Over the last few years, the idea of reissuing older toys has really caught on with companies. It really started out with Masters of the Universe and Transformers in the late 90’s and early 2000’s. But then reissues in lines such as Macross really picked up. Now we have reissues from such classic toy lines like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and even Mad Balls have been reissued.
So in this week’s Toyark Discussion of the Week, we ask a simple question. What has been the best and what has been the worst toy reissues over the last few years?
Discussion Of The Week - Best and Worst Toy Reissues
I regretibly purchased all 4 turtles when they were released. I forgot how bad those figures were. I would love to see super articulated TV style turtles.
I say as far as direct reissues go, without any major retooling, would have to be Transformers. Hasbro only needed to change some minor details for safety reasons and kept the rest classic. Why change what's already awesome?
I would say the best remakes of the original toy line would have be GI Joe with the 25th line, and MOTU Classics. Both captured the awesomeness of the originals while bringing the sculpts more up to date.
I think this question is about reissues and not remakes (big difference between the two). My criteria is based on how much the reissues resemble the original releases.
In my opinion the best reissues were the MOTU Commerative Series by Mattel released around 2000-2001. The packaging was perfect - the original MOTU cards with added reissue packaging. There were very minor differences between the original toys and the reissued ones too, which is what a reissue should be. As far as US reissues of original 80s toys go, the MOTU Commerative Series wins hands down.
The 25th TMNT reissues by Playmates are pretty good as well and do a good job of looking like the original figures and packaging.
Hasbro Transformer US reissues are a mixed bag. Most have been pretty good, but a couple of Hasbro reissues were horrible due to one fact: non-chromed weapons (Prowl, Smokescreen, and Jazz). However, some of the later reissues like the SDCC Soundwave, TRU Insecticons, and TRU Perceptor are amazing. The packaging is cool and I do like the bookstyle look of it, but having packaging more like the original US packaging would have been pure win.
Takara is doing an amazing job with Transformer Japanese reissues, especially the TF Collection/Dreamwave bookshelf and Encore series. The TF Collection packaging is my favorite reissue packaging that doesn't match the original release packaging and it really adds to the toy. The Encore packaging is a nice nod to the original Japanese packaging. I'd have to say Takara's Transformers reissues are the best non-US reissues.
Other than a couple of Hasbro's reissued Tranformers, I don't have anymore bad reissues. Just the fact I can get a reissue toy from an 80s line is great in and of itself.
Best Reissue: Die-cast Voltron during the 3rd dimensions run.
An epic figure that I never got as a kid, so I snapped this bad boy up when I saw him on clearance. Loved him for years till I sold him recently.
Transformers anything post G1: Love getting the molds I missed during the times, especially when they have articulation or improve the gimmicks.
Worst Reissue: Transformers G1
They tweak them for modern toy laws, take away missle firing actions, and worst of all? Complete wipe out any value my actual old ones have. Now I'm stuck with old toys I don't want and can't unload for what they should be worth. This ranks up there to me with what mattel is doing with TMNT.
TMNT: Again not the best of figures to begin with, and it's just a straight up reissue, wiping out any value the originals had. The only saving grace here is if anyone wants the sewer set or technodrome (which I have listed for sale here on this site used) since those have yet to be reissued. It'd be nice if they at least went the MOTUC way for these, or even He-Man 2k3, or Transformers Classics/Universe, all phenominal reimaginings of the classics. But straight up re-release of figures that have simplistic 7 point articulation systems just gets annoying.
Reissues goes to Transformers hands down. Specifically the Takara ones. The packaging, the figures - it all works so well. Even with the newer TRU exclusives in the new packaging, are great. My only bone to pick is with pricing. $50 for a Perceptor is a bit much.
Transformers tops the list. The only thing that could make it better is classic G1 packaging instead of the Universe style.
I have no complaints about TMNT. People are complaining about articulation, but that's how it was at the time. It's a reissue, so any major changes, wouldn't make it a reissue. I do agree that a MOTUC style series would be very cool.
I'll give Transformers: Commemorative Series a vote for worst, the figures are great toys for their time, the problem is they aren't great toys for this time. They haven't aged very well at all and they were sold at a thoroughly ridiculous price by Toys R Us.
After the success of the first wave, they then tried to sell basic sized figures with very little meaningful articulation at the same pricepoint as a Mega+ class figures which shelfwarmed, badly. Hasbro also made poor choices, character selection wise, choosing Skids before Sideswipe, Hoist before Astrotrain or Blitzwing and not touching the Insecticons, Soundwave and Perceptor until much later and so on.
Snowflakian, outside of Japan, the original G1 figures never had fully working missiles. The springs were weakened for safety reasons even then so more often than not, the launchers barely did anything beyond holding the fist/missile in place. Hasbro tried adding working launchers that comply modern safety standards to Jazz and the Seekers and the fandom complained as the missiles were too big.
The Macross Bandai 1/55 VF-1 Valkyrie reissues are excellent, fans wanted them for a very long time and Bandai delivered. Unfortunately they were released at a time when Yamato was releasing new VF-1's, and the sales of Bandai's reissues in Japan weren't as high as anticipated.
The Origin of Valkyrie releases saw the 1/55 VF-1's released again, but it was even more shortlived. It only has 4 releases and some fans have all but given up hope for seeing the DYRL? trio; the VF-1S Strike Valkyrie, VE-1 ELINT Seeker and VT-1 Super Ostrich.
So I'd have to say that the reissue of the venerable 1/55 VF-1 was welcome but had bad timing. It's unfortunate too. Toynami, via the Tamashii/Toynami partnership, was to release the 1/55 VF-1's with all new heads, in Robotech packaging. The sad thing is that the very 1st 1/55 VF-1D was planned but as of yet we haven't heard much on the matter.
As for best reissues I'd have to say Takara has done an excellent job with their G1 Transformers reissues. Some, such as the book box versions with Dreamwave artwork, feature more accessories than the originals(referencing the #6 Megatron reissue here). The presentation is there, and fans have wanted G1 reissues for years. Takara delivered, and the fans want more. Can't say that's a failure there.
A little late to the party, but I have to give it to Transformers G1 reissues. Both the Hasbro and Takara releases have been great. My only complaint would be the price. I wish the TRU ones were $25-$30.
A close second would be the G.I.Joe 25th Anniversary line. It gave me a chance to pick up some characters I always wanted as a kid, but with modern advances in toy technology.
Worst reissue is a bit tougher for me. Mostly because I've been so far impressed by all the lines that I wanted to get reissued. Can't really say a particular reissue is the "worst" if I have no interest in it.
They tweak them for modern toy laws, take away missle firing actions, and worst of all? Complete wipe out any value my actual old ones have. Now I'm stuck with old toys I don't want and can't unload for what they should be worth. This ranks up there to me with what mattel is doing with TMNT.
For example, I have a set of Insecticons from 1984 that are practically perfect, but I still went and bought the reissue set. Now I can use one set as clones of the other set and reinact "A Plague of Insecticons" like I wanted to when I was a kid.
Full Thread: Best and Worst Toy Reissues
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