There are some exciting potential exciting releases in the Generations line according to a sneaky bit of investigation on the Hasbro website - Voyager Brainstorm and Roadbuster, Deluxe Arcee and Hardhead, and Legends Brawn, Gears and Gnaw. (These are the ones that stand out for me.) The Headmasters figures would be interesting, especially given the quality of FansProjects offerings, I like the idea of Hardhead though as presumably it would be a repaint of the Warpath mold which I don't have but want. Roadbuster would be ideal given the Voyager Whirl (although I'm fairly happy with the old Cybertron Defense Red Alert repaint). I wonder whether Brawn could actually be Outback as he's one of the few minibots that hasn't had a modern (Classics) update and they were G1 mold buddies. Gears would also be great for the same reason.
Seems that we're also going to get a full compliment of Age of Extinction Dinobots, the designs look pretty good from the few leaks we've seen, I'm on board with some Dinobots. Hope we get some official Classics versions soon! Speaking of which, Planet X have released some colour pictures of their FOC Swoop, looks pretty damn good to me, nice that it compliments Grimlock, looking forward to seeing more. FansToys have released prototype pictures of a Masterpiece Slag, wow! This looks great, makes me realise how I want Classics Dinobots. Could be expensive, but again would display brilliantly with the official Grimlock we've already got.
It seem that Star Saber has won the Takara Tomy competition for an anniversary Masterpiece figure, I was personally hoping for God Ginrai (who came third) as I was hoping for something for my Classics Masterforce shelf, but Star Saber is a good second choice, hopefully he won't be too crazily large. More on this later. I guess they still might do some of the other figures on the list - often when companies do fans choice they know roughly who's going to win so have designs lined up for all of them.
My new thinking about Beast Wars has got me thinking about the rest of my collection, if money was absolutely no object, what would I buy; I would buy every single G1 figure (possibly in duplicate so I could have one in each mode), every single Beast Wars figure, every single Classics figure, I'd create a Micromaster City (with all the WST), every single Masterpiece and every Grimlock, Ravage, Razorclaw and Steeljaw figure. It then follows that what I should actually collect should be a scaled down version of this, whilst this is almost what I already do, I have purposely not bought into Masterpiece, but if I'm honest, they're fantastic figures and it looks like it has a very healthy future with Bumblebee, Wheeljack and Ultra Magnus on the horizon.
My compromise I think will be to stick with the G1 reissues, leader, base-mode and animal based figures I already have. Then for Classics and Beast Wars pretty much only get the figures that appeared in the cartoon (including the Japanese series), keep the Grimlock et al figures I already have, but to get some Masterpiece figures. To limit the number I get I'm just going to the Season 1 (1984) figures. Okay, and Ultra Magnus. Previously I have not collected Classics figures that belong in Victory, but with MP Star Saber I think it would be good to collect those as well (assuming he works with those figures), this means getting Botcon Leozack and Generations Black (Sky) Shadow. Doubt we'll ever see Classics Deszarus though and the Botcon version just isn't working for me. I think display the Masterforce and Victory era figures together would make quite a nice display, especially as we're getting a couple of unofficial Overlord figures.
I've bought a few Marvel figures this month - Avengers Assemble Black Widow, I haven't opened it yet but it's nice to have a more cartoon accurate version (with the gold belt and wristbands), I've also picked up Legends Man-Thing (it works in the 3.75" scale), since watch the Halloween episode of Ultimate Spider-Man I'm quite liking the idea of putting together a Legion of Monsters collection - really need a Werewolf by Night and N'Kantu the living Mummy in 3.75" scale. I also bought a couple of Chitauri figures from the Avengers movie line as originally they were only in the Ultimate Universe, but they've made an appearance in the 616 universe now as well as in the different cartoon series. I'm looking forward to Christmas and getting some additional funds!
Friday, December 13, 2013
Monday, November 18, 2013
Beast Wars
Moved house again. Sigh...............
Well, I think I've found the solution to my 'almost finished my collection' problem, Beast Wars! I was fairly young when Beast Wars first came out, but I picked up a few figures, specifically Magnaboss and Tripredacus (mainly I think as I never got a combiner in G1). They were pretty good, but didn't really fit in with my reissue based collection when I got back into collecting properly, and so I later sold them.
However, the first figures I got when I got back into collecting were the (G1) dinobots, which just so happened to be at the same time that a few old Beast Wars molds were being released in the Dinobots/Armada/Universe line (the packaging doesn't mention any particular line) with the G1 names, so when I was searching for said figures, those new ones came up in the searches. A couple of years later I decided to pick them up as they were pretty nifty.
I also decided to get God Neptune as to me at least it seemed like a much better deco of the G1 Seacons and (Metals) Ravage as it looked cool. A few years later Dinobot was released in the Classics/Universe line, naturally I picked up the much better Henkei mold, but then further bought Big Convoy, Magmatron and Magnaboss II (the Korean reissues), and then Archadis and Lio Convoy (as well as prehistoric animals I'm also quite a fan of lions). I then also got the 10th anniversary (Ultra) Megatron, which I think is pretty awesome. I thought about getting Optimus Primal but decided against it.
This coincided with the IDW Beast Wars comics which vindicated my choices since most of those characters make an appearance (Beast Wars Galvatron doesn't). And so for a while I was happy with my dinobot/lionbot collection of Beast Wars toys. Plus the Seacons.
A couple of years ago, rumours started to surface about a Classics/Generations Rhinox which when finally confirmed and eventually pictures emerged looked absolutely awesome. I need that figure, and also Waspinator, but that got me thinking, I'm not the sort of person who can just buy a figure, I need my figures to be in sets and so I decided to watch the cartoon (I'd previously seen the odd episode but not many).
The cartoon is great, essentially because it's a small cast with plenty of character development. I then realised I needed that Primal which I'd previously passed on, there is a smaller one out there but I'm happy with the Ultra. It too is a great figure, I also picked up Henkei Cheetor (good animal mode at least!). Realising I now had 3 Maximal leaders and only 2 Predacon, I realised I also needed Galvatron. Oh, and Tripredacus to balance out having Magnaboss. I have pledged to get the remainder of the cast, possibly not the Fuzors and Transmetals though. Okay, maybe the Fuzors, Quickstrike does look pretty good.........
So far so good, nothing too crazy, but then I started thinking about what I'd buy if money was no object, and concluded that buying the cast of Beast Wars II and Neo would be good (I realise I seem to prefer the Japanese toylines continuations over the US ones, so Masterforce/Victory over G2 and BW II/Neo over Beast Machines). I then had a look at the figures and it went downhill from there.
The 'main cast' from both look like good figures with some interesting altmodes, rabbits, tanukis, giraffes, horses, frogs, penguins. I need them! G2 Megatron and Smokescreen get thrown into BW II, it's all good!!! So, in summary, my Beast Wars collection will be the Beast Wars cast up to the start of season one, the main cast from BWII and Neo plus the Magnaboss team, God Neptune and Blendtrons (Torca is awesome, GPS issues aside). Initial versions, no clones.
Not too fussed on whether I get the actual Japanese version or the US counterparts. I might need to get Ikard as well, as the Tako Tank is the kind of Japanese randomness that I need in my life. Along with Heinlad, with his testicles. Who doesn't need a tranforming alarm clock with testicles in their life? I know I do.
Well, I think I've found the solution to my 'almost finished my collection' problem, Beast Wars! I was fairly young when Beast Wars first came out, but I picked up a few figures, specifically Magnaboss and Tripredacus (mainly I think as I never got a combiner in G1). They were pretty good, but didn't really fit in with my reissue based collection when I got back into collecting properly, and so I later sold them.
However, the first figures I got when I got back into collecting were the (G1) dinobots, which just so happened to be at the same time that a few old Beast Wars molds were being released in the Dinobots/Armada/Universe line (the packaging doesn't mention any particular line) with the G1 names, so when I was searching for said figures, those new ones came up in the searches. A couple of years later I decided to pick them up as they were pretty nifty.
I also decided to get God Neptune as to me at least it seemed like a much better deco of the G1 Seacons and (Metals) Ravage as it looked cool. A few years later Dinobot was released in the Classics/Universe line, naturally I picked up the much better Henkei mold, but then further bought Big Convoy, Magmatron and Magnaboss II (the Korean reissues), and then Archadis and Lio Convoy (as well as prehistoric animals I'm also quite a fan of lions). I then also got the 10th anniversary (Ultra) Megatron, which I think is pretty awesome. I thought about getting Optimus Primal but decided against it.
This coincided with the IDW Beast Wars comics which vindicated my choices since most of those characters make an appearance (Beast Wars Galvatron doesn't). And so for a while I was happy with my dinobot/lionbot collection of Beast Wars toys. Plus the Seacons.
A couple of years ago, rumours started to surface about a Classics/Generations Rhinox which when finally confirmed and eventually pictures emerged looked absolutely awesome. I need that figure, and also Waspinator, but that got me thinking, I'm not the sort of person who can just buy a figure, I need my figures to be in sets and so I decided to watch the cartoon (I'd previously seen the odd episode but not many).
The cartoon is great, essentially because it's a small cast with plenty of character development. I then realised I needed that Primal which I'd previously passed on, there is a smaller one out there but I'm happy with the Ultra. It too is a great figure, I also picked up Henkei Cheetor (good animal mode at least!). Realising I now had 3 Maximal leaders and only 2 Predacon, I realised I also needed Galvatron. Oh, and Tripredacus to balance out having Magnaboss. I have pledged to get the remainder of the cast, possibly not the Fuzors and Transmetals though. Okay, maybe the Fuzors, Quickstrike does look pretty good.........
So far so good, nothing too crazy, but then I started thinking about what I'd buy if money was no object, and concluded that buying the cast of Beast Wars II and Neo would be good (I realise I seem to prefer the Japanese toylines continuations over the US ones, so Masterforce/Victory over G2 and BW II/Neo over Beast Machines). I then had a look at the figures and it went downhill from there.
The 'main cast' from both look like good figures with some interesting altmodes, rabbits, tanukis, giraffes, horses, frogs, penguins. I need them! G2 Megatron and Smokescreen get thrown into BW II, it's all good!!! So, in summary, my Beast Wars collection will be the Beast Wars cast up to the start of season one, the main cast from BWII and Neo plus the Magnaboss team, God Neptune and Blendtrons (Torca is awesome, GPS issues aside). Initial versions, no clones.
Not too fussed on whether I get the actual Japanese version or the US counterparts. I might need to get Ikard as well, as the Tako Tank is the kind of Japanese randomness that I need in my life. Along with Heinlad, with his testicles. Who doesn't need a tranforming alarm clock with testicles in their life? I know I do.
Sunday, August 4, 2013
The Beginning of the End
Wow, another year has just whizzed past, I've moved house again (lot less space this time) and another set of conventions. This year an amazing set of Botcon reveals, disappointments from SDCC and a couple of bits from TFCon.
The Beast Wars Generations figures have resulted in me watching the cartoon again (though I think I missed a lot the first time round), I've now got putting together a Series 1 cast as one of my collecting aims because Rhinox is so spectacularly spot on that I don't think I have much choice.
I think I turned a corner with my collecting, it's been an expensive year so far with MP Soundwave, Generations Metroplex and the SDCC GI Joe exclusive, not to mention Mastermind Creations Sixshot and plenty of other third party efforts, but I feel I am so close to 'finishing' my collection.
Hasbro pulled out all the stops at Botcon, the icing on the cake was Skids, he could have been a repaint of Universe Ironhide, Generations Jazz or Trailbreaker, but instead he gets his own mold. He completes the 84-86 Autobot cars lineup. To my mind, the Dinobots, Trypticon and Defensor are the only remaining bots who need some attention. A few different third parties have hinted at Dinobots (someone's got to do them eventually), I guess Hasbro might do Trypticon if Metroplex sells particularly well and hopefully FansProject or Maketoys will take a stab at Defensor. I'm not too worried though, it's time for me to appreciate what I do have. I might pick up a G1 Defensor to tide me over.
Marvel Universe is to be replaced with an Avengers line which is fine by me as I can see that retailers do lose interest in lines over time, if something is 'Wave 1' I know I'll find it at retail, any higher than that then it's usually only online. Looks like Fin Fang Foom has been dropped so I think it's time to bite the bullet and get the Legends version on eBay. Apparently 2015 will focus on X-men so already looking forward to that as pretty much all my wants are X-men. Disappointing to have to wait so long for a Bishop though. Still, all the main characters have been produced so from now on it will be picking up the odd figures here and there. Great that we're going to get an Omega Red finally!
The Beast Wars Generations figures have resulted in me watching the cartoon again (though I think I missed a lot the first time round), I've now got putting together a Series 1 cast as one of my collecting aims because Rhinox is so spectacularly spot on that I don't think I have much choice.
I think I turned a corner with my collecting, it's been an expensive year so far with MP Soundwave, Generations Metroplex and the SDCC GI Joe exclusive, not to mention Mastermind Creations Sixshot and plenty of other third party efforts, but I feel I am so close to 'finishing' my collection.
Hasbro pulled out all the stops at Botcon, the icing on the cake was Skids, he could have been a repaint of Universe Ironhide, Generations Jazz or Trailbreaker, but instead he gets his own mold. He completes the 84-86 Autobot cars lineup. To my mind, the Dinobots, Trypticon and Defensor are the only remaining bots who need some attention. A few different third parties have hinted at Dinobots (someone's got to do them eventually), I guess Hasbro might do Trypticon if Metroplex sells particularly well and hopefully FansProject or Maketoys will take a stab at Defensor. I'm not too worried though, it's time for me to appreciate what I do have. I might pick up a G1 Defensor to tide me over.
Marvel Universe is to be replaced with an Avengers line which is fine by me as I can see that retailers do lose interest in lines over time, if something is 'Wave 1' I know I'll find it at retail, any higher than that then it's usually only online. Looks like Fin Fang Foom has been dropped so I think it's time to bite the bullet and get the Legends version on eBay. Apparently 2015 will focus on X-men so already looking forward to that as pretty much all my wants are X-men. Disappointing to have to wait so long for a Bishop though. Still, all the main characters have been produced so from now on it will be picking up the odd figures here and there. Great that we're going to get an Omega Red finally!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)