So, these Disney-Marvel figures...

[Stormbreaker]

When MEGO came back I loved how I was able to get these figures easily, either online or in local shops that carried them. It wasn't stressful like it was hunting down Marvel and DC 6 inch figures.

It was my relaxing collection.

But recently the excitement for stuff has died down. And I can't say "Oh I'll just buy the DC releases" because the DC waves been pushed back until God knows when. So I'm in a limbo while Disney fast tracks these limited Marvel exclusives. That I was originally so excited for.

Just kind of upsetting personally, especially since I live so far from California and Florida and can't just pop in to see if they're in stock, haha. And paying eBay prices kills me due to the price hike.

I have a similar feeling/experience.

Over the last year or two, I've come to believe that we're all living through the 'dying days' of a long-time market segment (action figures) that is now a very 'sick' business. By all accounts, all major manufacturers have been more conservative in their order quantities for each new figure than they had been during the brief 'boom' of the COVID lockdowns. And now there are so many store exclusives. And prices have risen significantly because of inflation and tariffs and smaller production runs, etc....

And, also by all accounts, kids today don't want action figures. So the market for them is now skewing older and older in a way that's not long-term sustainable for publicly traded toy companies or mass-market retailers. We've all seen the unfortunate news, I'm sure, about the various rounds of layoffs at multiple toy companies recently.

Several times recently, I have received an email from McFarlane Toys notifying me of a new release that interests me, but when I click through to buy, it's already sold out. (In minutes, or maybe an hour!) I've given up pre-ordering anything from Walmart because they have later canceled my pre-orders literally 100% of the time.

I really wanted a McFarlane Silver Age Superman (the one that resembles the 1980s style guide art by Garcia-Lopez) to go on a shelf with the McFarlane Fleischer Superman and the McFarlane Christopher Reeve Superman. But I couldn't find one anywhere, even immediately after its release. So in desperation, I ordered one from GameStop. But given its premium price there, and significant shipping costs, and CA sales tax, the total cost was about $40. But I got one. Now, when I see all three on a shelf, I really enjoy it and think they look great together and almost can't believe these 'niche' figures were made in 2024-25. But my second thought is always, "I can't believe that one cost me $40!"

These posts sum up what I would bet a lot of fans/collectors feel right now.

As I said earlier in this thread, it’s such a shame that something that is supposed to be fun is tainted by difficult, and sometimes nigh-impossible, means to purchase an item.

[Dan2Dan]

When MEGO came back I loved how I was able to get these figures easily, either online or in local shops that carried them. It wasn't stressful like it was hunting down Marvel and DC 6 inch figures.

I have a similar feeling/experience.

Over the last year or two, I've come to believe that we're all living through the 'dying days' of a long-time market segment (action figures) that is now a very 'sick' business. By all accounts, all major manufacturers have been more conservative in their order quantities for each new figure than they had been during the brief 'boom' of the COVID lockdowns. And now there are so many store exclusives. And prices have risen significantly because of inflation and tariffs and smaller production runs, etc....

And, also by all accounts, kids today don't want action figures. So the market for them is now skewing older and older in a way that's not long-term sustainable for publicly traded toy companies or mass-market retailers. We've all seen the unfortunate news, I'm sure, about the various rounds of layoffs at multiple toy companies recently.

Several times recently, I have received an email from McFarlane Toys notifying me of a new release that interests me, but when I click through to buy, it's already sold out. (In minutes, or maybe an hour!) I've given up pre-ordering anything from Walmart because they have later canceled my pre-orders literally 100% of the time.

I really wanted a McFarlane Silver Age Superman (the one that resembles the 1980s style guide art by Garcia-Lopez) to go on a shelf with the McFarlane Fleischer Superman and the McFarlane Christopher Reeve Superman. But I couldn't find one anywhere, even immediately after its release. So in desperation, I ordered one from GameStop. But given its premium price there, and significant shipping costs, and CA sales tax, the total cost was about $40. But I got one. Now, when I see all three on a shelf, I really enjoy it and think they look great together and almost can't believe these 'niche' figures were made in 2024-25. But my second thought is always, "I can't believe that one cost me $40!"

[greenlanternmego89]

I’m so annoyed.

I contacted the online Disney store via chat. I conversed with someone called “Darling.” Lord spare me…

Anyway, my order, which was confirmed, and scheduled to arrive yesterday/this past Sunday, July 13th, is on back order. “Darling” kept insisting it was a preorder item, with no expected arrival date. I explained, carefully, that the item is physically in stores right now, and I explained how I was in a queue, and made the purchase well within the allotted time I was given to shop.

After far, far too long in that chat, I’m stuck waiting.

So, so annoying.

After I was wished a “magical day,” I told “Darling” that my frustration wasn’t directed toward them, but rather to whomever is in charge of this awful system, and that as far as any magic was concerned, their magic wands were in need of some major recharge.

I’m in clobbering time mode big time.

When MEGO came back I loved how I was able to get these figures easily, either online or in local shops that carried them. It wasn't stressful like it was hunting down Marvel and DC 6 inch figures.

It was my relaxing collection.

But recently the excitement for stuff has died down. And I can't say "Oh I'll just buy the DC releases" because the DC waves been pushed back until God knows when. So I'm in a limbo while Disney fast tracks these limited Marvel exclusives. That I was originally so excited for.

Just kind of upsetting personally, especially since I live so far from California and Florida and can't just pop in to see if they're in stock, haha. And paying eBay prices kills me due to the price hike.

[PNGwynne]

I bit the bullet and ordered a "back-up" set from a Florida ebay seller. I made an offer I could tolerate, and it was accepted. It was well-shipped and I must say, I love it. The colors really*pop* and it's nice to see the FF together.

[Dark Shadow]

Dinner in good company and a toy find, that's perfect IMO. Congratulations. I love Electro.

Agreed and thank you! I was fortunate enough to land two sets of the Spider-Man release when they went on sale online in December, however one of those sets was a gift for my cousin. Saturday's score is a second set for myself that I get to release from their boxes & pose on my shelf in front of their respective boxed figures. Due to space limitations, that is the only wave that I'm interested in doing that with, I only plan(ned) to buy a single set of the following waves to open & pose along with my DC Mego 50th figures. However with the FF set I'm already "0 for 3". I wasn't available to order when released online, they were a no show at Downtown Disney shops, and the only "Disney Shopper" I could locate online has not responded to my inquiry (I don't participate in social media platforms so those are not an option for me).

[Stormbreaker]

I'm so split on how I feel about these Disney figures. The chase for them is tiring for me.

I’m so annoyed.

I contacted the online Disney store via chat. I conversed with someone called “Darling.” Lord spare me…

Anyway, my order, which was confirmed, and scheduled to arrive yesterday/this past Sunday, July 13th, is on back order. “Darling” kept insisting it was a preorder item, with no expected arrival date. I explained, carefully, that the item is physically in stores right now, and I explained how I was in a queue, and made the purchase well within the allotted time I was given to shop.

After far, far too long in that chat, I’m stuck waiting.

So, so annoying.

After I was wished a “magical day,” I told “Darling” that my frustration wasn’t directed toward them, but rather to whomever is in charge of this awful system, and that as far as any magic was concerned, their magic wands were in need of some major recharge.

I’m in clobbering time mode big time.

[greenlanternmego89]

I'm so split on how I feel about these Disney figures. The chase for them is tiring for me.

[Frenchy99]

Drove over to Disney Springs on Friday night from Tampa and was able to pick up the Fantastic 4. They had about 8 or 9 sets. As the clerk saw me going through them, he offered to check in the back for any mint sets as he was a collector too. There weren't any in the back, but the ones we got off the shelf looked great!

Nice !

Still waiting on mine to come in. Hopefully without damage unlike my Spidey sets.

[Stormbreaker]

Drove over to Disney Springs on Friday night from Tampa and was able to pick up the Fantastic 4. They had about 8 or 9 sets. As the clerk saw me going through them, he offered to check in the back for any mint sets as he was a collector too. There weren't any in the back, but the ones we got off the shelf looked great!

Looks great!

Meanwhile, I’m being tortured with my “In progress” status.

[Z-man 307]

Drove over to Disney Springs on Friday night from Tampa and was able to pick up the Fantastic 4. They had about 8 or 9 sets. As the clerk saw me going through them, he offered to check in the back for any mint sets as he was a collector too. There weren't any in the back, but the ones we got off the shelf looked great!

[TrekStar]

I’ve also been looking at the DC side of things. I’m very late to the game with the 50th Anniversary figures, which is too bad. I don’t have any. As a kid, for DC, I had Superman, SHAZAM Captain Marvel, Batman, Robin, Green Arrow, and Aquaman.

I came across the Classic TV Toys site. Are those DC figures any good quality-wise? How about the loose, bagged DC figures? Maybe I’ll get some if they are any good. Also, any recommended sites for official Anniversary DC Megos?[/QUOTE]

The 50th anniversary figures bodies are pretty bad, the knees can hardly bend, arms can stretch from side to side, but can’t pose straight forward, the articulation on them is very brittle. The classic tv toys bodies quality is actually a hit or miss, mostly a miss, just depends on your opinion once you have them in hand.

The loose bagged figures from classic toys are terrible, a good restringing is usually needed.

My last couple of orders from classic toys along with some clothes and accessories, I needed a couple of bodies for kitbash customs, you can send a message with the online order.

I asked them to please send me bodies that are not broken-twisted or defective, I actually got good decent bodies, so I guess it doesn’t hurt to ask.

[PNGwynne]

Dinner in good company and a toy find, that's perfect IMO. Congratulations. I love Electro.

[Dark Shadow]

On a whim, we drove out to Frank & Sons Collectible Show yesterday, and while we were out that way we decided to take a trip to Downtown Disney afterwards, which is about 20 miles south. We went through all of the shops outside the main park, but didn't find any Fantastic Four sets. While in the Avengers Reserve store, we asked about it, but the clerks hadn't seen any and weren't unaware of its release. Much to my surprise though, they did still have 8 box sets of the Spider-Man wave on the shelf, and they were still priced at $89.99, so the extended trip down there wasn't a total bust. Plus we had an excellent dining experience at Din Tai Fung afterwards, so overall a great day.

[Action Martin]

Honestly, the standard FTC bodies are garbage. They don’t hold a pose well, they break easily, they’re a bit undersized. Just low quality.
A lot of people replace the standard bodies with the bandless Type S body, but that isn’t cheap.
The costuming is ok, but some of the older FTC stuff (which is stored in a warehouse in the Florida heat with no air conditioning ) had been known to disintegrate.
I have all the Batman 66 stuff, and since I keep it boxed and carded the bodies don’t really matter all that much.
Better to try to find the Mego 50th for the classic repro stuff, though, even if you have to pay more.

I totally agree with you. In 2006 I purchased the CTVT Merry Men, Super Knights, and Mad Monsters. I replaced all of the bodies with Dr. Mego bodies. The clothing was a bit tight but it worked for me with all of them except the Mummy. I also bought the first wave of the CTVT Teen Titans but never opened them.

This past year, I bought the CTVT George Perez Nightwing twice and both times the blue pleather immediately disintegrated after I opened the package. Great head sculpt though.

[basilfan]

Glad some of you guys got your FF set. As I had expected, I was working Wednesday. Ironically, I was laid off for 2 weeks before that, due to a power failure. Wednesday was my first day back to work.

I buy kind of a lot of Disney stuff, but I hate it when a shopping trip turns into an event. Sometimes it's done deliberately by Disney (as if buying what I want wasn't event enough). In this case, it's just the inexplicable limited edition business. Why reduce the supply when you know it just enables your customers will be racking up the profits?

I'm glad they limit purchases, though, to one or two per.