As is traditional, I thought I would list the 50 figures I want to see this year (I say traditional, I did it last year), it's a bit different this year as rather than the top 50 figures I want to see, it's the 50 figures I want - once I get these 50 I will effectively give up collecting. (There will of course be a few new characters, new versions of existing characters and minor characters, but I will feel like I've completed all my collections.)
I'm not including figures that have already been announced - Broadside from FansProject, Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn (hopefully to be released - we've seen prototypes) Infinite Heroes, all the announced Marvel Universe and Generations figures from Hasbro, the later waves of 5" Nintendo figures from PopCo, and Dragonzord from Bandai. I have included figures which are only rumoured such as Doctor Strange, and given we're getting Thundercats figures, Lion-O is a bit of a given, so it balances out. I'd love some Masterpiece Dinobots, but I've not included figures which are really unlikely.
So here goes, in no particular order:
Marvel Universe/Spider-Man 3.75"
01. Invisible Woman - to complete the Fantastic 4
02. Elektra
03. Doctor Strange - to complete the (original) Defenders
04. Professor X
05. Rogue
06. Beast - to complete the (original) X-men
07. Psylocke
08. Emma Frost
09. Jubilee
10. Black Bolt
11. She-Hulk
12. Pyro
13. Quicksilver
14. Toad
15. Avalanche
16. Mr Sinister
17. Omega Red
18. Abomination
19. Kingpin
20. Kraven the Hunter
21. Sandman
DC Infinite Heroes
22. Penguin
23. Riddler
24. Bane
25. Mr Freeze
26. Azrael - Knightfall version
Transformers - Classics Style
27. Blitzwing
28. Sandstorm - I'd be happy with a repaint/remold of FansProject's Defender
29. Trailbreaker
30. Hoist
31. Skids - I'd be happy with a repaint of Universe Ironhide (with head problems fixed)
32. Defensor/Hot Spot - maybe a repaint of Universe Inferno?
33. Menasor/Motormaster - maybe a remold of Generations G2 Optimus Prime?
Thundercats - 3.75"
34. Lion-O w/Snarf - I think it would be fair to include Snarf as an accessory
35. Tygra
36. Panthro, maybe a Thundertank to go with!?
37. Cheetara
38. Jaga (ghost/translucent)
39. WileKit
40. WileKat
41. Ben-Gali
42. Lynx-O
43. Pumyra
44. Mumm-Ra - Mummy Version
45. Mumm-Ra - Powerful version, w/Mumm-Mutt
46. Slithe
47. Jackalman
48. Monkian
49. Vultureman
Sonic 5"
50. Robotnik
I'll see how I did at the end of the year!
Friday, December 3, 2010
How did I do?
Well we're in December now and I thought it would be fun to see how many of the figures I wanted in January I actually got. Green for Yay, Red for Nay!
01. Carnage (From the Spider-Man 3.75" line, could do with some waist/chest articulation but a nice figure.)
02. Sandman
03. Elektra
04. Kingpin
05. Ghost Rider (Needs his bike!!!)
06. Beast
07. Rogue
08. Apocalypse (He's on his way - yay!)
09. Sentinel (Also on the way, big yay!)
10. Mr Sinister
11. Professor Xavier
12. Pyro
13. Quicksilver
14. Invisible Woman
15. Riddler
16. Penguin
17. Mr Freeze
18. Poison Ivy (We saw a prototype, let's hope it actually sees the light of day.)
19. Bane (I'm picking up the DC Universe version, so this is almost a yay but I was really hoping a 3.75" figure.)
20. Harley Quinn (Really hope we see this one.)
21. Jazz
22. Stepper (Surely this is an obvious repaint?)
23. Wheeljack
24. Tracks
25. Skids (I reckon they could do a reasonable Skids out of the Universe Ironhide mold - as long as they fix the neck issues though.)
26. Trailbreaker
27. Hoist
28. Grapple
29. Windcharger (He's a scout rather than a Legends figure like his minibot mates but it looks good.)
30. Gears
31. Huffer (Okay so he sort of got a PCC figure but it doesn't really look anything like him.)
32. Seaspray (Voyager mold but sufficiently awesome for me to forget the scale problems.)
33. Powerglide - Legend
34. Galvatron - Voyager
35. Scourge
36. Sandstorm (I'd be happy if FansProject did a repaint of Defender but apparently they've ruled it out.)
37. Kup
38. Blurr
39. Perceptor
40. Reflector (Should be a repaint of Perceptor, if not Perfect Effect have shown they plan to do a very g1 accurate figure.)
41. Sunstorm
42. Whirl (Repaint of Tomahawk perhaps? Headrobots are doing a custom head for the Movie figure so that almost counts.)
43. Runabout (A repaint of Tracks/Wheeljack might work quite nicely.)
44. Runamuck
45. Shockwave (Mastermind Creations have announced a Hearts of Steel Shockwave, yay yay yay! But not quite Classics style.......)
46. Motormaster - Ultra (Maybe a repaint of Generations G2 Optimus Prime?)
47. Hot Spot - Ultra (Still hoping for that Universe Inferno repaint.)
48. Rumble (Very nice little figure too.)
49. Frenzy
50. Blitzwing
I make that 19 out of 50, 40% if you will!
We had some excellent figures in 2010 - Drift/Blurr and Unicron 2010 for starters, Jazz, Tracks and co. for afters. Let's hope 2011 is just as good!
01. Carnage (From the Spider-Man 3.75" line, could do with some waist/chest articulation but a nice figure.)
02. Sandman
03. Elektra
04. Kingpin
05. Ghost Rider (Needs his bike!!!)
06. Beast
07. Rogue
08. Apocalypse (He's on his way - yay!)
09. Sentinel (Also on the way, big yay!)
10. Mr Sinister
11. Professor Xavier
12. Pyro
13. Quicksilver
14. Invisible Woman
15. Riddler
16. Penguin
17. Mr Freeze
18. Poison Ivy (We saw a prototype, let's hope it actually sees the light of day.)
19. Bane (I'm picking up the DC Universe version, so this is almost a yay but I was really hoping a 3.75" figure.)
20. Harley Quinn (Really hope we see this one.)
21. Jazz
22. Stepper (Surely this is an obvious repaint?)
23. Wheeljack
24. Tracks
25. Skids (I reckon they could do a reasonable Skids out of the Universe Ironhide mold - as long as they fix the neck issues though.)
26. Trailbreaker
27. Hoist
28. Grapple
29. Windcharger (He's a scout rather than a Legends figure like his minibot mates but it looks good.)
30. Gears
31. Huffer (Okay so he sort of got a PCC figure but it doesn't really look anything like him.)
32. Seaspray (Voyager mold but sufficiently awesome for me to forget the scale problems.)
33. Powerglide - Legend
34. Galvatron - Voyager
35. Scourge
36. Sandstorm (I'd be happy if FansProject did a repaint of Defender but apparently they've ruled it out.)
37. Kup
38. Blurr
39. Perceptor
40. Reflector (Should be a repaint of Perceptor, if not Perfect Effect have shown they plan to do a very g1 accurate figure.)
41. Sunstorm
42. Whirl (Repaint of Tomahawk perhaps? Headrobots are doing a custom head for the Movie figure so that almost counts.)
43. Runabout (A repaint of Tracks/Wheeljack might work quite nicely.)
44. Runamuck
45. Shockwave (Mastermind Creations have announced a Hearts of Steel Shockwave, yay yay yay! But not quite Classics style.......)
46. Motormaster - Ultra (Maybe a repaint of Generations G2 Optimus Prime?)
47. Hot Spot - Ultra (Still hoping for that Universe Inferno repaint.)
48. Rumble (Very nice little figure too.)
49. Frenzy
50. Blitzwing
I make that 19 out of 50, 40% if you will!
We had some excellent figures in 2010 - Drift/Blurr and Unicron 2010 for starters, Jazz, Tracks and co. for afters. Let's hope 2011 is just as good!
Sunday, November 21, 2010
New Arrivals
I recently had a couple of rather large boxes arrive from BBTS, I got rather screwed on customs charges but that was quickly forgotten when they arrived...........
A quick summary of what I got:
Generations Blurr, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Megazord and Titanus, Marvel Universe Galactus, Hawkeye, Phoenix, Mystique and Captain Britain, FansProject Swindle and Blast Off, and Piranacon. (Plus a few other miscellaneous Marvel figures.)
Several months ago I decided to re-arrange my collection according to the Dreamwave War Within factions plus a few other factions based on the G1 Dreamwave and IDW comics. I've been meaning to re-arrange my collection slightly so with these new figures arriving, I decided to take a couple of days off work and do it properly.
The Power Rangers have gone into storage, hopefully I will have room to display them at some point.
I extended my faction idea slightly to include my Marvel figures - I've created a villains faction based on IGN's 100 greatest villains (http://uk.comics.ign.com/top-100-villains/), then for the heroes; the Avengers, Defenders and X-men. Basically I only get a figure if I know the character and if they fit into one of the factions. I've also got a 'Sinister' faction for Spider-Man villains not in IGN's top 100, and a 'Brotherhood' factions for the corresponding X-men villains. (Oh, and I've made an exception for Punisher.)
I've then teamed up the Marvel factions with a Transformers faction - Wreckers with the X-men, Avengers and Fantastic 4 with the Autobots, and Defenders with Lightning Strike Coalition. The Brotherhood with the Decepticons and the Predacons with the Sinister faction, and finally the Illuminati with the High Council. (I'm waiting for Professor X and Doctor Strange first though.)
I have to say, spending 2 days opening toys and carefully re-arranging my shelves was fantastic. Totally selfish, but fun and and satisfying to finally get all the small things I've been meaning to do with my collection (like open some figures I've had for a while, apply stickers, etc) done. I'll take some photos soon to demonstrate the set-up.
I've had Device Label Blaster opened for a while, I think he's a great figure and good counterpart to Music Label Soundwave. Some kibble admittedly, but a good face sculpt and nicely posable. Similarly with Arcee (Valkyrie), I'd heard bad things, but I'm really happy with her - I've got a nice kneeling pose out of her and she looks pretty badass with her pistols. The only thing I didn't like about the figure is that it's painted rather than being pink plastic. These 2 figures plus Blurr have nicely finished off my 'Resistance' faction (Hot Rod, Arcee, Doubledealer, Gnaw, Wheelie, Blurr plus Blaster and his Cassettes.)
The Predacons (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Predacons) faction also did rather well from the new arrivals - FansProject Munitioner (Swindle) and Explorer (Blast Off) joined their Energon/Universe counterparts to form Bruticus, who is easily the best ever combiner (and even better than Superion). A posable combiner who just has an amazing presence, truly FansProjects greatest achievement. Here's hoping they have a go at Devastator (and then Defensor and Menasor.........). Speaking of Devastator I've also got all Crazydevy's upgrades now so at some point I'll have a look at them.
Snap Trap also joined the Predacons.
Marvel Universe Galactus is simply awe-inspiring - he's 19" tall, and dwarfs every other toy I have (apart from Fortress Maximus!). This will make more sense when I take pictures, but I have a couple of metal bars in my display cupboard using the holes that the shelves normally fit into. I then have Galactus looking like he's holding on to one of them up, and then using min-mags (little magnets that fit into the holes on the bottom of every 3.75" figures), I've lined up my villains by the order on the IGN list.
The other Marvel Universe figures I got were pretty cool, and I feel a little bad not taking my time opening them, but it had to be quite clinical. It was good to get Hawkeye though, as my Avengers are pretty much complete now (I still want to get Ms. Marvel, but I've got everyone who I consider to be the key members).
I had 2010 Unicron arrive from Robotkingdom.com a couple of weeks before the BBTS shipment. I've held the Armada version, and to me the 2010 version is far superior (maybe because I'm a g1 fan at heart). Even so the figures is and always was quite stunning in scale, a fine addition to any collection.
I have to admit I'm rather proud of my collection, again pictures soon. As I've said before, I feel I'm almost done, there are spaces for Generations Jazz, Tracks, Scourge, Perceptor and co, as well as Marvel Universe Invisible Woman, Professor X, Rogue and Beast (c'mon!!!) , and although I could probably name about 50 more Marvel characters I'd like, really there are only a few left that I really want.
It's back to the waiting game now, waiting for Generations, Reveal the Shield, Marvel Universe and waiting to see Hasbro's plans (presumably at ToyFair in February). Waiting also to see whether we'll get a Dragonzord and some decent Thundercats figures from Bandai, as well as some good 3.75" Batman figures from Mattel.
Bruticus, Galactus and Unicron are ready to take on the world!!!
A quick summary of what I got:
Generations Blurr, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Megazord and Titanus, Marvel Universe Galactus, Hawkeye, Phoenix, Mystique and Captain Britain, FansProject Swindle and Blast Off, and Piranacon. (Plus a few other miscellaneous Marvel figures.)
Several months ago I decided to re-arrange my collection according to the Dreamwave War Within factions plus a few other factions based on the G1 Dreamwave and IDW comics. I've been meaning to re-arrange my collection slightly so with these new figures arriving, I decided to take a couple of days off work and do it properly.
The Power Rangers have gone into storage, hopefully I will have room to display them at some point.
I extended my faction idea slightly to include my Marvel figures - I've created a villains faction based on IGN's 100 greatest villains (http://uk.comics.ign.com/top-100-villains/), then for the heroes; the Avengers, Defenders and X-men. Basically I only get a figure if I know the character and if they fit into one of the factions. I've also got a 'Sinister' faction for Spider-Man villains not in IGN's top 100, and a 'Brotherhood' factions for the corresponding X-men villains. (Oh, and I've made an exception for Punisher.)
I've then teamed up the Marvel factions with a Transformers faction - Wreckers with the X-men, Avengers and Fantastic 4 with the Autobots, and Defenders with Lightning Strike Coalition. The Brotherhood with the Decepticons and the Predacons with the Sinister faction, and finally the Illuminati with the High Council. (I'm waiting for Professor X and Doctor Strange first though.)
I have to say, spending 2 days opening toys and carefully re-arranging my shelves was fantastic. Totally selfish, but fun and and satisfying to finally get all the small things I've been meaning to do with my collection (like open some figures I've had for a while, apply stickers, etc) done. I'll take some photos soon to demonstrate the set-up.
I've had Device Label Blaster opened for a while, I think he's a great figure and good counterpart to Music Label Soundwave. Some kibble admittedly, but a good face sculpt and nicely posable. Similarly with Arcee (Valkyrie), I'd heard bad things, but I'm really happy with her - I've got a nice kneeling pose out of her and she looks pretty badass with her pistols. The only thing I didn't like about the figure is that it's painted rather than being pink plastic. These 2 figures plus Blurr have nicely finished off my 'Resistance' faction (Hot Rod, Arcee, Doubledealer, Gnaw, Wheelie, Blurr plus Blaster and his Cassettes.)
The Predacons (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Predacons) faction also did rather well from the new arrivals - FansProject Munitioner (Swindle) and Explorer (Blast Off) joined their Energon/Universe counterparts to form Bruticus, who is easily the best ever combiner (and even better than Superion). A posable combiner who just has an amazing presence, truly FansProjects greatest achievement. Here's hoping they have a go at Devastator (and then Defensor and Menasor.........). Speaking of Devastator I've also got all Crazydevy's upgrades now so at some point I'll have a look at them.
Snap Trap also joined the Predacons.
Marvel Universe Galactus is simply awe-inspiring - he's 19" tall, and dwarfs every other toy I have (apart from Fortress Maximus!). This will make more sense when I take pictures, but I have a couple of metal bars in my display cupboard using the holes that the shelves normally fit into. I then have Galactus looking like he's holding on to one of them up, and then using min-mags (little magnets that fit into the holes on the bottom of every 3.75" figures), I've lined up my villains by the order on the IGN list.
The other Marvel Universe figures I got were pretty cool, and I feel a little bad not taking my time opening them, but it had to be quite clinical. It was good to get Hawkeye though, as my Avengers are pretty much complete now (I still want to get Ms. Marvel, but I've got everyone who I consider to be the key members).
I had 2010 Unicron arrive from Robotkingdom.com a couple of weeks before the BBTS shipment. I've held the Armada version, and to me the 2010 version is far superior (maybe because I'm a g1 fan at heart). Even so the figures is and always was quite stunning in scale, a fine addition to any collection.
I have to admit I'm rather proud of my collection, again pictures soon. As I've said before, I feel I'm almost done, there are spaces for Generations Jazz, Tracks, Scourge, Perceptor and co, as well as Marvel Universe Invisible Woman, Professor X, Rogue and Beast (c'mon!!!) , and although I could probably name about 50 more Marvel characters I'd like, really there are only a few left that I really want.
It's back to the waiting game now, waiting for Generations, Reveal the Shield, Marvel Universe and waiting to see Hasbro's plans (presumably at ToyFair in February). Waiting also to see whether we'll get a Dragonzord and some decent Thundercats figures from Bandai, as well as some good 3.75" Batman figures from Mattel.
Bruticus, Galactus and Unicron are ready to take on the world!!!
Friday, August 27, 2010
The Future is Clear(er)
In previous blogs I have anticipated the end of my collecting - what happens when the likes of (Transformers) Classics in all its incarnations and Marvel Universe finish up. And finish up they will - the pool of well known characters is running out, and I have no desire to own multiple toys of particular characters.
I have come to the conclusion that I'm going to stop buying the IDW Transformers comics - I just haven't been enjoying it that much, combine that with my finishing my g1 collection and it's hard to see where my continued interest will lie.
I think the Hunt for the Decepticons line has hinted at what will happen - I will cherry pick the best figures from the new lines, if they're interesting, if I can fit them into my own little universe. In addition there might well be newer versions of old favourites - in the same way that Marvel continuously produce Spider-Man figures, presumably most figures will get updated again.
Toy companies are not known for giving us everything we want in one go, they know by releasing it in dribs and drabs we will inevitably be tempted by other figures that we didn't even known we were interested in!
I think my future really lies in customs - I really enjoy coming up with ideas and learning new techniques to make ever more professional (I hope) custom figures. New figures will lead to new ideas! I think some Heart of Steel type customs would be fun. (I love the idea of a zeppelin!)
In addition I have a long running (since childhood) dream to create a Micromaster City - thinking about it I've got Fortress Maximus, Metroplex, Scorponok, Trypticon (plus Motormaster and Onslaught), Overlord, God Ginrai and Omega Supreme on the baseformer front, plus Countdown, Groundshaker, Skystalker, Skyhopper and Greasepit actual micromaster bases. I reckon that would make for quite a good (united faction) city. I could then of course make a few extra custom bits (probably involving raiding a hobby store) to make it more city like. Sadly though I reckon that could be a retirement type project unless I get a house with a particularly large loft!
Some interesting news on upcoing releases over the last week - from Mattel we've got some a boxset of Ghostbuster figures - the 4 ghostbusters plus Slimer. I then saw about Wave 16 of DC Universe featuring Azrael Batman and BAF Bane. After some quick calculations, and a look on ebay this is probably the cheapest (and presumably best in terms of quality) way of getting these characters. They're 6 inch obviously, but an Azrael/Bane face off and the ghostbusters will be the exception to my usual 3.75 inch rule. (The only other exception is Sub-Zero versus Scorpion with a loitering Reptile.)
I recently concluded that the Infinite Heroes line had died a death and so started planning a custom Harley Quinn figure - I'm not sure why, but out of all the Batman characters (except Azrael and Bane) that I really want a figure of, Harley is up there at the top of the list. On the day I was going to go out and buy a base figure for the custom, a prototype figure pops up on ebay. Amazing, and there's apparently an Poison Ivy figure too. Sweet! (For those keeping track, there's only Penguin, Riddler and Mr Freeze left.)
While I was thinking about these figures, as is so often the case I started thinking about all the things I collect and whether there is anything else missing - Thundercats are an obvious gap but they should be getting some figures next year, I've got all the turtles, I'll have all the ghostbusters. I came up with Power Rangers - I previously decided just to get Dragonzord and Tigerzord, on the grounds that (Dino) Megazord was a bit rubbish and Titanus was a bit random. Thinking about this further I realised that I still wanted the two latter items so I quickly pre-ordered on BBTS and vowed to sell the Tigerzord.
I often think about what motivates my collecting (justifying what I do and don't have), and it's basically about what stuff I wanted as a kid - the Turtles, the Ghostbusters, the Thundercats, the Power Rangers, the Transformers. Star Wars. Computer Games and Marvel/DC have come a bit later. But in all cases it's pretty much the main characters, or in some cases the figures from the first series or two of the cartoon.
I've got the Turtles, I'll soon have the Power Rangers and Ghostbusters, I'll get Thundercats next year, I've got Star Wars (miniatures plus Transformers), Transformers, Marvel and DC are in progress (Generations, Universe and Infinite Heroes) and computer games (Sonic, Nintendo, Mortal Kombat and Earthworm Jim) are almost done (if they ever release those 5 inch Wario and Bowser figures..........).
I sometimes think how amazing it is that I've got pretty much everything I ever wanted (I've accepted that the Turtlewagon and Ecto-1 are a step too far, might get a Thundertank next year though!). I almost have a toy of every character I've ever thought was cool and that's quite something.
The sun is shining, the birds are singing, life couldn't be better!!!
********************************
To get (Transformers): Blast Off, Swindle, Straxus, Terradive, Highbrow, Blurr, Scourge, Tracks, Jazz, Skullgrin, Perceptor, Windcharger, Grapple, Thunderwing, Dinoking and Wheeljack, Reflector, Broadside, Eject, Rewind (if we get them!).
To get (Marvel/DC): Ms Marvel, Ghost Rider, Phoenix, Thanos, Galactus, Azrael, Bane, Cyclops, Apocalypse, Sentinel and Mandarin, Venom, Carnage, Storm, Loki, Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy (if we ever get them!).
I have come to the conclusion that I'm going to stop buying the IDW Transformers comics - I just haven't been enjoying it that much, combine that with my finishing my g1 collection and it's hard to see where my continued interest will lie.
I think the Hunt for the Decepticons line has hinted at what will happen - I will cherry pick the best figures from the new lines, if they're interesting, if I can fit them into my own little universe. In addition there might well be newer versions of old favourites - in the same way that Marvel continuously produce Spider-Man figures, presumably most figures will get updated again.
Toy companies are not known for giving us everything we want in one go, they know by releasing it in dribs and drabs we will inevitably be tempted by other figures that we didn't even known we were interested in!
I think my future really lies in customs - I really enjoy coming up with ideas and learning new techniques to make ever more professional (I hope) custom figures. New figures will lead to new ideas! I think some Heart of Steel type customs would be fun. (I love the idea of a zeppelin!)
In addition I have a long running (since childhood) dream to create a Micromaster City - thinking about it I've got Fortress Maximus, Metroplex, Scorponok, Trypticon (plus Motormaster and Onslaught), Overlord, God Ginrai and Omega Supreme on the baseformer front, plus Countdown, Groundshaker, Skystalker, Skyhopper and Greasepit actual micromaster bases. I reckon that would make for quite a good (united faction) city. I could then of course make a few extra custom bits (probably involving raiding a hobby store) to make it more city like. Sadly though I reckon that could be a retirement type project unless I get a house with a particularly large loft!
Some interesting news on upcoing releases over the last week - from Mattel we've got some a boxset of Ghostbuster figures - the 4 ghostbusters plus Slimer. I then saw about Wave 16 of DC Universe featuring Azrael Batman and BAF Bane. After some quick calculations, and a look on ebay this is probably the cheapest (and presumably best in terms of quality) way of getting these characters. They're 6 inch obviously, but an Azrael/Bane face off and the ghostbusters will be the exception to my usual 3.75 inch rule. (The only other exception is Sub-Zero versus Scorpion with a loitering Reptile.)
I recently concluded that the Infinite Heroes line had died a death and so started planning a custom Harley Quinn figure - I'm not sure why, but out of all the Batman characters (except Azrael and Bane) that I really want a figure of, Harley is up there at the top of the list. On the day I was going to go out and buy a base figure for the custom, a prototype figure pops up on ebay. Amazing, and there's apparently an Poison Ivy figure too. Sweet! (For those keeping track, there's only Penguin, Riddler and Mr Freeze left.)
While I was thinking about these figures, as is so often the case I started thinking about all the things I collect and whether there is anything else missing - Thundercats are an obvious gap but they should be getting some figures next year, I've got all the turtles, I'll have all the ghostbusters. I came up with Power Rangers - I previously decided just to get Dragonzord and Tigerzord, on the grounds that (Dino) Megazord was a bit rubbish and Titanus was a bit random. Thinking about this further I realised that I still wanted the two latter items so I quickly pre-ordered on BBTS and vowed to sell the Tigerzord.
I often think about what motivates my collecting (justifying what I do and don't have), and it's basically about what stuff I wanted as a kid - the Turtles, the Ghostbusters, the Thundercats, the Power Rangers, the Transformers. Star Wars. Computer Games and Marvel/DC have come a bit later. But in all cases it's pretty much the main characters, or in some cases the figures from the first series or two of the cartoon.
I've got the Turtles, I'll soon have the Power Rangers and Ghostbusters, I'll get Thundercats next year, I've got Star Wars (miniatures plus Transformers), Transformers, Marvel and DC are in progress (Generations, Universe and Infinite Heroes) and computer games (Sonic, Nintendo, Mortal Kombat and Earthworm Jim) are almost done (if they ever release those 5 inch Wario and Bowser figures..........).
I sometimes think how amazing it is that I've got pretty much everything I ever wanted (I've accepted that the Turtlewagon and Ecto-1 are a step too far, might get a Thundertank next year though!). I almost have a toy of every character I've ever thought was cool and that's quite something.
The sun is shining, the birds are singing, life couldn't be better!!!
********************************
To get (Transformers): Blast Off, Swindle, Straxus, Terradive, Highbrow, Blurr, Scourge, Tracks, Jazz, Skullgrin, Perceptor, Windcharger, Grapple, Thunderwing, Dinoking and Wheeljack, Reflector, Broadside, Eject, Rewind (if we get them!).
To get (Marvel/DC): Ms Marvel, Ghost Rider, Phoenix, Thanos, Galactus, Azrael, Bane, Cyclops, Apocalypse, Sentinel and Mandarin, Venom, Carnage, Storm, Loki, Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy (if we ever get them!).
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Call of the Primatives (and Classics)
I started collecting in 2003, firstly the dinobots, the Takara Collection reissues, then pretty much every animal based transformer, baseformer and 1984/85 g1 transformer. I've now got all the ones I want so it seems like a good time to show off my collection.
I also have a few Beast Wars and Unicron Trilogy figures, plus I collect WST and Classics/Universe/Generations and anything else that fits in well.
I recently spent a few years abroad and so had my collection all boxed up. I was looking forward to displaying it all again, but knew that I wasn't going to be able to display it all at once. I was umming and arring about whether to display all my Classics, or all my g1 or the animal based g1, or maybe a little bit of each.
Re-reading some of the Dreamwave comics, (particularly War Within when Prime and Megatron have gone missing), I realised the Autobots were pretty much just the 84/85/86 characters, but the Decepticons, since they always had less toys, had their numbers boosted by later toys. It then also occured to me that most of the g1 animal transformers are Decepticons.
Rather than the traditional g1/classics displays by year and faction I decided to display by the factions in the WW comics, plus a few from elsewhere and some made up by me. Basically I would use the Classics version if it existed or the g1 if it didn't.
My first faction is 'Clones', really I think of them as an offshoot of the Decepticons (since they were created by Shockwave). MP Grimlock is lurking in the background because there's not space for him anywhere else.
This is the Wreckers (or maybe Team Dion), Countdown is considered an honoury Wrecker since he and Roadbuster are both Cybertron Defense molds in a previous life. Doubledealer is included because he doesn't fit on the shelf below....
This is Hot Rod's 'Resistance' faction and Ratbat's Ultracons. Gnaw is hidden behind Hot Rod, Doubledealer (ala IDW) should be on this shelf but can't fit. The Mighty Muggs will make way for Generations Blurr and Device Label Blaster when they arrive.
Marvel Universe, etc. Plus some TMNT!
Decepticons, featuring a couple of customs. I really like Movie Ravage so he's featuring at the moment. I have a vague plan to 'rotate' some figures when I fancy a change.
The Predacons plus the actual Predacons. Starscream does pretty well as he gets the Stunticons, Combaticons and Predacons under his command. I do have this idea that Razorclaw is thinking of going to set up his own faction - hence him sort of facing off against Starscream.
Grimlock's Lightning Strike Coalition - I included Seasaur as a sort of homage to 'Paddles' (see TF Wiki) before Magmatron brainwashed him. Yes the Headmasters are KOs.
The Autobots. Alternator Jazz is placeholding until the Generations version arrives.
Bludgeon's Chaos Trinity (Bugly died, but somehow they summoned Deszaras from the distant past.) Also my made-up 'Masters' faction - Scorponok and Overlord teaming up to take over Cybertron (with Darkwing, Dreadwind, Apeface, Snapdragon, Triggerhappy and Misfire.) There's a lack of space so I've just got the small bots 'master partners. (Normally there's a box where the Froggy bank is.)
Sorry for the slightly fuzzy photo..... This is the Neo Predacons faction - including Cybertron Scourge and Beast Wars Halfshell (plus Megatron, Dinobot and Archadis). Also the High Council - led by Fortress Maximus (they're a bit low on numbers but Grapple should be joining them soon.)
Slightly better shot of the Neo Predacons/High Council. The High Council are basically all the 'pacifists' who want to stop fighting and rebuild Cybertron.
The Dead Universe. Vector Prime is there since he can travel to any Universe he likes and really there's no where else for him to go. Monstructor is 'under construction', if I can't find a waistpiece for him I might make a custom frame for him (so it looks like scaffolding). Scourge and Thunderwing will go here when they arrive.
A view of my toy cuboard - a small beacon of toys in an otherwise grown up apartment (assuming you haven't looked in the wardrobe)!!!
My plan is to feature every main character somewhere in my display - the gaps are basically those that we know we're getting figures for in the Generations line (my reissues are in storage so not easily retrieved). I plan to swap a few figures around soon - I should be getting Defender, plus the Voyager Bludgeon.
As a little challenge if anyone's interested - I reckon there's 14 animal based g1 Transformers I haven't got (7 of which were Japan only). I appreciate it's hard to see but can anyone guess who they are!?
(Figures where there's a modern update are in storage, the Terrorcons are also in storage and the (original) Seacons are on their way from BBTS.)
I also have a few Beast Wars and Unicron Trilogy figures, plus I collect WST and Classics/Universe/Generations and anything else that fits in well.
I recently spent a few years abroad and so had my collection all boxed up. I was looking forward to displaying it all again, but knew that I wasn't going to be able to display it all at once. I was umming and arring about whether to display all my Classics, or all my g1 or the animal based g1, or maybe a little bit of each.
Re-reading some of the Dreamwave comics, (particularly War Within when Prime and Megatron have gone missing), I realised the Autobots were pretty much just the 84/85/86 characters, but the Decepticons, since they always had less toys, had their numbers boosted by later toys. It then also occured to me that most of the g1 animal transformers are Decepticons.
Rather than the traditional g1/classics displays by year and faction I decided to display by the factions in the WW comics, plus a few from elsewhere and some made up by me. Basically I would use the Classics version if it existed or the g1 if it didn't.
My first faction is 'Clones', really I think of them as an offshoot of the Decepticons (since they were created by Shockwave). MP Grimlock is lurking in the background because there's not space for him anywhere else.
This is the Wreckers (or maybe Team Dion), Countdown is considered an honoury Wrecker since he and Roadbuster are both Cybertron Defense molds in a previous life. Doubledealer is included because he doesn't fit on the shelf below....
This is Hot Rod's 'Resistance' faction and Ratbat's Ultracons. Gnaw is hidden behind Hot Rod, Doubledealer (ala IDW) should be on this shelf but can't fit. The Mighty Muggs will make way for Generations Blurr and Device Label Blaster when they arrive.
Marvel Universe, etc. Plus some TMNT!
Decepticons, featuring a couple of customs. I really like Movie Ravage so he's featuring at the moment. I have a vague plan to 'rotate' some figures when I fancy a change.
The Predacons plus the actual Predacons. Starscream does pretty well as he gets the Stunticons, Combaticons and Predacons under his command. I do have this idea that Razorclaw is thinking of going to set up his own faction - hence him sort of facing off against Starscream.
Grimlock's Lightning Strike Coalition - I included Seasaur as a sort of homage to 'Paddles' (see TF Wiki) before Magmatron brainwashed him. Yes the Headmasters are KOs.
The Autobots. Alternator Jazz is placeholding until the Generations version arrives.
Bludgeon's Chaos Trinity (Bugly died, but somehow they summoned Deszaras from the distant past.) Also my made-up 'Masters' faction - Scorponok and Overlord teaming up to take over Cybertron (with Darkwing, Dreadwind, Apeface, Snapdragon, Triggerhappy and Misfire.) There's a lack of space so I've just got the small bots 'master partners. (Normally there's a box where the Froggy bank is.)
Sorry for the slightly fuzzy photo..... This is the Neo Predacons faction - including Cybertron Scourge and Beast Wars Halfshell (plus Megatron, Dinobot and Archadis). Also the High Council - led by Fortress Maximus (they're a bit low on numbers but Grapple should be joining them soon.)
Slightly better shot of the Neo Predacons/High Council. The High Council are basically all the 'pacifists' who want to stop fighting and rebuild Cybertron.
The Dead Universe. Vector Prime is there since he can travel to any Universe he likes and really there's no where else for him to go. Monstructor is 'under construction', if I can't find a waistpiece for him I might make a custom frame for him (so it looks like scaffolding). Scourge and Thunderwing will go here when they arrive.
A view of my toy cuboard - a small beacon of toys in an otherwise grown up apartment (assuming you haven't looked in the wardrobe)!!!
My plan is to feature every main character somewhere in my display - the gaps are basically those that we know we're getting figures for in the Generations line (my reissues are in storage so not easily retrieved). I plan to swap a few figures around soon - I should be getting Defender, plus the Voyager Bludgeon.
As a little challenge if anyone's interested - I reckon there's 14 animal based g1 Transformers I haven't got (7 of which were Japan only). I appreciate it's hard to see but can anyone guess who they are!?
(Figures where there's a modern update are in storage, the Terrorcons are also in storage and the (original) Seacons are on their way from BBTS.)
Monday, August 23, 2010
Looking Back..........
I've just been reading through some of my 2009 posts and it's quite interesting to look back on my thoughts, hopes and excitement in hindsight. I thought it would be good to go over a few things I wrote about and see what happened and how I feel about them now.
Most importantly I got that set of shelves and have my collection nicely displayed (if a little crammed), I really will post some photos soon! I'm sticking to the rotation system idea, so I've rotated in g1 Jetfire and Stunticons for their Classics update (well, with the Stunticons it was Drag Strip and Motormaster/Energon Onslaught). I'm really proud of my 'faction' based display and it's quite fun deciding where figures not in the comics should fit in. (More discussion on that when I post those photos.........)
I'm not so disappointed with the Infinite Heroes figures now - I've got Two-Face, and I've grown to accept them. They seemed to have stopped now which is kinda sad. I'm looking at the DC Universe Azrael-Batman figure and wondering how I could fit that figure in - I read the Knightfall storyline in the early 90's so feel a particular attachment to the characters (Azrael, Bane and Nightwing). the Marvel Universe is still going very strong and with Galactus, Apocalypse, Carnage and Juggernaut, I'm getting the villains I was really hoping for.
I did finally get all the g1 figures I wanted (about 10 months later than planned), but it's going to be a while before the 'savings' kick in as there's some expensive Fansproject figures on the horizon - the Bruticus upgrade - I got my wish! Just hoping for a Devastator upgrade now.
The Classics line did return as 'Generations', I've got the Drift figure and think he's awesome - again, transformers with swords are brilliant beyond words. Not too disappointed with having splashed out for a resin kit last year. We're getting pretty much all of the key characters that were left so it's an amazing time to be collecting.
I ended up getting the Jazz alternator (now 'jazzed' up with reprolabels), he doesn't really fit but he'll display nicely with either MP Grimlock and Classics Bumblebee (Classic Pretender style) or Botcon Razorclaw. I also got Alternator Ravage (the second one). Really amazing figures and if I had the space I could well be tempted by the other Alternators.
I ended up getting the Wonderfest Ultra Magnus and Springer WST figures - very expensive, plus the Blaster and Shockwave figures. I've also got the WST KO combiners which work very nicely in scale with the official releases. Some of the colours are a bit off (KO style) so a bit of paint will be needed there!
I've tried my very best not to be completest - as far as I'm concerned I'm done with collecting g1, but various reissues could tempt me. I now have a list of 'hypothetical' figures figures which I'd buy if I won the lottery (I don't actually play the lottery so it seems unlikely). But it has figures which either take up too much space (e.g. micromaster bases), are too expensive (e.g. Black Zarak, Japanese exclusive dinosaur cassettes) or simply I don't really like (e.g. Firecons). I tried only to be completest about subgroups but there are some figures which would 'fill' a gap but aesthetically I just can't convince myself on.
I still have the dilemma about ordering (in advance) online or waiting for something to arrive at retail. With the first waves of a line (such as Generations), there was no problem waiting because it was certain that the UK would get the first wave. Equally I feel pretty confident with Darkmount/Straxus (who I think is wave 2), but Blurr in wave 4 is really rather uncertain. I've got him preordered at BBTS and it remains to be seen whether I'll hold. Equally with Marvel Universe, I waited and waited for Archangel (he turned up at Forbidden Planet as his wave mates were there), but he was short packed and so I've ended up paying double on ebay. It looks like it could be simpler with the Hunt for the Decepticon figures - there's no sign of wave 1 so it's a no-brainer with the later waves to order them online.
It's sad having to buy things online to be certain of getting things. One of the my best collecting moments was when I tried a few stores for Universe Superion, and eventually after a fairly lengthy train journey found him. It was a great day. (Funnily enough some of my local stores back in the UK have about 30 odd Movie Superion figures so I needn't have bothered!)
I'm really looking forward to the next year or so and there's some great stuff on it's way!
Most importantly I got that set of shelves and have my collection nicely displayed (if a little crammed), I really will post some photos soon! I'm sticking to the rotation system idea, so I've rotated in g1 Jetfire and Stunticons for their Classics update (well, with the Stunticons it was Drag Strip and Motormaster/Energon Onslaught). I'm really proud of my 'faction' based display and it's quite fun deciding where figures not in the comics should fit in. (More discussion on that when I post those photos.........)
I'm not so disappointed with the Infinite Heroes figures now - I've got Two-Face, and I've grown to accept them. They seemed to have stopped now which is kinda sad. I'm looking at the DC Universe Azrael-Batman figure and wondering how I could fit that figure in - I read the Knightfall storyline in the early 90's so feel a particular attachment to the characters (Azrael, Bane and Nightwing). the Marvel Universe is still going very strong and with Galactus, Apocalypse, Carnage and Juggernaut, I'm getting the villains I was really hoping for.
I did finally get all the g1 figures I wanted (about 10 months later than planned), but it's going to be a while before the 'savings' kick in as there's some expensive Fansproject figures on the horizon - the Bruticus upgrade - I got my wish! Just hoping for a Devastator upgrade now.
The Classics line did return as 'Generations', I've got the Drift figure and think he's awesome - again, transformers with swords are brilliant beyond words. Not too disappointed with having splashed out for a resin kit last year. We're getting pretty much all of the key characters that were left so it's an amazing time to be collecting.
I ended up getting the Jazz alternator (now 'jazzed' up with reprolabels), he doesn't really fit but he'll display nicely with either MP Grimlock and Classics Bumblebee (Classic Pretender style) or Botcon Razorclaw. I also got Alternator Ravage (the second one). Really amazing figures and if I had the space I could well be tempted by the other Alternators.
I ended up getting the Wonderfest Ultra Magnus and Springer WST figures - very expensive, plus the Blaster and Shockwave figures. I've also got the WST KO combiners which work very nicely in scale with the official releases. Some of the colours are a bit off (KO style) so a bit of paint will be needed there!
I've tried my very best not to be completest - as far as I'm concerned I'm done with collecting g1, but various reissues could tempt me. I now have a list of 'hypothetical' figures figures which I'd buy if I won the lottery (I don't actually play the lottery so it seems unlikely). But it has figures which either take up too much space (e.g. micromaster bases), are too expensive (e.g. Black Zarak, Japanese exclusive dinosaur cassettes) or simply I don't really like (e.g. Firecons). I tried only to be completest about subgroups but there are some figures which would 'fill' a gap but aesthetically I just can't convince myself on.
I still have the dilemma about ordering (in advance) online or waiting for something to arrive at retail. With the first waves of a line (such as Generations), there was no problem waiting because it was certain that the UK would get the first wave. Equally I feel pretty confident with Darkmount/Straxus (who I think is wave 2), but Blurr in wave 4 is really rather uncertain. I've got him preordered at BBTS and it remains to be seen whether I'll hold. Equally with Marvel Universe, I waited and waited for Archangel (he turned up at Forbidden Planet as his wave mates were there), but he was short packed and so I've ended up paying double on ebay. It looks like it could be simpler with the Hunt for the Decepticon figures - there's no sign of wave 1 so it's a no-brainer with the later waves to order them online.
It's sad having to buy things online to be certain of getting things. One of the my best collecting moments was when I tried a few stores for Universe Superion, and eventually after a fairly lengthy train journey found him. It was a great day. (Funnily enough some of my local stores back in the UK have about 30 odd Movie Superion figures so I needn't have bothered!)
I'm really looking forward to the next year or so and there's some great stuff on it's way!
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
I'm done with G1!
In the middle of 2003 I bought Snarl, and last night I bought Monster Pretender Bristleback, in between those purchases came about 150 figures, but now I'm done with buying vintage g1 figures - I've got all the figures I want. I'm finally in the position where the only figures I want haven't actually been released yet. (Equally I'm done with Beast Wars and the Unicron Trilogy but I don't have many figures from those lines.)
I tried to explain this milestone to my girlfriend, and initially she was delighted - 'So no more toys!?', 'Erm, well, no, I'll still be getting the new figures that come out' I said. She didn't quite appreciate the milestone, so I hoped you guys might be more enthusiastic for me!
I started out just wanting to collect the dinobots, then I started getting the reissues, and soon it turned into getting all (well most) of the figures from Seasons 1 and 2 of the cartoon, virtually every animal transformer (including the Japanese figures), all of the leaders from the cartoons (including the Japan series) plus almost all of the baseformers (including the micromaster bases but excluding Japanese exclusives). Early on I was adding figures to the 'to get' list quicker than I could buy them, but I've finally crossed them all off.
Despite my fairly clear collecting goals, I've managed not to be entirely completist - I've not got some of the really expensive figures (the Japanese only dino cassettes for instance), or the ones I really couldn't convince myself the merits of (the Firecons for instance), or some of the Season 2 Autobots on the grounds there were loads more Autobots than Decepticons.
I've spent a fair old amount of money over the 7 years, so it will be good to finally give my bank account a bit of a rest (apart from the Generations line that is). I almost wish I could have gone back in time and told the 2003 version of me to get some of the figures as it's amazing how much the prices have gone up over the years.
I reckon Hasbro and Takara might be able to tempt me with a few select reissues (such as the Seacons), but otherwise, I'm done!
I tried to explain this milestone to my girlfriend, and initially she was delighted - 'So no more toys!?', 'Erm, well, no, I'll still be getting the new figures that come out' I said. She didn't quite appreciate the milestone, so I hoped you guys might be more enthusiastic for me!
I started out just wanting to collect the dinobots, then I started getting the reissues, and soon it turned into getting all (well most) of the figures from Seasons 1 and 2 of the cartoon, virtually every animal transformer (including the Japanese figures), all of the leaders from the cartoons (including the Japan series) plus almost all of the baseformers (including the micromaster bases but excluding Japanese exclusives). Early on I was adding figures to the 'to get' list quicker than I could buy them, but I've finally crossed them all off.
Despite my fairly clear collecting goals, I've managed not to be entirely completist - I've not got some of the really expensive figures (the Japanese only dino cassettes for instance), or the ones I really couldn't convince myself the merits of (the Firecons for instance), or some of the Season 2 Autobots on the grounds there were loads more Autobots than Decepticons.
I've spent a fair old amount of money over the 7 years, so it will be good to finally give my bank account a bit of a rest (apart from the Generations line that is). I almost wish I could have gone back in time and told the 2003 version of me to get some of the figures as it's amazing how much the prices have gone up over the years.
I reckon Hasbro and Takara might be able to tempt me with a few select reissues (such as the Seacons), but otherwise, I'm done!
How I became addicted to seekers!!!
It occurred to me the other day that I actually own 31 seekers, mostly official but including some KO WSTs and customs, which given my aim in collecting is animal based transformers and the 'classic' characters ('84-'86 bots), that's quite a lot.
The more I think about it I have to admit that I'm a bit of a seeker addict, having said that, the 31 doesn't even include the Movie, Masterpiece or Alternity seekers. So how did I get so many? Growing up I didn't have any seeker toys but I did have a video of 'Call of the Primatives' and 'The girl who loved Powerglide'. The former is responsible for my obsession with 'Primatives', and the latter is not only responsible for my strong dislike of Powerglide, but also (I have to come to realise) the seeker obsession, and more specifically a conehead obsession.
My collecting basically started with the Takara collection reissues, and so my first seeker was Starscream, and shortly after I picked up the Hasbro reissues of Skywarp, Thundercracker and Dirge, and then ebayed Thrust and Ramjet. I had completed my seekers. Sort of.
The Sunstorm story started in the Dreamwave comics soon after, and instantly I thought that Sunstorm was the best character ever, and that (let's be honest here) a slightly rubbish toy in a slightly offensive shade of orange was well worth paying over the odds for. (I still own the toy by the way.....). That got me up to 7.
I then became aware of the WST (about the time it had become clear they weren't making any more), and so picked up Starscream and Thrust. Deciding against paying the massively inflated price for Skywarp, picked up a KO of him and then got extras of Starscream to make my own Thundercracker, Ramjet and Dirge. (Sound familiar!?)
Around this time the Classics line had debuted, but I wasn't very interested, simply because I liked my G1 Grimlock, Mirage, Optimus Prime, etc more than the new ones on offer. The exceptions were Bumblebee and Starscream who both had slightly rubbish G1 figures, but I'm slightly completist to the point where I won't just get random figures from a line. Having made that initial decision I found myself looking at the Classics figures almost continuously, and in particular Ramjet.
Starscream alone failed to convince me of the merits of the Classics line, but Ramjet really made me doubt my decision - here was a toy which like an utterly cool, modern, intimidating update of a classic character. It occurs to me now that I like the coneheads more because they featured in the episode I hated but watched repeatedly as a child. Still, I kept to my decision until the Summer of 2007.........
Botcon 2007 was (obviously, and let's not go there) a controversial affair, but for me it was the final nail in the coffin - updated uber cool coneheads available in Ramjet, Thrust and Dirge flavours? I lived in the UK, missed the boat on any pre-order non-attending pack and so decided to stump up the money (a lot of money) for the Games of Deception pack on ebay. I then went to my local Forbidden Planet and bought every different Classics figure they had. This was about a week before I left the country for 2 years, so I more or less opened the figures then packed them straight up to be shipped overseas.
3 days before I left the country I did a presentation at an international conference, it was quite a nerve racking thing, but it went well. After (and this is my luckiest ever TF find), I wandered into Woolworths (RIP) and found Skywarp and Ultra Magnus on discount for £10! Skywarp went into my hand luggage and Ultra Magnus went into my parents attic (to be later pardoned when FansProject did their thing). That bit of luck was then contrasted against the arrival of a letter from customs charging me import duty on the GOD set - I got the letter a day before I left and so had no chance of getting the package before I left. I paid the money and had the package delivered to my parents. I then made the decision to leave it there, and not risk having it sent on another journey (and not pay import duty on it for a second time!).
I picked up Ramjet (finally) shortly after and so completed my second set of seekers (though I couldn't display them together for another 2 years). KO versions of WST Thundercracker, Ramjet and Dirge then turned up on ebay, and so I got them and completed my third set of seekers. (Sadly I couldn't display them either as I'd left the others in the UK.)
I then found a KO WST Sunstorm as well (another of Heerotoymaker's efforts) and a black WST Starscream. I did a bit of research and found out that this was another ehobby figure like Sunstorm, but in cool black and gold colour scheme. I picked up both, but then I got to thinking. I had 7 G1 Seekers, 6 Classics Seekers and 8 WST Seekers, the completest in me then sunk in again and so picked up a black ehobby Starscream (Darkstorm as I call him), and bought a couple of extra Classics Starscreams to create a custom Classics Sunstorm and Darkstorm.
I painted my custom Sunstorm (pretty happy with it too), but then the Universe line was announced and in particular: Acid Storm. This threw my 8 different seekers in each of the 3 styles out of the window - did I create a custom G1 and WST Acid Storm? Did I ignore the figure? Reading further about Acid Storm, it emerged he was a 'Rainmaker' and that there were 3 of them. (Aren't there always!?) Some time later it was announced that Dirge was going to get a figure as a repaint of Cybertron Voyager Starscream, I both wanted a figure from that mold and wanted Roadbuster. How could I fit all of these things together!?
Ever conscious that I had a rather large collection I decided to make Sunstorm a rainmaker - I know that 'technically' the yellow rainmaker and Sunstorm are different characters, but really, they were just randomly coloured extras, and so who's to say whether they are the same character or not? I then decided to make Cybertron Dirge my third rainmaker (Hailstorm if you will).
Upon coming back to the UK, I rediscovered my custom WST seekers which I'd been halfway through making, the Thundercracker (to be) was still complete so I sold that on ebay, I'd hacked up the wings of the other 2 so I decided to make them into Acid Storm and Hailstorm (Hailstorm being all blue but having Dirge style wings - referencing my own terming Cybertron Dirge as Hailstorm). I found a WST Acid Storm on ebay the other day but decided against it.
So that's 8 G1, 9 Classics and 10 WSTs - 27 in total. Where do the other 4 come in? I was delighted when the 3rd party Heart of Steel Optimus Prime figure came out, but I wanted more - the alt modes for the characters were brilliant in my mind, so one of the things I'm working on now are some custom HOS Seekers - Starscream, Skywarp and Thundercracker. I've bought a Legends Cybertron Sunstorm to base the head/face on - so 31 in total (I'm counting the customs in progress).
I'm not tempted by the Movie style seekers, nor the Masterpiece or Alternity figures, but I could well be tempted by Masterpiece coneheads (not sure about the Igear figures). Funny how that one episode still affects my thinking!
31 for figures for now, but for how long!?
The more I think about it I have to admit that I'm a bit of a seeker addict, having said that, the 31 doesn't even include the Movie, Masterpiece or Alternity seekers. So how did I get so many? Growing up I didn't have any seeker toys but I did have a video of 'Call of the Primatives' and 'The girl who loved Powerglide'. The former is responsible for my obsession with 'Primatives', and the latter is not only responsible for my strong dislike of Powerglide, but also (I have to come to realise) the seeker obsession, and more specifically a conehead obsession.
My collecting basically started with the Takara collection reissues, and so my first seeker was Starscream, and shortly after I picked up the Hasbro reissues of Skywarp, Thundercracker and Dirge, and then ebayed Thrust and Ramjet. I had completed my seekers. Sort of.
The Sunstorm story started in the Dreamwave comics soon after, and instantly I thought that Sunstorm was the best character ever, and that (let's be honest here) a slightly rubbish toy in a slightly offensive shade of orange was well worth paying over the odds for. (I still own the toy by the way.....). That got me up to 7.
I then became aware of the WST (about the time it had become clear they weren't making any more), and so picked up Starscream and Thrust. Deciding against paying the massively inflated price for Skywarp, picked up a KO of him and then got extras of Starscream to make my own Thundercracker, Ramjet and Dirge. (Sound familiar!?)
Around this time the Classics line had debuted, but I wasn't very interested, simply because I liked my G1 Grimlock, Mirage, Optimus Prime, etc more than the new ones on offer. The exceptions were Bumblebee and Starscream who both had slightly rubbish G1 figures, but I'm slightly completist to the point where I won't just get random figures from a line. Having made that initial decision I found myself looking at the Classics figures almost continuously, and in particular Ramjet.
Starscream alone failed to convince me of the merits of the Classics line, but Ramjet really made me doubt my decision - here was a toy which like an utterly cool, modern, intimidating update of a classic character. It occurs to me now that I like the coneheads more because they featured in the episode I hated but watched repeatedly as a child. Still, I kept to my decision until the Summer of 2007.........
Botcon 2007 was (obviously, and let's not go there) a controversial affair, but for me it was the final nail in the coffin - updated uber cool coneheads available in Ramjet, Thrust and Dirge flavours? I lived in the UK, missed the boat on any pre-order non-attending pack and so decided to stump up the money (a lot of money) for the Games of Deception pack on ebay. I then went to my local Forbidden Planet and bought every different Classics figure they had. This was about a week before I left the country for 2 years, so I more or less opened the figures then packed them straight up to be shipped overseas.
3 days before I left the country I did a presentation at an international conference, it was quite a nerve racking thing, but it went well. After (and this is my luckiest ever TF find), I wandered into Woolworths (RIP) and found Skywarp and Ultra Magnus on discount for £10! Skywarp went into my hand luggage and Ultra Magnus went into my parents attic (to be later pardoned when FansProject did their thing). That bit of luck was then contrasted against the arrival of a letter from customs charging me import duty on the GOD set - I got the letter a day before I left and so had no chance of getting the package before I left. I paid the money and had the package delivered to my parents. I then made the decision to leave it there, and not risk having it sent on another journey (and not pay import duty on it for a second time!).
I picked up Ramjet (finally) shortly after and so completed my second set of seekers (though I couldn't display them together for another 2 years). KO versions of WST Thundercracker, Ramjet and Dirge then turned up on ebay, and so I got them and completed my third set of seekers. (Sadly I couldn't display them either as I'd left the others in the UK.)
I then found a KO WST Sunstorm as well (another of Heerotoymaker's efforts) and a black WST Starscream. I did a bit of research and found out that this was another ehobby figure like Sunstorm, but in cool black and gold colour scheme. I picked up both, but then I got to thinking. I had 7 G1 Seekers, 6 Classics Seekers and 8 WST Seekers, the completest in me then sunk in again and so picked up a black ehobby Starscream (Darkstorm as I call him), and bought a couple of extra Classics Starscreams to create a custom Classics Sunstorm and Darkstorm.
I painted my custom Sunstorm (pretty happy with it too), but then the Universe line was announced and in particular: Acid Storm. This threw my 8 different seekers in each of the 3 styles out of the window - did I create a custom G1 and WST Acid Storm? Did I ignore the figure? Reading further about Acid Storm, it emerged he was a 'Rainmaker' and that there were 3 of them. (Aren't there always!?) Some time later it was announced that Dirge was going to get a figure as a repaint of Cybertron Voyager Starscream, I both wanted a figure from that mold and wanted Roadbuster. How could I fit all of these things together!?
Ever conscious that I had a rather large collection I decided to make Sunstorm a rainmaker - I know that 'technically' the yellow rainmaker and Sunstorm are different characters, but really, they were just randomly coloured extras, and so who's to say whether they are the same character or not? I then decided to make Cybertron Dirge my third rainmaker (Hailstorm if you will).
Upon coming back to the UK, I rediscovered my custom WST seekers which I'd been halfway through making, the Thundercracker (to be) was still complete so I sold that on ebay, I'd hacked up the wings of the other 2 so I decided to make them into Acid Storm and Hailstorm (Hailstorm being all blue but having Dirge style wings - referencing my own terming Cybertron Dirge as Hailstorm). I found a WST Acid Storm on ebay the other day but decided against it.
So that's 8 G1, 9 Classics and 10 WSTs - 27 in total. Where do the other 4 come in? I was delighted when the 3rd party Heart of Steel Optimus Prime figure came out, but I wanted more - the alt modes for the characters were brilliant in my mind, so one of the things I'm working on now are some custom HOS Seekers - Starscream, Skywarp and Thundercracker. I've bought a Legends Cybertron Sunstorm to base the head/face on - so 31 in total (I'm counting the customs in progress).
I'm not tempted by the Movie style seekers, nor the Masterpiece or Alternity figures, but I could well be tempted by Masterpiece coneheads (not sure about the Igear figures). Funny how that one episode still affects my thinking!
31 for figures for now, but for how long!?
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Convention Time!
Isn't everything great!?
Okay so in the world, on the grand scheme of things, most things aren't great, but let's just ignore that for one moment of utter selfishness and think about our own little cocooned world.
(I say our, mine really, the world of Transformers and Marvel toys.)
We are in that most exciting time of year - convention time! That means finding out about what we're going to get over the next year. Botcon was just over a month ago, and it seems we're going to get some great stuff. Before I talk about that though, it seems that there is a WST (nano-scale if you will) Predaking on offer at Wonderfest this weekend. You can bet that this is going to cost an arm and a leg for anyone, but if by any chance it just costs a leg I could well be tempted. (In my mind I'm seeing g1 Trypticon, WST Dinobots and now WST Predacons!!!)
So in terms of CHUG (Classics, Henkei, Universe and Generations) we didn't really see anything we didn't know about - Drift, Straxus (Darkmount) and Blurr. The exciting stuff was the stuff we didn't see - in the designers panel where they outlined the upcoming figures - Jazz, Scourge, Tracks, Perceptor with potential Skullgrin, Wheeljack and Reflector (and I assume Stepper) repaints. In one fell swoop they've more or less announced toys of every figure left that I want. The possibility of Kup was even mentioned.
Assuming Fansproject release their version of Broadside, and the likely repaint of Springer into Sandstorm, and given that I'm not too worried about the minibots, I think Blitzwing and Shockwave are about the only characters left of any significance who I'd like to see toys for. Hasbro I'm impressed!!!
I have wondered in the past about what would happen after the likely third iteration of CHUG - a fourth iteration would seem unlikely as they've virtually used up all the reasonably well known characters, what happens next? I don't think Hasbro have any plans for me to give up collecting just yet - the Hunt for the Decepticons line is movie based but with a bit more of the CHUG cosmetic - and I think this style is where the future lies for me.
I don't want another Optimus Prime or Megatron, but give me a new character (or possibly one homaging the more obscure elements of g1), preferably with an unusual or interesting alt-mode and I'm on board - Terradive looks awesome - I'm going to get him and make him a herald of Unicron in my little universe, and Highbrow - WWII inspired alt-mode, and I reckon he looks a bit like Crossblades (g1 mega pretender), I'm sure I can find a home for him. I think what I will do now is cherry pick the best figures from any line and then slot them into my neo g1 universe. Sorted!
I need a herald for Unicron because of the utterly awesome g1 remold of Armada Unicron from Takara. Did I mention it looks awesome!? Not tempted by Primus though.
And then we have the Seacons reissue, again, fantastic. A few concerns about quality control but still a much cheaper way of getting one of the best combiners. (I've already got the BWII redeco.)
We've also got the Bruticus upgrade from Fansproject, DL Blaster from Takara, Yoda in the Crossovers line (had to slip that in!), Grapple from Hasbro, Dinobots in the Powercore Combiners line, WST Blitzwing and Astrotrain from the people who made the WST Dinobots, Eject and Rewind from Perfect Effect, plus somebody's making KOs of the Japanese Animal Headmasters. It's a great time to be collecting, so many exciting things coming out!
The Marvel Universe is also looking just as exciting, Galactus looks superb, we're getting Carnage in the Spider-man line (yay!!!), plus Ghost Rider, Captain Britain, Iron Spider, Mystique and a host of others. I reckon Invisible Woman, Rogue and Beast are the most needed, followed by the remaining members of the Illuminati - Prof X, Dr Strange and Black Bolt then a few villains to round it out. Apocalypse would a very welcome addition.
For all the excitement of these figures, I think this time next year (when hopefully I've got them all!), I'm hoping it will slow down, and then there will just be the odd figure here and there - the yearly WST figure, some of the more obscure mutants released and less money spent!
SDCC starts in a couple of days so I will continue writing this blog in a couple of days..............
**********************************************************************
Well, SDCC was fairly underwhelming really, some great news about Marvel Universe (and the Spider-man line) though - it was all about the villains! A new (posable) Venom - much better sculpting apparently, I have to admit to thinking it looked a bit more cartoonish but we'll see, and in Marvel Universe, Sentinel and Apocalypse! I'm very very happy about Apocalypse and it's great to get a Sentinel, the question is how many to get? (Also a question for Generations Scourge.) There's also a Loki figure in with one of the gigantic battle (with Frost Giant) as well so all good.
Invisible Woman was hinted at (in one of the silhouette teasers I believe) so will be good to finish one of the teams. I'm sure Mattel said a while back that there would be some big news regarding 3.75 inch DC figures but that doesn't seem to have happened. I'm sure it'll happen in the future though.
Not related to SDCC but Headrobots have released some more pictures of 'Blood' and 'Gyro' - Bludgeon and Whirl upgrades for the Movie figures. Blood looks pretty amazing, like most people I'm fairly happy with Voyager Bludgeon, but this has got me thinking, especially when most TRU's around the world seem to have lots of those 2-packs still sitting on their shelves.
It's all looking rather exciting for the next year or so, roll on Christmas!
Okay so in the world, on the grand scheme of things, most things aren't great, but let's just ignore that for one moment of utter selfishness and think about our own little cocooned world.
(I say our, mine really, the world of Transformers and Marvel toys.)
We are in that most exciting time of year - convention time! That means finding out about what we're going to get over the next year. Botcon was just over a month ago, and it seems we're going to get some great stuff. Before I talk about that though, it seems that there is a WST (nano-scale if you will) Predaking on offer at Wonderfest this weekend. You can bet that this is going to cost an arm and a leg for anyone, but if by any chance it just costs a leg I could well be tempted. (In my mind I'm seeing g1 Trypticon, WST Dinobots and now WST Predacons!!!)
So in terms of CHUG (Classics, Henkei, Universe and Generations) we didn't really see anything we didn't know about - Drift, Straxus (Darkmount) and Blurr. The exciting stuff was the stuff we didn't see - in the designers panel where they outlined the upcoming figures - Jazz, Scourge, Tracks, Perceptor with potential Skullgrin, Wheeljack and Reflector (and I assume Stepper) repaints. In one fell swoop they've more or less announced toys of every figure left that I want. The possibility of Kup was even mentioned.
Assuming Fansproject release their version of Broadside, and the likely repaint of Springer into Sandstorm, and given that I'm not too worried about the minibots, I think Blitzwing and Shockwave are about the only characters left of any significance who I'd like to see toys for. Hasbro I'm impressed!!!
I have wondered in the past about what would happen after the likely third iteration of CHUG - a fourth iteration would seem unlikely as they've virtually used up all the reasonably well known characters, what happens next? I don't think Hasbro have any plans for me to give up collecting just yet - the Hunt for the Decepticons line is movie based but with a bit more of the CHUG cosmetic - and I think this style is where the future lies for me.
I don't want another Optimus Prime or Megatron, but give me a new character (or possibly one homaging the more obscure elements of g1), preferably with an unusual or interesting alt-mode and I'm on board - Terradive looks awesome - I'm going to get him and make him a herald of Unicron in my little universe, and Highbrow - WWII inspired alt-mode, and I reckon he looks a bit like Crossblades (g1 mega pretender), I'm sure I can find a home for him. I think what I will do now is cherry pick the best figures from any line and then slot them into my neo g1 universe. Sorted!
I need a herald for Unicron because of the utterly awesome g1 remold of Armada Unicron from Takara. Did I mention it looks awesome!? Not tempted by Primus though.
And then we have the Seacons reissue, again, fantastic. A few concerns about quality control but still a much cheaper way of getting one of the best combiners. (I've already got the BWII redeco.)
We've also got the Bruticus upgrade from Fansproject, DL Blaster from Takara, Yoda in the Crossovers line (had to slip that in!), Grapple from Hasbro, Dinobots in the Powercore Combiners line, WST Blitzwing and Astrotrain from the people who made the WST Dinobots, Eject and Rewind from Perfect Effect, plus somebody's making KOs of the Japanese Animal Headmasters. It's a great time to be collecting, so many exciting things coming out!
The Marvel Universe is also looking just as exciting, Galactus looks superb, we're getting Carnage in the Spider-man line (yay!!!), plus Ghost Rider, Captain Britain, Iron Spider, Mystique and a host of others. I reckon Invisible Woman, Rogue and Beast are the most needed, followed by the remaining members of the Illuminati - Prof X, Dr Strange and Black Bolt then a few villains to round it out. Apocalypse would a very welcome addition.
For all the excitement of these figures, I think this time next year (when hopefully I've got them all!), I'm hoping it will slow down, and then there will just be the odd figure here and there - the yearly WST figure, some of the more obscure mutants released and less money spent!
SDCC starts in a couple of days so I will continue writing this blog in a couple of days..............
**********************************************************************
Well, SDCC was fairly underwhelming really, some great news about Marvel Universe (and the Spider-man line) though - it was all about the villains! A new (posable) Venom - much better sculpting apparently, I have to admit to thinking it looked a bit more cartoonish but we'll see, and in Marvel Universe, Sentinel and Apocalypse! I'm very very happy about Apocalypse and it's great to get a Sentinel, the question is how many to get? (Also a question for Generations Scourge.) There's also a Loki figure in with one of the gigantic battle (with Frost Giant) as well so all good.
Invisible Woman was hinted at (in one of the silhouette teasers I believe) so will be good to finish one of the teams. I'm sure Mattel said a while back that there would be some big news regarding 3.75 inch DC figures but that doesn't seem to have happened. I'm sure it'll happen in the future though.
Not related to SDCC but Headrobots have released some more pictures of 'Blood' and 'Gyro' - Bludgeon and Whirl upgrades for the Movie figures. Blood looks pretty amazing, like most people I'm fairly happy with Voyager Bludgeon, but this has got me thinking, especially when most TRU's around the world seem to have lots of those 2-packs still sitting on their shelves.
It's all looking rather exciting for the next year or so, roll on Christmas!
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Knock-Offs
Knock-Offs - KOs, definitely a dirty word on some discussion sites. Never has there been a topic which divides fans more, views seem very polarised but I'm of the opinion that it's not a black and white matter, it's several shades of grey. For instance I think a rough separation of the different levels might be something along the following lines:
Reprolabels
'Repro' Parts
non Takara WSTs
3rd Party Transformers
Shoddy KOs (the ones with rubbish stickers and random colours)
High Quality KOs
Metroplex KO (in Encore box)
Repro labels and parts are still imitations of official Hasbro/Takara products but because they're not the whole thing just a part no-one seems to worry. Similarly other small KOs seem to be fine - WSTs for instance.
I know 3rd party Transformers aren't KOs but they still are imitations of trademarked characters. Definitely some dodgy legal ground. We all have different levels of acceptance (although I'm sure nobody thinks the Metroplex KO is acceptable), I guess most people fall somewhere in the middle of that list in what they deem 'acceptable'.
Some people take a moral stance, some a quality stance. Let me address both of those: I've experienced figures from all of the categories on that list (except Metroplex) and I can say that high quality KOs are just that, I had a chance to look at the recent Shockwave KO and it was fine, virtually indistinguishable from the real thing. Equally Fansprojects and the WST figures have been amazing in their quality. (Obviously shoddy figure are just that but they are good for customs.)
KO figures are either rubbish, or if they're any good people are upset because you can't tell them apart from the real thing. I maintain if you buy Transformers with a bit of common sense then you'll be fine - watch out for MIB/MISB Transformers, watch out for 'mint' Transformers at a low price, these are all giveaways. Look at the reputability of the seller. For me Metroplex being sold as an Encore is the only figure that has overstepped the mark.
You could say that KOs damage Hasbro/Takara, firstly because people conclude all of their products are of low quality (which let's be honest, some of the official figures are) and secondly there's reduced demand for official figures.
I really can't believe that people buy a KO G1 figure, find it's rubbish and then decide not to buy any new figures (e.g. Movie or Generations). It's just not going to happen.
The reduced demand argument does hold some weight, but again I don't understand (and I guess we're talking G1 here) why anyone would buy a KO if that has been reissued recently or is to be reissued shortly. Doesn't make any sense. Buying a KO Sunstreaker, Mirage and Wheeljack makes sense as they're almost definitely never going to be reissued. Prowl and Sideswipe? Why?
The final point that some people make is that it's copyright infringement - it's illegal. This is true and I can see that for some people doing anything illegal is a no-no. Let me consider this further though, laws are created by humans, laws are broken by humans. Every single person has broken a law at some point, stealing a grape, dropping litter, drinking underage, speeding, the list is endless. We have all done it but we deem it acceptable as it 'doesn't hurt anyone'. Does buying a KO Transformer hurt anyone?
One counter-argument here is that, yes because in the long run, Hasbro sells less Transformers and so creates less new products. Possibly, but I don't know about you but I'm pretty excited about all the new stuff coming out. Doesn't seem to be a problem.
My final point is that by being consumers we are all harming the environment in some way, however small our actual individual impact. Yes by buying KO Transformers we might be harming Hasbro, but if we can all forget about the damage we're doing the Earth surely it's not a huge step to not worry about the damage we're doing Hasbro. Global warming suggests that we're damaging the Earth, increased profits for Hasbro suggests what exactly?
I wouldn't declare myself to be a supporter of KOs, but equally I wouldn't say I'm against them for the simple reason I think it would be hypercritical - I own KOs of WSTs - Skywarp and Thundercracker and to condemn KOs of actual G1 Transformers whilst saying these are okay is quite contradictory.
Again, I believe with a bit of common sense it's possible to avoid KOs, if you want to but the question is are most people that concerned?
Reprolabels
'Repro' Parts
non Takara WSTs
3rd Party Transformers
Shoddy KOs (the ones with rubbish stickers and random colours)
High Quality KOs
Metroplex KO (in Encore box)
Repro labels and parts are still imitations of official Hasbro/Takara products but because they're not the whole thing just a part no-one seems to worry. Similarly other small KOs seem to be fine - WSTs for instance.
I know 3rd party Transformers aren't KOs but they still are imitations of trademarked characters. Definitely some dodgy legal ground. We all have different levels of acceptance (although I'm sure nobody thinks the Metroplex KO is acceptable), I guess most people fall somewhere in the middle of that list in what they deem 'acceptable'.
Some people take a moral stance, some a quality stance. Let me address both of those: I've experienced figures from all of the categories on that list (except Metroplex) and I can say that high quality KOs are just that, I had a chance to look at the recent Shockwave KO and it was fine, virtually indistinguishable from the real thing. Equally Fansprojects and the WST figures have been amazing in their quality. (Obviously shoddy figure are just that but they are good for customs.)
KO figures are either rubbish, or if they're any good people are upset because you can't tell them apart from the real thing. I maintain if you buy Transformers with a bit of common sense then you'll be fine - watch out for MIB/MISB Transformers, watch out for 'mint' Transformers at a low price, these are all giveaways. Look at the reputability of the seller. For me Metroplex being sold as an Encore is the only figure that has overstepped the mark.
You could say that KOs damage Hasbro/Takara, firstly because people conclude all of their products are of low quality (which let's be honest, some of the official figures are) and secondly there's reduced demand for official figures.
I really can't believe that people buy a KO G1 figure, find it's rubbish and then decide not to buy any new figures (e.g. Movie or Generations). It's just not going to happen.
The reduced demand argument does hold some weight, but again I don't understand (and I guess we're talking G1 here) why anyone would buy a KO if that has been reissued recently or is to be reissued shortly. Doesn't make any sense. Buying a KO Sunstreaker, Mirage and Wheeljack makes sense as they're almost definitely never going to be reissued. Prowl and Sideswipe? Why?
The final point that some people make is that it's copyright infringement - it's illegal. This is true and I can see that for some people doing anything illegal is a no-no. Let me consider this further though, laws are created by humans, laws are broken by humans. Every single person has broken a law at some point, stealing a grape, dropping litter, drinking underage, speeding, the list is endless. We have all done it but we deem it acceptable as it 'doesn't hurt anyone'. Does buying a KO Transformer hurt anyone?
One counter-argument here is that, yes because in the long run, Hasbro sells less Transformers and so creates less new products. Possibly, but I don't know about you but I'm pretty excited about all the new stuff coming out. Doesn't seem to be a problem.
My final point is that by being consumers we are all harming the environment in some way, however small our actual individual impact. Yes by buying KO Transformers we might be harming Hasbro, but if we can all forget about the damage we're doing the Earth surely it's not a huge step to not worry about the damage we're doing Hasbro. Global warming suggests that we're damaging the Earth, increased profits for Hasbro suggests what exactly?
I wouldn't declare myself to be a supporter of KOs, but equally I wouldn't say I'm against them for the simple reason I think it would be hypercritical - I own KOs of WSTs - Skywarp and Thundercracker and to condemn KOs of actual G1 Transformers whilst saying these are okay is quite contradictory.
Again, I believe with a bit of common sense it's possible to avoid KOs, if you want to but the question is are most people that concerned?
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Neo G1
When I was growing up it was all about Transformers - the Transformers that came to be known as Generation 1. When I started collecting again in the 2000's, to start with it was all about reissues of those figures.
We are now in a position where G1 has come back round again - it started off with a few homages in Energon, Alternators, Masterpiece and then finally a hull blown lines of homages - Classics. Classics turned into Universe (Classics 2.0), which has now turned into Generations. From the recent Botcon we've found out we're getting new versions of Jazz, Scourge, Tracks, Grapple, Windcharger and more.
Newer lines have been much more G1 in nature - Animated and to a certain extent the Movie line have definite nods to Generation 1. Comics have also played their part - first Dreamwave then IDW. Generation 1 is alive and well. It's a fantastic time to be a collector and fan!
One of the figures we've got in Generations is Drift - an IDW creation, we're also getting a Straxus (Darkmount) - a Furman/Marvel creation. All this is an updated G1 - modern toys - detailed and posable, darker storylines. Neo G1 perhaps, but what is Neo G1?
I think Classics/Universe/Generations is Neo G1, as are the DW/IDW comics - they take the characters we know and love and have built on it, characterising some of the lesser used characters and creating a few new ones.
If someone had asked me a few years back which characters I'd like in the upcoming Classics line, I'd have said all of the Season 1, 2 and 3 characters (and feel free to miss out Wreck-Gar). By the end of Generations I think we'll be pretty close to this, but Hasbro being the clever blighters they are always give us a bit more.
I look at my collection now, which is essentially 'Neo G1' and see alot more than just those characters from the first 3 seasons. Some of these are characters from other lines - Beast Wars, Armada, Energon and Cybertron lines which aren't G1 but I try and fit them into my made-up toy universe (Cybertron Scourge for instance).
Then there are characters from the latter end of G1 - Micromasters and Pretenders for instance, who have also got figures that I just can't say no to (Movie Bludgeon for instance), then there are characters who have been 'upgraded' - Powerglide and Seaspray, who aren't faithful to their G1 selves, but (in the case of Seaspray), are fantastic looking toys which are hard to ignore.
Then there are 'new' characters (quite a lot created by ehobby) - Drift and Hailstorm who have to be slotted in somehow. My original 'vision' of the characters from Seasons 1, 2 and 3 has cleverly been expanded to include Beast Wars, the Terrorcons from Energon, and the various Cybertron repaints as various vaguely G1 characters (Vector Prime anyone?).
I reckon about the only characters left who need figures are Wheeljack, Blitzwing, Trailbreaker/Hoist and Gears. Once we've got them I think I can give up collecting, and you know, I think Hasbro knows that so are in no rush to release them - they know I just can't ignore all the other things they release.
We are now in a position where G1 has come back round again - it started off with a few homages in Energon, Alternators, Masterpiece and then finally a hull blown lines of homages - Classics. Classics turned into Universe (Classics 2.0), which has now turned into Generations. From the recent Botcon we've found out we're getting new versions of Jazz, Scourge, Tracks, Grapple, Windcharger and more.
Newer lines have been much more G1 in nature - Animated and to a certain extent the Movie line have definite nods to Generation 1. Comics have also played their part - first Dreamwave then IDW. Generation 1 is alive and well. It's a fantastic time to be a collector and fan!
One of the figures we've got in Generations is Drift - an IDW creation, we're also getting a Straxus (Darkmount) - a Furman/Marvel creation. All this is an updated G1 - modern toys - detailed and posable, darker storylines. Neo G1 perhaps, but what is Neo G1?
I think Classics/Universe/Generations is Neo G1, as are the DW/IDW comics - they take the characters we know and love and have built on it, characterising some of the lesser used characters and creating a few new ones.
If someone had asked me a few years back which characters I'd like in the upcoming Classics line, I'd have said all of the Season 1, 2 and 3 characters (and feel free to miss out Wreck-Gar). By the end of Generations I think we'll be pretty close to this, but Hasbro being the clever blighters they are always give us a bit more.
I look at my collection now, which is essentially 'Neo G1' and see alot more than just those characters from the first 3 seasons. Some of these are characters from other lines - Beast Wars, Armada, Energon and Cybertron lines which aren't G1 but I try and fit them into my made-up toy universe (Cybertron Scourge for instance).
Then there are characters from the latter end of G1 - Micromasters and Pretenders for instance, who have also got figures that I just can't say no to (Movie Bludgeon for instance), then there are characters who have been 'upgraded' - Powerglide and Seaspray, who aren't faithful to their G1 selves, but (in the case of Seaspray), are fantastic looking toys which are hard to ignore.
Then there are 'new' characters (quite a lot created by ehobby) - Drift and Hailstorm who have to be slotted in somehow. My original 'vision' of the characters from Seasons 1, 2 and 3 has cleverly been expanded to include Beast Wars, the Terrorcons from Energon, and the various Cybertron repaints as various vaguely G1 characters (Vector Prime anyone?).
I reckon about the only characters left who need figures are Wheeljack, Blitzwing, Trailbreaker/Hoist and Gears. Once we've got them I think I can give up collecting, and you know, I think Hasbro knows that so are in no rush to release them - they know I just can't ignore all the other things they release.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Halfway through 2010!
So we're almost halfway through the year (and I haven't blogged since the New Year), so it seems a good time to reflect on what the year has brought us and how it's going.
The branded Movie line slowly seems to be drying up, and hopefully the shops are gearing up for Transformers Generations (and the Hunt for the Decepticons line Seaspray), and in fact a few places such as Australia have got them already.
I'm passing on the announced War for Cybertron figures, not that I think they're bad figures but I don't need another Prime, Megatron et al. Drift and Straxus (Darkmount) seem full of promise though, and we've got Botcon in a few weeks which hopefully will set the stall for the coming months. Personally I'm hoping for an announcement of a Jazz (I'd be happy with a War for Cybertron figure), and then maybe a Wheeljack, Blitzwing and Scourge. I can hope!
It sounds like we might get a few of the '86 Movie cast as well (such as a repaint of Drift as Blurr), so I can't wait.
The 3rd party releases are going along nicely as well - Springer, Rumble and Frenzy already, with Bruticus and Arcee lined up. Let's hope that Fansproject keep up the good work - it'd be great to see the Broadside and other figures mentioned a while back (I know Arcee's not Fansproject!). An Energon Devastator upgrade would also be awesome, but perhaps Crazydevy will do the honours. I've been getting their G1 parts and they seem to be pretty solid.
Takara are still doing some awesome stuff - the G1 Unicron looks utterly fantastic and hopefully we'll get Device Label Blaster soon.
Marvel Universe is still going strong and there seem plenty of great figures about to be released (already appearing in some places) - Ghost Rider, Captain Britain, Mystique, Archangel and Juggernaut. Galactus is a while off but is set to be an awesome figure. It seems a bit of a shame that figures appear on ebay before an official unveiling but hopefully SDCC in July will provide a few surprises. I'm hoping for a few 'filler' figures - Invisible Woman, Rogue, Beast, Professor X to complete the Fantastic Four and the X-men. I'd love to see a Carnage in the Spider-man line as well, preferably with more articulation than Venom though.
There are a few other lines and figures that I'm following - Hulkbuster from the Iron Man 2 line, the PopCo Nintendo 5" Waves 02 and 03 seem a very long time coming - I still want to see Wario, Princess and Bowser. Yoda in the Transformers Crossovers is also on my to get list, it looks ridiculous, but it seems a bit late in the day for me to start criticising the line!
It will also be interesting to see what happens with Infinite Heroes. It was recently announced that Bandai have got the license for a new Thundercats line, so my dream of articulated figures looks like it might come true. Hurrah!
I'm still picking up some G1 figures on ebay, left on my 'To Get' list are the combiner cassettes (Grandslam, Raindance, Beastbox and Squawktalk), the Monster Pretenders and the Terrorcons. I still long for the day when I'm just 'cherry-picking' from the Marvel Universe and Transformers Classics 3.0/4.0/etc lines!
It occurred to me the other day that I quite miss the Takara Collection days - the excitement of the news of the next release, it arriving in the post and the ritual of the opening. No umming and arring about whether to wait to see if it appears in shops here or just to bite the bullet, and buy it on ebay. Having said that, nothing quite matches the thrill of the hunt - finding the figure you want and buying it in person is great. I still remember very fondly successful trips where I've got the last one in a particular shop.
Drift, Straxus, Seaspray and the Marvel Universe figures should be out soon. Let the hunt begin!
The branded Movie line slowly seems to be drying up, and hopefully the shops are gearing up for Transformers Generations (and the Hunt for the Decepticons line Seaspray), and in fact a few places such as Australia have got them already.
I'm passing on the announced War for Cybertron figures, not that I think they're bad figures but I don't need another Prime, Megatron et al. Drift and Straxus (Darkmount) seem full of promise though, and we've got Botcon in a few weeks which hopefully will set the stall for the coming months. Personally I'm hoping for an announcement of a Jazz (I'd be happy with a War for Cybertron figure), and then maybe a Wheeljack, Blitzwing and Scourge. I can hope!
It sounds like we might get a few of the '86 Movie cast as well (such as a repaint of Drift as Blurr), so I can't wait.
The 3rd party releases are going along nicely as well - Springer, Rumble and Frenzy already, with Bruticus and Arcee lined up. Let's hope that Fansproject keep up the good work - it'd be great to see the Broadside and other figures mentioned a while back (I know Arcee's not Fansproject!). An Energon Devastator upgrade would also be awesome, but perhaps Crazydevy will do the honours. I've been getting their G1 parts and they seem to be pretty solid.
Takara are still doing some awesome stuff - the G1 Unicron looks utterly fantastic and hopefully we'll get Device Label Blaster soon.
Marvel Universe is still going strong and there seem plenty of great figures about to be released (already appearing in some places) - Ghost Rider, Captain Britain, Mystique, Archangel and Juggernaut. Galactus is a while off but is set to be an awesome figure. It seems a bit of a shame that figures appear on ebay before an official unveiling but hopefully SDCC in July will provide a few surprises. I'm hoping for a few 'filler' figures - Invisible Woman, Rogue, Beast, Professor X to complete the Fantastic Four and the X-men. I'd love to see a Carnage in the Spider-man line as well, preferably with more articulation than Venom though.
There are a few other lines and figures that I'm following - Hulkbuster from the Iron Man 2 line, the PopCo Nintendo 5" Waves 02 and 03 seem a very long time coming - I still want to see Wario, Princess and Bowser. Yoda in the Transformers Crossovers is also on my to get list, it looks ridiculous, but it seems a bit late in the day for me to start criticising the line!
It will also be interesting to see what happens with Infinite Heroes. It was recently announced that Bandai have got the license for a new Thundercats line, so my dream of articulated figures looks like it might come true. Hurrah!
I'm still picking up some G1 figures on ebay, left on my 'To Get' list are the combiner cassettes (Grandslam, Raindance, Beastbox and Squawktalk), the Monster Pretenders and the Terrorcons. I still long for the day when I'm just 'cherry-picking' from the Marvel Universe and Transformers Classics 3.0/4.0/etc lines!
It occurred to me the other day that I quite miss the Takara Collection days - the excitement of the news of the next release, it arriving in the post and the ritual of the opening. No umming and arring about whether to wait to see if it appears in shops here or just to bite the bullet, and buy it on ebay. Having said that, nothing quite matches the thrill of the hunt - finding the figure you want and buying it in person is great. I still remember very fondly successful trips where I've got the last one in a particular shop.
Drift, Straxus, Seaspray and the Marvel Universe figures should be out soon. Let the hunt begin!
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Wish List for 2010!
We're only 2 weeks into the new year so I thought it would be a great time to create a 'wish' list for the year, a list of 50 figures I'd like to see.
I will stick to the two groups I'd most like to add to - Marvel/DC 3.75 inch figures and Transformers Universe. I'm not too worried about which line they're in or whether they're official (e.g. FansProject) - just whether they fit the aesthetic. I'm also assuming we get the figures that have been announced such as the Galactus figure in Marvel Universe, Two-Face in Infinite Heroes, Warbot (Springer) from FansProject and Blaster in Device Label, etc.
(No particular order)
01. Carnage
02. Sandman
03. Elektra
04. Kingpin
05. Ghost Rider
06. Beast
07. Rogue
08. Apocolypse
09. Sentinel
10. Mr Sinister
11. Professor Xavier
12. Pyro
13. Quicksilver
14. Invisible Woman
15. Riddler
16. Penguin
17. Mr Freeze
18. Poison Ivy
19. Bane
20. Harley Quinn
21. Jazz
22. Stepper
23. Wheeljack
24. Tracks
25. Skids
26. Trailbreaker
27. Hoist
28. Grapple
29. Windcharger
30. Gears
31. Huffer
32. Seaspray
33. Powerglide - Legend
34. Galvatron - Voyager
35. Scourge
36. Sandstorm
37. Kup
38. Blurr
39. Perceptor
40. Reflector
41. Sunstorm
42. Whirl
43. Runabout
44. Runamuck
45. Shockwave
46. Motormaster - Ultra
47. Hot Spot - Ultra
48. Rumble
49. Frenzy
50. Blitzwing
I reckon if I can get a quarter of those, I'll have done well! I'd be quite happy with repaints/remolds for some, even re-releases in the cases of Apocolypse and Sentinel (Marvel Legends). Some I'd like a particular size - most of the Transformers as deluxes, but the Minibots as legends and a few as scout size (Reflector, Rumble, Frenzy).
I'd also love some bi-plane seekers, ala the Hearts of Steel comics but they don't quite fit the Universe aesthetic so I left them out.
I'm working on customs of Shockwave, Reflector, Runabout, Runamuck, Sunstorm and Whirl, but it'd be great to have the real thing.
I'll see how I got on in December!
I will stick to the two groups I'd most like to add to - Marvel/DC 3.75 inch figures and Transformers Universe. I'm not too worried about which line they're in or whether they're official (e.g. FansProject) - just whether they fit the aesthetic. I'm also assuming we get the figures that have been announced such as the Galactus figure in Marvel Universe, Two-Face in Infinite Heroes, Warbot (Springer) from FansProject and Blaster in Device Label, etc.
(No particular order)
01. Carnage
02. Sandman
03. Elektra
04. Kingpin
05. Ghost Rider
06. Beast
07. Rogue
08. Apocolypse
09. Sentinel
10. Mr Sinister
11. Professor Xavier
12. Pyro
13. Quicksilver
14. Invisible Woman
15. Riddler
16. Penguin
17. Mr Freeze
18. Poison Ivy
19. Bane
20. Harley Quinn
21. Jazz
22. Stepper
23. Wheeljack
24. Tracks
25. Skids
26. Trailbreaker
27. Hoist
28. Grapple
29. Windcharger
30. Gears
31. Huffer
32. Seaspray
33. Powerglide - Legend
34. Galvatron - Voyager
35. Scourge
36. Sandstorm
37. Kup
38. Blurr
39. Perceptor
40. Reflector
41. Sunstorm
42. Whirl
43. Runabout
44. Runamuck
45. Shockwave
46. Motormaster - Ultra
47. Hot Spot - Ultra
48. Rumble
49. Frenzy
50. Blitzwing
I reckon if I can get a quarter of those, I'll have done well! I'd be quite happy with repaints/remolds for some, even re-releases in the cases of Apocolypse and Sentinel (Marvel Legends). Some I'd like a particular size - most of the Transformers as deluxes, but the Minibots as legends and a few as scout size (Reflector, Rumble, Frenzy).
I'd also love some bi-plane seekers, ala the Hearts of Steel comics but they don't quite fit the Universe aesthetic so I left them out.
I'm working on customs of Shockwave, Reflector, Runabout, Runamuck, Sunstorm and Whirl, but it'd be great to have the real thing.
I'll see how I got on in December!
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