The Transformers: Generation One Commemorative Series

Dirge is playing air guitar. No, really.

The Transformers Generation 1 Commemorative Series was a line of Toys"R"Us exclusive reissues of early Transformers toys. Series I and II were released in traditional window box packaging. Series III and beyond were available in "book box" packaging which vaguely mirrored the style of Takara's contemporary Transformers Collection reissue series.

The Commemorative Series line, in its initial release, lasted from 2002 to 2004. There have been two extra figures added since then. Astrotrain, an already produced but unreleased toy, was eventually released as a Hasbro Toy Shop exclusive in 2005. Soundwave was released in 2007 as an un-numbered figure in packaging that mirrored the style of the Classics line. In 2009, three new "Commemorative Edition" reissues were released as part of the Universe line, two as Toys"R"Us exclusives and one as a Hasbro Toy Shop/San Diego Comic-Con exclusive.

Commemorative Series

Series I

• Optimus Prime
• Rodimus Major
• Ultra Magnus

Series II

• Powermaster Optimus Prime with Apex Armor
• Starscream

Series III

• Autobot Jazz
• Silverstreak
• Thundercracker

Series IV

• Prowl
• Red Alert
• Skywarp

Series V

• Hoist

  

  Hey, I paid too much!

• Inferno
• Autobot Tracks

Series VI

• Autobot Grapple
• Smokescreen

Series VII

• Dirge
• Rodimus Prime

Series VIII

• Autobot Skids
• Side Swipe

Though intended to be released together with Skids at Toys"R"Us stores, Side Swipe wasn't officially released in the United States until more than a year later, and then only at KB Toys stores and outlets at half the original price. He was released with Skids at Toys"R"Us stores in Canada and Australia around the time he was originally supposed to show up, however.

Ricochet is shocked to learn he's a choking hazard.

Series IX

• Ricochet with Targetmaster partner Nightstick
• Astrotrain

Though intended to be released together with Ricochet at Toys"R"Us stores, the Hasbro version Astrotrain wasn't released until more than a year later, and then only exclusive to the Hasbro Toy Shop online store. In addition, Astrotrain was later also released in Australia as a Kmart exclusive (for a deep discount price). Despite being an exclusive, he could also be found clogging up shelves in smaller, privately owned toy shops.

Related releases

Classics (2006)

• Soundwave with Ravage and Laserbeak (Commemorative Edition)

"Commemorative Edition" Soundwave was a Toys"R"Us exclusive released in early 2007, available in packaging using the design of the Classics line.

Universe (2008)

• Insecticons three-pack (Commemorative Edition), contains:
  • Kickback
  • Shrapnel (packaged as Sharpshot)
  • Bombshell (packaged as Hardshell)
• Perceptor (Commemorative Edition)

External links

• TFarchive's reissue toys checklist