The August ToyFare magazine is featuring a spotlight on the new G1 Transformers and the PVC figures announced by Hasbro earlier this month. And not to be outdone, the August issue features a special newly updated Transformers price guide and more.








G1 Toys

ToyFare talks with a Hasbro marketing representative about the new line. According to Hasbro, Transformers have an extremely dedicated fan base that seems to keep rejuvenating with every new release by Hasbro (and Takara). This growing interest in the toy line has inspired Hasbro to bring the classic toys back to the USA. And now we can assume they have ice cubes in hell.

The rebirth of Transformers Generation 1 toys will be made available through an exclusive distribution arrangement with Toys R' US. The first wave of releases will include figures for Optimus Prime, Rodimus Major (formerly known as "Hot Rod") and Ultra Magnus. Trans fans can expect to pay $39.99 for the Optimus and Magnus figure sets. Alternately, Rodimus Major will retail for $17.99. If you are wondering about the other character figures from the G1 line, ToyFare has confirmed with Hasbro that we can expect more figures to be re-issued in the future with the next wave being announced in time for the holidays. Already we have confirmation that Powermaster Optimus Prime will be one of the figures released around next Xmas time.

I Want My PVCs

And so you shall have them. ToyFare gets the skinny on the popular PVC figures, that were previosuly made only for the Asian markets, that will now be made available in the USA.

Dubbed "The Heroes of Cybertron" series. Starting with the first wave, fans and collectors can expect to find some of their favorite figures issued in the line. Shoppers in the USA will be able to find Arcee, Optimus Prime, Megatron, Ultra Magnus, Skywarp. and Starscream in all new blister card packaging that comes with a mini tech spec card.

The Price Guide

And of course to top it all off, ToyFare presents their extensive Transformers price guide for fans to ogle over the escalating values of their prized Transformers toys. From G1 through to the Robots in Disguise lines, the ToyFare price guide provides extensive listings of just about every Transformers toy made. Want to see how much that G1 Pepsi Optimus Prime is worth? Check the guide. Its all there.

More Toy Fare

The gang at ToyFare can hardly leave well enough alone. As customary with many of their articles and features, the gang has thrown in their own blend of factoids and insight into the genre. Find listings of the top Autobots and Decepticons. Not sure where they came up with these lists, but you'll have to be the judge if they are on the mark or not. Further more, we're served up an interesting but somewhat misguided focus on Transformers Characters "Then and Now." Optimus, Megatron, Scorponok and others are put through the ToyFare time-machine to reflect on some of the incarnations character's have taken on through out the Transformers mythos.

Overall

As usual, ToyFare digests the news and regurgitates it with their own goofy humoristic slant on all things toys. As I have said before, I am not the biggest fan of ToyFare magazine. All too often I get the impression they barely understand the subject matter they are writing about and seem to cater more to the Toy makers than the fans. Just give us the facts guys! The August issue is definitely worth checking out for the Transformers feature and the new price guide alone. But overall I give this feature a 5/10 because it somehow lacks the excitement that news like this should/could have about it. But don't let me sway you. Pick up the magazine and let us know what you think about the Transformers feature or the magazine in general by posting a comment below.