Its not just original lines that are re-appearing either - entirely new product based on G1 is also being snapped up as fast as it can be created. From miniature figures (called SCF, and reviewed by us here) to sculpted busts of the most popular characters.

Re-printings of Marvels original G1 comic are appearing as Graphic novels as well, and the nostalgia trip seem to have taken full hold.

So why is it suddenly so popular again? Well, it could just be that people who remember them the first time are willing to spend a bit of money to see their favourite toys again, or perhaps its a comment on toys in general. 

Being the target age and audience of these toy reissues (folks in their twenties with more money than sense) I was initially in it for the nostalgia. But looking at the toys again through adult eyes, its easy to see why they were so popular - the build quality of these things is incredible - they're die-cast for a start, something of a rarity these days, with rubber wheels and loads of chrome parts. Sure, they're easy to break, but that's simply due to the detail and complexity of the transformations. The current toyline is a simplistic plastic mess by comparison. Toys that actually do something interesting and require some level of intelligence and co-ordination to play with are rare today - I can only think of Lego as another toyline that retains those characteristics in the current marketplace.



However, its not just the toys that are top notch - the story behind the characters is also pretty solid - the idea of giant warring robots doesn't stop with the Transformers, but the complexity of the comics (well, those written in the UK for the most part) was gripping - the comic lost a lot of its momentum in the late eighties due to some stupid toylines being introduced and shoe-horned into the comics, but once Furman got hold of it again in the early nineties, it mixed mythical elements into a solid war story and suddenly it took off again - the climatic and memorable conclusion to the Transformers comic is a large part of why I still look back at it fondly today.

Finally, the character designs and the characters of those early bots are just wonderful. Optimus Prime and Megatron formed a backbone of my childhood playtime, and the chance to own them again is simply irresistible. With Dreamwave creating new storylines aimed at people my age, and a brand that's rediscovering its roots, I can only say I'm a very happy man - perhaps a very happy sad man, but happy nonetheless.

Article by RPL

Useful Links:
www.dreamwaveprod.com - The new comics house
www.animedavesworld.com - A good place for the toys
www.thetransformers.net - The latest news on all things TF
 

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