The Energon Pub

News Credits: 241 · by **Jelze Bunnycat** » Mon Apr 21, 2014 4:17 pm

Delta Magnus wrote:
Sabrblade wrote:
Mindmaster wrote:Nothing against the choices, but I feel there could've been a better choice than Ginrai.
I don't disagree with this, but despite my initial hesitations towards this figure, it's starting to grow on me.

The more I think about it, is this the first American-released Super Saiyan Transformer?

Didn't the "super" versions of the RID Autobot Brothers get released in the west?

They did, but the whole "Leader shining with BURNING JUSTICE"... wow, this Ginrai isn't the first: that honor goes to the Heroes of Cybertron Powermaster Optimus Prime with Apex Armor Spark Attack from 2003, an import of, you guessed it, Fire Guts God Ginrai from 2001. He is the first US original though.

The connections made by Sabrblade about what figure celebrates what area does make sense, but I still wonder what's going through the designer's head when putting such a set together. Maybe next year they can disclose that, maybe in the shape of a video?

News Credits: 3600 · by **Seibertron** » Mon Apr 21, 2014 4:18 pm

Mkall wrote:This is awesome. I'm definitely getting this.

Your positive comments on this set have really surprised me. I feel like we have similar interests as collectors but seeing our different views on sets from the past 6 years is frustrating because it makes me wonder what they'd have to do to make both of us happy. I feel like the positive comments about any of the sets from the past 6 years just justifies Fun Pub's decisions and status quo will just continue instead of drawing a line in the sand and figuring out how to make drastic improvements going forward so that the sets can be more desirable and so that more people will attend BotCons. I feel like some people would just be happy with whatever Fun Pub will put out no matter how bad the set or ideas are.

News Credits: 650 · by **ScottyP** » Mon Apr 21, 2014 4:18 pm

Seibertron wrote:
Sabrblade wrote:Those who were complaining that this was ill-fitting for the anniversary may eat their hats, now.

Just because it somehow makes sense if you connect this dot to that on a blood red moon Tuesday morning doesn't mean it really makes sense or that this set should be made. Scorponok might be the gem here (waiting to see more pics of how the Headmaster unit connects because I think it's going to end up with "weird upper torso" or "wide neck" syndrome) and Devcon was more along the lines of what I think BotCon figures should be (though the colors or color placements still leave much to be desired about Devcon).

I think you're over rationalizing the set and trying to make connections where it doesn't matter if connections are made. It's not an attractive combined set. Bottom line is this ... is this really a set worthy of the 20th Anniversary of BotCon and the 30th Anniversary of the Transformers brand? Is it a set that's really worth $350 to $400? If you can answer "yes" for yourself, then more power to you. If you can answer "no" like myself, then I'll be more than happy to continue stating that this is an ill-fitting set for the anniversaries at hand.

Honestly, if I throw Ferak away as filler (there's always one stinker/Bugbite), then Cannonball just doesn't fit. Replace Cannonball with someone more meaningful, throw away the PVK theme, and just call it a Classics set, and I think they would have done very well.

I like the set, but yeah, on the whole it's certainly not evoking any feelings of "holy crap, what a way to mark this occasion".

News Credits: 456 · by **Sabrblade** » Mon Apr 21, 2014 4:20 pm

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:They did, but the whole "Leader shining with BURNING JUSTICE"... wow, this Ginrai isn't the first: that honor goes to the Heroes of Cybertron Powermaster Optimus Prime with Apex Armor Spark Attack from 2003, an import of, you guessed it, Fire Guts God Ginrai from 2001. He is the first US original though.

I was more asking about actual transforming toys rather than a sideline like Heroes of Cybertron was.

News Credits: 456 · by **Sabrblade** » Mon Apr 21, 2014 4:24 pm

ScottyP wrote:(there's always one stinker/Bugbite)

You know what's funny/ironic about this statement? Bug Bite was the most important character fiction-wise in the 2007 boxed set since the 2007 comic story centered around him and his machinations in the Classicsverse. :lol:

News Credits: 241 · by **Jelze Bunnycat** » Mon Apr 21, 2014 4:24 pm

Sabrblade wrote:
JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:They did, but the whole "Leader shining with BURNING JUSTICE"... wow, this Ginrai isn't the first: that honor goes to the Heroes of Cybertron Powermaster Optimus Prime with Apex Armor Spark Attack from 2003, an import of, you guessed it, Fire Guts God Ginrai from 2001. He is the first US original though.
I was more asking about actual transforming toys rather than a sideline like Heroes of Cybertron was.

Then he is indeed the first. Again, the caveat "Leader with BURNING JUSTICE" still applies, and it still remains to be seen if that's indeed his powered up form in fiction, or just his regular deco.

News Credits: 650 · by **ScottyP** » Mon Apr 21, 2014 4:28 pm

Sabrblade wrote:
ScottyP wrote:(there's always one stinker/Bugbite)
You know what's funny/ironic about this statement? Bug Bite was the most important character fiction-wise in the 2007 boxed set since the 2007 comic story centered around him and his machinations in the Classicsverse.

They can do whatever they want with their own fiction to make these guys more impacting, of course. But on the surface, what is something like a Bugbite now? Where was he ever important before or after, significantly? Right, he wasn't, outside of their own universe, which while I appreciate that some people like it and enjoy it, it is pretty outside the realm of canon to me.

News Credits: 456 · by **Sabrblade** » Mon Apr 21, 2014 4:29 pm

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:
Sabrblade wrote:
JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:They did, but the whole "Leader shining with BURNING JUSTICE"... wow, this Ginrai isn't the first: that honor goes to the Heroes of Cybertron Powermaster Optimus Prime with Apex Armor Spark Attack from 2003, an import of, you guessed it, Fire Guts God Ginrai from 2001. He is the first US original though.
I was more asking about actual transforming toys rather than a sideline like Heroes of Cybertron was.

Then he is indeed the first. Again, the caveat "Leader with BURNING JUSTICE" still applies, and it still remains to be seen if that's indeed his powered up form in fiction, or just his regular deco.

It doesn't necessarily have to be a leader (even though it happens to be them quite often). But if he is the first, I guess no non-leaders have had them in the West, huh.

News Credits: 456 · by **Sabrblade** » Mon Apr 21, 2014 4:30 pm

ScottyP wrote:
Sabrblade wrote:
ScottyP wrote:(there's always one stinker/Bugbite)
You know what's funny/ironic about this statement? Bug Bite was the most important character fiction-wise in the 2007 boxed set since the 2007 comic story centered around him and his machinations in the Classicsverse. :lol:

They can do whatever they want with their own fiction to make these guys more impacting, of course. But on the surface, what is something like a Bugbite now? Where was he ever important before or after, significantly? Right, he wasn't, outside of their own universe, which while I appreciate that some people like it and enjoy it, it is pretty outside the realm of canon to me.

Everything official is canon. >:oP

News Credits: 12 · by **Evil Eye** » Mon Apr 21, 2014 4:35 pm

Sabrblade wrote:
ScottyP wrote:
Sabrblade wrote:
ScottyP wrote:(there's always one stinker/Bugbite)
You know what's funny/ironic about this statement? Bug Bite was the most important character fiction-wise in the 2007 boxed set since the 2007 comic story centered around him and his machinations in the Classicsverse. :lol:

They can do whatever they want with their own fiction to make these guys more impacting, of course. But on the surface, what is something like a Bugbite now? Where was he ever important before or after, significantly? Right, he wasn't, outside of their own universe, which while I appreciate that some people like it and enjoy it, it is pretty outside the realm of canon to me.
Everything official is canon. >:oP

Unless you're me, in which case the only canon is the bizarre ongoing story that has been running since I bought my first Transformer (which bears more resemblance to Wayward's Insecticomics than any official canon). :lol:

News Credits: 456 · by **Sabrblade** » Mon Apr 21, 2014 4:37 pm

Delta Magnus wrote:Unless you're me, in which case the only canon is the bizarre ongoing story that has been running since I bought my first Transformer (which bears more resemblance to Wayward's Insecticomics than any official canon).

That's "personal canon"/"fan canon"/"fanon"/etc., which I wasn't talking of.

News Credits: 241 · by **Jelze Bunnycat** » Mon Apr 21, 2014 4:37 pm

Sabrblade wrote:
JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:
Sabrblade wrote:
JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:They did, but the whole "Leader shining with BURNING JUSTICE"... wow, this Ginrai isn't the first: that honor goes to the Heroes of Cybertron Powermaster Optimus Prime with Apex Armor Spark Attack from 2003, an import of, you guessed it, Fire Guts God Ginrai from 2001. He is the first US original though.
I was more asking about actual transforming toys rather than a sideline like Heroes of Cybertron was.

Then he is indeed the first. Again, the caveat "Leader with BURNING JUSTICE" still applies, and it still remains to be seen if that's indeed his powered up form in fiction, or just his regular deco.
It doesn't necessarily have to be a leader (even though it happens to be them quite often). But if he is the first, I guess no non-leaders have had them in the West, huh.

In US-original fiction? Can't think of a single instance. From imports and collabs, the RiD Autobot Brothers has temporary power boosts which is more akin to shifting into a higher gear, the UT had permanent power upgrades, that's it. Again, fiction will have to reveal if it's indeed a power up, or merely permanent.

News Credits: 4 · by **craggy** » Mon Apr 21, 2014 5:05 pm

Sabrblade wrote:
Mindmaster wrote:Nothing against the choices, but I feel there could've been a better choice than Ginrai.
I don't disagree with this, but despite my initial hesitations towards this figure, it's starting to grow on me.

The more I think about it, is this the first American-released Super Saiyan Transformer?

Armada and many of its repaints don't count?

News Credits: 241 · by **Jelze Bunnycat** » Mon Apr 21, 2014 5:12 pm

craggy wrote:
Sabrblade wrote:
Mindmaster wrote:Nothing against the choices, but I feel there could've been a better choice than Ginrai.
I don't disagree with this, but despite my initial hesitations towards this figure, it's starting to grow on me.

The more I think about it, is this the first American-released Super Saiyan Transformer?

Armada and many of its repaints don't count?

Not for me: permanent upgrades vs. mystical power boosts.

News Credits: 4 · by **craggy** » Mon Apr 21, 2014 5:18 pm

Action Master Optimus Prime then. HiQ smooshed into a new Prime transformerCybertronian body, with Optimus' soul inside brought out, all through the Primus-magic of The Last Autobot.

by **Windsweeper** » Mon Apr 21, 2014 5:19 pm

So Ginrai is a separate character to Optimus Prime?

While I never buy Botcon sets as I can't justify the prices, I like that Ferak using the Cyclonus mold gives character to my white oversized G1 Cyclonus. Especially since I'm a huge Marvel Transformers fan.

News Credits: 4 · by **craggy** » Mon Apr 21, 2014 5:24 pm

shame that we're getting comic originated characters, but no Fusion. Sure his name was stupid, and he could have been anything painted blue, but he died so Cybertron could live, dagnabbit!

edit:Windsweeper, [url=http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Ginrai]Ginrai[/url ]was a character in the Japanese Masterforce series. The toy was a variant of the west's Powermaster Prime.

News Credits: 65 · by **Wolfman Jake** » Mon Apr 21, 2014 5:54 pm

I actually appreciate what they're trying to do with Ginrai. It's a clever way to work in a character from Japanese fiction that was basically Optimus Prime, but not, into the Western G1 Transformers lore, by choosing a paint scheme that homages an aspect of the character, while setting him apart from Optimus Prime proper. A lot of fiction, from FunPub to IDW to Hasbro's own toy bios has been trying to integrate a lot of these "lost" characters into contemporary Transformers stories, and I love it. It keeps expanding the universe, like how popular characters from later franchises (Lockdown and Lugnut) are getting retconned into G1.

I think I'll still get the set. I like that Ginrai. I REALLY want that Scroponok. Devcon is a nice addition. Ferak and Tornado are a big "whatever." I don't mind Cannonball too much, for reasons I mentioned above. At least they used a solid mold for him. The Prime RID Ratchet mold is solid.

News Credits: 456 · by **Sabrblade** » Mon Apr 21, 2014 6:02 pm

Windsweeper wrote:So Ginrai is a separate character to Optimus Prime?

Always has been, always will be.

News Credits: 226 · by **Burn** » Mon Apr 21, 2014 6:04 pm

Seibertron wrote:
Mkall wrote:This is awesome. I'm definitely getting this.

Your positive comments on this set have really surprised me. I feel like we have similar interests as collectors but seeing our different views on sets from the past 6 years is frustrating because it makes me wonder what they'd have to do to make both of us happy. I feel like the positive comments about any of the sets from the past 6 years just justifies Fun Pub's decisions and status quo will just continue instead of drawing a line in the sand and figuring out how to make drastic improvements going forward so that the sets can be more desirable and so that more people will attend BotCons. I feel like some people would just be happy with whatever Fun Pub will put out no matter how bad the set or ideas are.

They could start with original characters instead of taking pre-existing characters (that are practically obscure) and shoe-horning them into their own continuity.

3H did it just fine. >:oP

by **Henry921** » Mon Apr 21, 2014 6:04 pm

I find this disappointing, but it's my own fault for getting pumped for a Star Saber figure.

I'm sure this appeals to some fans, but it just weighs on me. I'm buying an Iacon Package so I can have my Scorponok, but want none of the others. They will be eBay bound.

News Credits: 456 · by **Sabrblade** » Mon Apr 21, 2014 6:08 pm

Burn wrote:They could start with original characters instead of taking pre-existing characters (that are practically obscure) and shoe-horning them into their own continuity.

3H did it just fine. >:oP

Fun Pub has tried that before, but aside from the Nexus Prime dudes, the new characters Fun Pub tries to create never seem to win over the fans.

News Credits: 226 · by **Burn** » Mon Apr 21, 2014 6:39 pm

Sabrblade wrote:
Burn wrote:They could start with original characters instead of taking pre-existing characters (that are practically obscure) and shoe-horning them into their own continuity.

3H did it just fine. >:oP
Fun Pub has tried that before, but aside from the Nexus Prime dudes, the new characters Fun Pub tries to create never seem to win over the fans.

And the shoehorned characters do?

End of the day, whatever FunPub does (just like Hasbro), there's going to be someone who doesn't like the end product.

News Credits: 456 · by **Sabrblade** » Mon Apr 21, 2014 6:47 pm

Burn wrote:
Sabrblade wrote:
Burn wrote:They could start with original characters instead of taking pre-existing characters (that are practically obscure) and shoe-horning them into their own continuity.

3H did it just fine. >:oP
Fun Pub has tried that before, but aside from the Nexus Prime dudes, the new characters Fun Pub tries to create never seem to win over the fans.

And the shoehorned characters do?

They sorta do, in a way. Those who just want fun Pub to make nothing but more Classics-style stuff see the "shoehorned characters", as you put them, as more Classics-style fodder to add to their CHUG collections, regardless of them being characters who are either obscure or who originated in non-G1 materials.

It's no different than people putting the Universe Hot Shot or Generations Armada Starscream toys, or Generations Black Shadow, in their CHUG collections.