NECA Archie line

[DonnieLaForge]

Originally Posted by IMJ

the "own it and get rid of it for the newer, better model" kind of collector

For a brief period, I engaged in toy photography as a hobby. From that experience I can understand and appreciate those who chase all the newest innovations.

But now that I am not doing this, I pose the figures once - when setting up a display. And then I admire them from, most of the time, across the room, where I can't see the details of their construction anyway.

So for me, the only reason I might have to "upgrade" a figure is if a line is re-launched. If that line adds crucial characters to something I love, I will want them. And if that line doesn't match the scale of what I already have, I will be tempted to go all-in rather than just get those new characters. But, all of this is kind of rare these days. I have the MAFEX Nolanverse Batman and have felt no draw whatsoever to eff with McFarlane's. I did upgrade to McFarlane's 1989 Batman, in the hopes that we get to finish out Burtonverse yet this year.

When it comes time to get rid of a toy (there are things I collected in the Zeitgeist that I don't really need sitting around anymore), the first question is, can it fetch more than $5 "net" after selling expenses on eBay? If yes, it might be worth selling. Sorry but I'm not gonna turn down money on the table. If no, it's not worth my time and effort to sell it. At that point it either goes to Goodwill or to some family member's children who might appreciate it.

[IMJ]

There are definitely good reasons to "upgrade" a figure! But the key component we are discussing isn't really the "upgrade", but rather the "dispose of the old and buy the new" cycle of collecting. Let's split it up for the sake of the convo:

-An upgrade that makes sense - Hasbro releases years of Iron Man figures but only as of about 2019 or so all of the Iron Man figures now basically look like the same guy could fit in all of the armors. The only other period in Hasbro history that did this well was back when Legends began - the first 8 waves or so. So you buy the new figures for the "Armory Uniformity". Good "upgrade" - basically enough armors that synch up and it might be the last "upgrade" you'd really ever need, short of "addiction excuses".

-An upgrade that is frustrating as hell - NECA's new Shredder. It's a great looking figure, with a better sculpt and appropriate scale when compared to the first. However, this is a boutique, outrageously priced toyline that was always intended to be "reference material" and appropriately scaled. This should have been done correctly the first time... forever. It's frustrating and inappropriate.

-An upgrade that lands in "no way" territory - Hasbro releases Transformers R.E.D. They do it with some really great looking figures, it looks promising, greatly articulated robots with perfect sculpts... and then they drop Bumblebee in the same height and size as Optimus and Galvitron. Abandoned! Stick with the movie line, let the R.E.D. line die immediately for that extreme nonsense.

[jestergoblin]

Originally Posted by IMJ

-An upgrade that is frustrating as hell - NECA's new Shredder. It's a great looking figure, with a better sculpt and appropriate scale when compared to the first. However, this is a boutique, outrageously priced toyline that was always intended to be "reference material" and appropriately scaled. This should have been done correctly the first time... forever. It's frustrating and inappropriate.

The original toon Shredder was always frustrating to me because it was clearly just a repaint of the Arcade Shredder (which was a pre-paint of the Mirage Shredder) with a new head and rubber torso slapped on. For a SDCC exclusive, it was fun but I can’t believe how long it took to come back to this character.

When I now look at my toon collection, I truly wonder if NECA is going to go back to the beginning and re-release each figure without celshading like they did with Bebop and Rocksteady.

[Wes]

Responding to fewer than every point, if only because I'm currently running on fumes!

Originally Posted by IMJ

I'm much the same for all of this.... Do you hate the "pinless joint" thing on it's own merits, or is it more the "elitism" aspect of the pinless joint topic of-the-moment?

I guess on its own merits? I customize, and I repair/modify figures for other reasons (to improve joint movement/range, etc). A pinned joint is a joint I can disassemble easily. A pinless joint is a pain to do anything with, AND half the time they result in joints that are way too tight and have plastic colors that don't match the rest of the figure. Why are folks complaining about visible pins when they've got knees and elbows that are visibly different shades from the limbs above and below them??

But yeah, I'll always take usefulness over minor aesthetics. A figure with screw holes in its back might not be a figure that looks great from behind, but it's hella useful to me because it's a figure I can easily take apart.

Originally Posted by IMJ

See now... here.... this is where the points culminate. We start with "I don't care about value" and later on move into "I'll find a use for it rather than sell it at a loss". Which is FINE... but again - that's my reality as well. And when things don't "keep their value" or "improve in value" then you are stuck in this position frequently. "Begin with the end in mind" (Stephen Covey).

Eh, my end is having the figure in my collection. But also I'm not sure I've never sold a figure, at a loss or otherwise? I've traded some. Someone once paid me to repair some beloved vintage figures because they found a Scary-Crayon blog post and correctly discerned that I was someone who could do that. (I felt kinda bad about it. It did take me time and material costs to do, but this -- like teaching -- is the sort of service I wish I could provide for free.) But generally I'd prefer to keep money out of my hobbies as much as possible? I think it's responsible for a whole lot of awfulness in toy collecting especially.

Originally Posted by IMJ

OMG that's hysterical! Now that you've said that it's like an Ace Duck in the Turtles of Grayskull line should be a no-brainer omg!

I've got SO MANY MOTU Origins customs in various (mostly early, because I'm easily distracted haha) WIP stages. Someday I might even finish one of them!

[jestergoblin]

Ken Mitchroney visited NECA and showed off packaged samples of Ace Duck and Wingnut & Screwloose. https://www.instagram.com/kenmitchro...en&img_index=1

That Wingnut & Screwloose box is MASSIVE. Really worried that's going to be another $50 figure.

[Chaotix12345]

Looks like Screwloose has an extra pair of legs. If that's so he can hang on his boss' back or sit on his shoulder, that's AWESOME.

[Dask]

Originally Posted by jestergoblin

Ken Mitchroney visited NECA and showed off packaged samples of Ace Duck and Wingnut & Screwloose. https://www.instagram.com/kenmitchro...en&img_index=1

That Wingnut & Screwloose box is MASSIVE. Really worried that's going to be another $50 figure.

It does look large, but I would imagine that it is an illusion as the guy with the Ace Duck figure isn't standing in parallel, giving the impression that Wingnut is the same size or larger. But, maybe I am wrong.

However, it is 2 figures, and 2 figures (regardless of size) goes for $50 these days.

[jestergoblin]

Ken posted more out of the box photos of Wingnut & Screwloose!

https://www.instagram.com/kenmitchro...en&img_index=1

Love that they come with a rock to throw, and the alternate legs for Screwloose look great for sitting on Wingnut's shoulder.