The Transformers: Collector's Edition

Japanese G1 continuity Collector's Edition e-HOBBY » Reissues » Toyline Comics

Hidetsugu Yoshioka drew this piece of promotional art for the original set of thirteen characters released in the Collector's Edition toyline in 2001.

Following on from the individual reissues of a small handful of Generation 1 toys of major characters in 2000, Takara broadened the scope of their re-releases in 2001 with the inception of The Transformers: Collector's Edition (TF コレクターズエディション TF Korekutāzu Edishon, also TF Collectors Edition [sic]) line, which offered more classic toys as exclusives through various Japanese conventions and retailers in the summer of that year. While reissues of major characters or especially large toys in their original Generation 1 packaging continued, the Collector's Edition afforded diligent fans the chance to obtain smaller and/or lesser-known characters. Seven sets were released, all but one of which contained two figures grouped together based on their shared mold.

In addition to these straight reissues, a small number of unique redecos of other, larger mass-retail reissues were sold under the Collector's Edition label through online retailer e-HOBBY in 2001 and early 2002. This became the defining aspect of the series when Takara then launched The Transformers Collection line in mid-2002, making numerous smaller Generation 1 toys available at mass retail. With its initial raison d'être now overwritten, the Collector's Edition line shifted to being entirely exclusive to e-HOBBY, and started to consist of redecos or retools of nearly every new Transformers Collection reissue as it came out, often using Diaclone and Micro Change colour schemes, creating some of the first major brand new characters to be added to the Generation 1 canon in the 21st century.

Fiction

Japanese fiction

In addition to a multitude of bios for its original characters penned by Hirofumi Ichikawa, Collector's Edition received a smattering of wholly original fiction, namely a trio of comics by Transformers: G-2 mastermind, Hidetsugu Yoshioka:

• 64 Cybertron Urban Defense Robot GADEP
• Destron Leader Megatron Black Ver.
• Destron Aerospace Warrior Sunstorm

US fiction

While not specifically branded as "Collector's Edition" fiction, the Dreamwave Generation One continuity did feature Sunstorm pretty frequently in several issues of the comics, due to the Collector's Edition toyline and the Dreamwave comics running simultaneously with one another. No advertising for the line itself was ever presented in any of the comic issues (likely due to it being a Japanese toyline that would've only been available to Western fans online), but fans with access to message boards and conventions knew where Sunstorm came from, and that he was part of a "new wave" of Generation 1 toys that was fresh on the market. Several of the letters pages in the issues featuring Sunstorm also featured fan reactions to Sunstorm's inclusion, with one fan in "The Omega Effect" voicing their excitement for the potential of other e-HOBBY-original characters being featured in future chapters. Sadly, this never happened. Additionally, Crosscut had a brief "hi-then-die" cameo in 3H Productions' Transformers: The Wreckers comic issue "Betrayal" for BotCon 2002.

Around early 2005, issue #1 of the Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club magazine also featured a full Universe-branded profile for Sunstorm that tied into 3H Productions' franchise-spanning Universe War arc. This was, again, not specifically branded as "Collector's Edition", but features the e-HOBBY-original character that came from the line.

Toys

Reissue sets

May 2001 Set A: Lambor / Alert

June 2001 Set B: Ironhide / Ratchet Set C: Skywarp / Thundercracker

July 2001 Set D: Ramjet / Thrust Set E: Dirge

August 2001 Set F: Inferno / Grapple Set G: Hoist / Trailbreaker

Box used for Decepticon jets, Megatron, & Insecticon clones.

e-HOBBY redecoes

2001 Starscream Black Version / Starscream Ghost Version		2002 Sideswipe New Year Special / Alert New Year Special Meister Gold Version / Streak Anime Version Road Rage / Crosscut Silver Chrome Streak Megaplex		2003 Clampdown / Deep Cover RoadHauler / Sunstorm		2004 Astrotrain Proto Color Version G1 GoBots Detritus Insectron Clone Army		RoadHauler Garboil
2005 Overcharge Cobalt Sentries Magnificus & Ga'mede Orion Pax and Dion		2006 Twincast & Flip Sides		2008 GADEP		2009 Megatron Black Version

Notes

• With the exception of GADEP, the Collector's Edition figures all came in one of two styles of generic window-box packaging (both pictured above); the larger style was used only for Decepticons, while the smaller was colored either in Autobot red or Decepticon purple, with their faction written where their name would normally appear. This allowed the same design to be used for multiple different figures, though the packaging did of course vary in dimensions as necessary. Curiously, the Robotmasters two-pack of Thundercracker and Skywarp also used this generic packaging, with nothing but a small Robotmasters sticker covering the "Collector's Edition" label.
• There have been many other e-HOBBY releases which are not Collector's Edition figures. Check the e-HOBBY article for a complete list of their exclusives.