The Energon Pub

Hi!

I'm a new TF fan so I wasn't around when the Classics were at retail so I've been browsing eBay and what not. The Classics i want are Bumblebee, Grimlock, Hot Rod, and maaaaaaybe Optimus or Starscream.

As you all know, all of these have Henkei Japanese releases that just came out or will come out later so I was wondering: Do i go for a Classics (American)version or henkei version.


I was looking at the Henkei galleries and the comparisons and i think that the Henkei versions are reeeeally nice. Like..."wow" good. But the Classics were really popular too. I'm in school and have no job so I'm low on funds and I need to pick one or the other. From experience of people who actually have one or the other or both, what is the better buy (keeping in mind the inflated prices of the Classics on eBay or secondhand sellers and extra price for Henkei being imported to the U.S.). I mean are the Henkei versions more worth getting or should I stick to the American?

If you really don't care about me or my situation, just use this thread to put up some pros and cons of both versions and everyone's happy.

Thanks!

UNless they do 3 more Seekers, I may get AstroTrain cause I like the redeco, bot otherwise, the US versions are fine by me.

A couple chrome aps and a few paint dots aren't making me wanna run and pay imprt prices.

HOWEVER, if you missed them the first time, I recomend you get them now.

Both the Henkei and Classic versions have great looking paint. I would say get whichever ones are cheaper for you.

Except for Astrotrain, Buy the Henkei version if you decide to buy him. He is the only one I am getting

I have all of the classics including the Botcon set, and they are some of my favorite transformers. Aside from some slight differences in paint application the Henkei are identical. I don't know what the classics are going for on the secondary market, but the Henkei are more expensive than the classics were at retail. I would just go with what works out to be the least expensive. I think you will be happy with either set.

as much as the Henkei line appeals to me, i'm better off with my Classics. the only thing missing from mine is Cliffjumper so it wouldn't make sense for me to buy Convoy and Megs just for the looks alone. if you're low on funds it's a no-brainer to skip Henkei and go for Classics. some of these are still available in your country for SRP, maybe ever discounted.

i've made a decision to discipline myself in collecting and i'm passing off the Henkei line altogether. it's just the same molds with Classics anyway and the G1 paint apps doesn't give me much reason to buy them. if i wanted G1 accuracy, i'd get G1 reissues.

saves me more money to get more Alternators/MPs/Japan Beast Wars that way.

As someone who already owns all the Classics, it annoys me how all the Henkei paint schemes look superior. In particular, Megatron and Astrotrain look far superior in Henkei. It seems to me that Takara are almost always better with paint apps/schemes than Hasbro.

well the classics aren't cheap, I put up a 20$ bid for a bumblebee thinking that for sure i'd win but i came back from a trip finding out i was outbid. i tried bidding more but it was ultimately getting too expensive so i let the other guy pay so that i'd maybe have more time to think.

here is an auction for $75 w/ shipping

Mirage, Grimlock, Bumblebee, Ramjet, & Cliffjumper

It has 2/5 guys you are looking for at the price of what Grimlock and Bumblebee would go for.

http://cgi.ebay.com/CLASSICS-BUMBLEBEE- ... dZViewItem

Daxmajor wrote:As someone who already owns all the Classics, it annoys me how all the Henkei paint schemes look superior. In particular, Megatron and Astrotrain look far superior in Henkei. It seems to me that Takara are almost always better with paint apps/schemes than Hasbro.

Thats where these loose me though. Outside of AstroTrain, these repaints are realy FAR from far superior.

I'd rather have Mirage with the scripted spoiler than the chrome, the glitter paint on BB and so on...

well, to me outside of Astrotrain, Takara was real lazy this time around, and sorry, I realy had my hopes up for Megatron, but this version is doing bothing for me.

If you like both paint schemes, I'd say get whatever's cheaper. I like the Classics because I have all of them. The only ones I'd buy again from Henkei are Megatron and Astrotrain, because they're the only ones that are very different and better than the Classics.

It's ok to mix and match imo. I have almost all the Classics but I will be getting at least 1 Henkei, Astrotrain. I tend to go for whatever is more G1 accurate and he just looks so awesome. I used to have G1 Astrotrain so it'll be nice to have him again.

I can do with the Hasbro Classics and they are relatively more available than Henkei. Cheaper too. But I may go for the Henkei Astrotrain too, I like the animation inspired color scheme, also Megatron.

Liege Evilmus wrote:I'd rather have Mirage with the scripted spoiler than the chrome, the glitter paint on BB and so on...

well, to me outside of Astrotrain, Takara was real lazy this time around, and sorry, I realy had my hopes up for Megatron, but this version is doing bothing for me.

well, i wouldn't say that Takara got lazy, it's maybe more that they experimented with their design schemes and some of the figs ended up looking weird.

take the chromes for example. it's really weird to see chrome on the small bump on the hood AND the spoiler (of all parts!) on BB. i mean what happened to the designers? they could have put that chrome on much better locations on the toy. same goes with SS's chrome (tip of the launcher? what gives?) and Mirage (front spoiler/gun?) about the only good chrome app i've seen is on Convoy.

the chrome locations on most toys in this line ImHO really detract from the overall aesthetic of the figs. sure, chrome is pretty, but that doesn't make for an excuse to just put it all over the place (and add, together with the mini-comic and card and import cost, to the price of the fig).

plus, like i said before, with only 1 fig missing from the original Classic line (which, with the recent Classics restocks in our country, i WILL be getting soon), i don't want to spend more to get the same characters, same molds, just to have a better (which is debatable per se) paint app or chrome. if i wanted G1 accuracy i'd get Encores or Reissues.

more money saved for more better figs.

Zemper,

Does the restocks only include deluxes?

I got Henkei Megatron, and I absolutely love him. The paint scheme, the tightness of the joints, everything. I have most of the classics line, which IMHO are all worth getting, so either way you really dont miss out. The paint schemes are nicer on Henkei, but the price is up there since its an import.

Id recommend what Fire suggested, look for ebay auctions that have a bulk of them that you can get a decent price. There is no "bad" classic so you're making a good buy all around.

Skywarp and Screamer are the best of the NON Botcon seekers you can get. I have Ramjet and Astrotrain too, and I think they're both awesome figs too.

I share this dilemma. I have OP, Magnus, BB and Hot Rod, yet I've got a Henkei Megatron for pick-up next week at the local shoppe. I really wouldn't mind keeping the Autobots Hasbro and the Decepticons Henkei, but I can't find any Hasbro Mirages I consider cheap enough to warrant buying over the Henkei version. I'm soon to get the Jetfire/Grimlock 2-pack as well, since it's relatively cheap ($50ish) but now I'm at a loss as to how to go about it. If I pick up the Henkei Mirage, I'll feel
obligated to Henkeize everything else, meaning I basically scrap the four I've already got since their resale/trade value isn't too hot. I'll also skip the best deal in the 2-pack. If only I wasn't so obsessive compulsive about this sort of stuff.

just keep an eye out for mirage on eBay, someone had one for $15 mosc once. im sure others will do the same too.

Nickolai wrote:I share this dilemma. I have OP, Magnus, BB and Hot Rod, yet I've got a Henkei Megatron for pick-up next week at the local shoppe. I really wouldn't mind keeping the Autobots Hasbro and the Decepticons Henkei, but I can't find any Hasbro Mirages I consider cheap enough to warrant buying over the Henkei version. I'm soon to get the Jetfire/Grimlock 2-pack as well, since it's relatively cheap ($50ish) but now I'm at a loss as to how to go about it. If I pick up the Henkei Mirage, I'll feel
obligated to Henkeize everything else, meaning I basically scrap the four I've already got since their resale/trade value isn't too hot. I'll also skip the best deal in the 2-pack. If only I wasn't so obsessive compulsive about this sort of stuff.

try GreatToys, they have 4 branches (one in Greehills i think). last time i checked they still had Classics Mirage for sale. i got mine from them after i missed out on the restocks last year.

Ah, I go to GreatToys to look for old/rare stuff. I try to stick to retail, BEST and the small stalls for anything Movie and newer. Yeah, they have Mirage, but like I said, the difference between getting a much nicer Henkei version and the ones I see around makes me lean towards the Henkei.

I don't know why Mirage wasn't in the humongous load of Classics the retail stores mysteriously got a hold of two weeks ago tho. He's the same wave as BB and Grimlock.

The going rate for Classics in my country in retail is still $10.00 equivalent. Only Classics I picked up was Jetfire. Now I've got Convoy, Grimlock and Megs. All worth the price(seems its cheaper too..........in Asia anyway)

Classics V Henkei: Supreme Court Decision

Prime: Very little difference. Henkei has darker blue and rearranged paint aps (not more...). Henkei does an odd blue/black mix on the hands, Classis employs small amounts of yellow. Both are wtf issues.

Megatron: The short answer is: Get both. You're no kind of man if you don't own both (or land). Don't argue over which one is better, it makes you look bad personally. They're both awesome.

Grimlock: Henkei has large amounts of chrome paint aps. Henkei is also a very odd blend of plastic colorings, but does sport a nifty painted codpiece. Classics Grimlock is actually superior here. Better paint aps, better conforming plastic. Henkei Grimlock is prone to chrome damage out of package.

Starscream: Henkei is more "G1-ish" and has better incidental paint aps (more overall coverage). Classics lacks the gaudy chrome and keeps the blue nosecone. Henkei may have the advantage here, but wait for my closing argument on this one.

Bumblebee: Again Henkei is more "G1-ish". Classics has more color variation, more paint aps, and no stupid chrome. Henkei is a darker yellow.

Mirage: Henkei adds chrome at the cost of the cool fan-wank race car ads. Either one is fine really. No one is going to argue the superiority of one of these toys. It would be a stupid argument. (Witwiki Sparkplugs ftw though...)

In closing, yes, Henkei is overall more G1 accurate. They are not better per se, just different, and here are two things to consider on this:

1. The G-1 accuracy is actually not necessary. Classics are not G1. Classics are these characters later in their lives. They are supposed to be different. This kind of goes to what I wanted to say about Starscream and Bumblebee. The differences that the US releases have allow them to show evolution over time. They aren't inferior because they don't slavishly conform to G1.

2. Chrome is bad. Time and time again we say this but no one listens. Henkei uses chrome really poorly in these releases. Bumblebee and Starscream are the worst offenders. Megatron and Prime aren't terrible. Grimlock, well, that's your call.

I sided with Classics a bit here to kind of counterbalance the rampant "Japan-ism" that we swim in at times. Henkei figures are really nice. Starscream might be the one instance where the Henkei figure is straight up better than the US one. All of the others are just variant equivilancies. So don't feel like you have to import these guys to have a nice collection.

Except Megatron.

You're a jerk if you don't import Megatron.

Megatron - Get Henkei!!! Buy Classics as well if you can afford but Henkeis where it's at.

Starscream - Recommend Henkei - early classic versions have piss poor paint apps on the face.

I'd say all the others just become a matter of price and personal taste.

If you live in the US, Classics are not available at retail...well at least the popular ones.

Megatron is about $35 to $45 on ebay for the classics version. Even a losse US classics Starscream is around $20 or more within the past few months.

If you own the classics then don't worry, unless you want Astrotrain and Megs.

If you missed out on these classics, then go for Henkei. As for Starscream, you can overlook the chrome, but it's way better than Hasbro's. No one here is judge and jury.

I don't like Bumble, he's plain looking compared to Classics
Bumblebee.

Grimlock is growing on me due to some of the paint apps. By far Mirage is subpar, with some chrome, the original stickers, and red paint apps, they can keep him.

I will get Megs, Astrotrain (preorder), and Prime this week for Henkei, since I'm impressed with Starscream. In person is where I really got to say damn, he looks like my old G1 toy. They could have kept the nosecone blue though.

I agree with Counterpunch, the chrome seems useless and it's cheap. They could have went with metal parts here and there, now that would have made it really close to G1. Really it's on cetain henkei, where the chrome stands out like a sore thumb.

Nickolai wrote:If I pick up the Henkei Mirage, I'll feel
obligated to Henkeize everything else

I don't see why. I've ordered Henkei Megatron and Starscream because I prefer their colours, but I'm sticking with Classics for the rest. That way I can have the best of both worlds.

About Astrotrain, I admit I was tempted by the cartoon-accurate grey/purple in robot mode. But objectively speaking, I believe Hasbro's white colours suit the shuttle and train modes better. That's 2 against 1. Besides, I'm not all that fond of Henkei Astrotrain's white bit with the bizarre yellow lightning bolt.

Glitcher wrote:

Nickolai wrote:If I pick up the Henkei Mirage, I'll feel
obligated to Henkeize everything else

I don't see why. I've ordered Henkei Megatron and Starscream because I prefer their colours, but I'm sticking with Classics for the rest. That way I can have the best of both worlds.

About Astrotrain, I admit I was tempted by the cartoon-accurate grey/purple in robot mode. But objectively speaking, I believe Hasbro's white colours suit the shuttle and train modes better. That's 2 against 1. Besides, I'm not all that fond of Henkei Astrotrain's white bit with the bizarre yellow lightning bolt.

To me the worst this about Classics Astrotrain was the head. I swear when I picked him up, his face scream Ratchet. Thanking God for the gray paint scheme.

And please leave Henkei Mirage in the store, becuase there's no really difference between the classics version at all.