next installment, mostly because I hope it finally gives Cullen some substantial, warm, Dad Optimus stuff to do while we’ve still got him. (I’m still reeling from losing the icons we did in 2022 and 2023.)
CoffeeHorse (David): Safe and mellow, almost to the point of being forgettable, though given the turbulent production history that feels like an accomplishment in a way. Given how much they chose to juggle with this one it is remarkable that it works as well as it does. It wasn’t another TLK. That said, I would love to see the test screening version, because the finished film does feel like certain parts are missing context that used to exist. I am optimistic about these films again but please, pick a direction, write a script, and stick with it to the end. The mid-production waffling is not helping this prequel/reboot/preboot series find its identity.
Favorites from GodSentinelOmega
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO IN 2024?
alArts – Mexicano Mundano: I’m hoping Legacy United continues to give us new iterations from all different corners of the franchise.
MadameVixen (Sarah): A year full of fun toys.
GodSentinelOmega: Legacy United really pulling the surprising picks from across the Transformers many versions. Titan Tidal Wave living up to the hype. The rumour that the next Haslab might very well be Cybertron/Primus. And generally hoping Hasbro pulls out all the stops for the 40th Anniversary of the fandom we all love.
lastmaximal: I’m not really able to think about 2024 yet. My sense of time is still borked, and I’ll probably start feeling 2024 in like August. But of the Transformers releases promised for next year, I’ve definitely got my eye on Magmatron, who looks like an amazing new execution of the design.
CoffeeHorse (David): Tidal Wave. Tidal Wave. Tidal Wave.
How would YOU answer these prompts? Come by and enjoy the end of the world year with us on the Allspark Facebook page, on our partnered Discord at discord.gg/allspark, and on the Allspark Forums ! Happy new year, everyone!
