The Energon Pub

[no-one]

Fellow Seibertronian xRotorStormx has alerted us to another in hand image of Takara Tomy Transformers Legends LG20 Skids by Twitter user TFYuki. Previous reveals can be seen here and here.

Have you pre-ordered Legends Skids? How does Takara's deco compare to Hasbro's? Share your thoughts in the discussion below.

[no-one]

I haven't noticed that tiny offset Autobrand on the hood until just now.

[Sabrblade]

I haven't noticed that tiny offset Autobrand on the hood until just now.

More comic-accuracy.

[Optimum Supreme]

That pink deco utterly ruins it.

[Hellscream9999]

That pink deco utterly ruins it.

Even though it's technically comic accurate

[primalxconvoy]

That pink deco utterly ruins it.

Even though it's technically comic accurate

Even though more could have been done to make it more comic book accurate, and even though all the other previous releases by TT have been CARTOON accurate...

Not everyone around the world can access the comics easily and/or wants them as the basis for core G1 figures. That's why I didn't bother with the recentUltra Magnus, as I found that my existing classics Magnus with FP armour was much better.

[Hellscream9999]

That pink deco utterly ruins it.

Even though it's technically comic accurate

Even though more could have been done to make it more comic book accurate, and even though all the other previous releases by TT have been CARTOON accurate...

Not everyone around the world can access the comics easily and/or wants them as the basis for core G1 figures. That's why I didn't bother with the recentUltra Magnus, as I found that my existing classics Magnus with FP armour was much better.

Except it isn't cartoon accurate to any cartoon, I guess if you squinted it could be g1 toon accurate

And really? More comic accurate, how much more is there to do to him?

But that is his purpose, like it or not. To get the skids mold out in Japan, and to give fans of the comic a more accurate deco than hasbro's (g1 accurate maybe?) deco

[Rated X]

Yo Takara...

Can I pay extra to get one without the stupid pink lines?

Maybe Hasbro Asia will give us the skids everone wants down the line...

[Emerje]

Not everyone around the world can access the comics easily

Including, ironically, Japan.

Emerje

[Evil Eye]

Yo Takara...

Can I pay extra to get one without the stupid pink lines?

You can pay a pittance for cotton swabs and paint thinner if it honestly triggers you that much.

Maybe Hasbro Asia will give us the skids everone wants down the line...

Unlikely. I don't think anyone really cares.

Honestly, I don't see the point in giving this mold a G1 cartoon accurate deco. For one thing he was barely in the cartoon, and for another thing this toy is so far from the cartoon character model that a hyper-G1 deco would be utterly pointless. It's clearly IDW Skids and as such if they're going to slavishly recreate any source material it should be the IDW look, pink Tron lines and all.

[bvzxa]

Looks real nice. very g1. Don't like the pink, then stop yapping and let Takara take my money!!

[Rated X]

Yo Takara...

Can I pay extra to get one without the stupid pink lines?

You can pay a pittance for cotton swabs and paint thinner if it honestly triggers you that much.

Maybe Hasbro Asia will give us the skids everone wants down the line...

Unlikely. I don't think anyone really cares.

Honestly, I don't see the point in giving this mold a G1 cartoon accurate deco. For one thing he was barely in the cartoon, and for another thing this toy is so far from the cartoon character model that a hyper-G1 deco would be utterly pointless. It's clearly IDW Skids and as such if they're going to slavishly recreate any source material it should be the IDW look, pink Tron lines and all.

Gotta disagree. Springer is getting a more cartoon accurate deco after all this time. Honestly I dont think anyone in Japan gives a crap about IDW. Its not like IDW has gone out of their way to translate the comics in Japanese. And dont sell Hasbro Asia short. They are known for doing 3 packs of older molds with improved decos which are often more cartoon or screen accurate. They were the first ones to bring us the cartoon accurate hot rod, cyclonus, and galvatron 3 pack before hasbro axed galvatron and added reveal the shield rub signs. Hasbro Asia also gave movieverse fans a screen accurate red Rampage in a 3 pack. I wouldnt doubt the skids mold ends up in a 3 pack at some point with other figures with slightly different decos. I could use 90% alcohol to get rid of the pink lines but I have no desire to do so. I own hasbro skids. If im going to buy the mold again as skids, it better be perfect without customizing.

[Evil Eye]

Yo Takara...

Can I pay extra to get one without the stupid pink lines?

You can pay a pittance for cotton swabs and paint thinner if it honestly triggers you that much.

Maybe Hasbro Asia will give us the skids everone wants down the line...

Unlikely. I don't think anyone really cares.

Honestly, I don't see the point in giving this mold a G1 cartoon accurate deco. For one thing he was barely in the cartoon, and for another thing this toy is so far from the cartoon character model that a hyper-G1 deco would be utterly pointless. It's clearly IDW Skids and as such if they're going to slavishly recreate any source material it should be the IDW look, pink Tron lines and all.

Gotta disagree.

Of course you do.

Springer is getting a more cartoon accurate deco after all this time. Honestly I dont think anyone in Japan gives a crap about IDW. Its not like IDW has gone out of their way to translate the co.ics in Japanese.

The comics are being released over there, and IIRC there are unofficial Japanese scanlations. It is true that it isn't as popular in Japan as in the West but it does have a Japanese following. Most likely the reason it hasn't been brought out as quickly over there is the sheer length of the series (both sub-series are nearly 50 issues each) and the general rigours of localization, translation, licensing and all that old bollocks.

As for Springer, it's an excuse to milk the mold for more money. Get IDW fans with one release and G1 cartoon fans with the other. The difference being that Springer got a Takara release very soon after the Hasbro release, whereas this is the first domestic Japanese release of Generations Skids- a few years after its initial Hasbro release. I'd say if they were planning on multiple versions of Skids we would have seen them by now.

Also, Takara are really big on source material accuracy. Hence why Ultra Magnus had the red thighs and more IDW-inspired deco overall (still doesn't explain Alpha Trion instead of Minimus Ambus though...)

And dont sell Hasbro Asia short. They are known for doing 3 packs of older molds with improved decos which are often more cartoon or screen accurate. They were the first ones to bring uscthe cartoon accurate hot rod, cyclonus, and galvatron 3 pack before hasbro axed galvatron and added reveal the shield rub signs.

Thing is, right, those weren't really based on any particular media, or were based on the G1 cartoon. Skids, however, is based VERY heavily on his IDW appearance. Putting a G1 cartoon deco on a blatantly IDW sculpt would just look weird. Plus, he was a total nobody in the cartoon. The IDW incarnation of the character is probably the most development/screentime he's ever got.

Hasbro Asia also gave movieverse fans a screen accurate red Rampage in a 3 pack.

Are you talking about the one with the metallic dozer blade or the all-red one? Because the all-red one was a variant by Hasbro (available on its own or in a 2-pack) and the (mostly) screen accurate version was a Takara exclusive release. Both go for obscene amounts of money on the aftermarket for what it's worth. Myself I'm happy with my yellow Rampage.

I wouldnt doubt the skids mold ends up in a 3 pack at some point with other figures with slightly different decos.

I would- even aside from the reasons mentioned above, who would he be released with?

I could use 90% alcohol to get rid of the pink lines but I have no desire to do so. I own hasbro skids. If im going to buy the mold again as skids, it better be perfect without customizing.

Then why are you posting here? You're clearly happy with your Hasbro Skids. Why bitch about something you have no intention of buying anyway?

[D-Maximal_Primal]

Va'al would tell you japan is an IDW hot spot. They love the comics.

Also, I already got the Skids i really wanted, but this is still awesome

[Hellscream9999]

The comics are being released over there, and IIRC there are unofficial Japanese scanlations. It is true that it isn't as popular in Japan as in the West but it does have a Japanese following. Most likely the reason it hasn't been brought out as quickly over there is the sheer length of the series (both sub-series are nearly 50 issues each) and the general rigours of localization, translation, licensing and all that old bollocks.

I don't know about the length argument, they are currently putting up with the bilge called 'one piece', and that clearly has no end in sight

[Soraboo1030]

It's rather amusing to me to hear all this talk about Japan loving the IDW comics.
I live in Japan and the only IDW comics I've ever seen are sitting on shelves in used
bookstores. I'd say more than anything Japan loves their Beast Wars. You just can't get away
from those things over here!

[Evil Eye]

The comics are being released over there, and IIRC there are unofficial Japanese scanlations. It is true that it isn't as popular in Japan as in the West but it does have a Japanese following. Most likely the reason it hasn't been brought out as quickly over there is the sheer length of the series (both sub-series are nearly 50 issues each) and the general rigours of localization, translation, licensing and all that old bollocks.

I don't know about the length argument, they are currently putting up with the bilge called 'one piece', and that clearly has no end in sight

I meant more the logistics of translating and localizing a comic that has been going on for quite a while under several different artists/writers and so on. Importing media is nowhere near as easy as it sounds.

[Hellscream9999]

The comics are being released over there, and IIRC there are unofficial Japanese scanlations. It is true that it isn't as popular in Japan as in the West but it does have a Japanese following. Most likely the reason it hasn't been brought out as quickly over there is the sheer length of the series (both sub-series are nearly 50 issues each) and the general rigours of localization, translation, licensing and all that old bollocks.

I don't know about the length argument, they are currently putting up with the bilge called 'one piece', and that clearly has no end in sight

I meant more the logistics of translating and localizing a comic that has been going on for quite a while under several different artists/writers and so on. Importing media is nowhere near as easy as it sounds.

Yeah, I figured, just wanted to draw attention to the distinction

[william-james88]

Va'al would tell you japan is an IDW hot spot. They love the comics.

Also, I already got the Skids i really wanted, but this is still awesome

Apparently, a japanese artist linked to Takara draws for the IDW comics.

[DedicatedGhostArt]

Does he have pink and green in the comics or am I colorblind?

[fenrir72]

I'll take that SW!
But Hasbro's metallic red was pretty nice.

do you have him??? Do you want him????

I have him, and I like him. Thanks though.

Damn! Well, at least I'm excited to have 2 of him

And add the reprolabel decals and he's even more awesome!(He was a pain to find too.....Crosscut I mean)

Pain to find? I literally have had so many choices to pick from all at reasonable prices or better (then again, I'm US). He is even still at HTS at a reduced price!

Chalk it up to Hb "amazing" distribution skills. I heard somewhere here that Viper is hard to find as is Brainstorm yet they are like shelfwarming this side of Asia.

[Hellscream9999]

I'll take that SW!
But Hasbro's metallic red was pretty nice.

do you have him??? Do you want him????

I have him, and I like him. Thanks though.

Damn! Well, at least I'm excited to have 2 of him

And add the reprolabel decals and he's even more awesome!(He was a pain to find too.....Crosscut I mean)

Pain to find? I literally have had so many choices to pick from all at reasonable prices or better (then again, I'm US). He is even still at HTS at a reduced price!

Chalk it up to Hb "amazing" distribution skills. I heard somewhere here that Viper is hard to find as is Brainstorm yet they are like shelfwarming this side of Asia.

Wow, I never saw either of those

And to think Viper is $15+ at bbts and the like, hard to swallow considering the likelihood that the legs won't play nice

[fenrir72]

Does he have pink and green in the comics or am I colorblind?

pink="energon" effect

[fenrir72]

I'll take that SW!
But Hasbro's metallic red was pretty nice.

do you have him??? Do you want him????

I have him, and I like him. Thanks though.

Damn! Well, at least I'm excited to have 2 of him

And add the reprolabel decals and he's even more awesome!(He was a pain to find too.....Crosscut I mean)

Pain to find? I literally have had so many choices to pick from all at reasonable prices or better (then again, I'm US). He is even still at HTS at a reduced price!

Chalk it up to Hb "amazing" distribution skills. I heard somewhere here that Viper is hard to find as is Brainstorm yet they are like shelfwarming this side of Asia.

Wow, I never saw either of those

And to think Viper is $15+ at bbts and the like, hard to swallow considering the likelihood that the legs won't play nice

In addition, when I got Crosscut back in Sept 2014, I haven't seen a restock ever again.

[Sabrblade]

It's rather amusing to me to hear all this talk about Japan loving the IDW comics.
I live in Japan and the only IDW comics I've ever seen are sitting on shelves in used
bookstores. I'd say more than anything Japan loves their Beast Wars. You just can't get away
from those things over here!

I recall being told that Comixology is accessible in Japan, so perhaps IDW's Japanese following is less rooted in a physical comic format and more of the digital format.