We have another slow week of sightings around the world this time. New Legacy and Studio Series toys have been found in Australia, the new Legacy Velocitron Deluxes have showed up in Germany plus some new Legacy and Studio Series toys, and the new Masterpiece Movie Blackout has been found at retail in Mexico. TFW2005 Weekly International Sightings Round Up – September Week 2 - Transformers News - TFW2005
I was unaware Hasbro has the Studio Series (SS) sub-brand in Germany. A risque & touchy subject, I would have thought.
Small correction, my dude: I saw them [SS86-15 Sludge and Legacy Blitzwing] in Morayfield, Queensland. Most times when people see something anywhere in ACT it's barely worth mentioning, as that territory (what makes a state and territory different I'll never know) seems to behave almost completely independent to the rest of the country - mostly due to the people making the rules not wanting to live by them, I guess.
... Why? "SS" is a fan abbreviation. It doesn't appear anywhere on the toys' packaging. By your logic, the characters Starscream, Sunstorm, Silverstreak, Sideswipe and Sunstreaker should also be taboo in Germany by default. And to think of all the people with the initials "S.S.". We Germans aren't stupid. We can tell the difference.
Quick update: Found the exact same line-up at my local Smyths store. No Clampdown, no Knock Out, no Elita-1, no Tarantulas, no DOTM Bumblebee, no '86 Arcee, but multiples of Blurr, Cosmos, Burn Out, Road Rocket, Wild Rider and Sideways. Smyths is getting them in solid cases, just like the UK initially only got Cosmos by himself. UPDATE: Lo and behold, the exact same figures found in stores are listed on the Smyths website now: https://www.smythstoys.com/de/de-de...xe-decepticon-wild-rider-actionfigur/p/206059 https://www.smythstoys.com/de/de-de...peedia-500-collection-autobot-cosmos/p/211891 https://www.smythstoys.com/de/de-de...8-deluxe-klasse-sideways-actionfigur/p/206055 https://www.smythstoys.com/de/de-de...ocitron-speedia-500-collection-blurr/p/211889 https://www.smythstoys.com/de/de-de...ollection-diaclone-universe-burn-out/p/211890 https://www.smythstoys.com/de/de-de...0-collection-g2-universe-road-rocket/p/211892 Then again, they're also listing Legacy Jhiaxus and Soundwave: https://www.smythstoys.com/de/de-de...niverse-voyageur-jhiaxus-actionfigur/p/206066 https://www.smythstoys.com/de/de-de...legacy-voyager-soundwave-actionfigur/p/206070
Of course Germans aren't stupid. And of course they can tell the difference in vehicle licence plate with SS combo, if it wasn't prohibited. But I digress...
A context-less "SS" on a license plate is different than a toyline clearly labeled "Studio Series", with no standalone "SS" abbreviation anywhere on the packaging. One is open to interpretation, the other is pretty clear in its meaning. Just like we can use the word "Führer" in multiple contexts just fine, though mostly in compound terms that give it a clear context, such as "Fremdenführer" ("tourist guide") or "Führerschein" ("driver's license").
