COUNTDOWN: 8 ‘missing’ Generations characters!

Although the modern iterations of the Generations lines have increasingly become all about representing various disparate eras of Transformers past (and occasionally present), it’s fair to say many fans still love a line-up.

Sure, assembling any kind of complete roster in a series that flits from classic 1980s vehicular fare to prime ’90s Beast and various 2000s-era stylised cartoon designs sounds ambitious at best. Yet despite Legacy (and the upcoming Age of the Primes) having a varied focus, many of us still look for a sense of order or ‘logic’ in our collecting. Thus, if you have one or two members of a pre-established team, you naturally want the rest.

Today, then, it’s all about the ‘missing’ characters: those names fans might expect to be covered off at some point soon, purely because they logically fit in next to various toys already released but which have thus far yet to make their Generations debut!

#8: Primus

Let’s start with what may be the ultimate example of a character whose appearance in updated toy form at some point ‘seems logical’ in many ways, even though I maintain the chances of it actually happening are surprisingly unlikely! Ever since Haslab Unicron dropped over three-and-a-half years ago, fans have been speculating about – nay expecting – a companion Primus release. And hey, it’s not hard to understand why, is it? After all, you have one gigantic planet-shaped robot, so why not get its mortal enemy in a similarly styled form? The thing is, Unicron was already a big push to make it across the finish line considering its high ticket price, and that came with the credibility of being a certified A-list name (as arguably the biggest bad of the entire franchise), not to mention a whole heap of notoriety when it comes to how its been portrayed in toy form over the years. For many fans, seeing the Chaos Bringer brought to life in such fashion was the fulfilment of a childhood dream, whereas it seems incredibly unlikely that Primus would capture quite the same magic (much less sell in similar quantities). Still, either way, it remains a notable talking point in collector circles and a ‘missing spot’ on a potential double-act display for those who would want it!

#7: Beast Wars Neo Big Convoy

Next, we have a character that will top many wishlists to receive a future Generations-styled overhaul, especially as he’s only had one (full-size!) toy to his name in twenty-five years! True, the classic Big Convoy design has been re-released in multiple different colour schemes since 1999, and many of us would argue that this recently reissued original design still meets plenty of the criteria to fit in surprisingly seamlessly in a modern display alongside his Beast commander cohorts Kingdom Optimus Primal and Legacy Leo Prime. Still, now that the Neo leader’s nemesis, Magmatron, has also been brought back in superlative Commander class form, there’s no doubt this guy’s absence is all the more keenly felt. One request for when it inevitably does happen: make him BIG!

#6: G2 Manta Ray

I appreciate that plenty of people may read this next entry and wonder, “Who he?” but given we’ve already seen his propellor-projectile partner done in updated Legacy form, it’s not out of the question that ’90s no-name Manta Ray might get a look-in too, right? Yes, this lad is one of the Generation 2 Rotor Force, and if that’s still not ringing a bell then you might recall the Leadfoot figure which dropped as part of a Wreck N’ Rule Collection 2-pack alongside the awesomely-named Masterdominus in 2022. Sure, that release saw the original figure’s inherent spinning blade gimmick stripped out, meaning the idea of a line-up called “Rotor Force” might feel a little superfluous. Still, it’s fun to see such obscure characters given the limelight, and as Manta Ray transforms into a nifty twin-pontoon high-speed racing boat, that would certainly be the case for him too.

#5: RID 2001 Prowl & X-Brawn

Opinions on Legacy Sideburn have been flying here, there and everywhere since before he was first glimpsed, given how obvious it was that the character would make his Generations debut as a retool of Shadow Striker. True, the car mode may not quite match the sublime real-world stylings of the 2000/1 original design, but the modern take is a surprising amount of fun to fiddle with and (in this writer’s humble opinion) a worthy update for a long-overlooked character. So, the big question is whether we’ll see his two RID brothers given similar treatment before long, eh? Again, it seems fitting that it might happen at some point down the line, especially with this trio all featuring plenty of in-built ‘super mode’ repaint potential. I’m not looking forward to the inevitable discourse, but hopefully, the toys will be fun!

#4: Submarauder

The topic of how to bring back Pretenders in suitable modern toy form is one that many of us believe has yet to be definitively solved. True, the Legacy updates for classic characters such as Iguanus, Bomb Burst and Skullgrin indeed represent a valid approach, yet in nixing the inherent outer shell gimmick at the core of the vintage toys, they perhaps don’t quite scratch the itch for diehard fans of these undeniably goofy designs. Still, with the latter names above representing two-thirds of a typical trio, it’s surprising that the fish-themed Submarauder remains yet to be seen alongside them. Whether you’re all in on the current Generations format for these characters or not, perhaps none of us should be surprised if this aquatic lad flounders in at some point soon!

#3: Animated Ratchet

It’s weird to consider that this is not the first five-bot roster waiting on a Ratchet realisation to finalise its numbers (given that the Masterpiece MPM crew were in the same position for a good while there until 2020). Yet with Animated Optimus, Bumblebee, Prowl and Bulkhead (ok, ok, it’s his “Prime universe” take, technically, but it’s an amalgamation of influences really, and one many fans have dropped in alongside the other names here, so go with me!) all popping up in Legacy so far, we can’t be alone in wondering when the doctor will be in? Well, we know we’re not because you only have to go online and see the many customs of the idea being created to know that there’s a desire for such a thing!

#2: Sureshot

It was 2020 when Crosshairs received his second-ever toy as part of the WFC Siege line and, perhaps naturally, speculation quickly turned to when we might see his two classic Targetmaster colleagues done in similar fashion. Flash forward to 2022, and Pointblank followed suit as part of Legacy, leading everyone to wonder just one thing: how long until we get a Sureshot? Well, we’re soon ploughing into 2025, and that question has yet to be answered, but this has to be a sure thing before too long, right? Rumours persist that it may yet come true.

#1: RID 2001 Megatron

Our second possible Haslab entry on the list, but one that feels much more likely to become a reality than Primus! Going with the theme of it ‘making sense’ for such a toy to happen purely based on its opposite number currently being in production, there’s still no denying that the 2000/1 design for Megatron could indeed make a compelling case for the crowdfunding approach. After all, with a whopping six modes (and ten on the white Galvatron version!), there’s a complexity of engineering required to thoroughly do such a thing justice. Yet it would also be a terrific counterpoint to the upcoming Omega Prime, with all the potential to look nothing shy of stunning and built-in repaint precedence for further down the line. Assuming it does come to fruition, they must keep that gnarly giant hand mode in there, though!

So that’s our list! Are there any other ‘missing’ characters you would like to see done?

TTFN