Transformers Generations 2009, volumes 1, 2 and 3; and Henkei electro-disruptor Mirage, Ghost Starscream and eHobby Skids & Screech

I was not very interested in these at the time of their release. I was in the thick of scooping up remnants of G1 Transformers that I didn't have. Classics 2.0 and their Henkei counterparts, including the art/product books at the time, held little interest to me.

It was no surprise that I complete missed out on these books back then. It was a surprise when I discovered these books recently, when I was furiously trying to locate a copy of Transformers Generations 2010. What are these books?

There are the Transformers Generations 2009 series of product reference pictorial books of Transformers toys released during 2009. There are 3 whooping volumes of material.

What is interesting is that each of the Transformers Generations 2009 volumes entitles a person to order an exclusive figure that can only be obtained through this mail-away offer (ok, this is not exactly true because I know that toy shops, at least in SG and HK, managed to stock these exclusive toys without having to oblige customers to also buy a copy of the relevant volume). Still, it does mean that these exclusives were released in smaller quantities than regular released toys.

1. Transformers Generations 2009 (volume 1) entitles a person to order a mail-away Henkei "electro disruptor" Mirage (clear version of Henkei Mirage).
2. Transformers Generations 2009 (volume 2) entitles a person to order a mail-away Henkei Ghost Starscream (clear version of Henkei Starscream).
3. Transformers Generations 2009 (volume 3) entitles a person to order a mail-away a eHobby style 2-pack Skids and Screech (repaints of the G1 Skids mold in the Transformers 2009 movie colours of Skids and Mudflap).

Transformers Generations 2009 photographed with their mail-away exclusive toys.

Transformers Generations 2009 (volume 1) and Henkei "electro disruptor" Mirage (clear version of Henkei Mirage).

Photo of mail-away exclusive "electro disruptor" Mirage and a copy of Transformers Generations 2009 (volume 1).

Key features (to me) in Transformers Generations 2009 volume 1, include product photos and listings of:

• MP-08: Grimlock;
• Henkei C-01 to C-17 (almost the entire Henkei Autobot line up);
• Henkei D-01 to D-07 (almost the entire Henkei Decepticon line up);
• exclusive Hekei toys like clear Optimus Prime, Wildrider, Skywarp, Thundercracker, Dirge and Thrust;
• Transformers Encore-05 to Encore-14 (the earlier Encores were listed in Transformers Generations 2007);
• a TF Maniax section featuring all the different molds of Optimus Prime through the ages (very very useful for variant minded collectors!); and
• a section featuring vintage Transformers catalogues.

I did not buy the mail-away exclusive together with the Transformers Generations book, but I bought the Henkei "electro disruptor" Mirage fairly recently. My one fear, as I mentioned to fellow readers Roger and gdmetro in one of my previous posts, is to inadvertently buy a KO version of this toy. I know the KOs are very prevalent and have been floating around in HK for some time. As I have no experience distinguishing a KO from the real deal, I was very apprehensive and cautious when it came to this toy - I will not buy one online and I definitely will not buy one if I'm not 100% sure.

It so happened that my friend who owns a toy shop in HK managed to dig up a piece from his store room. It was casefresh and was leftover stock back in the day when the piece was released. I bought that from him and now have peace of mind at least.

These are some shots of the mail-away offer (the white mail-away coupon is inside the book).

Transformers Generations 2009 mail-away exclusive "electro disruptor" Mirage MOSC.

Transformers Generations 2009 (volume 2) and Henkei Ghost Starscream (clear version of Henkei Starscream).

Photo of mail-away exclusive Henkei Ghost Starscream and a copy of Transformers Generations 2009 (volume 2).

Key features (to me) in Transformers Generations 2009 volume 2, include product photos and listings of:

• prototype shots and concept art of Device Label Ravage and Blaster;
• Henkei C-18 to C-21 (the final pieces in the Henkei line);
• Transformers Encore-15 and Encore -16 (the final pieces in the Encore line);
• a TF Maniax section featuring all the different molds of Starscream through the ages (this was pivotal to my discovery of the differences between a Starscream that came with the Goodbye Megatron giftset and other Starscreams); and
• a section featuring vintage Transformers catalogues.

I did not buy the mail-away exclusive together with the Transformers Generations book. The Henkei Ghost Starscream was a piece that I bought just last week. As with the Electro Disruptor Mirage, my one fear with buying this piece so late after its release are the KO versions that have been floating around.

Again, I was fortunate enough to stumble into a shop who owner just conducted an inventory check and unearthed 2 pieces of the Ghost Starscreams (this is a different shop than the one I bought Electro Disruptor Mirage from). The pieces were still case fresh and in their original wrapping. The seller also gave me 2 complimentary copies of the Transformers Generations 2009 (volume 2) with each piece of Ghost Starscream that I bought (although I'm sure that he must have factored the cost of the books into the toys!).

These are some shots of the mail-away offer (the white mail-away coupon is inside the book).

Transformers Generations 2009 (volume 2) mail-away exclusive Henkei Ghost Starscream MOSC.

Transformers Generations 2009 (volume 3) and eHobby style 2-pack Skids and Screech (repaints of the G1 Skids mold in the Transformers 2009 movie colours of Skids and Mudflap).

Photo of mail-away exclusive eHobby style repaints of Movie-verse Skids and Screech and a copy of Transformers Generations 2009 (volume 3).

Key features (to me) in Transformers Generations 2009 volume 3, include product photos and listings of:

• Device Label Ravage and Blaster;
• Transformers Encore-18 and Encore -19 (the final pieces in the Encore line);
• a TF Maniax section featuring the all the Mini-Cons from the 2003 Transformers Armada line; and
• a section featuring vintage Transformers catalogues.

I did not buy the mail-away exclusive together with the Transformers Generations book. I bought the Skids and Screech MISB 2-pack just fairly recently. This is an unusual exclusive to have with the book because it was not a repaint or redeco of a Henkei figure, which was all the rage back then. Perhaps because Volume 3 features almost entire characters from the 2009 Transformers live-action movie, the producers decided that the exclusive was to be something that ties in with the movie-verse and G1?

Skids (the greeen toy) is a repaint of G1 Skids into Skids' 2009 live-action movie colours. Screech (the orange toy) is a repaint of Crosscut (which was in turn a December 2002 eHobby reissue based on the G1 Skids mold) in Mudflap's 2009 live-action movie colours. Yeah, its all very confusing. Anything linked to the Michael Bay movie-verse is potentially confusing (and so was Revenge of the Fallen while we are on the topic; no wait, Revenge of the Fallen just didn't even make sense).

Skids bio according to TF Wiki: "When Skids successfully proved the existence of particles able to cross over between dimensions, he put his discovery to work for the forces of good, coating his armor in these "Dimension Slide" particles and endowing himself with the power to move between realities, as well as a snazzy new green paintjob. In this quest to examine anomalies within the multiverse, Skids found he could summon other versions of himself from different dimensions to aid him, but for unknown reasons, one of these alternate versions wound up trapped in Skids's home dimension, unable to return to his own world. Named "Screech" (presumably to save all the Autobots a headache), this alternate Skids teamed up with his counterpart, and together, the pair worked as "Quantum Operatives" policing the multiverse while searching for a way to get Screech home.

Hot on the trail of one such multiversal anomaly, Skids and Screech pursued Starscream's ghost across the multiverse to a parallel dimension where he was causing trouble. While the two dimension-hoppers kept the ghost busy with wordplay and pop culture references, the Mirage of that world used his illusion casting powers to scare Starscream into fleeing the dimension by projecting an illusion of his greatest fear: Galvatron!"

Screech bio according to TF Wiki: "Screech is a version of Skids from an alternate universe, unwittingly pulled into another timeline by the Skids of that world. Together, they fight crime!

Mostly, Screech hopes one day that he can find his way back to his home dimension. Until then, he changed his name and paired up with his "brother" Skids as Quantum Operatives, scouring the multiverse for anomalies. Screech constantly tries to keep their mood up with jokes and quips.

The Quantam Phase Attack Specialist is well-equipped for his job, having covered himself with a Dimension Slide coating. He also carries a substance accelerator pistol and a Quantum Shield. The doors on his back allow him to glide through the air."

Transformers Generations 2009 (volume 3) mail-away exclusive Skids and Screech set MISB.