The Energon Pub

Ok, I have Recently started looking at a Action Master Skyfall figure to purshase, and before I make my final decision I need some feedback from you guys who have an Action Master or two.

Bottom Line are they worth buying?

FanimusMaximus wrote:Ok, I have Recently started looking at a Action Master Skyfall figure to purshase, and before I make my final decision I need some feedback from you guys who have an Action Master or two.

Bottom Line are they worth buying?

I've always liked the Action Masters. They're a great side line. As a kid, it was great getting new versions of characters that I loved. They've gotten a bad rap over the years, which is understandable since they're part of the main line but ... they don't transform. Skyfall is a fun character and you should be able to find one for around $20 loose (or maybe sealed if you watch eBay close enough). $40 sealed would be reasonable in my book.

they're fun little things, I got a Jazz and some guy that turns into a revolverTreadshot for a couple of bucks.

If there is a particular character you are fond of, then I don't see a problem with getting one to try out. Personally I am not very fond of the toyline and I don't see myself ever buying one (unless it is part of a group of figures I am buying). For me, the line misses the mark of the entire franchise; having a robot that transforms into something else.

SnapTrap wrote:If there is a particular character you are fond of, then I don't see a problem with getting one to try out. Personally I am not very fond of the toyline and I don't see myself ever buying one (unless it is part of a group of figures I am buying). For me, the line misses the mark of the entire franchise; having a robot that transforms into something else.

Even if they're fairly inexpensive and their weapons and vehicles transform?

I have Inferno, that's it. The whole robot not being able to transform thing put me off.

Down the track when my G1 collection is more complete i'll start looking into them, but for now, meh. Not a priority.

go ahead man they are awesome.I dont regret gathering them up one bit.I have all the main guys but still want one or two more........

I have a few of them and display them proudly..

If Jazz riding a skateboard isn't the coolest Transformer of all time, then I don't know what is.

Seibertron wrote:

SnapTrap wrote:If there is a particular character you are fond of, then I don't see a problem with getting one to try out. Personally I am not very fond of the toyline and I don't see myself ever buying one (unless it is part of a group of figures I am buying). For me, the line misses the mark of the entire franchise; having a robot that transforms into something else.

Even if they're fairly inexpensive and their weapons and vehicles transform?

Even then, even then they are terrible.

Sentimentality aside (if it's a factor for any of you), they're awful, like Care Bears Cousins.

Counterpunch wrote:

Seibertron wrote:

SnapTrap wrote:If there is a particular character you are fond of, then I don't see a problem with getting one to try out. Personally I am not very fond of the toyline and I don't see myself ever buying one (unless it is part of a group of figures I am buying). For me, the line misses the mark of the entire franchise; having a robot that transforms into something else.

Even if they're fairly inexpensive and their weapons and vehicles transform?

Even then, even then they are terrible.

Sentimentality aside (if it's a factor for any of you), they're awful, like Care Bears Cousins.

At least they tried to be something that the original toy hardly ever were: show-accurate. Sure, it's not 100% and had some toy details for good measure...

Counterpunch wrote:Care Bears Cousins.

Counterpunch wrote:

Seibertron wrote:

SnapTrap wrote:If there is a particular character you are fond of, then I don't see a problem with getting one to try out. Personally I am not very fond of the toyline and I don't see myself ever buying one (unless it is part of a group of figures I am buying). For me, the line misses the mark of the entire franchise; having a robot that transforms into something else.

Even if they're fairly inexpensive and their weapons and vehicles transform?

Even then, even then they are terrible.

Sentimentality aside (if it's a factor for any of you), they're awful, like Care Bears Cousins.

Are you kidding? Care Bears Cousins were my favorites pre-Transformers back in the early/mid 80s.

I disagree with you about them being terrible. Sentimentality is a huge factor with this whole hobby or else I don't think so many of us would be drawn to popular characters of which we already own multiple versions of.

I don't own any. I hate gimmicky ideas. Just give me a transforming robot.

Seibertron wrote:I disagree with you about them being terrible. Sentimentality is a huge factor with this whole hobby or else I don't think so many of us would be drawn to popular characters of which we already own multiple versions of.

A brand has to maintain internal consistency. These toys couldn't even do that. They may have been ok toys, but they were truly awful Transformers Toys with a paper thin justification.

I only mention sentimentality because I know some people got one or two as a kid and can remember them. Dollars to donuts though, that kid would have preferred having an actual transforming toy back then.

I think they're quite quirky actually. As a kids I had a couple and I appreciated the almost G1 accurate characterisations, even if they don't transform they're still Transformers in my opinion.

At the end of the day, if YOU like them then YOU should buy them. Its all down to your own personal preferences. Everyone is different, if your happy to spend you hard earned cash on something you like, then you can't really go wrong, regardless of what other people may say.

I loved them as a kid. It was so much fun having Transformers that were posable in a GI Joe-style.

On the same topic, anyone else had problems with their Action Master Optimus Prime? His legs did not want to stay in and would pop out whenever you pose them.

I really like Action Masters - if I wasn't trying to keep my collection manageable, I could imagine getting plenty of these!

I had a couple as a kid. Skyfall was my fave - an Autobot seeker! (at least, thats what I thought he looked like)

They 100% completely suck.

Counterpunch wrote:

Seibertron wrote:I disagree with you about them being terrible. Sentimentality is a huge factor with this whole hobby or else I don't think so many of us would be drawn to popular characters of which we already own multiple versions of.

A brand has to maintain internal consistency. These toys couldn't even do that. They may have been ok toys, but they were truly awful Transformers Toys with a paper thin justification.

I only mention sentimentality because I know some people got one or two as a kid and can remember them. Dollars to donuts though, that kid would have preferred having an actual transforming toy back then.

We're probably not going to agree with each other on this point (not to mention that I'd prefer to own Action Masters than expensive and rare Microns, which further illustrates how we can be similar as collectors yet very different at the same time), but I think Action Masters do indeed fit the brand's internal consistency both with design choices, character choices, etc. So the primary figure doesn't transform, but it allowed the "Transformers" concept to expand further with accessories, vehicles/playsets that do transform to provide a different way to play with a toy line that had already been out at that point for at least 6 years. Most toy lines don't last that long. They were also dirt cheap, which was something new to Transformers. I don't know what regular retail was on the single packed Action Masters, but I do know that I picked up mine on clearance for $2 a figure (which I bought at Ames (remember that store chain anyone) in Michigan before they went out of business). Some of the Action Masters I own have price tags of $2.99 on them as well

The mistake with Action Masters was that it was THE big feature in the 1990 toyline, which was unfortunate. It should have been a sideline to the main Transformers concept but it had already been watered down at that point with Micromasters, Pretenders, etc. All concepts that I love when I look at my collection as a whole, but had 1990s been right now, I'd be pretty ticked as well. It was just a new expression as the brand continued to figure out what it was that made it strong. In my opinion, it took until 1996 with Beast Wars for the brand to figure out what it's strong points were, and even then, some might argue that it took until 2000 with Car Robots.

Counterpunch, it is never wise to argue with the owner of the site you are moderating.

FanimusMaximus wrote:Counterpunch, it is never wise to argue with the owner of the site you are moderating.

Nah, this is discussion. Arguing is what LockRedstreak used to do.

FanimusMaximus wrote:Counterpunch, it is never wise to argue with the owner of the site you are moderating.

I think it's more of a friendly discussion which is what this site is all about.

FanimusMaximus wrote:Counterpunch, it is never wise to argue with the owner of the site you are moderating.

He is more than welcome to argue with me. His opinion, and your opinion, are just as valid as mine when it comes to collecting Transformers. My opinion is also no more right or wrong than any of yours, though I have the opportunity/benefit of being able to throw the weight of a gorilla site like Seibertron.com behind my opinion when I feel it is necessary (which I avoid doing most of the time). And Counterpunch most definitely knows a thing or three about being an awesome collector. We just have varying preferences which is awesome with a hobby as large as collecting Transformers is, and as diverse as it can be. Each of us brings something different to the table with our collections.

Perhaps a possible big difference in one's preference of Action Masters is how they feel about the cartoon and other media. Counterpunch has mentioned to me on several occasions that the media side of Transformers isn't what does it for him -- it's all about the toys, for the most part. I have a special thing for the cartoons and comics -- to me, it's what breathes life into these characters, and what can take an otherwise undesirable toy simply because the cartoon or comic gave it personality and life. Having been a huge fan of the cartoon (it's what gave this site wings to begin with with my screen capture galleries of the episodes), Action Masters always had a special place to me because it was the first time we were getting some toys based off the cartoon designs. Maybe that's part of it to some of us.

Amelie wrote:

FanimusMaximus wrote:Counterpunch, it is never wise to argue with the owner of the site you are moderating.

Nah, this is discussion. Arguing is what LockRedstreak used to do.

Ah, Redstreak ... I wonder whatever happened to that guy.