Figure King Issue 134 Transformers Details - Henkei and Revenge of the Fallen Toys

Not really suprising seeing as Universe is ending as well. Was hoping they would continue making their own molds but I guess it was too good to be true.

Gaaaah, in B4 Botcon 2010 Grapple. >:(

Oh well, my wallet is happier now.

news has been sooooo boring lately

Makes sense, they're pretty much out of molds and decos for it.

Oh. MARVELOUS.
For God sakes, just trim off those stupid re-issues. Henkei is way too good to end.

I am not glad it is ending but I can finish up my Henkei line and start saving for a MP Grimlock.

Here's to hoping Henkei will just on hiatus.

Not surprising really. Right now Hasbro and Takara's focus is switching to the upcoming movie (love it or hate it... it's impact on each individual company is all that's relevant to them...). If Hasbro decides to continue Universe in 2010 (which seems likely... many of the current Universe molds are still begging for repaints/remolds... Grapple out of Inferno comes to mind) then I can see Henkei starting back up too.

I'm sure we'll continue to see exclusives. This does free up cash for Ghost Starscream, Bruticus and the cassette sets, not having to worry about more Henkei goodness after Smokescreen and Red Alert.

Are you SHITTING ME!? There's pictures of Red Alert on there, doesn't he come out AFTER Smokescreen?

Though, it does make sense, the Universe line is going on hiatus (AGAIN). So now we have to wait 'til 2010 to see new figures...if Hasbro decides not to be jackasses to the fans.

Smokescreen and Red Alert are both scheduled for release April 25.

As the majority of mass retail molds are commissioned (and presumably paid for) by Hasbro, not a realistic prospect. TakTom seem content to follow Hasbro's lead in the big lines and very occasionally do their own collector-niche molds.

Then they'll just come up with something else for you to buy.

Hmm, I was hoping they would get a few others out there, like maybe a Cliffjumper, but its makes sense.

Assuming Hasbro brings Universe back next year (and honestly, I can't see them NOT doing it, as it's a "catch all" for anything they want to do that's not "main line") then it's likely Tomy will do Animated next year, and then return to Henkei after Hasbro has a bunch of new figures already in the can.

That pic of Smokescreen looks great. Sad to hear this but not suprising considering the movie is coming out soon so apparently that means we have to be saturated with those pieces of crap(sorry for those who like them but thats how I feel about it) with no variety of lines to choose from again, still looking forward to Smokescreen and Red Alert.

oh well. makes sense though.

Since there not going to continue with Henkei, I would like to see more Alternity.

I wonder what will happen with Alternity now. If it expands past two molds I may be interested. Hopefully it wouldn't get as monotonous and stale as Alternators did. Good call.

Hey, just because you refuse to sell your car, blood, your body, etc. to get to Botcon like everyone else doesn't give you the right to bitch about it. Besides, the price should be more than paid back in free beers, if you did go.

Yeah this was pretty much known since there was nothing else for them to come out.

After them it will just likely be Strafe, Ghost Starscream, Clear Mirage (if he's not out by then), and the last Generations Book mail away figure (if it's a Henkei fig).

Randy

Damn. I was hoping they'd keep going with repaints. Ie: Sunstorm, Grapple, Outback, Swindle...

Crap crap crap.

Well, Sunstorm could still happen. Just because the mainline is over doesn't mean that they may not release a few exclusives like Dirge, Thrust, Clear Mirage, Ghost Starscream & Strafe. Sunstorm seems ideal as some kind of exclusive for them... the others... not so much.

I'm sure Henkei will be back after the movie. I'm not worried. It will give my wallet a rest.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!! so much left to do!

I hope they bring the Universe line back after the movie or I'll be sooooo pissed!

I'm glad they squeezed Smokey in there before ending the line. Looks soooo much better than the Hasbro version.

I guess hoping for a whole new something or the other to replace the space that will get left over by the movie-verse vacuum would be a stretch eh?

As much as I love the movie stuff, at least give us SOMETHING else to be excited about. But, I guess all the third party stuff can keep me busy for awhile....sigh

I'm not surprise. There are no unique molds left and with the movie coming out, it was unlikely for TakTomy to continue making new molds for the line.

O well I have all the remaining releases on preorder and my wallet will breathe a huge sigh of relief. Here's hoping to some nice Henkei figs in 2010.

We might hear something at Botcon, only like 2 more months.

Ditto, but my heart is saddened. God i love henkei. Damnit!!!

Its probably on hold till after the movie is done. Look want happened to Binaltech its back now.

Hello

Couldn't "The End" mean the end of the article? lol Maybe I'd think differently if I was reading the article, but I doubt it. Usually "The End" at the END of an article means "End of Article".

I just noticed I said "article" way too many times.

Anyways, it's indeed finished(for now), then that's cool, I guess. Overall, I liked Henkei better than Universe, but what can you do. Just wait, I suppose.

Eh we knew Universe was going on hiatus so it makes sense so is Henkei. It would be really cool if we could get a Sunstorm report from Henkei during the "drought" but Universe/Henkei will be back in 2010 so no worries.

I'm still waiting for Hasbro to release their Special Edition of Cliffjumper with a proper Cliffjumper head onto the red Bumblebee deluxe mold. I remember them mentioning that before they released the first four SE (Optimus Prime, Megatron, Overkill, Drag Strip). I hope they haven't ditched it.

As for the end of Henkei line, I'm not at all worried. They'll be back. Hasbro still has plans for the Universe line after they are done with the Movie line. The Movie line only lasts when the theatrical movie is still around or until their DVD/BR sales die down, I think.

I knew I should have waited to get Henkei Smokescreen...my Hasbro version looks so dull next to my Henkei Bluestreak...

It will be back in a year when Universe comes back. I'd be willing to bet on it.

It doesn't really match what the designers were saying in that translated article from a couple of weeks ago. I thought the article suggested sales were good, and look forward to more Henkei in the future, please keep buying and playing, etc etc

If you look closely at the pic, it actually says, "The End?" Question mark. If they're gonna put a question mark, to me it feels like just a teaser. You might as well put "To be continued?" Japanese dramas love suspense and i suspect this is just a suspenseful teaser of sorts. Once i saw that question mark, i was much more relieved.

Yes I agree that the question mark is more than meets the eye!

The Classics line is too good to throw away.

I think that was reliant upon how well the Special Editions did in their intended markets (Asia and Australia). Since we've not heard of them since October-ish last year, I think they've been cancelled or being held back.

For years now Takara (and later TakaraTomy) have largely been content on having Hasbro decide on the main line toys (and Hasbro presumably paying for their development), which Takara would then release themselves later on. In recent times they've rarely done things without Hasbro initiative, unless it's Japanese collector-specific things like Alternity, Music Label and Sports label.

Edit: oops.

Yes? No?

I dunno. They are out of major characters to do from the Universe molds, and they typically don't bother with stuff like Micromaster-homage repaints.

Stuff like Sunstorm, Breakdown, maybe Grapple will be exclusives if released at all.

(sigh) Are there any good TF lines that aren't ending this year? I need to snatch up Red Alert and Ghost Starscream, and I guess that's about it. Coupla Animated figures and Encore releases too. Then, it will be a time of slumber for my wallet in the world of the Transformers.

Gehh, end of Henkei, end of Universe. bleeh...