Yeah, it's another Transformers: War for Cybertron video preview; I hope you're not getting tired of 'em, because I'm sure not. I don't know what the talking heads are really saying -- probably something about how they all love Transformers and are honored to be working on the game/toys/etc. -- because I was too busy looking at the gorgeous Cybertron environment. It looks totally fantastic, enormous and alien and filled with Autobots and Decepticons kicking the shit out of each other. I don't know how the game will end up playing, but if it's this pretty the entire way through, I may not even notice if it happens to suck.

It's nice to finally get a good look at the Iron Man 2 War Machine armor. As you can see, he has retractable weapons in his shoulders and the gun can be mounted on either side of his head, and the armor is designed such that Cheadle can even move his fingers. The helmet retracts upward so that... so that... his face, why isn't his expression changing oh my god it's a toy, it's another 12-inch action figure from Hot Toys ARRRRGGHHH HOOOTTTTT TTOOOOOOYYYSSSSSSSS (Via ToysREvil)

Why did Hasbro introduce Joe reservist/sports enthusiast Big Lob at the beginning of G.I. Joe: The Movie, and yet never make an action figure of him? It's one of the questions of the ages, even if only a few terrifyingly hard-core Joe fans cared about the answer. Still, I do understand the aggravation of being a collector when the toy company's don't cooperate, and refuse to make a toy needed to complete your collection -- and so does the official G.I. Joe Collector's Club, because they're making a Big Lob figure. In 2010. And they even made a video for it.

As you can see, Big Lob is done in the classic '80s-style figure; if you want it, all you need to do is join the G.I. Joe Collector's Club at Officer Level by Tuesday, March 16th, and you'll get it free. You know, I hadn't seen the G.I. Joe movie in a while, but I had forgotten how annoying Big Lob was. I think there's something wrong with him. I mean, if someone chose to only talked in sports metaphors, he'd be an asshole, but if someone could only talk in sports metaphors? That's some Rain Man shit right there. Maybe Big Lob should see a specialist of some kind. Just sayin'. (Via ToyNewsI)

I know I just did a TF:WfC post yesterday, but once you watch this, I think you'll forgive me. This video is half an interview with Game Director for High Moon Studios Matt Tieger, but since the other half is more gameplay videos and cutscenes, I don't think anyone will mind. I defy any Transformers fan to not fill their britches at more footage of Omega Supreme and Trypticon kicking unholy ass; but the real joy is seeing some more of the game's combat -- both ground vehicle and flying -- in action. Hell, I don't even count myself as a TF fan -- I like the franchise in general, but I own none of the cartoons and maybe two TF toys -- and I'm literally salivating at this video. Madness.

​The kids at TFormers got an ealy look at Acitivision's War for Cybertron game, and I'm totally jealous. Luckily, they were kind enough to write a lengthy article about what they saw of the game, which I can summarize part of here:

• The game will be primarily focus on teams of 3
• It's made for co-op play, but the computer controls your two Transformer partners when you don't have other players
• There will be campaigns for both Autobots and Decepticons
• Each bot has a class, a la Team Fortress; e.g. Optimus is a brawler, Ratchet's a medic, and Bumblebee is better at long-range fighting
• Each Transformer has a replenishible ability and an ability that needs Energon
• Energon will be in cube form, straight out of G1, and there will be different types
• Weapons actually transform themselves as part of the bots -- and bots transform themselves into things such as turrets
• You will fight either Omega Supreme or Trypticon

...and there's more, but really, you owe it to yourself to read the TFormers article -- not only are there more details, but there's more new art, too. The big worry about this game is that it's been rushed, because we only first heard about it a few months ago, and it's due out in May. However, we don't know that it has been rushed for sure, and we do know that every single detail about the game released so far is totally, totally rad. So I'm saying the odds are looking good, people. The odds are looking good.

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The NY Times is reporting that Mattel is making office Mad Men Barbie dolls. And I guess they're not lying, because they have the above picture of the dolls of Joan Holloway, Roger Sterling, Don Draper and Betty Draper (left to right) above, and that would have been an elaborate amount of work to report fake toys. The dolls will be limited to 10,000 or less each, and available at AMCTV.com and Mattel's official Barbie Collector site for $75 each. Now, it's a little weird that Barbie is now depicting television characters whose hobbies consist solely of smoking, drinking and adultery, although the toys won't come with any toy cigarettes or martinis, but I figure the whole stylish '60s thing makes more than enough sense to make up for it. What I don't get is why Mattel didn't trot out the old 54-24-48 or whatever Barbie doll body for the Joan/Christine Hendricks Barbie. I mean, Mattel finally found a human being with the original Barbie's insane proportions; why not go for it?

I... uh, wow. Questions: 1) Why are German variety shows so awesome? 2) How did she discover this unique talent? 3) She may be a nerd girl, but don't you think she'll be the most popular girl at the prom anyways? 4) Everyone else is super-turned on too, right? Not just me? (Via Geekologie)

We know that there's going to be a new Transformers cartoon at some point this summer. We were all hoping that it would somehow tie into the wonder and majesty of the G1-ish but still updated and unique War for Cybertron videogame and toys. It only made sense, right? Well, not to Hasbro.
​You're looking at the new cartoon's Bumblebee, who is very clearly Bayformers movie bumblebee, juts a bit cuter and less cluttered (he's part of a cover for Brandweek magazine, hence the odd positioning). I'm disappointed, but I'm not going to dismiss the new cartoon entirely yet. We'll see if there's an animated The Beef running around screaming "Nononononononono!" first, and then we'll dismiss it entirely. (Via The Allspark)

​Max Brooks, author of World War Z and son of Mel (for some reason, that never stops surprising me), is going to write a new G.I. Joe comic for IDW. It'll be a five-issue miniseries called Hearts and Minds, and it won't be about zombies (I'm reasonably sure). Now, I've enjoyed Brooks' books, and I bet his G.I. Joe comics are going to be swell. But read this press release from IDW and tell me that they don't make it sound like the worst thing ever:

The critically-acclaimed and bestselling author of World War Z, the Zombie Survival Guide and The Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks brings his unique and acclaimed style to G.I. JOE comics with a five-issue miniseries: G.I. JOE: Hearts & Minds, coming in May under license from Hasbro. The award-winning Max Brooks crafts a G.I. JOE series for an America at war, starkly contrasting intensely brutal portrayals of the dark side of the human condition with the light of hope in the most unlikely places.

"I tried to write a series as harsh and complicated as the times we're living in," said Brooks.

Exploring the effects of real-world war on the individual, every issue of G.I. JOE: Hearts & Minds features two chapters, each spotlighting a different G.I. JOE or COBRA character. Brooks pulls no punches from the very beginning, starting the series with chapters on MAJOR BLUDD and SPIRIT.

"This is the G.I. JOE book that isn't about action figures. It's about people like you and me," said IDW G.I. JOE editor Andy Schmidt. "And that makes it even more chilling than any zombie novel could be, because this one isn't about a plague--this one is about us."

Oh no! It's about us?! How terrifying! Truly, Major Bludd and Spirit -- two characters from a popular toyline and cartoon series -- are scarier than a zombie apocalypse could ever be! Because they're real people! Except not! In these harsh times, I don't know if I can handle a comic as harsh as these harsh times! I better not read it, just to be safe! Bleh.

​Let me point out that I think DC Direct's World of Warcraft toys are great. They have great sculpting and great paint jobs, so much so that more than makes up for the lack of articulation. If I were at all into WoW, I would buy these things in a heartbeat. But since I'm not, all I can do is marvel at the characters' incredibly stupid names. Now, Garona the Orc Rogue is certainly the most normal of the bunch (above left, although I find it disturbing that female orcs can be sexy). But check the other figures in the series over at ToyNewsI, which include:

• Worgen Spy Garm Whitefang
• Human Paladin Judge Malthred (above right)
• Troll Hunter Taz'Dingo
• Orc Warrior Garrosh Hellscream

Ignoring the whole wolfman-who's-a-spy (although it seems to me he could only spy in very limited situations), Judge Malthred? More ridiculously, Taz'Dingo? Did someone's kid do a report on animals of Australia that day? I won't make fun of Garrosh Hellscream, because I grew up next to Kyle and Ryan Hellscream, of the Connecticut Hellscreams. The Hellscreams are good people.