14 October 2012

A mystery solved, for me at least... (C-91: Computron and D-84: Abominus giftsets)

Over the years, I have been hearing on and off that the Japanese D-84: Abominus giftset and the C-91: Computron giftset has a special exclusive poster included in it - one of the reasons why the Japanese release of these relatively easily available toys, which were also widely released in North American and many other parts of the world in English packaging, were so expensive.

I've asked many people "what exactly is the poster that came with these sets and how does it look?"

Among all the TF collectors I asked, including veteran shop owners in HK and SG, no one could tell me what the C-91 or D-84 poster looked like. They could tell me what a Goodbye Convoy or Goodbye Megatron poster looked like, but not the C-91 and D-84 poster(s).

What further frustrated me was that my usual shop in HK kept getting in MISB near C10 sets of C-91 and D-84 and when I peeked inside, there was indeed a larger than normal piece of paper that looked like it is a poster. Obviously, I could not take it out to see because I'd have to cut the tape making the box no longer MISB. At approximately HK$10,000 to 13,000 a pop (US$1290 - $1670), I was absolutely not willing to pay for it to open in order to sate my curiosity. To me, Computron and Abominus are worth no more than US$150 to me, each.

Recently, as I was traversing TFW, I saw a thread where someone was selling his/her D-84: Abominus giftset and voila, there was a photo with its poster shown.

Mystery solved - I believe this is the poster that came with both the C-91 and D-84 giftsets.




















(photo was saved more than a month ago and I don't remember who the seller was. Please contact me if its your photo and would like it take down or attributed to you)

The poster pictures and promotes both Computron and Abominus together with suggested Scramble City combinations with Superion, Defensor, Menasor and Bruticus, and appears suitable for either giftset, therefore, I think its reasonably safe to conclude that it also came in the Computron giftset - however, I'm happy to be proven wrong or be pointed in the right direction re the Computron giftset.

That's it, a mystery solved, for me at least...

19 comments:

  1. That's good to know that it's really just that one poster that makes the huge price difference. I'm not so sure I could bring myself to get the Japanese giftsets just for the poster. I'm like you, Abominus is worth about $200 max to me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do think that giftsets are worth more than say individual carded figures. But these all depends on individual tastes. Abominus is probably one of the most common G1 combiners out there. Personally, I'd refuse to shell out too much cash on it!

      Delete
  2. If a third party were to make an Abominus, the first order of business would have to be to make a viable Blot. That thing alone explains why the name Abominus is chosen, horrible robot and monster mode. It actually makes the term "Cybertronian mode" palatable even though it's usually just another term for it's a mess, but let's give it a cool name.

    My math. Abominus minus blot is 200 dollars. Abominus including blot is 150. Yes, Blot is worth -50 in my book.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Blot is one of my favorite TF toys ever (as are all the Terrorcons). ;)

      Delete
    2. Blot is one of my favorite TF toys ever (as are most of the Terrorcons). ;)

      Delete
    3. @ Roger - Blot does have a cool name - he's called "Butto" in Japanese. =)

      @ Botch - Blot as a toy in itself, I think it's kind of okay. But Blot as Abominus' arm and Cutthroat as his leg is what I really dislike (these are not really interchangeable). Since Blot is so bulky, it just makes Abomimus top heavy.

      Delete
  3. Excellent! I agree with the pricing, I've been trying to slowly reassemble the team via ebay, but I refuse to pay the ridiculous asking prices for even US versions. Don't even get me started on Monstructor. I agree with Roger about a 3rd party Blot too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Monstructor is hard. I heart you man.
      I put together Monstructor and actually have spare pieces of Slog (2 pcs) and Bristleback (1 pcs) sitting around, just in case the "main" pieces break from GPS!

      Delete
  4. be care about KO Giftsets of computron floating around ebay and the forums. The production of these were supposedly postpone but i guess a few made it out.
    I am not sure if the abominus giftsets had KO's leaked out too but both KO's were supposedly coming out around the same time. Both delayed.
    I made a mistake of buying one of these off ebay until another ebayer messaged me about the KO signs on the box. It even looked "aged"
    If someone knows more let me know!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think the KO giftsets are the USA version giftsets, not the Japanese boxed versions right? In that regard, I think, at least we are safe.

      Delete
  5. For some reason, I pictured you dressed like Sherlock Holmes and E is dressed up as Watson. And when E asked you how you came up with the conclusion, you say to her: "It's Cybertronian, my dear E." :)

    And also, did you get my email about the MISB C-307X? (I had to skip because by the time I have the money, it might be sold. And right now, the person I hope to meet may meet me in Hong Kong.)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hey Kuma! If you're in HK, do let me know in advance and we can catch up!

      I saw your email on C307X but have not replied yet, very snowed under in terms of emails...

      Maybe I'd say too "Elementary, my dear E"

      Delete
    2. Heh. It's all good in terms of the email. I have been very busy prepping up for my second year of collecting.

      And with the trip to HK, I plan to do that later than planned in 2013. So expect me to contact you ASAP. :)

      Delete
    3. hey buddy, how is your second year of collecting going? I am really sorry for my long absence, but I do explain why over here (http://heroicdecepticon.blogspot.hk/2013/02/back-after-somewhat-of-break.html)

      Do let me know when you are in HK. If I am not out of the country on business, I'd definitely like to catch up!

      Delete
  6. What's with the Jewish star of David on the poster behind each team? Or is it supposed to be a zodiac sign?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think Takara just used it as a graphic where each corner points to a combiner? But with Takara and G1 randomness, who knows!

      Delete
  7. yeah sorry the KO are for the US giftsets.
    But just wanted people to know just in case! thats the worst feeling ever to find out you just paid for a KO.

    ReplyDelete
  8. No updates for a while? Got tired of consuming all transformers in you path great one?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hiya, there have been some acquisitions, which will be showed soon, but the consumption has slowed down that's for sure.

      As to the absence, I explain it in my post today over here - http://heroicdecepticon.blogspot.hk/2013/02/back-after-somewhat-of-break.html

      Cheers!

      Delete

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