General Hot Toys Discussion Thread

[Hydeous]

The thing about HT that i get pissed about is that they come with so many variants!
First it was the Joker fig, then the Batman TDK now its IM!
Don't try to fool us just by renaming it IM battle damage... its SO OBVIOUS its a DX. Its just under a different name just to scam us buyers.
Just come out with a finalized version on everything instead of making a version 1, version 2, version 3 and so on...
I'm getting so PISSED! When will this end!

I'm guessing alot of you would say "IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, DON'T BUY IT!" but the thing is, I like it, and I bought it being told it was the best and blablabla... but then only to be told that a new version would be coming out, not only that but with more features and gadgets. Its not like I'm made of money! I'm a student and I practically have to save for at least 4-5 months/figure...

This is never ending! Nobody gains from this except HT!
The collectors, the sellers!
I just want HT to come out with just 1 version of everything... the most 2. Is that so hard to ask?

HT have no credibility at all!

I hope we all agree and take a stand on this...

When you put it that way, its like saying apple have no credibility at all, releasing a better laptop or ipod twice a year, when they can just release one per 2 years or something.

I mean if you like the fig/character enough, then you wouldn't mind getting whatever variants there are out there (e.g. Iron man, in my case).

Then there are characters like superman, which I think they will release the DX version in the near future, and I'm not that desperate to get the ones that are out now. So I'll just wait till HT releases the DX version of it.

There are tons of ppl whod still buy a 4th nurse joker. And I won't rule it out, despite HT saying that the DX would be the final joker. At the end of the day, you need to exercise some self control and discipline, and take a wait and see approach if you don't wanna feel like you're being cheated on by HT. Don't hate the player, son. Hate the game.

My 2c.

 

[samueljd]

The thing about HT that i get pissed about is that they come with so many variants!
First it was the Joker fig, then the Batman TDK now its IM!
Don't try to fool us just by renaming it IM battle damage... its SO OBVIOUS its a DX. Its just under a different name just to scam us buyers.
Just come out with a finalized version on everything instead of making a version 1, version 2, version 3 and so on...
I'm getting so PISSED! When will this end!

I'm guessing alot of you would say "IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, DON'T BUY IT!" but the thing is, I like it, and I bought it being told it was the best and blablabla... but then only to be told that a new version would be coming out, not only that but with more features and gadgets. Its not like I'm made of money! I'm a student and I practically have to save for at least 4-5 months/figure...

This is never ending! Nobody gains from this except HT!
The collectors, the sellers!
I just want HT to come out with just 1 version of everything... the most 2. Is that so hard to ask?

HT have no credibility at all!

I hope we all agree and take a stand on this...

You do realize these figures sell out, because people choose to buy them. Also, anyone who regularly buys HT knows they will release a better version of a figure if it is a hot selling license. If you have such a problem with this, then just don't buy them and start making your own customs. Hot Toys is a toy company who produces great products and they will continue doing that to be successful.

 

[galactiboy]

I can see both sides of this... I don't have an issue with figures being improved, but sometimes you do have fairly extreme examples.

Joker is the worst; w/in a short period of time you had the V1 (with bad headsculpt), Bank Robber (with improved sculpt) then later a 3rd release with all the bells an whistles. If this happened with every figure I think more collectors would be upset (combined the previous Joker's are worth about $100 less than what they retailed for). But Joker (so far) has been the exception.

Also, on a positive note HT seems to be better about being more inclusive with earlier releases. For instance the P1 Predator comes with pretty much all you need, even the open and closed mandibles.

 

[Mad Old Lu]

I also see both sides. If HT were to announce beforehand what they plan on making and selling, then the collectors could plan ahead and choose which version they want to get. But that's not how it seems to be working. HT will make a figure, and if it sells well, then they decide to go ahead with a second or third version.

This also works for those who missed out the first time around. I missed out on TDK Batman the first time, but now I have the opportunity to get the DX Batman with everything from the first and more. Good for me.

Now Wolverine is being released fairly bare bones, and very specific to the Origins movie. I have not pre-ordered this and I'm taking a big risk hedging my bet that there will be more versions of Wolverine that are closer to what I would like--like an X-Men 2 Wolverine with the pointy hair. Bad for me because HT could decide to not make any other version.

We can't take it for granted that HT will release variants. Batman and Iron Man seem to be where they're going crazy, but many of their older licenses are still just one or two figures. How many of us are waiting and hoping for a Ripley and Lambert, or hoping that the teaser photo is for a John Connor 2?

 

[galactiboy]

I'm in the same boat regarding Wolverine... just waiting for (I hope) a version from one of the earlier films. While the Logan look works... I'd prefer waiting. Especially if the V2 comes with all the Logan gear and an X-men suit

 

[samueljd]

I'm not trying to be too critical about the issue, but we as collectors have been impatient and have to have the hot new HT figures as soon as they are released. Now after becoming accustomed to how HT releases their figures, I just wait and have become more choosy about what and when I buy. I've actually been getting better deals this way and have made sure I get what I want (the excessive Terminator Salvation figures for example). I plan on just getting one T-600 fig and not all the variants being released.

 

[tylerdurden]

i think a key point to note is that hot toys is not stupid. there is a lot of evidence on this board that they listen to their customers. and they KNOW that we, the fans/loyal customer base are not happy with the way we've been milked. i do believe they've somewhat learnt their lesson with the joker controversy.

and to me, the battle-damaged iron man is a step in the right direction. some of u may insist that this is a DX in disguise. i do not agree. it is a fully legitimate, stand-alone release. simply because a battle-damaged version of iron man is visually different enough to justify its existence. as far as collector preference goes, some like the pristine, shiny new armour, while others love the gritty, banged up look. this battle-damaged look was a significant moment in the film as well, unlike the fleeting glimpse of the cop joker, so that further adds to this being a valid alternate version of the mark3 armour.

plus, ht has taken the initiative to provide us with more value this time round. u get a brand new headsculpt, 2 variations of the chest armour, a whole bunch of hand options, and even several versions of the helmet. as we all know, ht is first and foremost a business. but they do realize that if they keep alienating their core target audience, they're only going to lose out in the long run. so it makes smart business sense to keep your target audience hungry for more of your products, while maintaining the same perceived value.

 

[Hydeous]

Is anyone waiting out on MJ thriller as they are waiting out on Logan? They might make a DX out of it too

Like Superman, I guess I can wait for Logan to have its DX treatment. Now if it were, Spidey, then that would be a completely different story

 

[galactiboy]

I'm good with the MJ Thriller as-is... even if they release something more deluxe, I can live with the 2 figures in one deal.

Logan is easier as the movie was crap, so if I can wait and get a better version from a movie I like better that's always a bonus.

 

[Hydeous]

I guess even if they release a DX version of MJ, it prolly won't be the thriller version. There's still a few more iconic look they can make out of.

Yes, I think the thing is that collectors always like something that's new. Like if they had switched the release of connors, and released the BD swat connor first, and later the leather jacket version, people would get hyped up when they see teasers of the later. And I guess if you release them together, my guess is people would pick the leather jacket version, simply cause it looks more detailed, and you get your money's worth, compared to the boring swat costume.

I'm good with the MJ Thriller as-is... even if they release something more deluxe, I can live with the 2 figures in one deal.

Logan is easier as the movie was crap, so if I can wait and get a better version from a movie I like better that's always a bonus.

 

[Centrocal]

I think with John Connor a V2 was completely justified. They didn't improve the first figure, add stuff to it to make it better. Its a different costume different gear, different base. Yeah they could have made a 2 in 1 like Marcus Wright, but when you think about all the accessories your getting ( + a Hydrobot ) It really does warrant 2 separate products. And I dont feel like they 'tricked' me into buying 'inferior' product. They are 2 different flavors.


Now with BD Iron Man, what really bothers me is the fact that its NOT a DX. Which means Hot Toys ran out of time cause IM2 is starting production and they just pushed this thing out the door. Which means we're not getting a finished product Its like them saying "Well we were working on something really special-But then we got a even BETTER IDEA, and this wasn't worth our time to complete, but here you can have it" So we get this half-ass 'Not DX' when you KNOW they're going to make a Real DX Iron Man for IM2

 

[tylerdurden]

Now with BD Iron Man, what really bothers me is the fact that its NOT a DX. Which means Hot Toys ran out of time cause IM2 is starting production and they just pushed this thing out the door. Which means we're not getting a finished product Its like them saying "Well we were working on something really special-But then we got a even BETTER IDEA, and this wasn't worth our time to complete, but here you can have it" So we get this half-ass 'Not DX' when you KNOW they're going to make a Real DX Iron Man for IM2

that's a strange way of looking at it. why would u say they are rushing the battle-damaged iron man out the door just cos they have an ironman2 figure in the works? looking at the figure, there's nothing half-assed about it. the armour sculpts are great, the paint apps look pretty nice, and the tony stark portrait still may not look exactly like RDJ, but it sure is an improvement over the previous ones, especially mark1!

i think a fair amount of thought and effort was put into this. it may very well be a cash-in but at least ht is backing it up with (imo) solid value for money.

 

[Hydeous]

I agree with Tyler.

DX is just bout PERS anyways, and its not that much of an important factor since tony's wearing a helmet.

 

[creecher]

 

[Cap'n Cook]

It's quite ironic that the magazine that displays Hot Toys products is called MILK.

 

[uscmhicks]

It's quite ironic that the magazine that displays Hot Toys products is called MILK.

I never noticed that.

 

[Hydeous]

My spider sense tells me that mark 1 and marcus is gonna soar up in prices real soon.

Man, I'd fork out double the retail price for a quality product like this

I <3 Hot Toys

 

[playafree]

My spider sense tells me that mark 1 and marcus is gonna soar up in prices real soon.

Man, I'd fork out double the retail price for a quality product like this

I <3 Hot Toys

Why Marcus?

 

[holtrax]

its kind of a catch 22 situation. I can understand people getting miffed about the constant variants being released. The way i look at is a natural thing. Bascially you could decide you are not going to purchase a version 1 figure from ht if its part of a popular movie license because you know they will release more versions.

This does however present a problem as a previous poster pointed out. If everyone started to do this then ht wouldn't make much profit out of version 1's and thus would not continue to make variants or dx versions. Thus you lose out by not having a figure you wanted from a movie license. So what to do?

i think ill just be examining each figure first and seeing which best represents a character then picking it up. If the character is released again as a variant i'll just have to stick to my guns and say hey i made the decision and thats it elsewise i think i'd be broke...

I think the danger is especially with the 1/6th ht craze you start picking up every figure and variant that comes out only to be left even more dissapointed and unsatisfied when yet another comes out. On the joker dx think i think again like previously pointed out i think its what is his best representation in the movie and that to me is the bank robber figure from the start. The cop uniform version is much better and contains more features but i think the bank robber version would be instantly recognisable by people who seen the movie even the nurse version would but the cop version isn't.


The way i look at the iron man thing is bascially im going to wait for the second one to come out. Ill pick up the iron man 2 dx version because im assuming ht will have perfected the head sculpt by then and i'll be 100 per satisfied. Still not happy with the bd head sculpt. Also i'll pick up the warmachine figure. The key to all this is to develop a sense of patience with ht figure releases. Good things come to those who wait.

 

[Centrocal]

Its gotten to the point where you really have to pick just one Movie or franchise and just commit to it. That way it wouldn't be so bad if they come out with variants because, your plan from the start would be to buy 'the whole set'. But if your just collecting Hot Toys in general ( like myself ) Eventually you're gonna go crazy ( like myself )