Product Placement (Mild IDW Spoilers.)

[Sky Shadow]

http://img802.imageshack.us/img802/7067/hbj6.jpg

At some point, we went from a time where few contemporary Transformers comics characters had modern toys. Now, as in the splash from Robots in Disguise #27 above, most of the characters seem to be subliminally whispering, 'buy my toy now!' In late Marvel, all Dreamwave and early IDW we went through a decade of Hasbro basically paying no attention to the comics, but now that IDW issues are actually packaged with the Generations toys and toys are even based on comic designs, I'm trying to figure out to what extent the characters being selected for the stories are suggested by Hasbro. Back when - say - Scoop, Waspinator and Rattrap first appeared in Spotlight: Thundercracker/Robots in Disguise, I saw them as interesting choices by John Barber. Now - considering the time it takes to create a toy - I'm assuming it was in fact a case of Hasbro back in 2012 telling him - this is a list of the toys we're planning to make - work them into your comics. Now that we're conscious of this, the toy placement has become hilariously obvious - I'm looking at you Sky-Byte, Crosscut and Tankor. So... judging by any new (and particularly leftfield) character selections in MTMTE and RiD at the moment, I'm thinking we can possibly work out which G1* toys might be in the pipeline for release in 2015-16. To what extent do you think I'm right or wrong about this, and does anyone think there are some characters who look suspiciously like they may have a toy on the way?

(*Yes, I know it's weird that I'm talking about Waspinator, Rattrap, Sky-Byte and Tankor and calling them G1 characters.)

[GoktimusPrime]

A welcome return to toy-driven comics! Yay! :D Now if only Hasbro Australia would release these damn toys here. :/ I miss the old days when the Transformers who appeared in my comics would also be available in local stores.

[MayzaPrime]

I for one hope we get the Undead Titan :D

Generations Dinobots would be awesome, I would even like to see Rung.

[Sinnertwin]

Makes sense
Oh, hey, who's that guy & when does his toy come out?

[Bidoofdude]

FOC Ironhide, yes please. Dinobots and Rung are in it too, hope we get toys. :)

[griffin]

Since Hasbro appears to be making the Generations line be their main line for older, non-gimmick collectors, it would make sense that they are pushing to have as many current toys as possible featured in the comics, so that it they could claim to retailers that there is "media support"... both in print and online (the growing apps market).
If it helps get the Retailers on board, and doesn't affect the story too much, it should be a good thing.

[BigTransformerTrev]

Well judging from the pic:

*We currently do have: Warpath, Whirl, Swerve, Metroplex, Cosmos & the Minicons. Crosscut, Arcee and a new Jetfire are on the way.

*We currently don't have a WFC Ironhide, a Generations Swoop, Snarl, Slug & Sludge and a Rung.
(I'm still surprised we have yet to see a WFC/FOC Ironhide - he's a major character in the TF universe, was in the games and has been major in the comics. A simple remould of WFC Soundwave would do him a treat!)


I can't tell who that is over the back of Swerve's headflap, who is behind Whirls right elbow, and is that Dirge flying in the background (albiet with blue wings)?

[Paulbot]

I can't tell who that is over the back of Swerve's headflap Sideswipe, who is behind Whirls left elbow Astrotrain, and is that Dirge flying in the background (albiet with blue wings)it's Blitzwing?

RID has felt like a toy ad for a while, while MTMTE seems to inspire toys.

That's a great spread too. If only all Dark Cybertron looked so good. And if only this was on the back of the toy boxes G1 style.

[BigTransformerTrev]

Good eye Paulbot! :)

[Omega Metro]

I love that pic. It's like a 'Where's Wally' Transformers.:D

[GoktimusPrime]

And if only this was on the back of the toy boxes G1 style.
^Friggin' great idea! :D

I'd love to see G1 Generations toys released in G1 style packaging w/ IDW artwork. :o
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Transformers/vintage%20retcon/vintage_jetfire_box_classic_thrilling_zpsb9399ea7. jpg

[SuspectimusPrime]

RID has felt like a toy ad for a while, while MTMTE seems to inspire toys.

That's a great spread too. If only all Dark Cybertron looked so good. And if only this was on the back of the toy boxes G1 style.

I'd really hate to see a RID-inspired Prowl toy - his "helmet wings" appear to be shrinking with every second issue (or with the frequent changes in artists).

Early RID:
http://wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net/80450F/comicsalliance.com/files/2013/02/tfrid-014-pr-main.jpg
via: http://wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net/80450F/comicsalliance.com/files/2013/02/tfrid-014-pr-main.jpg

Current RID:
http://static.seibertron.com/images/misc/uploads/1370358092_Truthhurts.png
via: http://static.seibertron.com/images/misc/uploads/1370358092_Truthhurts.png

Compared with MTMTE:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5bWIPyBm0LQ/UGYxM5CgLJI/AAAAAAAAIr8/OitqdczTcQo/s640/transformersmtmte9b+prowl+throws+tables+around.jpg
via: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5bWIPyBm0LQ/UGYxM5CgLJI/AAAAAAAAIr8/OitqdczTcQo/s640/transformersmtmte9b+prowl+throws+tables+around.jpg

If an updated IDW-verse Prowl toy was to be released, I'd prefer it to have helmet wings with a good chance of taking out my eyes!

[Lord_Zed]

Well Dark Cybertron has been a jumble of characters with a not particularly well told story line and almost no character development, if this is the price we have to pay for toy driven comics then it might be time for me to take a break from TF comics.

Of course it could also be that Dark Cybertron is just not very good irrespective of having Hasbro mandated characters.

And if IDW are only going to use Hasbro toy characters now, I guess we wont be seeing the Scavengers or the DJD again. :(



I'd really hate to see a RID-inspired Prowl toy - his "helmet wings" appear to be shrinking with every second issue (or with the frequent changes in artists).

Early RID:
http://wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net/80450F/comicsalliance.com/files/2013/02/tfrid-014-pr-main.jpg
via: http://wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net/80450F/comicsalliance.com/files/2013/02/tfrid-014-pr-main.jpg

Current RID:
http://static.seibertron.com/images/misc/uploads/1370358092_Truthhurts.png
via: http://static.seibertron.com/images/misc/uploads/1370358092_Truthhurts.png

Compared with MTMTE:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5bWIPyBm0LQ/UGYxM5CgLJI/AAAAAAAAIr8/OitqdczTcQo/s640/transformersmtmte9b+prowl+throws+tables+around.jpg
via: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5bWIPyBm0LQ/UGYxM5CgLJI/AAAAAAAAIr8/OitqdczTcQo/s640/transformersmtmte9b+prowl+throws+tables+around.jpg

If an updated IDW-verse Prowl toy was to be released, I'd prefer it to have helmet wings with a good chance of taking out my eyes!

Ever since Prowl got that stupid Prowlimus Prime upgrade he's looked like crap. He may as well just be Ironhide with ornamental forehead wings.

[Jinto]

That's a great spread too. If only all Dark Cybertron looked so good. And if only this was on the back of the toy boxes G1 style.

Uh huh. Desktop wallpaper worthy for sure.


I'd really hate to see a RID-inspired Prowl toy - his "helmet wings" appear to be shrinking with every second issue (or with the frequent changes in artists).

Early RID:
http://wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net/80450F/comicsalliance.com/files/2013/02/tfrid-014-pr-main.jpg
via: http://wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net/80450F/comicsalliance.com/files/2013/02/tfrid-014-pr-main.jpg

Current RID:
http://static.seibertron.com/images/misc/uploads/1370358092_Truthhurts.png
via: http://static.seibertron.com/images/misc/uploads/1370358092_Truthhurts.png

Compared with MTMTE:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5bWIPyBm0LQ/UGYxM5CgLJI/AAAAAAAAIr8/OitqdczTcQo/s640/transformersmtmte9b+prowl+throws+tables+around.jpg
via: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5bWIPyBm0LQ/UGYxM5CgLJI/AAAAAAAAIr8/OitqdczTcQo/s640/transformersmtmte9b+prowl+throws+tables+around.jpg

If an updated IDW-verse Prowl toy was to be released, I'd prefer it to have helmet wings with a good chance of taking out my eyes!

I agree, but I'd love to see the new Skids mould redone as MTMTE flashback Prowl. I suppose we won't get that though, as it'd be too close to Crosscut in colouring. I'm surprised they didn't go with Prowl in the first place since he's such a popular character.

[i_amtrunks]

I agree, but I'd love to see the new Skids mould redone as MTMTE flashback Prowl. I suppose we won't get that though, as it'd be too close to Crosscut in colouring. I'm surprised they didn't go with Prowl in the first place since he's such a popular character.

I've been expecting/ hoping for news of a WFC Ironhide/ MtMtE Prowl repaint set of toys for a while, ever since Prowl's horns started to shrink in the wash.

[GoktimusPrime]

Eh, Prowl already has a Classicsverse toy. Just get the IDW artists to revert back to drawing according to that figure (as they did momentarily before). I'd rather see Hasbro continue to focus on producing Generations toys based on G1 characters that don't have Classicsverse figures yet (Gears, Huffer, Outback etc.).

[Trent]

RID has felt like a toy ad for a while, while MTMTE seems to inspire toys.

That's a great spread too. If only all Dark Cybertron looked so good. And if only this was on the back of the toy boxes G1 style.

Now THAT would be cool.

[klystron]

RiD and MTMTE are a bit like toy catalogs. Well drawn, well written, catalogs with good storylines. But I welcome the comic accurate toys. Just like many people appreciate show (or movie) accurate toys.
For my money, the character/personality plays a big role in the a toy's appeal as well.