Hey kids, it’s that time again! No, not when I taste-test edible underwear and rate them from zero to five; it’s the time when I have no specific topic to write about, so I babble about a bunch of little topics. As today is the 16th, that means 16 micro-thoughts about random current and not-so-current toy happenings.
I really need to do this on the 2nd or 3rd of the month…
Let’s start, and see how many of you are skimming by the time you’re halfway done. Ready?
1 With MAFEX announcing a Spider-man, I’m wondering how far they’re going to dig into the Marvel Universe. I was thinking their upcoming Gwenpool was going to be a one-and-done just for fun, but you don’t drag out a comic-inspired Spider-Man without having more up your sleeve. At least, I hope. With MAFEX’s current redemption crusade of improved quality on their toys, this could get…pretty damn costly. Because I’m all in. And if they do DC? Oh dear, a MAFEX comic-accurate Superman? With the soon-to-be modern red trunks and everything? Don’t tease me. Don’t tease me with things I just made up in my own head!
2 I had a realization with the recent Lizard wave, specifically Mysterio and prowler: I hate plastic capes. I’ve always felt they were a necessary evil, but despite how much I love love love those figures…I just genuinely hate the way the plastic capes kill the playability, the way the pegs dictate placement, the way you can’t really articulate the arms and legs without having to take into account the cape’s bulk. I felt the first stirrings of this hatred with the Black Series Lando cape, which was kind of an obnoxious shell, but I’m edging full on into hate. It won’t affect my purchasing, and it’s not something I’m going to dwell on, but a softer, almost rubbery plastic would be preferable.
3 If a Revoltech Winnie the Pooh figure is a thing that can suddenly snap into existence with zero advance warning, does that mean that maybe a Revoltech Tigger is possible? I’m imagining a multi-poseable Tigger tail and the ability to pose him bouncing along on it and I’m hovering in a state of cautious excitement.
4 With all the recent X-men legends waves, everybody’s always talking about the ’90s X-men cartoon and the fact that it defined their childhood. Meanwhile, I’m over here bitter that Pryde of the X-men pilot never turned into a full show. Colossus versus Juggernaut in the first show? Oh the places it could have gone…
5 All these superheroes and the Mezco I’m most excited about is Popeye. Mainly because Superman versus Popeye is a thing that will be happening in the Mezcoverse. Have you ever heard of Captain Strong? He was a strange looking bald dude that showed up in Superman comics in the ’70s and ’80s. He ate a strange seaweed and got super-strength. Sound familiar? Exactly.
6 Please stop me from buying six of the Ultimate Rider Ghost Riders just for the bikes, so I can make a Team America.
7 This isn’t really toy-related, but WHY THE HELL WEREN’T FINN AND ROSE GOING TO CANTO BIGHT TO GET LANDO? I mean, I didn’t hate the segment like so many did, and anything Benicio Del Toro does is entertaining, but really. Lando. And to keep it toy-related, we could have gotten and old man Billy Dee figure. I mean…come on!
8 I am willing to admit when I’m slightly wrong, and with the new pictures of the Walgreens Thing, I don’t feel that burning rage deep in my gut like I did initially. If he had stubbier, single-jointed legs and no pecs, I’d dig him that much more, but I’m in for a couple of them now, where before it was only one. I need at least one to turn into the spiky pineapple Thing. Some people might look at the Thing with spikes and think “that’s ridiculous.” I am not those people.
9 Hey Mezco, if you’re into doing toys of people who go a little nuts and kill a lot of people (Punisher, John Wick, Popeye) how about continuing the theme with Paul Kersey? Mainly because there is such a lack of Charles Bronson figures out there.
10 While I like the idea of Hasbro getting into Kickstarter for specific toys that are too expensive for retail, and I like that it could also be applied to Marvel Legends, I don’t think I’d be too excited for dioramas or vehicles. The idea of using it to get larger figures is kind of cool, but I doubt we’d be seeing a huge Living Tribunal. I really don’t know what the fan community would rally behind, since it can be so fractured, but the best option for me, one that would guarantee me to dump large amounts of money, would be tooling-heavy complete groups. If they did a full set of Inhumans with a fully-articulated Lockjaw, for instance, I’d be all in. Sadly, they don’t seem to have that many dedicated fans.
11 Hey, Jack. Yeah, Jack Nicholson. I’m talking to you, because I know you Fwoosh. Just admit it, you do. You’re semi-retired, you have nothing better to do, so you Fwoosh. Since I have your attention, please lower your damn likeness prices so somebody can make your Joker as a 6-inch toy. The world is drowning in Letos and Ledgers out here, and meanwhile we ain’t got Jack.
12 If these foreign companies are suddenly sprouting random properties (like Tom and Jerry, yet another recent surprise that I’m hoping is legit) can somebody jump on Mighty Mouse? Oh, and Underdog. Basically if it’s a superpowered cartoon animal, I’m in. That includes Dyna-Mutt.
13 Decades with nothing, and suddenly it’s raining Alex DeLarges out there. MAFEX announced one, then Mezco showed off theirs. I’m half-expecting a Figuarts version to show up. Unsurprisingly, I’d buy that also.
14 I’m sure I’ve mentioned this in one of these before, but it never hurts to repeat oneself, so I’m reiterating my desire for an Atomic Robo action figure.
15 Stringed Wonders, the all-Guitarist superhero team. Fighting crime one note at a time. Who would be on your team? Jimi Hendrix, who can create feedback-induced vibrations? Eddie Van Halen, who creates a waves of solid sound? Jimmy Page, who can create musical constructs with his guitar? Can you tell I’m close to the end of the article? Isn’t this still an awesome idea? Don’t answer that.
And finally
16 I bought that Robot Spirits Pacific Rim Gipsy Avenger on BBTS, because it was the cheapest of them all, and I wanted yet another a super-articulated robot. I figured it would be the same size as the other Robot Spirits stuff, which is on the shorter side. I figured I could just get the one. So much figuring. Oh friends and neighbors, it’s 7 inches tall, it’s so damn awesome, and I want all of the others. If you want a cool robot to fight your Avengers or X-men or Fantastic Four or whatever, pick one up. So cool. Just so cool.
