New Year, same Zone Base

As 2017 comes to a close, I just wanted to thank everyone for reading Zone Base. Happy New Year and here's looking to another year of Adventures in Transformers and other strangeness here at Zone Base!

Saban's Cybertron

Spoilers: It became VR Troopers. 

I probably don't have to explain the name change.

POTP Legends wave 2 looks awesome

Over the past few days, pics of the next wave of Legends for Power of the Primes popped up and provided a neat holiday surprise. Legends are becoming one of my favorite things to buy in TF. They're the perfect size, perfect price, and they're genuinely great toys. The next batch looks pretty great. Roadtrip and Battleslash combine to a great looking Battletrap. That's super neat! Tailgate looks fun too and potentially a better update of him from the last version. I've got the current wave sitting in my toy room from my wife over Christmas, I should really get to opening them. I've been on vacation the past week and really just enjoying the down time.

Figure King issue 239 Power of the Primes pages

Lot of folks are disappointed that the Takara version of POTP is identical to the Hasbro versions. Me not so much as I haven't bought any of the other Takara versions of the Prime Wars trilogy (though may have to do that for Ramhorn at this rate). I do though really like looking through Figure King and other Japanese toy magazines. I'm not pretending to understand Japanese, but man their magazines just have a certain flair (wwwooooo).

Nothing says Christmas like Battle Beasts!

Having a super fun Christmas full of robots, rangers, and games. Hope everyone out there in Zone Base Land is having a happy holiday!

White Christmas Hope

With some early Christmas gift card money, I ordered something I've really wanted last night. My first Drive Head! I've really wanted to get into these and the opportunity to get some always just out of reach. The one I wanted to get most was this sweet ambulance unit named White Hope. So, I've ordered him and his corresponding Rescue Helicopter! Going with a free shipping option, they won't get here for a few weeks, but what's a few more weeks when you've been wanting something for over a year?

An eternity.

Santa's on his way!

I'll most likely not be posting much until after Christmas, but if you want to keep up with what I'm doing, please check out my Instagram. Hope everyone has a Happy Christmas out there in Zone Base land!

Evolution Revolution

Beast Wars II intro

Beast Wars Neo intro

It sinks up with Wizard of Oz

I legitimately really like Dark of the Moon. I all around had a ton of fun during it's time. I thought (and still think) it was a good movie. It's seriously my favorite Transformers live action movie and I'm not ashamed to say that. Not to mention, I really liked it's accompanying toy line. Those were great toys with a lot of variety. The iPad game was really good too.

One Step Henshin

Beastformers/Battle Beasts card game

Zoids Base

Power Rangers Zeo intro

Zoids

I'm pleasantly surprised to learn of this Zoid. While I don't consider myself a scholar of Zoids, I have spent a long time being a fan of them. So seeing this guy was a surprise. He's very similar to Iron Kong, maybe based on his skeleton as his mechanics are similar. Makes me think of an Invid Shocktrooper. If anyone reading could tell me the name I'd be grateful.

Scamble Power

I've mentioned before how I love the little tokusatsu productions used for Japanese toy commercials. A shinning moment is the toy version of Scramble City (or Scramble City II as we used to wrongly call it). Just this awesome showpiece that uses the toys dramatically that tells a story. This just isn't another toy, this is a character in it's own adventure.

Iron Kong

Micro Power

Zone Base

Car Robot

Mighty Morphin Sega Rangers

Star Wars The Last Jedi

After what felt like an eternity after our purchasing the tickets in October, I saw the newest Star Wars movie last night. I went in completely excited and left completely happy. I won't go into anything that could be considered spoiler related but do plan to give my thoughts here. Star Wars transcends movies to me, it is something that I love and is very dear to me. It's the exact starting point for all of my interests and has always been something of a friend to me my entire life. I think of it as a family member and hold it in a special place.

The Last Jedi is a excellent movie that follows the warning that Luke gives in the trailer in that this is not going to be what you think. TLJ doesn't bow to fan speculation and outright dares to be what it intended to be. Something that I believe is the source of anger some feel towards the movie. I've noticed this time and time again and notice it again. When fans swear one thing and it end up being something else, they more than often don't handle it well. Myself, I was pleased. Not everything has to be more than it is. Sometimes a character can be who they are without the relation of another to lean on.

TLJ is a story about loss and redemption. It's a story about making mistakes and learning from them. It's a more story based movie that leans on characters learning their place in things. The story carries the characters into their respective individual arcs that's full of twists and as the trailer told us from the beginning, doesn't go as you think it will. That's the hook of the movie and where it's beauty resides.

Visually the movie is striking, with stark colors and mixing the themes of ugliness underneath/hidden beauty. It delivers a mix of warmth and love with dark cold violence. If I have any complaints is that a few bits of cgi looked like they could have been done better. Nothing major, to me anyway. Because once again, as the story tells us, it's what's below the surface that counts.

In all, I love the movie and am 5 million percent happy with what I saw. I love Star Wars and my happiness with a new movie each year cannot be beaten. Thank you Disney for giving me this world where I get this magical experience once a year.

And I'll form the oh hai

While pictures of the lions from the upcoming Playmates Classic Voltron set have been floating around, finally pictures of the combined form have surfaced. I honestly cannot wait to complete this guy right here and can't say I won't carry him around with me like a child. He's a member of this family and you'll just have to accept that.

Giving the Islands a new Adventure

It's another Rob imagines Universal Studios stuff post

As my readers know, I love me some Universal Studios Orlando. I'm regularly dreaming up fantasy situations for the park and while I've been having a ball doing it, I feel quite bad that I've ignored Islands of Adventure, the other park on the resort that's really awesome in it's own right. Islands has the awesome Hogsmeade from Harry Potter, a great Jurassic Park area, and that extremely rad new Skull Island. While I certainly love the other areas, the subject of how to reinvigorate them comes up often in various circle and I've put my noggin to use figuring out how to work with some of the other Islands. But, keeping with my sense of economy, I tried to figure out how to do it without sacrificing too much of the great stuff that's already there.

Just picture it

Everyone speculates that the Lost Continent is on the chopping block. Personally, I think the area (what's left of it post Harry Potter) is a really pretty landscape that just could use some sprucing up. With the new Super Nintendo Land coming to Universal Studios, it would be a good use of that license to adapt The Legend of Zelda to the land. Some costume changes here, some decoration changes there. Maybe something extra over there, and it pretty much does itself. Poseidon's Fury could get retrofitted with a new show inside with some of the facade redone to sell the show as a temple or dungeon experience. Mythos just could use a few touches. People complain about the Sinbad show, welp, let's do a new Zelda show in the theater. I honestly think just a little fine tuning, a little re-theming, and a little new bits and bobs and this area could be given a new life that would probably be a hit.

They've already got park history

Folks regularly say Toon Lagoon is also on the chopping block. While I dig the Newspaper comic pages characters, I could see where it could be lost on another person. How about Nickelodeon characters? The water rides could be re-themed to Sponge Bob (he already has a store at Studios!) and I could easily see the stores be re-fronted as newer Nickelodeon characters. Maybe work that boat ride into a multi character ride.

This would be awesome

I think Marvel Island is completely awesome. I'm a big fan of the overall 90's comic vibe and think the Spider-Man ride is amazing. That being said, Disney own's Marvel and it's created a weird situation that many wonder will eventually result in Marvel Island getting removed sooner or later. Going with that trail of thought and working with the fact that Marvel Island already kinda bleeds into Toon Lagoon, what if it became a TMNT/Power Rangers section? TMNT is already owned by Nickolodeon and Power Rangers has been airing on the channel for about 7 years now. That great city facade would lend itself into both quite well. I could see Spider-Man's ride system redone as a new TMNT ride. The Hulk repainted into a Power Rangers coaster (the roar could be the Dragonzord). Doctor Doom and Storm Force is a free fall and tea cups ride respectively that also could be realistically re-themed to the characters.

I know I'm just shooting from the hip as an arm chair quarterback. I have no real knowledge of how these things work past a fans general knowledge. But I see opportunities and things I'd think would be really fun. Not to mention, I kinda really like that park.

Don't look at me like that.

Ultra Magnus 1986

Power of the Primes Dreadwind

My wife gave me a Dreadwind the other day. I've been on a buying restriction until after Christmas as she doesn't want me to buy anything she might get me. Though finding recent Power of the Primes toys that I wanted, I guess she decided to give me one early to tide me over.

Dreadwind is a great toy. Like other POTP deluxes, he's a throwback to Combiner Wars toys. He can form both his modes as well as an arm for a combiner form.

Since Primemasters don't form heads for the bots, the way they interact is a bit different. A Primemaster in its shell homages Pretenders, but out of it's shell homages a Powermaster.  POTP deluxes hand/foot bit doubles as a method for merging the Primemaster and the Transformer.

It looks a bit clunky, and basically gives the robot a beer gut. Though it isn't bad and is a neat way of using the hand/foot part (though I didn't mind the giant weird gun from CW). The part has a little dummy panel to cover the hole where you'd place your Primemasters to create a Primemaster mode. As I don't have any Primemasters yet, I substituted a Titanmaster to get an idea of how it works.

Of course the difference would be a neat rune looking bit giving the robot super powers and not a screaming face in it's chest crying for an end to this horrible life. The hand/foot bit can also be attached in vehicle mode, which on Dreadwind looks like one of those sound box things from G2. Which I don't hate.

So far I'm very pleased with my first experience with a Power of the Primes toy. I'm looking forward to getting more (after Christmas of course... or on... now I'm curious about what's in those packages under the tree) and enjoying the newest incarnation of my Transformers. My only gripe so far s that I wish a Primemaster could drive a larger toy like in Titans Return. Though I believe they can in the Legends and Leader figures. It's a nice combination of the gimmicks from the prior installments of the Prime Wars trilogy and so far looks like a good way to end it.

White Tigerzord

Adding to how awesome I think the Thunder Megazord is, the White Tiger Zord is hands down my favorite of the Zords. Just an awesome design with an equally awesome warrior mode. I especially love it when it merges with the other Zords. That Firebird finisher is just too cool for school. I'm unapologetic with my favoritism of the White Ranger in general. I just think overall it's an excellent costume and Saba is just fun.

Thunder Megazord

While I can never doubt the level of awesome that the original Megazord brought or the touch of sadness that happens when you realize he's being replaced in season 2 (it was around for 60 episodes after all), the Thunder Megazord was just bad ass. This great giant Chinese soldier robot with Zords that were more magical in their approach and just a touch darker feeling in tone. I just re-watched the 3 part Mutiny episode last night while being snowed in. Despite the goofiness of an episode of MMPR (which I honestly enjoy), the entire thing was just a darker episode. I remember when it first aired how I was like "man, things just got real" when Lord Zedd showed up and even now it's still heavily implied that everything just got more serious. There's no doubting that Zedd is just a hardcore villain. He's this crazy skinless demon wearing Jason X's cyborg improvements wielding a magic staff that turns into a giant snake. The Rangers really needed that upgrade to take on his monsters and it shows. They take 3 episodes of getting kicked around before finally getting lucky and utilizing their new upgrades to win. Season 2 is my favorite part of the entire MMPR run and maybe in Power Rangers overall, and not for nothing, the show just kicked everything up a notch.

Multi Master

I've not made it a secret that I really love the Titans Return line. The bulk of that love comes from the Titanmasters and how they interact with the larger bots. It's a combination of Micromasters, Headmasters, and Diaclone play patterns that just melts together in a wonderful robot fondue. So while wondering what they could do with Titanmasters if they ever revisit the play pattern and it came to me.

Several Diaclone vehicles would combine to form larger robots in which would have a pilot. I could easily see a Titanmaster, Primemaster, or even a similar new little robot utilize these vehicles to form a combiner that houses it's accompanied drivers as a team. While I can't predict the future, I'd be hard pressed to not see that be a big hit. I mean, it would be glorious. Think of tracking down all those little bots and finally reach the big pay off in this cool giant robot they'd form. Imagine if you could mix and match the little parts. Or what if there was blind bagged wacky color variations?

Man, that'd be neat.

The work site

I love old Diaclone art. Here a pre Transformers Construction Robo is just busy doing some work. Wonder what they're building?

Just thinking about bugs from space

Man, I really want a Warudaros. Any way I can get it. Original, re release, or KO. I just want that crazy robot. 

Grim pop and lock

Pictures of Authentics Grimock surfaced and whoa nelly. I've been sold on the guys already, but man, I need this guy. I'll be honest. If not for cool things like Combiner Wars, Titans Return, or Power of the Primes-I'd have already went mainly towards Legions and Legends in my Transformers buying (I'd still get the occasional nicer toy, but still). Toys like these would go right along with that. I'd totally be fine buying these regularly for a fairly low price. I really look forward to dropping by the Family Dollar on the way home from work and grabbing this guy. I really look forward to the future of this line.

Rescue Secret Base

I've said before and before and maybe even before that I love the little productions made for Japanese toy commercials. I think what I love most about this one is the Micromen seem to be at a vacation destination before trouble starts.

Insert Coins

Takara is just baiting me at this point.

Rodger dodger

Playing with my Walgreen's Clones 2 pack made me realize how much I like red and gray robots. I do, I really do. I just love red and grey robots.

A Legendary Classic

Playmates new Legendary scale Classic Voltron should be finding it's way to stores soon and I'm pretty excited. I've really enjoyed the prior Metal Defender and Legendary Voltron sets and have been looking forward to this offering. Playmates Lion Force toys have really been great and this take on the Classic Voltron is looking to continue that streak.

My only concern is the packaging is nearly identical to the prior Legendary set and I can see asking my wife or mom to be on the lookout for a certain lion to be confusing. Though I really want them to release a Metal Defender Classic Voltron.

These guys are doing a great job with Voltron and I'm hoping it doesn't stop. Also hoping they attempt Vehicle Force.

Legions OMG

My pal Shawn saw that I still needed that Megatron/Beserker Autobots Unite Legion set and set me a care package with some extra bots!

I'm Authentically interested

The new 'Authentics' discount Transformers toys are apparently starting to pop up and I'm pretty excited. I'm not sure if I'm right in my assumption that these are taking over for Legion class (I mean, Legions are almost $8 now, these will be around that price and scale with the Legends toys), but I'm certainly interested. Small simple figures are just the Bumblebee's knees to me and I'd honestly enjoy a trip into a local Walgreen's to grab one of these and a soda. Maybe a candy bar too.

Robo Machines print ad

This old ad in an early attempt of Bandai to market Machine Robo before Gobots is really interesting. Though I wish I could go into more detail than look at that awesome art. Just look at it. That dude's strutting.

Scales well

Every once and awhile I'll see a random commercial and just appreciate something simple. Here it's Scales, a pretty simple toy with a simple gimmick. But they randomly included the repaint versions of Leader 1 and Cy-Kill. Possibly just because that was the version that would be on shelves, but still it's neat. I always liked that repaint of Leader 1 better anyway. Just a more interesting deco.

G Shock sounds like a 90's rap group

Well, that's a neat watch commercial.

Cybertron Land

These are real pictures of the original Universal Studios Transformers attraction.

I'm admittedly excited for the planned trip to Universal Studios Orlando we're hoping to make come next Christmas. I'm literally bubbling with a form of excitement that can best be described as ... there's no definition. My excitement defies definition. Earlier today I was thinking about a post I made  in which I mentally dreamed up a small expansion to the Transformers ride. Then as I was thinking about it, it occurred to me... why not a mini Transformers land?

These are real pictures of the original Universal Studios Transformers attraction.

In the 80's, in the Hollywood park, they had a neato Transformers meet and greet area with costumed actors and photo ops. What I'm concieving isn't very different. After all, you already have the great costumed actors at the Transformers meet and greet. But how about a few dynamic static scenes similar to the Jurassic Park section at Islands of Adventure with a few more Transformers characters? Pepper that in with the ride, supply vault, the meet and greet and my earlier day dreamed game and snack set up and I think you got a pretty neat little area. Heck, set up another store and sell some more cool stuff even!

These are real pictures of the original Universal Studios Transformers attraction.

These guys rock

A recent post on Rock Lords in a Facebook group I'm in made me think back on Rock Lords. I really wish I'd paid them more attention at the time as they are some really cool toys. I saw the movie enough times on Showtime at the time, so I don't know what forces kept me away from them. I should eventually pick some up.

This is another good time to point out this great Rock Lords Fanzine from last year.

Evac is awesome

I happen to think Evac is the coolest idea. Just a great way to experience a ride based on the idea of robots that transform into cars and stuff. How about you ride inside a Transformer? What if he transformed into your ride vehicle? All of the point of view action is literally your point of view since your inside Evac's vehicle mode. Seeing the ride vehicle and system is the same used in Spider-Man, that would make one excellent crossover toy. I already have some Evac toys, but I'd double dip for a Spider-Man version!

Making it fit in the Universe-al

I really love this ride.

I'm ridiculous. You reading this blog already realize this. But, I admit it, I'm ridiculous. Friday afternoon, while out doing some holiday shopping, I was at Ross buying some of the Autobots Unite Legion sets that have been showing up (just need that Megatron/Berserker set now). While in line, I was looking at the toys. They're obviously from the movie universe, but you know what I did? I started talking to my wife about the new Supply Vault Exclusive Snarl toy. He's not in the ride, but he has a ride exclusive toy. Then I looked down at the figures in my hand. Sure, Optimus and Bumblebee are in the ride. But Hot Rod and Ravenspar isn't. The set I haven't found yet, Megatron is in the ride (in an older body, but he's there). Beserker isn't. I'm sure versions of them are for sale in the ride store.

But, really, why would they be? They're from movies that came out after the ride was made. But wait, the ride was first released shortly after Dark of the Moon came out. Yet it heavily features bots from Revenge of the Fallen who (spoilers for an almost 10 year old movie) died in that movie years before the ride came out.

Does it really matter? Well, it is an official Transformers product and it's story line doesn't fit well with the series that it's connected to (yes I know it's just a ride). Sure there's also Generations and Robots in Disguise toys sold in the store, but that's obvious. That's other uses of the Transformers that well stated. Just like the Spider-Man store, they have other Spider-Man stuff. The thing is, you just walked off a very specific version of Transformers and there is branded that version Transformers immediate for sale. There's even figurine sets exclusive to Universal Studios featuring characters not in the ride. I have the set that's themed from Age of Extinction with Stinger, he's not in the ride. Hell, he doen't exist until a post NEST world that the ride is based in. There's a new figure set with bots from The Last Knight. Same post NEST world. Same Universal Studios exclusive set.

Ultimately, I'm thinking too much, but also I'd going to once again state that I'm ridiculous. I'll even risk the embarrassment to admit that thanks to the ride, I have a new found love for the movies. They went from being a summer spectacle based on my favorite toy line that I had a lot of fun with, to being part of my overall love for that ride. When the movies first started, IDW ran comics based in the movie universe that were a little removed. Giving the characters a little time to shine and honestly made some really good Transformers stories. Like the ride, they exist in a splinter timeline. According to the TFwiki, All movie related stories fall into the Tyran Universal cluster. The ride itself falls into the Tyran 1211.03 Theta (who comes up with these names?) stream.

In short, the ride falls into a splinter reality of it's own in the movie's overall setting in Transformers.So really, Hot Rod could just show up without any real rhyme or reason. Maybe he'd be riding Snarl like a cowboy while Ravenspar scanned the scene and reported what's going on during some in line videos. Really, any random Transformers movie character is game. Perhaps Megatron sent Beserker in that mission to grab the Allspark fragment. Maybe, Stinger is just another Decepticon in the fight and Sqweeks is one of Wheelie's buddies. Or even part of a Minion crossover.

Hey, in that meet and greet outside of the Supply Vault... Megatron sure is there. There's even that new nighttime parade in Japan featuring the Transformers. What I'm saying is Universal Studios is it's own Transformers continuity where everything is possible and super fun. I'm a little excited that by the next time I get to ride the ride, the Bumblebee movie will be out. That means 2 movies will have happened since my last visit. I'm excited to see what impact they'll have on the Supply Vault as well as my overall mental version of things.

I said right off the bat that I'm ridiculous.

World Warriors

I love this image. Just love it. I really want these, but don't see it happening with all my plans next year. So, I'll just have to live vicariously through super slick pictures.

Thanksgiving weekend status update

I'm currently enjoying a really relaxing Thanksgiving holiday weekend. I promise regular updates will resume soon, I just needed a little down time.

In other news, the wife and I decided to do a trip to Universal Studios Orlando for Christmas next year! As long as nothing effects those plans, man, it's going to be a long year! It's hard enough not being in that wonderful place every waking minute, let alone patiently waiting a year for my next trip.

I'm currently on a pre Christmas restriction from buying any toy for myself as the wife is buying me presents. Though I am allowed to buy my beloved crazy bootlegs and random Legions. So, time to get some more K.O Brave toys from Tuesday Morning!

So far I've spent this break watching movies and holiday shopping. It's been relaxing and I have a few days left. Man, I've really needed this. Thanksgiving is a time for being thankful for what you have. I'm certainly thankful for the folks who read Zone Base. I promise regular updates will resume soon!

Street Fighter Transformers!

HYPER!

Planet Iacon  recently posted magazine scans of some upcoming Street Fighter Transformers crossovers figures. These look absolutely nuts! I want... no, no. I am a grown man with wants and needs. And I NEED these.

Oh man, OH MAN!

*edit*

Better pictures without the scanners watermark are online now and man oh man.

I really, really appreciate the level of detail in the paint here. Ryu is my go to guy in Street Fighter (or Akuma) and he looks awesome in that Titans Return Optimus Prime/Octane mold. The very clever paint job is just amazing. Not to mention M. Bison from Titans Return Megatron/Blitzwing is really clever. I don't think I ever would have thought of that. Chun Li from Generations Arcee really works, though I wish she got an extra cool Titanmaster like the others. Though you cannot ignore how well it works. Ken from Titans Return Hot Rod is really smart. The paint maps to the mold really well, but most cleverly is the use of Hot Rod's chevron into Ken's distinct eyebrows is really smart. I want these so bad, but the price is a little steep. The Ken/Chun Li set is 8000 yen, which is around 70$ US, and Ryu/Bison is 12000 yen, which is around 100$ US (give or take). So that's a really steep price to pay, but man these are wonderful. Maybe I'll win the lottery by then.

Poor Scorponok

Thanks to this commercial I was convinced nothing could stop Micromasters for awhile. I mean, they just hand Scorponok his butt there. Thing is, I was right. Nothing can stop Micromasters, they keep reusing elements of their gimmicks to this day. Which I love. Might I add, I love the animation they used in these old commercials.

Spider-Man

Yo MCU, get on it.

Super Ninja Steel packaging is super nice

Pic from @TokuNation

Pic from @TokuNation

Pic from @TokuNation

Man, I've been really looking forward to these new Megazords enough already, but in the new Super Ninja Steel packaging makes me want to never open them. Seriously looks like a premium toy.

Evolution mode

As Power of the Primes toys start popping up, my excitement for the line grows more and more (add in the fact that I am under a strict buy no toys until after Christmas ruling from my wife, and I get even more antsy). I've spent so much time focusing on Primemasters, that I've just now started thinking about the Evolution figures in the line. The leader class figures all have this great Evolution gimmick, which is similar to Star Saber, in which a smaller robot can merge with the rest of his larger vehicle mode to form a larger super robot. In fact, I've been told that the leader class Optimus Prime figure was designed by the designer of the original Star Saber figure (I'm not sure just how true that is yet). It may be just wishing in one hand, but man oh man would I like to see a Evolution Star Saber figure in this line. It's just too perfect of an opportunity.

Rampage!!!

Chika 1987

1987

Ninjas are rad

Looks like an album by the best band ever.

The Ninja and Shogun Megazord always seem to get looked over. I've never quite figured it out as they had some fantastic designs thanks to the Kakuranger footage used for MMPR seasons 3 and Mighty Morphin Alien Rangers. The Ninja Megazord was even in the MMPR movie which gets regular viewings in a lot of households thanks to it's discount DVD bin status. You'd figure they'd get more love, but seemingly they're mostly forgotten aside from Power Rangers ans Super Sentai fans. Even then I don't see much of them talked about in the Power Ranger and Tokusatsu groups I'm in.

*shrug*