I usually don't mind chase variants, but the way McFarlane does them is a little precarious. Chase variants, in my view, should be more obscure looks that's a bonus while the common should be the more mainstream look. At least with regards to his collector edition figs, a lot of the variants are versions I would greatly prefer (Classic colors Hawkman, First Appearance Supes with red boots, classic Captain Carrot) but some are more reasonable (Kenner Superpowers colored Penguin and Wonder Woman)
I found the chase Blackfire at a gamestop a week ago. They told me I couldn't buy it and I had to wait 3 days to buy it. Fast forward 3 days it was gone.
He has a surprising amount of deep details and line works so I used some Tamiya brown panel liner on all the little deep lines and he looks fantastic and its not as loud if i had uses black or grey panel liner.
Shartimus Prime argues for the neck hinge joint lol. He’s even put #bringbackthehinge in his videos. I’d love to see you both have a debate about diff toy topics, including the neck hinge vs the ball joint neck.
My biggest problem with the chase variants is that yeah might be kinda fun for some toy hunters in the US but for those who live outside the US we have to buy a box with 6 of the same figure or pay 100$ just for the variant. Doesn't worth it.
Q of the Day 1: I’m not fond of chase figures as a business practice. McFarlane has his Hot Tub Time Machine parked in the middle of the 90s. I’m surprised the useless cards that come with these figures don’t have foil variants. Q of the day 2: I find the inconsistency in this line to be far worse than Marvel Legends. The ceiling is high, but the floor is several levels below ground. Sculpted costume details are often completely inaccurate due to egregious re-use. At least Hasbro usually gets that right, even if they just paint the costume details on.
Here in indy when these 1st came out in May, the platinum versions were more common than the standard versions. That sucked because it made Superman blue a rare figure to find in the store.
I'm really curious of your thoughts on the new wired capes McFarlane is using at the $22.99 price point if you can obtain a figure with one: i.e. currently Batman (first Appearance) and Target exclusive Batgirl (Cassandra Cain). Though we are getting two new ones next month with Robin (Tim Drake) and Batman (Knightfall two-pack). Both reuse A LOT (literally the Batgirl is a reuse from WAVE 1 of this toy line), but dammit those wired capes do so much heavy lifting for both figures to make posing them all the more fun. As for chase variants. I don't mind it save for when it's gonna be a popular variant that should've been saved for another release for easier access (Maybe that's the Hasbro in me kek). Still, it's HARD finding this figure in the wild or online. Chase or not.
dang, at first i wasn't interested at this azrael batman armor design but after seeing this review it made me want to get it (just to cope for the knightfall version of this azrael batman armor), thanks Anthony
I think for me ML figures are winning on average not just because the reuse of Mcfarlane figures is more shameless (like literally painting over sculpting detail but in a different direction) but because the Hasbro headsculpts now are so good. Though I haven't really been excited for anything in a while since Cable, maybe Skaar?
I was lucky to find this figure at a Books A Million at what I see as a reasonable price ($24.99). I'd love to hear why some of Todd's figures hit it out of the park (sort of speak) and why some just hit flat and will be seen at a discount outlet sitting on shelves for months. Another great video!
A 2nd pair of opened clawed hands would've been a huge + especially given there's a huge pic of him on the back of the package with open Clawed hands! An absolutely Great figure regardless!
I saw the figure in the thumbnail and for a split second thought it was something power rangers lol the triangular chest piece with the bands that wrap the ribs, just looked like the white ranger partially or something.
Like a lot of other people have said in the comments, I don't mind chase figures when the less popular design is the chase version. I think ToyBiz's silver Luke Cage was a good chase figure since everybody wanted the yellow shirt version. Silver was geared more towards the completists rather than your average collector.
Go figure, my favorite batman doesn't go for under $35. Blue version is $80, knightquest $90+. Quite vexing and on top that I had a bunch of customizing to get them to look accurate. I'd have a heart attack if I saw my dude for $23 [sooo cheap!]
Their chase variants make no sense overall. From a retailer POV no one is ordering and keeping a dozen of these releases trying to grab the chase so now the retailers taking back all those orders. As well a chase should be "special" release like an artist proof version or something gimmicky like it glowing in the dark, not essential looks and completely different characters (Spectre for example). Doesn't make sense to me why McFarlane wouldn't just outright sell their variants - in an instance like this people would've bought both easily heck they could've even done a 2-pack and that would've sold. Their chase model seems to be more reminiscent of the 20 years ago when you were actually going to the store to buy figures not today with online shopping being so prominent.
I like having chase variants but thats probably because none of them have been big need, iconic looks for me. What really bothers me is the limited supply of store exclusives. I never found the original AzBats nor could get either Parallax. I honestly applaud McFarlane for all the unique sculpt, plastic, and paint they're putting out for the $20-25 price point. How theyre able to put out near perfect proportions like this, Parallax, or Speeding Bullets, but then have some of their stinkers and scale issues is beyond me. Especially for someone like Todd that founded McFarlane Toys on the principle of high level sculpt work. Pound for pound? McFarlane > Hasbro. Even if the single best Hasbro is better than the single best McFarlane, if it doesnt average out, McFarlane wins on perception because Hasbro just is a fire hose of mediocity.
I definitely prefer the effort for new sculpts. The figures look better on a shelf and in general, they have more shelf presence than Legends...very unpopular opinion, I know.
Chase figures are a terrible business practice, especially when they make the most popular version the chase. It just makes customers angry. I guess some people will be in the mindset to buy up every chase they ever see because they might be one that gets valuable but in the long run it doesn’t work out for those people either.
I don't like the chase/variant method McFarlane Toys is using. This figure is probably the worst example bc the blue version is more desirable for most people. Business wise they should've just made this a two pack with both colors. A few people would probably be mad they didn't want to buy both, but I think most people would eat it and go for the two pack.
I´d rather the chase were a bit higher at least, but that buy it on eBay versions suck. Been chasing the red Superman forever and know I´m going to have to pay at least $60 eventually. Feel like a fool tbh
When chase figures are completely different, like that Skydive Batman w/ wired cape, it creates this artificial FOMO rush and hurts collectors. Chase is fine, but it need to stay within bounds of a variant, not a completely different figure. I hate that practice basically stopped buying.
Mckenner still stuck in the 90s with his toy gimmicks ...cape shouldnt be mechanical looking - nut at least this time the head size is big ...cool review ( i have both version by accident)
Not a fan of the chase figures. I understand why he does it, and it feels on school, but it guarantees a head ache to get the chase when competitors are offering things for easy pre order.
Q of the day: exclusives - I lost all interest and will to buy Neca Gremlins since they made their Showgirl Greta an exclusive. It got scalped, I never got it and had just bought the wedding dress Greta on after market. So sour I just skip ALL Neca products now! Q of the day sculpts: Marvel Legends is getting worst and worst every year in terms of effort. I wish we had more sculpts and some wash like you keep on repeating. However, as long as you dont get a flimsy limb, ML tend to pose well, have more range of articulations than Neca and McFarlane which I really like. They are action figures not statues. Also, the lines I like dictate the producing company: I am way more into Marvel and Spawn than DC. I wish spawn was made by other brands often.
I'm honestly not liking the inaccuracy of this figure. The helmet mold looks off, the belt that's wrapped around his thigh shouldn't be there & the mechanical details on the cape personally don't look right to me.
@@plasticweapon Nah, they're right. This design didn't have the leg strap nor the mechanical looking wings. I like those quite a lot personally but they're not accurate.
I think the chase thing is incredibly stupid. Its hard enough to find figures at a resonable price if you miss it at release. I dont think a company needs to add fuel to that fire, miss this release and in a month your only option to get this will be paying some scalper $400 for a 40$ figure. No thanks, it's incredibly dumb.