State of the Fandom

Yes, it has been a little bit and I apoligize.  Firstly I want to apoligize for the long lag between posts, but I will try to post a little bit more frequently, but it will become a bit harder because since my last post my wife and I found out that she is pregnant.  That is the main reason for the lack of posts as of late because I am just working away at the house and getting it ready for my daugher to enter the world. 
Now I wll start with the nerdy stuff.  As of late I feel like the fandom has somewhat taken a turn for the negative.  There has a been a whole buch of finger pointing and I feel that I just wanted to voice my opinion and possibly air some dirty laundry, but let it go. 
Firstly this is a hobby.  Transformers should be a passion, an escape.  It should bring enjoyment, lately I feel like people have forgotten about this.  For me it seems like the passion has somewhat dwindled from time to time, but I feel the vigor has returned. 
Thefirst thing that I feel has been a major bitching point since December has been the Transformers Collectors Club.  Personally I agree with many of the fan feelings.  I was one of the people who were affected by the security breaches, and I agree it was assinine.  In todays day and age companies should protect our info and keep us happy customers.  I feel that as of late the club has forgotten that we keep them in business.  They are here because we exist.  They are the COLLECTORS' Club.... if we didn't exist they wouldn't.  One thing that is easeier said than done is simply stop the continued support of them.... I am just as guilty as anyone... but Ive said it.
On the other hand the Hasbro bashing HAS TO STOP PEOPLE.  I think we have completely gotten things mixed up here people.  We allow the Club to do whatever they want and then bitch wine and moan because Hasbro doesn't do everything we want.  People keep screaming... you want to fight the third party comanines... then produce product that can!  People Hasbo has multiple lines and as much as we like to think Transformers is their end all be all, its not... they have to cater to a broader audience... and not everyone wants a 100$ Devestator... that is why Hercules and Giant exist... the compaines focus on us... and limit their runs... thats why they sell us a 3-6 hundred dollar devy.... and we praise them.
Right now I think we fail to notice just how innundated with formers product we are.  I realize that a few years ago everything was great becasue we had a collector centric product line... and what happened?  We bitched about repaints... now we scream when a repaint is only in Japan?  Why do you think these things happen. 
Folks, the states have been in a recession.  Most budgets cant handle the Cybertron/Classics product overhaul, and simply most kids can't talk their mommies and daddies into a 40-60 dollar Optimus Prime actoin figure.  Lately I have been recollecting my boyhood years with my action figure habit... in those days my main line was Xmen by Toybiz.  I remember with 7 bucks I could get  a figure, comic and a coke... now with 7 bucks I am lucky to walk out with a candy bar and a 2 liter.  This has affected everyone and if you look at the prices of everything else versus transformers, formers has been amazinly consistant.  Now a marvel legend figure or a DCU fig is close to 20 bucks... thats 400% greater than my boyhood price.  Star Wars figures have doubled in price, even joes have been affected by the times.  Unlike Formers.... Joe and Wars really take a hit when scale is concerned... that is why our sizes have started to shrink.  Hasbro have raised our price point 50% and sclaed down the amount of plastic used, but that is to be expected these days. 
Also as far a the product line, they now launced the Cyberverse scale to increase the amout of product that partents can by their kiddies.  I feel like poeple dont respect this as much.  I dont collect the Cyberverse line, I do pick up some ships and stuff for my displays, but I feel that they have been dummed down transformations, but that is what they are for.. younger kids to get into transformers!
Im sorry I am on my soap box guys but I really am getting tired of all the bashing.  Hasbro is doing thier best for us... and they are doing a great job.  Right now we have 3 monthly comics, an amazing series on TV with Prime, TF4 and even a great video game on the way.  Thanks Hasbro... I am in total support (but please dont try to take away my hercules).

Yes... the Blog is still ALIVE

I'm sorry that there has been a bit but I promise that I have something cool in store.  My time as of late has been eaten up by classes, as well as work, and my big project... the constuction of the MANCAVE.  I am currently in the process of setting up my office as my man cave, and I am currently sorting through all of my Transformers bins... getting ready to fill my new shelving units.  I will have pictures posted as soon as I have them ready and the room is finished.  So I am sorry that I have not been updating the site as frequently for the past couple and as soon as I finish this up I will be back on track with the updates. 

Till All Are One

Transformers: Robots In Disguise 2

Transformers Robots in Disguise 2 seems to be the highlight of this month's comics.  It takes up where number 1 left off and continues the Formers political intrigue that RID 1 set forth.  This  time you finally get to see Ratbat's plan in action.  Ratbat's plan is simple.  Using the memorial for the "lost" bots that just  blasted off he is going to deactivate a Decepticon in front of everyone and therefore make the NAILS believe it is Bumblebee's doing...  This sets the Autobots as the bad guys, and places the Decepticons as the compassionate. 
However Ratbat's ploy was upset by that treatorous Starscream.  Starscream ratted his plan and surprisingly saved the day.
I have to say that this issue was finally well paced.  It actually is slowing picking up pace and becomming and incredibly well rounded interesting read.  It is awesome to see the dynamics playing out and just waiting to see each sides next move.  I highly recommend picing up and readnig these books.... even though they are shaping up to be a different kind of formers story... its well worth the cover price!

Robots in Disguise Prime Bumblebee

Firstly sorry about the naked post without pictures but I really couldn't come to do it for this post (yet).  My wife and I went to the local TRU today (because Target refuses to sell me product), and I was looking forward to getting a new Prime figure.  Since last weekend I have been on a Prime high... and couldn't wait to get some more of the Prime cast.  Wheeljack is still an amazing figure.  I rationalize that because I still find myself tinkering and transforming Wheeljack each time I pass him.  I enjoy him even more that I did the two First Editions that I purchased.
I had heard warnings that Bumblebee was subpar, however I didn't believe it.  Well TRU only offered me a Bumblebee for purchase to feed my plastic crack addiction, so here I am.
This figure is surreal.  the car mode looks so so, but the plastics are completely mismatched.  They took bumblebee to a two tone paint scheme like Bee had a door replaced with a better clear coat.  Additionally Bee is a let down in his bot mode.
Needless to say I am going to still be on the hunt for a First Edition Bumblebee.  Please let me know if one of them seems to surface.

Transformers More Than Meets the Eye #2

Finishing up this weeks new release is More than Meets the Eye #2.  If I can say anything about the issues this week it seems that everything was rushed.  Last issue we were told that there were so many Autobots lost in space due to the crash.  By the end of this issue, all but two are accounted for.  I remember Beast Wars set up this same scenario.  They very deliberately used this plot point and introduced characters into the series up into the third season.  However they had this great ploy to introduce more of our favorite characters and instead of peppering new old friends, they already packed that whole mess into a tight little box. 

They also have really had Cyclonus start to mimic his 3H Enterprises persona.  Cyclonus is found aboard and asked which side he has taken.  He explains he is on his own now, but will stay on until he sees fit.  Its interesting to see this come back into the forefront... especially for Cyclonus. 

They did introduce an old friend  Skids has now reentered the picture and looks like he will become a large part of the picture, a whole lot like Swerve has become.  I do have to say I am interested to see who else will become a major player in this quest. 

The story ended on a cliffhanger as we see Red Alert stumble on the mysterious creatures that attacked Skids when he was reintroduced.  I think there could have been a bit more involved over a couple of issues, however they still have me caught into this story and I hope to see the originators of Cybertron!

Transformers Infestation 2 Number 2

To continue with this month's comic book releases here is Infestation 2 number 2!  I have to say that what I assumed from the original post still seems to stand true.  Well they really didn't continue to name drop from everyone 1800's but still this issue stood up to my small expectations. 

The story continues from where the last issue left off.  Tesla has agreed to create a Tesla coil to revive Optimus prime as the zombie apocalypse approaches.  The complete mechanism was built perfectly by the Autobots and then to revive Prime, the Autobots one by one sacrifice every amp in their internal circuits to revive Optimus Prime.  Prime then stands up and decides he needs to revie his fallen comrades.  Long story short, the zombies show up, prime battles them all, saves a recently infected Ironhide and Tesla is questioned by authorities as to what happened.  Jokingly he says I honestly cannot tell you as I still am not sure!  Cheers for the cheesy eighties sitcom ending.

Don't get me wrong I love the idea of Infestation.  I am a huge Formers fan... as you can tell hopefully, and I am surrounded by friends preparing for the zombie apocalypse (both jokingly and seriously).  I even like how IDW is handling it by not forcing all of the story lines correspond entirely but allow a Formers fan to only pick up two books and not be completely lost.  However I feel that both volumes have just taken way to much to tackle in two monthly books.  Both stories seem to finally set up the problem with only two pages left in the story.  I also would have rathered to just have a whole new universe to have the zombies attack... instead they try to write these into the main story line.  The format of the books just don't allow enough time to try to unravel a story and by the end of the story it is just rushed.  If Infestation 3 happens I hope they expand the format a couple of issues, or just make it a mindless zombie assault.  Hell just give us a GI Joe/Formers crossover with a full battalion of the new Cobra Zombie Vipers... that would be great!

Autocracy 3

Today Transformers: Autocracy 3 was released.  Even though my iPhone tried to mess up, after a reset I was able to finally sit and read it.

I have to say that this issue would have been an amazing short animation.  It is completely action filled.  This time the focus is the Autobot pursuit of Soundwave.  Any fan of the original series would be in love with issue.  Soundwave pulls out all of his stops.  He runs until he get a break and when cornered he continues to open his chest and break out cassette after cassette.  You get to see him release Ravage and then see Ravage ravage a couple of  bots.  He also unleashes Rumble, Ratbat, and Frenzy to aid in his escape.  When all is seemed to be lost he finally reaches his safe place just as Orion corners him.  Orion orders Soundwave to stop, but at that point all of his backup is there with Orion's backup under their control.  Soundwave is rescued, and we are left for two more weeks until the story can continue.

I have to say that I am happy that all i spent was a dollar on this book.  Really it was a cool read, but would have worked much better for a short animation.  Really nothing happened in this issue.  The plot of the story really didn't go anywhere you basically were told what you already knew.  The Autobots are trying to crush a Decepticon uprising, Decepticons are rebelling.  That is all that happens.  There is just a small Spotlight Soundwave issue.  I did enjoy this issue.... I was just expecting more.