The Energon Pub

Crossblades, I just can’t quit you.I think I need to get my Pretender ‘Cons back in action

Ah the mega and ultra pretenders, how I love thee

I totally agree, Zero! I still would mind adding Vroom or Skyhammer to the collection, but one is too expensive and the other has GPS problems. I already have Roadblock and may have to deal with GPS when he crumbles, but I don’t need more at this point.

I would have taken Roadblock out for pics again, but went with one where my only concern is the tiny plastic nub on his guns instead…Bomb-Burst was one of the cheapest I ever hunted ($25 IIRC!), but remains a favorite, thanks to the Marvel comics — and simply being a vampire.

He's one I'd definitely like to get

I can’t believe Iguanas is getting a Core update in the upcoming Legacy line! Of course, I am guessing he will be a little figure like the other Pretender updates, but still — he deserves an update.

I took some shots of Submarauder the other day — he is one of the least popular, but I had lots of fun taking these shots of him.

I still think he looks cool

Agreed Zero! He looks the most like a kaiju as well — that was really part of the appeal of the Pretenders for me.

Anyone else look at Kingdom Wingfinger and think, “BEETLEJUICE!”?

Awesome

It’s hard not to overlook Snarler — but as a fan of Greek mythology, he’s the Calydonian Boar to me!

Poor warpath

Hah, don’t worry about ol’ Warpath, Zero

That's my boy!

When Childrens Palace was going out of business I managed to finish my Pretenders sets, got a bunch of the large ones for 5.99 a pop and all of monstructor for 1.99 a pop. I was very lucky indeed (I have all the original US pretenders including mega and ultra ones).

WOW, that's a helluva deal, Cyber Bishop! We couldn't even pay those low prices on those little, recent updates (Titan Masters). To get Vroom for $6......I don't think he goes for less than $150 complete, loose. Great score, man!!

So jelly right now!

Thank you, that was about 31 years ago.. Man time flies.

heh, I figured it had to be around the early 90s, Cyber Bishop, but still -- that was a great deal even then! I only started re-collecting the Pretenders in the last 5 years, so while some of them were kinda cheap, they got super-expensive when they "returned" with Titans Return.

The only Bludgeon(s) I have is his RotF figure, and that li'l Titan Master -- I'd love the G1 version.

For Autobots, I'm always hoping I can get Vroom for a good deal, but that seems impossible -- much like I will never find a cheap Metalhawk (I also got the Titan Master there lol).

bodrock wrote:heh, I figured it had to be around the early 90s, Cyber Bishop, but still -- that was a great deal even then! I only started re-collecting the Pretenders in the last 5 years, so while some of them were kinda cheap, they got super-expensive when they "returned" with Titans Return.

The only Bludgeon(s) I have is his RotF figure, and that li'l Titan Master -- I'd love the G1 version.

For Autobots, I'm always hoping I can get Vroom for a good deal, but that seems impossible -- much like I will never find a cheap Metalhawk (I also got the Titan Master there lol).

When Lionel Playworld shut down I got a bunch of the micromasters cheap too. I miss those stores.

hah, Playworld! I also remember Kaybee Toystores, and I wish I could have cleaned them up when they went down. I still miss Toys R Us, but they didn't have much of a close-out when they went down.

Nowadays, stores can barely keep the figures collectors really want on shelves, and aftermarket prices keep on rising -- just like Pretenders, the Maximals and Predacons were relatively dirt cheap 3-4 years ago. But now? It's like they've doubled and then some.

bodrock wrote:hah, Playworld! I also remember Kaybee Toystores, and I wish I could have cleaned them up when they went down. I still miss Toys R Us, but they didn't have much of a close-out when they went down.

Nowadays, stores can barely keep the figures collectors really want on shelves, and aftermarket prices keep on rising -- just like Pretenders, the Maximals and Predacons were relatively dirt cheap 3-4 years ago. But now? It's like they've doubled and then some.

I'm still glad I had all those trade-in deals with my local geek store some years ago. But having known, I would had gotten EVERYTHING in one fell swoop.

Oh well, I have more than enough!

Cyber Bishop wrote:When Childrens Palace was going out of business I managed to finish my Pretenders sets, got a bunch of the large ones for 5.99 a pop and all of monstructor for 1.99 a pop. I was very lucky indeed (I have all the original US pretenders including mega and ultra ones).

I feel a lot of envy right now. I want so many more pretenders, and that price is so much better than anything else.

It took seven years (!), but I finally have MONSTRUCTOR! I never thought it’d happen, and I just love having the Pretender Monsters in the collection.

I’m only missing Bristleback and Icepick’s personal guns, but everything else is there!
He is definitely smaller than expected, but considering he’s basically a micromaster combiner, it’s not a shock. But he certainly makes Sixtrain look tall!
I also had to buy a lone Bristleback innerbot since the set I got for cheap had a broken one included (GPS!) — but I kept that one anyway — he’s just super-glued and will never be anything but a limb!
I still wouldn’t mind a Vroom, but other him, I think that’s it.

I have Fansproject’s Dinoking on the way, sans Pretender shells. Those may be too hard to track down, but it’s so cool someone did it!

Congrats on getting the original Monstructor!

Even though the GPs is nerves-wracking.

The GPS fear is there, so I’m glad to have a backup for Bristleback. But with Slog, he may never be really transformed (maybe once to bot!). Otherwise they may all remain combined. I hardly ever see Slog on the aftermarket, and if he is, he is incomplete or not cheap.