Post SDCC (and yearly) bump. With possible changes in the upcoming Star Wars lines (less 3 3/4"), looks like things could be changing for many...

Star Wars

Vintage Collection - I'm in as we get them, specifically OT stuff and new figures that get sprinkled in.

Black Series - possibly the future (and present?) of Star Wars collector figures at retail. I'm selective here, and will continue to be. Right now I have three floating shelves for BS figures, and can only display so many, so I really think about each figure that comes into the house. OT focus here as well, and any face paint upgrades we get. Likely in for some Rise of Skywalker figures, and the Mandalorian.

Marvel Legends - What I've primarily been buying the last couple years, to be honest. There is just so much if it, so I don't get everything, but quite a bit of it. Hasbro has really been killing it on this line, and I've been loving the MCU stuff as well as the classic comic looks they put out.

MOTU Origins - Not out until the Fall of 2020, but I'm likely in on this. Already have a collection of Classics that I'm very happy with, but the combination of vintage style/scale, a somewhat reasonable price, and a retail presence sounds like a fun thing to get in on the ground floor with.

Otherwise, that might be about it. I honestly don't have a ton of room left to display things, so I've gotten a lot more selective with "other" stuff, particularly modern. I have been picking and choosing from the Transformers Siege line, I really like those. I still work on vintage toylines like GI Joe, TMNT, Super Powers, Secret Wars, etc. when I have the time/money.

I was thinking about this a little more today, and although it is sad in a way, I think I am ok with it. TVC is really what I primarily collect Star Wars wise, and it appears that it is continuing for now. Looking back at the past couple years' releases, it looks like we could see roughly 12-25 figures per year if they continue on a similar schedule (and a mix of new/repacks). All this reminds me of one of my favorite eras of my collecting, Power of the Jedi. It had a similar number of releases/schedule, and although prices are higher now, it was a much more "manageable" collection for me back then.

Still not sure how long a line like this will have a place at retail, but we will see. I still think they sort of want, or would just be ok with, a lineup of "5 inch GOA is for kids, Black Series is for collectors". Either way, definitely a new era of Star Wars collecting. One thing I kind of like about that GOA line, for kids in particular, is they look like fun toys. Like, toy toys - the type a youngling can grab, bash together, go on adventures in the backyard, etc.

I just feel like maybe all the secrecy hurts Star Wars a bit. I get that a lot of it is out of Hasbro's hands, but just in general. I mean, there is a level of secrecy with Marvel stuff too, but Hasbro is able to basically be the talk of the show with their Legends reveals each time. Often 20-30 new figures shown in some instances. If they can't show movie stuff, they unleash a bunch of new comic based figures. I don't see why they couldn't just mix things up unveiling some OT and PT stuff, or just characters they missed from Force Awakens, Last Jedi, Rogue One, Solo, Clone Wars, or Rebels.

I still kind of wonder about the basic line of 3 3/4" stuff. I don't know that we have had much in the way of rumors for that, where everything else has been covered. I think TVC will continue for the time being, but I could also see that eventually moving to "Fan Channel" or some sort of online exclusive type of thing. I personally love the scale/line, but it sort of seems to be becoming more niche. I could see them wanting the primary lines being the 5" and Black Series.

On the other side of the Star Wars presentation, Marvel Legends hit it out of the park once again. Among other things they announced:

MCU Avengers wave with Endgame Thor BAF
Squirrel Girl with Scooter
Dr Doom
Cosmic Ghost Rider
X-Men 3 pack (Cyclops/Jean/Wolverine)
Polaris/Havok 2 pack
Strong Guy
She Hulk
Shang Chi
Vulture
Morph
Nate Grey
Dani Moonstar

And more....

HA! Compared to the Rancor, Torture Droids and Bib Fortuna, another Luke is the least exciting thing they could have thrown in there!

I'd like to see those as well, but honestly I'd be down with an all new Jedi Luke with face printing. I don't know about everyone else, but I have a tough time leaving the pre-face scanned figures in the display. The newer ones are worlds better in that category.

Awesome pics of new Stranger Things figures from McFarlane at SDCC!

....is what I wish I was saying this morning. Way to completely waste all the momentum of the new season guys. 

We just picked up our first few in this line recently, as we let our daughter watch the entire series with us this summer, and she is totally obsessed. Got her the Season 3 Eleven for her birthday, and we also got a deal on the Ghostbusters 4 pack. I kind of figured if she got into the figures and wanted more we would be way behind, but not really. No Steve? Max? Jonathan? Nancy? Billy? Seems like now would be the time to really push things out.

Probably more news to come this weekend, but if anyone has seen the Prince Adam/He-Man SDCC exclusive from Mattel, it is apparently a previews of what is to come in 2020. Pixel Dan posted a pic of a vintage inspired Skeletor in the same style that is apparently part of a RETAIL line titled MOTU origins, $14.99 each. I'm definitely interested....