Thanks to UltraPrime for posting the complete breakdown of Transformers figures from the new Argos Spring / Summer 2008 Catalogue which is out tomorrow here within the UK

EDIT: And thanks to Oddsey for proving a scan of the two pages

1: Fast action battlers. Quick changing Transformers with spring-loaded battle features. Characters may vary. £9.99. 387/4350
2: Movie deluxe figures. Collect your favourite Transformers figures and choose your side. Some figures include firing projectiles. Characters may vary. £9.99. 370/5199
3. Ultimate Bumblebee. Fully transforming 2008 Camaro changes to interactive Bumblebee, robot features unique lights and sounds specific to vehicle or robot mode play. Additional features include animatronics for realistic robot play, auto firing weapon, and other awesome lights and sound play. £79.97. 081/7303. Extra
4. Movie screen battles Everything you need to recreate your favourite Transformers movie scene! Includes Transformers figures, movie character and movie backdrop. Characters may vary. £19.99. 387/4381
5. Movie Voyager figures. Larger scale figures that include battle features. One supplied, characters may vary. £19.99. 387/1322.
6. Movie Leader Optimus Prime. This awesome Optimus Prime figure features advanced automorph technology for an enhanced vehicle to robot conversion. Flip down his ion blaster to fire his projectile or press the button in vechile mode for electronic horn sounds and lights. Bring the action to life! £39.97. 387/2929
7. Movie Leader Megatron Movie Leader Megatron comes with lights and sounds to bring the action to life! Also has advanced automorph technology that moves multiple pieces when one piece is moved. £39.97. 081/6823. Extra
8. Movie Allspark Blasters. NEW Electronic Allspark Arm Blasters. Features lights and sounds to bring the action to life. Transform these arm shields into blasters in one easy step. One supplied, stlyes may vary. £19.99. 387/4398
9. Movie Tech Roleplay Transformers ELectronic Combat Hardware-Tech! Everday items that quickly transform into hidden weapons. Each item features lights and sounds. One supplied, styles mary vary. £14.99. 387/3423
10. Transformers dress up. (it has one of those weird little crosslike crucifix symbols next to it...? Transformers child's dress-up costume. £14.99. 081/5587. Extra
11. Bumblebee dress up costume (another of those symbols!) All in one outfit with leather effect and metallic trims and face mask. £14.99. 081/6926. Extra
12. Movie Legends 4 pack. A great value four pack with an easy change from vehicle to robot mode and back again. Characters may vary. £9.99. 370/5034

The following are exclusives:
13.Handheld game. Allows kids to recreate the themes and battles from the move. Requires 3 x AAA batteries (order 1 of 980/2766 at £2.99 for 4). £14.99. 372/5382
14. Alternator Mustang The iconic Mustang is brought up-to-date as Wheeljack. A 1-24 scale car with hidden weapon. Previous catalogue price £19.79. New Price - £14.79. 369/2006
15. Optimus Voyager plus Bumblebee deluxe twin pack. A great value twin pack features two key characters, Optimus and Bumblebee. Figures feature firing projectiles. Optimus. £24.99. 370/6002
16. Optimus Cyberstomp with 2 bonus heroes Optimus Prime Cyberstomping Robot features cool rugged styling, projectile fists, lights and sounds. Comes with 2 bonus Robot Heroes. £24.99. 370/5261
17. Movie Leader Nightwatch Optimus Prime This exlcusive figure comes with lights and sounds and advanced automorph technology that moves multiple pieces when 1 piece is moved. Requires 2 x AA batteries (included) £39.99. 387/2651.

Remember that nice, happy ending the Transformers live-action movie delivered? Well, we’re about to throw that out of the window! ‘Twilight’s Last Gleaming pt1′ (of 5) delivers an entirely alternate take on the climactic scenes in which Megatron sought to claim the All Spark, only to be denied by Sam Witwicky. In the new UK continuity, things didn’t end quite so neatly, and in part 1 we look in on a world now ruled (in a large part) by Megatron and the Decepticons, with the few Autobots (and humans) still at large fighting for survival. Things are desperate indeed as, with Optimus Prime a helpless captive, Megatron begins to transform planet Earth into world where dark technology rules. Can the Autobots (and humans) stage a last, desperate fightback? Don’t count on it. Happy endings are in very short supply in the new Decepticon dominium. Part 1 of Twilight’s Last Gleaming is written by me with art by Simon Williams. Click on the thumbnail below for a glimpse of what’s to come. TF-UK #9 hits on February 28th.

Thanks to Rich for confirming a few details regarding the Transformers items that will be listed in the new Argos Catalogue that is released this coming Saturday, Jan 19th 2008. Rich has confirmed that there are no Transformers Animated figures or Masterpiece Starscream in the catalogue, both of which were only ever an outside chance. He has confirmed that most of the figures are Transformers Movie toys.

More on this story will follow

Movie Deluxe Stockade - wave 2 for 2008
Movie Deluxe Longarm - still TBC
Movie Deluxe Landmine - wave 1 for 2008
Movie Deluxe Payload - still TBC
Movie Deluxe Dropkick - still TBC
Movie Voyager Incinerator - wave 2 for 2008

Of the three figures that Hasbro UK mark as TBC, Payload and Dropkick are out now in the Entertainer with Longarm being available in the double-pack with Bumblebee in several stores, most notably Toys R Us

With the new Argos catelogue out this Saturday, it will be interesting to see if that contains any of these figures.

Thanks to BigPhill for posting images of the back of the packaging on the Transformers Movie Jetstorm and Wingblade re-coloured figures.

You can see the images at TFWorld2005 here and here

Staz Johnson has updated his blog with three images, and a little comment, regarding his work on Tranformers Issue 8, the UK comic by Titan Magazines. You can see Staz' artwork here.

The issue is due for release on the 31st January and features another story on Ironhide.

Thanks to TransFans for the original find.

Cybertron.ca have an article and images of two up coming Transformers Movie toys, Jetstorm (recoloured Transformers Cybertorn Jetfire) and Wingblade (recoloured Transformers Cybertron Wingsaber)

Both toys sport a more realistic, military colour scheme and can be seen here.

IESB recently interviewed G.I-Joe and Transformers producers Lorenzo di Bonaventura regarding both films, though primarily G.I-Joe. Here are some quotes.

When asked about Marlon Wayans playing Ripcord his reply was

Well, let's talk about Marlon for a second. A lot of people are fans of his from the comedic point of view obviously for all the right reasons, but what I think everybody forgets about is how damn good he was in Requiem for a Dream as an actor. And, when we were trying to figure out who would be the right element to make this combination work of Duke as the leader and Ripcord as the best friend who sorta gets Duke in trouble all the time and Duke has to bail him out all the time and have fun with him, we needed a guy who's gonna be funny and we needed a guy who was going to be a good actor. And we went to Marlon and said, "We'd love to talk to you." And he's a gigantic GI Joe fan and immediately asked, "is Cobra in it, is Destro in it?" I mean before he even got to read the script he was so much fun to talk to because he understood what it was. So he got it immediately, and when we did the test, you know, we all looked at each other and the studio and there isn't one person who didn't think it was a no-brainer. So, from our point of view, he's playing a military character who's got some real good quips but he's got to be good, he's got to be physical, and I mean Marlon is a strapping guy, he's got good size to him. So, I think the fans will feel, when they see him, that he is playing the solider that they anticipate anyone from the G.I. Joe group to be.

When asked how the search for the actor to play Destro is going, Lorenzo said things are getting close.

"Within the next two weeks, I will comfortably tell you that. We don't have a guy chosen, we have the list down to about 4 or 5. All of them are of the English, Irish, Scottish persuasion shall we say."

He also confirmed that Hawk should be cast within the next two weeks and that Zartan will also appear in the movie.

On a Transformers Movie 2 note, Lorenzo was wasked about the script and here is what he had to say.

"We're nowhere because of the strike, we won't know until we come back. We have a very fine outline and we know exactly where we want go with the movie but until this writers strike comes back, we'll find out exactly where we are. Michael is completely on top of every detail. He's designed a lot of great stuff already. He's got a lot of great sequences imagined but you know, he needs some writers to work with before he's ready to go, so I would say June 2nd is an unofficial start, it's the target date we'd like to go for but, you know, we've got to get some writers to help us."

You can read the interview in full here.

Amazon.co.jp has been updated with a listing, and images, of Transformers Movie Black Arcee. You can see images of the toy in robot and motorbike form by following the two links.

Thanks to Nevermore and The Allspark for pointing out Amazon's update.

eBay seller eToysHunter has posted the first auction for the Japanese version of Transformers Movie Incinerator. The toy, as we previously reported, is recoloured and features the number 0025 on the tail. You can view the auction for the black version here and compare it to the normal one here.

Credit to Nevermore for the spot and Easynet for the original images

I want to thank Nelson for running such a good site! For the millions of viewers that logged on this year I want to thank you for the support. Transformers 2 will be coming soon. The new robots are really really unique and there are a lot of them this time. I WANT EVERYONE TO HAVE A GREAT HAPPY HEALTHY NEW YEAR.

Your friend, Michael

That's the latest post by Michael Bay at both his blog and website. There's nothing really unexpected, more Transformers in Transformers 2 was obvious (they've already got the CGI models for the Autobots from the first film) and a bigger budget is expected.

Rumours have already started flying regarding the film, we really like the sound of one of them (which seems quiet plausible), but with a long time to go it will be interesting to see what fake information, and accurate information, is released.

eBay seller tfctoy has posted an auction for a bubble packed Battle Damage Arcee toy from the Transformers Movie toy range. This is the first time the toy has been seen in this type of packaging, previous it was only available as part of the Sam's Club exclusive 3-pack with Battle Damaged Optimus Prime and Starscream.

Last Maximal of Cybertron Philippines has posted a small image, taken on his mobile phone, of a red Dropkick recoloured toy, as an Autobot, from a catelogue on Imageshack here.

Information posted on The Allspark points out ".. an unnamed red Autobot recolor of TFTM Dropkick. no huge Autobot logo in vehicle mode, just red all over with a silver grille, with an Autobot logo and some text on the driver's side door [and likely the passenger side's door as well]."

You can see the original post here.

Yahoo Movies has reviewed the top 10 movies of 2007 (on US ticket sales) and confirmed Transformers as the 3rd highest grossing movie within the US with $319,071,806 in ticket revenu. Yahoo also reports that Transformers was also the most watched trailer of 2007.

Thanks to TFormers for the original report

Snakas has published another round-up of the information in this months hobby magazines that were released in Japan over the last few days. For those that can not understand Japanese, we have published a brief summary below

Figure King 119

There is an article discussing Trans-Scanning Optimus Prime, in particular it discusses how the gimmick works. A image of a prototype is included in the article.

There is a comparison between the original Sky Lynx figure and the upcoming re-issue. Snakas points out that some of the detail, especially on the interior and around the eyes show the the Encore edition have more detail.

Images were shown of Transformers Henkei (the Japanese Transformers Classics line) Optimus Prime, Megatron and Bumblebee. All of the figures were shown to be more cartoon accurate than the western release.

The four AllSpark figures will be released in Japan in February. Images are shown of the toys along with the AllSpark toy itself.

There is yet more confirmation that the Masterpiece Starscream USA edition figure, when release in Japan, will be switched back to the Japanese mold where the tail finds were a slightly different shape to their US release.

More information was included on the green Transformers Encore Emergency Ratchet as well as the Revoltech Starscream and Hot Rodimus.

Finally there is a note that more Star Wars Transformers figures will be released in Japan in 2008

Dengeki Hobby (Blitz Hobby) - Feb issue

Again more comparisons and images on the Encore Skylynx toy, though they are not as detailed as the Figure King article.

Dengeki also includes the images of Transformers Henkei Optimus Prime, Megatron and Starscream.

More images of the Transformers Movie scene figures are shown.

There is an article and more images on the e-Hobby black Ironhide as well as the Revoltech figures and Star Wars Transformers.

Japanese Transformers Movie Incinerator

Snakas notes that going by the images published within the two magazines, and comparing them to the recent eBay auctions for Transformers Movie Incinerator, it appears that the Japanese version of the toy will be a different colour. The Japanese figure is much closer to the the Ospreys that appeared within the live action Transformers Movie, not only in their colour scheme, but also in the number on the side of the helicopter.