The geek-fan event known as "Squirtle-con 2011" took place yesterday in the Cambridge area of England.  The one-day fan event featured your usual convention activities such as toy trading, a video games area, episode screening, social discussions and lots of food and drink.  The event also saw two exclusives per attendee that went down a storm with everyone in attendance.

When trading slowed down at the event most of the attendees could be found popping to a local Tesco's store to pick up more items.  My brother himself picked up most of the Thundercats 2011 figures in a mad collecting spread.

Final attendee figures are still be collated, but the event was universally deemed a huge success with representatives from the UKs two biggest fan sites Transformers At The Moon and Full Metal Hero both strongly supporting the event.

Pictures from the event till no doubt be doing the rounds on Facebook (other social media sites are also available).  You can read about the hauls of some of the attendees on our message board.

I'd like to thank the organisers and attendees for a great event and I look forward to the next one

Transformers Galaxy Facebook page have shared 22 images of the new Maketoys Battle Tanker, the images haev been mirrored on Full Metal Hero.

The Battle Tanker is an upgrade kit for Universe Prime to make him more like the original Transformers Generation Two Laser Rod Optimus Prime toy.  Expect a Black Battle Convoy / Scourgekit later.

Dealers tables allocations are going very quickly for Auto Assembly 2012 and bookings for them are already close to that of Auto Assembly 2011! Tables are still available for dealers who are interested but you’ll need to book sooner rather than later to get the best spots in the hall! We will need to know how many tables you are interested in booking along with prompt payment so we can make sure we can fit you in! For those of you who are regular dealers who haven’t been in touch yet, please do not assume that we have automatically reserved space for you as tables will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

If you want to book table space at the convention, you can get the form here.

Two more LA-based guests announced for Roll Out / Roll Call 2012!

We're 16 weeks away from Europe's largest combined G.I-Joe / Action ­Force and Transformers show Roll Out / Roll Call 2012 and it is with great pleasure that Transformers At The Moon can exclusively reveal the names of two more guests for the show.

The pair are long time fans of both Transformers and G.I-Joe / Action Force and will be making only their second appearance at a European Convention.  They are well known within the fan communities of both franchises as well as generally being two of the nicest and most interesting people you could meet.  Have you guest who they are yet?

That's right, the guests are none other than Jim Sorenson andd Bill Forster, writers of the both the Allspark Almanac books, the Ark Books (all three of them) and most recently Allspark Almanac Addendum (published within issue 6 of the Timelines comic that re-printed The Stunti-con Job).  Jim and Bill will be on hand all weekend to meet, great, sign, and generally hang out with fans of both shows as well as taking to the stage over the weekend to give a presentation and take question on both Transformers and G.I-Joe.

Jim and Bill were extremely popular guests when we bought them over for Auto Assembly 2010 and we have been keen on bringing them back to the UK for another show.  At the same time they are both as keen, if not more so, to come back to the UK and meet up with everyone again and so brings us all great pleasure to have them back on these shores for a show that covers not just Transformers but also G.I-Joe, a series that both these men care about.

So if you were unsure whether to attend Roll Out Roll Call 2012 in Southampton next March, then I hope that this announcement will convince you to attend the event and support it.

RollOut Roll Call 2012
10th - 11th March 2012
Jurys Inn, Southampton

Twitter: @rolloutrollcall
Facebook: All The Cool Stuff­
Website:  AllTheCoolStuff

Sponsors / News Network
Transformers At The Moon - www.transformertoys.co.uk
Blood For The Baron - www.bloodforthebaron.com
What's On JOE Mind - whatsonjoemind.podbean.com
Full Metal Hero - www.fullmetalhero.com
­The Nerdsphere - thenerdsphere.blogspot.com/

Pics from previous events can be found on the facebook pages:

Roll Call: Roll Call Action Force/ GI Joe Collectors Event | Facebook
Roll Out:Roll Out, Transformers Day | Facebook
Roll Out Roll Call 2 Roll Out/ Roll Call 2 The Transformer/ Action Force/ GI Joe Show | Facebook
­
Each show has got bigger and better and we hope many of you will be able to join us for the next one in March 2012.

Stay tuned this week as we'll be exclusively announcing more guests for Roll Out Roll Call 2012 - the premier cross brand, Action Force / GI-Joe / Transformers convention.

The guests will be making their RORC debut and are flying in from Los Angeles ....

It's 5 months until the biggest celebration of Action Force / GI Joe outside of the US, and the site of the ONLY show dedicated to Transformers and their Real American Hero friends, Roll Out Roll Call 3.  So I thought i'd remind you of reasons to visit Southampton in the UK.

Guests

1. Larry Hama - writer of GI Joe (Comics, Profile cards) - first ever appearance in the UK
2. Simon Furman - writer of Transformers (by that time heavily into Transformers 81 - 100)
   
3. Andy Wildman - artist (at that time heavily into Transformers 81 - 100)
4. Robert Akin - worked in comics on titles such as: G.I. Joe, Snake Eyes, Heroes For Hire, - first ever appearance in the UK
   
5. John Good - Transformers G1 Packaging Artist + GI Joe Packaging Artist
   
6. tba
   
7. tba 

Panels

1. The History of Action Force - A retrospective look back at the development of the Action Force toy line, from it's early Palitoy inception, through International Heroes to GI-Joe.
   
2. Leave No Man Behind - insite into never made Action Force toys
3. Cosplay Contest
4. Customs Competition
5. more exclusive panels to be annouced
   

Dealers

Transformers and GI-Joe / Action Force dealers galore, with third party products for sale and other toy lines

Our thanks go out to Dave Tree for letting us know that if you take a trip over and listen to Episode 28 of What's On Joe Mind, you will find out who is the 5th guest for Roll Out Roll Call: A fancast about the world of GI Joe » What's on JOE Mind?.

Along with Larry Hama & Robert Atkins, this new guest is another first for a UK show and is someone that is related to both Transformers and G.I-Joe.

We can also confirm that this will not be the last guests announced for the show, so stay with us as the excitement grows

Thinking of attending Roll Out Roll Call 2012, the UK's premier Action Force and Transformers combined fan event, then you will be interested in reading a post by AnnieM over at BloodForTheBaron

"The Travelodge sale is now on:

Southampton Travelodge has rooms for the weekend at reduced rates
Friday - £15.00 per room
Saturday - £25.50 per room
Sunday - £15.00 per room

Parking is available at £3 per 24 hours

The Travelodge is only half a mile's walk from the Jury's Inn

Bookings are NON-REFUNDABLE.

If you visit the Travelodge website, don't use the "quick book" function for these prices, but rather use the "sale" button on the left hand side. Using the "quick book" gives substantially higher rates for the Friday and Sunday nights

Because Travelodge make it difficult to book more than one night at a time on their sale promo pages, you might want to click here http://www.travelodge.co.uk/hotels/info?hotelId=66 and any dates you enter will be listed at the correct sale prices"

If you are not sure about attending Roll Out Roll Call, which takes place over the 10th and 11th of March 2012 at The Jury's Inn in Southampton, England, with the show promising bringing together fans and collectors of both Transformers and Action Force / G.I-Joe together under one roof. The first two "guests of honour" were announced as being two legendary writers, GI-Joe A Real American Hero writer Larry Hama (who will be signing for the first time in the UK) and Transformers & Action Force writer Simon Furman.

The show will also feature a cosplay contents, have exclusive figures produced just for the event as well as holding behind the scenes panels giving you a greater insight into the shows and toylines with information you may have never seen before.  More guests and panels will be announced over the coming weeks including some big news for Transformers fans so stay with us as well as Blood For The Baron and The NerdSphere for all the latest on this show. 

­TFW2005.com member Bignick1693 has posted a photograph of the Diamond reprint of the Botcon 2011 Stunti-con Job comic book that comes with a teaser for Botcon 2012.  The image, which is mirrored below features an image of Reveal The Shield Optimus Prime and the following tag line:

An enemy thought defeated
A power thought to be legend
At Botcon 2012, Earth's survival rests
in the hands of just one robot...­

­Below you will find various links to articles relating to both the New York Comic-Con and the Victoria Toy Fair.

Seibertron.com

Hasbro Panel (video available below) http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/nycc-hasbro-transformers-panel-video/22993/

Victoria Toy Show - G1Uppers pre-show - http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/victoria-toy-fair-2011-coverage-g1uppers-preshow/22994/

Victoria Toy Show - Headrobots pre-show - http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/victoria-toy-fair-2011-coverage-headrobots-preshow/22995/

Victoria Toy Show - eNcliNe desigNs - http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/victoria-toy-fair-2011-coverage-encline-designs-preshow/22996/

Victoria Toy Show - Miscellaneous - http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/victoria-toy-fair-2011-coverage-miscellaneous-photos-and-teasers/22997/

The Allspark

NYCC panel, photos and summary - http://www.allspark.com/content/view/9558/20/

TFW2005.com

NYCC Panel - http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/conventions-15/key-images-from-the-transformers-panel-at-nycc-173563/

Videos

Hasbro Panel

Exclusive Toys

All The Cool Stuff have sent out the following announcement regarding the announcement of two new guest for Roll Out Roll Call 2012.  If you do not know what Roll Out Roll Call is then allow me to explain.  The event if a two day convention taking place in March in Southampton here within the United Kingdom.  The show is dedicated to Action Force, G.I-Joe and Transformers.  Next year will be the third show for this growing event and we encourage everyone who is a fan of one of these lines to drop by as it's going to be a blast as well as a great chance to catch up with some fellow fans at the end of the Winter.

Back to the news, here is a copy of the announcement

"Since announcing Larry Hama's attendance, there's a lot of excitement and interest in Roll Out Roll Call 2012, the UK Transformers, GI-Joe & Action Force show.  Want to know next 2 guests for Roll Out Roll Call 2012? Checkout & listen to Episode 25 of "What's on JOE Mind" for the exclusive new guest announcements: http://whatsonjoemind.podbean.com

TFormers have spotted that Matt Tieger, the Game Director of Transformers Fall of Cybertron (from High Moon Studios) will be attending New York Comic-Con 2011.

Matt was previously in charge of Transformers War for Cybertron.

NYCC kicks off Thursday October 13th until October 16, 2011 at the Jacob Javitz Center. He will be at the Activision Publishing booth as well as attending the Hasbro panel.

We'll be attending Roll Out Roll Call 3, Europes premier Transformers and GI-Joe convention .. in fact one of (if not the) only show dedicated to both Transformers and GI-Joe .. and we'd better not forget Action Force, and we hope that you will all attend.

All The Cool Stuff have posted more details regarding the event online, including a handy "Travel Guide".