I wonder how quickly the Hasbro side would die out? Collectors seem willing to part with $50 from a direct release but I doubt if Hasbro prices these close to that margin in stores that many will move. Certainly parents are unlikely to get them for the kiddies (though I don't really believe the kiddies are going to be huge into an Indy ROTLA figure anyway) at a $40-50 price point when a 3.75" can be had for $5-6 or so. So I guess the question is whether Hasbro will even succeed with this line? I think the Adventure Heroes will be a hit with younger children and collectors alike. I think the 3.75" line is destined for success with the adult collectors and maybe a flush of sales from the movie release when the toys inundate Walmart and kin, but the 12" line? Meh.
Frankly, I'm really surprised that there's even going to be four different SKUs in Hasbro's 12" line to begin with. I figured just the one, kinda like the vintage line. As far as waves go, it's gotta be a one-and-done thing. (Or maybe two-and-done, although that doesn't rhyme, and, as such, doesn't sound as good.)
If I had to guess, I'd say we'll be getting either one or two Indys (depending on if the Indy we saw in San Diego comes with a jacket or not), Mutt (Shia's character) and either Spalko (Cate Blanchett's character) or Marion (they wouldn't do two different female characters, would they?) I'd bet on Spalko before Marion.
Anyway, very cool news on these mailaways. Even without seeing them, they already sound a lot better than the lame ones we got in the VOTC promos. For me, the Adventure Heroes is a given, the 3 3/4" is a probably, and the 12" is a wait-and-see. I'd imagine we'll see a lot of these type of posts, soon after launch day:
FS: Four 2008 Indiana Jones 12" figs, from people who don't care about Hasbro's 12" line but just want a 12" Ark, for whatever reason. But that's all kind of dependent on what Sideshow does.
(And I guess, with Arks confirmed for the AH and 12" lines, I guess it's all but guaranteed that we'll be getting one in the 3 3/4" line too, huh? The only question is how they'll deliver it--maybe in the Deluxe line or maybe even packed in with the Desert Convoy Truck or something.)