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===''G.I. Joe vs the Transformers''===
===''G.I. Joe vs the Transformers''===
{{Twoimages|File:GI Joe vs Transformers 5a.jpg|w1=150|File:StormShadow OptimusPrime statue.jpg|w2=150|caption=<br>|float=right}}
{{Twoimages|File:GI Joe vs Transformers 5a.jpg|w1=150|File:StormShadow OptimusPrime statue.jpg|w2=150|caption=<br>|float=right}}
First 4 Figures also held the license for ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]]'' resin figures, and solicited a number of models based on the [[G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers continuity|most recent crossover continuity]] between ''Joe'' and ''Transformers''; more specifically, each statue embodied a cover from [[Devil's Due Press|Devil's Due]]'s ''[[G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers]]'' miniseries.  The subline was announced at [[Toy Fair]] in New York in February 2006, with the Optimus/Snake-Eyes and Baroness/Ravage sets on display shortly thereafter.<ref>[https://tformers.com/transformers-/5568/news.html "Toy Fair 2006 - First4Figures TF & GI Joe Statues& Busts"] at tformers.com</ref>  The Storm Shadow statue was revealed at [[San Diego Comic-Con]] five months later.<ref name=SDCC>[https://tformers.com/ig.php?mode=album&album=6265&dispsize=800&start=0 Tformers.com's SDCC 2006 gallery]</ref>
First 4 Figures also held the license for ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]]'' resin figures, and solicited a number of models based on the [[G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers continuity|most recent crossover continuity]] between ''Joe'' and ''Transformers''; more specifically, each statue embodied a cover from [[Devil's Due Press|Devil's Due]]'s ''[[G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers]]'' miniseries.  The subline was announced at the UK Toy Fair in January 2006, with the Optimus/Snake-Eyes and Baroness/Ravage sets on display alongside two of the ''Beast Wars'' busts ([[#Beast Wars busts|below]])<ref name=UKTF>[https://news.tfw2005.com/2006/01/25/first4figures-beast-wars-and-transformers-vs-g-i-joe-statuesbusts-4267 "First4Figures Beast Wars and Transformers VS. G.I. Joe Statues/Busts"] at TFW2005.com</ref> before seeing a second showing at New York [[Toy Fair]] in February 2006.<ref name=NYTF>[https://tformers.com/transformers-/5568/news.html "Toy Fair 2006 - First4Figures TF & GI Joe Statues& Busts"] at tformers.com</ref>  The Storm Shadow statue was revealed at [[San Diego Comic-Con]] five months later.<ref name=SDCC>[https://tformers.com/ig.php?mode=album&album=6265&dispsize=800&start=0 Tformers.com's SDCC 2006 gallery]</ref>


Despite the former two being revealed and listed first,<ref name=bbtsstat/><ref>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/playcom-gi-joe-vs-transformers-statue-preorders/7104/ "Play.com G.I. Joe vs Transformers Statue Pre-Orders!"] on Seibertron.com</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20060627114922/http://www.play.com/Gadgets/Gadgets/PROD/3-/922981/GI_Joe_vs_Transformers_Baroness_And_Ravage/Product.html Baroness and Ravage listing on Play.com] (archived)</ref> Storm Shadow was the earliest to be released.
Despite the former two being revealed and listed first,<ref name=bbtsstat/><ref>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/playcom-gi-joe-vs-transformers-statue-preorders/7104/ "Play.com G.I. Joe vs Transformers Statue Pre-Orders!"] on Seibertron.com</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20060627114922/http://www.play.com/Gadgets/Gadgets/PROD/3-/922981/GI_Joe_vs_Transformers_Baroness_And_Ravage/Product.html Baroness and Ravage listing on Play.com] (archived)</ref> Storm Shadow was the earliest to be released.
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==="Generation One" series===
==="Generation One" series===
[[File:First 4 Figures Scourge statue.jpg|thumb|upright=1]]
[[File:First 4 Figures Scourge statue.jpg|thumb|upright=1]]
First heard of in a BigBadToyStore newsletter, the "Generation One" series of statues sought to bring classic characters into the 21st century with a more realistic aesthetic.<ref name=bbtsseibs>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/update-from-bigbadtoystorecom-transformers-and-gij/6539/ "Update from BigBadToyStore.com: Transformers and G.I.Joe Statues and Busts!!!"] on Seibertron.com</ref>  Despite being solicited for sale,<ref name=bbtsstat/> this range of statues was another casualty of the license's discontinuation; only Scourge has ever been seen, in the form of a 3D render<ref>[https://news.tfw2005.com/2006/02/17/3d-render-of-f4f-generation-1-scourge-statue-4359 "3D Render of F4F Generation 1 Scourge Statue"] at TFW2005.com</ref> and as a prototype seen both online<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070607232229/http://www.first4figures.com/newsarticles.asp?newsid=55 Scourge prototype reveal on the First 4 Figures website] (archived)</ref> and at SDCC.<ref name=SDCC/>
First heard of in a BigBadToyStore newsletter, the "Generation One" series of statues sought to bring classic characters into the 21st century with a more realistic aesthetic.<ref name=bbtsseibs>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/update-from-bigbadtoystorecom-transformers-and-gij/6539/ "Update from BigBadToyStore.com: Transformers and G.I.Joe Statues and Busts!!!"] on Seibertron.com</ref>  Despite being solicited for sale,<ref name=bbtsstat/> this range of statues was another casualty of the license's discontinuation; only Scourge has ever been seen, in the form of a 3D render<ref>[https://news.tfw2005.com/2006/02/17/3d-render-of-f4f-generation-1-scourge-statue-4359 "3D Render of F4F Generation 1 Scourge Statue"] at TFW2005.com</ref> and as an unpainted prototype seen both online<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070607232229/http://www.first4figures.com/newsarticles.asp?newsid=55 Scourge prototype reveal on the First 4 Figures website] (archived)</ref> and at SDCC.<ref name=SDCC/>


<ul class="iconlist">
<ul class="iconlist">
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{{-}}
{{-}}


==="Beast Wars" busts===
===''Beast Wars'' busts===
*Full list revealed by newsletter, solicitations [https://web.archive.org/web/20070407160752/http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/menu.aspx?menu=526&category=2037]
*Primal and Dinobot on display at UK Toy Fair<ref name=UKTF/> and NYTF<ref name=NYTF/>, both got stock images, Primal on website [https://web.archive.org/web/20070214013533/http://www.first4figures.com/exclusivesproduct_detail.asp?range=3&id=40]
*Digital render of Waspinator [https://web.archive.org/web/20070607190207/http://www.first4figures.com/newsarticles.asp?newsid=49]
*Prototypes of Waspinator and Rattrap at SDCC<ref name=SDCC/>
{| style="margin-left:1em;"
{| style="margin-left:1em;"
|width="30%" valign="top"|<u>'''$49.99 SRP'''</u>
|width="30%" valign="top"|<u>'''$49.99 SRP'''</u>
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{{Bp-m1|Cheetor}}
{{Bp-m1|Cheetor}}
{{Bp-m1|Dinobot}}
{{Bp-m1|Dinobot}}
{{Bp-m1|Rattrap <ref>[https://tformers.com/ig.php?mode=album&album=6265&dispsize=800&start=0]</ref>}}
{{Bp-m1|Rattrap}}
{{Bp-d1|Ravage}}
{{Bp-d1|Ravage}}
{{Bp-m1|Rhinox}}
{{Bp-m1|Rhinox}}
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|{{Twoimages|File:BWDinobot minibust.jpg|w1=150|File:First 4 Figures Optimus Primal.jpg|w2=150|caption=<br>|float=right}}
|{{Twoimages|File:BWDinobot minibust.jpg|w1=150|File:First 4 Figures Optimus Primal.jpg|w2=150|caption=<br>|float=right}}
|}
|}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20070407160752/http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/menu.aspx?menu=526&category=2037]
 
[https://web.archive.org/web/20070607190207/http://www.first4figures.com/newsarticles.asp?newsid=49]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20070214013533/http://www.first4figures.com/exclusivesproduct_detail.asp?range=3&id=40]
===Film cells===
===Film cells===
They also produced G1 film cells for sale through their website.<ref>https://news.tfw2005.com/2005/10/05/limited-edition-transformers-g1-filmcells-from-first4figures-3692</ref>
They also produced G1 film cells for sale through their website.<ref>https://news.tfw2005.com/2005/10/05/limited-edition-transformers-g1-filmcells-from-first4figures-3692</ref>

Revision as of 23:01, 28 November 2022

First 4 Figures is a high-end collectible model and figurine company operating out of the United Kingdom and Hong Kong. Established as "Puzzle Productions" in 2002, the First 4 Figures brand was put on the map in 2003 when they acquired the worldwide resin statue license for what was then known as WWF.[1] After also acquiring the license for Magic: The Gathering, a genial relationship with Hasbro enabled the smooth negotiation for the Transformers license, a childhood favourite of the company's director, Alex Davis.[2]

First 4 Figures' Transformers merch began with high hopes, with several different lines and multiple characters on the docket for production. Davis proved communicative with the fanbase, posting polls on the company's homepage, directly emailing fan news sites himself, and even running a contest in conjunction with TFW2005.com to get a fan submission made into an actual figurine.[3] Unfortunately, a challenging marketplace affected the company's ambitious plans, with lack of retailer interest causing pre-orders of future items to remain unfulfilled before ultimately being cancelled by 2008.[4] All told, the vast majority of Transformers models planned by First 4 Figures remain unreleased.

Despite these setbacks and humble beginnings, First 4 Figures persisted, and now produces collectibles for the highly popular video game and anime markets, with merchandise for franchises like Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Metroid, Cowboy Bebop, Fullmetal Alchemist, Spyro the Dragon, Metal Gear Solid, and Sonic the Hedgehog. Not bad for a company which counted the Dwayne Johnson Doom movie among its first licenses.

Merchandise

Owing to First 4 Figures' loss of the license, much of the figures below did not see release. Figures that actually were released have been rendered in bold text.

Transformers Battlefield

One shall stand, one shall not.

Announced in conjunction with their acquisition of the license in June 2005, Transformers Battlefield was an ambitious concept: each release would feature a battle scene between two "Generation 1" characters, complete with a square base designed to interlock with other bases in the same range to create a massive diorama. The statues also made use of "REPs", or "Replacement Exterior Parts", to allow buyers to minorly customise their purchases. Each release in Battlefield was to be designed by Argentinian sculptor "Mad" Alterton.[2][5]

Unfortunately for a series designed around interconnectivity, only the first set, Optimus Prime vs Megatron,[6] was released. Online retailer BigBadToyStore solicited three sets before F4F lost the license, revealing the characters intended for release in the next two.[7]


SD Ultra Magnus

In September 2005, First 4 Figures partnered with fan site TFW2005.com to run a contest to create an original Transformers statue in the super deformed style. Artist submissions would be narrowed down to a top ten by the TFW2005 staff, before being narrowed down to a top five by forum voting, and finally a simple poll on the F4F homepage. In addition to seeing their design be turned into a figure, the grand prize winner would also get a $400 spending spree at the First 4 Figures online store, with the first and second runners up being awarded $250 and $150 credit respectively. All ten entrants would receive a poster print that collaged all ten original pieces of art (see below).[3][8][9]

Submissions closed on October 1, and after the various rounds of voting were completed, the winner was announced on October 15: a design of Ultra Magnus by Xu Wei (a.k.a. Ironbird).[10] The figure was limited to 500 pieces in the U.S., and 500 pieces in Europe.[11] An even more limited version of 100 pieces, decoed in the colours of the Diaclone toy Powered Convoy, was available exclusively at the F4F online store.[12]


G.I. Joe vs the Transformers

 

First 4 Figures also held the license for G.I. Joe resin figures, and solicited a number of models based on the most recent crossover continuity between Joe and Transformers; more specifically, each statue embodied a cover from Devil's Due's G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers miniseries. The subline was announced at the UK Toy Fair in January 2006, with the Optimus/Snake-Eyes and Baroness/Ravage sets on display alongside two of the Beast Wars busts (below)[13] before seeing a second showing at New York Toy Fair in February 2006.[14] The Storm Shadow statue was revealed at San Diego Comic-Con five months later.[15]

Despite the former two being revealed and listed first,[7][16][17] Storm Shadow was the earliest to be released.

In fact, Storm Shadow was the only one released. After a series of delays, F4F's Transformers outputs were reportedly cancelled by mid 2008, save the Baroness and Ravage set[4] (give or take a journalistic error[18]), but even that holdout wound up cancelled in early 2009.[19]

"Generation One" series

First heard of in a BigBadToyStore newsletter, the "Generation One" series of statues sought to bring classic characters into the 21st century with a more realistic aesthetic.[20] Despite being solicited for sale,[7] this range of statues was another casualty of the license's discontinuation; only Scourge has ever been seen, in the form of a 3D render[21] and as an unpainted prototype seen both online[22] and at SDCC.[15]

  • Bludgeon
  • Galvatron
  • Jetfire
  • Scourge
  • Swoop


Beast Wars busts

  • Full list revealed by newsletter, solicitations [1]
  • Primal and Dinobot on display at UK Toy Fair[13] and NYTF[14], both got stock images, Primal on website [2]
  • Digital render of Waspinator [3]
  • Prototypes of Waspinator and Rattrap at SDCC[15]
$49.99 SRP
  • Cheetor
  • Dinobot
  • Rattrap
  • Ravage
  • Rhinox
  • Scorponok
  • Terrorsaur
  • Waspinator
 $54.99 SRP
  • Megatron
  • Optimus Primal
 $64.99 SRP
  • Depth Charge
 

Film cells

They also produced G1 film cells for sale through their website.[23] [4] [5]

Posters

Further in 2005, First 4 Figures partnered with fansite tfw2005.com on a contest to create a fan-designed super deformed original Transformers statue. The top ten entries were announced in October 2005, and included renderings of ultimate winner Ultra Magnus, along with Cosmos, Jazz, Shockwave, Unicron, Skybyte, Bumblebee, Grimlock, Jazz and Trypticon.[24] All entries were later incorporated into a collage-style poster made available through the First 4 Figures website.

  • 1) Xu Wei/Ironbird – Ultra Magnus
  • 2) Mike Doherty – Shockwave
  • 3) Derk Vrijdag/RunaR – Jazz
  • 4) Herman Lau/Kywyn – Cosmos
  • 5) Chad Wm. Porter/C.H.A.D. – Red Alert
  • 6) Dylan Glassford/Ninjatron – Skybyte
  • 7) Joshua Perez – Bumblebee
  • 8) Jeff Ellis/The Madness – Trypticon
  • 9) Ryan Button/Private Random – Unicron
  • 10) Simon Chiddington/DeadCal - Grimlock

[6] [7] [8] [9]

Notes

References

[12]

  1. ↑ "About Us" section on the First 4 Figures website (archived)
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 TFW2005.com interviews Alex Davis in 2006
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "TFW2005 and First4Figures Present The SD Transformers Statue Contest!" at TFW2005.com
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "First4Figures Ravage & Baroness Statue Still Possible, Other F4F Transformers Items Cancelled" at TFW2005.com
  5. ↑ The First 4 Figures website announces its upcoming Transformers Battlefield line (archived)
  6. ↑ First 4 Figures' listing for the Optimus Prime vs Megatron set (archived)
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 BigBadToyStore's listings for First 4 Figures' statues (archived)
  8. ↑ First 4 Figures announces the SD contest (archived)
  9. ↑ First 4 Figures announces the top five voting is open (archived)
  10. ↑ First 4 Figures announces the contest winner (archived)
  11. ↑ Details of the SD Ultra Magnus' upcoming release on the First 4 Figures website (archived)
  12. ↑ Original product listing for the Diaclone colours Ultra Magnus (archived)
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "First4Figures Beast Wars and Transformers VS. G.I. Joe Statues/Busts" at TFW2005.com
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Toy Fair 2006 - First4Figures TF & GI Joe Statues& Busts" at tformers.com
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Tformers.com's SDCC 2006 gallery
  16. ↑ "Play.com G.I. Joe vs Transformers Statue Pre-Orders!" on Seibertron.com
  17. ↑ Baroness and Ravage listing on Play.com (archived)
  18. ↑ "Ummm…. I've got the Storm Shadow vs. Optimus Prime statue. I believe it was released through comic shops last summer. Maybe they mean the Optimus Prime and Snake Eyes statue, which I think they were supposed to release?"—The Crazy Collector, TFW2005.com, 2008/08/29
  19. ↑ "First-4-Figures Baroness & Ravage Statue Canceled" at theterrordrome.com (archived)
  20. ↑ "Update from BigBadToyStore.com: Transformers and G.I.Joe Statues and Busts!!!" on Seibertron.com
  21. ↑ "3D Render of F4F Generation 1 Scourge Statue" at TFW2005.com
  22. ↑ Scourge prototype reveal on the First 4 Figures website (archived)
  23. ↑ https://news.tfw2005.com/2005/10/05/limited-edition-transformers-g1-filmcells-from-first4figures-3692
  24. ↑ http://www.toymania.com/news/messages/7662.shtml

Category:Companies

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