vintage vs. modern

[goldenryan]

here is thread i know will get alot of megomanics going
Do you action figures are better now than they were in the 70's and 80's?

[toys2cool]

here is thread i know will get alot of megomanics going
Do you action figures are better now than they were in the 70's and 80's?

hell no!! 80's all the way

[ctc]

Hmmmm....

Tough question. I'd hafta say that OVERALL they were better in the 70's 'cos they were designed as action figures. Playability hasn't been a concern of most lines since the 90's. It seemed like there were more unique figure lines back then too. Nowadays it seems like everything is part of the same five franchaises.

Don C.

[Captain]

70's ruled in my opinion. the toys were ok in the 80's, but by then licensing began to rule the roost, effectively ending the potential for a new Johnny West or GI Joe type line (ie: all original).
The 90's through to now are completely dominated by licensed characters, and as ctc alludes to, the fun has been dropped in favor of McFarlaneesque sculpts and general in- articulation....although new levels of articulation seem to be making a comeback thanks to Marvels legends lines.

[ZICA]

70's ruled in my opinion. the toys were ok in the 80's, but by then licensing began to rule the roost, effectively ending the potential for a new Johnny West or GI Joe type line (ie: all original).

You brought up a good point. Do you think the risk of trying to do something original in this day and age is too high?

[BlackKnight]

I can't compair the 2 with one greater than the other in My Head. I am such a Collector of Toys in General it's difficult for me to make the call. However if this Question was asked 10 yrs ago,.. I'd say Vintage... Before the DC Direct Age, Marvel Legends, Famous Covers, DC 9Inchers, Justice League Unlimmited Figures, DC Universe Classics , SideShow, New Star Wars Vehicles, Gentel Giant Star Wars Busts...., & Bowen Busts & Statues. But I am just so Caught up in All of this, Mego, G.I.JOE , & Super Powers stuff from YesterYears. It's great to be a Fan of this Stuff.

... But for the Record,.. I Love Star Wars Figures More So Today,.. than Anything outta the 70's or 80's. Better Likeness's, poseability & better Weaponry as Well. The Vehicles are Great too. Far Greater Advancement from the Toys of YesterYear. imo

[vulcan2074]

The New Modern Toys Can't compare to the Classic Toys of the 70s and 80s. My Reason is because thats when the ideas were Fresh and New. Now there just Remakes.
Sammy

[starsky]

it all depends on what you mean by "better." if you mean better sculpts and articulation then modern toys are "better." but if you mean originality, pricing, etc then vintage is better. what i really cant stand about the modern toys is that nasty plastic smell! it just wreaks!!

[megoat]

I don't see most modern action figures as "toys" at all, but rather "collectibles". That's the big difference. I prefer TOYS. So it's vintage all the way, IMO.

Companies like Sideshow and DC Direct make collectibles, not toys. I can't emphasize the difference enough. More than half the action figures on the toy shelves today are really sold and marketed as collectibles--for grown men to buy and put on a shelf. And because they are made with collectors in mind, they lose all the innocent charm of a vintage toy. As a collector of many things I generally find any items that are made, marketed and sold AS A COLLECTIBLE really really uninteresting.....

[ctc]

>Do you think the risk of trying to do something original in this day and age is too high?

Yup. Licenses rule, so if you're a small company you're probably paying A LOT for the rights. If you're a bigger compnay you're probably part of a conglomerate and have a lot of overhead and infrastructure to support. In either case there's not much room for experimentation.

Sellers are reluctant to display stuff that's NOT part of a tie-in either. There's plenty of competition and a no-name line is a risk.

McFarlane could experiment, but that's 'cos his stuff sold on the name more than the product. Designer figures.

>I Love Star Wars Figures More So Today,.. than Anything outta the 70's or 80's.

I dunno.... the newer figures have more playability; but for the longest time they had limited articulation, them weird bodybuilder physiques, and "action poses" that kept them from fitting into the vehicles. PLUS they'd doubled the number of figures from the classic run in a few years! That sort of thing seems aimed more at the obsessive collector than person playing with them. (HOW many R2 units do we need?!?!?)

Don C.

[goldenryan]

i prefere the old lines like secret wars, wgsh , and star wars but i think dc direct does some nice work. i don't collect the new star wars and marvel legends stuff at all. some of the new stuff isn't much if any cheaper than the originals when bowen statues cost $200++ and a loose ml juggernaut cost $30, when you can buy a mego spidey or hulk loose for less than that.

[Gorn Captain]

Toys have evolved over the decades, and each wave has its special appeal.
I love modern sculpting and paint decos, but I also love older styles, with less articulation. Each era has its charm. I think old wind-up robots of the fifties are super cool. And the 70s had great stuff. It may look dated now, but toys weren't invented and perfected in a day.
One thing stiff baffles me: how in this day and age, they can still mess up a face sculpt!
Sideshow has great stuff, but some likenesses are just off.
If a customizer can get it right, why can't professionals?

[censy]

The over-the-top muscular physiques make modern toys (and a lot of comics) a turn off for me. I'd pick vintage every time.

Chris

[starsky]

what's up with that pungent plastic smell that wreaks from mcfarlane, marvel legends, dc universe toys, etc... when you rip them off their packaging. did they change materials from the 70's and 80's? i dont remember my super powers, secret wars, star wars, smelling that bad.

[HardyGirl]

70s toys ROCKED! 'Nuff said.