I've preordered every MP from 11 on. I was also involved in retailing them for a few years. Once you're through those early adopters who'll pay what it costs to import them, that's it, then it's "oh, these are official, I wanted the knockoff, nevermind..." (actual quote referring to MP-21G at show). I see the Japanese sites often close their preorders right after their own ordering window closes and it surprises me that the US sites don't do the same.
Knowing why something is weird doesn't make it not weird! That said, this is pretty as hell for yet another nothingburger of a character!
Not for me as not a S1/S2/Movie character. But cool nonetheless. Inferno didn't have enough details - with the stickers, this has faaaar too much.
Looks like stickers on the toes right? Also, they should've just made this like the seekers and went with MP-33 Inferno MP-33G Grapple MP-33A Artfire MP-33H Hauler etc and keep 37 for Cliffjumper or Jazz
Hopefully Nightstick can be reused for a future Masterpiece Scourge, though it's more likely Hasbro would do that as Scourge was never a Targetmaster in Japan. Note to those that aren't aware... Japanese Nightstick was the same figure as Fracas in Japan. Cyclonus' Targetmaster Nightstick was Stepper's partner Nebulon in Japan. Hasbro confused things even more when they reissued Stepper and called him Ricochet and called his Targetmaster Nightstick.... Anyway, looking forward to Amazon Japan preorders for both Artfire and God Bomber...
Very happy (though of course not surprised) about Artfire. As with Blue Bluestreak, Black Tracks and Exhaust before him, the MP line is doing a nice job "scratching the itch" for figures I've always wanted but likely won't own any time soon. Those tampos and/or stickers do look a little out of place, though. Never cared much for the "G1 toy detail on MP" look. If they're tampos, no problem, certainly not a deal breaker. If they're stickers, I'm just leaving them unapplied. As an aside, as much as I like this figure, I always thought it was a shame that Artfire had red legs and arms. I feel like in both modes he'd have looked better in all-white, and it would make him even more distinct from Inferno. But I guess I should take that up with 1987 Takara. I'd love a CJ too... but comparisons like this, between repaints and all-new molds, are apples and oranges. And these cash-grab (but historically-rooted) repaints help justify the original mold's existence and fund future new molds. If and when we do get a Cliffjumper, you can bet we'll see a no-name yellow repaint of him as well... "taking space" from whatever new MP people are clambering for at the time.
Exclusives get a letter. All of the Seekers save Starscream have been exclusives, so they don't get their own numbers. Artfire isn't an exclusive so he's MP-37. Hauler will likely be exclusive and just get a letter.
Artfire and Godbomber look ballsmazing. I'm gonna be even greedier and say G1 reissue Artfire please and thank you.
Godbomber looks... weird. Like he looks like a REALLY good Legends-class figure, but in Leader-size. Artfire... huh. While obviously i have more of a tie to Inferno, that MP Inferno felt too plain for me, and I love me a Targetmaster. But... I really do hate the colors on his firetruck mode.
Well, BBTS didn't waste any time; MP-37 Masterpiece Artfire - Transformers Masterpiece Masterpiece LG42 - Godbomber - Transformers Transformers Legends Figures
Godbomber looks great, but I can't afford to import both it and compatible Ginrai. I like PMOP just fine, and will keep my fingers crossed Hasbro comes up with something.
I do wonder if Takara were to release Targetmasters with Cyclonus and Scourge , I kind of doubt they would, if Cyclonus would come with Artfire's in black and Scourge with a theoretical Stepper's in silver in order to match Rebirth and the Marvel comics or if they'd match the toy pairing? Since Fracas looked like a silver Nightstick in the cartoon and Nightstick a black Fracas.
Artfire looks fantastic. Now I don't feel so bad not being able to get inferno. But now another decision to make, artfire or grapple????
