The Energon Pub

News Credits: 409 · by **Stormrider** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 7:27 am

Japanese online retailer, Amiami, has clearer pictures of Henkei Ratchet. What was thought to be Universe Ratchet has been debunked. For now, Henkei Ratchet still remains a Japanese exclusive. This figure will be released in February. Click here to see the original page

News Credits: 217 · by **Diem** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 7:35 am

Ah, one step closer to my Henkei crew of the Ark collection.

by **SJ21** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 7:40 am

We better get this in the States as a Hasbro release.

News Credits: 38 · by **TheMuffin** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 7:46 am

Looking kind of down their Ratchet....

News Credits: 23 · by **1337W422102** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 8:14 am

I love the 'Help Us' plate. Nice touch.
I don't get why it's 'clearly' Henkei Ratchet, though. I don't see the chrome...

News Credits: 127 · by **Counterpunch** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 8:15 am

1337W422102 wrote:I don't get why it's 'clearly' Henkei Ratchet, though. I don't see the chrome...

Yes...I fail to understand this either...

News Credits: 1 · by **roykop** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 8:16 am

While I see your point, I still have to disagree with the argument that this is a Henkei figure. Amiami updated pics on several figures the other day, and as far as I can tell, all pics were Hasbro releases versions, not Takara. My only proof for that are the pics of Hound, Cyclonus, and Cheetor, all of whom have Hasbro pics shown.

Does this prove a thing about Ratchet? Not at all. But is about 10 figs are updated with Hasbro version photos, I'm going to go on assuming that this is probably the same deal. At least I'm HOPING it is.

News Credits: 5 · by **--B--** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 8:32 am

1337W422102 wrote:I love the 'Help Us' plate. Nice touch.
I don't get why it's 'clearly' Henkei Ratchet, though. I don't see the chrome...

And with the "Help Us" plate too, that was a Marvel Comics bit, I didn't know those made it to Japan.

News Credits: 7 · by **Geekee1** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 8:59 am

Iron-Man wrote:Looking kind of down their Ratchet....

My X-acto is ready!

by **The Chronic** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 9:00 am

--B-- wrote:
1337W422102 wrote:I love the 'Help Us' plate. Nice touch.
I don't get why it's 'clearly' Henkei Ratchet, though. I don't see the chrome...

And with the "Help Us" plate too, that was a Marvel Comics bit, I didn't know those made it to Japan.

Also gone are the G1 accurate paint apps that make the henkei line superior

News Credits: 12 · by **GuyIncognito** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 9:16 am

1337W422102 wrote:I love the 'Help Us' plate. Nice touch.

Look like "Hell Puss" to me. :mrgreen:

I hope Hasbro makes this for the U.S.

by **rhinox555** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 9:45 am

Counterpunch wrote:
1337W422102 wrote:I don't get why it's 'clearly' Henkei Ratchet, though. I don't see the chrome...

Yes...I fail to understand this either...

Because there are no plans yet for Hasbro to start working on Ratchet.

News Credits: 127 · by **Counterpunch** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 10:03 am

rhinox555 wrote:
Counterpunch wrote:
1337W422102 wrote:I don't get why it's 'clearly' Henkei Ratchet, though. I don't see the chrome...

Yes...I fail to understand this either...

Because there are no plans yet for Hasbro to start working on Ratchet.

Source?

The established fact that Henkei figures have been previewed with shots of Universe figures and the fact that there is no chrome or a G1-esq paint scheme all land squarely on the side of this not being Henkei.

by **Hard Hacker** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 10:24 am

If this is Henkei Ratchet, why has it got "Help Us" on his plate? Surely that will titillate Marvel US/UK fans rather than the Japanese.

News Credits: 21 · by **dragons** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 11:10 am

they could have at least painted white and red the sky blure windows look funny on him i caould barely see the window near his chest i think if they skipped the windows it may look better and littless of a reapint of ironhide.

i like this figure but ill just stick with ironhide to many repaints, i would perfer rachet was an ambulance not a suv.

News Credits: 1 · by **T-Macksimus** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 12:02 pm

If this is only being released in Japan, why bother printing the liscense plate in English? Doesn't make much sense to me unless one company or another is feeding us a line of B.S. My bet is that we will be seeing this in the States around late spring. Hasbro is not likely to fall behind in their recycling/repainting schedule. One last push of rehashed molds before the release of the ROTF toys to coincide with the movie opening. Then we will see Universe taper off till late fall when it's time to push toys for the next Christmas rush. Don't worry folks, you'll get your Ratchet figure regardless of what they're telling us now. Just have to get in sync with the Marketing waves and start thinking like money hungry sharks. That and a little patience is all you need.

News Credits: 1 · by **Asphalt22** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 12:25 pm

Meh, its still a repaint of an SUV into an ambulance. Pass.

by **harvester** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 12:35 pm

I wish they made this mold bigger. Ironhide and Ratchet are taller than classics Bumblebee but shorter than Prowl, Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, and pretty much all the rest. These two guys should be taller than the cars but shorter than Prime.

News Credits: 198 · by **DevastaTTor** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 2:08 pm

So, I've been out of the loop a little on this guy and Ironhide. Any rumors of another repaint as Skids. It seems like a possibility with the Silverstreak, Prowl, and Smokescreen trio. (OK, even though Skids was originally a different mold.)

News Credits: 273 · by **Delicon** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 6:09 pm

I don't care if it's called Classics, Universe, Henkei or even Hentai...I'll buy it.

Mainly because Geekee1 won't let me play with his Ratchet.

News Credits: 7 · by **Geekee1** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 6:59 pm

Delicon wrote:I don't care if it's called Classics, Universe, Henkei or even Hentai...I'll buy it.

Mainly because Geekee1 won't let me play with his Ratchet.

That so doesn't sound good.

News Credits: 335 · by **Down_Shift** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 7:28 pm

Counterpunch wrote:
The established fact that Henkei figures have been previewed with shots of Universe figures and the fact that there is no chrome or a G1-esq paint scheme all land squarely on the side of this not being Henkei.

I agree. We already know where the chrome will be. Plus the pallet is very bland. At least the face is good.

News Credits: 273 · by **Delicon** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 8:58 pm

Geekee1 wrote:
Delicon wrote:I don't care if it's called Classics, Universe, Henkei or even Hentai...I'll buy it.

Mainly because Geekee1 won't let me play with his Ratchet.

That so doesn't sound good.

The 2005 Botcon Exclusive Ratchet, of course...

News Credits: 1 · by **Gandalf** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 9:32 pm

I would expect the Henkei version would have the red crosses on his shoulders, white forearms, and perhaps a grey helm-crest. Also, isn't Henkei Ironhide's weapon the only chromed part?

I don't know what to think. I just hope we get a Universe Ratchet. There's no real reason we shouldn't.

Hasbro's excuse of not wanting the same character in two lines at the same time is ridiculous. They know that both kids and collectors like Animated, and they know that collectors are the main buyers of Universe. If they can do it with a simple repaint, why not ensure that both groups buy a Ratchet? And what does it matter if someone confuses the two? The money goes to Hasbro, whichever version is bought.

Additionally, why would they pass up a repaint? Of the characters they have chosen to make in the Classics line so far, most have been characters that have well-known and much-wanted repaints, some with even further potential repaints. It would be very out of character for Hasbro to have made Ironhide with no intention of repainting him as Ratchet.

All that aside, right now they have two different Black-costume Spider-Man figures available in both the Marvel Legends and Spider-Man lines. And isn't there also a Black-costume Spidey in the Spider-Man Animated line, too? Haspocrites. :roll:

by **Bonger** » Wed Nov 19, 2008 3:25 am

DevastaTTor wrote:So, I've been out of the loop a little on this guy and Ironhide. Any rumors of another repaint as Skids. It seems like a possibility with the Silverstreak, Prowl, and Smokescreen trio. (OK, even though Skids was originally a different mold.)

Nope no such rumor. I don't think they will make a Skids in Univ. He was not fetured in the cartoon, does not share a mold with anyone, etc, etc. Ya never know though.