TFW2005 member Kenucme reports that in the December issue of the Transformers Collectors Club Magazine the 4th Collectors Club Exclusive figure has been announced as a recolour of the helicopter mold from Bruticus Maximus and will be named Topspin.

You can view the original post here.

The dates and location for BotCon 2008 have been announced over at BotCon.com and they are

BotCon 2008, April 24th - 27th 2008, Duke Energy Center Cincinnati, Ohio

Turner Broadcasting have sent out the following Press Release for Transformers Animated

There’s more than meets the eye when Cartoon Network premieres a 90-minute feature presentation of Transformers Animated Movie “Transform and Roll Out!” on Wednesday, December 26, 2007 at 8 p.m. (ET, PT). The adventure begins when Optimus Prime and his small crew of Autobots come into possession of the AllSpark, a powerful Cybertronian artifact that attracts the attention of their long-forgotten enemies, the Decepticons, and sends them crashing to a strange and distant planet known as Earth.

The movie kicks off the brand new series, Transformers Animated, set to premiere on Cartoon Network Saturday, January 5, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. (ET, PT). Set on Earth in the near future in Detroit, the series begins when the alien Transformers are thrust into a world populated by humans and automatons. As visitors to Earth, the Transformers --Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Prowl, Bulkhead and Ratchet-- work in the human world, interacting with the ‘natives’ in exciting and humorous ways. Following the Autobots across the galaxy to their new home, is the megalomaniacal Megatron and his army of ruthless Decepticons, a brutal race of war-mongering robots who seek to use the AllSpark as their ultimate weapon of destruction!

The Autobots unlikely guide through Earth society is a brash, energetic 8-year-old girl named Sari Sumdac, the adopted daughter of a robotics magnate. Setting the Autobots up with their headquarters in an old abandoned auto plant on the outskirts of town, Sari not only becomes an “honorary Autobot” by enlightening them on such mysteries of Earth life such as megamalls, holovision, hoverboards, junk food, and basic hanging out, but also becomes a vital component of the team in their adventures. For the AllSpark endows Sari with a very special power, one the Decepticons would love to get their hands on, not to mention the AllSpark itself.

Transformers Animated is jointly developed by Cartoon Network and Hasbro, Inc. and is co-produced by Cartoon Network Studios. Matt Youngberg (Teen Titans, The Batman) is supervising director, Derrick Wyatt (Teen Titans) provides the character designs and Sam Register (Ben 10, Teen Titans) serves as executive producer of the series. Marty Isenberg (Danny Phantom., X-Men, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) acts as head writer.

Hasbro and HPG, its licensing division, will expand the action-packed Transformers Animated series through toys, games, licensed merchandise and promotions around the world.

Hasbro (NYSE:HAS) is a worldwide leader in children’s and family leisure time entertainment products and services, including the design, manufacture and marketing of games and toys ranging from traditional to high tech. Both internationally and in the U.S., its PLAYSKOOL, TONKA, MILTON BRADLEY, PARKER BROTHERS, TIGER and WIZARDS OF THE COAST brands and products provide the highest quality and most recognizable play experiences in the world.

Cartoon Network (CartoonNetwork.com), currently seen in more than 91 million U.S. homes and 160 countries around the world, is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.’s ad-supported cable service offering the best in original, acquired and classic animated entertainment for kids and families. Overnight from 11 p.m.-6 a.m. (ET, PT) Sunday-Thursday, Cartoon Network shares its channel space with Adult Swim, a late-night destination showcasing original and acquired animation for young adults 18-34.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, is a major producer of news and entertainment product around the world and the leading provider of programming for the basic cable industry.

Following the Gold Big Convoy toy gallery update, we've now updated a further 16 Transformers toy galleries including Black Zarak (requested by Madman Entertainment). Here's a list of the updated galleries:-

1. BotCon Exclusive - Beast Wars Arcee
2. Beast Wars II - Black Lio Convoy
3. Collectors Edition - JafCon Exclusive Black Convoy
4. Transformers Car Robots - Super Fire Convoy
5. Transformers Car Robots - Stealth Mach Alert
6. Transformers Car Robots - Stealth Speedbreaker
7. Transformers Car Robots - Stealth Wild Ride
8. Transformers Cybertron - Brimstone
9. Transformers Cybertron - Hardtop
10. Transformers Cybertron - Repugnus
11. Transformers Cybertron - Lugnutz
12. Transformers Cybertron - Thunderblast
13. Transformers Cybertron - Undermine
14. Transformers Cybertron - Wreckloose
15. Japanese Exclusive Generation One - Black Zarak
16. BotCon Japan 1997 Exclusive Super Highbred Model - Lava Galvatron

Simon Furman has posted the following update on his blog.

Uh-huh, that’s right, it’s out this week (29th November) — Transformers Devastation #3. Lots of shocks and surprises to found therein, not least in terms of who’s actually drawing the issue. Regular artist EJ Su had to take some time out to become a daddy (aww), so Nick Roche (Spotlight Shockwave) stepped in to cover. And what a damn fine job he does too! Nick takes Ratchet, Verity and Jimmy through some considerably lethal hoops, courtesy of Sixshot, as well as continuing Hot Rod and Wheeljack’s run-in with the Headmasters (plus more on the intertwined fate of Hunter and Sunstreaker).

As I’ve rumbled on about before, this is where everything changes, and what was a secret war goes public in a big, big way. And with various other factions (Reapers, Dead Universe cast, etc) now ready to make their move, it’s only going to spiral further out of control. EJ did manage to find time to, um, conceive a cover for the issue.

You can see it by clicking on the thumbnail below. And for more information on all IDW’s Transformers releases, check out their site here.

We are very excited to bring you an update to our Beast Wars Neo Gold Big Convoy toy image gallery. We now own the toy, the only one we've seen, and you can find images of the figure in all three modes as well as a few close-ups and comparison images.

We are still not 100% sure on the original of the figure? Is it a Lucky Draw toy which has previously not been documented? Is it a Takara staff item, such as the Green Lio Convoy, or something more untoward?

"I have gazed on the walls of impregnable Babylon, along which chariots may race, and on the Zeus by the banks of Alphaeus. I have seen the Hanging Gardens and the Colossos of Helios, the great man-made mountains of the lofty pyramids, and the gigantic tomb of Maussollos. But when I opened the package of promise, the others were placed in the shade, for the sun himself has never looked upon its equal."

Full image gallery coming soon

Our latest site sponsor is none other than UK High Street DVD / CV / Game stockists HMV. HMV is also the only place where you can buy the Transformable Transformers Movie DVD case from, here within the UK, as its an HMV exclusive Released on the 2nd December, you can order it online from the HMV website for �22.99 including free shipping. The RRP is �29.99.

Fun Publications have updated Botcon.com with a teaser quicktime video and image which features Transformers Classics Optimus Prime, what appears to be Transformers Cybertron Crosswise and a third robot all with a purple hue. The quicktime video displays the message "This spring at Botcon 2007 everything you thought you knew will be shattered" and ends with a reversed gen1 scene shifting rift.

According to Toy Retailers Association chairman Gary Grant, the Christmas market, here in the UK, two weeks behind when compared to the same period in 2006. So far, the most popular product is Hasbro’s Igglepiggle followed by "Are You Smarter Than a 10 Year Old?" also by Hasbro and Vivid’s Goldenballs. Mr Grant did point out though that some toys are currently being sold below cost price.

"It has been a very mixed bag this year, business is running about two weeks behind where it should be, and that has caused a number of retailers to stimulate business, which means there are a lot of bargains available, ... There will be less profit for the toy industry this year. Shops are busy, but it has been a slow build and that has led to a high level of promotions and discounts,” he said.

Simon Furman
Staz Johnson (Auto Assembly debut)
Geoff Senior
Liam Shalloo (Auto Assembly debut)
Lew Stringer (Auto Assembly debut)
Andrew Wildman
Simon Williams

After speaking to the manufactures of the knock-off Binaltech and recently announced Metroplex knock-off we can bring you the first actual images of the KO Metroplex toy (a testshot of the figure) as well as the first image of the packaging. Previously all images were of the Hasbro release.

In even bigger news, they have confirmed to us that they are already planning a Metrotitan remake! There is no word as to whether the KO will come with Metrobomb and extra ramp, or whether it will be a straight re-colour of the Metroplex figure. This news will no doubt be extremely popular amongst many collectors, however it will equally annoy those who may already own the figure, as Metrotitan is one of the harder pieces to find. The KO Metroplex is due for release at the end of the month.

Don't forget that you can view images of the both the original Metroplex and Metrotitan figures in our Toy Gallery section along with another 1,929 other Transformers figures.