Product Placement (Mild IDW Spoilers.)

[Sky Shadow]

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! 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

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.