Time for the New Year check in, looking at the plan for the year. For me it continues to be the theme of being more selective. Most of my interests have stayed the same over the years, the main “new” area has been Super 7 Ultimates, which look great but are pricey. The price increases are really dictating how much I can really collect these days.

Star Wars
Vintage Collection and Black Series.  I’ll stick with TVC (or the equivalent) in some capacity until the end. 3 3/4” Star Wars is what started it all for me, and I still enjoy it very much. I’ll continue to pick and choose with Black Series. I like the figures, but it can be a frustrating line at times. Love the Mando stuff, OT of course, and there are still a few things from PT, ST, that I’d like to see.

Marvel
Legends. Probably my main line anymore, definitely from the number of figures/money spent standpoint. I love the classic comic figures, as well as the MCU characters. Fun line, their brand team really seems to care.

MOTU
Origins. Love it, hope it continues. I’ve bought most of it so far, and plan to continue. I dabbled in Masterverse briefly, but ended up returning most of it. Nothing wrong with the figures, I just figured I can’t collect multiple lines for each of these properties, so I stuck with Origins. I kept the He-Man and Battlecat, but that’s about it.

G.I Joe
Classified. Still not necessarily easy to find, but a fairly slow release schedule so it isn’t impossible to keep up with what I want. Very interested to see this potential return of the o-ring figures. Wanted the Skystriker, but just didn’t have the extra cash at the time.

Ultimates
TMNT, Thundercats, Silverhawks, G.I. Joe, some random things. Hoo boy, this one is the money black hole. I’ve really liked the figures I’ve gotten so far, but I also know I won’t be able to keep up with it all. Only all in with Turtles so far. Hoping to get the main team for things like Thundercats and Silverhawks, and pick and choose with Joe and other stuff.

In general, I gravitate towards the same properties I liked as a kid. So when things go retro, I get tempted. Outside of prices and distribution, the amount of properties represented and overall quality of the toys kind of make this a golden age of collecting….and harder to set limits. More and more I’m drawn to Kickstarter/small company type figures, especially the 3 3/4” scale stuff.

We saw this yesterday, and I thought it was really very good. I won’t go into spoilers, but I thought the new cast was great…and the nostalgic touches were done just right. Also I think this is the third or fourth thing we have seen McKenna Grace in, and that kid really has the skills. Also, there are credits scenes for anyone who goes.

I honestly kind of chuckled when they brought out that cardboard backdrop. Like everyone else, not because I want it to fail, it was just one of those “yeah, that seems about right”. When I heard they were planning this, let’s be honest, “emergency livestream” to try to change the narrative of this campaign…I thought they would pull out all the stops. Rancor Keeper, another new or new-ish figure, whatever it took. Today’s livestream was about what they whole ride has been….a sad trombone sound.

I’m one of those who does collect both lines. I’m primarily a 3 3/4” collector (which probably should be the HasLab focus because of scale, as mentioned), but I buy Black Series as well. Specifically,I think I have bought all of the OT characters made so far. That alone had me at least initially interested in this. Then I thought about it more, and I just couldn’t justify it. It is a lot of money (right before Christmas), and I honestly don’t have anywhere for it to go aside from the floor. Not to mention that I’m almost more interested in things like the Skystriker and Super 7’s Party Wagon (although that may have priced me out as well).

This whole Rancor thing just shows how the Star Wars team just seems a step behind lately. The figures and everything always look pretty great, but releases are few and far between, announcements in dribbles, and the fact that Funko, Hot Toys, etc can all seem to beat then to market with new or hot characters is kind of ridiculous. I mean, why is there no Mando season 2 Fett ready and on the shelves in time for Book of Boba? That aired a year ago!

To the HasLab side, I do wonder a little if collectors are reaching the breaking point for these huge items. They all look great, but they are pricey space hogs. Add to the fact that many of us follow multiple lines, and it is even worse. As much as I love the Barge…and think it is great…and I’m glad I have it, sometimes I look at that thing and think “as cool as this is, this is ridiculous”😂. I thought the Rancior would end up funding no matter what before today, but now I’m not so sure.

Ok it doesn’t seem like a lot of people here collect these, but a pretty good showing from the Joe team at Pulse Con today. Nice looking Classified reveals (seem to really just be going all in on classic designs, which is great), the return of O-ring figures, and their first Haslab - the Skystriker!

As for reveals:

Storm Shadow (version 1)
Spirit and Freedom
Cobra BAT
Tiger Force Outback
Python Patrol Viper
Python Patrol BAT

Storm Shadow is of course amazing, as is Spirit, but I was surprised by how much I am excited for Outback and Croc Master. They look fantastic.

The O-ring stuff looks cool too, and I’m curious if this will lead to them replacing the other 25th style “retro” figures. I noticed all figures included with the Skystriker are in the old style.

I don’t know what to do here really. I’ve basically been all in on OT Black Series stuff, but I just have no idea where I’d put this. Plus that’s a big chunk of money to drop right before Christmas. I’m sure it will look amazing though. I’m having the same debate with myself over the Haslab Skystriker. I know I probably shouldn’t, but it is tough to resist. That is the main reason I passed on the Sentinel and Galactus from Legends. I’m basically all in on that line, but I just don’t have the space for all these big items, and I’ve already gone in on the barge and Razor Crest.

So these were officially revealed today, and I really like them. Don’t get me wrong, I love the TVC style of figures, and would love to see the original 96 finished (or more focus on the line in general), but things being what they are I sometimes wonder if they shouldn’t just make “retro” the main line at this scale. Simpler to make, cheaper (keep them at $9.99 max), and just churn out a wave of six 4-5 times a year. Heck, repack the big guns like Mando throughout the lines just like they did Vader, Chewie, etc back in the day. Simplify things. We have seen things succeed, or at least get a lot of love, that get back to just being “toys for all ages” like MOTU Origins, the Ghostbusters main line, etc….do the same for Star Wars.

I find myself buying less and less each year.  I skip most of the "carbonized" or gimmick repaints.  I have been skipping most of the repacks unless there is something substantially new (parts or deco).  I have started selling off some stuff that no longer brings me joy.  It does make me sad that something that was a HUGE part of my life and led me to so many great people who are now my friends is dying... but I am also keenly aware that I have been doing this for 25 years and all good thing end eventually.

Honestly, it is kind of nice to see others feeling the fatigue a little bit. Like you said, after 20-25 years of this, and space dwindling, and prices rising, it was bound to happen.

I have been buying less and less as well, and honestly if I only collected Star Wars it would be a very small buy pile for the year. I don’t really care about the repaints/carbonized/credit or the video game stuff, and I’m selective with Black Series. I want them to “finish the 96”, and will be there for all of it. I also think I’d be ok if they just shifted the line to Mando/Boba/current Disney Plus stuff beyond that. Don’t get me wrong, OT always has/will be my jam, but we’ve gotten a lot of stuff. I still don’t know why the Mandalorian didn’t have its own dedicated line, it is so “toyetic”, and they really missed the boat on this.

All the things everyone has mentioned is true. Just not as much excitement or enthusiasm around Star Wars toys. And a lot of complaining. My other main interest is Marvel Legends, and their brand team is so excited, engaged, and there are new announcements basically weekly. It might be a thing where Disney/Lucasfilm is tying their hands, but I don’t see why we still haven’t seen so many characters from Season 2, let alone Season 1 of the Mandalorian. It is the most excited (United?) the fan base has been in a while, and it has been a slow drip. I know we will see them eventually, but even Hot Toys has shown/teased more of that stuff. The Star Wars line definitely needs a shot in the arm though.

Been awhile, is anyone here collecting or keeping up with the new age-Man line(s) and figures? To be honest, I always looked at my Classics collection and thought “I’m good on He-Man stuff for now”. I missed out on a handful of characters, but otherwise felt good about it.

Then Origins hit and I checked those out, and loved them. Sometimes a headache to find, but affordable and to me sort of vintage He-Man 2.0. Those original figures don’t hold up the best over time, and Origins is a chance to get a collection of those that are complete and more durable. I’m pretty complete aside from Power Con stuff, and I’ll probably continue.

Now we have Masterverse, which are pretty good for that $20 price point. I have what is released so far, but have only opened He-Man, Skeletor, and Battle Cat. Plus they showed a lot more cool stuff this weekend at Power Con. The question I ask myself (as I’ve been selling off chunks of my collection to clear up space, etc), is do I really need three (or more) versions of these same characters? Outside of by absolute favorite characters or lines (specifically Spidey, Marvel, and parts of Star Wars), I try to limit the other franchises to one line, or one version. That is getting more and more difficult.