Super 7 "Official Universal Monsters Thread"

[Monsters For Sale]

There have been multiple statues, model kits, etc., but it's true that this is the first action figure. Of course, the concept of an "action figure" didn't exist for approximately the first 40 years of that interval!

My grandmother had a Raggedy Ann "action figure" when she was little.

[Trap-Door Maker]

There have been multiple statues, model kits, etc., but it's true that this is the first action figure. Of course, the concept of an "action figure" didn't exist for approximately the first 40 years of that interval!

Art Asylum released an awesome Maria action figure a while ago:

https://www.entertainmentearth.com/product/silent-screamers-maria-from-metropolis/mz99204

[horrorhunter]

Art Asylum released an awesome Maria action figure a while ago.

I have it, along with the other Silent Screamers figures. One of my favorite figure lines.



The Nosferatu, Golem, and Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari, figures are really nice. All are stylized with a German Expressionism vibe.

[Monsters For Sale]

Don't know who "them" is, but there have been other METROPOLIS robot figures. Probably no older than a couple of decades, though. Funko made a bobble-head a few years back.

Maybe we can settle on this is the first 3.75" figure.

I liked the bigger figures, but having a collection ostensibly dedicated to one character, I didn't want to give up very much space to something "other".

[VulcansFury]

Super7 is preying upon their customers. They aren't announcing jack squat about their plans for Maria because they want to whip collectors into a "limited edition" frenzy, and they (yet AGAIN) are spreading out their exclusive releases by putting up the gold armor Arthur from Ghost & Goblins up next week online even though he was at DesignerCon with Maria. Just like they did with their SDCC exclusives and the UM masks. They are intentionally trying to gouge fans on shipping charges and multiple website visits. Brian Flynn made remarks years ago on Rebelscum about how he felt SDCC was all about him, his company and his exclusives.

ReAction as so niche, and he's running them down the path that destroyed lines like Playmates Star Trek and anything made for MattyCollector. Honestly, I'm over this predatory nonsense and if I can't get them at MSRP retail at places like BBTS or EE, then I just don't care anymore. They have already driven me away from being a completionist, and they are rapidly pushing me away entirely with their disgusting tactics.

Don't forget if you have been collecting the Alien line, you have to re-purchase figures you already own to complete your set! Or *maybe* you can get them carded later, dates TBD, individually available or only in sets like at SDCC TBD.

I have changed my entire outlook on collecting due to this type of crap. I only buy for fun, and pass on anything that becomes a chore. There is a neverending stream of things to buy and collect, nobody has a true corner on any market, and I buy things I want to *enjoy*, not simply to accumulate more "stuff". The toys are fun, but this relationship is rapidly becoming toxic.

[Monsters For Sale]

Super7 is preying upon their customers. ... 

The "Fury" in your screen name seems appropriate.

But I really agree.

[Anton Phibes]

The "Fury" in your screen name seems appropriate.

But I really agree.

As do I.

[VulcansFury]

The "Fury" in your screen name seems appropriate.

But I really agree.

Well, I can certainly see the logic in amortizing costs and re-using molds with repaints. 

But the hoops. The endless hoops we have to jump through. Bleech.

I think we've progressed far enough through the history of collectibles to see the trend that almost no license dies forever. We now live in an age where the bulk of collectibles and toys are built upon existing IPs. Companies bid over and over again on nostalgic properties. We just got our second ReAction figures of Creature, Mummy and Wolfman in just a few short years. We live in a world where 3 3/4 highly articulated figures of The Golden Girls exist and we can walk into any Target and buy Facts Of Life Megos, (and they are actively developing Blade Runner Megos!). Batman 1966 is available on home video and have many likeness based products available. So we can no longer say "never" about any property, only likely/unlikely. So, I feel no pressure to buy anything thinking that this will be the only time EVER that it will be offered. It might get remade better or worse (different scale, worse/NO likeness i.e. Lugosi) but chances are high that more will come along (Golden Girls are getting upcoming releases in 1/9 Mego scale).


So, the more barriers placed before us, the more hoops to jump to obtain, the easier it is to say "Pass!". $15 is really pushing it for this scale. I love the style, but when constant shipping charges push them into close to $20 territory, on par with the 6-inch highly articulated figures like Marvel Legends and Star Wars Black series, well that's a tough pill to swallow. I WANT to army-build Mole People, Zentradi Battle Pods and especially POTA Ape Soldiers, but not at these prices.


I've been collecting for decades. I bought a lot of the DC Animated figures, and when the only way to get figures like the less-recognized Bat-Villains or Lois Lane in the multi-pack re-releases, I sucked it up and dealt with it. I get the economics of the situation, and recognize some times that's the only way to get a product out that might pegwarm otherwise.


BUT multipacks are meant to be cost-saving. Every retailer who's done a public Q&A state that the packaging is a huge chunk of the cost, and multipacks cut down on those costs. Super7 still charges full price for their multipacks vs single releases. And Alien had 3 new figures, that required buying at least 3 repeats get the new sculpts. I'm glad they refreshed and repainted the old sculpts to make it worthwhile, and it's the kind of practice I can forgive on a once-in-a-blue-moon occurrence, but there was no reason they couldn't have put all 3 new figures in one pack other than greed. Hellboy had 2 head variants between the 2 3-packs and they still wanted full price per figure. I'd beg and advocate for POTA Gorilla Soldier multipacks to make army-building cheaper, but its very obvious that Super7 fully intends to milk everything for full price until the teats turn purple (then they'll sell those teats as con-exclusive repaints!)

Super7 wants to mimic Kenner Star Wars, but they fail to grasp their most basic principle. Kenner SW was based on "Collect them All!", BUT they maintained a reasonable price and ready availability. Super7 *wants* us to "Collect Them All" but gouges us on price and availability. This is not a formula for long-term success, and once the scalpers get stuck with tons of unsold stock from buying up "exclusives" then I think we'll see a sharp decline in output. Funko ReActions were lacking in sculpts, but were all easier to obtain than these Super7 price gouges. $80 to $100 cardboard playsets with plastic bases? I've passed on every one of those. $15 per figure is really pressing the threshold as it is. Asking $45 for the She-Ra/Hordak 2-pack on one card when they'll be re-released on individual cards later for $15 cheaper for the pairis just gouging. They are just milking it for all they can, while they can.

And again, their radio-silence on Maria is just utterly disrespectful. If this is the level of manipulation we have to deal with, then I'll only pop in for the figures I really want and ignore the rest, which if more people do this, hurts the overall lines. I'll stick with BBTS pre-orders, and recast or order from Ali Baba if I want to repaint my own. Just like in relationships, love doesn't solve everything, and the level of treatment from S7 is really fast becoming toxic. Love of DCUC, Thundercats and He-Man didn't save them from MattyCollector's crap, and Star Trek being at its height still wasn't enough after Playmates upset their fans. But again, Brian Flynn's narcissistic delusions that SDCC is all about him that he's said in the past tells me that he is incapable of accepting any responsibility for any fault. (I haven't seen any petitions to change SDCC to S7CC)

[VulcansFury]

Oh, and to not be completely Fury-ous, I have been supportive of this style and the $15 pricepoint because I do recognize they don't have the distribution numbers of the big dogs like Marvel and SW. I'll pay more for niche, and continue to do so. But the Honeymoon is over and its hard to look past the constant warts. I do still have a very, very long wish-list but if these figures hit $20 I'm done and out.

[Monsters For Sale]

Even Vesuvius needed to vent.

[darkmonkeygod]

Brian Flynn made remarks years ago on Rebelscum about how he felt SDCC was all about him, his company and his exclusives.

I searched, trying to find this. Will you link t the source, I would very much like to read that.

[Mord]

Even Vesuvius needed to vent.

Sounds like my ex-wife.

[aura of foreboding]

I only buy what I like.  If I really like something, I will really try to get it; e.g. Mego Dracula.  If I kinda want something, I will kinda try to get it; e.g. Mego Werewolf.  I like these reaction figures, and they have been pretty easy to obtain for me.  I like the fact that I don't have to go to these dumb conventions to get pieces and that they are offered online afterward at the same price. 

I think you make valid points, especially on the scalpers and the shipping.  Scalpers suck.  They ruin everything for everyone.  I hate them.  Scalpers are the reason this hobby has gone to pot.  As far as shipping, Super 7 could easily release like items on the same day.  The positive outlook says they want to get items to the consumers as soon as they are available.  The negative outlook says they want to make a buck or ten on shipping.  It's probably the latter.  Regardless, the communication from the company needs to vastly improve.  I don't know if it's purposefully lackluster or just lackluster because they suck at it.  Mego looks like Walter Cronkite by comparison, and that is really saying something.   

[Wicked Lester]

I have not honestly been following this thread but I kinda remember back in the 90's that there was an 18" Metropolis Maria vinyl model. I know there were smaller models and a Japanese 15" model"robot from back then.

[Palifan]

I know there have been some unhappy people on this thread recently but the new Maria is out for anyone interested - https://super7.com/collections/home-page-featured-product/products/metropolis-reaction-figure-maria

I didn't think that it would take them long to release this but I'm still happy I picked up the con exclusive as I like the weathering to the paintwork and the different shaped card.

Ian