Been thinking about changing from collecting MU to Minimates. It would take up less room, and the Minimates are pretty damn cute, lol. Would probably be cheaper in the long run too... right?
Anyone collect one over the other?

Ehhh... I kinda think SHS and Minimates are a bit silly. That said MU is the only thing I collect, I just saw them at a store a couple years back and dug on the 3 3/4" size, the decent price, range of characters and lack of lame "Action Features". But if you don't mind the minimates, the prices and availability seem alright, plus the timely and relevant releases (Marvel vs Capcom 3 pack comes to mind) are always exciting. So, yeah, my two cents.

From what I understand Minimates has been around a bit longer then MU, not by much though. The selection of characters is a bit more varied then MU just because they can release multiples.

I've always wanted to pick up Minimates but two things stopped me

1) I'm a completist so I would want all of them, which would be a huge budget expense for me while still being an MU collector. But I understand that has no bearing on your question

2) The older minimates, which arguably you and I would want to acquire, at least some of them, can be pretty damn expensive. For a two pack or even a single of some of the rarer ones can push 15 to 20 to 30 dollars depending. For a 2 inch gimicky figure, thats a lot to ask...

Thats the only warning I'd offer to you

Yeah, I'd have to agree with Tarq - Minimates are fun, but if you're considering going back and buying the older releases it will get expensive really quick (especially if the letters S-D-C-C are involved).

If you only plan to buy the newer releases going forward, more power to you. I own four of them so far (all from IM2 subline) and they're cute little figures. I also plan on getting some of the MvC3 Minimates when they come out, as well.

im surprised minimates survive for so long.. lol. just my opinion..

i've only ever bought one, sabretooth (shocking!). and i was not a big enough fan of them to go back for more.

I collect minimates and I like them way more than MU, especially now that minimates are becoming more and more detailed. I can't wait for mvc3

I personally love minimates and have been collecting the Marvel ones since the begining. I also collect some of the Marvel Universe too and like them also. The Marvel Minimates have just gotten better like over9dud said the details are great and the extra interchangeable parts/ accessories they come with now are awesome. Not to mention the great assortment of characters including some obscure ones. If I could only collect one I'd pick minimates because they're fun but if it was minimates or Marvel Legends it would probably be Legends.

I have 2 sets of minimates I got at a local comic show: one with Spider-man, Hulk, Wolverine, and Captain America, and the other had Red Skull, Green Goblin, Magneto, and Dr. Doom. They're cool. They're unique. I think I have enough.

They remind me of mighty mugs: I have a couple, and I like them, but I couldn't see myself giving up my MU figures to collect them. There's something just a bit too stylized about both mighty muggs and minimates that keeps me away. To each their own, though. I can see how others could get into these guys.

I collect both Minimates and MU.

I'm not a completionist though, so I only collect certain ones of each.

Minimates are great for displays and if you enjoy 'super deformed' versions of characters, but collecting them all would be a pain. So I tend to stick to only certain ones like wanting Modern X-Force teams, and stuff like armored marvel. (Nova Prime, modern Ironman, Titanium Man, Crimson Dynamo, Armored Cap, armored Daredevil). In this case it's really not that bad, as most of these figures I can get on ebay for just a couple bucks.

MU I collect for the more realistic dioramas. I can use those figures to fit in with GI Joe, and others of that size class without an issue. In some instances you can mix them too. Like Ultron with a minimates mini-me ultron.

Really it's a question of preference, and stylistic choices that each offer. So I couldn't see collecting one over the other as they just present different things to the table. It's just about which aesthetic and size you prefer moreso.

I do gotta admit I probably play around with my minimates X-Force more than I do the MU ones though. I love the realistic styling of the MU X-Force, and will probably have more fun with them once X-23 is released, but until then, I just get a kick out of the fun poses minimates can do, and the ease of balance that can be created thanks to their feet compatibility to building blocks like lego.

It just yields better results when I can dig into a box of building blocks and pull out transparent pieces for Ironman flight jets, or add small city scape dios for cap against hydra, or rooftops for cloak and dagger, or even just rooftops and factories for X-Force, without having to build an entire tower like the IronMan MU armory is becoming.

Minimates also make MU galactus, and BAF sentinel even bigger in comparison though too which is all kinds of awesome. xD

I think that they both great lines. I'm not a completionist(correct me if I wrote it wrong) so I just buy the toys from both lines that I like.

Don't collect them but got a few minimates. I had to get this DP when it came out.

Nice Deadpool. See, now that is one of the ones I'd actually be willing to go back and pick up.

I've heard it said as both "completist" and "completionist". The correct term is completist, as "completionist" is not actually a word. But I'm sure most collectors will know what you mean regardless of which one you choose to use.

I catch myself flipping back and forth between the two sometimes, even though I should know better.

Yeah that's my bad too.

Completionist is slang for someone who needs to get every little achievement or collectible in a video game.

Completist is the actual word for needing collections to be complete.

call me both!

cool, thanks for the replies guys! I think I've just been yearning for something Marvel to buy since I haven't seen new MU that I've wanted for a couple of months...

Just to see what these little guys were about, I picked up a movie Wolverine/Blob pack at TRU for $3.50 on clearance. The wolverine was kinda cool. I thought the Blob was pretty sweet though considering he came with both his skinny self and his fat self, awesome!

I'm not sure what ones I'll pick up, but I won't be looking for any of the older ones; I'm collecting these for shits and giggles, not a complete collection. That's also assuming I can get my favorite characters eventually too...

Other than TRU and Comic shops, any other places carry these lil' guys?

Not any stores that I know of but there are a few websites that carry them. Lukestoystore.com and stuckakid.com carry mostly just minimates, bigbadtoystore.com and actionfigureexpress.com carry them too. Lukes probably has the best shipping prices though.

I think nickvree meant brick and mortar stores. The only other place I have ever seen Minimates other than TRU or a comic shop is FYE, but they're borderline specialty store. But, yeah, there are a number of online retailers that carry them.

yeah, I meant Brick n mortar, but that was basically the answer I was expecting; I had never seen them at Target or Walmart that I could remember, so kinda figured...

i just dont collect all of them from the beginning so thats why i dont try to collect them, even their character are more a lot then other figures. They are cute but im already enough for 3inch and 6inch figures

I knew he meant brick and mortar but was just trying to let him know of some good websites to get them. More stores used to carry them but haven't for a long time, mostly specialty stores but target used to carry them but that was probably 4-5 years ago.

They've really been out that long? wow...

Actually, the first Minimates debuted in 2002.

i love them minimates take less room and for making dioramas for them is super cool..if u want to collect them go for it