The Transformers Collection

They release me before Megatron, Starscream, and Soundwave?!

The Transformers Collection is one of Takara's series of Generation 1 reissues, succeeding the original, The Transformers: Collector's Edition. Each toy is housed inside a "book-box"-style package that opens just like a large book, complete with a small booklet containing profiles of the reissued character (and a couple of random characters), episodes of the cartoon and a small portion of the Japanese catalog.

Some figures combine accessories from different versions of the toys. Twenty-two sets were reissued, and many of these releases were accompanied by redecoes exclusive to Takara's e-HOBBY online service, as well as other Transformers reissues not part of the Collection line. The line went on indefinite hiatus while the 2007 movie was in production and was later itself succeeded by the Transformers Encore reissue line, though not in book format.

The series (up to 18) is showcased in The Transformers: Binaltech & TF Collection Complete Guide coffee table book, published in 2005.

Toys

Original art of Jazz exclusive to his reissue's data file.

Number	Item	Release date	Notes	Data Files
0	Convoy	?? 2002	"Thick" rifle, new energon axe accessory	Adams, Laserwave
1	Meister	July 20, 2002	"Martinii" sponsor decals modified to "Meister"	Meister, Convoy
2	Prowl	July 20, 2002	Altered decals	Prowl, Megatron
3	Skids	September 27 2002		Skids, Sludge
4	Tracks	September 27, 2002		Tracks, Reflector
5	Smokescreen	December 20, 2002	Altered stickers	Kickback, Smokescreen
6	Megatron	December 20, 2002	New energon mace accessory	Long Haul, Omega Supreme
7	Lambor	March ??, 2003	Reissue of New Year Special version	Buzzsaw, Lambor
8	Inferno	June ??, 2003	Blue eyes, tampographed symbol	Bumble, Alert, Inferno
9	Starscream	June ??, 2003	Retooled fists, gun mode Megatron accessory, Optimus Prime fist for gun-Megatron	Blitzwing, Starscream
10	Soundwave	September ??, 2003	Includes Laserbeak & cassette case	Condor, Soundwave
11	Astrotrain	December ??, 2003	Japanese white coloration, altered stickers	Powerglide, Jaguar, Astrotrain
12	Minibot Team	January ??, 2004	Bumblebee w/ retooled head, Cosmos w/ altered decal, Gears, Huffer, Powerglide w/ insignia decal, Warpath w/ insignia decal	Warpath, Gears, Drag
13	Hot Rodimus	April ??, 2004	Metal parts, retooled original guns, Targetmaster Firebolt	Thundercracker, Metroflex, Hot Rodimus
14	Hound	July ??, 2004		Hound, Ultra Magnus
15	Stepper	August ??, 2004	Includes original Jazz weapons, retooled Nebulon	Razorclaw, Stepper
16	Insectron	September ??, 2004	Bombshell, Kickback & Shrapnel, includes 3 energon cubes	Shrapnel, Bombshell
17	Blitzwing	January ??, 2005	No rubsign, turret cannot be removed	Predaking, Blitzwing
18	Soundblaster	March ??, 2005	Includes Ravage & Buzzsaw w/ cassette cases	Dinosaurer, Frenzy, Soundblaster
19	Cybertron Perceptor	June ??, 2005		Wheeljack, Perceptor
20	Future Cybertrons (Autobots)	August ??, 2005	Targetmaster Kup w/ metal parts, Recoil, Wheelie w/ gray face	Skywarp, Wheelie, Chear
21	Broadcast	March ??, 2006	Includes Steeljaw w/ cassette case	Steeljaw, Broadcast

Notes

• An early fan name for the Collection line was "Dreamwave reissues", because many of the toys used recycled cover artwork originally drawn by Pat Lee for Dreamwave's first Generation One mini-series for their box artwork. There have even been fan theories that attempted to "predict" upcoming reissues based on those covers. However, directly associating the line with Dreamwave is more than a little inappropriate, considering about half the box artwork has in fact been drawn by Japanese fan-turned-pro Hirofumi Ichikawa... who has never in his life worked for Dreamwave. Chinese fans, as well as auction sellers, still frequently use the abbreviated name "DW" to refer to the reissue toyline to this very day, however.