The Energon Pub

I just got the 20th Anniversary Collection #14 Hound reissue. I am very happy with the toy, but one thing about it bothers me. It's the poorly placed rub sign. So, I peeled it off and to me he looks a lot better without it.

I was wondering what people here think of rub signs and if they are more annoying than good. I know it's part of the TF history and all. But I'd just rather see a regular faction symbol instead of the rub sign.

How about you?

Agree. I got a re-ish Jazz, and the rubsign on his RF corner ruins his look. Haven't actually taken it off yet, hoping to find a better place for it.

Commemorative Hoist has it right, his rubsign is on the inside of his little cockpit hatch- unseen unless you want to. Way to go, Hoist!

It depends; if it is something like the E-hobby exclusive Blitzwing (i got one from Santatron!) that is the pre-TF color scheme, of which includes stickers for multiple factions, not just Decepticons, then i would say nay.

If who he fights with is left up to the owner of the toy, then it is pointless to have a rub sign for a specific faction. Personally, i put Autobot stickers on mine, since it seems that most of the TF's that are really cool/bad@$$/military vehicles, are always Decepticons, and thus most of mine, (i think) ans most i would want are the bad guys. I wanted to balence things a bit.

Overall, i think it is just a matter of nostalgia, that some would appreciate, while others will think it is just pointless.

I don't care for the rub signs because of how they look. You have this cool robot that has a silver/black sticker thing that to me messes up the look of said robot.

I have some pre-rub TF. In terms of if I want it to stay on or not depends on where it is..some of them are in ok places and I leave them on. However, some of them are in bad spots...Bluestreak/Silverstreak is one of them...it is on his door.

I hate rubsigns, but grudgingly leave them on as I like to keep figures in their original condition.

I'd be all for rubsigns not featuring on future figures.

Rub sings are awesome, they should use them more often.

YAY! I love rubsigns, so long as they are placed correctly. If not, I can always move them. Sure, there are exceptions (Overcharge, as mentioned earlier, is a good one). Another thing is like, '84 figures, sometimes they just feel out of place the way they were placed on the figures (again, Bluestreak, on his door, and the rubsign on Soundwave's chest doesn't look right at all (I'm very picky with Soundwave, he's my favorite). I like it most on his battery cover). I think the way they did it on Commemorative Series Sideswipe was perfect (not sure how it was on the original). And of course, I loved them in Beast Wars and Classics.

So yeah, Rubsigns, ftw.

I prefer Rubsigns the way they did them with some BW figures, hide it. If you want to see it you can find it, but its not sticking out ruining the look of the figure. Also if you have a normal faction symbol on the figure then putting a Rubsign on it is kinda pointless. They only serve a purpose when the allegiance of the figure is supposedly in doubt, such as with a spy type character.

If there's a proper place in the robot to put the rub sign, that won't ruin the car design, then why not?

Otherwise, no rub sign is not a big problem.

Auto Bot wrote:If there's a proper place in the robot to put the rub sign, that won't ruin the car design, then why not?

Otherwise, no rub sign is not a big problem.

Agreed.

Hasbro, are you reading this?

When I buy a figure I base their appearence from the series, and no where do I see a rub sign from the series, so I do not like rub signs; nor do I even like additional stickers that don't appear in the cartoon or comics.

Rub sign is not an essential part of the robot or car design.

It's just a way, in the 80's, for identifying a genuine TF toy from a KO.

I hate them I hate them I hate them I hate them!

Mine are always applied by blind people and they look so out of place in vehicle mode. Sometimes they are placed across a seam so hey have to be removed in order to transform the figure and for me they turn the darkest color for days with the slightest touch!

Bad rubsigns, bad!

I really don’t care if a figure dose or doesn’t have rub signs. But if I had to say, I would rather not have them. They usually look out of place in robot mode and ruin an otherwise realistic alt mode.

I'm fine, it's a neat little gimmick.
My only problem is the placement of G1 Blaster's rubsign.
Right over his...manly parts.

Auto Bot wrote:If there's a proper place in the robot to put the rub sign, that won't ruin the car design, then why not?

Otherwise, no rub sign is not a big problem.

My opinion too.

It always felt like the rub sign made my figures feel...complete somehow. They feel more authentic when they have the little black patch on them.

It's a good thing Movie toys don't have rub sign.