The Energon Pub

News Credits: 1452 · by **Blurrz** » Tue May 31, 2011 3:53 pm

I've got a fair share of over a hundred of these buggers in my collection, and to this day I don't think I can single out one of these Mini-cons to be the Ultimate mini Transforming jesus. While my collection is still far from rivaling that of rikkomba, now JRFitzpatrick, the acclaimed Counterpunch, and the ever knowledgeable Razorclaw0000, I think I still have the audacity and balls to pull the trigger and claim what I think is the best Micron team out there.

And that is, the X-Dimension Air Military team.

Now what do these Batman wannabes have that makes them the best mini-con team ever? It's not because they are under the banner of Tak and not Has. Hasbro's mini-cons still are competitive and maybe even better compared to their Japanese brethren. The first offering of the Air Defense Mini-con Team shows a wonderful combination of translucent plastic, paint application, and the feeling of a 3-man team.

What does the X-Dimension AM team have over every other team? I feel that despite being intricate and small, these Mini-cons are painted and detailed far beyond the rest of the Mini-con family. They make the originals look like KOs. They make the current DOTM Legends or Cyberverse crap or whatever they're called... they look like Play-Doh compared to these X-Dimension figures.

And despite the fact that the AM team is detailed heavily, the simplicity of being black and looking like they're in uniform is brilliant.. What sets them apart from their original molds is that I felt that the original Air Military team was just made up of three mini-cons that were Aeriel experts.

Little details that you'll enjoy from these figures are Gunbarrel's engines which are trimmed silver, making his third mode look very threatening. Terradive's clear black plastic is alluring, and Thunderwing's white detailing and coloured engine and cockpit are gems.

So there you have it. Mini-cons are awesome and totally deserved a topic of their own again. Got your own idea of the best mini-con team?

And honestly, If you get the opportunity to get these X-Dimension beauties. Take it. They might not be #1 in the books of others, but they're certainly one of the best mini-con molds ever. Don't cop out and say you already have the original molds or you'd rather buy the originals.. it's just not the same.

What makes me love the X-Dimension figures is that I'd have to admit that every X-Dimension team is plastic crack eye candy. While the Space version is turd-like, have to hand it to the rest of them for being knock-outs. If you're interested, most of them can be seen here.

Blurrz out.

Thank goodness I can do whatever I want with my editorial column, and I don't have to talk about the Bayverse every single time. :KREMZEEK:

News Credits: 11 · by **kirbenvost** » Tue May 31, 2011 4:13 pm

They are pretty cool for minicons. But I don't collect minicons. :mrgreen:

by **Autobot Cheetor** » Tue May 31, 2011 4:50 pm

Wow, I have always loved the gunbarrel mold but never seemed to be able to find the figure. Thanks for showing me this all black set, it makes me want gunbarrel and the other two even more. Any more info on these guys? Was it a store exclusive in japan or something?

EDIT: lol clicked the link...

News Credits: 1452 · by **Blurrz** » Tue May 31, 2011 4:54 pm

Autobot Cheetor wrote:Wow, I have always loved the gunbarrel mold but never seemed to be able to find the figure. Thanks for showing me this all black set, it makes me want gunbarrel and the other two even more. Any more info on these guys? Was it a store exclusive in japan or something?

From what I recall, X-Dimension teams were all regular retail releases in Japan, sans the Street Action (Perceptor) Team that was a a TRU Japan exclusive with Magna Convoy.

I got my X-Dimension Air Military Team for pretty cheap camping the BBTS Japanese Armada section. There's also eBay.. but alot less reliable.

by **Autobot Cheetor** » Tue May 31, 2011 5:09 pm

Well I guess I 'll just have to keep ene eye out for them, thanks for the link. BTW, love all the articles the news staff does about odd transformers most casual collectors haven't seen before. Keep up the good work

by **Hal7300** » Tue May 31, 2011 8:56 pm

The only versions i have are the ones that came with Universe Ramjet, and i love 'em.

May hunt down the X-Dimension team someday.

News Credits: 33 · by **Amelie** » Tue May 31, 2011 9:41 pm

The perfect example of how a recolour can propel an already good figure into heady heights. I loved reading the review, too.

The uniform colour scheme also means they'll look great on just about any Armada toy, too. I passed on the Hasbro versions at the time, but these make me wish I'd bothered.

News Credits: 60 · by **fenrir72** » Tue May 31, 2011 10:41 pm

@ Amelie.

You give yourself little credit. A word smith extra- ordinaire you are indeed! Love reading your musings on such excellent figures.

News Credits: 12 · by **robofreak** » Tue May 31, 2011 10:50 pm

I hate you now Blurrz! This set just entered my priority list because of this.

Crap. I have enough figures on my list to worry about and then you throw this at me.

Does this qualify as me getting Counterpunched into buying?

News Credits: 1452 · by **Blurrz** » Wed Jun 01, 2011 1:12 am

robofreak wrote:Does this qualify as me getting Counterpunched into buying?

More like Octopunched. You got peer pressured into buying three figures

News Credits: 127 · by **Counterpunch** » Wed Jun 01, 2011 7:14 am

This is such an odd set...

Translucent plastic and chrome, they're the only ones with that combination and the only non-partner, non-chase Microns with chrome.

News Credits: 609 · by **Razorclaw0000** » Wed Jun 01, 2011 9:22 am

They (and the Purple Sea Team) were the first non-domestic Microns I ever purchased, and CyberCon in NJ in October 2004. They are wicked cool. I paid $20 a set then, and $40 for ML Shockfleet/Tidal Wave.

Now, this set is around $50, which is still pretty cheap as far as Microns go.

by **Hal7300** » Wed Jun 01, 2011 10:18 am

Razorclaw0000 wrote:...and $40 for ML Shockfleet/Tidal Wave.

News Credits: 5 · by **zodconvoy** » Wed Jun 01, 2011 12:03 pm

Razorclaw0000 wrote:They (and the Purple Sea Team) were the first non-domestic Microns I ever purchased, and CyberCon in NJ in October 2004. They are wicked cool. I paid $20 a set then, and $40 for ML Shockfleet/Tidal Wave.

Now, this set is around $50, which is still pretty cheap as far as Microns go.

I was at that Cybercon! I was the really tall guy with the Decepticon Hockey jersey.

On a more thread related note, the MM-18 Sea Mini-Con team and the Tak Tidalwave that they match were the only Micron Legend toys that I ever got. The base mode posted on TFKenkon is what really put it over the top for me.

News Credits: 1 · by **chrisc4** » Wed Jun 01, 2011 6:23 pm

as a kid i loved the star saber team and the team that combined into perceptor. i forget their names but they were the skate board, bike, and scooter. man i love them.