Wave 17 - Series 3 or 4?
 

I'm surprised this topic isn't getting more talk from the MU community.
We saw a packaged Beta Ray Bill at NYCC and it was numbered 11.
There are 6 figures in Wave 17 and 5 figures in Wave 18. So that would lead us to believe Wave 17 is the 1st Wave of Series 4 right? Plus Wave 17 isn't being released till December which is historically the time when the 1st wave of a new series is released. For such a crappy wave of repaints - I'm surprised Dave Vonner would allow the new Series 4 to be kicked off so lackluster. Another interesing point is, none of Wave 17 was showcased in package at NYCC. But one of Wave 18 was? One last point, in the Panel shots from SDCC - they stated Wave 18 was the 1st wave of the series 4 2012. Doesn't make sense.

Thoughts?

Typo and/or Prototype

You lost me early on there..all I can say is that I am looking forward to Beta Ray. ;)

I think you may have something. It was weird that there were no packaged shots.

I think it's entirely possible they're lowering each series to only have 25ish figures now that MU will have to compete with ML for shelf space. Plus, we can't forget that Series 1's first wave had 11 figures! They've never had such a large wave since.

Wow, that was certainly a thorough analysis! But, in the end, whose keeping track?

oh the good old days...

I imagine Wave 17 is going to be Series 4, and released in December, with Wave 18 being the first wave of the new year. They wouldn't wait another month to get product out, since December will still be Christmas season.

The packaging may just be due to the artists they're working with. It's possible the Wave 18 artist just had Beta Ray done before the Wave 17 artist had anything, or if they're the same person, maybe they just have one deadline to make and it doesn't matter to Hasbro which order they go in. I'd suspect, though, that it's most likely due to some situation with the art/artist.

And I bet they never will again. Still though, not all stores that carry MU will carry ML, so I don't think it's as much of a shelf space issue as anything else. I'd guess that Hasbro is trying to use a slightly larger team to produce both MU and ML, rather than two full teams, so they're slowing production on MU a bit.

I had mentioned something like this earlier on.

I had noticed that right now series 3 is now up to 26 figures, and if wave 17 comes out and it is still part of series 3 that would bring the tally up to 32 for wave 3. Series 1 and 2 both had a total of 34 figures, would that mean that wave 18 would have 2 figures that are part of series 3 and the rest would be series 4? or like was mentioned that maybe the series has been slimmed down to 25ish figures. If that is the case, its going to throw off the way I place everything on my figure wall.. arg..

Man I remember the 11 figs in wave 1... those were the days. But I'm glad they do not come out like that anymore, I would end up paying 130$ one shot for the wave.. (Canadian prices don't forget)arg.. lol

figure quality is also going up. The new bodies probably cost more so we're trading off more figures for better figures.

Hasbro wouldn't want to wait, but retailers might if they don't have the space and won't clearance product during the holiday season. They could be January fill ins when product clearances out.

Figure quality going up does not equal increased cost. A lot of it has to do with just getting better at the process. They have a large library of body parts to work with now, so we can get a couple more truly unique figures each wave because the rest of the wave is using old parts already paid for in an earlier wave.

Wave 1 - 2012 series is the beast wave.

Wave 6 - 2011 series is the psylocke wave. So they are ending the 2011 run on repaints and head swaps.

They are starting 2012 with a whole bunch of awesome.

We might start seeing the wave 6 2011's anytime in november with how fast they moved up the release on wave 5 right after 4, which means the first wave of 2012 could still hit in late december.

They may also be splitting productin time with the upcoming Avengers line of toys...or maybe we'll get a suprise and the comic packs will come with numbered stands.

Yeah, the comic packs need stands.

Dude, where'd you find this information?

December it is...from what this site says. Sucks :P Was looking forward to it too.

Castle Geek-Skull: A Pop-Culture Extravaganza!: Marvel Universe Wave 17 Image

Iron Fist - White costume is cool, but it's a pass for me.

Psylocke - Got to get Psylocke, but I would have preferred the new female mold. I'm sure everyone would.

Storm - I would pass but I still need a Storm...

Patriot - I like is personally, so I'd go out of my way to buy it.

Thor - Pass. Simply pass.

Daredevil - Would be a buyer if they used their new Daredevil mold... Which they didn't.

getting everything here but daredevil. Expensive....

I want Storm and Psylocke.

Everything but the Avenger's :P Although depending how well Iron Fist looks.

The con slides, and how fast wave 5 2011 hit shelves after wave 4 2011. It's just an assumption, but they seem to be pumping them out even faster now and the revision cases are already hitting from wave 5, so after those the wave 6 should hit, which at this rate might be end of november.

That site didn't sound like it knew for sure it was December. I'm still hoping for late November.

Iron Fist - Lame before, ugly here.

Psylocke - Must get, only because she's an essential X-Man.

Storm - Nice new storm, but I'd rather have one of another 100 X-Women. This is the fourth one to come out, and she's not that popular.

Patriot - Interesting, lesser known character. I like him, but now I want all the Young Avengers.

Thor - Ugh. Another Thor. Didn't the movie line not selling tell Hasbro anything?

Daredevil - Old, repainted DD mold. Sad. Didn't we already have a dark version?

That being said, I'll get them all and any variants they put out. I'm a completist, after all.

Was it just me, or was every figure in this bunch really blue in this picture? What's with the odd coloring? I'm hoping it's just the picture and not the actual wave. It looks awful.

I'm glad Psylocke isn't the new female mold. My X-23 is trash. Too tall, really loose joints, and her legs are wonky.

I really want that white Iron Fist, but only because the new Defenders series starts soon and I'm pumped about it.

Peteparker, that's not the mold they used for the old DD. But maybe that's not what you were saying.

Like myself, completists aren't allowed to complain. ;)

[QUOTE=Saint Phe;198791]I'm glad Psylocke isn't the new female mold. My X-23 is trash. Too tall, really loose joints, and her legs are wonky.

Agreed. There is something wrong with the legs on X-23

I don't really understand all of this hate towards X-23. I mean sure the figure is a little tall considering it's X-23, but it's still an awesome figure. Mine isn't loose, wonky, or anything like that. I say the new female mold is pretty damn solid.