it’s 80% plain looking dudes in old timey suits
I don't think the plain old timey suits are a problem - the line isn't aimed at kids anyway. But the 80% part is. There is just no one to break up the monotony - both in terms of visual style and in terms of playability. The thuggees for instance would have brought much needed color and fun into the line. It just baffles me that we get so many Indy's - and fists - but no one for him to fight. Imagine a Star Wars line with no Stormtroopers.
Yeah, this line is a little nuts. Yes, it’s 80% old guys in suits. What’s nuts is they’re all unique sculpts too! I don’t think there was a lot of reuse between suits, unless I’m mistaken. I haven’t closely compared them. They put that kind of effort into Toht and Brody, and Kazim, but couldn’t find it in themselves for even one generic enemy, whether a German, Thuggee, Cairo swordsman.. there must have been some severe limitations on this license. I almost wish it were just Indy himself sometimes, rather than having mostly incomplete rosters from the films. Oh well.
Well, I was bummed that the Mads Mikkelsen character was coming with what appears to be his hat attached to his head, because I wanted to make a Hannibal Lecter custom using this line. But it turns out that Star Wars Black Series Galen Erso can be given an easy shave with some brush cleaner or acetone, and then a quick swap onto Marcus Brody and you’ve got Dr. Lecter. Swapped spare Indy hands on as well since they match the head’s skin tone. Neat. Now to have some old friends for dinner.
@meanstreak That would be great! We wish to be able to directly message each other here. Can we still do thiat?
What’s nuts is they’re all unique sculpts too! I don’t think there was a lot of reuse between suits, unless I’m mistaken.
Not quite true. Professor Indy, Club Obi-Wan Indy, Marcus, Henry Senior and Voller are using the exact same body - only the vest overlays and ties are different. Donovan also uses that body with Grandadmiral Thrawn legs. Toht got a different body, but Kazim uses the same, so there is a lot of re-use (which I'm perfectly fine with) and honestly, I think they could have gotten even more mileage out of the suited bodys with Lao Che and his sons, or Indy in a couple more iterations. That could/should pay for one or two more unique bodys like Willie or Crusade Sallah.
I think the only truly unique bodys where they didn't get some kind of re-use out of it are Shorty, Helena, Old Indy, Marion, Grail Knight and Renaldo. So all in all, a pretty clever use of assets there.
What’s nuts is they’re all unique sculpts too! I don’t think there was a lot of reuse between suits, unless I’m mistaken.
Not quite true. Professor Indy, Club Obi-Wan Indy, Marcus, Henry Senior and Voller are using the exact same body - only the vest overlays and ties are different. Donovan also uses that body with Grandadmiral Thrawn legs. Toht got a different body, but Kazim uses the same, so there is a lot of re-use (which I'm perfectly fine with) and honestly, I think they could have gotten even more mileage out of the suited bodys with Lao Che and his sons, or Indy in a couple more iterations. That could/should pay for one or two more unique bodys like Willie or Crusade Sallah.
I think the only truly unique bodys where they didn't get some kind of re-use out of it are Shorty, Helena, Old Indy, Marion, Grail Knight and Renaldo. So all in all, a pretty clever use of assets there.
Clarification appreciated. Like I said, I didn’t get around to doing direct side by side comparisons, and it makes total sense to have a lot of common parts for these guys. It’s a good selection of suit parts, which I kinda wish ML would find a way to use, since their suit bodies tend to be very overused.
Nevertheless, I’m in agreement with all those who pine for some nameless villains for Indy to punch. The line we got had some great things to offer, but left so much more to be desired. Glad it exists, but it’s so incomplete.
They could throw us a bone by giving us Indy in Desert Soldier disguise. If they can get a way with Toht than they can get away with this too. Also, they could make it by mostly re-using Donovans body. Throw in a bazooka, the machine gun Belloq came with and done. An easy army builder in - heh - disguise.
I think Lucasfilm/Disney is the big problem with this line.
They probably don't want any "German Soldier" merch period, which blocks out much of the line.
Then I'm sure they don't want anything that could be thrown back at them as racist. like any of the Cairo or India stuff.
The biggest holes in this line are Willie and Mola Ram for sure. If they had managed to get those two out the line wouldn't sting as much. While I'd like some figures from Kingdom of the Crystal Skull there aren't as necessary as the holes from Temple of Doom.
I think this line was largely meant to capitalize on and promote the new Indie movie. That's over and so is this line. It was nice to get a few Indie figures, as I'd have liked some as a kid. But I think this was largely just a singular cash in and since the new film didn't have legs there likely wont be much else coming out.
@mr_articulate I’m not sure how we can contact on here privately. But if you want we can email?
I think the one thing giving me a little hope is that they are ending the line with a more popular film that will probably sell better than the other two waves. I imagine Henry Sr and Grail Knight will sell pretty well, and that people who want those will buy another Indy and the others to complete the build an artifact. Also it seems like the quality on this last wave is better than the figures before, which is reminiscent of the 3 3/4” line that ended but got an exclusive set on the way out. Hoping we get at least something from Pulse before the line wraps up for good.
While I think that they could easily make one or two more waves, a couple well made 2-packs as pulse exclusives are propably all it would take to make this line feel mostly complete. And honestly, there is so much re-use potential here. That should help keep the cost down. I'm in the process of making a couple concepts for possible two-packs with a lot of re-use. I'd start with a Nepal themed 2-pack which would see the return of the Indiana Jones body buck - but in a version that plenty fans might want, because it's relevant not just for the Nepal scene, but also for the truck chase - and Marion with some re-use in an outfit that is a bit more toyetic.
If you like it, spread it. I don't care for being credited, I just want more figures.
(Made a mistake there; Indy didn't have his bag in Nepal. So... even more money saved for Hasbro. Yay :D)
Next on: Island standoff.
Would be all over that 2pk, Damon. Awesome work on the concept art.
Don't get me wrong, I certainly agree with the "we're lucky to have gotten what we got" viewpoint, but that goes for any line. I know not every line is going to go on for years and years and have hundreds of characters and variants and all that. Indy isn't the type of franchise that would necessarily do that, either. There's room for army builders, for sure, but only so many.
That said, it still strikes me as odd that an entire movie is left out. Doesn't even matter that it's many people's least favorite- it's still a crucial part of the franchise. That would be like Black Series not doing any figures from Phantom Menace or Attack of the Clones because they're the ones usually panned the most. That would mean no Darth Maul, no Jango Fett, Qui-Gon, etc. People may not like Mutt, but he's a crucial part of Indy's story; even in 5, which he doesn't appear in, he plays an important part on Indy's character. Not to mention the main villain of 2 movies have been left out, and a main love interest.
With any franchise, what's often regarded as the "worst" is still going to be someone's favorite, for whatever reason. To totally leave out an entire movie and some big characters is just an odd decision, and is definitely going to upset some folks. Maybe there's still a little life left in it since DoD hasn't come out on physical media yet. They can ride the wave a little longer and get us one more wave and a 2 pack/exclusive.
Anywho, that mock-up looks great, Damon! Would love to see more. Almost thought Marion was Young Indy for a second, and now I wanna see him!
Map Room Indy has been popping in and out of stock for a few days now.
Been in stock for a few hours for anyone that still needs him:
https://www.target.com/p/hasbro-indiana-jones-adventure-series-map-room-action-figure-target-exclusive/-/A-84832671
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