[Trivial Psychic]

NECA: I know that I will probably be in the minority here, but I was really disappointed in NECA's lackluster showing this year, and I have a few things to nitpick. I apologize for the forthcoming wall of text...

Outside of the new MEGO styled Jason Voorhees, not seeing anything new for Friday the 13th was a huge disappointment. A few new Jason figures (Parts 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 have no 7" NECA versions to speak of,) or an ultimate version at least would have satiated my appetite, but again, they chose to focus on the MEGO offerings, (which looks absolutely amazing mind you and is a must buy for me) but still not what I would have preferred.

The lack of new licenses or creativity with their current licenses is also starting to show. There is not much more that they can do with the Predator line at this point, as we are starting to get into the "paying 25 dollars for repaints" territory. After the Dark Horse, Video Game, and next Predator wave, I am probably bowing out entirely from collecting them as there is nothing left other than the AVP stuff, which I was never a fan of. My Monster Arts Wolf Predator gives me all the AVP I really need from the only redeemable movie in the crap that has come out since Predator 2.

Speaking of NECA's video game line...more disappointment there as well, as the Godzilla and Gremlins figures, two that I was really stoked for, were really underwhelming. The Godzilla figure especially, despite having an awesome deco, is RUINED entirely by them using the 1985 Zilla instead of the 1954 Godzilla, which was closer to the game and is the Zilla featured on the box art. Gremlins shocked me by having Mohawk instead of Gizmo, which was a letdown, as I feel Gizmo would have had a better look to it.

The rest of what NECA showed was "meh". The Commando figure looks too much like the various Dutch Schaefer figures, no new Robocop figures in sight, and the Pacific Rim stuff is rounding out to a close as well, as I'm not sure they can do much more with the line other than give us more Gypsies.

No real new license announcements was also kind of disappointing. Hard to get excited for the Terminator Genesys license when the exoskeletons currently available are fragile salt shakers. With NECA's love of all things Arnold, you would think that they would have announced a "Running Man" line, which I would have gladly thrown my wallet at. Was also hoping that with NECA's success with vicious alien monsters, that they would have announced a "Starship Troopers" license. A chance to create dios with Johnny Rico, Dizzy Flores, and the Bugs paired up Hicks, Hudson and the Xenos? Ooooh...please. Sign me up.

The "ultimate" figures both looked great, but still was lacking. No "ultimate" Jason Voorhees? Why no wide release of 89 Batman? Jack Nicholson Joker anyone? Why not an ultimate Robocop with Peter Weller head and changeable chest armor? (And don't give me that crap about Weller's likeness and permissions, because if Hot Toys could do it, then NECA should be able to as well.)

NECA took the majority of my cash last year, but I really feel like they didn't do a whole lot to step up their game this upcoming year, where Hasbro actually did, with what I felt that I was a really strong showing. Although, there is a bone to pick with them too, and it's not about it's weak Star Wars showing...

It's the fact that there was NO F'N G.I.JOE TO BE SEEN...

I was hoping for something...anything...Black Series Joes...M.A.S.K. maybe...but nothing. SUPER disappointing. I know that JoeCon is coming up soon, so there is hope that there might be something there, but I'm really not holding my breath, and spending 40+ dollars each on subscription figures is just a bit rich for my blood. It seems that Joes are once again on the verge of going extinct, although G.I.Joe never really dies does it? It just kinda hibernates for a while. Hopefully it won't be 10 years before we see Duke and company again gracing store shelves.

And finally, like many others here have complained about, the apparent cancellation of the Shredder for the TMNT Classics wave has me steamed. Furious in fact. How can Playmates say the classics line failed, when outside of the one or two times I found them on a peg, they were almost ALWAYS sold out? And even if poor sales really was the case, perhaps they should have thought about that before making the terrible and very creepy movie classics figures last year, when fans really wanted more characters to go with the classic cartoon turtles they just invested in. Shame on you Playmates for denying us TMNT fans THE SHREDDER WE DESERVE once again.