Would 12" toys of other characters sell OK?
 

I've been watching the 12" figure thread at 2005 for awhile and noticed two trends. People are buying some really expensive and sometimes fairly obscure figures. For instance, I know Batman's big, but it's really surprising to me that a 1989 movie version would be made, and sell, today. So I was wondering if there was even a small market for some other stuff like, just off the top of my head, Lunch from Dragon Ball or Brisco County Jr?

12" is a hard market. DC Giants of Justice and Marvel Legends Icons were some cool figs, but most of them top out in value around $15-$30 on the secondary market. It is hard to deliver 12-inch figs at a $30-$40 price point that have any articulation. Above that price point, 12-inch figs really have to feature a character with high demand.

I loved Brisco County, Jr. but even I wouldn't go after an expensive 12" fig from the series.

That said, there are some cool affordable 12-inch figs out there. Some of the ML Icons are pretty cool (Steve Rogers, Colossus, Brown & Yellow Wolverine). I like SDCC Flash, Cyborg Superman, and the black & gray Batman that comes with all the gadgets.

I think the 1989 Batman thing may have been someone realizing their company still had the rights to produe that fig and said "what the hell".

As far as other 12" figs go, sadly, I doubt Brisco would do well, but Ash is inevitible (if not already done).

Mal from Firefly would be cool- maybe with a swappable "beat to hell" head.

I'd love o see a Hot Toys quality classic comic Iron Man armor and would sell blood for a Silver Centurian!
Same for a Nick Fury- the real one, not Sam Jackson (yes, I said he was real- dont make fun of my religion, haters!)

I should've been a little more specific on some points. I collected a few 1:6 figures when $100 was expensive and, between versions 1 and 2 of Medicom's Asuka Langley, prices practically doubled. But I've been pricing out parts in my spare time and it looks like you could still make a figure for under $100 even at triple-digit quantities. I pretty much stopped buying anything when everything made a bee-line for $200 and up, but I'd jump right back in if stuff was closer to $100 again.

I completely agree that the 12" scale is a niche market, especially the high-end stuff that Sideshow and Hot Toys produces. Not to mention how much detail and articulation SS/HT put into their figures.

Both Hasbro and Mattel don't really have a proper business model to pull off that kind of figure. The closest they can come is with BAF, CnC or convention exclusives and even they have higher production runs than a Hot Toys figure.

And for some people, Keaton's Batman was their introduction to the character as a live-action hero (much in the same way people view Christopher Reeve and Superman). Not to mention Batman isn't an obscure figure, regardless of the version. I'm sure an Adam West version would probably do just as well.

I Love 12'' figures. They're big, heavy, detailed, and like it's smaller counterparts, an action figure just in larger scale. I own several Marvel Legends Icons figures, which are 12'' scale. I have Thor,wolverine,cap, 2 iron man figures, colossus,nighcrawler,and they are amazing. Wolverine is identical to a ML series 6 ? unmasked figure, cap is smiliar to the faceoff series cap, nightcrawler is close to ML but better sculpted. Then look at Marvel Universe's Gigantic Battles series which are 10-12'' range, these are the 2 main examples I can think of that have his retail.

Hot toys and Sideshow type items, are more niche even in terms of buying. Typically forced to online or LCS outlets to even buy them, which makes it harder to get, due to limited runs, high retail costs/shipping costs, not may collectors buy them. So the ones that have a gem in there hands, that item that kicks the shit out a small MU or ML figure. I personally would collect HotToys ,... if I felt like working 2 full time jobs plus overtime to afford it, lol. They're beautiful amazing toys, even the boxes are intricately made. There are other forms of figures though, Mcfarlane has made 12 and 18'' figues, neca as well with predator, army of darkness, terminator, chucky, movie figures,music figures, etc. They are a focal point in your collection due to the size and rarity and price. It's nice to see a collection of whatever you like and have that 1 large item that draws your attention then makes you want to look at the rest. Like a replica piece, or signed memorabilia . RAH/Medicom makes some beautiful 12'' figures, Mattell makes a lot, pic what you want, and buy what you like.

You Like dolls

I like giant action figures, not dolls, Barbie is a doll, Ironman is far from it lol. I mainly collect 6'' figures due to price and personal preference, but the larger scale items are nice to have to mix up my collection a bit. I used to have the 30'' batman figures and they were badass. I would love a 4ft version of hot toys, or 1/1 scale lol hint hint.

I'd love to collect them too, if it weren't for the price. If I ever did buy a Hot Toys/Sideshow figure, it would probably be Spider-Man, War Machine or Hulk.

12 inches = a doll.

Call a spade a spade, but these are dolls.

Granted, they're cool as hell man dolls, but still dolls.

(if I could afford Hot Toys' dolls, I'd have them all, so no hate)

All action figures are dolls. Lets not kid opurselves people. Remeber the term "Action figure" was created by Hasbro specifically for the 12in ch G.I. Joes to get boys to buy dolls.

MP optimus prime is over 12". Do I have to buy him a tea set and a pony now?

And a skirt, and tell him to get back in the kitchen.