Great time to be a 3 3/4" collector
 

Honestly, 3 3/4" collectors (like myself) have never had it so good. Even back in the 80's at the height of Joedom we didn't have a glut of same scaled (close enough) toy lines like we do now. The 90's and early 2000's saw a huge drought for smaller scale collectors with 12", 8", and 6" being all the rage. But now it's flooding! Lets review what we've gotten in the last few years:

-GI Joe 25th, ROC, POC, 30TH -
In my opinion, Joes are hands down the best figure line in this scale and always have been. Articulation = Amazing, Sculpts = Ridiculous, Accessories = Punch an old lady in the face. It seems like each new iteration of the line gets better and better. Recent highlights? The new Skystriker. What a great update to one of the best vehicles ever made in any toyline. What to look forward to? The new movie line. While the last movie line had it's highs and lows, if the same people work on the new movie line that did POC and 30th, I think we can expect some great things.

-StarWars-
StarWars was really the first toyline to revolutionize the 3 3/4" scale back with Kenner in the late 70s early 80s. Today under Hasbro they are better than ever. While they usually don't have quite the same level of articulation as Joes, the sculpts are still usually solid and it is by far the most prolific line at this scale. StarWars definitely takes the award for being an army builders Mecca. Clones, Droids, Mandalorians, you want it they got 50 varieties of them. Recent highlights? The new AT-AT. OMG! In an age when everyone says playsets aren't cost effective or practical, the new AT-AT punches them in the face and steals their lunch money. By far the best vehicle/playset in the last twenty years. The new "classics" line with the retro packaging is also choice. What to look forward to? This line isn't going anywhere. It will be around cranking out new vehicles and troops for years to come.

-Marvel Universe-
My favorite toyline in this scale by far. All my favorite comic characters? Check. Great sculpts? Check. I just can't get enough of these guys. Really the few complaints I have with this line are the overuse of certain characters (sure other lines do this too..."ahem" SnakeEyes, Duke, and Anakin "ahem") and the excess of silly variants (although some variants are actually cool ala Dark Avengers Mrs. Marvel). If those start to get you down though all you have to do is pull out figures like WWHulk, Astonishing Wolverine, Modern Thor, Thanos, Cable and the like and you will easily forget your cares and drift back into being a Hasbro zombie. Recent highlights? The Masterwork Series. Again, just when we thought big toys were a thing of the past, Galactus FTW! And the Sentinel ain't too shabby either. What to look forward to? The 2012 line up looks amazing! More emphasis on new characters and even better sculpt. I think this line will be my addiction of choice for some time to come.

-Marvel Movie Lines IronMan 2, Thor, Captain America-
Great supplements to the MU line. While you do get a glut of one specific character, this line does add in some secondary characters that we otherwise might not see in MU. Recent highlights? The comic series. Unfortunately Thor was sadly lacking in this department, but from the other two we got such greats as War Machine, Hulkbuster, Iron Monger, Silver Centurion, Mandarin, Bucky Cap, US Agent, Crossbones, etc. What to look forward to? Avengers Assemble! There is some great potential for the Avengers line. Again, I think the comic series is where most of the best stuff will be.

-DC Infinite Heroes-
I know! I know Mattel pales in comparison to Hasbro on sculpt, articulation, etc. But honestly, when viewed on it's own, this isn't a bad line. The sheer number of characters they brought out in their short run is staggering. And toward the end of the line the articulation and sculpting was getting fairly decent. With characters like Batman, Superman, Flash and the like, this line still has a soft spot in my heart that DC Superpowers occupied when I was a kid. Recent Highlights? The Starro pack. Also the Superman/Batman Public Enemies figures (the better sculpted ones at least). Also, Hawkman. Look him up, but this figure is pretty sweet. What to look forward too? Sadly not much. The line ended and unless Mattel pulls out something with The Dark Knight Returns or Man of Steel that is 200% better than the Green Lantern movie line, then I really don't see DC making much of a showing at this scale any time soon.

-Green Lantern Movie-
Never mind. But honestly the sculpts aren't bad. It's the articulation that kills this line. Recent highlights? Well, I guess if there are any then it would be the chance to get a few aliens to fill out your DCIH Green Lantern Corps. The Guardian figures aren't bad either. What to look forward to? That these will go away quickly on clearance and make room for a new and better toy line.

Coming soon, my synopsis of Thundercats, Indiana Jones, A-Team, Star Trek, and more!!! There has been so much 3 3/4" goodness to chat about...

So what do you think fellow small scale collectors?

This is a great little "shout-out" man, and you are totally correct. For all the bitching we do for any of these given lines, we do have it pretty damn good so far...(come on MU 2012 figures!!!) ;D

INDEED IT IS!!!!!

http://i1103.photobucket.com/albums/...COLLECTION.jpg

Having this scale around again is cool for adult collectors like us, but I'm sure it is much better for kids. They're affordable, detailed, and major imagination fuel for little bad asses all over the world.

Hear, hear!

Agreed. I collect anything 3.75 and there is soooo much to choose from. Sometimes at the store its like, decisions, decisions.

I think it's great time to be a 3 3/4 collector due to line selection from movie figures ie thor,cap,im and now MU and IH, add in MK, SF, prince of persia,starwars,gi joes, even walking dead,avatar, etc tons of lines to fit together. The problem is having the $$ to buy what you want, the availablity to purchase the product, and the room to display the product. I'm running out of room/money and selection at the moment. I did hear the glorious news that a toyrus is confirmed to be coming, and my local Zellers is becoming a target. can not wait!

In talking about Marvel toys I forgot to mention the Spiderman 3.75" line. Primarily geared toward kids with all of the various "Scuba Spidey", "Astronaut Spidey", etc. But there have been some good supplements to the MU line come out of here. Recent highlights? SS Venom is awesome. Lizard and Carnage are pretty sweet too. What to look forward to? Here's hoping that the new movie line will have some good comic series figs!

I find the best thing about the 3.75 is being able to interchange the accessories, figure parts for customizing and even crossover battles. Its the main reason why I got started to this line.

Lord Marvel: it looks like you need another shelf. 2012 is just around the corner with so much 3.75 goodness. Nice collection.

I agree.

If they release a 3.75" MOTU line it will be an even better time.

Totally agree. Makes them so easy to collect!

I like some of the characters, but they just wouldn't look right displayed with other 3 3/4 stuff.

The other 3.75" stuff would likely crap it's pants if it had to fight a Master of the Universe.

Except Hulk, he's the strongest one there is.

Cool write-up. I've always kind of considered the 3.75" scale to be the standard for action figures because of Star Wars kind of setting the stage with their toy line (and giving the world a clinic on merchandising) in the 80's. I remember making fun of my uncle's old GI Joes that he had saved because they were friggin' Barbie dolls. "That's not an action figure,.. it's a doll,.. these little guys are action FIGURES!"

I completely agree on the big ass AT-AT being a ridiculously awesome playset.. maybe the coolest toy I own.

I prefered the Terror Drome to the AT AT, though I didn't actually crap my pants when I got one.

My thoughts eactly! GI Joes coe with a crazy load of stuff that works for MU and MU accessories like pouches and belts work with other lines...that belt on the Cap line Captain Britian
rocks on an AIM soldier- as does an AIM helmet on a Cobra Toxic Viper.


And then here's customs....ohhhh

My only gripe is DC. DCIH just looked to dated. I saw pics of the New 52 superman coming next December and thought it was a 3.75 line.
I thought I finally knew what the new age the Mayans predicted was all about. MU quality DC figures.

Other than that all my 3.75 expectations of 10 or even 5 years ago have been exceeded. 2012 looks like a good year too!

What Superman figure are you referring to?

There is just something classic with MOTU being the scale it is. I'm not really saying no to a 3.75 MOTU, i'd have to see how its done to really make an assumptions out of it.

I would like to see MOTU in 3 3/4 scale to go along with the classic 6 inch scale for the classic collectors. I'm very happy that Thundercats went this route, as I will collect them now.

You forgot the ultimate '70s 3 3/4 figure line: Micronauts! God I loved those man. Akroyear, Time traver, Space Glider, Biotron, Baron Karza. Awesome!!

Are you refering to the classic scale, or the Classics scale?

This one.

http://www.mylatestdistraction.com/m...2_Superman.jpg

The way this page had them displayed I thought they were 3.75's at first

New York Comic Con Preview Night – DC Toys on Parade » MyLatestDistraction

It'd be cool if DC direct did 3.75" figs.

Dude those Blackest night figures would be INSANE at 3.75!! Id army build Deadman!! I'd also love a 3.75 Joker(Heath Ledger vers.)Harley Quinn(Arkham Asylum vers.)Bizarro,Rocket Red,and Creeper!!!