I would think most fans would say that both lines started fading around the same time in ’87 or ’88. Don’t know the numbers to support that though. Transformers appears to be the stronger property from a sales and revenue perspective though; particularly over the last 15 years or so.

Transformers Generation 1 used to be the biggest thing for me, but now its getting pushed out to due to the Bay movies and Hasbro’s love for all things Bay. Hasbro offered us some amazing things in the past 10 years with Alternators and Masterpiece lines and then abandoned them due to various issues. So they may have already peaked with their G1 slate. Regardless, my nostalgia level has kind of petered out considerably.

I’d say Masters of the Universe Classics has taken its place but its still not fully realized. I’ve became more a fan of new characters to the line, but seriously they need to expand past a super slow release schedule of one figure per month and add vehicles in there can be some interaction. End this post right before getting into full rant mode.

I love MOTU Classics and I have a nice selection of 25th Joes back there behind me. I have very, precious few Transfomers these days.

But still, if pressed, I’m going to have to say Transformers.

http://www.toyarchive.com/HemanHordeTrooper.jpg

MOTU is the best toy line of any decade because it had the most variety.”

Uh what? GI Joe practically invented the army builder. Christ the FIRST WAVE had an army builder. And when it comes to diversity? No one tops Joe. From mutants, to football players, to mute ninjas and guys who like Crocodiles, GI Joe had it all. They even had robot army builders.

I’m baffled that someone would say MOTU is the best because it had one army builder character.

In terms of nostalgia (as well as the coolness of modern upgrades), playability, variety, design, companion cartoon, etc, etc, ad infinitum, I love everything about it.

In our house it was clearly G.I. Joe that ruled the roost. Nathan literally had a Xerox paper box full of just action figures and then there were enough vehicles to form a mechanized Division!

Far behind the Hasbro soldiers was Transformers. He liked them and he had plenty, but they were usually cannon fodder for the Joes. It was interesting that the Transformers always were knaves of the COBRA leaders – even the good ones. You never know how a child’s mind works.

There were a smattering of MOTU figures, but less than a dozen and all of those were gifts. Nathan never asked for one when we went shopping. It was, however, the first action figure I ever had at work. When the original Mossman came out one of my co-workers bought it for me as my last name is Moss. He sat next to my coffee cup for ages.

Joe’s scale and the figure’s possibility allowed logical vehicles to be made at various pricepoints. This is something that MOTU and TF had problems achieving.

That said, I’ve seen both Transformers movies (and slept through part of one) after getting hooked on watching Beast Wars with my son. And while I haven’t seen the Joe flick, I’ll watch it when it comes to cable and I have picked up some of the movie figures I liked. No idea who most of them are but they look fun.

He-Man just never did it for me. I still don’t understand the appeal. I know nostalgia is a powerful drug but I’m not sure what possesses a person to get into that property in the first place.

Tons more characters–awesome vehicles (a VTOL A-10 Warthog– If only in the real world)– attack pets, the best cartoon, best comic and Scarlett (a red head with a crossbow- how can you ever go wrong).

Id go with he man second (its got spikor and snout spout)

and a distant third for Transformers (they just broke to easily for me- and I was just never into cars or robots)– altough as noted above- you had to love the dinobots…

So, I guess:

1) GI Joe (barely)
2) Transformers (very strong second)
3) MOTU (distant third)

I’m digging the 4H MOTUC and I really liked the 200x series. But as a child of the 80′s, I say “Yo Joe!”

http://www.toyarchive.com/HemanHordeTrooper.jpg

MOTU is the best toy line of any decade because it had the most variety.

No doubt for me these 3 are the “Trinity” of 80′s toys properties.

Looking back as a kit my order of preference was this:

1. GI Joe – longest running, most diverse, best bang for your buck.
2. Transformers – being a fan of Japanese toys TFs were a longtime
favorite.
3. MOTU: I loved MOTU but in the end the lack of articulation and
detail in the line compared to Joe and TF, as well
as the rotting hip bands made it #3.

Today however, the list has been shaken up. I collect for nostalgia. All the lines I collect are rooted in things I loved as a kid. And to me, the closer a line gets to what I deem the ultimate representation of those characters of my childhood, the higher it ranks.

So today it’s:

1. MOTU(C): To me it’s the closest to perfect modern realization of
of an 80′s Toyline. The 4H designs, the articulation,
modern construction and lack of gimmicks (that’s right,
even as a kid I always wanted articulation and
accessories over gimmicks.) all combine to make it my
“perfect” toyline.

2. GI JOE (25th): This line gets close to what I feel is the
“ultimate” Joe line. The things that keep it from
the top slot: inconsistent grips on the hands.
It may seem like a small gripe, but for me the
magic of Joe is the combination of articulation and
accessories. Sadly too many of the 25th Joes have
poorly sculpted, badly gripping hands.

3. Transformers Classics/Universe:
No doubt the engineering of TFs has progressed
light years since the 80′s but compared to MOTUC
and Joe, I feel the TF revival characters are
furthest from the the original characters.
Alt modes are often modernized or changed
(i.e. Ironhide/Ratchet as SUVs). And while
articulation and detail has improved, often
I find modern TFs have lost the “chunky” robot
appeal of G1 and have overly complicated
transformations and delicate or unstable modes.

Taking into account the TV shows, then I’d say the overall winner for me has to be MOTU. I’ve re-watched all 3 shows and neither Joe nor TF bring that rush of childhood happiness the way just hearing the MOTU theme does.

Sure, Mattel and DR bring an unreasonable share of trials to collecting MOTUC, but for me, MOTUC figures are as close to the ultimate realization of a favored property as I’ve ever had the pleasure to own.

Spy

I had a few MOTU, but never really cared for the line.

MOTUC is reaching G.I. Joe 25th, but some of the online shenanighans (Digital River, figure stands, bonus figures, sell-out times) really hurt the line by turning off would-be collectors. This shadow prevents MOTUC from becoming a great line. There’s usually some controversy every week or two.

G.I. Joe 25th wins. Original toy versions, comic versions, cartoon versions.