What's scorching hot today in vintage Transformers collecting and often labelled "rare", causing a frenzy on auction and realising astronomical end prices? Japanese exclusives like Liokaiser, Black Shadow, Blue Bacchus, Big Powered, Guard City and Battle Gaia? Peruvian minibots? US Defensor giftsets and high-grade sealed Megatrons and Soundwaves? Well it wasn't always that way, over a decade ago it was a different series of variant toys that grabbed the headlines, were considered "rare" and were hyped. Even though they aren't that hard to get today, it's worth paying tribute to yesterday's heroes.

 

Yesterday’s Heroes | Source Blog <- CLICK TO READ

 

(Recommended soundtrack: "Outro" by M83)

 

 

All the best

Maz

I still recall that guys like Artfire and Stepper were pretty big name. Maybe only because of Artfire2000 who was one of the few people online that it was known to have such a thing. Blue Bacchus and Black Shadow still seem pretty rare but the talk about them has certainly died off. You would think that demand for a G1 Black Shadow would have spiked when the Classics version came out, but that didn't actually happen. I suspect that the large portion of the TF market is being driven by a younger crowd than 10 years ago. It all makes perfect sense but also feels a little weird at the same time.