The April / May edition of the Transformers Collector’s Club magazine has started to arrive! The main highlight of this issue relates to the Power Core Combiners line. In an interview with Hasbro, it is confirmed that they intend to release 9 different Scout + Mini-Con two packs, and 6 five packs – meaning there are another 3 two packs, and 2 five packs which we have yet to see! The interview also mentions that fiction is being developed around the Power Core Combiners line, and an in-universe backstory is given for the line – the story goes that the Power Core Combiners are an experiment in making combiner robots who do not sacrifice parts of their minds in the process of combining, creating smarter gestalts.
Also in this issue is an update on the Botcon registration status, which is being developed in conjunction with “EventMan.com”, so it looks very likely that there will be online registration available this year! There’s also a retrospective interview with Derrick Wyatt about Transformers Animated, which includes some unused season 4 plans (more Dinobots and Constructicons) and all but confirms we’ll be seeing some unused season 4 stuff in the Allspark Almanac Volume 2. There’s also part 2 of a feature looking at Transformers 2010, a look back at Botcon exclusives, and the usual comic and character profiles.
Remember, to receive the Transformers Collector’s Club Magazine, you must first be a member of the Transformers Collector’s Club. Find out more about joining by clicking here to visit the Transformers Collector’s Club homepage.
Many thanks to 2005 Boards member Beastbot X for the detailed writeup of the new issue
CookSux
I finally got my issue in the mail today and let's just say… that the character of [spoilers]Animated Sentinel Minor[/spoilers] being in this just makes this awesome but confusing at the same time. I can definitely still see this as being a story that takes place in the G1 universe, especially with the introduction of the [spoilers]Combaticons[/spoilers] since they were first seen, imprisoned for crimes during the Great War, from their debut episode in the original G1 cartoon. But the inclusion of the aforementioned character (especially with nearly spot on likeness), might shoehorn his universe into this one somehow?
Scaleface
Okay, so let's talk about the actual content, so if it bother you, and you don't know… spoilers ahead for the fiction.
We had some great cameos… Metalhawk, Ironfist, Alpha Trion, Repugnus (in the Around Cybertron). Also, we had old repurposed Botcon toys. The Virulant Clones played the bugs. Botcon Chromia played Alpha Trion's companion (perhaps as G1 Moonracer?) and the Autobot seen in the same councl scene was Botcon Cyberjet Ricochet (not sure who he was).
The last frame had the Combatcons make an appearance. Onslaught portrayed by his Universe Ultra toy. It took me a minute to place the others… They are not based on any toys… they seem to be the Sunbow animated series models redone to Cybertronian modes.
Jarodimus
I don't believe this has been posted anywhere else, but the cover for this issue is up on the TCC site: The Official Transformers Collectors' Club
Scaleface
So who were the new members of the Elite Guard?
Draven
Completely agreed. The very first Transformers comic (which existed to sell toys, let's not forget) was FULL of one gimmick in particular – transforming.
Fit For natalie
Then what are you doing being a Transformers fan? It's been this way since the 1980s.
Jarodimus
And a certain website will post photographs of each and every combination from multiple angles!
Wheeljack_Prime
Let's do some math here:
15 scout figures x 6 right arms x 6 left arms x 6 right legs x 6 left legs x 9 Mini-con chest armor = 174,960 possible combinations.
And if all the arms and legs work equally well on both sides of the figure…that's 2,352,240 combos!
And that's not even counting repaints…
AniProwl
Maybe it will be all bugs and be called the Insecticons.
Scaleface
Do tell.
Hollywood Hoist
I would love a dinosaur combiner. The PCC 5 packs aren't the best looking, but I think they're quite clever with the gimick with the auto transforming. I for one am trying to narrow my collection down and those PCC are making it difficult.
Slimaximus
Just got mine, the last frame of the comic=EPIC
B-Fox
I'm liking how it's implied WFC is going to be the all-purpose G1-centric past the same way the future depicted in Beast Wars/Beast Machines is the all-purpose G1 future.
And how much do you want to bet one of the next PCC five-packs might be the trademark registered "Airachnid", a transforming spider-thing, that would come packaged with a team of insect and reptile, or dinosaur drones called Predacons?
Railguard
I don't think they should have named them Ariel bots and Combaticons. I grew up with them and I like the way they were originaly introduced, I do like the back story to these new ones but I will pass and just get the individual transforming ones and leave the rest, they are pretty much just kibble anyway.
Fort Max
The new PCC info is intriguing, glad to see that some planning and thought has gone into this and it isn't just a filler/gimmick line.
WhiteMocha
I'm sorry…. I know it has already been quoted…. but this just makes me chuckle.
Ash from Carolina
Sounds like a pretty good idea for the Power Core fiction. Gives it some logic so it could used in other Transformers lines while at the same not killing the idea of more traditional gestalts if they wanted to use them later on.
Between what is being released and all the gestalts a fan could make by switching around drones that's going to be a lot of different possible gestalts to display. I was thinking with them being smaller I wouldn't need all that much shelf space but sounds like I'm going to need a lot more space.
Beastbot X
Yup, that's it.
Scaleface
Is it Micron Booster Beacon?
Beacon (2004) – Micron – http://www.tfu.info