Robosen Optimus Prime on Hasbro Pulse UK

During the 1027 Hasbro Pulse Premium Event, the Pawtucket-based company announced the official UK availability of the most advanced Transformers toy in history for the holidays.

Robosen Flagship Optimus Prime is a limited edition app-enabled robot that would make my Tomy Omnibot blush with envy, which was first released in the US for $700 in 2021.



Robosen Flagship Optimus Prime is available for pre-order from Hasbro Pulse UK to coincide with MCM London Comic Con! £999GBP is too much during a cost of living crisis. However, a slightly more affordable Elite edition has been announced for the US, too.

"We are excited to bring this lighter, more compact Optimus Prime to fans of the franchise," Sean Tang, director of Robosen USA, said in a statement.

"The re-engineered scale offers a smooth, fast conversion, making the Elite Optimus Prime more agile and speedy," he continued, "which we're thrilled to once again bring to life for all our fans and customers, through our collaboration with Hasbro."

12-year-old me would be awestruck unboxing Robosen Flagship Optimus Prime on Christmas Day.

What do you think? Would you spend £999 on a robotic transforming Optimus Prime? Let me know in the comments below.

The Power of the Doctor

The Power of the Doctor is the last of three Doctor Who specials marking the end of Jodie Whittaker's tenure as the titular Time Lord in 2022.

Nick Smith, our resident US-based Whovian, boards the TARDIS for a final adventure with the Thirteenth Doctor.

Guest post by Nick Smith

Sacha Dhawan is the Doctor! A least for a little while in the 90-minute BBC centenary special episode of Doctor Who. He shines brighter than a Castrovalvan dawn, giving the strongest performance in a story chock-full of characters.

Aside from Dhawan and departing Doctor Jodie Whittaker, don’t blink or you’ll miss Sophie Aldred (Ace), Janet Fielding (Tegan Jovanka), Jemma Redgrave (Kate Stewart), John Bishop (Dan), Jacob Anderson (Vinder) and several more that I can’t mention for fear of being hauled away by River Song. Because spoilers, sweetie!

Suffice it to say that the power of nostalgia is strong; writer/showrunner Chris Chibnall bets that it’s strong enough to glue an anniversary adventure together.

We are in the age of surprise guest appearances, thanks to the success of The Mandalorian and Star Trek: Picard. Visual pyrotechnics take precedence over the deep-dive character development so many British shows, including some of Chibnall’s, are known for.

Those shows have time to broaden their heroes and villains; Doctor Who does not, hurtling through time and space at breakneck speed and hoping something sticks in our rose-tinted brains.

It’s a testament to the companion actors’ abilities that it would have been better to have a story devoted to Tegan, Ace, Dan or Yaz alone. Dhawan’s scenes are also too few but as with the other actors, he achieves a lot with the little he has.

As the Master forces the Doctor to regenerate into him and cosplays as his nemesis, Dhawan has a ball with the situation in scenes that must be a dream come true to a Who-loving actor like him.

Sadly, the conclusion to this adventure seemed rushed and we don’t get to say goodbye to the Master, most of the companions or other, very special characters who turn up. Instead, we’re told that the friends have been ‘dropped off’ out of view.

A lot of lore has grown around Ace in particular and it’s good to see that this story doesn’t go out of its way to contradict the New Adventures and the Big Finish audio stories. We meet a mature Ace with experience that could have been gained in outer space or Perivale – it’s left up to us to decide.

Another potential pitfall was the close proximity of Doctor Who’s 60th Anniversary in 2023.

With so much to celebrate, Chibnall could have chosen to avoid any references to the show’s past. That’s not his style. He finds ingenious ways to commemorate old favourites without grinding the adventure to a halt.

"I didn’t want to tread on anything that might be happening in future," Chibnall told The Mirror. "I didn’t tell anyone we were going to be doing it, I just put it in the script. It’s about as metaphysical as the show’s been."

Doctor Who can be abstract, concrete, comical, scary or even silly. Chibnall has tried all these approaches with overall successful results, and the potluck The Power of the Doctor is no exception. With something to please even the grouchiest of fans, the centenary special is appropriate to a world of memes, leaked tweet pix and binge-watches, all counting on nostalgia to stir the brew.

With iconic visual elements trumping substance, I predict that Chibnall’s era will be beloved by the kids watching it, who will grow into the next adult generation of fans.

Just as the Star Wars prequels have a following, so will the Thirteenth Doctor’s stories. Which begs the question, which Doctor Who character is the equivalent of Jar Jar Binks?

The series 13 specials are available for pre-order (affiliate link).

Have you seen The Power of the Doctor? Let me know in the comments below.

Doctor Who coming to Disney+

As rumoured months ago, Disney+ is the new home of Doctor Who outside the UK and Ireland from 2023.

Today the BBC and Disney issued a joint announcement along with a new logo that harkens back to the iconic diamond logo from my childhood. Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.



On Sunday, Jodie Whittaker bowed out of the series in the centenary special, The Power of the Doctor. Whittaker mysteriously 'degenerated' into David Tennant ahead of three 60th anniversary specials starting in November 2023! Ncuti Gatwa takes the helm of the TARDIS during a holiday special.



Russell T Davies says: "I love this show, and this is the best of both worlds – with the vision and joy of the BBC and Disney+ together we can launch the TARDIS all around the planet, reaching a new generation of fans while keeping our traditional home firmly on the BBC in the UK."

Previously, new series of Doctor Who aired overseas on networks such as BBC America, AMC+ and HBO Max.

Charlotte Moore, BBC's Chief Content Officer says: "We are thrilled to announce this exciting global partnership with Disney who are the perfect partners to bring this very British show to the rest of the world. Russell T Davies' vision for Doctor Who has always been out of this world and we are committed to ensuring that audiences across the globe get the opportunity to enjoy the Doctor's epic adventures with the scale and ambition that they deserve. Joining forces with Disney will elevate the show to even greater heights and reach new audiences so it's an extremely exciting time for fans in the UK and across the world."

The fan-favourite Time Lord is no stranger to streaming services. The beloved BBC sci-fi series has appeared on Amazon Prime and Netflix and the classic series streams exclusively on BritBox. However, Doctor Who will be alongside Marvel Studios and Star Wars franchises on Disney+.

Alisa Bowen, President, Disney+ says: "We're excited by the opportunity to bring new seasons of this beloved franchise exclusively to Disney+ and introduce the show to the next generation of audiences in more than 150 markets around the world. The series is a perfect addition to our ever-growing catalog of global content that continues to make Disney+ the home for exceptional storytelling."

All in all, this guarantees a very bright future for Doctor Who.

Ayo Davis, President, Disney Branded Television says: "Doctor Who has captivated the imaginations of families around the world for the past six decades. We are so excited about this collaboration with the BBC, and the opportunity to bring this iconic franchise – and Russell T Davies' brilliant vision – to life for a huge new global audience. Grab your sonic screwdrivers and prepare to travel through time and space!"

Whilst it's worth noting this is an exclusive distribution deal with Disney, the new series is expected to utilise Industrial Light & Magic's (ILM) StageCraft developed for Lucasfilm's The Mandalorian. It's also likely there'll be new merchandising opportunities that could encompass Disney Parks.

The new series of Doctor Who, a co-production with Sony's Bad Wolf (His Dark Materials), is an excellent addition to Disney+. But what do you think? Do you like the new logo? Let me know in the comments below.

Masters of the Universe at 40

40 years ago, He-Man and Skeletor were unleashed on toy aisles! I was off school sick when my late mum surprised me with these amazing action figures that had seemingly stepped off the pages of Fighting Fantasy…

Fast forward to 2022. Mattel Creations' Masters of the Universe Origins Eternia Playset is already successfully crowdfunded ahead of November's deadline. Early bird backers got King Grayskull as an exclusive bonus action figure. Moaty, the moat monster tier 2 unlock, has become a social media sensation with fans (myself included) calling for Mattel to release the figure separately in the future.

To celebrate He-Man's 40th birthday, Nick Smith, our US-based pop culture philosopher, examines the enduring appeal of Masters of the Universe.

Guest post by Nick Smith

Even He-Man can’t fight the ravages of time. The muscle-bound hero turns 40 this year. He’s yet to get a middle-aged spread and his blonde locks show no sign of pattern baldness but he’s not prevalent on toy shelves the way he used to be.

Hope is not lost for this champion of Eternia. My local Walmart has a toy Battle Cat and a Masters of the Universe Origins Castle Grayskull Playset that can be purchased from Mattel Creations for $80.

To understand why collectors are willing to pay such a mighty price for a plastic diorama, we have to go back to the ‘80s, and a world that forged the sword and sorcery of Conan the Barbarian with the pew! pew! pew! sci-fi of Star Wars to make He-Man and the Masters of the Universe.

After Mattel turned down the option to make Star Wars figures and watched Kenner print oodles of money, the company created its own concept, hiring Roger Sweet, Star Wars novelist Donald F. Glut and others to build a brand with a brand-new world to go along with it. Although the toy line was created in 1981, it didn’t hit stores until 1982. Filmation developed an animated series, syndicated in 1983.

Prince Adam (voiced by John Erwin) was the hunky alter ego of He-Man, who materialized up to save the day and fight the evil Skeletor (Alan Oppenheimer, who also voiced the cat and other characters). He-Man and Skelly both had a crew of strong warriors ripe for action-figure poses.

The protagonists included Man-At-Arms, Man-E-Faces, Orko, Fisto, Ram-Man, Teela and She-Ra, Princess of Power; the antagonists were legion, including Beast Man, Evil-Lyn, Faker, Tri-Klops, Trap Jaw and Hordak. Many of the characters had either animal or mechanical characteristics and they were all ready for grappling matches on a kid’s living room floor.

It’s no coincidence that these toy people bore similarities to the wrestling figures that followed in later years, making Mattel millions.

He-Man had a big sword but he didn’t use it often. At the time, violence was rarely condoned on American children’s television; He-Man was allowed to punch the bad guys and he tossed them around a lot. Shows would end with a moral, giving the action an ethical perspective and making it more than a half-hour ad for the toys.

130 episodes of classic He-man were produced, running for two years on its original release. Despite all his efforts to conquer Eternia, Skeletor never succeeded, and the pathos did not escape him; he admitted to his poor batting average in episodes like The Arena. No wonder he cheated to try to get the upper hand.

The animation was limited – some shots are reused, especially during skirmishes – and the storylines were simple. In 1987, the plot of He-Man’s live-action movie pulled out all the stops to compete with Star Wars on the big screen; Dolph Lundgren (Rocky IV) had the Power of Grayskull, Frank Langella was a far-from-pathetic Skeletor and James Tolkan, the cranky principal from Back to the Future, played the even more cranky Detective Lubric.

The movie cleverly brings He-Man to our world, one year after Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home showed a similar culture clash. Unfortunately, it earned less than it cost to make and a sequel, Cyborg, morphed into a non-He-Man B-movie.

As the toys dwindled, attempts were made to revive the television series, most recently on Netflix. Sympathetic loser Skeletor may have lost his battles with He-Man but he won the meme war on social media, his face popping up to taunt us as we doomscroll.

The cartoons, a live-action movie and toys all have a place in many hearts, a sign of a more innocent age where conflicts could be won with a well-aimed fist and the power of a brightly wrapped parable.

What are your memories of Masters of the Universe? Who is your favourite action figure? Are you still collecting? Let me know in the comments below.

Star Wars: Bring Home the Galaxy

There’s no Force Friday this year. However, Disney and Lucasfilm have announced Star Wars: Bring Home the Galaxy, a follow-up to last year's Bring Home the Bounty!

Bring Home the Galaxy, a 9-week global consumer product campaign in association with licensees including Funko, Hasbro, LEGO and Mattel, highlights new Star Wars merchandise from the original trilogy to The Mandalorian every Tuesday through 13th December.

Hasbro's releasing a retro collection on Hasbro Pulse to mark the 40th anniversary of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi in 2023.

I vividly remember the launch of Kenner's original Star Wars: Return of the Jedi toy line in 1983!

The first time I saw Darth Vader, in person, was at my local Debenhams (now John Lewis). Mum kept it a special surprise and took me to the toy department where the lift opened to reveal the dark lord himself and Stormtroopers...

School friends were there, too. After a meet-and-greet with Darth Vader, we went to the toy aisles and discovered Biker Scouts, Ewoks and much more on pegs. This was Christmas for Star Wars fans (myself included).

Bring Home the Galaxy (affiliate link) on Amazon. Other UK-based retail partners include Argos, Disney Store, Smyths, The Entertainer and Zavvi.

Follow the conversation on social media using #BringHomeTheGalaxy and #StarWars.

Whether you're looking for LEGO Star Wars Ultimate Collector Series Razor Crest or The Black Series Phase II Clone Trooper Helmet by Hasbro. Happy gift-giving this holiday season.

Harrison Ford joins the MCU

According to an exclusive report from Deadline, Harrison Ford (Star Wars) is joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) as General Thaddeus 'Thunderbolt' Ross in Marvel Studios' Captain America: New World Order.

The role was recast following the death of William Hurt (Lost in Space).

Ford is synonymous with Lucasfilm's Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises and Blade Runner. The Hollywood icon most recently finished filming Indiana Jones 5 for release on 30th June 2023.

The next instalment in the Captain America franchise follows events in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier live-action series on Disney+.

Are you looking forward to seeing Harrison Ford in the MCU? Let me know in the comments below.

NECA's 31 Nights of Fright: Prey

As part of the toy company's 31 Nights of Fright, the National Entertainment Collectibles Association (NECA) has announced the Feral Predator from Prey.

Prey was released to critical acclaim on Hulu and Star on Disney+ last August. Our very own Nick Smith was most impressed by director Dan Trachtenberg's (10 Cloverfield Lane) superior breed of prequel as evidenced by his review of the latest instalment in the Predator franchise.

For Halloween month, NECA has shared a prototype of a superlative action figure collectable worthy of the fan-favourite monster. The Feral Predator looks incredible and comes with a host of awesome accessories that the alien hunter used to lethal effect in the movie. From its shield to its selection of blades, every weapon of choice is here. This should guarantee some seriously cool poses for toy photography.

What do you think of NECA's Feral Predator prototype? Will you be adding it to your collection? Let me know in the comments below.

An era ends in The Power of the Doctor

During New York Comic Con (NYCC), the BBC released a trailer for Jodie Whittaker’s final Doctor Who special, The Power of the Doctor.

When the official title for the centenary special was first announced, like many fans I was instantly reminded of The Name of the Doctor, The Night of the Doctor, The Day of the Doctor, The Time of the Doctor and The Power of the Daleks.



Here’s the official synopsis from the BBC:

“In this feature-length Special to mark her last adventure, Jodie Whittaker’s Thirteenth Doctor must fight for her very existence, against her deadliest enemies: the Daleks, the Cybermen and her arch-nemesis, the Master.

Who is attacking a speeding bullet train on the edges of a distant galaxy? Why are seismologists going missing from 21st century Earth? Who is defacing some of history’s most iconic paintings? Why is a Dalek trying to make contact with the Doctor? And just what hold does the mesmeric Rasputin have over Tsar Nicholas in 1916 Russia?

The Doctor faces multiple threats…and a battle to the death.”

I'll miss her and the TARDIS fam. Series 11 was the first I've watched, since the Tom Baker era, with my dad. Rosa Parks, The Haunting of Villa Diodati and Ascension of the Cybermen/The Timeless Children are among some of the best episodes in the beloved sci-fi franchise's storied history. Hopefully, Andrew Lewin and I will be on hand to discuss the 90-minute special following its transmission.

For the 60th anniversary in 2023, Ncuti Gatwa (Sex Education) will be playing the titular Time Lord in returning showrunner Russell T Davies’ (It's A Sin) new era co-produced by Sony’s Bad Wolf (His Dark Materials). David Tennant is back as the Tenth Doctor with fan-favourite companion Donna Noble (Catherine Tate). However, mystery surrounds this and rumours suggest Whittaker regenerates into Tennant for an unannounced Christmas special.

The series 13 specials are available for pre-order (affiliate link).

The Power of the Doctor premieres on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and BBC America on Sunday 23rd October.

What are your hopes for the centenary special? Let me know in the comments below.

LEGO Ideas Dungeons & Dragons

LEGO is following up its Transformers collaboration with LEGO Ideas Dungeons & Dragons (D&D). Both brands are owned by Hasbro and it's great to see the two toy companies continuing to work together.

Fans (myself included) are invited to submit their ideas to celebrate the 50th anniversary of D&D here. Entries will be judged by a panel made up of LEGO Ideas and Wizards of the Coast, a subsidiary of Hasbro, team members.

Read the full press release from LEGO:

Join us in celebrating 50 years of Dungeons & Dragons!

"We want to share news of an exciting new collaboration. Gather your adventuring party, prepare your spells, and don your gear because we invite you to join us in celebrating 50 years of Dungeons & Dragons! We, at The LEGO Group, have partnered with Wizards of the Coast to bring our two epic brands together through the LEGO Ideas platform.

LEGO Ideas is a platform where fans can share their creations and creativity, enter prize challenges, showcase their proposals for new LEGO Ideas sets and vote for awesome models dreamt up by fellow fans. Some of these incredible creations will be selected to become official LEGO sets.

We are preparing a celebration of an incredible 50 years of Dungeons & Dragons! For this, we are looking for you to ignite your imagination and showcase your favorite elements of the world’s greatest roleplaying game using LEGO bricks.

You could create your ultimate builds, based on your favorite storylines, monsters, characters, adventurers, and locations.

Once built, submit your product idea to ideas.LEGO.com where a panel of judges consisting of members of the LEGO Ideas team and members from Wizards of the Coast, will choose entries among these submissions for a Fan Vote.

Excitingly, all entries that reach the Fan Vote phase, will stand a chance of becoming an official LEGO Ideas set! A mighty reward for any fan!

We look forward to where this adventure is going to take us!"

The competition closes on 14th November. Get going and good luck!

What LEGO Ideas for D&D will you be submitting? Let me know in the comments below.

60 years of James Bond

“Bond… James Bond!” Today is the 60th anniversary of Dr. No. For over six decades, there have been 25 official James Bond movies starring Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and most recently Daniel Craig who bowed out in No Time To Die.

Growing up in the seventies and eighties, Roger Moore was my James Bond, much like Tom Baker was my Doctor Who. Mum and dad took me to see Moonraker in the wake of Star Wars and I was hooked. Hooked on collecting licensed Corgi toys, too.

A few years later, I watched On Her Majesty's Secret Service (OHMSS) on ITV as I played with Action Man and Action Force toys following a hospital outpatient appointment. Lazenby's one and only appearance as the titular spy became my favourite instalment in the beloved franchise. A hero's journey with a tragic twist.

Like many fans, a lifelong love of gadgets was sparked by the adventures of 007. Incidentally, the Walther P38, used in From Russia with Love and Goldfinger, was Decepticon leader Megatron's alt mode in Transformers: Generation 1.

British composer John Barry's soundtracks still leave me shaken and stirred on car journeys. Sorry, not sorry.

Who is your favourite James Bond? Let me know in the comments below.