The wait is over--Transformers: The Stargate Battles, Part 2 of 4 is now up on TF Pulp.  The Stargate Battles is a Transformers manga set around season 2 of G1, but it goes beyond the usual kid-oriented stories to give us a look at public reaction to the Transformers, the Autobots' cooperation with the US government, and how the world responds to this alliance.  It was published in 2003, and although it was cut short at four issues, it remains one of the high points of Japanese Transformers manga.

Check out Part 2 here.  If you missed Part 1 the first time around, check it out here.  Part 3 will be released on the 15th.

As always, feel free to discuss it in our ongoing TF Pulp discussion thread.

Just a reminder for those that forgot or didn't know, site sponsor Big Bad Toy Store has the pre-order pages for Universe Wave 6 Deluxe Ratchet and Deluxe Hot Shot up. No photos of either yet, and patience will be required on Ratchet as his pre-order status is currently sold out at the time of this posting. Both won't be out until March 2009.

Click here for Ratchet's listing and here for Hot Shot's listing.

New images, depending on who you ask. For those that love our favorite ninja bike, yizhi521 of TF08.net comes through again with images of Prowl and his sidecar that allows him to transform into his samurai gear (ironic, since ninja and samurai were often enemies). If you're not sick of seeing Universe Leo Prime yet, clean pics of Universe Leo Prime in both modes and combined with Cybertron Optimus are up courtesy of redbean from ACToys.net.

Check out Prowl here and Leo Prime here!

Well, Encore Black Megatron, that is. Plus, mini-manga included in the respective figures, to which e-Hobby has a preview of two pages. Both will be out sometime in February 2009.

Check here for Megatron's page and here for Sunstorm's.