The Energon Pub

In all your many years of collecting, what would you say has been the biggest disappointment and the surprise hit of TF toys?


Surprise hit: Classics Mirage

I admit I wasn't a Mirage fan at first. For some reason he wasn't in TFTM, so I didn't really get to know him all that well in my youth. Mirage was the first Classics I picked up, and the first Transformer I bought since the G2 era. I felt a little stupid walking out of the store with a child's toy, but I thought it might revive my interest in Transformers. It did more than that. His articulation is astounding for a Deluxe and I was immediately reminded of how G2 Smokescreen (Dreadwing's small partner) captivated me with similar posability. Mirage was the reason I invested in the other Classics, and the reason I'm still a Transformers fan today.


Biggest disappointment: Concept Camaro '08 Bumblebee

I'm not a fan of the movie designs. I still think they're too detached from our childhood heroes. But after I heard people raving about '08 BB and how he was selling for big bucks on eBay, I thought I'd pick him up from the local store when I saw him being sold for €13. I told myself that, despite the design, I remember there was a time when the transformation enthralled me more than the character itself. Boy, what a mistake that was. I don't think I've ever owned a toy this hard to transform. The auto-transform gimmick is a nightmare and I actually broke the hood on the first day I owned BB. Luckily, I managed to get it exchanged at the store. Nevertheless, I find him incredibly stiff and difficult to play with. And he's still a hideous pile of junk. The good news is that I sold him on eBay for more than I paid for him. A happy ending after all. *dollar signs spin in eyeballs*

I agree with you on Classics Mirage. You and a friend of mine are fans of Mirage.

Surprise Hit:
Armada Jetfire. I fianlly got a decent loose one without missles, but he was very stiff and had all the other items. I have looked at pics of him, and I could not get myself to get him. Now after 5 years I got him, and he looks better than Energon Jetfire. He's simple, kinda reminds me of those fat vertiech fighters from when I was a kid .I use him to carry my minicons. His Robot mode is big, so I say he was a guardian robot from Cyebertron when me and my son play toywars (TF's Vs. Megazords)

Biggest Dissapointment:
Cybertron Jetfire. Why? Since 2004 I have been rolling at how Energon and Cybertron redeemed themselves from Armada..to now I have really appreciated (Armada Jetfire)in making quality TF's and making me spend money. I was happy about E-Jetfire, although his Robot mode was strange to me, but man, I got Cyb Jetfire and went, wow, that's a great toy....nope.

I don't like how the legs don't look like legs.No front or bact, just two trunks of plastic. He has a see through problem, which plagued alot of Cybertron. His back weapons fold up in such an odd way, that I could never get him to stand up straight. I gave him to my friend, and gave my son Sky Shadow.

bvzxa wrote:Surprise Hit:
Armada Jetfire.

Biggest Dissapointment:
Cybertron Jetfire.

Heh. Speaking of Jetfire, his Classics version was also a surprise hit for me. I wasn't a Jetfire fan either, and I often passed by this figure in the store, even though it was a measly €20 (as low as a Voyager will ever be in Europe). I told myself I probably wouldn't like the character. But after reading rave reviews of him, I decided to shell out for Jetfire anyway. Turns out I should have got him a lot sooner. I love his robot 'butterfly' wings position and how he's armed to the teeth in both modes. Jetfire beats Mirage by a hair as the best Classics.

Biggest surprise hit:
08 Bumblebee. I love the two automorph features, I think they're amazingly designed and work so well. The mold is so detailed - the more you compare him to a picture of BB the more details you can spot. His articulation, while not as good as Classics Mirage is excellent - the moveable hands and toe articulation being a great adition.

Biggest disappointment:
Classics Jetfire. Love the way he looks unless you spread his feet and bend his legs cos he turns into a knock-kneed-knerd. The knee joint takes up half of the thigh's length and the forward-bending hip joint takes up the other half which makes his already short thighs look even more strange and deformed. Arms desparately need a rotating upper-arm joint and the ratchets also severly limit the choice of positions.

Glitcher wrote:Speaking of Jetfire, his Classics version was also a surprise hit for me.

Biggest disappointment: Concept Camaro '08 Bumblebee

Mykltron wrote:Biggest surprise hit:
08 Bumblebee.

Biggest disappointment:
Classics Jetfire.

Are you my evil twin?

Disappointment: Dexluxe Jazz. Horrible arms.

Hit: Con BB. Great robot, great vehicle. Like a mini Alternator.

Glitcher wrote:

Glitcher wrote:Speaking of Jetfire, his Classics version was also a surprise hit for me.

Biggest disappointment: Concept Camaro '08 Bumblebee

Mykltron wrote:Biggest surprise hit:
08 Bumblebee.

Biggest disappointment:
Classics Jetfire.

Are you my evil twin?

Wrong way around, buddy. Wrong way around.

with all the good things being said about Classics Jetfire i bought it...and....it's kind of meh! if the artic was as good as Prime he would be a winner!


for a surprise i'll go with TFTM jazz....i really like him and the movie paint scheme does nothing to me...

Dissapointment: None that much, but I might say Movie Voyager Megatron. He's a very cool-looking figure, but on mine the arm peg falls off every time you touch it. It ruined play and pose value for him.

Surprise Hit: Movie '74 Bumblebee. A wonderful robot mode and a very well-rolling nice alt-mode, if you don't count the loose front.

I have never been disappointed by any TF, now of course there are some figures often not as good as others, but I know what I’m buying before I buy it. Cybertron Backstop for example isn’t a very good figure, but I was pleased with him because I knew what I was buying and I got what I paid for (I only paid three dollars…).

As for figures that passed my expectations, I’d say Cybertron Skywarp and the Classics mini-cons.

Ricky_Stream wrote:with all the good things being said about Classics Jetfire i bought it...and....it's kind of meh! if the artic was as good as Prime he would be a winner!

At last! Someone else who doesn't think he's the greatest!

Biggest dissapointment if i had to pick one would probably be Titanium series Soundwave. Bought him and he was heavy as all hell and would'nt even stand up! Pure suck!

Surprise hit would be for me the Cyberton line. I loved the variety of characters and modes because it had something for everybody from every type of Tfs style. That series Cartoon and Toy wise got me excited again to buy Tfs so i picked up almost the whole line except maybe 3 which i'll get soon!

Mykltron wrote:

Ricky_Stream wrote:with all the good things being said about Classics Jetfire i bought it...and....it's kind of meh! if the artic was as good as Prime he would be a winner!

At last! Someone else who doesn't think he's the greatest!

i'm still sitting on the fence woth classics jetfire!

surprise hit: classics mirage and tank megatron, they both have nice posability, and look better than i imagined!

biggest dissappointment: titanium Rodimus prime, a nice attempt at a G1 single piece rodimus, but he's top heavey with limited posability, and actually quite blocky when i think about it!

Surprise hit: Movie Stockade. This figure looks squatty and very bulky in photos, but they don't do it justice. While he is squat and bulky, he's also very posable- especially for those qualities. Plus there's alot of little detail, and his weapon gimmick is also pretty cool (extending arms and finger articulation). Top that off with being very solidly built, and I'd gladly paid more than the $10 he's worth.

Biggest letdown: Its a tough choice, but I'd have to say Movie Blackout. Lousy paint application, hardly posable, and he's downright puny- even for a voyager. He's one of the few figures I'd have returned if given the chance (I got him in with the Skorponok two pack, and I can't find another 'Nok anywhere)

Surprise> Alternators Ravage (the Jaguar mold)

I Bought him yesterday just because he was on a huge sale (there were maybe 20 of them). I don't buy alternators because of no die cast parts. But this guy rocks! Looks completely different than the rest of the binaltech/alternator series and has cool transformation. Now he gaurds my Titanium collection.


Disappointment> Movie Blackout

That mold is too small for voayger class sized figure.

Suprise hit:Classics Astrotrain/Mirage
Even though I didn't like them that much I picked them up on clearance and was really happy with the transformations for Astrotrain and the articulation on Mirage.

Biggest Dissapointment: Armada Hot Shot
I got it beacuse I liked him at the time but he has practically no articulation, the only thing I'm happy about that purchase is that I got his Mini-con Jolt, who's actually pretty cool.

Disappointment: Beast Machines Blastcharge (I think, the purple mosnter-truck thing that sorta flattens out). Just never liked it after buying it, sold it recently. Theose awful plastic wheels, the big vehikibble. Yuck.

Surprise hit: Beast Wars Optimal Optimus. This thing is awesome! Huge, good articulation, 3 modes, no crazy sounds, 2 cool firing missiles, lights, and neat details throughout. One of my fave TFs.

Disappointment: Titanium G1 Ultra Magnus. I was so excited to get a new Magnus that wasn't a Prime repaint and the result was that mess. The problems with this figure have been thoroughly discussed on other threads and every word of it is true. That is one figure that should have stayed in the box. Then at least it would be good for display.

Surprise hit: Movie Ratchet. This was tough since I'm not a completist and only pick up certain figures. Ratchet has always been a favorite character of mine and I didn't like his movie design when I first saw it but once I picked up the figure I was pleased with it. The transformation isn't too complicated and the robot mode is sturdy but can still be posed well.

Prime vs Wild wrote:Disappointment: Titanium G1 Ultra Magnus.

If you're so dissapionted with it would you be willing to trade/sell it to me? I've been looking for that thing for months.

Prime vs Wild wrote:Disappointment: Titanium G1 Ultra Magnus. I was so excited to get a new Magnus that wasn't a Prime repaint and the result was that mess. The problems with this figure have been thoroughly discussed on other threads and every word of it is true. That is one figure that should have stayed in the box. Then at least it would be good for display.

I feel for you, mate. I was quite eager to get this figure when I saw the stock photos. But after seeing a view of Magnus from the side - not to mention a host of engineering faults covered in reviews - I must say I lost my appetite for the figure. I can't imagine why Autobot Jazz is interested in it.

Surprise Hit:

I want to say E-Galvatron, but his success seems expected ---at least IMO. Even now the E-Galvatron looks to be a better ‘classics’ G1 homage then the one they have predicted for the classics line.

Biggest Disappointment:

The Japanese version Masterpiece Thundercr... I mean Starscream. No elaborate reasons needed.

Glitcher wrote:I can't imagine why Autobot Jazz is interested in it.

I collect Ultra Magnus figures. Aside from that, I think it looks nice despite the critizims of others. Just like there are some Beast Machines fans out there while it's wideley disliked by most of the fanbase, I like this figure even though most others look at it as a mistake.

I'm pretty much pleased with everything I have so far. Except for Masterpiece Megatron and Encore Ironhide. I broke two weak plastic tabs on Mp Megatron within the week I got him last year ,and it doesn't hold up in p-38 mode from below. Encore Ironhide's chrome was already wearing in many areas when I got him. Like in one of his front chrome bumpers, the chrome mid section, and his back bumper. Also his feet started to chip below in many spots when I put the robot on his sled. The sled surface scrape the paint below his feet. I used a parmanent marker to fix it and it messed it up even more. Regret doing it cause it looked so sloppy afterwards that I had to remove the paint on both of his feet. Never going to use a permanent marker on any of them even if the paint is chipping on their diecast. I'll just leave it alone.