[Falconhood]

I bought Aurora on Saturday...but I have YET to see Northstar. Does he EXIST?
Aurora from the Alpha Flight, Marvel Universe by SacredKnightOfTomorrow, on Flickr

[samsson37]

Well to be honest Im glad that after wave 3 we get the crap wave 4. It gives a chance to breath and collect our wits (maybe even pay some bills !!! lol) Unless SDCC gives us some huge news we only really have 3 figs left that we know of Emma Frost and The long awaited Skurge and Northstar(lets be honest we will not see Colossanaught). Wave 5 will probably give us those 2 and a bunch of repacks. In my opinion its a good time to either save money or get all the strays in your collection

[kylactus]

I think were going to see a lot of this, My prediction, several waves of single carded issues of comic and two pack figures, some with possible repaints (like Ionic Wonderman)Hopefully we get a green Quicksilver, and a green Phoenix! my only question is when will they start repacking Movie lines in the MI packaging? remember they have done it with XMO, and a few IM2 figures too in the MU line. Hasbro won't waste a mold...

[skywarrped]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falconhood

I bought Aurora on Saturday...but I have YET to see Northstar. Does he EXIST?

Northstar was cancelled for Marvel Universe, but is expected to be released at a later date probably under the Marvel Infinite line.

[Autobot_Goldbug]

there is no 3.75 GOTG movie figure line

[xMostWanted559x]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Autobot_Goldbug

there is no 3.75 GOTG movie figure line

That sucks

[En Sabah Nerd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by xMostWanted559x

That sucks

This is old news, we've known since Toyfair that there wouldn't be a GotG 3.75" line.

[xMostWanted559x]

Quote:

Originally Posted by En Sabah Nerd

This is old news, we've known since Toyfair that there wouldn't be a GotG 3.75" line.

I'm new...

[En Sabah Nerd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by xMostWanted559x

I'm new...

It's okay, everybody was new here once.

[samsson37]

Welcome to the fold xMostWanted559x !!!

[cobracobra]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kylactus

I think were going to see a lot of this, My prediction, several waves of single carded issues of comic and two pack figures, some with possible repaints (like Ionic Wonderman)Hopefully we get a green Quicksilver, and a green Phoenix! my only question is when will they start repacking Movie lines in the MI packaging? remember they have done it with XMO, and a few IM2 figures too in the MU line. Hasbro won't waste a mold...

I wouldnt mind. I think some of the movie sculpts are pretty decent. But they kinda clash being more detailed.

[Snowflakian]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nymesys Prime

which line are we discussing having less articulation? is it the GOTG 3.75 fig??just trying to see where the articulation changed

It's been gradual. Started at about the avengers movie. Then got worse with the Amazing Spider-man lines, then GOTG went balls to the wall with 10 steps backwards.

Ironman 3 can be excused because they attempted to try something new at least, which did eventually lead to the new Mash-ups product line that's actually kind of fun in its own right.

There have been some saving graces though. The Avengers Assemble line came out with a pretty decent Ultimate Fury, Leader, Falcon, Black Widow, and Hawkeye.

Right now, MI is basically the repack line(using molds from all previous lines) with some scattered new too.

[trebleshot]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kylactus

I just don't get (other than "money issues) why Hasbro would up articulation, improve sculpts, look and playability in the MU line, essentially set the new standard for 3.75" figures... and then shit the bed, and take a big back step into pre 1980's level design! Is it all a tease?!? you cant give us steak, take it away and expect us to eat tripe!

You exaggerate. Hasbro has not gone back to pre-1980's toy designs with MU/MI. For one, toys like that in the 70's did not have knees or elbows. Now if you're only referring to the movie lines' "basic" figures, then yes they are similar to what we had back in the day. But they are also meant to be an economy-level alternative (i.e. cheap, affordable toys for kids).

It's not like Hasbro decided, "Hey, kids don't need action figures with joints; let's get rid of them. Then it costs us less to make and we can get even more money! And those stupid fanboys will bitch about it but they'll buy 'em anyway 'cause they're all OCD and $#!t. Schadenfreude FTW!"

(That was complete sarcasm and not a direct quote. Also, when I was growing up, I was taught to eat what was put in front of me or I didn't eat.)

There are all kinds of legitimate reasons for what Hasbro has done and is doing - a lot of which can be found somewhere in this very thread, if one were to go searching for them (Snowflakian discusses one just above this post).

[kylactus]

I was not referring to the impossible to find MI line, or the discontinued Avengers Assemble line, I was referring to the ever abundant 5 poa, not particularly well sculpted, ASM2, IM3, Avengers Assemble (5POA). Perhaps Hasbro's assumption is that everyone is broke, so they have decided to only make the "economy" level figures widely available. But I for one would rather pay more for a figure I want than pay anything for something I don't.
In short, in the military I too had to choke down many an unpleasant meal, but if you poo on a plate do not expect me to eat it, I'm not that hungry. wile were stretching this analogy lets not forget, If we don't eat what they are dishing out, they don't eat either. were there bread and butter.

[samsson37]

This has become a facinating conversation, but I was wondering, does anyone know does Ares have a holder on his back for his Ax or Sword ? Have they shown any pics of the back of the figure ?

[Nymesys Prime]

MI WASP up for preorder on HTS
Action Figures at HasbroToyShop.com | MARVEL AVENGERS INFINITE SERIES MARVEL'S WASP FIGURE Item Details

deaths head should be back instock within the next 2 weeks

[ukmu]

Also I agree with both Kylactus and Treble about their points. To this though..... I reject your reality and subject my own....

I think their is a dark room with a table in it where Hasbro meets annually. Perhaps it is in a creepy pointy castle up a long narrow road with a steep cliff on either side. They only meet on dark, lightning storm nights. At this said meeting they decide how to bring our hopes up, and then plot the greatest coarse of action to disappoint us on a monumental level..... Council of Fanboy Despair (working title) meets and discuss our collecting future and light cigars off of NorthStar figures and ash into carded Blonde Black Widow figures..... job well done lads!!!!

In all seriousness, Hasbro makes money from Parker Brothers and Mr. Potato Head all day and don't need action figure money as it is a small drop in their bucket. And of that action figure small drop, Star Wars takes half, Transformers and My Little Pony take a combined 40%..... leaving us one fifth of two per cent of their revenue.

What ever they make or don't make, we will buy or not buy but rest assured we will ALWAYS be here to complain. That is what the internet is for. God bless Hasbro, God bless ToyArk and God bless you the collector...... I am UKMU and I approve this message.



the preceding message was paid for in part by UKMU/Snowflakian 2016

[ukmu]

I have never seen a back shot of Ares personally. If I had to guess about having a holder I would say no.

[Snowflakian]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kylactus

I was not referring to the impossible to find MI line, or the discontinued Avengers Assemble line, I was referring to the ever abundant 5 poa, not particularly well sculpted, ASM2, IM3, Avengers Assemble (5POA). Perhaps Hasbro's assumption is that everyone is broke, so they have decided to only make the "economy" level figures widely available. But I for one would rather pay more for a figure I want than pay anything for something I don't.
In short, in the military I too had to choke down many an unpleasant meal, but if you poo on a plate do not expect me to eat it, I'm not that hungry. wile were stretching this analogy lets not forget, If we don't eat what they are dishing out, they don't eat either. were there bread and butter.

Quote:

Originally Posted by trebleshot

You exaggerate. Hasbro has not gone back to pre-1980's toy designs with MU/MI. For one, toys like that in the 70's did not have knees or elbows. Now if you're only referring to the movie lines' "basic" figures, then yes they are similar to what we had back in the day. But they are also meant to be an economy-level alternative (i.e. cheap, affordable toys for kids).

It's not like Hasbro decided, "Hey, kids don't need action figures with joints; let's get rid of them. Then it costs us less to make and we can get even more money! And those stupid fanboys will bitch about it but they'll buy 'em anyway 'cause they're all OCD and $#!t. Schadenfreude FTW!"

(That was complete sarcasm and not a direct quote. Also, when I was growing up, I was taught to eat what was put in front of me or I didn't eat.)

There are all kinds of legitimate reasons for what Hasbro has done and is doing - a lot of which can be found somewhere in this very thread, if one were to go searching for them (Snowflakian discusses one just above this post).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowflakian

It's a balancing issue.
The MU standard will come back. It's a matter of cutting back now to come back around later with the good again.

The thing with Marvel movies in particular is that there's only so many times you can come out with the same characters over and over again. So with GOTG for example, the focus this time is more on the ships because of it being an untested property. If the movie proves successful, the sequel will then get a better toyline more in line to what we expect from them.

The same can be said of other properties that'll come back around again later. Like with how close Ant-man is to Avengers: AOU, they might be able to get his figure into there.

My question though is more towards how are they going to get Strange, Deathlok, and other side characters like that into the movie-verse standard lines. Strange and Ant-man aren't properties that could singularly hold their own lines unless they dabble into the comic figures arena with them. Even then, it'll have to be expanded more so with side stuff like Satana, Sons of Midnight, etc.

They've gotta find a way to balance the releases though overall to get product out that sells, but also still leave room for product later to sell too. It's a matter of finding the best path to continuously make money, but also cut corners where needed and able to. This allows them to push the figure budget better for the future endeavors without having to repack the same figures over and over and over again.

So around AOU, we should see the return of the MU standard in the movie lines. After that, we should start seeing even more better implementations of the lines all around. This right now is just a recuperative lull on our wallets with all the other great things coming out from them via Transformers and their other brands. When that settles, we'll see the Marvel side rev right back up. Especially once we find out if GOTG is as profitable as Marvel hopes it will be.

There's also keeping in mind that while hasbro does repack old figures. Another method to make customers rebuy a figure they've already bought is by adding more articulation to it.

There's also the fact that retailers as a whole want the cheaper value lines. It's a whole cost vs what the majority of customers will buy etc dynamic. So essentially your "eating" metaphor is what needs to play out.

[trebleshot]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kylactus

Perhaps Hasbro's assumption is that everyone is broke, so they have decided to only make the "economy" level figures widely available.

I don't think that's it, per se. I think it has a lot more to do with the ever-rising costs of materials and manufacturing coupled with the influx of other hobbies (most notably video games) competing against them for kids' and/or parents' spending cash. By lowering the cost of that Spider-Man toy, maybe Johnny's mommy might be willing to get her son it at $7 instead of the new $60 PS4 game.

Quote:

But I for one would rather pay more for a figure I want than pay anything for something I don't.
In short, in the military I too had to choke down many an unpleasant meal, but if you poo on a plate do not expect me to eat it, I'm not that hungry.

Since "poo" is not a type of food, I wouldn't consider it a viable substitute within the context of your metaphor. You may not like the 5 POA toys, but they're still toys. Even if you and I might think they're a waste of our time and money.

I think a better comparison would be steak versus hamburger. Both are made from beef and there can be good and bad examples of each. But generally the former appeals more to adults while the latter appeals more to kids.

Quote:

wile were stretching this analogy lets not forget, If we don't eat what they are dishing out, they don't eat either. were there bread and butter.

No, we're more like the dessert cart off to one side of the buffet line. We're nice to have once in a while, but they can live without us.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ukmu

Also I agree with both Kylactus and Treble about their points. To this though..... I reject your reality and subject my own....

I think their is a dark room with a table in it where Hasbro meets annually. Perhaps it is in a creepy pointy castle up a long narrow road with a steep cliff on either side. They only meet on dark, lightning storm nights. At this said meeting they decide how to bring our hopes up, and then plot the greatest coarse of action to disappoint us on a monumental level..... Council of Fanboy Despair (working title) meets and discuss our collecting future and light cigars off of NorthStar figures and ash into carded Blonde Black Widow figures..... job well done lads!!!!

^ That was brilliant.

[cobracobra]

I think Target and Walmart really dictate what we get out of Hasbro. All the bitching in the world about too many Wolverines or Spiderman with 5 POA wont matter to Hasbro.

At Target and Walmart they carry... well restock all the "kid" stuff I say that because I believe there is two target demographics Hasbro is trying to hit.
Generations, Black Series, Lengends and Infinite Series is what I would label as the "adult brands". We account for a smaller and smaller percentage of the pie.

Why sell a Boba Fett or Spiderman for $20 when you can sell one 2/10? I think its a very economical diving point for these stores.

Maybe seeing all of these Kickstarter toy companies make 100K in 2 weeks will change Hasbros mind about adult collectors. But I am sure 100K-200K is a drop in the proverbial bucket.

Also I am sure between the lack of "adult collector" income and the fact that 4/5ths of adult collectors publicly slander and curse Hasbro for existing and being so horrible since 2010 its hard to see why they want to cater to us at all.

[Snowflakian]

Quote:

Originally Posted by trebleshot

I think a better comparison would be steak versus hamburger. Both are made from beef and there can be good and bad examples of each.

Have you seen Memphis and Nashville hamburgers? I'd say they are equivalent of steak if not better and can be enjoyed by kids or adults.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cobracobra

I think Target and Walmart really dictate what we get out of Hasbro. All the bitching in the world about too many Wolverines or Spiderman with 5 POA wont matter to Hasbro.

At Target and Walmart they carry... well restock all the "kid" stuff I say that because I believe there is two target demographics Hasbro is trying to hit.
Generations, Black Series, Lengends and Infinite Series is what I would label as the "adult brands". We account for a smaller and smaller percentage of the pie.

Why sell a Boba Fett or Spiderman for $20 when you can sell one 2/10? I think its a very economical diving point for these stores.

Maybe seeing all of these Kickstarter toy companies make 100K in 2 weeks will change Hasbros mind about adult collectors. But I am sure 100K-200K is a drop in the proverbial bucket.

Also I am sure between the lack of "adult collector" income and the fact that 4/5ths of adult collectors publicly slander and curse Hasbro for existing and being so horrible since 2010 its hard to see why they want to cater to us at all.

Since 2010? The "adult collector" has been doing that since before 2002.

[scottmurdock]

How has AI/MI distribution been for you guys? Northern Cali (at least my roaming grounds) have been completely dry since their inception. I have not seen one AI/MI figure in any of my Walmarts or Targets. I don't know if locals snap them up right away or if these branches just aren't ordering them.

[Exodus]

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottmurdock

How has AI/MI distribution been for you guys? Northern Cali (at least my roaming grounds) have been completely dry since their inception. I have not seen one AI/MI figure in any of my Walmarts or Targets. I don't know if locals snap them up right away or if these branches just aren't ordering them.

I've seen the popular Cap and IM at Targets in So Cal, but that's it. Also check your book stores like Barnes and Nobles, I saw one at mine and was kind of surprised by it.

[scottmurdock]

What's a book store? It's soooo sad, they have more or less closed down here and we are minutes away from a major university. The last bookstore I was in was at Seattle.