Photo Credit: HasbroHasbro is returning to San Diego Comic-Con 2023, but like last year, they will not have actual exclusives available to purchase at the convention. Yet, every day attendees will be able to stop by the Hasbro booth (#3213) to retrieve one-time use limited quantity QR codes to pre-order their exclusives. Codes will be distributed every day of the convention while supplies last. They will be available for pre-order opening day, Wednesday, July 19, 2023 when the doors open. Orders will be shipped on the same day.
While there is no official word yet on the 2023 exclusives, there was a potential tease by the Hasbro team with the presentation of the Transformers Legacy Evolution War Dawn 2-Pack. The Transformers, Ariel (aka ‘Erial’) and Dion, were featured in a Hasbro Pulse Video in 2022 as the next year release. Hasbro will not confirm that this set is a convention exclusive despite last year’s teaser, but that they stated more information will come out soon. Transformers, Ariel and Dion, are fan-favorite exclusives since they are first generation Autobots who made their first appearance in the original animated series in 1985.
Ariel is the female counterpart to Optimus Prime. She is the commander of the female Autobots, who are always in grave conflict with the Decepticons. She can transform into a motorcycle and has had the capacity to freeze time by forming a 5o-foot force field around herself. This ability drains her life force, so she uses it sparingly.
Dion is a first generation transformer who was best friends with Orion Pax (a pre-Optimus Prime) that was one of the first of the Autobot leader’s friends to die in battle against the Decepticons. While his involvement with the Autobots was short-lived, his character plans to have a revival in the animated film, Transformers One. It was announced at the CinemaCon 2023 panel that the voice cast will include, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, and Laurence Fishburne.
There is never a shortage of Autobots to collect in the world of Transformers and Hasbro could be holding onto these exclusives to tie-in with their films. What do you think? Would you purchase this exclusive once it becomes official?
