Top toys of 2017

So here I am once again, doing a top toys of 2017.  And battling with the stupid table layout of live writer.

Once again, I’ve kept a list of all the toys I’ve nabbed over the year and this year is looking a little low on the count, with a definite reduction in lines.  You can plainly see that I have been focussing on Legends figures, that and the reduction in quantity is mainly due to a change of living circumstances.  This year has been a bit low in regards to Masterpiece releases especially due to the year being full of  recolours.

Here’s the list of 2016

These are the toys for this year:

Racing Miku 2015 team Ukyo (figma) Bruce Lee Yellow Tracksuit version (Figuarts) Team Rocket (Figuarts) Magneto (revo Yamaguchi) Kup/Char (Legends) Sharkitcon & Sweep #7 (Legends) Trypticon (Legends) Hot Rod (Legends)

TriggerHappy (Legends) Brawn & Repug (Legends) Kickback & Clouder (Legends) Broadside & Repug suit (Legends) Misfire (Legends) Doublecross (Legends) Megatron (Masterpiece) Kondor and Apeface (Legends) Rewind and Nightbeat (Legends) God Bomber (Legends)

Once again, honourable mentions go to the whole Transformers Legends line with their headmasters.  I seriously love the crappola out of these guys.

Legends Comic Translation LG21 Hard Head

Ladies and gentlemen!  I am proud to present, finally, the translation of Hardheads in pack comic! 
Like, properly edited and looking like a comic. 

AAAAaaaand the best news is that after carefully going over the comic, my run down of it’s story is the same as my dodgy typing up of the story back when I reviewed the toy.  His bio was translated there as well, so READ IT.

YAY
FOR
ME.

Enough blah blah;

Energon Hot Shot, Reflective Review

While trawling through an old back up drive, I managed to find a little project of mine that I worked on while in uni.  It was a basic and HTML programmed page for my own hosted Transformers review page.  Oh the chuckles I had while looking at this.  So, since I am still alive but sadly have less time for blogging, I thought I would post what I did there on here.  Slightly changed as I had a few text links linked to pictures, and it’s just easier to embed pictures in blogger.  So here we go.  Enjoy my naïve views of toys when I was a younger grumpy old man.  Enjoy the work of my wonderful 3.2 megapxiel camera when I had very little idea how to use it.

First Review I’ll post will be for (drum roll please)  ENERGON HOTSHOT.



Incidentally, that’s the style of the page I was going for at the time.

Headmasters Prologue Issue 37 Legends Comic Translation

Rolling along with the translations, here is one I’ve been eager to do for one main reason.  To find out HOW the Headmasters lost their bodies.  So after putting it off as it looked tricky, then starting it thinking it wouldn’t be that bad, then getting stuck on trying to make sense of the pseudo science that makes up the explanation, I finally have it completed.  This is a web comic, not included with any toys and is available in the original form on TakaraTomy’s Transformers Legends website, but in the very likely chance that it will disappear (like the bio info for Micron Densetsu did), I have the original comic, English arrowed version and arrowless version.  Notes at the end of the post.

Transformers G1 Unofficial Photographic Archive book project

I was sent this link from a friend and turns out it is being done by another friend, so being a friendly guy, I am going to spread the word.

There is a kickstarter project for a Photo archive of all toys G1.  These things are great to look at and I would like to see this supported, because, well books are awesome.  So first link is off to Heroic Decepticon's blog for a bit more info, or get yer butt over to the Kickstarter page directly for all the shebang and explanation one could need.

Do it, do it now.   I'll still be here when you get back.


This has been a public service announcement.

Trypticon VS Dynazowra!

Or how to shamelessly cross promote nerdy things.

You may have noticed that I am a bit excited about a certain large dinosaur Transformer that has been recently released.  Well in the way the internet works, I entered into a deal, or drunken texting (whatever), idea thing to promote a friend's blog.

Big Angry Trev's Comparison of Trypticon and Dynazowra

He's a bit of a nutter and so has bought both the Hasbro Trypticon as well as TakaraTomy's Dinazaurer (to use TF spelling).  The good news is, since most people see TT as doing different colourations and stuff to Hasbro, he has done a lovely jubbly comparison between the two versions.  I am sure, to many people's delight.


And after reading it, perhaps dismay.

LG43 Trypticon toy comic Translation!

***Updated with a better scan of the comic***

Hi guys n gals, Finally I’ve completed this epic piece of work.  What started out as fun ended up being a bit of a rush as I got into it.  The release of the second part to his prologue the day before I received the toy was a shock, but finally, I have here a translation of Trypticon’s in pack manga!

For those wondering, chronologically:

Prologue, Plan Dynazowra!

Part 2 Activate!, Decepticon Civil War

Then this one.

Massive thanks go to Big Angry Trev for providing me with a scan!  Get on over to his site for some interesting takes and views on the world.  He’s a great bloke!  He has done a comparison between the Hasbro and TT version of Trypticon/Dynazowra, so get there and have a look.  I’m not gonna spoil it for ya!

   If I get a chance, I’ll work on getting a cleaner scan (amd I have) , but for now, this will do nicely!  Enjoy!  Oh as a bonus, I’ve done the bio as well. 

LG43 Dinozaurer Trypticon Web Comic Translation Number 2

Well, here is a tricky one.  It is listed as issue 44 on TakaraTomy's website, but its another web comic for #43 of the Legends Line.  It's the comic for Trypticon.    Webcomic #1 is here.
For the sake of history, first is the original Japanese comic, followed by my English Arrow help version and then a clean English version.

Once again, share and enjoy!

LG40 Astrotrain Legends Comic Translation.

Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls, I am proud to present a translation of Astrotrain’s comic from the Legends line.    Read it, enjoy it, ask some questions, spread the love and have a look at my other comic translations that I’ve done. 


Make me famous!

Give me Money, as I’m going to need some if this wonderful trend is to continue, as I sure as hell don’t have enough to buy all these blasted toys.

Saturn's Metal Slug Slowdown Conparison

Here is a video I made that is meant to show the difference in slowdown when using the 3 main RAM carts for Saturn Metal Slug. Starting with the Action replay, 4mb Ram and the 1MB Ram.  Check it out.


Jump to about 10:50 for a direct comparison.

LG38 Condor and Apeface Comic Translation

Due to me liking a challenge, I went ahead and translated the comic for Apreface and Condor (laserbeak) of the Transformers Legends Headmasters line.   

At first, I was going to make this a full video review, but after testing myself and trying to make a motion comic, I started filming the footage for the toy and came across a problem.

I love Apeface.

I hate Laserbeak.

I ended up with about 15 miinutes of some rather boring footage which I could use, but it would suck.  So I stuck with making the motion comic and am currently thinking about re-doing the toys themselves.

So, here we go.  Enjoy the video, I had fun working on it and it took a rather long time.  If you want to read the comic, I’ll have the translated version below.

Once again, thanks for looking.






And finally, the original version.

LG 43 Trypticon Web Comic Translation

With the oncoming LG 42 Dinasaurer coming along, I thought it would be cool to get my act together and translate the webcomic.  Sourced from Takaratomy’s website.

God Bomber –> First Impressions

Since my time for making posts with nice photos is often limited, I’ve decided to start a little section that has some dodgy phone pictures and my initial thoughts on a toy as I open it.  I’ll start this momentous occasion with God Bomber, or thanks to my phone’s auto correct, God Bimbo.

The joys of the Nemesis System In Shadow of Mordor.

Also, the Annoyances of the Nemesis System in Shadow of Mordor.

Weirdwolf and weird comic

*New cleaner updated comic!*
Getting back on to the Headmasters, I have here an update of an original one, Weirdwolf.  Out of the G1 Weirdwolf

Headmasters, I believe I’m missing Highbrow and Weirdwolf.  As a kid I really wanted ALL the Decepticon Headmasters and Skullcruncher and Weirdwolf remained far from my grip for the longest time…

So here is Weirdwolf, recreated faithfully with modern engineering techniques, does he live up to my expectations?

The short answer is yes.

Transformers Devastation Unwrapped

Hey there, watch me play Transformers Devastation for the first time (rather badly I must say) and hear my thoughts as I play away.

Top 5 toys of 2016

Well, that time of year again, and I might as well go through a top 5.  Looking at last year’s post, I also listed what toys I picked up.  Well here we go again!

Nendoroid Kirby	Freddy Mercury
Figma Racing Miku 2016 Race GT	Figuarts Captain America Cv War Ver
Legends (Mind) Wipe	Figuarts Zenigata Keibu
Legends Highbrow	Figuarts Daisuke Jigen
Chogokin Voltron	Figuarts Mina Fujiko
Legends Fortress Maximus	Figuarts Lupin III
Combiners Wars Dragstrip	Masterpiece Beast Convoy (Optimus Primal)
Legends Skull(cruncher)	Masterpiece Hot Rod
TAV Bisk	Unite Warriors Bruticus
TAV Windblade	Legends Shockwave & Cancer
TAV Scorponok	Legends Wheelie & Go Shuta
TAV Runabout	Legends Blurr
Unite Warriors Menasor	Legends Hardhead
Legends Galvatron	Legends Weirdwolf
Combiner Wars Deadend	Legends Scourge
Legends Chromedome	Legends Ginrai
Condor and Apeface	Figuarts Freddy Mercury

Quite heavily Transformers weighted this year and about the same amount as last year. 
It’s been a good year, but since the Transformers line is moving along with the Titans Returns headmasters line and seems to be doing so nothing all that super exciting that has me champing at the bit.  Although, I am feeling a bit of burnout and will look forward to the Transformers movie and obvious run of ugly toys with which I can easily skip.

Scourge Legends Comic Translation

Happy new year!  A bit late, but here I have for you a translation of Scourge’s Legends comic.  Once again in Arrowed, arrowless and Japanese versions.  Some notes at the end of the post for reading accessibility and because it’s a pretty weird story.

Toy review is here, along with Bio Translation

• Obviously AI is a police officer Looking for Alpha Trion.  In The Ultra Magnus comic (WIP), if I remember correctly I believe AT says he has left over power of the Matrix in him.   Hence the Old Man Matrix.
• In the 5th Panel, with AI complaining about the number of Sweeps, the FX say “wai.”  “Wai wai” is an onomatopoeia for excitement/lots of movement.  I couldn’t think of a way to make that work.  Although just now I thought I could have used “bustle bustle.”  Oh well.
• In the 8th Panel, the red FX as Scourge exits the room is phonetically “doar”.  So since he’s making a hole to get out, I decided that the best way to spell it was door.  
• Shockwave and Cancer are at a summer festival.  The Legends world is primarily set in Japan and during summer, there are many festivals that culminate in a fireworks display.   Obviously the explosion of Scourge and the falling Sweeps are seen as the fireworks.  Scourge was released in Summer in Japan, along with Shockwave, Cancer and Blurr, a nice little touch.
• Zodiac Power is a reference to a mystical power that first appeared in Transformers Zone.