You curate so carefully ...
In theory. I write things down and make lists and then break those down in groups and displays, but the hobby being as it is, I'm dependent on the movies, which make a lot of changes from the source. Casting, costumes, they all factor in it. I don't want to get a character in any look, it has to be a specific costume I like. And I can't get everything that I just "like", it has to be a character I have some specific attachment to, or is an important component of a display I'm trying to build. Beyond Marvel/DC/Big IPs I have some one-off wants too but those are fewer in number.
If we take DC, my main interests in the universe were always Batman, Green Lantern and then the Vertigo stuff. That's all well and good, but just because I like Batman doesn't mean I'll spend 300€ on a Penguin when those could go to, say, Cyclops. From Marvel I have more wants. I'm planning two big corners, one for the X-Men and one for the FF, with the latter being maybe joined to the Cosmic side. I've been planning an Illuminati display since forever. So I know what I need, but I try to be specific. It's why I'll be skipping MCU Namor and getting an AquaMomoa in his place. Or why I kept waiting for the perfect Black Panther figure and shot myself in the foot. Each figure I buy to keep forever, I don't like double-dipping and the such. Unless I need a character in two places. Reed needs to be with the F4 (and Future Foundation if they go there) but also with the Illuminati, so if they make a figure of the DS2 Variant, I'm getting it for that display, regardless of the MCU version that will come later.
Basically I just keep track of rumours, set photos, leaks, release dates and the such, calculate the space needed, keep a certain total figure number in mind and go from there. There are lots of things I "like" but as time goes on I cut them down more and more. I was planning a small Spider-Shelf but as I don't much care for the character's lore anymore, I found it redundant. So it's just a Raimi-Man for me now. Maybe I'll pose him with my Endgame Iron Man, and add Iron Cruise to my Illuminati display. Or maybe I'll hunt down the Stan Lee figure and pose him and Raimi-Man together; it'd certainly be a fetching sight. If I end up with multiple Dooms, they'll go to different places. One with the FF, one with the Sorcerers, one with the Illuminati; it depends on what figures get made. I'd love to have a separate Kings display with Doom, T'Challa, Blackagar and Namor, but then we're going into triples territory so that's a thing you need to avoid.
It's all too random in a sense, but I try to keep it within a certain number and follow a general plan.
what's your current 1/6th line-up?
It's actually not even 10 figures in hand. I dropped it all around 2015 and only got back in last year. Ruined my old Raimi-Man too by trying to fix the broken ankle. Cancelled all my POs. I just swore off everything as it was a turbulent time. It's just Endgame Thanos, Endgame Iron Man, ROTS Kylo, DX015 Jack and some Big Chief Doctors now. Mostly it was the fact that I was never much into the characters the MCU used, so I waited it out. I waited until Stark got a more comic accurate suit, and Endgame was close enough to the Modular so I bit the bullet. Cap, Thor, etc, were never my jam. Loki looked too pleathery, not godly enough, so pass it was. MCU Guardians weren't the DnA characters I read in my teens. And so on and so forth. So there was little temptation. It was the Star Wars stuff I regret passing on, but I was playing the waiting game there too. I waited for a ROTJ Vader to get the unmasked head. I figured I'd wait for a PT Palpatine over the more boring ROTJ design, and so on. I hadn't quite made up my mind on what exactly to collect and how to structure it all too. Predator, Terminator, Alien; I was never in love with those licenses so HT's other offerings didn't entice me either. But with the MCU moving into the FF/X-Men/Supernatural/Cosmic corners, which were always my bread and butter, I'm gearing up.
I've put in some POs already (Mando Luke, DX019 BaleBat, Iconiq Bateman, Big Chief Tommy Shelby & 12th Doctor, AugToys Paul Atreides, DamToys Vito) and the year looks packed as Hell. It's why I'm trying to make it all fit, see what's going to be a singular opportunity and what I could find again later down the line. Battinson will get a sequel and another figure. Whatever MOM cameo happens will be a one-and-done deal, same with the figures, so the latter takes precedent. I can wait for Battinson 2 and another Batsuit. Until then BaleBat will tide me over.
That paragraph makes me upset and want to yell at clouds.
I know that feeling all too well. I open current comics sometimes and they're so juvenile and empty compared to even 20 years ago, and it just kills me inside when I see people on twitter and tumblr post out of context panels and make ****** jokes. I hate that Moon Knight became a meme because of a ****** edit about him asking Dracula for money. Now every normie **** is posting that pic and going "hurdur when is Dracula getting his money hurdur". I hate normies so much... Back in my day you had to actually put in the work to be a fan of something. You had to make a choice how to spend your time and money. Now they're all just doing cursory glances at a cover and that's it! Fakes...
Am I... Am I out of touch?
