The Zabu wave is Fan Channel and Amazon only - that's three BAF waves in a row skipping physical retail.
I know this latest wave is an accidental mishmash when movie schedules shifted. The last D+ was clearanced out at spectacular speed. NWH seems to have sold very well with the exception of MJ, who is the only reason that wave is even represented in toy aisles. X-Men sold well and was clearanced too quickly.
What does all this say about the health of the line?
I'm gonna guess going forward, at least for the time being until Hasbro's financial issues are somewhat resolved:
Fan Channel/Amazon only
-Comic only BAF waves
-Comic only 2-packs and sets
Big Box Stores and Fan Channel
-Retro waves
-Spider-Man related product
-MCU only product
-MCU/comic mix BAFs
-Some A Lister comic product (Wolverine, Iron Man, Captain America, etc.)
The Zabu wave is Fan Channel and Amazon only - that's three BAF waves in a row skipping physical retail.
What does all this say about the health of the line?
The line is dying and they're going to need to massively course correct to avoid it flatlining. Between plastic-free packaging, questionable character choices, and shoddy QC, raising the price 25% over 2 years, all while in a global recession, they had too many peg warmers and they got clearanced out of retail.
If Hasbro is able to fix the issues and re-invigorate the line, they might be able to convince retail to bring them back to shelves. That said, so far I have been mostly impressed by what I've seen so far in the last few months. Not mind-blowing, but definitely moving in the right direction.
If this line is dying then it's the most active dying I've ever seen.
Well it makes me sad that any comic only wave that isn't tied to MCU in someway will not be available at the big box stores. On the plus side I'll have no reason to go into Walmart or Target anymore since I no longer collect MCU unless I am looking for DC Multiverse stuff. Looks like I will keep my Gamestop Pro Rewards membership going for the foreseeable future. Amazon isn't an option unless I get someone else to get stuff and i pay them back. I use no credit cards.
The Zabu wave is Fan Channel and Amazon only - that's three BAF waves in a row skipping physical retail.
What does all this say about the health of the line?
The line is dying and they're going to need to massively course correct to avoid it flatlining. Between plastic-free packaging, questionable character choices, and shoddy QC, raising the price 25% over 2 years, all while in a global recession, they had too many peg warmers and they got clearanced out of retail.
If Hasbro is able to fix the issues and re-invigorate the line, they might be able to convince retail to bring them back to shelves. That said, so far I have been mostly impressed by what I've seen so far in the last few months. Not mind-blowing, but definitely moving in the right direction.
The bigger problem is many long-time collectors have been doing this for years and are reaching completion. That said, I don't think the line is dying. There are conservatively 90 figures in the 2024 leaked figure thread and there are surely more to come. The line might be more niche without B&M releases, but no dying line is putting out 90+ figures a year. Plus, retailer exclusives are clearly still in demand. Retailers wouldn't spend money on exclusives if nobody was buying them.
Also, I hate to do this, but the economy is incredibly strong right now. Salaries, particularly for middle- and lower-income people, are higher than they've been since the '70s. (Yes, even accounting for recent inflation.) Cost of living is still high thanks to ridiculous housing costs, but buying power is way up.
What youtuber said the line is dying again, because I know I haven't seen two people in two separate threads state the same thing by their own conclusion.
The only BAF wave going direct to fan channel that was surprising was the Void wave since it was an Avengers one, and even that wasn't too shocking since Black Panther, Vision and maybe Namor (thanks to Wakanda Forever) were the only real big names. Justice, Namorita, Power Princess and Crystar are all extremely deep cuts for someone who's not an avid comic reader, as is the Void.
I don't think they're making figures of Zabu, a Zola/Zemo 2-pack, Ikaris, retro carded animated Prowler, Dum Dum Dugan, etc etc if the line is tanking. If they're worried about that they'd be doubling down on the A-listers. Retail support for the BAF waves packed with only comic characters (some quite obscure) seems to have waned, but (as was pointed out) they're still carrying retro releases and requesting exclusives - not something they'd be doing if they'd lost all faith in the brand. I think we're gonna be alright.
I've been listening to this "the line is dying" stuff since 2001.
When exactly is this supposed to happen?
@schizm Those Marvel Studios reissues are moving pretty well at mine too.
If Amazon/Fan Channel gets me all these piles of B-C list characters like the Void/Zabu/Mindless One waves are then keep going.
Target I can see being shy of full comic waves after that entire Avengers 60th slate of 50-70 dollars 2 packs went on clearance
I dont think the line is dying at all, but I do think Walmart and Target are slowing down on carrying toys in general. So they're probably just being pickier
So 25% of the offerings skew a little older and feature less Berry Blast Wolverine? Think we can cope.
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