When I started collecting I bought some G1 guides with pictures of all the US toy releases, and having had a re-flick through the 1987 guide, I think I want updates of all of them! I draw the line at the 1988 lineup though - I just want those that appeared prominently in the Masterforce cartoon - Pretenders, Headmasters juniors and Powermasters which (allowing Titanmasters and Primes) we will be incredibly close to - just need Minerva, Cab and a couple of Autobot Powermasters.
Looking at the 1988 Sparkbots and Triggercons, I really don't have any connection to them so happy to give them a pass. Though I'd take a Dogfight and Fizzle for my Lost Light shelf (actually I also had Fizzle on a long term 'loan' from my mate as a kid, so I suppose I do have a bit of a connection).
I've started to watch the Titan's Return Machinima series, I've no strong opinion either way at the moment, but after seeing Fortress Maximus (a 'Titan'), I again thought about whether I should buy Fortress Maximus. I'm still undecided, but I would buy a Scorponok regardless of size, but the only way I'm getting Grand Maximus (the Titan of whom looks great) or Black Zarak is at the leader class size point. I believe they're supposed to be smaller in fiction anyway, so it actually works. Make Omega Supreme the next Titan after Predaking then give us leader class Fortress and Scorponok!
Power of the Prime figures seem to be on the verge of release in the UK combined with rumours of cheap Titan's Return deluxes and leaders, so I'm checking a lot of shops at the moment, the thrill of the hunt and all that!
I've just had the Takara Autobot clones set arrive. As always the Takara packaging is something special, if I had the space I would love to keep it. The figures are chunky legends sized. I really like them, though I would have preferred the toy accurate Hasbro versions, but really couldn't justify the cost of the box sets. I can live with the pink, it's a rare colour in my collection so adds a bit more variety. I think having had virtually every 87/88 G1 Decepticon, their Autobot counterparts seem a bit more exciting, but very happy to be another step closer to completing the 1987 lineup.
I think I'm getting pulled into (6") Marvel Legends! Had a funny day, woke up to see news of Legends Venom and Carnage, I've always a fondness for those characters. That combined with thinking about Storm Collectibles Reptile, potentially having 3.75" and 6" versions of the same character makes me think I could do the same with Marvel. Then I started thinking about 12" Legends because they've done most of the characters I'd want already in that scale and they mostly come with unmasked alternate heads, which rather appeals. By the end of the day it had all calmed down a bit, but think might try some 6" legends with maybe a 12" Iron Man.
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Went out on a bargain hunting trip - no bargains, but did get Quake and Topspin. I thought I was done with Titans Return! I bought Quake on the off chance they do Spinister and Needlenose, who I want because they were in the Mayhem Attack Squad. Quake is just there in case I need the set of Decepticon double Targetmasters so I won't open him just yet. Topspin (and Twintwist) I originally passed on because I was happy with my Mech Ideas figures, but then on TFW2005's review of 2017 several contributors mentioned it as one of their top figures so I thought it wouldn't hurt to try it out and see what I think.
He looks great, the transformation is indeed very interesting. I think I'm sold. I might need to get Twintwist as well now. Dammit
There have been a couple of articles on various sites recently about collector burnout. I find it interesting. I don't think it's something I've ever really experienced, I think because I'm fairly focused in my collection, but also because I enjoy the fiction. I think fiction is essential because it gives you a connection to the characters. Like many, I only really remember the 84/85 characters with perhaps the Movie cast. I was only aware of the Headmasters characters because I had some Ladybird books.
When I got back into collecting I watched the old cartoon, most of S3 for the first time, but then also the Japanese only series and eventually Beast Wars, and so I've learnt to appreciate all those extra characters. With the comics, I read the old Marvel collected volumes, followed by Dreamwave and now IDW (though I had a break for a couple of years). The characters that are getting toys now - the 87/88 figures, I only really know because of media I have taken in as an adult - it's no longer actually about nostalgia. I wonder whether that makes a difference.
Further to that I think I have a couple of personality traits which lend themselves to continued collecting - I love obscure characters, I desperately want a toy of Thunderclash despite barely knowing anything about him outside of MTMTE. I have a compulsive need to complete sets (as with Quake above), and I do fairly regularly mentally go through my collection and consider whether I still have a connection to it and whether I still want it. I less regularly actually end up getting rid of anything!
