Well, kids – the 2019 San Diego Comic is kicks off in exactly one month. Even though I have been to the show every year for the better part of two decades(!!!) and this year marks the 50th anniversary overall, I still start to get pumped for craziness about this time every year. I am positive you will be hearing a lot about Comic Con from us in the days leading to, during, and after the show, but I wanted to kick things off now. What I am looking forward to at the show? A lot, as usual.
Robo, Matt K, and I, for the most part, take a relaxed approach to the show. Sure, there are fits and starts of the fury of taking pics of new stuff and making lines for some choice exclusives, but in between that chaos, I really to like to take it all in, especially the toys. I find myself going back again and again to the things that have really caught my attention, and while it can be a slog walking from one end of the hall to the other through countless people, there is no substitute for being able to be right there to see all the cool stuff. Even if come across information about what we should be seeing, and when some surprises are spoiled early, there is always something unexpected that jumps near the top of my for “best in show.”
That said, like all years, there are some things that I am particularly interested in seeing, and without getting ahead of myself, hoping will bowl me right over. So yes, the focus is always about the toys. I always count on being surprised by companies with smaller showings or surprise reveals, but some of my favorites usually have a strong presence, so it is never too early to get hyped. Here are five action figure lines I am really looking forward to seeing at SDCC 2019.
STAR WARS BLACK SERIES (Hasbro)
This line almost did not make the list because I am in the midst of working my way out of a bit of Star Wars figure burn out. Not that anything has been bad mind you, in fact, SWB is by far better than anything we have seen from the line as of late, but I just have not been as excited about the line as some others recently. Now, I am positive we won’t see anything from the new movie due in December, but that is fine. I am really hoping we see some more Prequel Trilogy figures to help round out the year, and with Empire’s 40th anniversary in 2020, I am ready for some vintage carded figures that will include some pervious releases with the new face printing applications. Bespin Lando definitely comes to mind for slot.
GREMLINS (NECA)
By now, this should not be a surprise as this is one of my favorite lines going right now. It has technically been going since like, the early 2000s, and I have been there every step of the way. NECA just keeps getting better and better with Gremlins, and their latest G1 offerings have been some of my favorite of the year thus far. I am locked in to my pre-order for the first Carolers set, so hopefully we will see the official announcement of the other set at the show. Past that, we got a break dancing gremlin tease a few weeks ago, and if that means more guys from Dory’s Tavern, I am stoked. Swinging back around to movie 2 for Greta and the Veggie gremlin would be a great surprise, too, but I know I will be stoked for anything, so I hope we see a lot.
CLASSICS (Super 7)
Okay, obviously this is not the name of the actual line or anything, but I am really pumped to see more figures and properties from Super 7 in Classics/MOTU/Four Horsemen design and aesthetic. Masters of the Universe Classics looks like it might finally be winding down after all these years, and while that makes me sad, Super 7 had an awesome showing of other properties taking over the aesthetic at Toy Fair back in February. Toxie was my surprise hit of the show, but Conan, Voltron, and Ren & Stimpy all looked great, too. I would be delighted to see more guys from Toxic Crusaders, and there is still the matter of the TMNT stuff they will be unveiling, too – so plenty to be excited about. There are so many nostalgia properties that could easily lend themselves to this execution, and yes, I have thought about it a lot. Could we FINALLY have a chance at ThunderCats getting started again as well? I have been broken hearted so many times in the past, and yet… I hold out hope.
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (NECA)
Yeah, boyeeeeeeee, I am very much pumped for more NECA Turtle Power. I was able to secure my new Splinter, Shredder, and Foot Soldier movie set as the con exclusive, but I want to see new stuff, too. I know likeness rights for more movie figures can start to get tough now (at least for the first movie), but hopefully we will see those rad cartoon Bebop and Rocksteady figures in their final form, as well as some new stuff that has not been unveiled yet. Not to mention those Dimension X figures that are still floating around out there, hopefully they have found a home. I want NECA to give us the world with this line, and while it might take some time and continued creativity, I know they want to do it, too. Bring on them shell brains!
MARVEL LEGENDS (Hasbro)
Duh. I mean, do I even really have to get more detailed here? Marvel Legends is in its Golden Age right now, and the pace of release is as frenetic as ever. I seriously cannot keep with the everything and what is coming when, but I guess if your wallet is going to be on fire, it might as well be at a supernova stage. I am loving it, and the collection gets more and more impressive literally every month. I am actually kind of glad that nothing is being hyped yet in terms of the MCU Phase Four because that might give us a chance to delve into characters that have not had a chance to shine in the midst of so much Avengers, et. al. The Fox deal is complete now, and since I am a huge Fantastic Four fan, I really hope they get some focus heading into next year. X-Men have been far more prolific in the collection, especially this year, but there is much more to do, so they can stay stalwarts as well. Give me ML. Give me ALL the MLs.
That is my main list. Sure, I am looking forward to seeing cool import stuff, what Mezco and One:12 will be up to, and of course, the NECA Alien stuff (c’mon full Nostromo crew!) as well. Heck, even though DC at Mattel is winding down, they might have some surprise there, as well as for Jurassic Park, MOTU, and WWE. Regardless, I know the show will be as fun as ever, and we only have a month to wait.