Josette said:
Too many of the same character tends to put a dent in my love for a line. For me, one modern, one period on the vamp characters would satisfy me - I would enjoy seeing the fearsome foursome: Dru/Spike/Darla/Angelus that everyone's mentioning, but once you get into three and four of the same basic look to a character (worse, five and six)....well, there are other characters that they haven't even released one of. It took us forever to get Giles.
I only have one Buffy - the graduation one. If SSC ever did make another and I preferred it, I would sell my grad Buffy and get the new one. I don't need two Buffys. But as it is, I like my grad Buffy and don't care to see another Buffy made. Buffy looks pretty much the same throughout the show. The only other Buffy that interested me a tad was vamp Buffy, but not enough to buy her.
I don't care as much for them, but Dawn, Tara and Anya should come before another Buffy. And the Angel line has just gotten started.
I can agree with you to a degree. However, you have to do more than one of the main cast member(s). You need extra Buffys to help out the late-adapters. Now, its easy to say, "scr## them.. snoozers lose." But that's not looking at the whole picture. Best example is the Angel Angel figure (God, that felt stupid just typing that but you know what I mean). That figure is very similar to the Buffy version. Technically, its not necessary. However, what about the fans of Angel who didn't get into Buffy (and don't laugh, I have 2 friends who loved Angel, but refused to watch Buffy... it happens). Most will not want to cruise eBay looking for the old Angel. So, they just say, "ah forget it" and move on (or they just buy Cordelia and recreate that bathroom scene from Grandma's Boy... okay, that went a little far, but I couldn't resist
). In the end, the line suffers and slowly dies.
Its the same basic concept with any toy/collectible line. You have to keep the main characters readily available. But, you need to keep them somewhat similar to what the basic look was. I really believe they did Subway Spike as a way to get another human face Spike on the market. However, they committed 2 cardinal sins: 1.) Sideshow bodies do not look good with their articulated limbs showing... best example is Prom Buffy without the exclusive jacket. She looks like crap. 2.) They cheaped out and left out his jacket... despite it being a critical part of his character, and despite the fact that that version of him explained how he got the jacket in the first place. They tried to appeal to the casual fan, but those errors kill the sales to all but the hardcore fan, and the eBay buyer who gets it online for 20 bucks now.
So, I am pretty sure we will get another human face Spike in the near future for Angel. Because people want it. And I am willing to bet it will be a modern version since that look is so iconic. Maybe Sideshow should make this the "definitive" Spike, by making the exclusive a Vamp head.. similar to 006 in the bond line. Its possible. And that exclusive would sell out in no time. And if the Buffy line last another year or 2, we will probably get another Buffy. So, just accept it, and then buy what you like. Its your money