Discussion: Popularity of Marvel Universe
 

This is something I've been reflecting on for a while

Do you believe Marvel Universe is one of the more popular lines out right now?

I ask this because of a couple things. In a lot of comic shops around my area, I have a huge huge huge unheard of stock of DCUC, a lot of rarities in there. Unfortunately, I don't have the money to get into it. The shop also has a TON of DCIH, GI Joes, Star Wars etc.

But Marvel Universe, is the most expensive AND flies off the shelves while the other stuff rots. We see this also happening in corporate chains.

Online, MU seems to have a huge price tag, while DCIH and DCUC and some other stuff seem to be a bit more comparable and even "forgiving" on the wallet.

What do you guys think?

To answer my own question, I know MU was one of the reasons I got back into collecting, and consequently while I've continued to collect.

Out of all my collections I value it the most, follow it the most etc. I would say there is also some competitiveness also surrounding MU, trying to track down the really hard figures.

We also seem to compare a lot of 3 3/4 figures to a new standard, the MU standard. Wishing DCIH was like MU. Praying that other 3 3/4 will have similar articulation etc.

I think it's doing well, a lot better now but during the 1st half of the year, not as interesting. I started losing interest as many of you noticed, I got burnt out of the constant repaints of Daredevil, Daredevil body retools(like used on the SHIELD Soldier, Winter Soldier, et al), Black Spiderman and Classic Iron Man repaints/retools.

I think the line is popular because for collectors, it's a comic line with usually good paint apps, and decent articulation. Plus it's a much higher quality line than Toy Biz' Superhero Showdown. The Iron Man armors in the line have much better paint apps than the Iron Man 2 figures. Character selection is decent, it's gotten a lot better. The new molds from this year were for the most part good, and the 2011 ones look even better. The waves that recently appeared at retail are pretty good too.

So it's a line that picked up steam much more towards the end of this year. Hopefully next year we will see more unique molds, and less reliance on just a few body types. This year saw the release of a Hulk figure which rivals it's larger Marvel Legends counterpart, which to me, is a rare occurrence. World War Hulk is the best Hulk figure that Hasbro has ever made.

I think this line also helps parents. It's like a fall back line for them, like once a Marvel movie line is over, Marvel Universe can always be relied on, that kind of thing. I hope we see the new ankle joint on Bleeding Edge Iron Man become standard next year. That ankle joint is EXCELLENT.

Very good point. While we did get some interesting characters like Multiple Man and Winter Soldier....they were done in a non-unique fashion.

I think it's still very popular, but it has its share of detractors too. Along with the price increase, some other negatives: articulation is limited for certain figures when it shouldn't be, there are still QC issues here and there, the mold re-usage as Shin mentioned, inconsistent paint apps and, of course, character selection.

I really like the line and it remains one of only two toy lines that I still actively collect. But, I'm starting to get burned out myself. Most of that is the price and the perceived value of the toy.

For $9, I can get: 1 MU figure (w/one accessory and stand, on average), 1 Deluxe Transformer, or 1.5 G.I.Joes.

And that choice is getting harder and harder every day.

I still can't get passed the smaller size compared to the 6 inch Marvel Legends. That, the higher price, and the figures I really want, Archangel, Thor are nearly impossible to find.
I only collect my personal favorite characters, and it's really hard to find those in the MU line.

I do think the line is one of the most popular out at retail right now.

You guys have brought up some very valid points concerning the highs and lows of the line, but one thing is certainly true: the line is getting better. Regardless, just the fact that most of the figures fly off the pegs while other lines collect dust is a clear indication of it's popularity.

I'll change my opinion if they start producing more Ultimate versions of Characters, as in Thor, Hawkeye. Still looking for comic series Ultimate Ironman from the Ironman 2 line.
Do you guys consider the MU and Ironman 2 line in the same universe, At least the Comic series?

I think the rise in price to $9 (at WM and some Targets) is an indication of the demand of the product. And if a product is in demand, then I'd say it's "popular".

Hopefully with 2 years worth of data, Hasbro and the retailers buyers can figure out how to order the correct amount of product throughout the year and also fix case ratios. Burning though all the IM and SM is really hard to do with the other two competing lines and it's slowing down the sales of the line, decreasing the availability of other figures.

As ludo points out, the MU line is improving, in articulation, sculpt, character selection and maybe even paint. Hasbro has obviously deemed this line's first year successful enough to put this extra $effort$ into its sophomore season and now going into its third year. I'd say that's also a sign that it's popular.

If DCIH (or whatever they plan to rebrand it as) starts getting closer to MU (I look at that 25th Anniversary Robin as a closer step but not quite there yet) I think they might be able to give MU a run for their money. I also think the MU line has shanked the GI Joe line quite a bit as they conpete for the same dollar in many cases as I have seen a lot of talk here, on HISS and other boards where 3 3/4" GI Joe fans have chosen MU figs over their old buy everything GI Joe philosophy (mostly because it is hard to keep up with multiple lines on many folks' wallets).

If DCU 3 3/4" were good in the MU way I think they might be just as popular (which is why Mattel's slowness to get with the program is shocking).

Me I am a diehard MU fan which I never thought I'd be b/c I was/am a GI Joe 3 3/4" guy. I even have been buying up a lot of DCIH figs to customize extra MU figs and extra Joes. The kicker for me for the MU line funny enough wasn't even an MU figure but the Spiderman 3 3 3/4" figure that came out from Hasbro at the con and is on HTS. If all the MUs were built like that figure I would buy even more. that thing is a rock star and Spidey isn't even remotely oone of my fav characters.

Great points made by everyone. I agree that it is, arguably, the most popular current line. I also agree that the difficulty in getting certain figures both adds to (collectors love "rare" anything) and detracts from (do we really need a thousand versions of spidey?) the line. I think it stems from this: it merges the numerous Marvel fans and G.I. Joe (3.75") fans. They are also a bit cheaper that Marvel Legends line (I would have loved to collect these but I missed the boat and the secondary market is brutal). As collectors grow up (I'm rounding thirty myself) they look for things that they enjoyed as kids, for me that's the Super Powers / Secret Wars lines and, of course, 3.75" G.I. Joe. Thoughts???

I think that point has alot of merit to it. I'm hitting the big 40 and as a kid I remember the original Star Wars, the 3.75 Joes, Secret Wars, Super Powers, and even to a lesser extent lines like Buck Rogers, Lone Ranger among others. Back then 3.75 to 5 in was the in thing. I've always loved Marvel but never really been big on 6 in. figures for various reasons. Maybe the sentimental value of this scale appeals to the older collectors such as myself. And while they do continue to go up in price{I remember paying 1.99 to 2.97 for this scale as a kid} they like in past years are still cheaper than the bigger figures and appeal to the kids for that reason. I do wish they would fix the continuing distribution issues as I really don't want to have to rely on only online buying, and the QC issues and the case ratios sometimes really get to me. That all being said I really love this line as it is something I have really wanted for along time and hope it has a long life ahead of it. On a positive note though it appears that in the last few waves the figures are definitely evolving in a positive way. Just look as Thanos, World War Hulk, and Modular Iron Man.

For comic series yes, with that said however, some of the figures could have been better. Look at the Advanced and Arctic Armors, both of which seem underscaled. I get that the newer armors are supposed to be increasingly streamlined, but the physique and silhouette(s) remind me more of a teenage Stark, compared to the Classic armors(Classic, Stealth, Ditko horns). I wonder if the same design team worked on both lines. It's cool to see them one up each other, perhaps a friendly rivalry involved.

For example, check out Classic Iron Man from Marvel Universe wave 3. Compare it to Iron Man 2 Comic Series wave 1 Classic Iron Man. The latter blows the former away. The MU version looks scrawny, and leg articulation is not as good. While the MU version blows away the 1st Marvel Universe Iron Man(arguably), the Classic Iron Man from the IM2 line trumps both.

Other notables include Silver Centurion and Hulkbuster. Then came Extremis and Bleeding Edge from MU. So far, I think the Extremis and Bleeding Edge armors are how small scale Iron Man figures from here on out should be made. Bleeding Edge rules.

Hey Hasbro if you make a true modular armor for Marvel Universe; CAN I HAZ ANKLE JOINTS LIKE ON BLEEDING EDGE IRON MAN?

I've got to say, I haven't really collected toys since I was a kid but have always liked checking them out on shelves. Once I saw this line though, I was suckered into getting a couple for a little Avengers display on my desk at work....

My Avengers are now battling Galactus along with pretty much every other MU figure (as well as a few others from the rest of the 3.75 Marvel lines). I can't stop. Each new wave just makes me want more.

Thats how I got into it too ha!!

Its funny because....everyone I believe is on the same page here. Marvel Universe is undeniably popular and gaining more and more steam. It has definitely had its slumps but it seems to be moving in an ever upward direction.

I think the most poignant example of this is that some of us are even able to justify some of the QC issues we encounter and "suck it up". I know I do...if its a rare enough figure and its got a small blemish I say screw it!! and buy it..ha

Yeah, cause if you don't as I've learned in the past the hardway, you may never see that figure again on the pegs. LOL

Very true.

Thats how I got my Black Widow...she has a bent knee joint, something deformed....I'm really disapointed with it but I've never ever ever ever seen another one of its kind on the pegs

Jeez, Shin. After I told you about the BAIM's ankle joints, you never were the same huh?

I don't know if they're more popular or the fact of small amounts of cases stores buy up, employees holding them for their buddies and scalpers who buy them all up and jack up the price by thirty dollars. The only new figures I've seen in months have been mystique and multiple man and the wave with vision and warpath were never seen in my area.

The same can be said for Dc universe. The local walmart will get a case or two of the exclusives and have a dozen mister miracles that are unsellabel Gotham 5-pack. But then they'll stock up on like ten cases of Star Wars Vintage figures and Iron Man waves and complain about people not buying them and they don't want to carry new lines because no one buys......I'm sorry, what were talking about again?

Stores buying. Employees holding. Scalpers jacking prices. Sounds popular to me :D

I reckon it's popular because Marvel and Hasbro have got many things right.

With all the Marvel films that have come out over the last 10 years the casual fan is familiar with a large number of characters.

I watched the Spider-Man and X-men cartoons as a kid, but was only vaguely familiar with the likes of Iron Man, Hulk and the Fantastic 4. Because of the films I now know and like those characters. Compare this to DC where I like Batman, but couldn't really give a monkeys about any other DC property.

I would love to have collected Marvel Legends, but (in addition to a hefty Transformers collection) I just don't have the space for 50-odd 6" figures.

50-odd 3.75" figures? I'll see what I can do.

Add those to (for the most part) well articulated and sculpted figures, and you've got a product which rival lines can't match.

Exactly, Ludo.