Triple Takeover Toycast

Released at a time when Transformers were already firmly on the wane after six years on toy shelves, 1990's Action Masters were Hasbro's attempt at 'rebooting' the line by bringing back familiar A-list characters and delivering them in more 'action figure' style. The concept was inherently divisive from the start: they're Transformers that don't transform. For a brand built entirely around transformation, this felt to some like abandoning the core premise. Soon seen as having killed the franchise after they proved to be the last year of original series product in North America (even though it continued elsewhere in the world), Action Masters have never quite shaken the infamy ever since. The very mention of them online typically triggers passionate reactions about how they represent everything wrong with late-G1 desperation, a fundamental misunderstanding of what made Transformers special. However, there are also collectors who have given them a sharp reappraisal in more recent times, finding a lot to admire about these admittedly clunky efforts to deliver something different — even if the flaws are there for all to see. Today we give this derided roster another look, taking in the vintage charm these surprisingly unposeable specimens possess, alongside the goofiness of the accompanying accessories and vehicles they were packaged with. We discuss what Action Masters were trying to achieve, why the concept failed so spectacularly with fans, and whether modern collectors approaching them without the baggage of 1990 can find merit in their quirky existence. Did they really deserve the hate, or were they simply the wrong idea at the wrong time? The action is alive — whether you want it to be or not. —Enjoying the show? There’s more than meets the ear...Find show notes at https://www.tripletakeover.comJoin the conversation with us on DiscordSupport the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tripletakeover

This episode is the opposite of our Hidden Gems discussion. Rather than bigging up amazing Transformers toys that nobody mentions, we're re-assessing former releases which are already well known — but not in a good way. These are the perceived stinkers, the Renford Rejects, the real bottom-of-the-barrel stuff. The toys that as soon as they're mentioned online, everyone will quickly jump in to give them a major kicking, swiftly pointing out in elaborate detail why they are just plain bad.And it's not so much that we disagree with a lot of the points commonly made — it's more that we think the toys we're putting in the spotlight maybe have more going on beyond their all-too-often highlighted flaws. Sometimes a toy can be a bit of a letdown but still offer something that makes it otherwise enjoyable, or perhaps it just doesn't deserve the harsh reaction it so typically garners. Maybe the hate is justified, or maybe time and perspective reveal redeeming qualities that got lost in the initial backlash.That's what we're evaluating here, as we each choose a toy from Transformers history to sit in the dock and be judged all over again. We examine why these figures earned their reputations, what they actually get right despite their failings, and whether the community's collective memory is fair or simply piling on. Some might still be irredeemable disasters, but others might surprise you with hidden merit that's been overshadowed by swift judgement.Do they deserve the hate? There's only one way to find out.—Enjoying the show? There’s more than meets the ear...Find show notes at https://www.tripletakeover.comJoin the conversation with us on DiscordSupport the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tripletakeover