Thanks to Madplanet for posting on our message board regarding the current sale that Woolworths are running.  The sale is upto 50% off but is only on selected lines and not very many at that.  However Madplanet does point out that "they are selling Transformer Animated Megs and Optimus battle back for £13.99 and Transformer Animated Roll out command Optimus Prime £24.99".

Simon Furman has updated his blog with an article regarding the latest issue of the UK exclusive Transformers comic from Titan Magazines.  The comic is officially released today though those who subscribe online may have already received their copies.  Here are some quotes.

"More Transformers goodness hits this week in the shape of Transformers (UK) comic/magazine #17, a packed, oversized issue featuring not but two new/UK-exclusive Transformers stories!" The first of these is set firmly in the new movie-verse, or at least the alternate one established by events in the epic ‘Twilight’s Last Gleaming.’ Get ready now for an all-new multi-part epic in the shape of ‘Return to Cybertron,’ a positively world-shattering tale that takes the Autobots back to their homeworld (not the nicest of places to be currently) and into one of their biggest and most fraught battles.  Featuring a whole host of new characters making their strip debut, at least this side of the Atlantic, ‘Return to Cybertron pt1’ is simply not to be missed. Story is by me, art by Jon Davis-Hunt

The second strip is a a bonus 5-page Transformers Animated story, featuring the Dinobots and is also written by Simon Furman.

Transformers Animated Free-to-air Petition Reminder

Just a quick reminder to urge you all to sign the petition we created over at PetitionOnline.com to show your support for GMTV To aquire the rights to broadcast Transformers Animated on their UK terrestrial channel ASAP.  GMTV are in slow negotiations over the rights with Entertainment Rights and fan support may help them pick up their feet and clinch the deal.

We can now end the speculation regarding the state of Transformers Animated within the UK by bringing you word direct from the brand manager at Hasbro UK, who has been in meetings for most of the day, and here it is:

"Transformers Animated is not being discontinued in the UK and we do have plans to bring in Wave 4.5 later in 2008"

So that's it, you can stop panicking.  The wave has been delayed and not cancelled.  Hopefully we'll be able to bring you confirmation later of whether the wave will be released in November of December shortly

UPDATE: Hasbro UK have told us that Wave 4.5 will now due for release on the first week of November.

We've been holding back on reporting this news until more concrete information was available but we've taken the decision to post it now and then update it as more information becomes available.

Yesterday Kapow toys reported, via TFW2005, that they had"received a phone call from one of my suppliers this afternoon with regard to the Transformers Animated line, many retailers have wave 4.5 on pre-order from Hasbro, this includes Swoop, Sentinel Prime etc, the bad news is that I received a warning that the line may be cancelled before wave 4.5 and not to offer pre-orders for the figures.".  Many fans missed the "may be" part of the post and reacted thinking that the toyline and cartoon had be shelved in the UK meaning that other countries might follow suit.  Since then both Kapow and ourselves have contacted Hasbro UK for clarification.

This morning Kapow received additional information that Wave 4.5 was being cancelled, nothing was mentioned regarding further wave or the line in general.  Now before anyone panics, it is our belief that this news will turn out to be that just Wave 4.5 has been cancelled.  If you look back at the breakdown report that we posted, you will see that Wave 4.5 only included one new toy, the recoloured Bumblebee as Elite Guard Bumblebee.  The other two main toys from that Wave (Swoop and Sentinal Prime) are also due for release as part of Wave 4.  Therefore things will not be as bad as many fans fear.  Future UK waves have not been announced, but it is quiet likely that Hasbro do not want to change the stock that is on the shelves again too close to Christmas.

Both wave 4 and Wave 4.5 were scheduled for release within the UK this month (October 2008), the same month that the UK exclusive Transformers Animated comic is released.  It should also be noted that a Terrestrial channel is supposedly going to start airing Transformers Animated from next year.

Again, the latest on this news story is that wave 4.5 has been cancelled.  Further updates will be made as more information becomes available.

As part of the advertisement push that Titan Magazines are making to promote the upcoming UK exclusive Transformers Animated comic Titan have released the 2nd in the series of Desktop Standees.  The 2nd standee is of that green Autobot wrecking machine Bulkhead.  You can download the standee here, and do not forget that you can pick up the first standee, Starscream, exclusively at Transformers Animated.com

Don't forget that you can subscribe to the comic online by visiting the titan website.

Our thanks go to Titan Books for giving TransformersAnimated.com and Transformers At The Moon an exclusive first look at the "just approved by Hasbro" cover for Issue one of the brand new UK exclusive Transformers Animated.

"The countdown has begun!
Cybertastic first issue blasting onto shelves 23 October!

Titan Publishing is proud to announce the imminent launch of the official TRANSFORMERS Animated Comic! Based on the hit Nickelodeon cartoon, the comic will feature an awesome mix of brand-new originated comic strip, fantastic features, unmissable competitions and all-round mech madness!

For more information on Transformers Animated Comic issue 1 visit: TitanMagazines.co.uk"

Don't forget to drop by the number one ranked Transformers Animated website, TransformersAnimated.com for all your Transformers Animated coverage

In a follow-up to the news we broke last week regarding the Toys R Us UK exclusive Transformers Animated Ratchet and Bumblebee 2-pack, Break has now sent us through two images of the pack which should silence anyone who doubted the report.  Click on the thumbnails below to view the high-resolution images.