Hasbro's Plans for 2008

[kayevcee]

Courtesy of Cool Toy Review

In addition to Star Wars, TF and GI Joe, Hasbro has 3 Marvel movie lines out next year in the form of Indiana Jones, Incredible Hulk and Iron Man. Hopefully they've learned the lesson from Mattel's handling of Superman Returns and the case assortments won't be "5 different Iron Man figures with different gimmicks and one villain figure".

Anyhoo, TF puts in a pretty big showing:



Transformers Animated Voyager Assortment
9 figures

Transformers Deluxe Animated Assortment
15 figures

Transformers Leader Assortment
3 figures

Transformers Animated Activators Assortment
8 spring-loaded quick transforming figures

Transformers Universe Deluxe Assortment
8 figures

Transformers Universe Ultra Assortment
4 figures

Transformers Universe Assortment
8 figures

Transformers Movie Screen Battles Assortment
4 figures with scaled human figures


Transformers Universe Robot Heroes Assortment
13 two packs

Transformers Allspark Battle Packs Assortment
8 two packs


Transformers Animated Battle Pack w/DVD


Roll Out & Command Optimus Prime
Optimus comes to life via automorph technology. This talking figure can automatically transform.



The mind boggles at the thought of three new Leader-class figures next year, especially as the Hasbro chaps said at Botcon that Animated would be limited to deluxe and voyager and Universe (Classics year 2) to deluxe and ultra. I suspect Desert Camo Brawl counts as one, but the other two... I really hope they don't repaint Megatron.

There's an interesting TF-related bit further up too:

Marvel Legends Transformers
Well, there are 8 of these planned, and we guess some people might like them…

8! That's an entire wave! My first impulse was unfettered joy at the idea of Hasbro putting out highly articulated figures of Death's Head, Centurion, Circuit Breaker, Ghyrik et al (collect all 8 to assemble the giant Quintesson Judge/Mechannibal!) but then my brain's realism centre kicked in and I figure these will probably be highly articulated, non-transforming versions of Prime, Megatron et cetera. We'll see, I guess.

-Nick

[The Doctor]

I feel I must highlight this important section:

'no modern day Hasbro collection is complete without our starchy friend, Taders Of The Lost Ark. '

-Ralph

[KoshNaranek]

No mention of Classics 2.0 there, or am I missing it? Hasbro did mention that it was possible planning a Galvatron figure that is supposed to be a brand new mold and not a Megatron repaint. I agree Brawl is probably one of the leader class and it is possible that they may be including Nightwatch Prime in there as well as I don't think he's very widely available Stateside yet.

- Tony

[Bogatan]

Brawl Nighwatch Prime and the Premium Prime and Megs would make 4, but the premiums might only be store exclusives so not counted.

Classisc 2.0 are the Universe listings. I think.

Andy

[KoshNaranek]

Ah, that makes sense. Galvatron may be one of the Ultra figures.

- Tony

[kayevcee]

Yes. The word "Classic" doesn't exactly get the kids bouncing up and down for a product, so they went with the less, well, old sounding "Universe". 8 deluxes and 4 ultras- a pretty good showing, all told.

A good point about Nightwatch Prime- from what I hear he's essentially been a UK/Japan exclusive (and in Japan they're releasing the UK version with a Japanese sticker on it) while the US version is soon to be available slightly altered as "Allspark Power" Optimus Prime. Since I don't expect to see any more movie character redone as leaders (although as ever, Blackout would be awesome) I fear the third new leader figure may be "Allspark Power" Megatron. Sigh.

For being a small line, Animated certainly has a lot of figures in its "year 1" assortment. Especially if they're all unique moulds.

-Nick

[Shockprowl]

Yes, very excited about the Classics/Universe! No Masterpieces mentioned there though.

No Superhero Showdown mentioned... I want Apocalypse! oh well...

[The Doctor]

No Apocalypse for you.

-Ralph

[Shockprowl]

Pffft Apocalypse is so yesterday... It's all Thanos now, baby!!!