MARVEL PF Line

[nash]

I wouldn't say Bowen sculpts have always been great because they haven't. I've seen Bowen's earlier pieces and they just don't look as good to what he's putting out now. Of course fans will like the style of the early stuff as well as liking it out of nostalgia but clearly the later stuff is real good. I often wonder why Bowen does revists of characters already done in the past. If the pieces where that good why go back and improve the character. Plus with so many characters being done by Bowen they have to use outside sculptors who are not that great. Overall both companies are real good and I collect both I just wish Sideshow had variety.

Imo the older sculpts are great (iron man, punisher, phoenix, silver surfer, logan, etc). There's a lot mini busts in the past, and even though im not a fan of the scale, the sculpts are impressive.
If you dont think so that's totally fine. I just disagree that Sideshow is the reason for the improvement. Any company and artist will improve as time goes on. That's the way it works, not because one company is putting out other marvel products. Besides, bowen and sideshow are not even competitors. Sideshow sells 1/4 scale and dioramas, bowen does busts and 1/7 scale.

When he revisits a previously done character it is usually to improve on the pose, not the sculpt. He did the first surfer as a museum pose. this new surfer we got is an action pose. etc....

 

[FQRizzo]

If vanilla means true to their comic book counterparts, then yeah i'd agree. Vanilla all the way

Some people don't like vanilla.

 

[makkari1]

Youre comparing items with 4000+ edition sizes to sideshow's which is like 500-1000?

If vanilla means true to their comic book counterparts, then yeah i'd agree. Vanilla all the way

Each company brings something different to the table. Bowen has Sideshow beat in the variety and volume department while Shideshow dominates in the size and format department. Both are good in their respected areas.

 

[FQRizzo]

Imo the older sculpts are great (iron man, punisher, phoenix, silver surfer, logan, etc). There's a lot mini busts in the past, and even though im not a fan of the scale, the sculpts are impressive.
If you dont think so that's totally fine. I just disagree that Sideshow is the reason for the improvement. Any company and artist will improve as time goes on. That's the way it works, not because one company is putting out other marvel products. Besides, bowen and sideshow are not even competitors. Sideshow sells 1/4 scale and dioramas, bowen does busts and 1/7 scale.

When he revisits a previously done character it is usually to improve on the pose, not the sculpt. He did the first surfer as a museum pose. this new surfer we got is an action pose. etc....

They are competitors. They both sell Marvel statues.

I don't get why you are so defensive of Bowen. No one is saying that they suck, just that they've stepped it up a notch recently. Sideshow's presence could be a reason. Is it inconceivable to think that competition could be a good thing for the you, the collector?

 

[nash]

They are competitors. They both sell Marvel statues.

I don't get why you are so defensive of Bowen. No one is saying that they suck, just that they've stepped it up a notch recently. Sideshow's presence could be a reason. Is it inconceivable to think that competition could be a good thing for the you, the collector?

Im not being defensive, it's just dumb to me to see people saying that bowen is only doing well because of sideshow Why can't it just be said that Bowen is doing some awesome ^^^^ in Phase 4 and that be the end of it?

I also don't see them as being direct competitors. Sure they both sell marvel that is obvious, but like i said, the formats and scale of the products appeal to different consumers. If bowen was doing dioramas and 1/4 scale then they'd be competitors. Another thing, if they were direct competitors, bowen would be blowing sideshow out of the water just from the sheer amount of revenue they bring in. Sideshow doesn't put out enough marvel products to keep up in that area with bowen.

 

[makkari1]

Imo the older sculpts are great (iron man, punisher, phoenix, silver surfer, logan, etc). There's a lot mini busts in the past, and even though im not a fan of the scale, the sculpts are impressive.
If you dont think so that's totally fine. I just disagree that Sideshow is the reason for the improvement. Any company and artist will improve as time goes on. That's the way it works, not because one company is putting out other marvel products. Besides, bowen and sideshow are not even competitors. Sideshow sells 1/4 scale and dioramas, bowen does busts and 1/7 scale.

When he revisits a previously done character it is usually to improve on the pose, not the sculpt. He did the first surfer as a museum pose. this new surfer we got is an action pose. etc....

I never said Sideshow is pushing Bowen to improve and vise versa. All I said was I wished Sideshow had more selections of characters. I know that Sideshow and Bowen are not true competitors or else Bowen products would not even be on Sideshows web site. The two companies actually help each other out in terms of bringing customers to the statue collecting world.

I also agree that Bowen revisits sculpts to improve the pose but I'll also add that revisits apply newer techniques and products to the sculpt thus making it better looking than the first sculpt.

 

[makkari1]

They are competitors. They both sell Marvel statues.

I don't get why you are so defensive of Bowen. No one is saying that they suck, just that they've stepped it up a notch recently. Sideshow's presence could be a reason. Is it inconceivable to think that competition could be a good thing for the you, the collector?

They are not competitors. Why would I sell the competition's stuff on my website?

 

[wookielovin]

I agree with Nash i think bowen has stepped up there game not because of sideshow. There Phase 4 stuff is off the hook.. Also Randy hired some new talent allowing them to up there game.
Im not saying Randys olders statues were crappy but this phase4 has been INSANE.. Every statue they've put out (even weak charicters) has made me think "WOW" that looks awsome.

In the past it would be a hit and miss.

 

[FQRizzo]

Im not being defensive, it's just dumb to me to see people saying that bowen is only doing well because of sideshow Why can't it just be said that Bowen is doing some awesome ^^^^ in Phase 4 and that be the end of it?

No one is saying that SS's influence is the only reason, but Bowen isn't working in a vacuum.

I also don't see them as being direct competitors. Sure they both sell marvel that is obvious, but like i said, the formats and scale of the products appeal to different consumers. If bowen was doing dioramas and 1/4 scale then they'd be competitors.

There are lot of people out there that want Marvel stuff. They don't have a grand scheme for their collections and aren't too bothered the brand name on the bottom of the piece. The casual collectors. I would think that they make a significant part of the collecting community.

Again I'm not saying you are wrong and I am right. Just a friendly discussion.

 

[FQRizzo]

They are not competitors. Why would I sell the competition's stuff on my website?

 

[nash]

No one is saying that SS's influence is the only reason, but Bowen isn't working in a vacuum.

I agree the whole industry is aware of each other, however when has it ever been said that Bowen has had an influence on Sideshow? Because sideshow is doing a larger scale they are invulnerable to Bowen's influence on them? I just don't get the one way street that people are trying to make it out to be.

There are lot of people out there that want Marvel stuff. They don't have a grand scheme for their collections and aren't too bothered the brand name on the bottom of the piece. The casual collectors. I would think that they make a significant part of the collecting community.

Again I'm not saying you are wrong and I am right. Just a friendly discussion.

I think people spending hundreds of dollars on statues have to be aware of what they are buying etc. Maybe the first 1 or 2 introductory pieces to a new collector will be bought out of not knowing the company, but if they get hooked to this kind of stuff they will most likely do their research and make sure that they are buying something worth their money. If we are talking about mighty muggs, then i'd agree with you that people will just casually buy those without caring about the company or any info on them.

I guess what im trying to say is that the choice to buy a 1/4 scale piece vs a 1/7 scale piece is a conscious one. The size and cost alone demands it.

 

[makkari1]

Why the sad face? The two companies really help each other out.

1.) Bowen offers Sideshow the variety it lacks.
2.) Sideshow offers access to foreign markets that Bowen lacks.

Both companies win and fans win even bigger.

 

[FQRizzo]

I agree the whole industry is aware of each other, however when has it ever been said that Bowen has had an influence on Sideshow? Because sideshow is doing a larger scale they are invulnerable to Bowen's influence on them? I just don't get the one way street that people are trying to make it out to be.



I think people spending hundreds of dollars on statues have to be aware of what they are buying etc. Maybe the first 1 or 2 introductory pieces to a new collector will be bought out of not knowing the company, but if they get hooked to this kind of stuff they will most likely do their research and make sure that they are buying something worth their money. If we are talking about mighty muggs, then i'd agree with you that people will just casually buy those without caring about the company or any info on them.

I guess what im trying to say is that the choice to buy a 1/4 scale piece vs a 1/7 scale piece is a conscious one. The size and cost alone demands it.

I can agree with you that they are not direct competitors. Also, I don't deny the the influence Bowen must have had on Sideshow. All I am saying is that, up until recently, Bowen stuff has been boring, to me. I just wanted to discuss why there has been a noticable increase in the "wow" factor.

They are not competitors. Why would I sell the competition's stuff on my website?

Why the sad face? The two companies really help each other out.

1.) Bowen offers Sideshow the variety it lacks.
2.) Sideshow offers access to foreign markets that Bowen lacks.

Both companies win and fans win even bigger.

= confused

Do you have an online store or something?

 

[makkari1]

I can agree with you that they are not direct competitors. Also, I don't deny the the influence Bowen must have had on Sideshow. All I am saying is that, up until recently, Bowen stuff has been boring, to me. I just wanted to discuss why there has been a noticable increase in the "wow" factor.






= confused

Do you have an online store or something?

No I don't have a online store but I do read a lot of complaints from foreign collectors who would like to buy Bowen stuff but can't because he can't sell outside the U.S. but Sideshow can.

 

[Skiman]

makkari1, is stating if he was Sideshow why would they sale Bowen stuff...

 

[FQRizzo]

makkari1, is stating if he was Sideshow why would they sale Bowen stuff...

Ah...

The answer is that they can make money by distributing Bowen statues without having to invest in R&D and manufacturing costs.

They also do the same thing with Medicom Star Wars 1/6 figures. Since SS sells SW figures of similar scale they could be considered direct competitors with Medicom, yet they sell Medicom's stuff on their website also.

 

[makkari1]

makkari1, is stating if he was Sideshow why would they sale Bowen stuff...

Ah...

The answer is that they can make money by distributing Bowen statues without having to invest in R&D and manufacturing costs.

They also do the same thing with Medicom Star Wars 1/6 figures. Since SS sells SW figures of similar scale they could be considered direct competitors with Medicom, yet they sell Medicom's stuff on their website also.

What I meant was if Sideshow and Bowen where in direct competition with each other why would Sideshow sell Bowen items? That's like Marvel selling DC items.

 

[Sonic The MadHOG]

The two companies really help each other out.

1.) Bowen offers Sideshow the variety it lacks.
2.) Sideshow offers access to foreign markets that Bowen lacks.

Both companies win and fans win even bigger.

But Sideshow doesn't need Bowen to have variety, I'm sure they are hoping to stay in business for a long time so they don't want to do what Bowen are doing cause at the rate they are bringing out new figures they'll eventually have no more new characters left that fans will be interested in & they'll have no choice but to use characters they've used before. Sideshow will have a long term plan and I predict the variety will come.

Sideshow sells Bowen stuff to make money & cause it brings Bowen's worldwide fans to their website which can't hurt. They are competitors to a certain extent but certainly nothing like Marvel & DC.

 

[makkari1]

But Sideshow doesn't need Bowen to have variety, I'm sure they are hoping to stay in business for a long time so they don't want to do what Bowen are doing cause at the rate they are bringing out new figures they'll eventually have no more new characters left that fans will be interested in & they'll have no choice but to use characters they've used before. Sideshow will have a long term plan and I predict the variety will come.

Sideshow sells Bowen stuff to make money & cause it brings Bowen's worldwide fans to their website which can't hurt. They are competitors to a certain extent but certainly nothing like Marvel & DC.

Selling Bowen items is plus for any company and Sideshow is no exception. As far as Sideshow's Marvel Line is concerned I think they need more than what they are offerring and Bowen Designs fills that need quite nicely. I'm not saying that Sideshow should copy Bowen and vice versa I just want Sideshow to offer more characters. Right now Sideshow is recycling characters that have been done before because that all they got. You think that Bowen will run out of characters to do because they've done them all but look at it this way, if and when Bowen has done every Marvel character which company has a larger pool to draw from doing revisits? Sideshow may have a long term plan but they are at the mercy of Marvel contract writing and there is no garauntee that they'll be able to get that contact renewed 10 or 20 years from now espically at the rate they produce statues. I mean come'on where just now getting Thor.

 

[Sonic The MadHOG]

Selling Bowen items is plus for any company and Sideshow is no exception. As far as Sideshow's Marvel Line is concerned I think they need more than what they are offerring and Bowen Designs fills that need quite nicely. I'm not saying that Sideshow should copy Bowen and vice versa I just want Sideshow to offer more characters. Right now Sideshow is recycling characters that have been done before because that all they got. You think that Bowen will run out of characters to do because they've done them all but look at it this way, if and when Bowen has done every Marvel character which company has a larger pool to draw from doing revisits? Sideshow may have a long term plan but they are at the mercy of Marvel contract writing and there is no garauntee that they'll be able to get that contact renewed 10 or 20 years from now espically at the rate they produce statues. I mean come'on where just now getting Thor.

Yeah I do see your point but Sideshow could make a PF, comiquette or diorama of any Marvel characters they set their mind on so although I can't say for sure but I would guess they have a big old business reason for doing it the way they are at the moment. Sideshow is a multi-million dollar company and they've grown year after year, I think to say they aren't producing enough statues would be wrong cause I'm pretty well off and I'm finding it hard to keep up, unlike Bowen who is a one license two trick pony Sideshow have a lot of licenses to manufacture statues for & they take Marvel statues to a level Bowen won't reach when they basically only do 1/6 scales figures & mini-busts. I love Bowen statues don't get me wrong but I look forward to Sideshows Marvel collectibles coming out a lot more than I do with Bowen's.

Sideshow sells Bowen stuff for money reasons & to bring extra customers to their website I'm sure of that.