Indy 12'' line on ''pause.'' OR The Future of the Sideshow 12" INDY Line

[Something Sexy]

Well they at least gave me an affordable accurate enough for me Idol so I am happy they did that at least.

 

[choopie]

Well they at least gave me an affordable accurate enough for me Idol so I am happy they did that at least.

I have the Idol too and I'm VERY happy with it. And I am interested to see how the Ark turns out. I guess I'm just frustrated, like so many others, over the grand plans that Sideshow has for these licenses and they seem to fizzle out.

 

[Something Sexy]

I have the Idol too and I'm VERY happy with it. And I am interested to see how the Ark turns out. I guess I'm just frustrated, like so many others, over the grand plans that Sideshow has for these licenses and they seem to fizzle out.

Oh yea I agree! Especially the 1:1 bust!

 

[thenammagazine]

If Sideshow would have just stuck with 1:6 and PF with the Indy license and forget the dios and prop replicas, I think they would be able to pump out some nice product and keep a lot of collectors happy. They obviously overextended themselves with dios and replicas, which don't seem to be going anywhere, for a license that clearly doesn't have a large enough fan base to support so many lines.

I wouldn't say the fan base is too small. Indy not only has a larger fan base, but also a very loyal one. It just needs to be handled correctly. To get the types of number Sideshow was looking for, they would've had to release something to coincide with an Indy film release. But they failed on that, then again when the BR for KOTCS hit. Instead of rolling with the punch and changing their approach, they just released everything still expecting the hype to be there.

 

[DarthNeil]

I wouldn't say the fan base is too small. Indy not only has a larger fan base, but also a very loyal one. It just needs to be handled correctly. To get the types of number Sideshow was looking for, they would've had to release something to coincide with an Indy film release. But they failed on that, then again when the BR for KOTCS hit. Instead of rolling with the punch and changing their approach, they just released everything still expecting the hype to be there.

I think the Indy fan base is somewhat similar to the Bond fan base (of which I consider myself a member of both) and look how Bond fizzled out. It was the license that pulled me into SSC way back when I got my first two 1/6 items (Connery and Brosnan Bonds). It's a shame that the general collector needs a movie to be out to feel the energy-- as a lifelong fan of both I don't need a recent film to get me hyped-- but then unfortunately I think that puts me in the minority.

 

[thenammagazine]

I think the Indy fan base is somewhat similar to the Bond fan base (of which I consider myself a member of both) and look how Bond fizzled out. It was the license that pulled me into SSC way back when I got my first two 1/6 items (Connery and Brosnan Bonds). It's a shame that the general collector needs a movie to be out to feel the energy-- as a lifelong fan of both I don't need a recent film to get me hyped-- but then unfortunately I think that puts me in the minority.

I don't think they necessarily need a movie, but they need stimulating products. Releasing re-issues called Legacy Bonds, or an Indy in German Disguise and a not-so-Belloq Belloq, are the wrong types of things to stimulate collectors. Those types of releases are what needs hype to sell. By the time Sideshow got around to the ToD PFs, they'd pretty much forced everybody to jump ship.

 

[DarthNeil]

I don't think they necessarily need a movie, but they need stimulating products. Releasing re-issues called Legacy Bonds, or an Indy in German Disguise and a not-so-Belloq Belloq, are the wrong types of things to stimulate collectors. Those types of releases are what needs hype to sell. By the time Sideshow got around to the ToD PFs, they'd pretty much forced everybody to jump ship.

I agree. The choices did not suit the market-- only the die hard fan base (again... me among them) would jump at these (which has been shown with the sales). I think however that a focus on ToD in the 1/6, specifically with an obvious ripped shirt and beaten Indy, Short Round, Mola Ram, and for an environment a mine cart would go a long way to stoking the flames for this license. All of those would sell out. They could them offer an Exclusive Willie with sacrificial cage in a very limited amount and possibly a thuggee. Once the first three initial ones had been shipped they could coincide their shipping with announcements for TLC products or maybe some more ROTLA ones (Marion, Sallah, map room Indy...etc). Collectors (in the 30+ age range who remember seeing all of the original three in theatres with stciky pop covered floors and popcorn shoved squarely into their mouths) will support this line if attacked correctly-- hopefully SSC don't wait for Indy 5 to start rolling these possibilities out.

 

[thenammagazine]

I agree. The choices did not suit the market-- only the die hard fan base (again... me among them) would jump at these (which has been shown with the sales). I think however that a focus on ToD in the 1/6, specifically with an obvious ripped shirt and beaten Indy, Short Round, Mola Ram, and for an environment a mine cart would go a long way to stoking the flames for this license. All of those would sell out. They could them offer an Exclusive Willie with sacrificial cage in a very limited amount and possibly a thuggee. Once the first three initial ones had been shipped they could coincide their shipping with announcements for TLC products or maybe some more ROTLA ones (Marion, Sallah, map room Indy...etc). Collectors (in the 30+ age range who remember seeing all of the original three in theatres with stciky pop covered floors and popcorn shoved squarely into their mouths) will support this line if attacked correctly-- hopefully SSC don't wait for Indy 5 to start rolling these possibilities out.

And yet the painful irony is they've already announced releasing a mine cart environment to go with Indy figures they plan on releasing further down the road. If ever there was a nail to put in the coffin, that would be it. The mine cart won't sell like they expect it to, and they'll have the perfect opportunity to finally cancel the Indy line and pull the whole "lack of interest" card they're so absolutely fond of.

I picked up the first PF, and all the figures save for German Indy and was game for other lines from the license. But I'm not gonna support the push to polystone via the whole bait and switch tactic. If they continue to do both, I'll seriously consider picking up more of the polystone pieces, but if the 1:6 is dead, so is my interest in Indy polystone.

 

[Deckard]

Frankly, this line is pretty awful all around (1/6), terrible character choices, equally poor exclusives(they didn't make sense for the figures they came with), bad paint apps, more Indys then any other figures combined, Sideshow coming out and saying stupid ____ like no Marion or Sallah, they do not get this license. I owned every 1/6 figure they released and sold them all because of loose bodies, terrible fitting clothes, and disgustingly poor paint. This license was never a passion for Sideshow, except for Trevor Grove. Everyone else was too busy dressing up like pirates and playing with Star Wars.

Couple it with most being let down by Crystal Skull. Skull created new young fans at the cost of pissing off all the long time ones who actually have money to spend.

Best thing that can happen is for them to keep jerking out Marvel and Star Wars and let this die. Sooner they do, sooner there is a chance HT can get the license like T2.

And yea they will be able to sell Indy if hes quality, they have a Blade 3 Jessica Beil figure, theyre doing Spiderman 3, current is not a quarter as important as quality.

 

[rushmore223]

Mine Car environment = Meh

Give me a map room environment with map room Indy and I just might bite if it's done well enough.

 

[JustinLuck]

Frankly, this line is pretty awful all around (1/6), terrible character choices, equally poor exclusives(they didn't make sense for the figures they came with), bad paint apps, more Indys then any other figures combined, Sideshow coming out and saying stupid ____ like no Marion or Sallah, they do not get this license. I owned every 1/6 figure they released and sold them all because of loose bodies, terrible fitting clothes, and disgustingly poor paint. This license was never a passion for Sideshow, except for Trevor Grove. Everyone else was too busy dressing up like pirates and playing with Star Wars.

Couple it with most being let down by Crystal Skull. Skull created new young fans at the cost of pissing off all the long time ones who actually have money to spend.

Best thing that can happen is for them to keep jerking out Marvel and Star Wars and let this die. Sooner they do, sooner there is a chance HT can get the license like T2.

And yea they will be able to sell Indy if hes quality, they have a Blade 3 Jessica Beil figure, theyre doing Spiderman 3, current is not a quarter as important as quality.

 

[thenammagazine]

Frankly, this line is pretty awful all around (1/6), terrible character choices, equally poor exclusives(they didn't make sense for the figures they came with), bad paint apps, more Indys then any other figures combined, Sideshow coming out and saying stupid ____ like no Marion or Sallah, they do not get this license. I owned every 1/6 figure they released and sold them all because of loose bodies, terrible fitting clothes, and disgustingly poor paint. This license was never a passion for Sideshow, except for Trevor Grove. Everyone else was too busy dressing up like pirates and playing with Star Wars.

Couple it with most being let down by Crystal Skull. Skull created new young fans at the cost of pissing off all the long time ones who actually have money to spend.

Best thing that can happen is for them to keep jerking out Marvel and Star Wars and let this die. Sooner they do, sooner there is a chance HT can get the license like T2.

And yea they will be able to sell Indy if hes quality, they have a Blade 3 Jessica Beil figure, theyre doing Spiderman 3, current is not a quarter as important as quality.

Psh... tell us how you really feel.

 

[SwedishHeat]

Frankly, this line is pretty awful all around (1/6), terrible character choices, equally poor exclusives(they didn't make sense for the figures they came with), bad paint apps, more Indys then any other figures combined.

Let's not be drastic. German Indy was really the only poor choice. Everything else was good, Raiders Indy, Belloq, Toht, Henry Sr, and KOTCS Indy. Hindsight being 20/20, a Crusade Indy might've been better than KOTCS, but whatev. The execution of the Ark was poor, and the pedestal with Belloq made sense from a business standpoint, not a character standpoint., everything else was gravy. Paint apps. . . .well, they were standard Sideshow paint apps. In my opinion, Sideshow's biggest setback.

Overall, Indy was such a downer line because it's being graded by it's output versus it's potential, not by it's output. Definitely not "awful all around"

Best thing that can happen is for them to keep jerking out Marvel and Star Wars and let this die. Sooner they do, sooner there is a chance HT can get the license like T2.

For clarity's sake, Sideshow still has the Terminator license, they're just letting Hot Toys use it. It's not like the license expired on Hot Toys picked it up. Realistically, all it would take, besides some negotiating with Lucasfilm, is for Sideshow to say, "y'know what, we can't do this, you guys do it"

 

[thenammagazine]

Let's not be drastic. German Indy was really the only poor choice. Everything else was good, Raiders Indy, Belloq, Toht, Henry Sr, and KOTCS Indy. Hindsight being 20/20, a Crusade Indy might've been better than KOTCS, but whatev. The execution of the Ark was poor, and the pedestal with Belloq made sense from a business standpoint, not a character standpoint., everything else was gravy. Paint apps. . . .well, they were standard Sideshow paint apps. In my opinion, Sideshow's biggest setback.

Overall, Indy was such a downer line because it's being graded by it's output versus it's potential, not by it's output. Definitely not "awful all around"

I actually agree with Deckard on this. Senior was the only release that didn't have major issues. RotLA Indy was floppy pro and really bad paint, Belloq didn't look at all like the actor, Toht had lame glasses and the Ark is a joke (Hasbro's spanked Sideshows), German Indy , and KotCS Indy had a 1:5 scale head.

For clarity's sake, Sideshow still has the Terminator license, they're just letting Hot Toys use it. It's not like the license expired on Hot Toys picked it up. Realistically, all it would take, besides some negotiating with Lucasfilm, is for Sideshow to say, "y'know what, we can't do this, you guys do it"

Have you seen what Sideshow's doing with Terminator? The maquettes look awful, T1 looks like he's doing the potty dance and T2 looks like he's marching in a parade, and the Marcus Wright PF looks nothing like Sam Worthington. Matter of fact, it's almost a dead-on Michael Rooker.

 

[The Josh]

Let's not be drastic. German Indy was really the only poor choice. Everything else was good, Raiders Indy, Belloq, Toht, Henry Sr, and KOTCS Indy. Hindsight being 20/20, a Crusade Indy might've been better than KOTCS, but whatev. The execution of the Ark was poor, and the pedestal with Belloq made sense from a business standpoint, not a character standpoint., everything else was gravy. Paint apps. . . .well, they were standard Sideshow paint apps. In my opinion, Sideshow's biggest setback.

Yeah, I think its a bit drastic. Belloq to come with the Idol pedestal should have been in his jungle gear and Tohts glasses where an issue. I didnt mind German Indy and honestly its a nice figure (bare bones so its a bit overpriced) but its a nice figure I'm glad I have it. Never picked up Indy Sr but I will at somepoint. ROTLA Indy for me was alright the paint apps on the head could be stronger but the rest of the figure was quite good (at least with my figure) and KOTCS Indy I thought was quite exceptional. I have no issues with that figure at all. That one looks just great.

Honestly, timing I think hurt this line more than anything. You gotta get a good flow to a line and this didn't have it. Plus you toss in missing some characters and things just didn't go great from the start. Now, that being said I'm excited by the ToD stuff coming out and plan on getting some figures from this movie.

 

[SwedishHeat]

I actually agree with Deckard on this. Senior was the only release that didn't have major issues. RotLA Indy was floppy pro and really bad paint, Belloq didn't look at all like the actor, Toht had lame glasses and the Ark is a joke (Hasbro's spanked Sideshows), German Indy , and KotCS Indy had a 1:5 scale head.

Yeah, I remember those faults. I was mostly taking exception with what I quoted in the post. . . which I thought to be hyperbole. The faults were pointed at character selection, exclusive choice and paint apps. . . and I think really only one of those was a glaring issue amongst the line altogether. But those ones you brought up were valid as well.

I think had the Idol pedestal been offered with Indy, many people would have choked at the first figure in the line being priced at $150. I guess that still doesn't explain why it wasn't offered separately. That one was really just Sideshow ensuring they sold enough Belloqs to cover their costs.

I still think Belloq, despite not really looking much like Belloq, is still a fine figure. The suit is tailored well, I like the pocketwatch, the gun is nice, just the face is wrong. So I paid $80 for the pedestal $60 for a generic gangster. . . seems okay to me.

More or less, I was just taking issue with the idea that Sideshow should let the line die so Hot Toys could take over, because I'm REEEEEEALLY tired of reading "Hot Toys could do it better. . . " At this point, I'm not going to pay Hot Toys prices for Indiana Jones. I've put enough time and a bit of money into revamping my Raiders Indy, and I'm just not going to spend another $164.99 on a Hot Toys Indy

 

[Mightytrex]

The best figure out of this line was Henry Jones Sr.
Period

 

[thenammagazine]

Yeah, I remember those faults. I was mostly taking exception with what I quoted in the post. . . which I thought to be hyperbole. The faults were pointed at character selection, exclusive choice and paint apps. . . and I think really only one of those was a glaring issue amongst the line altogether. But those ones you brought up were valid as well.

I think had the Idol pedestal been offered with Indy, many people would have choked at the first figure in the line being priced at $150. I guess that still doesn't explain why it wasn't offered separately. That one was really just Sideshow ensuring they sold enough Belloqs to cover their costs.

I still think Belloq, despite not really looking much like Belloq, is still a fine figure. The suit is tailored well, I like the pocketwatch, the gun is nice, just the face is wrong. So I paid $80 for the pedestal $60 for a generic gangster. . . seems okay to me.

More or less, I was just taking issue with the idea that Sideshow should let the line die so Hot Toys could take over, because I'm REEEEEEALLY tired of reading "Hot Toys could do it better. . . " At this point, I'm not going to pay Hot Toys prices for Indiana Jones. I've put enough time and a bit of money into revamping my Raiders Indy, and I'm just not going to spend another $164.99 on a Hot Toys Indy

There's enough proof here in these very forums to know that HT's having their own issues handling semi-big licenses. Batman's leaky suit they're not replacing, wonky likenesses on the T-1000 as Sarah Connor, Predator's Dutch having two left arms, the wrist pegs snapping (hey, we'll just include an extra set of fragile ones!), the MKIII's breakage issues, the BD IM's faded i.e. unmatching paint issues (HT: "That'll happen over time anyway), etc. Now, throw them an LFL license and watch their QC go right out the window along with their already deaf, dumb and blind CS.

 

[JustinLuck]

Yeah, I remember those faults. I was mostly taking exception with what I quoted in the post. . . which I thought to be hyperbole. The faults were pointed at character selection, exclusive choice and paint apps. . . and I think really only one of those was a glaring issue amongst the line altogether. But those ones you brought up were valid as well.

I think had the Idol pedestal been offered with Indy, many people would have choked at the first figure in the line being priced at $150. I guess that still doesn't explain why it wasn't offered separately. That one was really just Sideshow ensuring they sold enough Belloqs to cover their costs.

I still think Belloq, despite not really looking much like Belloq, is still a fine figure. The suit is tailored well, I like the pocketwatch, the gun is nice, just the face is wrong. So I paid $80 for the pedestal $60 for a generic gangster. . . seems okay to me.

More or less, I was just taking issue with the idea that Sideshow should let the line die so Hot Toys could take over, because I'm REEEEEEALLY tired of reading "Hot Toys could do it better. . . " At this point, I'm not going to pay Hot Toys prices for Indiana Jones. I've put enough time and a bit of money into revamping my Raiders Indy, and I'm just not going to spend another $164.99 on a Hot Toys Indy

Here's the deal though. We know a nice looking Indy custom costs way more than "$164.99". Sure Hot Toys, still has many areas they can improve upon. But if you want a nice looking display, you can buy a mass produced HT fig for much less time, aggravation, and money you will need to put into fixing all the issues with a Sideshow figure. I wish this wasn't the case, but it's the truth.

Because of this, I have been extremely selective when buying Sideshow figs. The last one I picked up was Lando--only because I couldn't pass on Trevor Grove's outstanding Billy Dee portrait. Everything else about the figure -- the floppy, ill proportioned Pro body, the poor tailoring, and woman sized shoes will require a ton of time and money to get looking anywhere near a "164.99" HT fig -- which sucks when I've already paid $90 for a figure that has most of the stuff unusable.

 

[The Josh]

Here's the deal though. We know a nice looking Indy custom costs way more than "$164.99". Sure Hot Toys, still has many areas they can improve upon. But if you want a nice looking display, you can buy a mass produced HT fig for much less time, aggravation, and money you will need to put into fixing all the issues with a Sideshow figure. I wish this wasn't the case, but it's the truth. Because of this, I have been extremely selective when buying Sideshow figs. The last one I picked up was Lando--only because I couldn't pass on Trevor Grove's outstanding Billy Dee portrait.

Well, in all fairness people go about fixing HT figures all the time. So I think its a matter of preference. So its not really a need though.

Being selective? That explains why I haven't seen 1k when is HT gonna pick up this license threads.