Transformers Generation 2012 volume book coming

Seibertron have found listings for a new 2012 volume of Transformers Generations by Million Publishing.

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These preorders can be viewed at Amazon Japan and Ami Ami. We have no information as yet of what if any exclusive figure offer that might come with the book.

The description on the Ami Ami order page gives us a little detail about what the book covers courtesy of Google translation.

Japan finally landed! Full CG animation feature large "Transformers Prime" latest
Masterpiece, and Revoltech, · · ·! Thoroughly research the latest items in 2012
overseas edition toys from all public!
"Transformers / Dark Side Moon"
development literature that appeared Transformers toys, mail order magazine interview designers valuable
! ? [Appendix] 1. Special double-sided poster and highly material 2. "Gaiden Super God Masterforce Pretender - Transformers" comics to draw down the full

This book is scheduled to be released around April 17 or 18.

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Source: Seibertron.com


For those that know much about these books:
* It is not an updated or new edition version of Transformers Generations, it's the latest in a series of volumes from the past few years that focus primarily on the current year's toys
* It is all in Japanese (with some English toy names listed too)
* It should cover off all the remaining DOTM toys (Japanese and US) that the 2011 volumes didn't include

I'll be looking to pre-order mine tonight as I had a lot of trouble finding 2011 volume 2 last year.

Oh and the book has an exclusive with it. United Targetmaster Artfire. Maybe people will care now :p

The Artfire is interesting.

I think HD will be very interested in this once he gets back from his travels :D; I'm really wishing I'd decided to pick up Stepper now, as he would've complimented this Artfire figure well IMO - A damn good idea and offering indeed. ;):cool:

Some sample images from the upcoming book.

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Originally Posted by griffin

Some sample images from the upcoming book.

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looks pretty cool :D

The Generations books (both the original bible and the recent updates) are all great but the most recent books go a bit unloved - apart from the exclusives that come with them. There weren't even TFwiki pages for most of the recent books until I added some.

You won't be able to read them, but for photos of all US and Japanese toys from the last 7 years the series can't be beat.

Indeed. They are an archive that has no Western equal... and I'd love to see them backtrack the years between the original Generations book and the first of this new series (2007 I think). Or have them as half-half volumes to pad out the current ones with the years since Gen2.

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Originally Posted by Paulbot

I'll be looking to pre-order mine tonight as I had a lot of trouble finding 2011 volume 2 last year.

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So you found one? kinokuniya had a whole stack of them, about $58 tho. :(

I got 2011 volume 2 from eBay in the end. The seller did write his name in the book though ;) . I've got this edition on order with HLJ.

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Originally Posted by Paulbot

I got 2011 volume 2 from eBay in the end. The seller did write his name in the book though ;) . I've got this edition on order with HLJ.

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Smart ass :P Furman wrote the comic in it didn't he?

So I was actually going to asK - Do you know if the 2012 has comic content?

Yes there's a preview image here of a comic page with second year Pretenders (like Pincher and Doubleheader); to go along with a Pretender themed "Collection Maniax" it seems.

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Originally Posted by Paulbot

Yes there's a preview image here of a comic page with second year Pretenders (like Pincher and Doubleheader); to go along with a Pretender themed "Collection Maniax" it seems.

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Cool, thanks. :)


... which reminds me, I have a bunch of Steppers to offload... :rolleyes:

Apparently this was released about a week ago (April 21st) - I was surprised to find it at BotCon from one of the JP dealers.
I was even more surprised at how "current" it is, with quite a few items that have only recently been revealed to fansites, so aren't even released yet.

There's a huge poster attached to the inside of the front cover of various United toys in action poses.
The classic theme for this issue, as already noted in posts above, is the Pretenders concept... which may have been inspired by the recent Classics toys Thunderwing & Skyshadow/Blackshadow homage toys. (I wouldn't be surprised if TakaraTomy have looked at continuing the theme by doing their own Metalhawk after FunPub pulled off a decent homage).

The sections in the book:
- TFPrime cartoon, characters & JP Voice Actors.
- TFPrime toys & Microns (including single-pack Microns, showing us an Optimus & Bbee Microns like the Wave 2 Microns), plus the First Edition series.
- 4 pages of the upcoming Garigari-kun/Iceblock Transformers, including prototypes and transformations.
- MP Starscream, MP Sunstorm, United (only the two waves released earlier this year, plus Stepper & US Gen Junkheap & Skyshadow), Encore Soundblaster & Twincast, BAPE grey Optimus, last year's Disney Mickey pair, EZ Wave 2, Revoltech Bbee, the last two sets of Kabaya Models (showing off some combinations of the new Protectobots, and that Hotspot can even form the battlestation 3rd mode that the original toy was supposed to have).
- TF3 toys, including various JP & US exclusive toys, mechtech weapons and gold coloured lucky-draw figures.
- a page of pics of that JP Winter Ice-sculpture.
- 11 pages of Gen1 Pretenders, including designer interviews and some design drawings of unproduced toys.
- Catalogues from JP 1991-1995.
- Movie Props (or replicas of movie props) of Wheelie, Frenzy & Brains (their alt-modes).
- Production process (drawings & prototypes) of Striker Optimus, The Ark, some Human Alliance figures, some small TF3 figures, and Kabaya Protectobots.
- More from current designers and Marketting, including a small section on the recent SG convention.
- 3 pages on the United Stepper and how to get it.
- B&W comic, featuring (only) the Gen1 Pretenders.

Inside the back cover jacket, a gallery of all the previous (recent) Generations books, as a checklist for those wanting to collect them.

hmmm my HLJ preorder hasn't come through yet for final payment etc.

I'll be following this up.

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Originally Posted by Paulbot

hmmm my HLJ preorder hasn't come through yet for final payment etc.

I'll be following this up.

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Isn't Japan/HLJ basically on it's Golden Week holiday? Not sure, but a lot of sellers arn't shipping currently because of it. HLJ are slow to charge/ship regardless. :rolleyes:

HLJ are back from holidays and asking for my money. :)

Can I ask how you guys will go about claiming the exclusive Artfire? I was reading some of the terms and conditions somewhere and I'm sure it says they wont ship Artfire ext. from Japan. Any info would be appreciated.

Thanks...

Having a friend in Japan, or buying from ebay/dealer is the only options outside of Japan.

Thanks Griffin,

I did some research a found a forwarding service in Japan.

http://www.tenso.com/en/

It looks like they only charge a one off handling fee of around $8 depending on conversion rate + international shipping cost.

It will come down to whether I can pay for artfire and the shipping to this forwarding service via paypal/cc as the forwarding company does not accept cod or pay on delivery etc.

Anyway my 2012 book is on its way from HLJ as I write, so I'll post my success' and/or failures up here when artfire is available to order.

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Originally Posted by Ravagecat

Thanks Griffin,

I did some research a found a forwarding service in Japan.

http://www.tenso.com/en/

It looks like they only charge a one off handling fee of around $8 depending on conversion rate + international shipping cost.

It will come down to whether I can pay for artfire and the shipping to this forwarding service via paypal/cc as the forwarding company does not accept cod or pay on delivery etc.

Anyway my 2012 book is on its way from HLJ as I write, so I'll post my success' and/or failures up here when artfire is available to order.

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I use tenso and I dont think they allow for COD deliveries, which as far as I know is the only way to pay for Artfire. I could be wrong though. On both accounts :p


*edit*
Unfortunately tenso wont accept COD deliveries.

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Tenso.com cannot accept products paid for by Cash on Delivery at our storehouse.

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unless they changed the conditions for the purchase, you might be a bit stuck.

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Originally Posted by Tetsuwan Convoy

I use tenso and I dont think they allow for COD deliveries, which as far as I know is the only way to pay for Artfire. I could be wrong though. On both accounts :p


*edit*
Unfortunately tenso wont accept COD deliveries.


unless they changed the conditions for the purchase, you might be a bit stuck.

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Yes you are right and COD is the only method million publishing will use to send Artfire internally to an address in Japan. Suddenly purchasing this from someone like bigbadtoys is looking more and more convenient. Even if you have a friend in Japan, you need to consider the fact that millionpublishing are wanting around $75AUD (One 6,000 yen (1,200 yen, consumption tax + shipping and handling 4,800 yen tax)) for one toy plus international shipping to AUS. you are looking at over $100. Oh well...

My copy arrived today, and I was disappointed by the Maniax section on the Pretenders. It only shows the shells with only a token example of each type's interior and robot style. Most Pretender robots are a bit boring sure, but it means it's a lot less comprehensive than the previous Maniax editions.

I was also disappointed to see what the DOTM Legend Dinobots looked like without the Hasbro photoshopping. Glad I never got those!

Got from Ebay...Not that great:mad:

Meh... I just got it cos I needed the order form for United Artfire. But yeah, the book itself isn't that great. Nothing beats the original. *sniff*

I still quite enjoy these.

BBTS had some on clearance a few weeks ago, for any stragglers.

I like all of em, and got them all now. Got some cheap from BBTS as the prices they charge on ebay are quite high $12 vs $55 :mad:... but as for the Artfire figure I had to order thru BBTS as I dont have a Japan Address :p

But still, I wanted the figure so he can pair up with Generations Ricochet which came from BBTS as well. If anyone wants Ricochet, I beleive he's on sale pricing now in BBTS I guess there weren't too many biters with the price they put on him. How unfortunate that I bit too soon, had I waited I couldve gotten him much cheaper. Oh well :o:o