TFW2005 brings us official pics of the Titanium 6″ Ultra Magnus and War Within Megatron! This is something that Filipino Transfans can look forward to obtaining.

Thanks to megatroptimus of TFW2005 for the pics and the news. Voyager Ironhide test shots!

Thanks to TFW2005 for the pics and the news. Fast Action Battler Brawl test shots!

You can discuss this more in our message board HERE.

Playkit, the official Philippine distributor for Hasbro products, has released the Transformers Classics value two-packs in local malls. Price is Php 1200 for each two-pack. Now, Filipino Transfans can get a Bumblebee-Astrotrain set or even a Rodimus-Starscream set at a reasonable price!

Thanks to Fan to Fan for the pics of the Winterfest Exclusive BT-17 Black Convoy!

The BT sports an Alternator style box, but it is made of diecast parts. Just what Filipino Transformers collectors ordered.

You can discuss it in our message board HERE.

Cybertron Philippines is very pleased to have an exclusive interview with Robby Musso!!! Robby is the artist who drew IDW’s Ultramagnus Spotlight. He’s also an avid Transformers collector, a moderator of an international toy forum, and a proud member of Cybertron Philippines.

CybPH:
How long have you been in art? [amateur,professional] Is this your first exposure to the world of professional art work? Where can we see other examples of your work?

Robby:
Well, I’ve drawn my whole life, literally as long as I can remember. Though I’ve received various commissions through the years, the Ultra Magnus Spotlight comic is the first published and official work I’ve done.

I have a deviantArt page that I try to update pretty regularly.

*Samples of Robby’s artwork from his deviantArt page:

Robby:
I think I got started much like many kids do, just by doodling and drawing whatever was on my mind when nothing else was going on. Usually it was something that I was into but maybe didn’t have at the time, so I would try to draw it so I could see it. lol Of course, more often than not, it would be Transformers.

CybPH:
How did you get your start as a Transformers artist?

Robby:
Well, I drew TFs all the time when I was a kid, and still did so periodically throughout high school, but it was during the Dreamwave era when I really got serious about drawing them again. Seeing other fans improve on their art, then get picked up by DW, really inspired me, gave me hope, and helped me believe maybe I could do it too.

CybPH:
Are you a big Transformers fan? What draws you to this particular franchise? What other cartoons/comics do you follow?

Robby:
HUGE TF fan. Always have been. Star Wars, X-Men, Spiderman, and so many other Pop Culture phenomenons have interested me at different stages in my life, but NOTHING surpasses TFs in my book. Period.

I think it started with my love for cars, and I’ve always had a thing for robots and tech stuff in general… Yeah, that probably sums it all up right there. LOL

Cartoon wise, I pretty much watch anything Japanese robot/Super Robot related. Macross is definitely another series I still enjoy watching again and again. Voltron’s up there on my list of favorites as well. Then there’s other anime favorites like Gatchaman, and Bubblegum Crisis, to name a couple. I also really love watching many other cartoons like TMNT, GI Joe, Batman the Animated Series… It’s all good to me.

Comic wise, I don’t really follow too much besides TFs these days. When new Robotech comics come out, I usually pick those up, but I haven’t heard of anything else since the Shadow Chronicles. I’ll occasionally pic up something random, like the current TRON comic, or if there’s a special on an artist I like, but for the most part TFs has my comic plate pretty full.

CybPH:
Describe the experience of working on the Ultra Magnus spotlight.

Robby:
Man, pencilling a real comic, ESPECIALLY a TF comic, is a total dream come true for me. Ultra Magnus is such an iconic character too, so I am very thankful to have the opportunity to do it.

CybPH:
Who are your art influences?

Robby:
Whew, so many influences… Jim Lee, Whilce Portacio, Don Figueroa, E.J. Su, Joe Ng, Guido Guidi, Mark Brooks, Shoji Kawamori, Haruhiko Mikimoto, Kenichi Sonoda… seriously though, I could go on and on and on. lol

CybPH:
What is your dream Transformers project?

Robby:
Hmmm, that’s tough to say in regards to the comics. Though I think I’d have fun doing something with Mirage. He was one of my favorites when I was a kid, and was my first deluxe TF.

…but my true dream TF project would be to design a TF toy. It all boils down to the toys for me.

CybPH:
What is your dream comic [any] project?

Robby:
Well, TFs really is my dream comic project, but I think it would be nice to work on something having to do with Jim Lee’s WildCATs. I’ve always been a big fan of Jim’s, and WildCATs, in many ways, ignited my interest in comics in the 90s. So yeah, that would be pretty special to me.

CybPH:
When did you start collecting transformers?

Robby:
1984! ^_^

CybPH:
Being a huge Transformers fan, what is your take on the upcoming movie?

Robby:
Ahh, the movie. Well, the designs have grown on me much more than I would have thought a few months ago, so I’m keeping a very open mind for the movie itself. I think the trailer is very impressive, and most of the toys are looking prettly slick. So I’m looking
forward to it.

CybPH:
If you had to choose only one, which item in your collection would you say is your absolute favorite and why?

Robby:
Easy choice: my original Optimus Prime. I’ve had it since ‘84. It’s the pre-rub, bloated hand, big gun, grey roller version. My favorite toy then. My favorite toy now. Hands down, my most prized TF possession.

CybPH:
Do you have a Holy Grail that you’re still hoping to someday own? Which one is it?

Robby:
Hmmm, I can’t really say there is… I’m really looking forward to Masterpiece Megatron, but I don’t know if I’d consider it a Holy Grail piece. I think MP Convoy has really filled that spot for me, and I have it… so I guess that’s really it.

CybPH:
How do you display your collection?

Robby:
Hehe, my collection is currently really chaotic, unfortunately. No thanks to Hurricane Katrina, which my family and I evacuated from in 2005. Most of my older ones are still boxed up from the evacuation over a year ago, and the newer ones are in different rooms, in no real order. I’d like to have them displayed nicely though. Someday I’ll get them organized. lol

CybPH:
What’s the first thing people tell you when they see your collection?

Robby:
Hehe, usually they just gaze with a blank look on their face. XD Although, one of my cousins once said “Man, it’s like eBay in here!” LMAO

* Pictures of Robby and his collection

Star Wars has its Galactic Heroes. So Transformers has its Robot Heroes! Presenting Grimlock, Shockwave, Rodimus, Insecticon, Optimus Prime, Ravage, Bumblebee, and Soundwave in super deformed, adorable forms!

Credits to TFW2005. You can join in the discussions HERE.

For the kids who want to be Optimus Prime…

Thanks to TFW2005 for the news. You can read more about it HERE.

Working Rumble and Frenzy earphones!

You can read more about it HERE. Thanks to TFW2005 for the news.

Voice actor Tom Kenny might play the role of Starscream in the upcoming Transformers cartoon “Heroes”. Kenny voiced the popular kiddie character Spongebob Squarepants.

Thanks to TFW2005 for the news.