Heroes of Cybertron (toyline)

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Specifics: chase figures mostly

Heroes of Cybertron, first sold in Japan under the Super Collection Figures banner ("SCF" for short), is a series of non-transformable PVC figurines based on the animation models from various older Transformers cartoon series, mostly Generation 1. The standard figure stands a mighty three inches tall, and features limited posability thanks to their pop-off limbs.

Being cartoon-based figures of popular Generation 1 characters, and being just about the only merchandise on the market based on said characters at the time, they were "tha bomb" until we started getting full-sized, transformable iterations of said characters.


SCF

Starting life in Japan, each SCF was sold blind-packed in a case of twelve, and came with a clear-plastic stand. There were ten "Acts" in all starting in late 2000 and ultimately ending in 2003. The first eight Acts featured characters from the Generation 1 continuity, whereas Acts Nine and Ten were based solely on Legends of the Microns characters.

Each figure was available in both the character's original animation colors as well as a second deco. In Acts One through Three this was colorless-clear plastic (with their insignia tampographed on in white); Acts Four through Ten featured a metallic "pewter" finish. Unfortunately, with the pewter versions the connector pegs had often been painted as well before being plugged into the sockets, which could result in stuck limbs and snapped pegs if too much pressure was applied attempting to move them.

Chase figures were found randomly dispersed in each wave. Some were repaints of existing figures, but many were new or retooled molds. From Act Three through Act Eight, pieces to construct larger-scale characters replaced the normal-sized chase figures. Yes, pieces: each of these large figures were split up into six sets of parts. Assembling an entire large figure took luck, and as all of these chase pieces could come in both full-color and clear/pewter versions... wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

Additionally, there were exclusive figures available only at conventions, and one Lucky Draw prize that may or may not have ever seen actual release.

And a metric buttload of Optimus Prime variations.


Act 1 — Sortie! Cybertrons chapter (出撃！サイバトロン編)
Release date: December 2000
Chase figures


Act 2 — 2010 chapter (2010編)
Release date: March 2001
Chase figures


Act 3 — The Headmasters chapter (ザ・ヘッドマスターズ編)
Release date: June 2001
Chase figures
Build-A-Figure


Act 4 — Resurrection of Convoy chapter (コンボイの復活編)
Release date: September 2001
Chase figures
Build-A-Figure


Act 5 — Super-God Masterforce chapter (超神マスターフォース編)
Release date: December 2001
Chase figures
Build-A-Figure


Act 6 — Road to Earth chapter (地球への道編)
Release date: February 2002
Chase figures
Build-A-Figure


Act 7 — Victory chapter (ビクトリー編)
Release date: May 2002
Chase figures
Build-A-Figure
  • Victory Saber add-on parts for Star Saber


Act 8 — Overseers of Justice chapter (正義を統べる者編)
Release date: August 2002
Chase figures
Build-A-Figure


Act 9 — Legends of the Microns Series 1 chapter (マイクロン伝説編第１弾)
Release date: December 27, 2002
Chase figures


Act 10 — Legends of the Microns Series 2 chapter (マイクロン伝説編第2弾)
Release date: March 2003
Chase figures
This Act of figures uses considerably more rubbery plastic than the prior nine Acts. This leads to some difficulty in keeping some figures standing, plus the pewter versions can be extremely hard to peg back together, as the pegs will just squash rather than pop into the sockets.


Exclusives

Due to the bankruptcy of the publisher, Keibunsha, it is unknown if this figure was ever actually sent out.
  • SCF Special "The Earth Obliteration Plan" (SCFスペシャル　地球消滅計画編)
    • Convoy w/ "Megatron Gun" (metallic color) & Convoy (alt mode) (metallic color) — Wonder Festival, February 2002
  • SCF "TF Showdown Set" (SCF TF対決セット)
    • Convoy w/ "Energy Ax" vs Megatron w/ "Energy Mace" & battle damage (color) — Tokyo Game Show, September 2002

Mega SCF

Mega SCF figures are five-inch versions of popular Transformers characters, seemingly inspired by Bandai's concurrent line of Mobile Suits in Action Gundam action figures. Each came with an assortment of accessories, alternately posed hands, and were more marginally poseable than their three-inch counterparts. Thanks to their universal balljoint/clip system for jointing, parts can be swapped between figures for some freaky combinations.

Like the smaller SCFs, the figures were initially based on characters from the original Transformers series, while later figures were characters from Legends of the Microns.

Of note is the hilarious Engrish version of "More Than Meets the Eye" seen on the packaging of these figures.

Regular figures

Exclusive figures

  • Convoy Damage Version — Robot Station 2002, May 2002
  • 03-X1 Megatron Metallic Version w/ Buzzsaw — Wonder Festival 2002, July 2002


The Hasbro version of the line, starting life in 2002, was considerably smaller, released in a total of five waves. They were typically sold in smaller "market six" outlets like drug stores and media stores.

There are some notable differences between the Heroes releases and the SCF originals:

  • Figures were sold on blister cards instead of blindpacked boxes.
  • Each figure included a collector card depicting the character.
  • Figures did not have the clear plastic stand included with the SCF versions.
  • Figures were made of blue or red translucent plastic, and then painted to allow light-piping.
  • Figures were available only as full-color versions; no clear or pewter variants were produced.
  • Bonus figure components were included with each figure in waves 4 & 5, instead of "replacing" a figure as SCF did.

Several "chase" figures from SCF were released in the HOC line as normal figures. This was either great or terrible, depending on how much money you sunk into SCF chases.


Wave 1


Wave 2


Wave 3


Wave 4
Bonus figure


Wave 5
Bonus figure


Exclusives
Some assembly required.


Legends of Cybertron

Lost in mid-teleport.
  • Skywarp (2004, unreleased)
A redeco of Mega Super Figure Collection G1 Starscream (minus the extra coronation accessories), Skywarp was to be among the first of the fan club exclusives offered by OTFCC as well as the first in their Legends of Cybertron line. The figure was delayed and never saw a full release due to 3H Enterprises losing the license to run the official Transformers fan club. At least a couple of sample versions were produced, of those most (but not all) had the open-palm hands and the hand wielding Megatron in gun mode painted blue rather than the correct purple.
Your bargaining posture is highly dubious.
Your bargaining posture is highly dubious.

Proceed on your way to oblivion.
This item has been canceled, with no current plans for release.


Heroes of Cybertron (2006)

The first wave of the Heroes of Cybertron line was re-released to coincide with the 2006 DVD release of the original The Transformers: The Movie and the 2007 live-action movie. The figures were virtually the same as the previous HOC releases, except for being cast in solid rather than translucent plastic, more in keeping with the SCF originals. The 2006 series did not include any bonus figures.

  • Megatron
  • Optimus Prime
  • Rodimus Prime
  • Soundwave
  • Ultra Magnus

References

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