The Energon Pub

Ok... Starting from the top.

I've never bought toys before, the kind that I actually cared about, until recently. I've bought some collector figures for other series like Final Fantasy, Gundam, and Trigun. But thats about it. And just for the heck of it, I've been trying to collect those BK toys; so far i have Ratchet, Bumblebee, Megatron, and Scorponok. (No Prime or Starscream yet )

Anyways, I'm really holding up and saving for the serious kinds. Can anybody give me suggestions on which toys to buy, and start off with?

Like, I want the Movie toys, G1/Reissue/Anniv toys, then whatever else I can get my hands on. hehe. But there are sooo many Primes, Bumblebees, and etc out there. I need a good checklist so I can avoid buying duplicates, or a version that not as good as the other.

For sure though, I know the Bumblebee 2008 version is one I want to get. (whats the dif between that one and the movie deluxe?) But, any other suggestions? And something thats in my budget. Nothing over 150 dollars. And don't just suggest the G1 vingtage versions... Those are already on the long term goal checklist. lol.

--I live in SoCal, if that'll help any. So yea, Target, Costco, Toy R Us are in my vicinity.


Thanks!

Oh yea, and if any of you could answer too. Do you take your toys out of the box? Like put them up in displays, play with them? Or you just keep them in boxes?

you could be a big spender and start off with the masterpiece series. there's optimus, megatron, starscream, and ultra magnus.

are those available in local stores? Or are they special order?

you can get a better version of starscream in about November, but for everyone else, youd need to order online.

You'll have to order the MP's. They're fantastic figures. I think most people on here remove their Transformers from the boxes to display them, and that is what I do as well. I have a very select few that are still in the box.

I see.. cool. So the Anniversary Optimus Prime is a MP too? So instead of buying the other Optimus toys, I could just go for the Anniv. at Toy R Us?

Personally I would go with MP-4. The trailer is very cool, and the paint on Prime is better. You also get full smokestacks and chrome on him as well.

SnipeShade wrote:I see.. cool. So the Anniversary Optimus Prime is a MP too? So instead of buying the other Optimus toys, I could just go for the Anniv. at Toy R Us?

Yes, the Anniversary OP is practically the same as it's MP version. The MP version however has longer smoke stacks, there is a really expensive version (MP-04) that has the trailer while the US version has a toon inspired paint job and a talking base instead. Just so there is no confusion, Takara/TOMY has released 3 versions: MP-01 the first in the MP line; MP-02 which is a straight repaint in white as Ultra Magnus, and MP-04 which is the same as MP-01 but has a transformable trailer like the toy. Hasbro released two versions: 20th Anniv. OP which has smaller shortstacks due to US child safety laws and has "battle damage" painted on. The second one is the one on clearance in most stores. It has an orange-red paint scheme, a blue rifle and a talking base that says stuff when you press a button. MP-03 is a dark gray, more realistic looking jet version of Starscream while a toy/toon accurate version will be released in the US in the fall.

As to your other questions, there are so many different Transformer sub lines that it may become overwhelming for first time collectors. One thing you could do, especially if you like G1 is to start collecting figures from the Classics line. They are probably being clearanced out of stores (brick & mortar and online) so you can get most of them relatively inexpensively. These figures were designed as if Hasbro introduced Transformers for the first time in 2006 instead of 1984. Then this is what the figures would be like. Newer figures will be released in fall 2008. The other suggestions are to look on Seibertron's massive toy galleries to see which figures you like and go for them. Many people like to collect specific series, some collect only factions, some are completists and have to get all of them. It really depends on your personal tastes and how much money you wish to spend.

Oh and I free my figures from their plastic/cardboard prisions!!!!!!!

SnipeShade wrote:O

For sure though, I know the Bumblebee 2008 version is one I want to get. (whats the dif between that one and the movie deluxe?) But, any other suggestions? And something thats in my budget. Nothing over 150 dollars. And don't just suggest the G1 vingtage versions...

The '08 Bumblebee is also a Deluxe sized figure, completely different to the previously released '74 Bumblebee figure.

A good place to start would be trying to collect whatever movie figures you liked from the movie. It is always best to start with the figures you like. Personally, you cant do much wrong with collecting the Deluxe range of Movie toys, some like Jazz and Brawl have minor issues (panel arms, and loose shoulder joints), but nothing that deems them unbuyable.

As for the G1 figures, getting the Re-issues is definitely the way to go, but it does limit what figures you can get, again I would suggest looking for the ones you really want first.

You may also want to consider collecting the Classics line, they are figures based on the G1 versions of their characters, and are all excellent figures.

Very informative! Ok, I see what direction I need to go in now.

And I have another question. Whats the difference between "re-issue" and MP toys.

MP are better quality? And re-issue are just the...re-issuing of the..classic toys? x3

I would definitely suggest starting with Classics and Alternators as long as you don't mind a little extra hunting. Most of the stuff that you'll find at retail these days is the movie stuff or the tail-end of the Cybertron line. Both lines have some very nice highlights but the Classics and Alternators are solid from start to finish.

Hmm if you want to keep going with the Movie Toys, they are all great apart from a few minor issues. The top ones I can't really say... it depends on what you like.

SnipeShade wrote:Very informative! Ok, I see what direction I need to go in now.

And I have another question. Whats the difference between "re-issue" and MP toys.

MP are better quality? And re-issue are just the...re-issuing of the..classic toys? x3

MP's are the definitive edition of that toy, are about a foot tall (give or take, depending on the figure) and weigh quite alot. 20th Anniversary Prime (which you may have seen in stores) is an MP figure.

The re-issues are just the old G1 figures, re-released. They are only 4 -6 inches tall, and come in bright red boxes with grids over them. They should also have "Commemorative Series !!" on the cover of the box, where !! = Roman Numerals.

For better examples:
G1 Re-issue Optimus Prime: http://www.seibertron.com/toys/gallery.php?id=34&size=0&start=0
Masterpiece/20th Anniversary Prime:
http://www.seibertron.com/toys/gallery.php?id=1153&size=0&start=0

Hope that helps.

Awesome. Thanks. That is definately clearer. And I think the football sized one would really be a prize in my treasury.

Think anybody will be selling any of those at the Comic Con? heh