TFC Aethon [Project Ares] - Pictorial Review

Now, for something that's I've been waiting for. The 4th component of Ares, Aethon (Not-Tantrm)! Can't believe that Ares is almost complete, with Not-Divebomb coming in August/September.

Short backstory of Tantrum can be found at MMC Bovis Pictorial Review.

Fans Toys FT-04 Scoria - Pictorial Review

This review is sponsored by X2OToys

It seems that almost every year, there are mutual agreements between Hasbro/Takara and 3rd Party companies in terms of what to present the fans with. Through Age of Extinction, Bay manages to bring the Dinobots to the mainstream viewers and fans.

At the same time, a lot of unofficial releases centered in the Dinobots, Planet-X Not-FOC Dinobots for instance. The latest are a new teaser of Not-Dinobots by Fansproject. However, before that, Fan Toys and Gigapower (not to mention Bullsfire) offered the fans Masterpiece rendition of the Dinobots to accompany official Masterpiece Grimlock. And the first to see the light of day is Fan Toys FT-04 Scoria, Not-Slag.

Pic Credit : TFWiki

One of the nastiest Dinobots out of the 5, Slag can easily be the source of stereotype surrounding the team, labeling them as disturbingly violent, mean-spirited and just a push away to become a Decepticon. Pure killing machine, Slag will engage in any battle in a blink of an eye, without caring what the outcome would be.

Pic Credit : TFWiki

Transformers Takeover Contest - Help needed

Guys and gals, currenly participating in a picture contest held by Transformers Malaysia on Facebook. If you don't mind, please help me and open up this page Transformers Takeover Contest > Click GALLERY, find my picture below and click LIKE.

Thanks~

Toyworld TW-H03 Swamper - Pictorial Review

It's been quite sometime since I reviewed anything by Toyworld. The last was TW-03 BII in January. Let us move on to their new offering, TW-H03 Swamper (Not-Skullcruncher), the first Decepticon Headmaster from Toyworld.

Pic Credit : TFWiki

In The Headmasters cartoon series, Skullcruncher was among the group small Cybertronians who flew out to escape the never ending war, under the command on Fortress [Maximus].Crashing on Planet Master, the crew fight for survival on the planet which resulted them building a larger, lifeless Transformer bodies called Transtectors.

After rigorous physical and mental training, the crew manage to master this new technology and became the Headmasters. However, Skullcruncher and several others rebelled against Fortress and sided with the traitor, Scorponok.

Pic Credit : TFWiki

Transformers Age Of Extinction - Just some thoughts

Watched the premier of Transformers Age of Extinction with fellow TransMYian on June 25th and wasn't disappointed to be honest. But to make it clear, I'm not a Bayformers fanboy not am I a hardcore Geewuner. Been enjoying all thing Transformers from all the series, the comic books (IDW, Marvel, Dreamwave) and few other medias.

Pic Credit: Web

Never intended to write anything about it but stumble upon a review that shockingly gave AoE some 'harsh' critiques which to me only partially true and the best part, putting something like

" 'I'm also quite sure the old-time fans would be disappointed with bla bla bla "

This won't be a proper review, just few points I like to let out. Let us begin but first, MAJOR SPOILER ALERT!

Negative

1 - The movie is quite too long for my taste, nearing 3 hours. Felt that some parts can either be excluded or compacted

2 - Galvatron is one of favourite character in Transformers universe, but Bay should've at least waited a bit as Megatron has been dead and brought back to life for quite few times already. TF5 maybe?

3 - Hate the new Decepticons way of transforming

Positive

1 - Human characters aren't as annoying as the previous 3. Mark Wahlberg played his character well. AoE changed the movie franchise from spastic comedy party into having more mature atmosphere.

2 - More robot screen time!

3 - Better storyline than the previous 3 and it seems Bay did some homework this time. In case people are wondering, here are some homages that could be found in the movie

• Flat-cab truck that Optimus Prime transform into in the beginning of the movie is a homage to Generation 1 Optimus Prime
• Lockdown role as a bounty hunter, just like when he debuted in Transformers universe during Animated.
• The resurrection of Megatron is based on the storyline of TF Animated where he trick Dr Sumdac into building his new body.
• Having the Dinobots fossilized reminded me of IDW Spotlight : Shockwave. Hope there'll be detail explanation of why the Dinobots were there in the first place. 
• The alliance with Dinobots was nicely done. Personally, better than it was in G1 and Animated
• The human-created Transformers reminded me of the fate of Sunstreaker in IDW Devastation series.
• The 'creator' that was mentioned by Lockdown might end up end up with 2 possibilities. (1), the Quintesson or better yet, (2) Unicron [and be default, hopefully, Primus]
• The first time in the franchise that the story heading somewhere, a bigger arc. Rodimus and the cast of 86 maybe?

Transformers Movie franchise was never 'phenomenal' from the start. There are ok parts and some bad parts. However, found out that AoE currently being targeted with thoughtless reviews which is kind of weird. However, as the fan of Transformers Franchise (not just someone who suddenly knows everything about Transformers after watching the 4 live action movies ie "his childhood"), I find that AoE is better than what I expected.

I get that people say not all reviewers a fan of a certain franchise etc. True, there's a lot of reviewers know Transformers from the movies only, no more. However, I would've been better if they some homework just to have a basic idea. Why? Because they are reviewer. Is it right if I reviewed a Generations figure then complaint there is no die-cast parts? If you decide to do a review of anything, there must be at least some knowledge of it.

Let say I watch a love story which ends with both the main characters died, no happy ending. Is it right if I say it sucks and a stupid movie when it's an adaptation of "Romeo and Juliet"?

Generations Autobot Scoop - Pictorial Review

This is one review that I've been dreading to do for reasons that I'll explain later. Once in a while, Hasbro choose to release few obscure characters that are sometimes even fans are unfamiliar with. They did that back in 2011 for example, with the release of Generations Darkmount, Sky Shadow and Thunderwing.

For 2014, Hasbro released Generations Autobot Scoop, a character that is new even for me.

Pic Credit : TFWiki

Scoop is an Autobot Targetmaster, the 4th Autobot Targetmasters to be released under CHURG after United Stepper, Artfire and Henkei Strafe. Known as one of the best field infantries, Scoop uses both cool-headed logic and battle-hardened tactics to fight and crush his enemies on the battlefield. I have no idea in which media did Scoop first appeared but he's in Marvel continuity, Generation 2 and also the more recent IDW Generation 1, among others.

Pic Credit : TFWiki

Generations Deluxe Tankor - Pictorial Review

One would thought that Beast Wars was the most unorthodox and controversial Transformers franchise when it was aired in the 90's. But then 1999 came in and we have Beast Machines (BM), a 26-episodes sequel to Beast Wars.

Season 1 of BM focused on the Maximals (Optiumus Primal, Rattrap, Cheetor and Blackarachnia) being back on Cybertron...but not the Cybertron as they know it. All that's left is a deserted Cybertron with streets patrolled by mindless Vehicon Drones serving Megatron and at the same time, the Maximals are infected with a deadly virus that'll kill them. The problem was solved with the help of a supercomputer, the Oracle which reformats them into technorganic bodies.

On the other hand, we have Drones serving Megatron evil plan, specifically Tank Drones, lead by the tank general, Tankor. Tankor along with the other Vehicon Generals, leads Megatron mindless army in keeping the planet under control and to fight against the Maximals.

Pic Credit : TFWiki

Tankor and the other generals are the only ones granted sparks, as opposed to normal drones. Tankor fought again and again with the Maximals, holding onto Megatron's promise of "fabulous prize to be won!" for getting them into captivity. And the Maximals anything they can to defend themselves from Tankor brutal attacks. However, much to their dismay, Tankor turns out to be their beloved comrade that fought side-by-side with them during the Beast Wars, Rhinox

Pic Credit : TFWiki

Rhinox was one of the unlucky ones during Maximals' returned to Cybertron. Unlike the Transmetals that were able to stay mobile for a short period, Rhinox was held captive by Megatron and had his spark forcibly removed. The spark was later used to power Tankor, the tank general with hope that the Maximals will be less willing to fight him. But Megatron failed to foresee that Tankor end up being only slightly more intelligent than the rest of the Tank Drones.

Pic Credit : TFWiki

Despite Optimus Primal attempt to reach Rhinox's spark, he was too late as the spark was already tainted by his time inside Tankor, rejecting the Maximals and supporting Megatron's idea of technologically-pure Cybertron....but only the idea, not Megatron himself. This resulted in a fail coup d-etat and Tankor was killed. Rhinox expressed his regret over his actions when Optimus Primal met him (his Spark) one last time within the Allspark.

The widely-inaccurate BM Tankor
Pic Credit : TFWiki