Sunday, January 31, 2016

Missing in Action! Toy Lines that Didn't Make the Cut in 2015

 
 Sometimes there is a toy line which appears on my top 10 list of favorite lines one year but mysteriously disappears from the best of list for the next year. There's a number of reasons why this might happen. Sometimes toy lines end or just fade into obscurity; other times there is a change in quality that causes me to stop collecting. Sometimes I just lose interest in a property, too. That certainly happens from time to time There's also always the possibility of a good problem to have, which is that I still collect a certain line but a new line comes along that just one ups it. Here's a brief look at six lines that were on my Favorite Toy Lines of 2014 list that didn't make it onto the 2015 list with some commentary as to why they were left off or got demoted. I've been wanting to do a list like this for a few years and I've finally got the time! Join me after the break for 6 tales of toy lines that went missing in action!




DC Designer Series: Greg Capullo by DC Collectibles-Mostly MISSING!

 The lack of the DC Designer Series Greg Capullo inspired line from this year's best of list has a simple explanation: Only one figure was released at the tail end of 2015. While I reviewed a few figures from the line this year, they were all technically 2014 releases (series 3 hit at the end of 2014). This line definitely has a future this year as series 4 is slated for March 2016 and, with Capullo's popularity among DC and Batman fans, I wouldn't be surprised to see series 5 hit before the end of 2016.



IAmElemental by Rebel Elements-Mostly MISSING!
   Like the DC Designer Series listed above, IAmElemental is another series that only had one figure released this past year: The 6 inch Courage figure. I initially skipped this release as I thought it was just an upscaled version of one of the previously released characters but I was mistaken. Courage is more like a Voltron-esque blend of the initial 7 characters in the line and I'm now interested in picking her up. A full second series has already been teased for 2016,so hopefully these will be around on next year's list!



The New 52 by DC Collectibles- UPSTAGED!
    With DC moving away from The New 52 branding, this year DC Collectibles' focus really was more on their Arkham Knight and Batman: The Animated Series lines. While there were some good releases like the roller derby Harley Quinn, I just didn't find that much that interested me. With plenty of new DC Collectibles comic focused lines coming out next year such as the DC Icons line, it seems that the New 52 branded line has reached it's end. Hopefully this doesn't mean DC will cease releasing figures from the era, though: We still at least need a modern Batwoman, Batgirl of Burnside, and Bat-Wing.



Marvel Legends: Infinite Series by Hasbro- DEMOTED!

  2015 was an awesome year for Marvel Legends. Unfortunately, I'm just not much of a Marvel collector. Guardians of the Galaxy was probably largely responsible for Marvel Legends making it onto my list in 2014. There were some great figures that I did pick up in 2015 though, and Captain Marvel certainly did make it onto my 10 Favorite Individual Figures of the 2015 list. Will Marvel Legends make it back onto the list next year? We'll have to see. Spider-Gwen looks pretty awesome and I'm curious to see what Civil War and Doctor Strange bring about.


ReAction by Funko-DEMOTED!
   I still enjoy the faux vintage trend although I've definitely lost some passion for it due to many of Funko's lines seeming like one and done releases rather than actual toy lins. I did pick two ReAction figures for my best individual figures list, though: Gracie Law from Big Trouble in Little China ReAction and the Great White Shark SDCC exclusive from Jaws ReAction.




Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles by Playmates- DROP in QUALITY!


   Here's the shocker for me: TMNT doesn't appear on any of my best of lists. In 2014 I'm not sure I could have given this line any higher praise. In 2015, though, the quality fell. I mean, it dropped like a ton of bricks. It started with me buying a Mystic Donatello and being utterly disappointed by all of the missing paint applications. Many times throughout 2015 I looked at figures that were new on the shelves but always stopped myself from buying anything. These guys just seem to impress me less and less as time goes on. For the price, I'd much rather collect other less collector focused lines like World of Nintendo, Imaginext, or even the Half Shell Heroes figures. Factor in the terrible way that Playmates treats their female characters and this line was a huge disappointment for me in 2015. It'd take a lot of effort for Playmates to get me back into this line.

Well, those are my lines that went missing in action in 2015! Did you give up on any of your former favorite toylines this year? Let me know in the comments!

8 comments:

  1. The only Playmates Turtles I snagged up were the Eastman Laird versions.Even though they weren't the best Eastman Laird representations,they still did a good job of differentiating themselves from the kid friendly ,series Turtles.I can't get past what they did to BeBop and Rocksteady and Triceraton. Cold,just cold :(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I had debated picking those up but by the time they came out I was really about done with the line.

      Delete
  2. Totally agree on the Turtles but hopefully they will be back in full swing in 2016...I hope.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We shall see. I just feel that Playmates seems like they've grown very content with where they were. There's a video from Toy Fair last year where Pixel Dan is talking to a Playmates rep who seems to have a very nonchalant attitude to the line's problems. I'd love to see improvement, but that seems like a long shot here.

      Delete
  3. I randomly ended up getting that Courage figure when I saw a review of her: She's awesome! I don't even have any of the regular sized figures yet - that's how impressive she seemed when I saw the review. They really do some interesting things in terms of articulation, so she's fun to move around.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, Rebel Elements really has designed a fantastic articulation model on the smaller figures and I'm really excited to get a Courage in hand. It's amazing to me that a new company like them can come right out and nail articulation while the giants of the industry still struggle at times.

      Delete
  4. Since Legends is all the BAF bullshit I avoid most of them but the girls which are hard to find up here. I will be after that Spider-Gwen however and open her up which I never do. Marvel Select is always great and I keep adding those and Kotobukiya figures to my collection. Plus I want a lot of WW and DC Super Hero Girls figures. So I will pass on figures I have seen before. Batgirl of Burnside needs to be on the shelves. He appearance at the end of Bad Blood reminded me how much I love her look.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Batgirl of Burnside does need to be on shelves. I'm waiting on my black and white statue to arrive this week, but I want a legit figure of her.

      Delete

What'chu talkin' 'bout?