Triple Takeover Toycast

Collecting Transformers should be a joy, but what happens when it starts to feel like a chore? This episode tackles collector burnout — that creeping sense of being overwhelmed, stressed, or feeling obligated rather than excited by your hobby. It's a topic chosen by our patrons, and it's one we approach with honesty, care, and maybe a bit of catharsis.

Burnout can happen to any collector. The pressure to acquire everything new, the sheer volume of releases, lifestyle changes, mounting clutter, and that nagging guilt about figures still in boxes — it all adds up. What starts as passion can slowly transform into obligation, and before you know it, the thing you love feels like work.

We discuss why burnout happens, what the early warning signs might be, and practical ways to mitigate or avoid it altogether. We also reflect on our own experiences: have any of us genuinely faced collector burnout? The answers might surprise you.

If you've ever felt exhausted by your collection rather than energised by it, you're not alone. This one's for anyone who's questioned whether they still love the hobby — or are just going through the motions.

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Chapters

0:00:00 Intro

0:06:16 Sponsor Segment: Valart

0:10:36 What Is Collector Burnout?

0:17:53 The Acquisition Problem & Social Media Impact

0:30:37 The Benefit of Creative Pursuits

0:40:01 Recognising Warning Signs & Finding Balance

1:02:27 Community Connection

1:13:01 Sponsor Segment: TFSource

1:23:38 Final Thoughts & Patron Questions

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Enjoying the show? There’s more than meets the ear...

Find show notes at https://www.tripletakeover.com

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As another year of collecting draws to a close, the Triple Takeover crew sit down to reflect on the Transformers toys that defined 2025 for them.

Rather than chasing completeness or release lists, this episode focuses on personal favourites — the figures that made the biggest impression in hand, sparked the strongest emotional response, or simply reminded us why we enjoy collecting in the first place. From the long-anticipated Missing Link releases to standout modern designs and ambitious large-scale projects, it’s a year that offered a surprising amount of variety.

We talk through what made figures like Sunstreaker feel genuinely special, why releases such as HasLab Omega Prime and Age of the Primes Superion stood out in a crowded landscape, and how 2025 balanced nostalgia with forward-looking ideas. Along the way, the conversation naturally widens into thoughts on collecting habits, changing priorities, and what really makes a toy memorable over time. It’s a reminder that the value of a collection is often measured in experiences rather than numbers.

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Chapters

0:00:00 Intro

0:06:09 Setting the discussion rules

0:11:05 Sponsor chat

0:13:58 Jason's first choice

0:23:20 Liam's first choice

0:38:39 Sixo's first choice

0:48:30 Jason's second choice

0:56:04 Liam's second choice

1:08:17 Sixo's second choice

1:18:45 Honourable mentions

1:32:52 Patreon Q&A

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Enjoying the show? There’s more than meets the ear...

Find show notes at https://www.tripletakeover.com

Join the conversation with us on Discord

Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tripletakeover

IDW artist Nick Roche returns to Triple Takeover to talk Transformers Generations: Thrilling 30 — the 2013–2014 toy line — and the unusual creative journey that links Sandstorm and Springer.

Nick discusses supplying an original Sandstorm concept to Hasbro, how that design eventually became a finished toy, and how it was later retooled into Springer — released first, and coincidentally based on Nick’s own comic design for the character as seen in IDW’s Last Stand of the Wreckers.

Along the way, the conversation drifts (as it tends to with Nick) into nostalgia, collecting, community, and the realities of working across different parts of the Transformers brand — including his more recent design work on Transformers Earthspark. Expect equal parts toy history, behind-the-scenes insight, and good-natured chaos.

This episode began life as a commission from our patron, Josh Bell.

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Chapters

0:00:00 Intro

0:05:54 Thrilling 30 In Context

0:10:58 How the Sandstorm Concept Came to Be

0:23:35 Nick's First Impressions of the Toys

0:42:28 Translating From Sandstorm Into Springer

0:49:27 How Nick Designed Springer for IDW

1:02:04 Owning Toys of Characters You've Created

1:18:53 TFSource Sponsor Segment

1:28:35 Patreon Q&A

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Enjoying the show? There’s more than meets the ear...

Find show notes at https://www.tripletakeover.com

Join the conversation with us on Discord

Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tripletakeover

The Transformers Collectors’ Club (TFCC) and Figure Subscription Service (TFSS) are front and centre this week as we delve into one of the most fascinating — and at times frustrating — eras in Transformers collecting.

We were never members ourselves (thanks, geography!), but that didn’t stop us getting FOMO from afar. Today we're diving into the toys, the distribution choices, the aftermarket drama, and the nostalgia surrounding a club that often felt just out of reach for anyone outside the US.

From brilliant figures and wild character choices to eye-rolling shipping costs and maddening accessibility issues, we explore how the TFCC shaped collector culture during a very unique period for the brand — and why it inspired equal parts love and confusion.

So sit back and join us for a fun but honest look at the highs, lows, and “you had to be there” moments of the Transformers Collectors’ Club.

This episode began life as a commission from our patron, Siege Maximo.

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Chapters

0:00:00 Intro

0:04:58 Sponsors: TFSource & Valart Studio

0:09:21 What Is the Transformers Collectors’ Club?

0:13:46 TFCC Distribution Woes

0:19:47 The Aftermarket Implication

0:28:52 Why Were the Toy Choices So Intriguing?

0:32:24 TFCC’s Influence on Modern Generations

0:41:25 Customer Service Drama?

0:49:25 Favourite TFCC Toys

0:56:42 TFCC Conclusions

1:06:31 Patreon Q&A

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Enjoying the show? There’s more than meets the ear...

Find show notes at https://www.tripletakeover.com

Join the conversation with us on Discord

Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tripletakeover

Studio Series has been a cornerstone of modern Transformers collecting since its debut in 2018 — but what exactly does the line represent today?

Originally conceived as a celebration of the live-action movies, Studio Series has steadily expanded its remit. With characters from The Transformers: The Movie (1986) now sitting alongside Bayverse designs, the line’s identity has become broader — and occasionally more ambiguous — than first intended.

In this episode we take a step back to examine how Studio Series has evolved, how collectors have responded to its changing focus, and where the line might realistically head next. This discussion began life as a commission from our patron Ross — thanks for the great topic — so join us as we explore one of the most interesting sub-lines in modern Transformers collecting.

This episode began life as a commission from our patron, Ross.

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Enjoying the show? There’s more than meets the ear...

Find show notes at https://www.tripletakeover.com

Join the conversation with us on Discord

Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tripletakeover

Some Transformers comic panels stick with you forever — and not always for the right reasons.

In this episode we take a look at some of the most memorable moments in Transformers comics, focusing on panels that shocked, unsettled, or simply refused to be forgotten. From unexpectedly brutal imagery to moments that still make us wince, it’s a tour through the darker and more infamous corners of the franchise’s comic history.

This topic was suggested by our patron Duggertron, and it quickly grew into a full-length discussion — so join us as we explore the panels that left a lasting impression, for better or worse.

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Enjoying the show? There’s more than meets the ear...

Find show notes at https://www.tripletakeover.com

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Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tripletakeover

What would the perfect new wave of Transformers Generations toys look like… if we all played by the same rules?

In this episode we have some fun assembling our ideal Generations lineup, taking turns to select characters across a full spread of size classes. With four Deluxes, two Voyagers, plus picks for Leader, Commander, and Titan, we attempt to look beyond the familiar G1 comfort zone — with varying degrees of success...

Suggested by our patron Andy Gold, this discussion quickly becomes a mix of wish-list thinking, creative loopholes, and good-natured rule-bending as we debate what really makes a great Generations release.

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Enjoying the show? There’s more than meets the ear...

Find show notes at https://www.tripletakeover.com

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What are some of the most overlooked Transformers toys — and do they really deserve to be forgotten?

Following a recent Patreon poll, we’re back for a sixth round of Transformers 'hidden gems', with each of us nominating a figure from across the brand’s history that we think deserved a little more attention than it received at the time.

In theory, we’re looking beyond the usual G1 favourites… though, as ever, sticking to that brief proves easier for some than others. Expect plenty of nostalgia, spirited defence of underappreciated toys, and a few familiar lines being quietly blurred along the way.

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Enjoying the show? There’s more than meets the ear...

Find show notes at https://www.tripletakeover.com

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The number 113 has become a recurring motif in James Roberts’ Transformers comics — most notably throughout More Than Meets The Eye and Lost Light. But where did that fascination come from?

For our own episode 113, we’re joined by James Roberts himself to explore the inspiration behind those references, tracing them back to issue #113 of the original Marvel UK Transformers comic. From there, the discussion follows the story through to issue #120 and its conclusion in the 1987 annual, unpacking why this particular run left such a lasting impression.

It’s a thoughtful look at influence, continuity, and the deep cuts that helped shape some of the most celebrated Transformers comics of the modern era.

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Partsforming is one of the most controversial aspects of Transformers design, despite being present since the very beginning of the brand in the 1980s.

In this episode we take a closer look at why partsforming remains such a divisive topic among collectors. With modern designs often prioritising integrated transformations and cleaner silhouettes, we discuss how expectations have shifted over time — and why detachable parts continue to spark debate.

From play value and accuracy to practicality and frustration, it’s a thoughtful conversation about one of Transformers’ most persistent design flashpoints.

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Enjoying the show? There’s more than meets the ear...

Find show notes at https://www.tripletakeover.com

Join the conversation with us on Discord

Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tripletakeover