The Energon Pub

[BeastProwl]

My friend found this in a thrift store, is it a legit G1 Megatron? A reissue?

This is the only photo he sent.

But it's only $25 he said, and was wondering if he should pick it up.

I know nothing about G1 packaging though, and need an opinion.

[MGrotusque]

It's definitely not a vintage original G1 Megatron but it's absolutely worth the 25 dollars. I'm not sure if it's an official reissue or a KO but either way 25 bucks.....i mean come on. Scoop that up quick. Especially if you don't already have a G1 Megs.

[william-james88]

Its either a reissue or a KO but both are worth 25$, so get it

[BeastProwl]

Okay, thank you

I'll be sure to tell him.

I was amazed when he showed me, just a random thrift store megatron. I've never even seen a G1 megs in person before, so I couldn't tell you the difference if this WAS a knockoff.

[Jelze Bunnycat]

If it's not legit, it's most definitely a KO, as Megatron has never been reissued in US packaging, or reissued at all in the US and Europe. The only legit ones are from Japan, even in vintage-style Japanese packaging with the appropriate logo and his ID number 16 on it. He was offered as a mailaway, twice, but the last one has a special sticker denoting it as such.

The thing that worries me most is that none of his stickers are factory-applied, a tell-tale sign of fakes. I'm looking at images of packaged samples right now and at least some have the chest sticker, and the large on the grip (By the way, I've also found ones with the tip of the barrel painted orange, or with an orange plug), while others don't. Then again, KO's of G1 Megatron of such nature haven't been reported, probably due to gun laws putting a wrench into the process, but regular KO's are out there.

I would exercise caution either way, not just because of it possibly being fake. You know why.

[william-james88]

Thinking about it, the pic he sent you isnt taken by him, I would think. Its on a white background, and looks to be of the professional kind for an online listing. I think he found it online and sent it to you because that couldnt have been taken in a thrift shop.

[BeastProwl]

Thinking about it, the pic he sent you isnt taken by him, I would think. Its on a white background, and looks to be of the professional kind for an online listing. I think he found it online and sent it to you because that couldnt have been taken in a thrift shop.

Yeah, you know now that you point it out you're right about that.
It does look professionally shot. Maybe that's the one he saw, and he googled an image? I'll ask him about it. Suspicious

[william-james88]

Thinking about it, the pic he sent you isnt taken by him, I would think. Its on a white background, and looks to be of the professional kind for an online listing. I think he found it online and sent it to you because that couldnt have been taken in a thrift shop.

Yeah, you know now that you point it out you're right about that.
It does look professionally shot. Maybe that's the one he saw, and he googled an image? I'll ask him about it. Suspicious

he could also be messing with you since he knows you are into this (casual fans know these few characters, it would be less likely if he sent g1 scoop instead). One thing for sure, that photo wasnt taken in a thrift shop randomly

[fenrir72]

My friend found this in a thrift store, is it a legit G1 Megatron? A reissue?

This is the only photo he sent.

But it's only $25 he said, and was wondering if he should pick it up.

I know nothing about G1 packaging though, and need an opinion.

It's too new. It's a K.O. There has never been a re-issue!

If you mean official reissue by Takara, there's the boxed TFC version, Encore and the official "UNCLE" version D-16S from which the TFC version was based on except the energon mace/morning star and the Black Armor version. In Japan, prior to the D-16S, Megs never was released with the UNCLE extensions.

[Emerje]

The worn edges on the box and warping in the top flap tells me the one in the picture (weather it's an example or the actual one in question) is probably vintage.

Plus it appears to have the original price sticker on the side of the box. It's the kind of multi-color sticker that was popular in the 80s, not the kind of simple sticker you'd see at a thrift store.

Emerje

[BeastProwl]

The worn edges on the box and warping in the top flap tells me the one in the picture (weather it's an example or the actual one in question) is probably vintage.

Plus it appears to have the original price sticker on the side of the box. It's the kind of multi-color sticker that was popular in the 80s, not the kind of simple sticker you'd see at a thrift store.

Emerje

Reverse image search yielded the results I wanted.
He was messing with me, obviously. Why though? Like, what did he have to gain? I'm not mad, just confused

[fenrir72]

The worn edges on the box and warping in the top flap tells me the one in the picture (weather it's an example or the actual one in question) is probably vintage.

Plus it appears to have the original price sticker on the side of the box. It's the kind of multi-color sticker that was popular in the 80s, not the kind of simple sticker you'd see at a thrift store.

Emerje

Reverse image search yielded the results I wanted.
He was messing with me, obviously. Why though? Like, what did he have to gain? I'm not mad, just confused

Well either he's into S & M or just one sick wackjob!

[Tyrannacon]

I'd say to feed them to Sharkticons for messing with you or beat them with a rubber chicken.

[shajaki]

Y'know, this is just not adding up.

There are high quality Chinese KO's out there of nearly the entire G1 cast. and the style of packaging is the original Hasbro english mockup. I was very quick to dismiss this as one of those, but I did some searching and as far as I can tell the Chinese KO'ers never did Megatron.

This picture has to be an original Hasbro G1. In which case, I call bullsh*t on the buyer and/or your friend. It is likely a stock photo for an online listing as others have suggested. What you'll actually receive if you buy that, who knows (if it's even a real listing).

[fenrir72]

Y'know, this is just not adding up.

There are high quality Chinese KO's out there of nearly the entire G1 cast. and the style of packaging is the original Hasbro english mockup. I was very quick to dismiss this as one of those, but I did some searching and as far as I can tell the Chinese KO'ers never did Megatron.

This picture has to be an original Hasbro G1. In which case, I call bullsh*t on the buyer and/or your friend. It is likely a stock photo for an online listing as others have suggested. What you'll actually receive if you buy that, who knows (if it's even a real listing).

The giveaway. Box condition and price.

[shajaki]

The giveaway. Box condition and price.

And see, the box condition is why I was so easy to dismiss it as a KO. But like I said, I can't find any traces of a G1 Megatron being made by the Chinese KO'ers.

[Jelze Bunnycat]

Y'know, this is just not adding up.

There are high quality Chinese KO's out there of nearly the entire G1 cast. and the style of packaging is the original Hasbro english mockup. I was very quick to dismiss this as one of those, but I did some searching and as far as I can tell the Chinese KO'ers never did Megatron.

This picture has to be an original Hasbro G1. In which case, I call bullsh*t on the buyer and/or your friend. It is likely a stock photo for an online listing as others have suggested. What you'll actually receive if you buy that, who knows (if it's even a real listing).

The giveaway. Box condition and price.

Box condition I'll give you. The price? Not really. We're dealing with a thrift store here, not some shady EBay auction. Again, Megatron has yet to be bootlegged in this fashion, but there are regular KO's of him (Destroy Monarch) out there.

[BeastProwl]

Guys. Scroll up
It's been solved, it was all a ruse. As to WHY he wanted to trick me? Who really knows.

[fenrir72]

I DESPISE people who trick PEOPLE