Man, Sideshow used to be badass...

[Dr.Mirakle32]

When I got up this morning, I got a nostalgic kick after seeing the bookcase in my room, looking at the wide variety of classic characters Sideshow made for their Universal monsters/Modern horror series.

I started off with the 8" line, and later started collecting 1/6th scale stuff in about '05, all because of Sideshow. A few years ago, Hot Toys wasn't even competition, and Medicom still sucked. As far as I'm concerned, Sideshow INVENTED the high-end, movie based 12" figure. I remember thinking that paying 40 to 50 bucks was too much for a toy, and that was only a couple of years ago. Now, we pay any where from 90 to 180 for a quality 12" figure from SSC or HT. Man, I miss the good old days. Now, HT pretty much OWNS the 1/6th scale world, and the days of high quality 45 dollar figures at the LCS, are long gone.

Ever since SSC started with Star Wars, they've been slowly getting away from the format that put them on the map. Sure, expensive statues and busts are where the money is at, but I personally miss when Sideshow was putting out their latest 12" horror icon, or major James Bond character. Now, Star Wars is their primary 12" line, with crappy background characters dragging the series out, and only the Indy line being a slight return to the golden years. Can you believe Sideshow did a 12" Ki Adi Mundi, and NOT a Daniel Craig Bond? What has the collecting world come to?

I still can't believe they actually made an Ardath Bey and WereWolf of London figures! Hot damn, they've really gone a long way since then.

This post is just a personal reflection about the good ol' days of Sideshow collecting. Please share your thoughts.

 

[wookielovin]

I think sideshow is going to have a hard time to compete. Perhapes thats why there not focusing on 12" like everything that Hottoys is producing is GOLD, and breath taking. Sideshow hasnt put out a show stopper 12" since vader .. Also i think the promotheus body was a step back for SS, maybe there going back to the drawing board.?

 

[Voorhees27]

I think sideshow is going to have a hard time to compete. Perhapes thats why there not focusing on 12" like everything that Hottoys is producing is GOLD, and breath taking. Sideshow hasnt put out a show stopper 12" since vader .. Also i think the promotheus body was a step back for SS, maybe there going back to the drawing board.?

I couldn't agree more, in fact we all know Hot Toys and Sideshow work together so why not split options and all make $$$. Sideshow has changed quite a bit and so has Hot Toys but from what we've seen it looks more evident that Sideshow will probably take on props and PF's at 100%.

I do love my Sideshow horror figs! Good thread.

 

[Khev]

SSC is still "badass" as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Dr.Mirakle32]

Yeah, they have their moments, but those still cost over a hundred bucks and are taking forever to come out.

 

[KBA]

I'm soaking in Hot Toys golden age right now. Getting figures like Brando and James dean is a real treat and breath of fresh air. Everything they make is top notch right now. Gotta soak this time in, I'm sure the day will come when the torch is passed and we'll be reminising when we could have had an amazing figure for 150. Sounds crazy but I'm sure the time will come.

 

[EVILFACE]

Sideshow just have a "touch" that even Hot Toys doesn't have. They gave us stuff you would never expect.

Did anyone expect a Creature Walks Among Us figure?

 

[amarcord]

Sideshow just have a "touch" that even Hot Toys doesn't have. They gave us stuff you would never expect.

Did anyone expect a Creature Walks Among Us figure?

Or the fantastic Twilight Zone figures they made?

 

[Dr.Mirakle32]

Or Bela the frickin Gypsy?

 

[clockwork463]

lol "used to"

 

[Cocoboloboy]

lol "used to"

Yeah, they still own in this format but we're talking 1:6 here.

The monsters were very cool, well done and priced right. The SW line was cool when it started out too as well as priced right. Every SW figure was priority preorder mayhem that first year or so...it was great. The line has lost a little steam though and really risen in price but maybe Vader and Stormie bring the buzz back.

Indy has lots of potential but the lackluster Belloq sculpt, floppy Prometheus bodies and slow release schedule have detracted a little from the line. Toht will hopefully turn out as nice as the proto.

The Joe protos look really cool and as long as the production pieces hold up this could be the most interesting and unique line to come from SS in a long time.

 

[BadMoon]

Just what we needed another whine fest.

 

[Jiminydog]

is it really a "whine fest" to express dismay that a hobby that used to cost $35 a pop is up to $170 and rising?

If you had that kind of inflation at the grocery store you'd be "whining" about it I guarantee you. And I don't care HOW much better the food was...

 

[BadMoon]

is it really a "whine fest" to express dismay that a hobby that used to cost $35 a pop is up to $170 and rising?

If you had that kind of inflation at the grocery store you'd be "whining" about it I guarantee you. And I don't care HOW much better the food was...

I don't know because just about every thread contains this crap. And if you don't think you are not seeing inflation at the grocery store than you aren't paying very close attention.

 

[Khev]

If you had that kind of inflation at the grocery store you'd be "whining" about it I guarantee you. And I don't care HOW much better the food was...

Last I checked toys aren't required to stay alive.

 

[EVILFACE]

I don't whine about the cost of figures, just what figures we are getting. Where are the Universal Monster figures that put Sideshow Toy on the map?

lol "used to"

That is a PF, we are talking 1/6 figures.

 

[Khev]

IMO Medicom is the worst figure making company. Not only are they putting out very mediocre product but from what I can tell they're the one thing preventing Hot Toys from doing Lucasfilm properties like SW and Indy.

 

[The Drizzle]

I don't know because just about every thread contains this crap.

Sounds to me like a lot of dissatisfaction if you're seeing it in lots of threads. Maybe it's a real problem. I understand what the original poster is saying, and frankly, I agree. I think in 1/6th, they have been coasting on the inertia of their successes, and they don't really try very hard anymore. It might be okay to do that if companies like Hot Toys and Enterbay didn't exist, but these companies make SS's corner-cutting and QC issues all the more evident.

 

[yruh8n]

Seems to me that Amoktime/Executive Replicas is taking up some of the slack SS is dropping. Granted the licenses they are picking up are nowhere as popular as Indiana Jones, SW, or LOTR, but they are putting out nice figures that are about half the price of Hot Toys, and considerably less than what SS is currently charging for 1/6th figures. Did anyone think they would ever see a licensed figure of the Horror of Party Beach? From talking with some of the parties involved these comapnies want to expand and do more figures. As they grow they hopefully can start getting some more main stream projects, but what they are doing so far is worthy of my support. Since they are working with the estates of some of the old horror film actors it's not hard to imagine a progression into an eventual Universal Monster agreement.

 

[Dr.Mirakle32]

There is no denying Sideshow owns the 1:1 and 1/4 scale markets, and good for them, as those statues make them serious bank, but unfortunately those are out of my budget.

I think it would be great if Sideshow announced a 12" Ygor and a Claude Rains Phantom for under 75 bucks, as a late Christmas gift, for old times' sake, and for the collector's who made them big in the first place.

I'm sure it will eventually happen...

when pink dinosaurs fly out of my dog's butt.