The economy’s hitting everyone hard these days. New rules make freelancing harder, companies downsize, and now even Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots is making deliveries for Target in order to make ends meet. At least he won’t be alone, as a robot version of Target’s trusty mascot Bullseye is along for the ride and even transforms into a package — for safe rides in the back of the trailer, undisturbed.
“Retail Is the Right of All Sentient Beings”
Okay, so it’s a bit simpler than that. This Target exclusive figure is basically a repaint of Hasbro’s G2 Laser Optimus Prime with the Earthrise trailer. Bullseye is a recolored Siege Ravage, and his alt-mode as a “package” is, to olds who remember as far back as the ’90s, clearly a giant cassette tape. But sure, some packages that have been kicked a bunch look like that.
Transformers used to have a whole subline called Targetmasters, with transforming weapons as a gimmick. This isn’t that, but the name could be appropriated. Target actually has quite a bit of history with Transformers — in the movie Dark of the Moon, one of the Autobots is a race car named Leadfoot, who’s painted in Target logos. the figure, naturally, was sold exclusively at Target stores.
What, you thought Walmart would sell ads for the competition?
Perhaps the fact that it’s an ad allows the price to come down a bit. Target Optimus Prime and Bullseye retail for $59.99 as a set, which is less than G2 Laser Prime and Siege Ravage would cost separately. Preorders begin tomorrow, March 14 at 9 a.m. ET (good luck — you’ll need it for Target preorders!), with a scheduled in-store date of June 23.
Take a look below to see these versions of the figures in both modes. Are they worth rolling out the welcome mat for?
