The Fall of Marvel Movie Figures
 

More money + less articulation= fail

My main gripe is the lack of figure stands post IM2.

More elaborate gimmicks. Notice that every Avengers 3.75" figure comes with a crappy "launching missile" type of weapon. Whereas lines from previous movies mostly had these gimmicks in the deluxe lines. These accessories cost money to make. Money from the budget going to these useless (to us collectors at least) gimmicks is less money going towards the figure itself. Which means more basic figures and in this case less articulation.

I'm certain that Hasbro is aware of us and despite having these figs directed at kids, they still made good sculpts mostly and also gave us figures we would otherwise never be getting like Ultimate Hawkeye, for example. It's not a perfect system, but given the circumstances, I know I'd much rather have the types of figures on the pegs now than seeing figures like "Nightwatch Cap" or "Grocery Shopping Hulk" (with exploding shopping cart) :)

I, for one, am holding out for "Grocery Shopping Hulk". Seriously though, I think the movie figures started going downhill with the "Thor" line. No comic series for this line really sank it for me. I don't want a Chris Hemsworth figure. I wants a Thor figure! The only figure in that line that interested me was Destroyer.

Maybe I'm in the minority here, and thats fine, but Hasbro is really missing the point here. The Cap line could have had Baron Zemo, The Thor line could have had Ulik, or a comic version of anybody. I was hoping the Avengers line might have a comic line with some obscure villains, but no. Here's to their lines getting better and more MU!

I was at Target today and saw a mom (at least she looked like a mom, lol) do a drive by in the avengers section, picked up a bunch of figs and left. Pretty sure she, nor the kid who she bought it for, even care about lack of articulation or how much better the MU versions of the same characters are... she probably saw Avengers on the card, so she bought it. This kind of thing probably only encourages Hasbro to cut even more corners though.

AMEN to that.

I agree with most of what you said, but in all fairness, that is actually a good turnout of characters for a Spider-Man movie which really should only feature Spider-Man and Lizard.

the reason is because IM2, Captain America, and Thor CHOKED the pegs. Hasbro cant afford to put out another movie line that pegwarms so much, so they decided to focus more on play than appearance. Simply put, the Avengers and Amazing Spiderman lines were for kids, while they try to entice the collectors with ultimate hawkeye and thor. Kids like rocket launchers and games now, so they dont have to use their imagination. Kids like Skylanders and Bakugan and Beyblade. even Star Wars has a game mechanic now with the little dice they come with.

Same can be said of Marvel Universe. I'd only display them so no stand means that they have to stay in their plastic prisons until I can get some. :(

I display my figs without stands.....the feet are flat and the figs can stand on their own....

I get stands are a big deal, but its not the end.

Stands you can buy separate, articulation is (mostly) permanent. I hate that they cut articulation in the last 2 series (Avengers/Spidey).

The answer is simple, its a kid targeted line. Limited joints mean a stronger figure. Like it or not they are building them to suit their target audience and they seem to be selling well.
The Iron Man line did have some great figures, which sold well. That left 37 versions of Iron Man. Sadly the best versions of him are in the MU line.

The Avengers line has for me the bare minimum necessary articulation.

It's acceptable for me because the sculpts are great, but any less articulated and it's usially a pass for me unless it's a bulky guy like last year's Spidey line Rhino and Lizard.

I don't really mind the Avengers line. It could use a LITTLE more articulation, but I'm ok with what they did.

I think the REAL problem here is the extremely long delay in MU waves. If we had our MU figures being released regularly, I don't think most people would care. But right now it's all we have, so we're harsher on it.

Cost cutting all around and the realization that collectors will opt for the more collector orientated 6" figures and fight each other one on one at Walmart for them.

I thought it was assumed that little kids were more interested in bigger scale figs... that's why they even make the big sized figs to begin with. They should amp up the quality on the 3.75" figs and reduce them on the 6" figs IMO.

the amazing spiderman ultra figure is awsome

I usually get slammed for my opinions on stuff like this, but I'm going to throw it out there anyway. I don't mind reduced articulation on movie figures and sub-lines for a few reasons:

1) I'm always happy to get new figures. The Spidey subline has given me a ton of badguys I'd otherwise be waiting years for in MU proper. The articulation may be reduced, but I've got a service-able Rhino. I'm cool with that. A lot of times the sculpts are pretty awesome, even with reduced artic. In just a few years, I've amassed a huge MU collection thanks to these sublines, and I really want to keep it going.

2) Movie figures usually get displayed for a short time, and then put away or relegated to a movie-verse shelf where they can all suck together with Movie Deadpool and various IM2 Drones I'll probably never think about again.

3) I see these lines as the gateway lines to get kids hooked onto action figures. I'll deal with T-crotches if it makes the figures more available for the kiddos. (I also understand that while kids like articulation, there's also something to be said for the sturdiness of a figure, too. Reduced articulation helps in that regard for sure.) Then, those kiddos grow into the MU line and keep the main thing I care about going. Hasbro has their strategy, and I think I get it.

4) I understand that a lot of figures aren't meant for me, the middle-aged collector. I'm ok with Hasbro making water splasher toys or scuba spideys, because I know if I was a youngin', I'd love that stuff. I cherrypick from the sub-lines and I'm happy for any gems they throw in like super-articulated figures or obscure costumes (Manga Spidey, Ben Reilly, Spidey Unlimited, etc.). It doesn't have to be about me all the time.

I get all of the nerd-rage, I really do. I'd be lying if I didn't admit I get it sometimes myself, but I think long term these are minor tribulations to deal with that help keep everything else we love going.

I agree with most of your major points, but with lack of articulation should be a cheaper price point. I mean seriously, if a toyline is specifically geared toward children then make them affordable so that kids can actually buy them. I've seen plenty of happy meal toys that are the same quality as what is being shoved down our throats at retail, so that needs to be addressed.

I agree to an extent. I guess the argument is that money goes toward whatever gimmick accessory they include.

Another problem is they have made some pretty killer Happy Meal toys in the past.

Seriously. My Happy Meal He-man 2000 toys fit right in with my MU/Joe shelves.

all lines are suffering from articulation problems,the companies have cut back due to a weak economy,how do you think us batman fans feel?

I have batman toys from the last movie that were basically the same thing, but they have that 'Mattel cheaped-out on the plastic recipe' that turns white and chalky. It's not like the figures collected dust or were exposed to extraordinary amounts of heat or whatever, but parts will turn white and chalky and crappy. Hopefully they at least fixed that this time around.

Also, those happy meal he-man toys kick the butt of the dark knight figs.
http://www.kathysfastfoodtoys.com/eb...D_03_HeMan.jpg