The Energon Pub

News Credits: 5749 · by **El Duque** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 10:08 am

YouTube member zfeakye has posted a quick review of the exclusive BAPE Convoy 2.0. Check out the G1 Convoy in urban camo below.

by **Rated X** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 11:15 am

Somebody please enlighten me as to why this G1 Prime repaint is called a "Bathing Ape" ???

by **gothsaurus** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 2:45 pm

It's a clothing company that scored an exclusive.

Honestly, what would have knocked BOTH of these out of the park for me... A more tasteful urban camo deco (like that Bruticus set), NO apes, and some GI Joe crossover stickers. :-?

Seriously, a nice Joe logo with the long red-white-blue stripe across the trailer. Stellar.

As is, it makes for a really nice death-of-optimus-prime stand in. Sadly, those interior stickers are really bad. I wish people would take this more seriously. For that price tag, I'd love to have something really display-worthy... without a bunch of silly cartoon apes all over it.

by **samikai** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 3:54 pm

gothsaurus wrote:It's a clothing company that scored an exclusive.

Honestly, what would have knocked BOTH of these out of the park for me... A more tasteful urban camo deco (like that Bruticus set), NO apes, and some GI Joe crossover stickers.

Seriously, a nice Joe logo with the long red-white-blue stripe across the trailer. Stellar.

As is, it makes for a really nice death-of-optimus-prime stand in. Sadly, those interior stickers are really bad. I wish people would take this more seriously. For that price tag, I'd love to have something really display-worthy... without a bunch of silly cartoon apes all over it.

Your kind of missing the point of this exclusive. It is targeted at the Asian market from which Bathing Ape clothing line is huge. To us outside of the market most have never even heard of the brand therefore most don't get why this was even made. But to those in it's targeted market it's win win. The love of Bathing Ape line and giant robots. Therefore they did take this exclusive seriously.

Living in Japan for several years I can see why this guy will sell out like the green version did. Me I am hoping my cousin in Fukuoka can score me one like she did the green version.

by **gothsaurus** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 4:05 pm

Nah, I "get it." (And I do appreciate your explaining that it IS a popular line in Japan.)

But putting it in context with an america example, putting a clothing brand like Nike, or Old Navy, or Wet Seal on the side of an Optimus Prime trailer doesn't get the same kind of excitement out of me. I'd much rather see a well-thought-out exclusive that makes sense than a brand name tacked on.

But yeah, I agree. Makes really good sense from a business standpoint.

by **samikai** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 4:35 pm

For an exclusive to BAPE it's pretty well though out. The BAPE logo is in a prominent area on Convoy and the camo theme is prevalent in a lot of clothing from BAPE. There are BAPE camo Chuck Taylors, backpacks, umbrellas, hats. The camp theme was not just chosen randomly.

This is also why it's exclusive. It's not meant for everyone.

I agree though, I don't think I would buy a Nike Convoy no matter how much I like Nike or Jordans. But I would probably go for a Jordan one over Old Navy!

I would love to see something like you are describing. If we did ever get something like that...you, me, and I am sure many others will be all over it.

by **gothsaurus** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 4:38 pm

Yeah, knowing that the BAPE brand includes a lot of camo elements helps understand how this is a logical choice and design. I'll sleep a little better tonight. Ha.

by **Rated X** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 10:36 pm

So basically "Bathing Ape" is what happens when the Asian hemisphere embraces urban hip hop culture ???

Not my style of hip hop dress, Im straight up Dirty South. But I gotta give it up for them for infusing the Transformers brand with urban culture. It's just more proof that the Transformers "stereotypes" of the 90's are fading away.