More information on Transformers toys and a surprise!
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BotCon’s final day featured the second Hasbro panel, eagerly anticipated by fans. Three of the members of the design team returned to go over some details and background of upcoming toys, and to fill in some gaps from the previous day’s panel. They began by thanking the (still large) crowd for its attendance and enthusiasm, and then issued another no photo/no video proclamation. With that out of the way, the slideshow and commentary began.
They started with the missing slides from the day before, one of the new Human Alliance sets. This one includes Autobots Skids and Arcee with Mikaela. Yes, that’s the first Megan Fox toy for those keeping score. Skids is the green compact car in this set, and Arcee the motorcycle. The Mikaela mini-figure can ride in/on both Transformers. The panelists also revealed a cool feature – Skids has a deployable gatling gun on his back.
The audience was then shown all of the same slides from the previous panel, along with additional views and prototypes, and excellent notes. To start, the Toys R Us exclusive Commemorative Series Insecticons will feature molds from the Japanese versions specifically, and while Perceptor will carry his traditional missile launcher, it will be non-firing due to safety concerns.
Next came the Animated line. Deluxe Arcee, done in close to G1 styling, will have removable wings in alternate mode so you can display her how you’d like. Rodimus Minor allowed the Hasbro team to move in a newdirection with an Animated figure, one with skinny legs and a hefty upper body. He will stand taller than Jazz. Cybertronian Ratchet can employ the existing EMP blaster accessory from the Lockdown toy, and comes with electric “paddles” for saving robotic lives. Voyager-scale Hydrodive Bumblebee breaks down to a basic figure that’s smaller than the existing Deluxe version, with lots of cool additional parts. Blackout is the first Animated toy based on a film character, an Earth helicopter. Finally, Wingblade Optimus Prime is the Deluxe version with additional parts that will also fit on the Voyager version!
In the film lineup of toys stretching into 2010, the themes will be interchangeable parts and arch-enemies. In the Scout series, Brakedown will be white and red with multiple attachment posts for incorporating other robots’ weapons. Skystalker and Scattorshot will include bios describing them as arch-enemies, the one a stealth bomber and the other an anti-aircraft truck. The former will be primarily black, and was shown to have a sort of intermediate Gerwalk/Guardian mode that employs his spring-loaded clawed feet.
In the Deluxe scale, Ratchet and Lockdown are the arch-enemies, taking a cue from the Animated show. And just like in that venue, these two newtoys will feature interchangeable weapons. The Hasbro panelists then “accidentally” let slip an image that got the crowd very excited. A blurry preliminary sketch showed the design for a Dirge toy based on the super-popular comic book character!
For the larger figures, the enemies theme continues with Voyager Jungle Attack Ironhide and Bludgeon. The former’s multiple weapons are attachable by C-clamps, while the latter’s swords are hidden in tank mode and can be stored on the Decepticon’s left hip like a traditional samurai in robot mode. Another scoop for the audience that day was the first presentation of images of the upcoming Leader class Starscream. This massive Transformer will include firing missiles, an opening chest, moving mouth, and sounds and lights!
At this point in the panel (only 20 minutes into a planned 50), Aaron Archer appeared and announced a special guest: Tyrese Gibson, Sergeant Epps from the Transformers films!
Needless to say, the crowd went wild. Tyrese was incredibly funny and upbeat, talking about his experiences on set and answering questions. Archer prompted the actor to tell some stories and anecdotes, then opened up the floor to a Q&A. Fans immediately lined up to talk to Tyrese, although several of them were men telling the actor that their wives were going to be extremely jealous to hear of this event. Tyrese laughed at these, and had the fans come up to take pics with him.
In his time onstage, Tyrese described with pride his character’s promotion to Master Sergeant in the new film, and how great it will be. He discussed the intense training he and Josh Duhamel underwent, and expressed excitement for seeing the new toy of him. One fan wanted to know about the prototype Corvette Stingray (Sideswipe) on set. While he wasn’t allowed to drive it, Tyrese told a hilarious story about an impromptu scene with him standing next to the car in which his gun belt scratched the ‘Vette! Horrified, he had an assistant quickly fill in the damage before anyone saw. He described Shia LaBeouf as a very dedicated young actor who rushed back to set as quickly as possible even when injured. Tyrese finished the panel by talking about his new comic book Mayhem, which debuts on August 5th. He was inspired by last year’s Comic-Con and his potential roles in upcoming Marvel Comics films.
All in all, it was an interesting panel combining in-depth and behind the scenes toy news with a film actor telling hilarious stories. A good timewas had by all.
-Scott Rubin
