MIP Monday breaks out the box for the many Takara (TOMY) Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (Generation 1) 01 Convoy (Optimus Prime) reissues from years past. The Missing Link C-01 Convoy is the newest and most up-to-date, but it is not the first reissue of the original classic colors figure mold in Japan.
2000 15th Anniversary 01 Convoy (middle right)
The first reissue was the 15th Anniversary 01 Convoy that was a straight reproduction of the 1985 Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers 01 Convoy.
2002 New Years 01 Convoy (bottom right)
That was followed by the New Years 01 Convoy that was made with blue windows and eyes, and included both style ION blasters, cartoon colors Action Master figure, Die-Cast Matrix, stickers, and Autobots mouse pad.
2002 Transformers Collection #01 Convoy (bottom left)
That same year saw the start of the Transformers Collection book binder style figures with #0 Convoy. The package features the then new Dreamwave comics art on the box, Energon Axe weapon, and a binder to store all the other Collections figures info sheets.
2007 Encore 01 Convoy (top right)
The classic figure was reissued again as the 2007 Encore Transformers 01 Convoy that was a faithful copy of the original with the only change being tampo Autobot symbols instead of the customary stickers.
2024 Missing Link C-01 Convoy (top left)
The 40th Anniversary brings us the Missing Link C-01 Convoy that is arguably not the same as the classic 01 with the added articulation features. However, it is clearly a homage to the original and has been nicely modernized to keep on rolling out 40 years after the original Diaclone Powered Convoy was re-introduced as Optimus Prime.
I agree with you about the prices... * reaches for wallet * But... I think I'm going to buy this anyway.
Hot Rod and Rodimus Prime please!!
No thanks. Especially for those prices. If they were half the price and this was about 22 years ago then maybe.
And I don't understand the love this is seemingly getting. A very vocal and rather large part of the fanbase scoffed at this idea bout 17 years ago. They hated the thought of "G1 with articulation". Now it's here and people love it? I bet it's the same people who claim they love the G1 reissues and then never buy them.
This is a waste. It's targeting a niche of a niche of a niche. About a tenth or less of what they expect to sell will actually sell and the rest will go on steep clearance. They'll push out the first four or five figures they worked on and the rest will be cancelled. I'll be very surprised if this isn't how it goes. I'm one to be negative in hopes that the opposite will happen but I really think that this sucks and will ultimately bomb just like what happened to that one third party company that did every color of G1 Bumblebee, Cliffjumper, Hubcap and Bumper as "G1 with articulation".
This time, effort and materials should be going to more Takara Generations Selects redecos and retools. And to do a Masterpiece Airazor already. Maybe some Premium Edition decos that weren't outdone by the store exclusives that also weren't sold for an extra premium price. I do admit though that PE Siege Ultra Magnus and PE Siege Starscream look real good in hand. I think more highly of them though as I paid like half price for each. If I paid full price like I was going to do for UM then I would've been salty. That grey on Ultra Magnus' cab was worth the price as just using him as another character entirely.