The Energon Pub

Optimizzy wrote:huh...that's actually really interesting and makes it a little cooler. OK, I am happy again.

Yeah dont worry, you are getting a good deal and should be as happy as can be. Dont let anyone take that away from you And I would not have recomended that if it was a KO (or at least not without warning you).

If you are a beast wars fan, there are actually a bunch of other Korean reisues of these takara exclusive toys on e-bay that are part of this massive overstock. I just feel lucky since I wanted these toys 10 years ago but they were too expensive since they were sold out by then. But this find just helps all the collectors.

It's a good list... but I would've removed the mammoth and ROTF Prime. the former is a horrendous shellformer and the latter is an over-engineered mess that is NOT fun for me at all. I'd replace them with Classics Voyager Prime and... probably the 2007 Leader-class Prime. A hell of a lot more fun to play with and easier to transform.

RK_Striker_JK_5 wrote:It's a good list... but I would've removed the mammoth and ROTF Prime. the former is a horrendous shellformer and the latter is an over-engineered mess that is NOT fun for me at all. I'd replace them with Classics Voyager Prime and... probably the 2007 Leader-class Prime. A hell of a lot more fun to play with and easier to transform.

>Replacing ROTF Leader OP for the 2007 Movie version.

HAVE AT YE, HERETIC!

william-james88 wrote:NO, these are not bootlegs, dont scare the man Yotsuyasan

T'was not my intention!

Optimizzy wrote: OK, I am happy again.

Yay! Happy ending!

EBay's actually been pretty good to me lately. And as you can guess from my earlier apparent overreaction, I can be a bit weary of things there sometime. But not long ago, I got the TFCC Battlechargers for a rather decent price. And just yesterday, I stumbled across the Nike Free Convoy (someone else who won't be on my top Optimus Prime list, but who was bizarre enough that I've been wanting him a while) for a price that was almost too good to be true! (I looked at that listing quite closely before hitting Buy It Now!)

But I may be swinging a bit too much off topic there, even with making mention of another Optimus Prime toy. So, how about those Optimi, folks!

I must be honest, whilst I'm not overly keen on having Optimus as a deluxe (I prefer him as a Voyager) one toy I kinda want to get at some point is Armada Supercon Optimus Prime (AKA "Bendy" Prime). I absolutely adore Armada Prime's design, from the big chunky monster truck vehicle mode to his wide, powerful stature, gloriously anime-esque noggin and oddly pleasing grill-chest, and Bendy Prime is ludicrously poseable even by modern standards. If he were a Voyager I'd buy him immediately and have him as my CHUG scale Prime. As it is, though..,*sigh*

RK_Striker_JK_5 wrote:It's a good list... but I would've removed... ...ROTF Prime. (It) is an over-engineered mess that is NOT fun for me at all. I'd replace (it) with ... ...probably the 2007 Leader-class Prime. A hell of a lot more fun to play with and easier to transform.

(Quote edited a bit to stick to the bits relevant to what I am replying to.)

My first thought was to yell "heretic" as someone else so kindly did... But I can understand your reasoning even if I don't personally agree with it. The RotF Leader Prime was a rather complex toy, difficult to transform in parts. And sometimes it really can be better to just have a toy that is simple and fun to play with!

-Kanrabat- wrote:

RK_Striker_JK_5 wrote:It's a good list... but I would've removed the mammoth and ROTF Prime. the former is a horrendous shellformer and the latter is an over-engineered mess that is NOT fun for me at all. I'd replace them with Classics Voyager Prime and... probably the 2007 Leader-class Prime. A hell of a lot more fun to play with and easier to transform.

>Replacing ROTF Leader OP for the 2007 Movie version.

HAVE AT YE, HERETIC!

Gee, I'm so scared.

Hey, for me at least, the ROTF mold is just way over-engineered. I'm more than willing to sacrifice a little bit of accuracy for the damned thing to be fun to play with!

RK_Striker_JK_5 wrote:Hey, for me at least, the ROTF mold is just way over-engineered. I'm more than willing to sacrifice a little bit of accuracy for the damned thing to be fun to play with!

ROTF Leader OP IS a MASTERPEICE. Especially the Buster version that came in the 2 pack with Jetfire. He's a glorious peice in my collection and look incredible in both mode.
However...
Yes...
He's a pain to fiddle with so I didnt transform him very often.

I also REALLY love the 2007 leader. I have the premium version and even tough he's not screen accurate at all and he's kibbly, he does look cool and powerful and is fun to transform. Also, that light and sound head reveal always bring a wide smile to my face!

Powermaster Prime always disappointed me, at least in the execution, as an idea it was pretty cool. Now, I only have the vintage one released by Hasbro in America, so none of Takara's or rerelease improvements/additions like the extra armor have any sway on my opinion, but from his derpy proportions in super mode to his visible robot fists in truck mode to his lack of shoulder movement and faked parts in small robot mode, he just seemed entirely inferior to his previous incarnation. HiQ was pretty cool though, and I like how he could ride that one type of gun that came with the toy. So definitely not in my top 5 or 10 or whatever.


MP1 is perhaps my favorite toy of all time. So glad I sprung for the Takara version with proper stacks. Definitely my #1 Prime/Convoy.

Just off the top of my head, others that would likely make my top 5 (no particular order), RiD(01) Prime, G2 Laser Prime (just based on having RiD Scourge, unfortunately I don't have this particular Prime), G1 Prime (how could this one not be on my list?), and wow, I can see why you had to go to 10 for your list because it's hard to narrow things to 5... Let's just go with RTS Legend size Prime (probably the best pocket size Prime around).


Honorable mention that I doubt anyone else would mention, Classics Deluxe 2-pack Prime. His truck mode is garbage, he's got a bad gimmick that can get in the way, but damn if I don't love the design of his robot mode. Definitely not a top Prime, but one that I still greatly love having.

-Kanrabat- wrote:

RK_Striker_JK_5 wrote:Hey, for me at least, the ROTF mold is just way over-engineered. I'm more than willing to sacrifice a little bit of accuracy for the damned thing to be fun to play with!

ROTF Leader OP IS a MASTERPEICE. Especially the Buster version that came in the 2 pack with Jetfire. He's a glorious peice in my collection and look incredible in both mode.
However...
Yes...
He's a pain to fiddle with so I didnt transform him very often.

I also REALLY love the 2007 leader. I have the premium version and even tough he's not screen accurate at all and he's kibbly, he does look cool and powerful and is fun to transform. Also, that light and sound head reveal always bring a wide smile to my face!

i'll agree with this too. I love both movie 1 and 2 leader Prime. I have the Nightwatch movie 1 version and he is so cool. I love him, and he's fun to transform and he looks like he can punch, kick or blast your face off. The RotF one, especially the ultimate from movie 3 with the flight tech and so many attachable weapons, was a true movie masterpiece. However, he is not fun to transform, but is basically a masterpiece, so it is acceptable to me

Optimum Supreme wrote:MP1 is perhaps my favorite toy of all time. So glad I sprung for the Takara version with proper stacks. Definitely my #1 Prime/Convoy.

I have a convoluted, roundabout purchase history with the original Masterpiece Prime mold.

Since I am a sucker for a trailer, I wanted MP-4.

I came across an eBay auction for one that seemed to be going for a really good price. And it said in huge letters in the item description, "MINT IN BOX!" So I bid on it, and I got it!

It arrived in the mail... and the package was much lighter and smaller then I expected... What the heck? I open it up... and inside is only the trailer.

I complain the seller. The seller points out in the item description where it says, in tiny print towards the bottom, "Trailer only."

I point out the large letters saying "MINT IN BOX!" and further point out that those two points in the description are rather contradictory. The seller didn't care.

The auction would have been an awesome price for all of MP-4... but for just the trailer, I felt quite ripped off.

Fortunately, not long after I was at a Target and they had the second version of the domestic release (so, no stupid battle damage detailing) on clearance for 75% off! I was saved! Still had the shortened smokestacks to contend with, but they do sell reproduction versions of the full length stacks!

So in the end, I managed to get a complete "MP-4" (more or less) for a reasonable price. It was just a very roundabout journey to get there!

I got the 20th anniversary mp 1. Even with the short stacks I still love it. I got him for half off and that's what really started my adult collecting phase.
As for postmaster prime, he was the first prime I got. My mom actually found out about before I did and took me to get him because she knew I missed out on the original prime. So it has a dear place in my heart.

That pic of animated optimus sure gave me a new appreciation for that mold! Glad to see WFC optimus too - I always thought that was one of the coolest concepts of Primes cyberton mode.

Now, I think we need some top 5 contintuity characterizations lists. That is, in all the movies and cartoons and comics variations, which version Optimus or Megatron or Starscream etc is your favorite?

If I had to pick my top 10 favorite Optimus Primes they would be (in no particular order):

Classics Prime
Powermaster Prime
Evasion mode Prime
MP-1 Prime
g1 Prime
WFC Prime
Armada Super-con Prime
AOE Armor Knight Prime
g2 Laser Prime
Beast Hunters Prime

This is my personal list of the primes I've had the pleasure to own. From worst to best.

Animated Prime - deluxe. This was an abomination in quality control. I had actually bought it for my then young nephew. It was so stiff that I had difficulties transforming, let alone a 7 year old kid.

Armada Prime. Another toy that was actually my nephew's. He was actually pretty good and had some great play value but at the time i thought the combined mode should have had more articulation as it reminded me too much of power master prime.

Reveal the shield legends prime. This little guy was bought for the sole purpose of having him sit in metroplex's hand. It gets the job done but I feel he could be a bit better and more complex...

Transformers classics deluxe. I almost forgot i had this guy. Not my favourite, wanted a classics voyager edition to be honest and got this instead.

Powermaster prime. This guy was my de facto prime as a kid. He was my leader for many years. He was fun and interesting but very flawed. I never had an original prime because by the time transformers hit here, Ultra Magnus was already out and I got him. Since he had the same OP cab i wasn't interested in getting G1 prime. Now I'd like to have both for historical reasons. Power master prime suffered from split brick combined mode syndrome - posability was not the forte. The back of box artwork depicted a truly awesome prime tho and i hope that one day they masterpiece him up to that standard. Always hated the fact he didn't have retractable hands (the uk versions at least) and his cab section used fake windows in his transformation. On the plus side he stood up to galvatron height wise and had awesome guns. The worst bit probably was how delicate the connecting post used between the cab and the trailer was.

War For Cybetron Prime - this little dude is a great toy. Quite complex and fun. One thing that bothered me about the toy and game was that they didn't show prime to be significantly larger than the others as he should be. Might've been my impression though.

Transformers 1st Movie Prime - in hindsight, he was not as good as some of his successors, however, he was large, extremely complex and very cool looking. No matter what, the movie has had a deep impact on our hobby and I wanted a piece connecting to it.

AoE evac prime. This guy was the only toy from the recent film to pique my interest (being g1-centric etc). He is an incredible feat of engineering. He was complex and fun.

MP1 & MP10. Mp1 was the toy I imagined as a kid. I was not a great fan of mp10 on release. I was bitter perhaps at the thought of buying another mp prime when the one i had was perfectly great. I also stopped collecting mp figures round radimus and sound wave. Then sideswipe happened. And I tarted recollecting the MP line. So Mp10 was bought. He is truly great though has some flaws (super chunky truck back section) but he's my first prime with a trailer since power master prime. Too awesome.

First edition Prime erm Prime. This guy well... this for me is the best rendition of a toy that comes as close to his character model as possible. Fun to transform (once you remember how the arms go) and very cool in general.


I am missing a good leader for my classics collection. After classics ultra magnus I hope they do a power master prime though I doubt it since they just got the combiner wars version out. I have motor master and i prefer that mode as such.

frogbat wrote:I am missing a good leader for my classics collection. After classics ultra magnus I hope they do a power master prime though I doubt it since they just got the combiner wars version out. I have motor master and i prefer that mode as such.

Honestly, if you can track one down for not too much money (and with the multiple releases of the mold, it shouldn't be too hard) I'd say that the 2006 Voyager mold that you lamented missing out on is still the way to go!



Just imagine him saying, "Classics Autobots, roll out!"

(Of course, a third party trailer helps out a great deal, too... and that might be a little harder to find for a good price these days...)

frogbat wrote:This is my personal list of the primes I've had the pleasure to own. From worst to best.
Transformers 1st Movie Prime - in hindsight, he was not as good as some of his successors, however, he was large, extremely complex and very cool looking. No matter what, the movie has had a deep impact on our hobby and I wanted a piece connecting to it.

If you don't have it, try to get a version of the ROTF Leader Optimus. He's a bee-otch to transform, but he's almost 100% movie accurate in both modes and is what you may call a Movie MASTERPEICE.

If you are on a budjet, the Hasbro ROTF or HFTD versions would do aplenty.



Got a big wad of cash? Go for any of the Takara Buster Optimus Prime versions. I prefer the version that came in a DOTM 2pack with Jetfire. He have his mouthplate and is chromed out. Plus, that combined mode is sah-weet!



Finally, for an arm and a leg, get ULTIMATE OPTIMUS PRIME! No, not the DOTM Butterfly. A Buster Optimus who combine ALL the upgrades of past releases. Jetwings and killer armor included.

Budget's always a concern lol. I feel satisfied with my movie prime tho I'm not doubting how awesome Rotf prime is..l the movie verse isn't my thing.

The voyager classics never gained my interest enough to splash out on him cos there were either other priorities or he was too exp when I tried to get him.

I'd love for has tak to give us a larger hybrid convoy. Maybe voyager class or use the original for a powermaster classics prime.

Know what? It just dawned on me. ROTF Leader Optimus Prime is....

A SHELLFORMER!

No, really.
Most of his vehicle mode is made of panels that could be removed from the bot mode. The "engine block cover" fold and just hang on the sides of his arms. The blue cab section fold into a backpack. The grill hide under the feet, that are flat panels of some sort. Of course, he deal with all of his shell bits brilliantly.

Still, shelforming or partly-shellforming is a must to be able to pull off the Movie aestetics.

I love these lists and articles you guys do here at Seibertron, always a good read with plenty of nostalgia.

My collection consists mostly of Classics/Henkei, so my favorite Optimus is Takara Henkei with the Fansproject G3 trailer.

My favorite version of the movie prime has to be the Striker Optimus Prime. That thing look so awesome and amazing! And the AoE Armor Knight Prime is pretty badass too

I thik the ROTF Buster Optimus Prime should have been in there and take the number 2 spot. You also can't have the number one spot taken up by two very different figures, that pretty much makes a list like this useless.

DMSL wrote:I thik the ROTF Buster Optimus Prime should have been in there and take the number 2 spot. You also can't have the number one spot taken up by two very different figures, that pretty much makes a list like this useless.

Between the two masterpiece figures, which do you think is better? And where do you think they should rank?

8 bit wrote:I love these lists and articles you guys do here at Seibertron, always a good read with plenty of nostalgia.

Thanks, reading comments like yours makes this all worthwhile. I make sure lists are spread out within eras and that there is no recency bias. It makes things more fun and shows the rich history of the brand.

frogbat wrote:
I'd love for has tak to give us a larger hybrid convoy. Maybe voyager class or use the original for a powermaster classics prime.

Well the latest rummour is that we will be getting a generations Powermaster Prime next year in the titan wars line. So you might get your wish

william-james88 wrote:Well the latest rummour is that we will be getting a generations Powermaster Prime next year in the titan wars line. So you might get your wish

That would be sweet, in my opinion. I wonder how good they'll do it, though? Will they include or omit the Powermaster gimmick? Will they include the base mode? (If Blaster is getting one, though, one would hope they can squeak one out for characters actually supposed to have one!) Will the cab have a separate robot mode? (I can kind of forgive omitting it in Ultra Magnus, but they shouldn't with Optimus Prime!) And will there also be an Godbomber/Apex Bomber to go with him? (Either in the same package, or sold as a separate figure.)

That last one, I suppose if Hasbro doesn't do it, we can at least count on either Takara or third parties...

I'd love a decent "Classics" Powermaster Prime, though. There was that third party trailer, but I thought it was a bit overpriced and had a bad looking trailer mode... Here's the first image a quick Google Image Search turned up:



I just thought the trailer mode looked too incohesive. And I am one of those strange people who cares what their Transformers look like in all modes!

Yotsuyasan wrote:

william-james88 wrote:Well the latest rummour is that we will be getting a generations Powermaster Prime next year in the titan wars line. So you might get your wish

That would be sweet, in my opinion. I wonder how good they'll do it, though? Will they include or omit the Powermaster gimmick? Will they include the base mode? (If Blaster is getting one, though, one would hope they can squeak one out for characters actually supposed to have one!) Will the cab have a separate robot mode? (I can kind of forgive omitting it in Ultra Magnus, but they shouldn't with Optimus Prime!) And will there also be an Godbomber/Apex Bomber to go with him? (Either in the same package, or sold as a separate figure.)

What makes the most sense to me, looking at Hasbro's current strategies, is to reuse the Leader Magnus mold. That mold has the idea of a smaller transformer being at the center of a much larger one, very much like Powermaster Prime. The chest would be retooled to look like the front of a truck cab. And it is a cab and a trailer, like powermaster prime. And it can form a base mode:



That could be retooled to work as Powermaster Prime. I would understand them not using God Bomber since that wasnt part of the original Hasbro release of Powermaster Prime.