Transformers: Classics

The name or term "Classics" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Classics (disambiguation).

File:Classicslogo.jpg

When the live-action Transformers film was pushed back from November 2006 to July 2007, Hasbro needed to create a filler line to bridge the gap in their product offerings. That bridge was a revisitation of the original Generation 1 characters, dubbed Classics. The line featured many original toy designs as well as some Mini-Cons which were originally meant for the end of the Cybertron franchise. A handful of redecoed Legends Class figures rounded out the selection.

Classics has a Japanese counterpart in Henkei! Henkei!.

In 2008, the line got a spiritual successor in the form of the second Universe toy line.

Fiction

Fun Publications has published several works set in the Classics universe.

• "Crossing Over"
• "The New World"
• "Cheap Shots"
• "At Fight's End"

Toys

Legends class

Wave 1

• Fireflight
• Leo Prime
• Perceptor
• Trypticon

Wave 2

• Bumblebee
• Jetfire
• Menasor
• Autobot Whirl

The second wave had very minimal distribution and was effectively only available from online retailers and specialty stores.

Cybertron Collection

These toys were re-releases of past Legends figures in unchanged decos and Classics-style packaging; they were found at KB Toys, Kmart, Big Lots and Meijer stores in 2008 and even at Meijer into 2009. It's possible they were already available in 2007—nobody really seemed to care.

• Hot Shot (Legends of Cybertron)
• Leo Prime (Classics Legends)
• Optimus Prime (Legends of Cybertron)
• Soundwave (Legends of Cybertron)

Mini-Cons

Wave 1

• Demolition Team
  • Broadside
  • Sledge
  • Wideload
• Dinobots
  • Knockdown
  • Swoop
  • Terrorsaur
• Night Rescue Team
  • Divebomb
  • Firebot
  • Strongarm

Wave 2

• Clear Skies Team
  • Nightscream
  • Steel Wind
  • Thunderwing
• Dirt Digger Team
  • Dirt Rocket
  • Grindor
  • Oil Slick
• Predator Attack Team
  • Dreadwing
  • Overbite
  • Snarl

Deluxe class

Wave 1

• Astrotrain
• Bumblebee (with the Wave Crusher)
• Rodimus
• Starscream

Wave 2

• Grimlock
• Mirage

Wave 3

• Cliffjumper (with the Wave Crusher)
• Ramjet

Voyager class

Wave 1

• Megatron
• Optimus Prime

Wave 2

• Jetfire

Box sets

• Optimus Prime vs Megatron: The Ultimate Battle (versus two-pack with DVD)
• Ultra Magnus vs Skywarp: Battle for Autobot City (versus two-pack, Target exclusive)
• Constructicon Devastator (Wal-Mart exclusive giftset, includes:)
  • Bonecrusher
  • Hightower
  • Long Haul
  • Scavenger
  • Scrapper

Miscellaneous

• Optimus Prime (20th Anniversary "DVD Edition" redeco with talking base)
• "Commemorative Edition" Soundwave with Laserbeak and Battle Ravage (Generation 1 reissue; uses the Soundblaster version of the mold, which had a remolded door that can hold two cassettes.), Toys"R"Us exclusive

Ravage is called "Battle Ravage" on the back of the box, but simply "Ravage" in the instruction sheet.

• Pepsi Optimus Prime (Hasbro release of Pepsi Convoy), available as a prize for winners of the Pepsi-sponsored Transform Your Summer contest and as a Hasbro Toy Shop "exclusive"
• Masterpiece Starscream (G1-colored redeco), Wal*Mart exclusive

BotCon 2007 exclusives

• "Games of Deception" boxset, featuring:
  • Bug Bite (with Tidal Wave)
  • Dreadwind
  • Thundercracker
  • Dirge
  • Thrust
• Mirage (clear version) as a "Primus package" freebie
• Springer & Huffer set
• Alpha Trion with Beta Maxx & Weirdwolf set

Universe 2008

See Universe (2008 toyline).

Fiction

Although no cartoons or comic books were planned for the line by Hasbro, Fun Publications picked up the ball for their Official Transformers Fan Club Magazine comic, making Classics the basis of their 2007 story-arc, "Crossing Over". The story uses the old Marvel Generation 1 comic as backstory, but disregards the Marvel UK material and the Generation 2 comic that followed, taking things in a new direction instead. The Classics fiction has since been expanded by several exclusive on-line prose stories, single issue comics available through the club or at BotCon, and through Bios available on the club website or in the magazine.

A brief timeline of the Classics universe includes:

• The New World - on-line prose
• Crossing Over - 6 part story from 2007 OTFCC comic
• Games of Deception - BotCon 2007 convention comic
• Withered Hope - on-line prose (only the epilogue takes place in the Classicsverse)
• Cheap Shots - one-time comic special, available through the club
• At Fight's End - on-line prose

What counts as Classics?

The term "Classics" is universally accepted and used by both fans and Hasbro, but it appears with surprising irregularity around the toys themselves. The first year of packaging only labeled them "Transformers," with "Classic" appearing solely as a prefix to some of the size classes (such as "Classic Deluxe" or "Classic Voyager"). Some toys, such as the Magnus/Skywarp two-pack, have no "Classic" label at all. The one unifying factor was the distinctive design of the packaging, which spread to even the Soundwave re-release. This has become the commonly-accepted delineator of the Classics line, which brings the following toys into the fold even though they don't self-identify as such:

• Prime vs. Megatron Ultimate Battle set
• Magnus vs. Skywarp Battle for Autobot City set
• 20th Anniversary Prime redeco
• Mini-Cons (the Mini-Con sets have been referred to as Classics toys on Hasbro's website, but not on the packaging)
• Toys "R" Us exclusive reissue Soundwave
• BotCon 2007 exclusives
• Optimus Prime & Ultra Magnus (Asian market exclusive two-pack, 2007)
• Jetfire & Grimlock (Asian market exclusive two-pack, 2007)
• Masterpiece Starscream Hasbro release

Complicating things further, Classics would later be subsumed by the relaunched Universe franchise (which also engulfed Robot Heroes). As new toys came out, the defining Classics packaging style vanished in favor of the Universe design. Only a small "Classic Series" label on their bios maintained the connection to the previous Classics toys and separated them from the Robot Heroes they were suddenly rubbing elbows with.