The Transformers Collection

They release me before Megatron, Starscream and Soundwave?!

The Transformers Collection is one of Takara's series of Generation 1 reissues. 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 appears to have ended, as the Transformers Encore line now has taken the reissue mantle, 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

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

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.