Gen-2 was Kenners faired attempt to relaunch the Transformers. It combined old Gen-1 molds and all new figures. This line was a real mixed bag. Some figures were great. Others, well, weren't so good.
Tie-ins with the line included a comic from Marvel that lasted 12 issues and a re-issueing of the original cartoon with an added "Magic Cube" fx. While the "Magic Cube" proved to be very annoying and killed the show, the comic ROCKED! If you can find any issued, check 'em out. there very cool!
The Good
Tank Megatron: When Kenner went to do the relaunch, they had a problem: the original Megatron was a handgun (and a very realistic one at that). While that was OK in the '80s, this was a no-no in the '90s. So Kenner redesined Megatron as a tank. This was one of the best figures in Gen-2.
Laser Rod Optimus Prime: One of the best Primes Kenner has done. This prime is a tanker truck, and is pretty good sized. He also has light-up headlights in truck mode and a light-up sword. Very cool
The Bad
Color Variations: While it was great to see the return of three of the five Dinobots, Grimlock, Snarl, and Slag, and the Constructicons, there was a slight problem; Kenner did a color variaton on each of them, making some pretty hard to find. Each of the Dinobots had three colors; Grimlock was blue, grey, and aqua, Snarl was grey, red, and green and Slag was grey, green, and red, in order of rarity. The constructicons were released in yellow and orange with the latter being the rarer. Of course this just drives TF collectors nuts.
Go-Bots: Boy did these guys get old fast. Kenner released 14 different Go-Bots with only 6 different bodys. How did they do it? Repaint, Repaint, Repaint! Geeze, I hate repaints (unless there done well).
The Ugly
Combaticon repaints: And speaking of bad repaints, these guys take the cake. NEON CAMOFLAUGE!! What were you thinking Has/Ken?
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