Here's another pic of Cmdr. Gree...
While I'm totally enjoying this bust, I gotta go on a little rant here...
Gentle Giant was easily the worst and most frustrating part of my ClV experience.
I tried Thursday and Friday mornings to get there early...both mornings I made it in at around 10:15 and was told the line was "capped" and to come back later. What resulted was a mess of people hanging around waiting for the line to be "open" again...darting in and cutting at will, while PA announcements blathered about the latest piece to be "sold out" of the day's allotment. It was barely organized chaos...
Finally, I decided I'd get into the line to get in the hall extra early for Saturday morning (330AM!) and was one of the first 20 or so people in....jetted up the stairs, into the hall, up to the giant Jabba to discover over 100 people ALREADY INSIDE and the line capped! At 10:04! I was furious!
I finally found a GenCon person was was valiantly attempting to control the line and politely but firmly pestered him...it helped that he recognized me from the previous days...he told me that the first group was composed mostly of exhibitors, press folk and volunteers...finally, after convincing him I was not a dealer, it was not going on ebay, I was not an exhibitor....he took pity on me and let me in the line, where I finally, at almost 1PM, managed to score the Gree bust (one of the last 10 or so for the day). All that frustration and work for one exclusive...not cool or "fun".
While the booth itself was great with the giant Jabba as a fun photo op and seeing some of the upcoming busts was neat (love Ackbar and the Tusken Raider!)...but I met no one who actually worked at the booth the wasn't surly or throwing off major attitude. An example: when I asked the short, round guy wearing sunglasses (indoors...the definition of cool... "cough")and an artist's beret ( who was looking and acting "in charge") why they couldn't do the ticket system they employed at past cons (the same one starwarsshop was employing with success at their booth) to help with the line and he said "We think that's redundant...just come back tomorrow" Huh? Efficiency, fairness and order are redundant? I didn't get it...
Along with alot of folks here, I too wish Gentle Giant had not made the Clone Commanders convention exclusives...the most sought-after armored characters may create a "buzz" for them, but that buzz is more about huge amounts of frustration for folks who would like to collect them than the actual pieces themselves.
I had no issues with any of the other vendors at ClV....Sideshow was a breeze with friendly help (and handsome displays), Hasbro was a bit of a cattle call, but was still fairly easy to get (just a wait that's all) and their staff was exceptionally friendly and talkative at this show.
Yes, Gentle Giant makes some great product, but I wish they would get a little humility and grace in dealing with their public....
There...now that I've gotten THAT out of my system....
Gentle Giant.....sigh
