Before I start Collecting?
 

I want to start collecting Marvel/DC toys however I want to be in it for the long haul. I've heard after Marvel Universe and DC universe there will basically be no more figures coming out.

How long do you think they will consistently make Marvel/DC toys whether it be 6" or 3.75"

Thanks.

Forever!

I honestly think that it will be near never-ending.

6" DCUC (DC Universe Classics) is going strong and looks to be picking up steam. 3.75" DC seems to be doing good, and they are now implementing new articulation into the figures so they will be re-releasing a lot of the more popular characters in the coming years.

6" Marvel Legends seems to be dying a slow, painful death (which sucks). But the 3.75" Marvel Universe line is exploding and looks like it will continue for many, many years.

And I'm sure that years from now, maybe 5-10, it is totally conceivable that a new 6", or any other scale, Marvel line could be introduced and go through the entire roster all over again.

My point is, I think that Marvel and DC toys will always be available in one form or another.

Not sure how long they will continue to be produced.....but if you are just collecting, it might take you a long time just to get all the older stuff.

To be honest, I was in your place about 9 months ago, luckily for me though...MU was just starting so it was easier to collect.

But anyway, what made me go with it (at least with Marvel) is that you have to look at Marvel's 5 yr plan.

In a very awesome fashion, they are going to make a string of movies which will climax into an Avengers movie. And as we have seen, Thor is coming out next Spring, Captain America soonish, Spiderman 4 next spring, Iron man 2 this spring.

Each movie will produce it's own line of merchandise while Marvel Universe will be a steady stream of good products and different characters.

I don't collect DC so I can't igive you any advice there but Marvel is going to have a good couple of years and each movie that comes out will give MArvel more and more public recognition.

Only good stuff can be expected from Marvel in my opinion, and it will go on for a long time.

BTW Hasbro owns Marvel's contract until 2018 I believe?

So I would think Hasbro would continue to make toys all throughout and up until 2018

Right, but also like I said, if they are at Avengers 4 by then (LOL), another contract can be whipped up.

I think the continuity of that contract lies a lot in the hands of MU's success in the next year or two and how the movies play out

Once the current contract has run its course a new one will need to be agreed upon by Hasbro and Marvel (which is now officially owned by Disney). My only worry is that Disney seems to have more of a relationship with Mattel. I hope that the performance of the Hasbro/Marvel toys are strong enough for Marvel/Disney to allow them to continue with it.

I would hate Mattel to make Marvel stuff. Their 6" figures are nice, but too pricey and very, very hard to get. The Mattel 3.75" DC stuff sucks, IMO.

Would there be some kind of conflict of interest in this?

Same company producing two separate rival lines, despite Disney playing favorites?

I just started collecting the Mattel DC 6" figures, but I think they are amazing. They're a bit more pricey, but I think they're totally worth it. The detail, the quality... I mean, take a look at this Superman figure. Just awesome!

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...1/P1050119.jpg

As for the DC Infinite Heroes 3.75" line, they're getting better. My recommendation is if you're going to get into the line, wait for the new articulation figures, because then you won't have to buy them twice. On the left, the old articulation, on the right, the new articulation.

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...1/P1050023.jpg

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...1/P1050022.jpg

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...1/P1050071.jpg

Id be fine if Mattel took over I wouldn't say i prefer it but I liek the idea of the same company owning DC and Marvel

That's a very good point. Not sure how that would be handled.

But there are MiniMates of both DC and Marvel characters.

3-3/4" is here to stay man, I don't see it leaving ANYTIME soon, at all. For both Marvel and DC, I think you should plan for the long run if you like that scale.

As for 6", Mattel does a GREAT job on the DCUC figures, except they are so damn hard to find. Other than that, they are the best 6" comic line on mass market shelves now.

Hasbro has hinted at Marvel Legends 6" figures returning but nothing concrete. IF anything it might be a good idea to track down some of the Toy Biz Marvel Legends figures.

i would say get all the 6" stuff you can, both Marvel Legends and DCU, i like them all. Tho its kinda lame that finding the new DCU is harder than finding the old ML and they seem to be just as pricey :/

The DCUC has been tougher in the past to find. Here in Canada, we apparently got a bunch of waves until wave 5 or 6, then it basically stopped. For a while, you had to go to your local comic shop to get them and play bloated prices, but it looks like TRU here in Canada is stocking them full on now, starting with wave 11, which I've seen a lot of lately. I'm hoping they continue on carrying the line like this.

Wait, wait...so you mean to tell me that you haven't caught the "Pokemon syndrome" of collecting a line yet, where you just "gotta catch em all"? Dude, my advice to you is...

...RUN, RUN away from this now and don't look back! Your wallet, future or present girlfriend/wife will be thanking you and we will thank you for not snatching up a hard to find chase figure that could have been ours! Collecting is a disease much like alcoholism. There should be plastic crack annonymous group therapy sessions, I will join.

Otherwise, can't go wrong with Marvel Universe 3.75" line right now. It's only been out for a year and you should be able to catch up depending on your budget. I finally stopped collecting Transformers and now I'm just strictly a Marvel Universe collector so I have gained a little self control back, lol.

Above all, have fun!

Well I collect GI Joes very seriously so I know how it goes

Oh so you do collect. I thought you were new to collecting in general, well...obviously. In that case MU makes perfect sense. MU is in scale with GI Joe and makes for some great crossover battles on the shelf :)

Kinda what I was going with I love me a good inter-series 3.75" scale battle

Yeah I'd really go with the MU line. Its newer and easier to get a hold of most figures at the moment. These last months have been rather uneventful and I think after Comic Con and with IM2 coming out it will pick up, so you're in good position.


The articulation on the MU line is like thatof GI Joe and DC might disapoint you. Though I have to admit, DC is easier to collect because they are so blantant with their series numbers on their packaging