@gpmartin414 I'm more concerned that Funko, as a company, isn't doing well which could in turn negatively impact Mondo. This line appears to be doing well and it received a shot in the arm with X-Men '97, hopefully Funko doesn't screw it up.
Didn't realize Funko wasn't doing so well.
They're definitely seeming desperate now, doing things like NFTs and tying them to physical releases. There's a B:TAS Alfred release they have that you first have to buy a pack of NFTs for and then get lucky to get one of 900 NFTs for Alfred. Then they ship it out to you in December. To do this, you need a digital wallet with a specific company. My state, NY, legally doesn't allow the verification needed with my driver's license for this particular wallet, so I couldn't even gamble to get the pop if I want.
That's wayyyyy too many obstacles to obtain a Funko Pop.
(It's also very annoying because I have all the other B:TAS Funkos and want a complete collection, but will now have to pay like $300-$500 for this off someone on eBay later in the year when the physical ones start shipping.)
@enigmaticclarity the bubble has, more or less, burst. They're basically trying to figure out their next hit before Pop craters and haven't had a ton of luck. The Toy Anxiety crew had a toy, business, insider on a few weeks ago who talked about it. They also brought someone new in to run things that didn't have the best track record, but I can't remember who it was.
EDIT: Found it, they were talking with the person who runs Toy Collector Magazine. Conversation begins at the 1:05:00ish mark.
It sounds like a new '97 version of Wolverine is in the works
From https://mondoshop.com/blogs/news/x-men-97-cyclops-1-6-scale-on-sale-info
"Our love for X-MEN:TAS started this line of figures and has only grown with the amazing X-MEN '97! We're excited to continue our X-MEN ANIMATED line with the ability to now pull from both TAS and '97 for new accessories, portraits and variants (while at it's core still looking like TAS).
Rest assured the same team behind the previous figures are still designing any new additions to the line-up. We'll forever keep to the style of TAS … '97 just gives us a bit more options and fun new things to play with. (Did someone say glowing purple claws for a possible new Wolverine?!)”
Wolverine has become the weakest in the line from a sculpt perspective. Not terrible, but not as good as the others. Just comparing the unmasked head with that release to the Logan figure shows how far they've come. Personally, unless he's going to be way shorter, I'd rather they just stick extra stuff like purple, glowing, claws into future figures as accessories than redo him altogether. Though if they do indeed make an all new one I guess I could return the original to his packaging.
As for what's next, I'm curious if they'll have a figure for SDCC. Last year, they had Logan go up for sale as the SDCC figure along with the re-colored Magneto which was available as an in-stock sale. Then Omega Red followed as a NYCC timed exclusive. I'm guessing a villain is next and I would expect it to be either Mystique or Sinister. As for the next team member, Storm would be my guess.
They could easily sell an accessory pack of Rogue's sentinel head and winking face - just have her wink her other eye - and that would sell out.
I bought Cyclops straight away with all the bells and whistles. Fingers crossed he's as good as he looks in those shots. Or at least close to it.
The ones left I think they're guaranteed to do are Storm, Beast, and Jean Grey. Sinister, Bishop, Cable, Apocalypse, and Morph are maybe's. Out of all those, I think Storm would be the most popular.
Definitely a little concerned since Funko bought Mondo they'll be bringing the forced scarcity mindset they have to these. In my mind, these are already so expensive, they don't need additional barriers to obtaining them.
Oh God, I never considered Sinister as a possibility...
I bought Cyclops straight away with all the bells and whistles. Fingers crossed he's as good as he looks in those shots. Or at least close to it.
The ones left I think they're guaranteed to do are Storm, Beast, and Jean Grey. Sinister, Bishop, Cable, Apocalypse, and Morph are maybe's. Out of all those, I think Storm would be the most popular.
Definitely a little concerned since Funko bought Mondo they'll be bringing the forced scarcity mindset they have to these. In my mind, these are already so expensive, they don't need additional barriers to obtaining them.
Oh God, I never considered Sinister as a possibility...
My guess for Sinister the timed edition will include the "old" withered head as featured in '97 when his stolen mutant abilities were stripped away
Mondo did their stream tonight and were asked if they was news on any more X-Men. They said, as expected, to wait until comic-con for their reveals.
FYI for anyone still after Wolverine - BBTS have 5 left of the Previews Exclusive version
https://www.bigbadtoystore.com/Product/VariationDetails/198879?o=4
I figure with the switch to X-Men ‘97 branding, we’re guaranteed to get a mohawk Storm head and a Jean Grey (Madelyn Pryor) hair-down head for sure. I also think Bishop is very likely given he is an official team member in X-Men ‘97 and they can easily do the short-hair head as a pack-in.
Would really love to get a Morph, too. I know they made the good and evil heads with Wolverine and Magneto, but it’s not the same.
I'd love a Morph too. I suppose desperate people could buy two versions of Cyclops and customize one into an approximation of Morph, depending on how easy it is to remove the chest straps. I am definitely not one for customizing my figures and definitely not $200+ ones so I'll wait and see if Mondo gets to it. Definitely going to pop that evil Morph head onto my Cyclops though to get a look at him.
I'm also fine with them incorporating some '97 stuff into the figures like a mohawk Storm (we may have seen that anyway) or short-haired Bishop. As long as they keep the sculpts more on-model for the '92 show. Like Morph, for example, is a lot slimmer in the new show and I'd much prefer he match the '92 version. And I think they will. Jean's costume, for example, is modified in '92 beyond just her hair so hopefully they roll with the original look and colors.
So once they reveal the new characters at SDCC how long are we gonna have to wait for Mondo to put them up for preorder? Since they revealed those Spider-Man figures yet those still haven't gone up for preorder.
Finally got a chance to open up my limited edition Rogue figure just this last few days. Unfortunately, the optic blast head was broken -- the optic blast pieces broke off. And Rogue's pelvis is coming apart and has a loose leg. I contacted Mondo and they're sending replacement parts for both in August. Apparently, there's a new factory run of parts in production now.
I'm glad Mondo has such great customer service. At this point, I've ordered every X-Men and Batman figure they've released and had at least three either come broken or get lost in the mail, and they've replaced all without issue. Definitely a little concerning to consistently hear about issues with these $200+ figures, though.
They don't seem to be concerned enough about it to fix it, though - which is doubly concerning. I'm still waiting on a replacement angry face - they sent two neutrals in my regular box. They processed the replacement but there was no time frame indicated and they got a little snippy when I followed up.
I can't get over how much plastic they wasted by including FOUR identical sets of Rogue's giant hair in one box instead of swappable face plates.
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