The Energon Pub

I was thinking about this the other night. Many collectors view G1 as "canon". Every new figure that comes out is compared to G1 and judged in that context.

I have a totally different point of view. To me, since G1 was a collection of toys from various lines combined and basically ret-conned with stories and characters, I view G1 as a precursor generation; a collection of prototypes and early versions of characters.

This is why I don't think new figures should be compared to G1 and judged based on how closely the resemble the G1 figure. To me, every TF character is an ever-changing entity that should have a common thread through the generations, but whose "true" form is an amalgamation of all generations, not the original G1 form.

Were you playing with G1 when they were released?

JackStraw wrote:Were you playing with G1 when they were released?

Yes, I was.

Wow, I'm surprised then....to me, as someone who only knew ONE Soundwave as an example (I could also say Optimus, Megs, Shockwave, etc..) for I dont know how many years, every other Soundwave toy after seemed less like a genuine, great new idea and more like just a money grab. I didnt know G1 Optimus Prime as "G1" he was "The" Optimus Prime, and again, everything after that was, to me, them thinking "how can we find a way to keep making money off this thing?".

To me G1 Optimus, Soundwave etc weren't precursors, but THE Transformers. Was G1 Soundwave a precursor or prototype for that joke of a spindly PRID Soundwave toy?

G1 Transformers were groundbreaking in many ways.....very unique for that time. They left a lasting impression in everyone's brains which is why everything gets compared to them...The G1 toys are the originals and they were very successful at the time, so much so that they are still using the IP 30 years later. Just my opinion.

Here's how I look at it: The mold used for G1 Optimus Prime was NOT conceived and designed for the character of Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots. It was designed for a Diaclone toy called "Battle Convoy." Later, it was incorporated into the Transformers line and re-purposed as "Optimus Prime". So the way I look it is that OP's G1 mold was just a temporary placeholder, a prototype, until he got his own toy mold designed just for him.

I'm not saying either view is right or wrong; just different ways of looking at it.

GuyIncognito wrote:I was thinking about this the other night. Many collectors view G1 as "canon". Every new figure that comes out is compared to G1 and judged in that context.

I have a totally different point of view. To me, since G1 was a collection of toys from various lines combined and basically ret-conned with stories and characters, I view G1 as a precursor generation; a collection of prototypes and early versions of characters.

This is why I don't think new figures should be compared to G1 and judged based on how closely the resemble the G1 figure. To me, every TF character is an ever-changing entity that should have a common thread through the generations, but whose "true" form is an amalgamation of all generations, not the original G1 form.

You're not crazy.

I, however, am very much guilty of comparisons to GEEWUN. I won't skip a toy because it's not GEEWUN, though. It's my favorite toyline, but there's just soooooo much more.

Than meets the eye (hah!)

GuyIncognito wrote:Here's how I look at it: The mold used for G1 Optimus Prime was NOT conceived and designed for the character of Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots. It was designed for a Diaclone toy called "Battle Convoy." Later, it was incorporated into the Transformers line and re-purposed as "Optimus Prime". So the way I look it is that OP's G1 mold was just a temporary placeholder, a prototype, until he got his own toy mold designed just for him.

I'm not saying either view is right or wrong; just different ways of looking at it.

Hmm, that's a really good point, better understood second time around....But for me, being I didnt know that at the time, I never saw it that way, and now I'm too old to see it differently....but good point/thought.

I more often than not compare them to the G1 cartoon, not the toys. That's why I really love the new MPs so much as well as much of the CHUG lines.