Hasbro revealed this last week that the G1 Soundwave would be their exclusive Transformer at this year’s San Diego Comic Con. Everyone’s favorite tape recording Decepticon will come with plenty of friends. He’s going to have Ravage, Buzzsaw, Laserbeak, and Ratbat along with him at the show.
Personally, I’ve never been too terribly impressed with the Transformer exclusives. They just seem like simple repaints most of the time, but I’m not a huge Transformers fan so I guess I don’t have my finger on the pulse of what’s desirable. This Soundwave seems a hell of a lot more interesting than the usual offering, but I’ll definitely be skipping this one too. I managed to get a hold of the exclusive Toys R Us “reissue” from a few years ago. Yeah, I know that Soundwave had a different chest piece that held two mini-figs and that the San Diego version is the “true” one and he comes with extra cassettes, but I can only have so many Soundwaves. Anyone looking to get their hands on this guy?
Original Source: Transformers Collector’s Club
Frogster
I am looking forward to this, and I hope it's offered online after the show, since I missed out on the reissue.
Sea-of-Green
OMG, that tape player is SO early 1980s! 😉
Philip Reed
I've already got a reissue Soundwave — as well as reissues of the first three cassette two-packs — so I can pass on this one. Soundwave has been reissued so many times now that I can't see why Hasbro chose this mold.
Give me a Shockwave reissue, Hasbro!
Mark
Shockwave would be nice…but a more updated Soundwave with more articulation in the Universe line is what is needed.
Frowny McBeard
Does Hasbro or Takara even own the rights to the Shockwave toy? I thought it was one of those situations like Jetfire.
Also, I'm pretty sure the MP3 Soundwave is the closest we'll see to a Universe version that isn't the Purple and pale yellow monstrosity that came with Universe Space Case.
Frogster
Good point Takara or Hasbro hasn't rereleased either Shockwave or Dinobots in their original molds.
PrfktTear
I think the big draw to this soundwave is that it is not only the original G1 mold, as opposed to the one used for Soundblaster and the TRU re-release. It also has FOUR cassettes, Lazerbeak, Ratbat, Ravage, and Buzzkill. Two of which have not been released in a very long time.
I own the TRU release, so thats enough wave for me.
I was never in love with the Music Label Soundwave. Yeah, its cool how they actually got him to play MP3s (after you purchase a mini-sd card), but to me he still just didn't look right. I'm still crossing my fingers for a proper Soundwave Classics entry when they return to the line after the movie stuff dies down.
Griffin
Personally I'm hoping for a Masterpiece Soundwave, which I probably won't be able to afford, but I figure it's only a matter of time.
Mark
@PrfktTear. Totally agree about MP3 Soundwave…cool enough in one way….but I am not keen on the Transformation or the look. They should not try making him as an MP3 or anything else just a tape recorder like the original would be fine….the only other mode that would be okay is a Ghetoblaster.
Frowny McBeard
PrfktTear-
So the picture's wrong? Because that's definitely the reissue version in the pic.
And MP Soundwave seems like a dicey proposal. How does one complicate that design to give it the wow factor MP Prime has?
Griffin
I don't have one of these guys, what is the scale and articulation like?
Grenadier
I have the TRU Soundwave reissue, I don't care about Buzzsaw, and Ratbat's in the second Encore cassette set with Slugfest, Ramhorn and Steeljaw. It's a pass for me, but I can see how Hasbro wants to appeal to non-hardcore TF fans this year, with the whole 25th Anniversary thing going on.
Think Soundwave will ever surpass the number of reissues G1 Prime has had?
Chris "Magneto7
I truly would only pick him up for the Ratbat cassette. I have the rest of them and both of the Takara re-issues of Soundwave and Soundblaster.
If I have the extra cash after grabbing the Mattel exclusives then maybe i'll be picking him up.
Chris "Magneto7
Fwoosh rules..!!
PrfktTear
@Griffin: MP Soundwave truly would be a dream toy!
@Frowny: I believe it is the wrong picture. G1 Soundwave's clear plastic chest piece should be flush with the rest.
Considering what the prices even for the reissue Soundwave have been going for, $50 for him plus four mini-cassettes is practically a steal.
How to make an awesome MP Soundwave? Bigger, Articulation, Detail. I've always thought the body was pretty flat/skinny, so perhaps giving him a little depth would do him some good, especially in his chest and head. Throw in some articluated fingers, a flip up communicator on his arm, maybe, Then again, SW is only as good as his tapes, it'd beg for an MP Ravage, Lazerbeak and Rumble/Frenzy! 😉
Philip Reed
G1 Transformers and articulation? Almost always a joke; many of the G1 toys are solid bricks that have arms that _might_ move up and down. Pretty much any articulation on the G1 toys is based on what was required to transform between modes and not anything that would make it a better action figure.
doubledumbassonyou
Like many here, I snapped up the TRU release a year or two ago and love it. Even if it is technically the Soundblaster mold painted up to be Soundwave. The only thing that this one has is Ratbat .. okay and Buzzsaw. I can pick those up easy enough through the Encore sets or at a toy show. I'll be passing on it along with the Mattel exclusives. Let's hope that GI Joe has something good in store for SDCC.
Nightboomfer
I sent you a PM on the Oafe forums. I'd love to get a G1 soundwave. I can send you the money through PayPal if you can hook me up.