It just happened.

If the prices keep going up, it's going to break the banks of all collectors

Saw 20th Cap at Gamestop... it was $32... I felt like Christopher Columbus discovering the new world... the new world of $30+ Legends figs at retail.

We don't have the labor in the US to produce figures. We are going to have to make decisions on how we spend our $. I started cutting back LY. In looking at my Toy room, I have enough main characters of Avengers, X-Men and Star Wars. Joes are another story. It is time to be very selective. Price increases drove me out of monthly comics along with poor stories and the need to restart every few years.

I've said it before in conversations on the thread that the compensation expectations for American workers, in this case, machinists, in my estimation, is too high for the manufacture of goods at this price point. Most manufacturing in Western culture is unionized and that's a very good thing; employers should be discouraged from abusing employees and that is the principal purpose of any union.

I think a smaller shop could potentially do it, but Hasbro's runs are larger in scale (speculation on my part, as I've no quantitative info) than what I imagine MacFar, 4H, or Boss Fight create. Interestingly enough, the price points for Boss fight are $25 for a 3.75" figure and have been there from the start, I believe. Additionally, Four Horsemen figs have always been at least $10 more than MLs. Neither of these lines generated the sticker shock that Hasbro has experienced.

Hasbro's definitely going to lose patrons, but there is a chance they can muddle through by including extra pack-ins to somewhat offset the sticker price. If deluxe rates are going to be the norm, then add some of what collectors receive from pricier lines. Better paint, more textures, clasping/casting-hands/fists, extra heads featuring neutral/emotive portraits, and gun/weapon/energy-effects could all be added to shift the line to a sincere 'collector's' model.

There are a lot of good ideas here. I don't want to quote everyone because my response post would be super long. I'm no economics expert, I'm a teacher and a radio DJ. I think that having a US based manufacture would be a great idea to help combat costs. However, I wonder if that would have an impact all over the world because the US collectors aren't Hasbro's only buyer base. I understand that shipping costs have gone up, so that's why I'm going to am idea of make them in the US, but like I said, what does that mean for other areas? I truly don't have an answer.

A few people have mentioned that this prince increase could kill the line, and I fully agree with that. Even on the customizer end, I wouldn't dream of paying full price now for a figure that I'm going to repaint/part swap. It's a strange time to be collecting. I also collect Transformers and they're going through a price hike too. That's a toy line that I used to buy EVERYONE from. I simply can't afford to do that anymore.

I’m no expert on the manufacturing side of things, but you’re probably right. The other side of the coin is that shipping from the US is, and always has been, far more expensive than shipping from China, and I doubt that’s changed just because China’s gotten more expensive. Even if producing domestically might be competitive with producing and shipping from China as far as the US market is concerned, it would wreak havoc on European and Asian markets. Canada and Central America are probably already getting their product out of the US (which is why everything is already so expensive in Canada), so I doubt they’d seen any change, and Australia is probably boned either way, as usual.

You both bring up an important oversight on my part. We're not in a vacuum here in the States and shifting to American manufacturing may help with woes here, but it would also create a set of new hurdles almost everywhere else.

This leads me back to my previous sentiment that if this is to be the new normal, then Hasbro will need to give fans more to justify the hike. They'll still lose many supporters, but switching to a collector model and adding thoughtful improvements might stanch the bleed and even attract collectors that opt for the more expensive 1/12 lines. Hasbro would also need to dramatically reduce the amount of product they put out in a year. Which ain't a prob for me given I've been saying for quite a while - less is more. When Hasbro first bragged about more Legends being released in one year than ever before, I immediately looked at the quality and noticed a drop in the care given to comic canon figs. Of course, MCU budgets and details remained strong throughout that period likely bolstered by movie tie-in merch-dollars.

In any event, it will be interesting to see how this all plays out.

I don't remember if I mentioned we started watching What If... last week and so far, it's 50/50. Episodes 1 and 3 were an utter borefest to sit through, especially episode 3 while 2 and 4 were quite good. The Starlord one was superb while the Strange one was almost as good.

Next up... zombies. Yaaaaaaaaaaaay... I guess.

^ The Watcher Ep with Ultron was my absolute fav... it made me almost go out and try to complete the Watcher BAF.... almost.

We ended up just finishing the series off tonight.

Episode 5 was pretty decent as I loved the quips Peter made about horror movies.

Episode 6 might be my favorite as Killmonger was just fantastic the entire time. Plus, the anime jokes were great. Well that and the episode was very intriguing.

Episode 7 is the weakest one from episode 4 onward. It felt like a filler episode, but had some notable funny moments within.

And then 8 and 9 were pretty badass. I loved seen Arnim Zola return. Seriously, Toby Jones is such an underrated actor.

Episodes 4 and 6 rule, I'd love them expanded on.

Bored by, or hate the rest.

And this is where I will be doing 2 things from now on.
1# Buy only those comic based figs I must have in my collection, especially never before done by Hasbro, long over due figs such as classic Lizard.
2# wait on other figs that I do want such as 20th anniv Cap to go on clearance later on. No way I'm paying $32+ per for regular sized figs, not happening. So far this yr, I've pre-ordered 4 figs: Ulik, US Agent, classic Sabertooth & classic Lizard. Any other comic based fig I'm interested in such as Ragnarök Thor will be bought if it goes on clearance, if not, no biggie, I just really want the spinning hammer, sure someone will be selling it separately on ebay.

Yeah, at this point I'm going to be limiting myself to specific characters I must have in my collection. Granted, it's still kind of a lot, but there's not many oversized dudes left they can get me with outside of X-Men and maybe one or two Spider-Man guys. Well, maybe they could pull off Annihilus from FF, but that wave would probably include other FF characters I'd want anyway.

Mostly, my non-X-Men and Spider-Man needs are:

Nightmare
Baron Mordo
Clea
Shuma Gorath

Rama-Tut
Mole Man
Annihilus
Diablo
Red Ghost
Thinker
Puppet Master
Alicia
Gorgon
Triton
Crystal
Lockjaw

Classic Arnim Zola
Classic Falcon
Classic Sharon Carter

Demon Fire
Basilisk
Demon Fire Cultists

Some of those will more than likely happen while others, like the Morbius ones, probably not so much. I've given up on the Serpent Society at this point. I like them, but not enough to spend $30+ on a member. I'm pretty satisfied with the small roster I have for DareDevil, though I would like a new DD on an updated body.

I concur. My only classic Avengers left on my must have/want list are classic Falcon, classic YJ, classic 1st app Wonderman, classic Starfox and classic Photon

Count Nefaria

FF figs: classic Wizard and Trapster
X-men" classic 1st app Bansheee and classic Angel in red/white togs

Classic Wrecking crew on new 80s retro Herc buck
classic Ironfist & Powerman

Classic Red/silver BOX from Alpha Flight

Spiderman characters: classic Tarantula, classic Boomerang & Hector Ayala White Tiger
New classic DD

I've given up hope of ever seeing any other classic Imperial Guard core members or classic Squadron Supreme core members.

There are a ton of Marvel Legends characters left that I'd love to see Hasbro make first-ever figures for and make new updated/re-release versions of. The biggest problems for me are that I'm perpetually broke due to everything going up in price, including the price of Legends going up again, and availability of said figure(s). It's hard to enough for me to buy Legends as it is. Add in the factor that we're now getting fully-covered boxes that won't let you know if you're getting a figure without some sort of quality control problem and it's going to be a very difficult time for Legends collectors.

As long as we're wish-listing, I'll include my list of Legends figures left that are must-haves for my collection. Be advised, it is quite long.

AVENGERS/MARVEL UNIVERSE
Hulk [purple trunks/Kirby head from their first issue], Iron Man [classic red-and-gold armor and "Heroes Return" armor, both on a slightly taller body mold], Thor [classic with brighter suit colors and Erik Masterson], Loki [green-and-yellow costume with yellow cape], Wasp [red-and-black classic costume], Hawkeye [classic and early '90s West Coast uniform, both with pointed mask wings], Wonder Man [first appearance, Safari Jacket, and '90s black-and-red West Coast uniform], Vision [classic], Daredevil [classic red costume], Luke Cage [classic Power Man], Iron Fist [classic], Falcon [classic with Redwing falcon figurine], Spider-Woman I [classic Jessica Drew], Ms. Marvel [classic Carol Danvers], Captain Marvel II [classic Monica Rambeau], Count Nefaria, the Absorbing Man [classic with ball-and-chain accessory], Titania, the Wrecking Crew, Ghost Rider II [with alternate Danny Ketch head and motorcycle]

FANTASTIC FOUR
Thing in disguise [trench coat, fedora, sunglasses], Mole Man, Doctor Doom [classic with "Kirby crackle" energy accessories], Puppet Master, Alicia Masters, Willie Lumpkin, Annihilus, the Wizard, Trapster, Crystal [F.F. uniform and yellow-and-black uniform], She-Hulk [F.F. uniform], the Fantastic Four in their "Heroes Return" uniforms

THE INCREDIBLE HULK
Dr. Bruce Banner, General Ross, Betty Ross, Rick Jones, grey Hulk, classic green Hulk [as a Deluxe release with butterfly joint shoulders, better head sculpts with shorter hair, and alternate "thunderclap" clapping hands), brown jumpsuit Professor Hulk, the Gargoyle, Ringmaster, Tyrannus, Leader [orange-and-black costume], Abomination [classic as Deluxe release], She-Hulk [classic purple-and-white suit], the U-Foes

SPIDER-MAN
Spider-Man [John Romita Sr./"Amazing Friends" uniform with the chest spider emblem legs out to the sides, alternate Peter Parker head, alternate hands, and wavy-lines spider-sense effect accessory], Aunt May Parker [classic elderly/Silver Age], Chameleon [Ditko smoking jacket, '90s purple suit, and '90s animated series], Vulture [classic], Doctor Octopus ["Death of Captain Stacy" suit and glasses, white Armani suit, and '90s animated series, all with bendable wire tentacles], Sandman [green-and-thin-black-stripe shirt version, armored green uniform, and green-and-yellow Wild Pack uniform, all on a taller/bigger body mold than the Retro figure], Mysterio [classic with better cape and alternate Quentin Beck civilian head], Green Goblin ['90s animated series with a better series-accurate Goblin Glider, and classic comic costume with better eyes on the Goblin mask, comic accurate bat-wing Goblin Glider, classic pumpkin bombs accessories, and alternate heads of Norman AND Harry Osborn], Kraven the Hunter [classic and '90s animated], Scorpion ['90s animated with bendy wire tail], Rhino [armored '80s uniform], Mary Jane Watson [first appearance with new smiling John Romita Sr. head sculpt and '90s animated], Shocker ['90s animated], Beetle [first appearance and classic armored with brighter suit colors], Boomerang [classic purple-and-blue costume], Morbius [classic comic costume], six-armed Spider-Man [with comic-accurate bare extra four arms and better paint on the suit's web pattern, please], Tarantula [classic], Black Cat [classic], Calypso [classic], the Rose, the Spot, Hydro-Man [classic with normal arms and hands], Hobgoblin [classic John Romita Jr. version with accessories of pumpkin bombs and razor bats, alternate civilian heads of Ned Leeds and Roderick Kingsley, better feet to fit on the glider, and comic book accurate Goblin Glider], Carrion [classic], Jack O'Lantern [classic with hoverdisc and grenades accessories], Venom [classic with Eddie Brock alternate head and alternate Venom head with his tongue wagging], Carnage [classic with alternate Cletus Kasady head], Walrus [to go with White Rabbit], Firestar ['90s uniform with leather jacket], Doppelganger [classic on bigger body mold], Felicia Hardy ['90s animated series], Stunner [classic], Kaine [classic], Octo-Spidey [with bendy wire tentacles], Lady Octopus [classic], Delilah [classic], Black Tarantula, Fusion [from Paul Jenkins' "Peter Parker: Spider-Man"]

X-MEN
Angel [red-and-white costume with halo emblem and red-and-white X-Factor uniform], Avalanche [classic], Banshee [green-and-yellow uniform, Jim Lee blue-and-yellow uniform, and Generation X uniform], Beast [brown-and-yellow X-Factor uniform and blue furry George Perez], Blob [classic as a Deluxe release], Chamber, Colossus ['90s Gold Team uniform and Acolyte uniform], Cyclops ['70s uniform, '80s blue-and-white X-Factor without metallic paint, '90s Jim Lee/Blue Team uniform without cel-shading, 'X2' movie uniform with alternate original 'X-Men' movie visor, and Astonishing uniform, all with a red optic blast accessory included], Jean Grey [red-and-yellow X-Factor uniform, '90s Jim Lee/Gold Team uniform without cel-shading and better head sculpts, and 'X2' movie uniform], Iceman [X-Factor with gray belt], Jubilee ['90s Jim Lee/Blue Team without cel-shading and Generation X uniform], Longshot [classic], M [Generation X], Magneto [classic red-and-purple costume and 'X2' movie uniform], Mystique [classic], Pyro [solo release with brighter suit colors], Rogue ['90s green-and-white uniform, Outback uniform, and 'X2' movie uniform], Sabretooth [classic on a bigger/better body mold and better head sculpt, and updated '90s Jim Lee], Storm [Outback black-and-yellow uniform, '90s Jim Lee/Gold Team uniform with a better cape, and 'X2' movie uniform with alternate original 'X-Men' film head/hairstyle], White Queen [solo release classic, Generation X uniform, and Astonishing uniform], Wolverine [classic tiger-stripe uniform, classic brown-and-tan uniform with X belt buckle, 'X2' movie uniform, and Astonishing uniform], Xorn [with alternate Magneto head]

And these are just the ones I can remember off the top of my head! At the rate Hasbro's going in terms of character selection, anniversaries, delays and Retro re-releases, I'd say I have a long time before my collecting days are even close to being over.

It sounds like it won't be too long before each figure is $30 to $35 - or closer to $40 with tax and possibly more with shipping. At that point, I'll make a top 10 to 15 wants and stick to it and that'll be it for me.

Of course, that's assuming they're even on the radar. After saying for years now that 'such an such" figure will surely be coming in the next year/two years, I'm frankly no longer suspecting that. They might finish OG X-Force or 90s X-Factor but I'm not 100% sure of it anymore. I'm not sure if they're going to pick up the OG Thunderbolts anymore, and I am fearing that they'll get to the same point with New Warriors - I think that's 5 of the characters done now, who knows if they'll pick up the other three main members at some point.

2019 and even 2020 were really great years for the line for me personally. 2021 had things to offer, but I could feel my interest waning. This year it's dropped like a rock comparatively. Almost a third of the way through the year and one figure bought (and no preorders thus far). I know that's just me personally, and I'm not saying the line is ending or is less interesting for everyone.

Maybe it's the point that being a longer term collector of this line, since 2005 really, it's about run out of steam for what I want - that will ALSO realistically get made. Second part of that is as key to the first.

Waiting for classic versions that might not be made is getting harder and harder. I was waiting for classic Falcon, but found a $10 Fix it Falcon at ROSS, so I bought it and realized he is good enough. Now I am debating just buying the Onslaught Mockingbird instead of waiting for a classic version. X-men are the only figs that I need era accurate costumes... everyone else I can mix and match from different eras without my very limited comic knowledge OCD kicking in. Reworking my display I realized I am still missing a classic Daredevil though... that one I will probably have to wait for the teased retro version since the bucky cap mold versions are still expensive.

For me though if my team display is only missing 1 character... that is close enough finished for me to not obsess about it... I can just pretend they are just going to the bathroom or something while the team picture is being taken. LOL.

Frankly, I don't see a point in having Falcon in my collection if he isn't the classic looking one. It's like Banshee from X-Men. If he doesn't match the early Claremont team, he's rather pointless since that is what my main X-Men display includes.

Of course, I'm also debating if I even care about Feral and Siryn anymore since I've missed out on the X-Force 3 pack. I guess I'll still get Siryn since I do want Bonecrusher, but should I even bother having X-Force on a shelf now that I'll never have the team completed?

I can already see that I'm slowing down on Legends. I made my own 2022 Legends checklist last night and I'm skipping most of the stuff they've shown. Granted, there are a few figures that if I see them on sale I'll pick them up. But most of it is a NO for me.

For myself, it's a combination of they've made a lot of the figures I wanted, the prices are going up, and there's too much coming out each year. Also, I haven't been reading comics for a while. For myself, reading comics led to the desire to complete teams, get current looks, and in some cases look for newer figures that were even closer to the artwork. I was particularly bad about that last one with Transformers which, aside from the new Beast Wars figures, I don't collect them anymore.

My list of genuine wants at this point is:

AVENGERS/MARVEL UNIVERSE
She-Hulk, Beta Ray Bill (classic), Ms. Marvel (Dark Avengers), Daredevil (classic red), Captain America (2000s era light blue with the pouch belt), Iron Patriot (Dark Avengers)

FANTASTIC FOUR
She-Hulk, maybe the white and black F4 or Future Foundation costumes.

SPIDER-MAN
An actual Todd McFarlane Spider-Man (not a 90's-ish version, actually Todd's), animated series Doc Ock, animated series Scorpion, PS4 Spider-Man on a dedicated body

X-MEN
New X-Men Cyclops, Wolverine, Jean Grey, Beast, Emma Frost, and Xorn
X-Treme X-Men Storm, Bishop, Sage, Psylocke, Thunderbird II, Rogue, and Gambit
Astonishing X-Men Cyclops, Wolverine, Emma Frost, Beast, Shadowcat, and Colossus

My list of wants is shrinking all the time. For Avengers, it's like Jack of Hearts and that's it, maybe. I loved the Geoff Johns run and that's why I like that character so much. Maybe a new She Hulk in the Purple and White uniform. The A-Force one from a few years back is on my shelf, but she's not doing it for me.
Fantastic Four- I'm just looking for a new Mole Man.
Spider-Man- Carrion is a must. I'll probably keep buying Spider-Man characters, but there's a point where I could see myself loosing interest.
I'm open to cosmic characters, but I feel like they only get love when a Guardians movie comes out.
I'll buy X-Men forever. Everyone. I can't help myself.

Quasar appears to be back in stock on the Walgreens web site.

https://static.thcdn.com/images/larg...2672690004.jpg
https://static.thcdn.com/images/larg...2672126619.jpg
https://static.thcdn.com/images/larg...2672228490.jpg
https://static.thcdn.com/images/larg...2672280498.jpg
https://us.zavvi.com/merch-action-fi.../13805256.html

Jigsaw sounds cooler, but with a mug like that they should've called him Roadmap :D

Or staple! Haha