The Energon Pub

I picked up an Alternators Skids and Optimus Prime from eBay. Going by the prices he goes for, and the fact he seems to be in stock longer it seems that Skids is the Red-headed step child of the line.

In any case I get them and realize that Skids is awesome and Ironically Optimus is crap (comparatively as any Alternator is a good Alternator). I'm glad I picked up Skids on a whim on combined shipping. He certainly makes up for Optimus horrid lack of articulation.

Is he over looked because he's a Scion "rubics cube" XB which isn't nearly as cool looking as the other cars?

What other figures do you know of that are much better than people seem to think the are?

Short answer: anything that is shot down simply for being the wrong scale.

But my vote goes to Classics Astrotrain. He's a great figure regardless he is the same size as a Classics Seeker.

-R.I.D. Wedge is a great little guy. Great articulation. Mine uses his shovels as weapons.

-Cyb. Evac - this guy was a total shelf warmer at the time. Great figure though. Good articulation. Super high playablity. He looks cool in both modes, and has a winch and rotor blades that he can use as weapons. sweet.

-ALL the energon combiners are cool. Not just the gestalt modes, the individual bots are great too, I think.

I agree that alt skids is awesome.
on that note I think that Alt Grimlock is highly over rated. His chest is always detaching on mine.

Skids is probably tied with Mirage as my favorite Alt. Just a lot of great thought went into that mold, and he looks terrific. Then again, I'm a fan of both the character and the xB, so I'm a little biased.

He was one of the peg-warmers of the line, but I loved Classics Mirage. Nice design, and I loved how he had a different sort of build compared to other Transformers.

I really liked Energon Ironhide too. I cheated on mine, flipping out his PowerLinx legs to make him look a little better, but I think he's a neat Transformer.

I've heard some people don't like the Clocker mold, but I think it's one of the better ones in years. I REALLY wanna find the Target version.

Lastly, while Energon Optimus Prime doesn't look so great, I still say for kids he was a lot of fun to play with.

Universe Repugnus. He is one cool little figure!

KoH4711 wrote:Skids is probably tied with Mirage as my favorite Alt. Just a lot of great thought went into that mold, and he looks terrific. Then again, I'm a fan of both the character and the xB, so I'm a little biased.

He was one of the peg-warmers of the line, but I loved Classics Mirage. Nice design, and I loved how he had a different sort of build compared to other Transformers.

I really liked Energon Ironhide too. I cheated on mine, flipping out his PowerLinx legs to make him look a little better, but I think he's a neat Transformer.

I've heard some people don't like the Clocker mold, but I think it's one of the better ones in years. I REALLY wanna find the Target version.

Lastly, while Energon Optimus Prime doesn't look so great, I still say for kids he was a lot of fun to play with.

I don't know why but I just can't bring myself to pull the trigger on Classics Mirage. I'm still holding onto the hope of getting a Alternators Mirage I guess.

Cybertron Backstop.
Best damn Basic sized Rhino figure ever made!

Cybertron Evac has only recently started getting some attention, and I say it's about time! He was never a shelf Warmer in Australia, as he was severely shortpacked (like Leobreaker and Dark Crumplezone).

Armada Tidal Wave and Red ALert are 2 other figures that do not seem to make the "worth buying" lists as often as they should.

I think G1 Tracks and the clones (Pounce & Wingspan, Fastlane & Cloudraker) Don't get enough respect. They are some of the coolest figures ever made, at least in my opinion.

Skids was the first Alt that I bought and I think he's one of the best molds of the entire line. I've subsequently made kitbashes/repaints of that mold so that I have an Alt Ratchet and an Alt Ironhide.

Cybertron Primus is one that gets my vote for being under appreciated. It's a shelf-warmer in NE Ohio but I love that guy. He's huge but has great articulation and he's CYBERTRON, for Primus' sake! Maybe it's the size or the price that keep parents from buying him. Too bad for the kiddies - they are missing out on a great one.

BW Injector, perhaps hes too ugly/different but I love the hideous bastard.

CYB Lugnutz, one of the most realistic alt-modes in the line, intricate transformation for a scout.

wow, i clicked on this thread with one toy in mind, alts skids.... haha, and lo and behold first name that pops up in here is alts skids. great minds think alike. woot!

Hmmmm...I always find my tastes in Transformers tend to be a tad eccentric, but here are my votes from my collection...

Beast Wars Silerbolt: I just cant get enough of this guy. Great articulation in beast and robot mode. Whats cooler than a half wolf/ half eagle?? Then he swings two swords when he's a robot!

Classics Mirage: I saw these guys on the shelf alot first run, and now during the Movie shortfall I see them again at my local Walmarts. His design is not only unique but he's super poseable... makes for some dramatic posing.

Classics Bumblebee/Cliffjumper: these are just some cool little dudes... I have Cliffjumper, bought Bumblebee for my nephew.

Movie Protoform Prime: yet another shelf warmer (untill everyone had nothing else to buy). Alternate mode...ehhh...but in robot mode he just looks B-A-D.

Movie Real Gear: I bought High Score for myself and a slew of others for my Nephew again...these are just some cool little Transformers. Reminds me of the Transformer watches and such that we had ages ago.

If I think of any others unsung heroes I'll drop a line.


PS- I agree, Primus kicks ass too... and he's twice as cool since I got him for $25 on clearence from the Hasboshop.com!!

I'm sure I'll get flamed to hell for saying this but I think Ultimate Bumblebee is a great figure that's really been unfairly ripped apart on all the different Transformer forums.

I have to say I find some of the reasoning behind the hatred to be sadly amusing. People are bitching about the price and the lack of articulation yet they're willing to forgive Masterpiece Megatron even though he's been rusting and people are having issues with the arm and waist joints breaking apart.

I'll agree that UB isn't a great figure if you're looking for something to put into hundreds of different poses but I think he's an excellent display piece and that he's one of the most detailed and aesthetically pleasing Transformers figures to come out in years.

Blastcharge (beast machines and universe repaint)

This guy just looks badass to me, the universe repaint is just as cool as the original.

I really dig the stacked tires for legs in bot mode, and the transmetal skull in alt mode.

movie arcee

-Classics Mirage. Many folks called him anorexic, but the there is really NO other transformer out there that I can think of that can BEAT his posability. Simply an awesome figure when given the chance.

-Deluxe Movie Brawl. If only folks would get past the shoulders thing. Just pinch the back panels, and they'll hold the shoulders in place reasonably well. In any case, he is a very well designed figure despite that, and has a lot of detail, as well as a clever transformation.

-Voyager (Robovision) Optimus Prime. Sure he isn't the Leader Prime, but he looks closer to the movie than Leader Prime. His posability is fantastic, and those pipes becoming his guns is simply GREAT! But folks rip on him due to his backpack, and cheat transformation. a) The backpack really isn't that bad, and b) with the pipes, it kind of works out pretty well. There's also a lot of detail in him. Great light piping for the eyes.

Movie Deluxe Arcee. Okay, her face needs some serious medical attention, but this figure is simply fantastic. Great motorbike mode, and her transformation is really interesting. Great posability.

Movie '74 BB. Come on. Poor fella' has been torn up every which way, but he's really not so bad.

Cybertron Smokescreen. Man, what a nice figure. Not as fantastic as Excellion/Hot Shot, but still a neat figure in his own right.

Voyager Movie Starscream. Folks don't like the fact that he has no hands (I don't either), nor do his legs pivot above the knees. But his detail is very impressive, and he is rather cool if given the chance to spend a little time with him.

Classics Optimus Prime. Okay, so for a Voyager, he's not very big. But what he lacks in size, he makes up for in looks. And his is very durable, and limber with a LOT of good joint movement. Very posable, and VERY Primey.

Classics Grimlock. I happen to like his hooker boots.

botcon weirdwolf

one of the most overlooked figures from this years botcon, but one of my favorites...the mold just fits him.

I'm going to second the guy who said Classics Astrotrain. Sure, the robot mode's not great, but I find myself loving his alt modes. Part of me just loves sticking a gun on top of a rocket propelled bullet train, and I have surprisingly little issue with the train kibble on the shuttle mode.

Armada Wheejack. Top 5 Figure in the line, and has never been repainted or remolded once.

Protoform Prime and Screamer they are awesome!

cybertron downshift

I love my Armada Megatron!!! I dont know if hes underestimated or not by I love the Mother Effer!!!!

Ragnorok64 wrote:

KoH4711 wrote:Skids is probably tied with Mirage as my favorite Alt. Just a lot of great thought went into that mold, and he looks terrific. Then again, I'm a fan of both the character and the xB, so I'm a little biased.

He was one of the peg-warmers of the line, but I loved Classics Mirage. Nice design, and I loved how he had a different sort of build compared to other Transformers.

I really liked Energon Ironhide too. I cheated on mine, flipping out his PowerLinx legs to make him look a little better, but I think he's a neat Transformer.

I've heard some people don't like the Clocker mold, but I think it's one of the better ones in years. I REALLY wanna find the Target version.

Lastly, while Energon Optimus Prime doesn't look so great, I still say for kids he was a lot of fun to play with.

I don't know why but I just can't bring myself to pull the trigger on Classics Mirage. I'm still holding onto the hope of getting a Alternators Mirage I guess.

Man I finally grabbed a Classics Mirage after a ton of him-hawing. this guy is awesome. I thought the lack of knee swivel would hold him bak but this guy is posable as heck! Head's a little small though.

Classic Astrotrain is a great mold and a triple-changer to boot. He's armed with a mean looking rifle that can be attached to either vehicle mode.
But he is undersized for a triple changer (vs G1) and why did Hasbro go with that white color? He was gray in the cartoon. He's a peg-warmer here locally.