Been seeing the new (Afterlife) wave of these at Target, they look really nice. I think outside if Marvel movies, this is what I’m looking forward to the most this year. High hopes for it.

On a side note, I did pick up the four Ghostbusters from the new “fright features” kids line, and kind of love them. Simple articulation and all that, but just reminds me of the sort of fun toy line we had growing up. As much as I like the collector stuff we get these days for the various lines, there is just something about a good old fashioned toy line. Good for all ages, and (hopefully) readily available.

I gotta say, this most recent Star Wars Livestream this week was a bummer. In the first Star Wars reveal livestream in ages, only a handful of new items were revealed, most of them being repaints or resculpts. Meanwhile, feels like there's Marvel Legends, Power Rangers, and Transformers livestreams every week where there are new items revealed by teams that are clearly having fun with the products and invested in their fanbases. I dunno why it's bugging me so much.

You know, I thought the exact same thing watching this week. I still (and always will) love Star Wars, but there just seems to be so little energy in the line/brand lately. Which is strange, because with all the positive buzz with Mandalorian (and upcoming spin-offs), you’d think now would be the time to strike.

I’m also a Marvel fan/collector, and Legends just seems to be on fire the past few years. Something is revealed basically every week, and there rarely seems to be any disappointment. I feel sometimes these days that I’m a Marvel collector who also buys Star Wars things (when there are any). It isn’t as if the products are bad, I think both the Black Series and Vintage Collection have had some great figures, but it is such a slow drip.

Also, and I know this has been discussed a lot, but Star Wars fandom really has become a mine field. I know you deal with that in anything when the internet is involved, but from my experience these days Star Wars might be one of the most toxic. So many splintered groups, many of which outwardly despise what the other enjoys. That goes for the movies, action figure scales, vintage vs modern, take your pick. I know as a fan that enjoys most of it, I am genuinely happy for those who get more of what they like. For example, I gave the animated show Star Wars Resistance a chance. It wasn’t bad, but didn’t necessarily hold my interest, so I kind of stopped watching. Now if they continued making seasons of it, I’d be happy for those that did. It doesn’t take away from the things I enjoy more. The livestream comments section is just ugly, it has to be exhausting.

Although it is there other places, it seems like Marvel, Transformers, Power Rangers are at least somewhat more positive (Joe can be another story, but primarily for distribution reasons), and the fan base seems generally still excited for things instead of the usual “Hasblow Sux” nonsense. Just wish it was a more positive place for fandom now.

So my wife recently find out that her job (which was temporarily at home due to COVID stuff), is now going to be permanently at home. As such, we are in the process of redoing our office to make it a nicer workspace for her. That means removing most of my collection and setting up stuff to display in our basement.

All that to say…. and news flash here I know….this barge is a behemoth to display. I’ve been going for sort of a “less clutter” approach to display lately, so I’m in the process of deciding what stays out. This thing can really only fit in a handful of places. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy I have it and think it is a great piece, but it really is difficult for someone like me (with a modest sized home) to display.

I think the overall lack of room has encouraged me to finally unload my prequel era ships. Things like that I had always held onto because “someday I’ll have room to display all of this”. But as I’ve gotten older really I’ve gotten to the point where I don’t know if I want that much stuff out, and I’d never have the room if I did. Again, love the barge and everything, but you really do have to have a space for it.

I don’t know what to think if this is true. I have been all in with anything from the OT, specifically with Black Series, but I can’t imagine the size/price of this behemoth. Plus, I personally collect too many things anyways, so space is always an issue. I’ve already gotten the barge, and backed the crest, and our house is only so big. Very cool that they are making it though.

I’m honestly not usually one to stress too much about packaging, although the shipping the past couple years has been atrocious, because I generally open about everything. The exception to this is retro carded stuff, particularly the Vintage Collection, and even more specifically the figures that were in the original line.

I’ve started getting my figures in over the past week too. I ordered two of each in the hopes that maybe one of each would be passable. First was a lone Paploo, who did arrive in a box, and was in fair shape. A big crease in the bottom right of the card, but otherwise largely “ok”. I’m hoping for a minty set of TVC Original Trilogy figures, but with the WM exclusives that might be too much to ask.

Then today I got in two AT-ST Drivers, packed separately for some reason. One in a bubble mailer, pretty much destroyed. The other in a box, also destroyed (the box was too small). I’m not sure that ordering more would help. First world problem, for sure, but just a bummer.

I wasn’t sure if these deserved their own thread, but they are technically labeled as Marvel Legends on the boxes. These are the new 4”, 5 poa “retro” figures. I was able to find the first couple waves at Target recently (in addition to the Hasbro Pulse exclusives), and I really like them.

Again, very simplified figures, but comic accurate and they have amazing card backs. Kind of remind me of the current MOTU Origins in that they look and feel like toys, and remind me of childhood. Fairly reasonable at $10 each as well. Just pretty cool. Here’s who I’ve grabbed so far:

Spidey/Electro (Pulse Exclusive)
Cap/Black Panther (Pulse Exclusive)
Iron Man/Cyclops (Pulse Exclusive)
Spider-Man
Captain America
Carol Danvers (Ms. Marvel)
Hulk
Human Torch
Magneto
Daredevil
Elektra
Ice Man

Looking forward to more! Tough to know whether to open them, I usually open pretty much everything but I’m really digging how they looks on these card backs.

I got a chance to open and set mine up last week, and it really is neat. Like you mentioned though, more than one could be a display problem. I picked up two of the Carbon Freeze sets (one full price, one discounted on Amazon), and haven’t even opened the second. Heck, I took the original down yesterday because I just don’t have a place for it right now.I like it, just challenging to display for me.

Ok, so has anyone seen the reveals of the Super 7 Ultimates Transformers line? Seems like the RED line juiced up, with a larger scale/price. Kind of surprised Hasbro let them do it, although it is different markets. I have some of their other Ultimates figures (Turtles, Thundercats, Voltron), and have been very impressed with them. Anyone interested in these? I have the initial RED figures, and have Bumblebee on preorder...but may change course here, we’ll see.