Just like the Toy Power Podcast may feel like a cheap, hastily compiled imitation of a real Podcast, bootlegs find a way of attracting customers too. They often grace the pegs of undiscerning retailers and cheap stores alike. From the weeping TigerMan (beg for mercy, TigerMan... BEG!), to the Sense of Right Alliance, bootlegs can be a forgotten part of our childhood memories. 

But perhaps there is more to this topic than meets the Robo-Changer-Heroes eye. No longer simply producing combinations like He-Man in NFL attire or cheap, inferior copies of the real deal, bootlegs have in some instances evolved into high quality copies, virtually indistinguishable from their genuine counterparts. The rise of 3rd Party, including legions of "Transformers", are becoming more readily available. Does this trend simply fill a hole left by some toy companies? A way of market testing certain products? Or is it slightly more sinister in that it directs money away from official licence holders, potentially damaging future viability of official releases? "On the charge of death of a toy-line we find the defendant... INNOCENT!" 

Bootlegs can be a divisive topic with strong views from some Collectors. Join the Toy Power lads as they dissect, give it a bath, and then reassemble this topic.

 

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