The G2 stuff has me dropping Shattered Glass and selling off a lot of what I'd collected. I was trying to collect both but I'm collecting too much stuff and especially too many Transformers "sets". But I always loved G2 and realized that SG was just a placeholder scratching the wrong itch for me.

Gotta keep Slicer/Wheeljack though since he's technically sortof G2.

 

I put that last one in on purpose. A word is harmless. It always meant wild and crazy to me, which was the intention of the PCC.

The English name wins for me for the mass majority of characters, however, if a character is from a series that appeared in Japan first or exclusively, ESPECIALLY when it’s years later that Hasbro imports that character (Stepper) they should retain their original name. Hasbro has been pretty good about it lately, though they still use the Hasbro name if was already changed in the past. He’ll always be Stepper to me. I’m surprised they used the name Black Zarak, to be honest. I’m proud of them for sticking with it. He could have easily been named Dark Scorponok.

 

Truth. I sat down and made a spreadsheet this past week to help me focus on buying the "sets" I want. I've picked up a lot of randos lately and need to make space/get $$$ for upcoming toys that I REALLY want.

 

Slicer was G1.

 

I love over thinking stuff too

 

According to Hasbro, European G1 exclusives are G2. See: Rotorstorm's product listing.

 

Technically sort of having originally been released two years before Generation 2 existed.

 

They’re still not G2 though. This is a case of when the fan who was around in the early 90s knows better than the Hasbro employee who probably wasn’t even alive in the early 90s.

 

which transformer team member do you think wasn't alive in the 90s

 

I didn’t say 1990s. I early 1990s. I expect there to be 30 year olds working as Hasbro.

 

I mean, Funpub also rolled those European characters into G2 from Pyro and Clench through Action Master Thundercracker.

I don't think it's exactly a decision born of ignorance. A quick Google reveals packaging samples. TF Wiki accurately identifies them.

I think it's a deliberate choice and not an entirely bad one.

The alternatives as I see it are:

- Tack it on as an alternate ending to G1 that conflicts with JG1 and Sunbow. There's some case for G1 splintering off after The Rebirth and TF #80 from essentially being just two continuities into dozens. There are something like four alternate follow-ups to TF #80. The commercials even imply a totally separate continuity at that point with Starscream creating Monstructor, Goldbug becoming Bumblebee again, Optimus becoming a Powermaster, and Hot Rod returning as Rodimus Prime to deal with the headache of commanding the Monsterbots. I'm actually really fascinated by the commercials' continuity as I don't think even TFWiki or Funpub have ever considered treating it as its own universe nor has anybody ever made a sequel to it. And yet, the commercials' continuity is our only source for some G2 characters existing.

- Make a micro-continuity out of it that isn't necessarily attached to G1. (And that might be the ONLY way to make sense of those tech specs.)

- Fold the characters into the vast history of Cybertron, IDW style, erasing almost any group identity they have.

- Assign the characters to Shattered Glass.

- Classify them as G2 based on color schemes, logos, gimmicks, and some shared G2 releases.

I think Hasbro and Funpub both leaned into that.

I'm mildly curious if Machine Wars is also part of G2 or a continuation of it. Probably not if Victory and Headmasters, Cybertron and Armada, and WFC and Prime are no longer shared universes with one another.

Machine Wars is probably just an alternate universe where Megatron was always a jet and Optimus always had a mouth and they probably arrived on earth in the 1990s or something.

Anyway, I don't think lumping in the G1.5 characters with G2 is ignorance or an accident. I think it's a deliberate choice and one Funpub started (and they KNEW all the little tidbits).

In the end, I think Action Master Thundercracker VISUALLY belongs at the side of green tank Megatron and G2 Ramjet. Omega Spreem belongs as an ally of Drench and Rapido and Fireguts Jazz.

That's based on aesthetics, sure.

It's also based on the understanding that G2 isn't a reboot of G1 in any conventional sense. G1 happened. So however characters looked at the end of G1 is how they would look at the start of G2.

I don't think the CONCEPT of rebooting Transformers really existed until Machine Wars or maybe RiD.

So the way I see it, tank Megatron was rebuilt by Cobra (Marvel Comics), rebuilt after Dai Atlas commanded the Autobots (Takara G-2), or probably reformatted from Galvatron (possibly after he was an Action Master?).

Guys like Omega Spreem wouldn't just disappear. Thundercracker would still have his neon colors heading into G2 (maybe a weird side effect of his time as Scourge?)

 

Euro G1 had the leanings towards G2 with the color schemes and simpler molds, and some of the toys were rebranded with G2 packaging.

But Action Masters, Turbomasters, Predators and Rescue Force are still G1.

1990s Generation 1 packaging:



Generation 2 packaging


It’s generally acknowledged that toys with the G1 style insignias on the packaging are G1 and those with the new G2 style insignias on the packaging are G2. Even though there are obvious similarities between Rotorstorm’s packaging and Clench’s.

 

Rodimus absolutely would try to turn his name into some kind of buzzword.

 

If it says Generation 2 on the package, it’s G2. If it doesn’t, it’s G1. Simple as that. The changing of the symbols was the segue to G2.

As for Machine Wars, I personally see it as a separate continuity where the war was more hellish and surviving Autobots and Decepticons brought their war to Earth in a more gritty story.

Funpub just made it the generation after G2.

 

Slicer is G1. Flat out. In no way is he G2. Just like all Action Masters.

 

So guess what, these are toys? On your shelf they can be G1, but if Hasbro calls them G2 that's officially what they are now. Deal with it and quit being obtuse.

 

One of my favorite G1 cartoon moments is when after giving the Matrix back to zombie Optimus and reverting to Hot Rod, he's about ready to go on an Energon bender. Just minutes before as Rodimus, he was your "no fun allowed" step-dad.

If the colors destroy your eyes, it's G2

 

Pre-ordered Toxitron Friday!! When the pulse preorders sold out thursday it made me realize how much I wanted him lol. Looking back I think I lucked out with Velocitron because I was able to get literally everyone I wanted at the same Walmart but I'm a bit nervous so i preordered just in case. Might do the same for Cloudcover but we'll see, love me a seeker. This whole subline is sick!

 

And if Hasbro released a Prime Dreadwing and said it was from Animated, would you accept that? Just because Hasbro owns the brand doesn't mean their word is gospel or fact.