The Energon Pub

As anyone and their grandma could have guessed, MP-49 Masterpiece Black Convoy will be a redeco of MP-44 Optimus Prime 3.0. An image has surfaced on the weibo account Momo. The price was also revealed to be 28000 yen, which is around $255 USD. This is much cheaper than the original version because, as the image shows, there is no trailer accessory. The image itself seems to have been cut out of its background since some parts have been shaved off, making it a terrible first look at the figure. But at least it gives us an idea of what we will get, which is your standard black redeco with teal highlights and red windows. Unlike the previous black prime MP, this might not be an exclusive, so it could be available from Japanese sellers such as Amazon Japan who tend to sell it for less than MSRP. We first heard of this toy through a listing from site sponsor BBTS.

Wow, that's boring. I like Black repaints, but yeah this is boring. Hoping for the toy colored version.

Is that a on his shoulder? If so, it's simply Optimus Prime in black, not Nemesis Prime.

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:Is that a on his shoulder? If so, it's simply Optimus Prime in black, not Nemesis Prime.

Yeah. That’s why it’s called black convoy. Not nemesis prime or scourge. It’s black convoy. He’s a thing that exists.

Randomhero wrote:

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:Is that a on his shoulder? If so, it's simply Optimus Prime in black, not Nemesis Prime.

Yeah. That’s why it’s called black convoy. Not nemesis prime or scourge. It’s black convoy. He’s a thing that exists.

...Black Convoy is a frequent Japanese name for Nemesis Prime though (and RID Scourge).

Jeddostotle7 wrote:

Randomhero wrote:

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:Is that a on his shoulder? If so, it's simply Optimus Prime in black, not Nemesis Prime.

Yeah. That’s why it’s called black convoy. Not nemesis prime or scourge. It’s black convoy. He’s a thing that exists.

...Black Convoy is a frequent Japanese name for Nemesis Prime though (and RID Scourge).

It's confusing but there has been Japanese repaints of prime that are just Optimus in a black paint job as a (terrible) disguise so he can infiltrate the cons. Nucleon Quest Convoy for example, a black repaint of God Ginrai. If that symbol is a con in the final release then it's just Nemesis/Scourge, if it stays a Bot one, then it's just Optimus.

Was expecting them to star releasing him as repaints at cheaper prices. Who knows maybe one day we can scoop him up for less that 180 but alas till then I’m all budgeted out

ZeroWolf wrote:

Jeddostotle7 wrote:

Randomhero wrote:

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:Is that a on his shoulder? If so, it's simply Optimus Prime in black, not Nemesis Prime.

Yeah. That’s why it’s called black convoy. Not nemesis prime or scourge. It’s black convoy. He’s a thing that exists.

...Black Convoy is a frequent Japanese name for Nemesis Prime though (and RID Scourge).

It's confusing but there has been Japanese repaints of prime that are just Optimus in a black paint job as a (terrible) disguise so he can infiltrate the cons. Nucleon Quest Convoy for example, a black repaint of God Ginrai. If that symbol is a con in the final release then it's just Nemesis/Scourge, if it stays a Bot one, then it's just Optimus.

What I meant was, until recently, Black Convoy was one of the main Japanese names for Nemesis Prime/Scourge characters, so this fits right in with that. And yeah, Optimus himself has donned a black paint job to infiltrate the Decepticons before, but when he's doing that, he's also usually wearing Decepticon insignia, like with the United Black Optimus Prime figure. Plus, RID Scourge had upside-down blacked-out G2 Autobot emblems, so it's not like Nemesis Primes haven't worn Autobot emblems before (without going out and searching every black repaint of Optimus Prime, I'm sure there are other examples). Taking all that into account, I don't really think the insignia is gonna have much bearing on what specific character this is supposed to be.

Yo be fair though it sounded like you were discounting the possibility when we simply can't say at this juncture. He's pretty much Schrodinger's Prime at the moment. At least till we get more information (if BBTS got the right info, we're supposed to hear something around the 5th of December)

Jeddostotle7 wrote:Taking all that into account, I don't really think the insignia is gonna have much bearing on what specific character this is supposed to be.

Does any of it truly matter though? In the end nomatter what he's called, it will be a typical black prime redeco with teal and red windows. He can be whatever character anyone wants. And if the symbol is an issue, just put a sticker to change it.

Have there been that many black Optimus redecos from Takara lately that weren't some version of Nemesis Prime, though? I mean, yeah, they did release a lot of "good guy Optimus but in black" toys in years past, but have they continued that trend as of late?

Strictly asking about Takara releases, not Hasbro or Fun Pub.

I ain't feeling it. Normally any Prime mold looks great in Nemesis colours, but something looks really off about this.

Sabrblade wrote:Have there been that many black Optimus redecos from Takara lately that weren't some version of Nemesis Prime, though? I mean, yeah, they did release a lot of "good guy Optimus but in black" toys in years past, but have they continued that trend as of late?

Strictly asking about Takara releases, not Hasbro or Fun Pub.

How does this matter in any way?

ZeroWolf wrote:

Jeddostotle7 wrote:

Randomhero wrote:

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:Is that a on his shoulder? If so, it's simply Optimus Prime in black, not Nemesis Prime.

Yeah. That’s why it’s called black convoy. Not nemesis prime or scourge. It’s black convoy. He’s a thing that exists.

...Black Convoy is a frequent Japanese name for Nemesis Prime though (and RID Scourge).

It's confusing but there has been Japanese repaints of prime that are just Optimus in a black paint job as a (terrible) disguise so he can infiltrate the cons. Nucleon Quest Convoy for example, a black repaint of God Ginrai. If that symbol is a con in the final release then it's just Nemesis/Scourge, if it stays a Bot one, then it's just Optimus.

That happened only once, with the United release. Other black Optimuses had different backstories, usually tying into some mysterious property of the color.

Sabrblade wrote:Have there been that many black Optimus redecos from Takara lately that weren't some version of Nemesis Prime, though? I mean, yeah, they did release a lot of "good guy Optimus but in black" toys in years past, but have they continued that trend as of late?

Strictly asking about Takara releases, not Hasbro or Fun Pub.

Just a few actually:

- JAFCon Convoy
- Nucleon Quest Super Convoy: special coating that allows him to travel into Black Holes to obtain Nucleon
- MP-1B Convoy Black Ver.: Eldedroid or remote-controlled robotic double
- Alternity Convoy Super Black: reformed Universe 2003 Nemesis Prime
- Black Super Fire Convoy
- Animated Optimus Prime Black Version: despite being repurposed into a Nemesis, he has
- Prime Dark Guard Optimus Prime: reverse-engineered MECH alloys
- Darkside Moon Jetwing Optimus Prime Black ver.
- Lost Age Black Knight Optimus Prime

william-james88 wrote:How does this matter in any way?

Even a small change in food makes one eat. It'd be the first black redeco with since 2015's Black Knight if memory serves me right.

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:Have there been that many black Optimus redecos from Takara lately that weren't some version of Nemesis Prime, though? I mean, yeah, they did release a lot of "good guy Optimus but in black" toys in years past, but have they continued that trend as of late?

Strictly asking about Takara releases, not Hasbro or Fun Pub.

Just a few actually:

- JAFCon Convoy
- Nucleon Quest Super Convoy: special coating that allows him to travel into Black Holes to obtain Nucleon
- MP-1B Convoy Black Ver.: Eldedroid or remote-controlled robotic double
- Alternity Convoy Super Black: reformed Universe 2003 Nemesis Prime
- Black Super Fire Convoy
- Animated Optimus Prime Black Version: despite being repurposed into a Nemesis, he has
- Prime Dark Guard Optimus Prime: reverse-engineered MECH alloys
- Darkside Moon Jetwing Optimus Prime Black ver.
- Lost Age Black Knight Optimus Prime

So, none, then (see bolded text).

It's been pointed out that the headsculpt looks a little different from that of MP-44.

Sabrblade wrote:It's been pointed out that the headsculpt looks a little different from that of MP-44.

Could very well be artifacting. We'll know more with the official announcement and pics.

Man, as much as I don't collect Masterpiece (and skipped on MP-44 for being too expensive to buy when I don't collect Masterpiece), I am such a sucker for Nemesis Primes I may very well get this.

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:Is that a on his shoulder? If so, it's simply Optimus Prime in black, not Nemesis Prime.

I don't know for sure, because I'm looking with my 5 inch cellphone, but I think I see the symbol instead...

Sabrblade wrote:So, none, then (see bolded text).

Why does it matter exactly when the last time they put an autobot symbol? The fact that one of the MP Primes already went that route is precedent enough.
Also with the idea of G1 being so prevalent right now, I get that the repaint would be a G1 black convoy homage.

william-james88 wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:So, none, then (see bolded text).

Why does it matter exactly when the last time they put an autobot symbol? The fact that one of the MP Primes already went that route is precedent enough.

MP-1B wasn't named "Black Convoy".

Sabrblade wrote:

william-james88 wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:So, none, then (see bolded text).

Why does it matter exactly when the last time they put an autobot symbol? The fact that one of the MP Primes already went that route is precedent enough.

MP-1B wasn't named "Black Convoy".

So what? The G1 black convoy was a black redeco with an autobot symbol anyways, no? Now you have double precedent. One for the name and another for the MP line.

william-james88 wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

william-james88 wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:So, none, then (see bolded text).

Why does it matter exactly when the last time they put an autobot symbol? The fact that one of the MP Primes already went that route is precedent enough.

MP-1B wasn't named "Black Convoy".

So what? The G1 black convoy was a black redeco with an autobot symbol anyways, no? Now you have double precedent. One for the name and another for the MP line.

What "G1 Black Convoy"?

Sabrblade wrote:

william-james88 wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

william-james88 wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:So, none, then (see bolded text).

Why does it matter exactly when the last time they put an autobot symbol? The fact that one of the MP Primes already went that route is precedent enough.

MP-1B wasn't named "Black Convoy".

So what? The G1 black convoy was a black redeco with an autobot symbol anyways, no? Now you have double precedent. One for the name and another for the MP line.

What "G1 Black Convoy"?

This one



He's a black Convoy

william-james88 wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

william-james88 wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:So, none, then (see bolded text).

Why does it matter exactly when the last time they put an autobot symbol? The fact that one of the MP Primes already went that route is precedent enough.

MP-1B wasn't named "Black Convoy".

So what? The G1 black convoy was a black redeco with an autobot symbol anyways, no? Now you have double precedent. One for the name and another for the MP line.

Nor was the JAFCon one you linked to, that too was called "Convoy Black Version". I understand "Black Convoy" is often used for short informally, but that's still the official name for the evil doubles, not the Autobot Commander clad in black.

Again, let's just all wait until the official announcement and pics before the whole argument spirals out of control.