I might pick this up. I missed out on the first Skids entirely due to my own fault. I've got Hasbro Crosscut and the AOE Farmageddan set so a Skids would certainly be a welcome addition (and then I realize I still need the Botcon Diaclone set).

I think it's always been obvious that Hasbro pays attention to Takara and Takara pays attention to Hasbro in terms of fiction. I mean here's all these IDW based figures from Takara plus Adventure Roadblock being based on a rather obscure Hasbro figure.
Today (maybe yesterday for many) we've got Liokaiser from Hasbro in addition the Black Shadow we got a while ago and a mainlined Crosscut based on a Takara predeco.
Whoever's working on these releases is clearly aware of the other side's fiction.

 

Now I have a reason to sell my Hasbro version!

I wonder what kinda crazy stuff his comic is gonna have.

 

Well, I'm glad this is finally happening.

I sold my Hasbro Skids a while ago because I didn't like the colours and this is definitely more faithful to his IDW look.

Still, I'm not a huge fan of the mould, it has too many flaws in terms of articulation and stability. I will get it just because I'm a completionist.

 

Wow. I thought they'd forgotten about him.

He's definitely comic-accurate, but actually looks a little *too* colourful/busy for me. I'm happy with the Hasbro version.

 

The paint apps do make it look nicer but seems a bit too "bright". I think I'll stick with the Hasbro version.

 

I really want to like this, and I love the darker blue and the addition of the black, both things I expected TakaraTomy to correct. But I absolutely hate that pink, especially on the hood in car mode. It looks terrible and should have been skipped. Pass, because in this case the Hasbro version is acceptable.

 

Not a fan of pink glow lines, but I think they will be easily removed. The rest looks great.

 

Everyone else is getting a huge G2 Skram vibe off this guy, right? I kinda need one just for that, really.

 

Where is the masterpiece?

 

Damn. Now that I already have the black one. And he looks awesome! I thought they just dropped Skids...  

 

You'd think all that and other Marvel stuff (Wipe-Out, Straxus) and US-only toy characters/designs (Thunderwing, the MP G2 figures) would've put the kibosh on that, but yeah unfortunately sooner or later someone will unironically post somewhere about how unlikely it is that Takara would use a US-based something because Japanese audiences wouldn't be familiar with it or whatever.

 

As awesome as he looks, I think I will stick to my black Skids (which is a stealth Skids in my world). But damn... he looks so good... maybe I'll change my mind later. But money is tight right now.

Let's see how HLJ's pre-order price will be  

 

I'm guessing 30 for the NA e-tailers. That's reasonable.

 

The fact that the lines are pink and not red just kind of ruins it for me. He's not a WFC Decepticon, Takara. I'm completely happy with the price I paid for my Hasbro Skids.

 

I don't want to go a detour over NA.

 

That looks too nice to pass up, I really like that blue. I guess I'm getting another Skids,

 

As much as this is probably a good homage to the current comic version, I'm surprised that Takara didn't go for the G1 (cartoon) homage instead, as that's been the common direction for their versions.

Personally, I'd rather have a more G1 homage, so I'll probably have to repaint all of the "incorrect" bits on mine.

 

The pink is a bit jarring, but I like him otherwise. Will have to see comparison shots to decide if he is worth me swapping out my Skids for.

 

Looks fabulous

 

A quick comparison: