Raving Toy Maniac has just posted their Star Wars Q&A with Hasbro for this month, and it reveals a tiny bot about the future of the Star Wars Transformers line. There will be no Transforming Droids!

Any chance of seeing Droid based Star Wars Transformers, like an R2-D2 or C-3PO that convert into something?

Answer: It's a matter of size, character expression, and natural fit between the modes. First, R2-D2 and C-3PO are already robots (well, droids). Generally, Star Wars Transformers make sense in the film context with their character tying into vehicles with which they are associated and there aren't any good ties with the droids and vehicles that are compelling (other than perhaps R2-D2 and a Starfighter). In addition, while R2-D2 would be our first choice, a robot mode for him have to change his silhouette significantly and would not really deliver on R2 that we know and love. That's why the humanoid characters work the best. 

We had previously reported that the second wave of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Screen Battles figures were out in Canada, now TFW2005 is reporting that they have made their way to the States as well! Desert Attack and Capture of Bumblebee were found at a Walmart in Queen Creek, Arizona. So when you head out to those Walmarts, keep your eyes peeled!

You can see the report here, and don't forget to post your own sightings here!  

The folks over at www.tfh.com.sg have posted an image of a TakaraTomy solicitation page for the ast Premium Series Optimus Prime and Bumblebee figures. On the page, there are a few images of Prime's new head and sword cast in prototype gray. So if this figure interests you, go get a look at just what that new head sculpt will look like!

You can go to the website here, or see the image mirrored here in Powered Convoy's thread on the Allspark. Thanks to TFW2005 for the link! 

IDW Publishing has updated with an April 2008 solicitations page. For fans eagerly awaiting a story following up the 2007 Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, April is the month for you!

• Transformers Movie Sequel: Reign of Starscream #1
  
• Best of the UK: Dinobots #6
• Best of the UK: Space Priates #2

A list of Transformers Animated episodes scheduled to air in February has been posted on Comics Continuum. Slotted for February 9th is the as-of-yet un-aired fifth episode "Total Meltdown"! Following that on the 16th will be a repeat of "Blast from the Past," and then "Along Came a Spider" and "Sound and Fury" on Feb. 23 and March 1st.

Click here to see the episode list and here to discuss it. Thanks to Razorsaw for the head's up! 

In the "Least Likely Sources" department, CNN Money has provided a maddeningly brief and frustratingly small peek at some new Transformers Animated toys. In a new video on CNNMoney.com, a correspondent visits the "Hasbro Showroom" to check out their new toys for 2008. While the Hasbro official demonstrates the Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Ratchet and Bumblebee blasters, they completely ignore the Animated toys on the table, which are the ones that really look new--a Bulkhead with a strange purple helmet,a potentially Earth-mode Megatron, and a giant earth-mode Optimus Prime with massive axe. Jumps in their placement on the table during the edited clips indicate Hasbro DID show them off, but sadly, the bloodthirsty media only wants to sensationalize the violent toys. Or something.

Check out the video on CNNMoney.com. Thanks to TFW2005 for somehow finding this one. Discuss in Thylacine2000's thread. 

Just a week after his triumphant return to the animated Transformers world, Grimlock may be earning an honor fit for a king: a place in the Masterpiece series! TFW2005 has an image originally posted on the Chinese message board ACToys.net showing a silhouette of G1 Grimlock's box art, with "Masterpiece Series" overlaid in Japanese and  "THE NEXT IS..." in English below. What looks like a block of explanatory text next to the image is apparently just a paragraph about Gundam.

Obviously, this is still lacking too much detail to be considered a confirmation, but a Masterpiece Grimlock is something that's been rumored and desired by many for years, so we'll definitely stay on top of this as it develops. Thanks to Darth Prime and TFW2005 for the news, and Buster Darkwings for the quick translation. Continue discussion of the mysterious image in Darth Prime's thread.

Members of the Transformers Collectors' Club are in for a treat!  Recently uploaded to the officla fan club is a character profile for the infamous Cryotek. 

Members can head over to Transformers Collectors' Club website and view the profile.

Our friends at TFCog.com have finished the first part of their Transformers War Within Animated series project.  Taking scenes from the comic, coupled with animation, voice-overs, sound effects, and music - they bring new life to the War Within tale. 

You can download Episode 1 of TFCog's the War Within Animated at their site, and discuss the news in Black Bumblebee's thread.