Well, look what we've got here? A MISB Gen1 Mirage in all its minty goodness. Looks case-fresh, eh? Well, it IS. It's one of those recent "reissues" that have been flooding the market which are basically very very well done knock-offs (that's comparing em to the KO's that were done a decade ago).
Hasbro Commemorative Starscream VS Takara original Starscream
Would I recommend getting one? Well, it depends... these KO's do fill that strong demand from collectors for Gen1 toys in their original Gen1 style boxes. Just take a look at what Takara did with their initial reissues. Gen1 style boxes with minimal changes to their design and the toys were exact replicas of the Gen1 bots. In keeping with the times (and to cut cost/weight and maybe attempt at being "environmentally friendly"), the internal packaging for the bots were done in clear plastic and not the styrofoam of old. Were collectors happy with that? Very much so, judging by how fast those were flying off the shelves and how much they were going for on the secondary market. That was a successful formula.
Takara book reissue Broadblast aka Blaster
Takara book reissue Broadblast aka Blaster
Then came Hasbro with their commemorative series of Gen1 bots. Their packaging designs (which were copied after Takara's book reissues) just somehow didn't do it for most collectors.
Hasbro Commemorative series Dirge
Sales weren't as hot as the Takara ones (Takara, being the quicker of the 2 to release their Gen1 reissues, probably ate most of Hasbro's market share). Furthermore, Hasbro's reissues had the extremely irritating child-safety modifications done to the toys (this seriously ruined the bots for me). Optimus Prime now came with chopped off smoke-stacks, most of the Autobot cars and Decepticon jets came with thick elongated missles which were such an eyesore.
Comparison shot of original and Commemorative Optimus Primes' smoke stacks
That was a dismal attempt at trying to cater to both generations of kiddies. Most collectors chose the Takara bots over the Hasbro ones (when they were given a choice) due to the authenticity of the mold and box design. Kids of today don't give much of a thought for the reissues as they're spoilt for choice in the action figures department and their expectations for toys exceed our simple ones of yesteryear.
Hasbro reissue Optimus
Takara's first reissue Optimus
Hasbro Commemorative series Dirge
Sales weren't as hot as the Takara ones (Takara, being the quicker of the 2 to release their Gen1 reissues, probably ate most of Hasbro's market share). Furthermore, Hasbro's reissues had the extremely irritating child-safety modifications done to the toys (this seriously ruined the bots for me). Optimus Prime now came with chopped off smoke-stacks, most of the Autobot cars and Decepticon jets came with thick elongated missles which were such an eyesore.
Comparison shot of original and Commemorative Optimus Primes' smoke stacks
That was a dismal attempt at trying to cater to both generations of kiddies. Most collectors chose the Takara bots over the Hasbro ones (when they were given a choice) due to the authenticity of the mold and box design. Kids of today don't give much of a thought for the reissues as they're spoilt for choice in the action figures department and their expectations for toys exceed our simple ones of yesteryear.
Hasbro reissue Optimus
Takara's first reissue Optimus
Now these KO dudes have caught wind of the Gen1 starved collectors hunger and have decided to come out with these exact replicas. Heaps of collectors are stumbling... I don't support the KO dudes but I don't blame the buyers. At least now they can purchase their favorite Gen1 Mirage or Swoop in the box and reminisce about the good ole days without having to fork out a fortune.
Honestly speaking, I'm really hoping that Hasbro would reissue the Gen1 bots in their original Gen1 style boxes. That would seriously kick a**. But yeah... enough of my day-dreaming.
KO Wheeljack in the making?
Honestly speaking, I'm really hoping that Hasbro would reissue the Gen1 bots in their original Gen1 style boxes. That would seriously kick a**. But yeah... enough of my day-dreaming.
KO Wheeljack in the making?
So yeah, get 'em KO's if you truly like 'em... just don't complain about the lack of quality control as they do come with issues.
