Do superhero toys really suck?

Posted by Gcrush 
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Supersentai
I'm still Jonesing over the Keaton 89' Batman, would love to get that and the scale Batmobile...$700 my wife never need know about.
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asterphage
Sanjeev Wrote:
> Well, the whole nature of the 3-3/4" figure has
> changed so much over the past few decades, it's
> really impossible to compare. That said, I'm with
> Adam: $20 for a modern Joe/SW/MU figure is just
> not what I'm willing to pay. Especially given
> their *meh* quality...

Well, y'know, they're only 9 bucks if you can find them in stores... blame Hasbro, or the market forces that prevent Hasbro from being able to distribute them equally...

-Paul Segal

"Oh, the anger is never far, never far." -SteveH
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Supersentai
Even indexed for inflation, SW figures were easy to find under $2 back in "the day", but now they're eight dollars? I can imagine two things are true...that the labor costs to produce them are not appreciably more expensive than they were twenty five years ago (plenty of countries to mine for cheap labor still, follow the changing "made in" logos); and that technology has made the production of such toys even cheaper on top of it.

If I'm shelling out $20 at Wal-Mart for a SW figure for my grandchildren thirty years from now, you'll all be hearing about this again!
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Sanjeev (Admin)
Well, we really shouldn't get into the "is this retail price fair" discussion yet again. There are far more forces at work than just inflation. The materials of these toys has changed radically due to evolving safety standards...and the cost of plastics has skyrocketed due to oil prices...and the shrinking popularity of toys, as a whole, leads to smaller runs...etc...etc...

Believe me: if there were a way to make these things fucking cheaper, Hasbro WOULD DO IT. Their stock's in the shitter. So is Mattel's. And Bandai's robot offerings become more and more "exclusive"...
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fujikuro
Sanjeev Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> Believe me: if there were a way to make these
> things fucking cheaper, Hasbro WOULD DO IT. Their
> stock's in the shitter. So is Mattel's. And
> Bandai's robot offerings become more and more
> "exclusive"...

Oof. That sucks. I'd really hate to see the TF line go under, since it's really the ONLY way to buy decent robots at retail anymore.

More serious than thou
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asterphage
Transformers seems to be riding relatively high at the moment, bolstered by the movies. The GI Joe line seems to be at death's door, though, so let's all go see Retaliation...

-Paul Segal

"Oh, the anger is never far, never far." -SteveH
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hillsy
Oh I'll see it, if only to see Snake-Eyes fight ninja on the face of a cliff.

---------------------------------
[pgaijin.blogspot.com]
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Sanjeev (Admin)
I can't tell if these superhero toys suck...

G1 Transformers Autobot Jumpstarters:
[www.bigbadtoystore.com]

MASK (Miles Mayhem's series 2 formula racer, I believe):
[www.bigbadtoystore.com]
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Supersentai
You beat me to it...YUCK!!! The sound you hear in the distance is the proverbial scraping of the bottom of the barrel. Looks like toy designers are now literally pulling ideas out of their...wait for it...basements!
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Sanjeev (Admin)
I feel you...but to be honest, I think I have some kind of weird disease. See, part of me actually digs the not-Jumpstarters! I dunno what it is, but I have this strange affinity for really simple fugly crap.

Like...those TF Gravity Bots from the first Bayformers movie...the more recent Bot Shots...and now these. I need halp.
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Ginrai
From a few years back, it's McDonald's Jumpstarter Starscream: [www.unicorncottagecompany.com]

-Ginrai
Golden Gate Riot on dead trees at: [www.destroyallcomics.com]
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Sanjeev (Admin)
Totally belongs in the Fugly thread. Don't tell Mike about these! :P
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hillsy
I actually really liked the Iron Man, War Machine, and Captain America Transformers. Something about a RoboCap appeals to me.

---------------------------------
[pgaijin.blogspot.com]
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Sanjeev (Admin)
I've got this RoboCap on my desk right now...it's pretty snazzy.
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asterphage
Sanjeev Wrote:
>
> G1 Transformers Autobot Jumpstarters:
> [www.bigbadtoystore.com]

Holy CRAP. When I look at that picture I feel like I'm going insane.
Someone at Hasbro has a weird sense of humor.

The robot mode designs are pretty cool, though.

EDIT: oh hey there's an Avengers set too [www.toymania.com]

hillsy Wrote:
> Something about a RoboCap appeals to me.

the Iron Man and Captain America figures with "Stark Tech Assault Armor" in the current Avengers movie toyline look totally sweet. Though they may make a little too much sense to have quite the same appeal as that Mega Bloks Cap...

-Paul Segal

"Oh, the anger is never far, never far." -SteveH



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/30/2012 03:01PM by asterphage.
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MaidenLili
OK, I confess. I actually nearly picked up that Spiderman / Iron Man combiner monstrosity that came out a while ago.

I thereafter came to my senses, and I'm still not sure that I shouldn't have just gotten it so that I, too, could have an entry both here and in the fugly thread at once.

Anybody else happen to have it? Is it as stupid as it looks?
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hillsy
Hells Bells. I need that Avengers Jumpstarter set.

I just got the individual Iron Man Hummer and Jet TFs, the War Machine Jet w/ glowie bits TF, and this sweet monstrosity:



---------------------------------
[pgaijin.blogspot.com]
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Sanjeev (Admin)
Bwa? "Glowie bits"???
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hillsy
My bad...it's a Silver Centurion Iron Man jet with glowie bits. According to this site, it's a paint app. Still, pretty cool...on the repulsors and unibeam.

[www.tfw2005.com]

---------------------------------
[pgaijin.blogspot.com]
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hillsy
Glow on the shoulders, too.

---------------------------------
[pgaijin.blogspot.com]
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Sanjeev (Admin)
Well, you were actually right the first time, too:


Damn you for making me want fugly toys!
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Ken-A
Sanjeev Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> Damn you for making me want fugly toys!


Wow, that really does go so far beyond ugly that it circles back around to beautiful. This on the shelves now?

Thanks (for nothin'!), Ken-A
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Gcrush
Sanjeev Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I can't tell if these superhero toys suck...
>
> G1 Transformers Autobot Jumpstarters:
> [www.bigbadtoystore.com]
> oduct=HAS21796&mode=retail
>
> MASK (Miles Mayhem's series 2 formula racer, I
> believe):
> [www.bigbadtoystore.com]
> oduct=HAS21820&mode=retail


Those are glorious toy absurdities. No suckage detected.

Equally amazing is this monster:












Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/03/2012 02:33AM by Gcrush.
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Sanjeev (Admin)
Glad to have you back, G! Been a minute!

But what is this madness??? I can't tell if I want it...the glow and spring-loaded holster say YES, YOU JACKASS...but the modernity and accuracy and whatnot say...meh.

I have the vintage Glowbocop...and it's delightful!

If that new Neca one had the gatling gun arm, I probably wouldn't hesitate...
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VF5SS


perhaps some fans are building a hall of armor



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/03/2012 06:10PM by VF5SS.
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VF5SS
all I want is a decent Modular armor

as i am a student of Proton Cannon
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asterphage
haha, wait... some of those armors don't belong in the same hall... like the Iron Patriot, Ultimate armor and 2020 armor...
(not even mentioning the coexistence of comic and movie armors)

-Paul Segal

"Oh, the anger is never far, never far." -SteveH
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VF5SS
why does he get those wonderful toys
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Gcrush
Sanjeev Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Glad to have you back, G! Been a minute!

I've been... Occupied. More on this later.


> If that new Neca one had the gatling gun arm, I
> probably wouldn't hesitate...

Yeah, if they had gone balls-out crazy with the gatlin'arm and blue paint I would eat it for breakfast.
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gingaio
That Robocop reminds me of the glowie Sectaurs figure from way back. Good stuff.

Lately, I've been riding high on this piece of crack:



For some reason, I like the movie costume more than the classic 80s version. And I prefer the figure unmasked as well.

What I love about the figure, and what Mr. Crush and others probably will hate about it, is that the articulation is not over-the-top crazy--just neck, shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees. It's old-school simple.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/08/2012 05:03PM by gingaio.
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Gcrush
The Prophet of Suck is coming - World Box's Lakor 1:6 Scale Batbaby:





For just over $100 you can have your very own Nolan-inspired Batmite. Freak.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/09/2012 10:22PM by Gcrush.
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gingaio
Shit, G. When I first glanced at that pic, I thought you'd photoshopped a real baby's head onto the Batman costume. Are you kidding me?!

Talk about toy technology.

Or maybe I need to get my eyes checked.
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Gcrush
gingaio Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Shit, G. When I first glanced at that pic, I
> thought you'd photoshopped a real baby's head onto
> the Batman costume. Are you kidding me?!
>
> Talk about toy technology.
>
> Or maybe I need to get my eyes checked.


As far as BBTS is concerned, that shit is for realz.

Personally, my my boggles at the genius of one so evil as to create that monstrosity. The lifeless expression on that face is enough to grind even the most hardened soul to dust. Let there be no doubt - the Toy Apocalypse is very fucking nigh.
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Supersentai
Glad to see Steve without that awful helmet...but that...that...baby thing...

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa?
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fujikuro
Hasbro's releasing a Beta Ray Bill? Maybe I will finally buy a superhero toy!!!

More serious than thou
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Supersentai
Okay...here we go...just ordered three...can't wait, can't wait, can't wait!!!

[www.bigbadtoystore.com]
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leMel42
Supersentai Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Okay...here we go...just ordered three...can't
> wait, can't wait, can't wait!!!
>
> [www.bigbadtoystore.com]
> oduct=TRF10007&mode=retail


3 @ 750 each? that's love.

the hot toys keaton is awesome, in case anyone was on the fence. or you could get one of my soon-to-purge customs.
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Supersentai
Just ordered three more, can't believe what a deal this is! My wife thinks there might be room for a few more on HER nightstand as well, keeping my fingers crossed.
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Sanjeev (Admin)
Umm...Adam, are you just being sarcastic...or are you a closet millionaire??? ;)
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Supersentai
Who would ever be a closet millionaire? On the day my bank account odometer reaches seven d's it'll be a thread in EVERY page I haunt. Heck, I'll just pay some dude to post it randomly until I'm poor again.

I don't know if I'm trying to embrace the sarcasm so much as avoid internalizing the abject horror of something that sad costing nearly a grand. It's a freakin' glove-hand with a boomerang from a VIDEO GAME!!!

You could buy a giant flat-screen TV and a whole new PS3 for the same price. Whyyyyyy? I'm so out of the game these days on the wack prices people pay for stuff like this, and it's not getting any better.

Oh yeah, game 6...yeaaaaaaah...sorry.
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