HOW DARK PHOENIX TURNED INTO A WII U WITH A BUNCH OF GAMES

I had a letdown after I saw the production piece pics of Dark Phoenix. The red parts of the uniform were glossy compared to the prototype which reduced the contrast with the golden parts and I didn’t like that at all. I've loved the darker matte painting of the prototype. I also thought the Jean Grey portrait – the reason I would buy the figure in first place – dismaying in comparison to the prototype. Not that much, they did a decent job replicating it, but it doesn’t got quite there to me. The hair I found too blocky but it couldn’t be any other way due to breakage. Even so it looked odd and unpolished to me. In some parts resembling branches from a tree. Besides I grew worried with the leaning issue due to the translucent resin base and if it can hold the weight of the statue. So I cancelled my pre-order and suddenly I had $500 dollars in my hands.  

Almost, almost got her... then let her go for good.

I have a PS3 and apart from both Rayman games, I only have serious, mature games. (Playing FarCry 3 now and having a blast with it, by the way). 

Having heard a rumor that the Wii U wouldn’t be produced anymore (after all Nintendo Switch is just around the corner) I decided to use the money I saved from Dark Phoenix to buy a Wii U while supplies still exist, since Nintendo Switch didn’t impress me at all. 

Yes, I decided to trade a collectible statue by a videogame where I can play light-hearted fun and accessible games (or games for kid if you will. I rather say for all ages).

Anyway, shifting to a Wii U (that is not a cheap console given his age and in comparison to most powerful machines as PS4 and Xbox One) was going to another order of magnitude regarding the prices. I was able, with the value I would spend with Dark Phoenix, to buy a Wii U and about ten games (by Nintendo, of course) on eBay, most of them brand new. I was impressed by the discrepancy of value aggregated to a regular Sideshow statue versus a videogame. I know the latter is a mass-produced good and not a limited edition product (as far as 2500 copies are limited) but even so is a high technology hardware with expensive software (given Nintendo doesn’t lower the prices of its software until they sell a zillion copies and become “Nintendo Selects” games, then being sold by $ 19.99).

Nonetheless I was able to build a pretty good library of games and buy the console (Mario Kart Bundle with 32 GB black Wii U) with the price of one average statue nowadays. Videogames are not a cheap hobby either, games range from $ 20.00 to $ 60.00 and the said console cheapest price I’ve found was $ 300.00. I had to dig a lot to find fair prices to buy the games (the less I accept is “like new” on eBay) but I could find pretty decent deals compared to GameStop pre-owned prices. Of course, I bought four “Nintendo Selects” games for about $20.00 but I also bought Super Mario Maker for $ 42.00. But even being a relatively expensive hobby it doesn't come even close to the prices of collectible figures. 

Would you trade Dark Phoenix for a Wii U? Bad choice? Good choice? My choice.

Yes I traded joy for fun. And though I am a collector at heart I don’t regret my decision. At least not yet...

What I’m trying to say is that I finally realized that collect premium figures is beyond my financial reality. The last one I will buy will be Captain Marvel Ex Version when and if it arrives for PayPal payment. Apart that, I have a Sideshow Killer Croc on payment plan. And that’s it. I throw the towel regarding collecting statues. It’s a pleasure to the eye and there is that famous saying “a thing of beauty is a joy forever” but I can no longer stand the prices. 

I loved my He-Man, it surprised me in terms of quality and Skeletor is about to come. Just one parcel away. Then Captain Marvel and I’m done when I finish paying Killer Croc.

It was tremendously fun to participate the communities and maybe I’ll keep my blog following and commenting the launches from a safe distance (I hope!). Other than that, I’ll enjoy my new Wii U cheerful games intercalating them with PS3 serious adventures. Have tons to play. And some wonderful statues to watch while the games are loading or when I take a break of gaming or writing. Also when I wake up or when I’m preparing to sleep. These are the moments I love to watch my collection the most.

It is a sad goodbye even though I hope I do not fall in temptation again, otherwise I will deprive me of a ton of other things I could be doing with the same amount of money.

As a New Year wish, for those of you who will continue to collect these evermore-wonderful figures: sign the petition below. We need less than 30 signatures to reach the milestone and I can send it to Sideshow. Please read it.

Below is the link for a petition requesting Sideshow to begin their payment plans as soon as the figures are out for pre-order, giving us more months to pay with smaller monthly fees, making it easier to acquire a figure overall. If you like this idea, just click the link below and sign the petition. It only takes a minute but can bring long-term facilities to all of us collectors of Sideshow (and Prime 1 and Hot Toy and all other companies Sideshow represents). Please, make a difference: take action. We gathered  more than 70 signatures already; less than 30 to 100 signatures benchmark. The next can be yours.

https://www.change.org/p/sidewhow-collectibles-sideshow-we-want-payment-plans-with-more-and-lower-monthly-fees

YET ANOTHER NEW PRIME 1 STATUE?

I’m a amazed at the rate Prime 1 launches its figures. Lately it has been at least a figure per week. If not two as we got the Jazz and the Spider Man 2099 less than 7 days apart. I know they’re from different franchises, but this is astounding rate will overflow the market IMO. As I see they’ll end shooting in their own feet. Two figures in one week span? For the price they ask? I want to know how many collectors can follow this pace. I don’t know if Prime 1 will keep on this rate but they don’t seem be slowing down. They beat Sideshow by far and there are at least a dozen more figures for launch revealed at Tokyo Con and on the snippets from their page. It’s a pretty aggressive market model they’re following, that is also pretty aggressive to fans wallets. I’m pretty curious how much more Prime 1 figures the market can take, how will collectors assimilate this amount of statues being launched each month. Of course they offering several different franchises, but at this speed, the probability of many pass under collector’s radar is big, no matter how stunning the figures are, Spider-Man 2099 and Transformer Jazz both are incredible pieces. I wonder which fans will choose if they don’t have the money to order both (as many won’t). This speaking only about Prime 1, let’s not forget there’s Sideshow figures to launch, Pop Culture Shock figures to launch, Iron Studios, Hot Toys figures to launch, you name it.

Finally, looks like the market is too crowded of figures. This means, of course, more choices to the consumers, which is good. This should meant lower prices for the consumer but it’s not happening. Costs keep rising, as figures become increasingly more complex and factories in China become scarcer. Now we’re are overloaded with pretty incredible figures to choose from. I wonder what will happen to the figures that won’t be chosen, that I’m sure won’t be just a few. I foresee players going out of the market, especially if not niche ones. Prime 1 arguably has the best production quality and the best quality control (I know the Deathstroke cane issue). I believe Sideshow will have to keep the prices down in order to survive or amp up their game or focus on their niche franchises. In my vision, a new king of the hill is emerging: Prime 1 Studios. But even if with its unreachable quality they can cannibalize themselves launching so many pieces at a so higher rate.

PLEASE, SIGN THE PETITION

In search for a way to alleviate the increasing market prices over the average consumer, we came up with this petition. If you could sign and, if possible, share among your collector friends this certainly won’t be a great game changer but it certainly will be a more affordable way to get our figures. Please read. 

Below is the link for a petition requesting Sideshow to begin their payment plans as soon as the figures are out for pre-order, giving us more months to pay with smaller monthly fees, making it easier to acquire a figure overall. If you like this idea, just click the link below and sign the petition. It only takes a minute but can bring long-term facilities to all of us collectors of Sideshow (and Prime 1 and Hot Toy and all other companies Sideshow represents). Please, make a difference: take action. We gathered  more than 70 signatures already; less than 30 to 100 signatures benchmark. The next can be yours.

https://www.change.org/p/sidewhow-collectibles-sideshow-we-want-payment-plans-with-more-and-lower-monthly-fees

OVERVIEW SPIDER-MAN 2099... OR ADIOS DEADPOOL?

Apart from the price - $700 - (that we’ll all have to get used to regarding Prime 1:4 figures from now on), I’m all praises to the 2099 Spider-Man. Finally, a piece from Prime 1 that exhales personality. I loved the base even don’t understand it because I’m not a 2099 reader, but I assume it have to have a meaning in the context of the character, with its complex geometry and, yes, the lights. It sums for an awesome display.

The pose is another plus, pretty cool and full of movement, a novelty as far as released Prime 1 statues go. The sculpt of Spider-Man is spot on as fantastically detailed, with all the wrinkles and textures coming together in a very nice composition. They manage to put an expression within the mask that really add personality to the statue. Another novelty to the generally expressionless Prime 1 figures. The translucent effects on the webs and the smoke are not gratuitous and also adds to the overall coolness of the statue. I’m especially impressed by the spider in the uniform and the claws. I loved the modelling of the feet both above and below it. The painting is flawless, as one might expect from Prime 1, but is a relatively simple dichromatic figure, so is not something that’s really eye grabber, apart from the precision of it.

I can see collectors having a hard time choosing between this and the new Deadpool PF as this looks like will be the first Prime 1 figure for a lot Sideshow diehard fans. Deadpool is a much prominent character, even though it received too much exposition what may cause an overkill and Spider 2099, well… it’s not really Spider-Man (even though it looks cooler and darker than your friendly neighborhood). I got curious because the alternate head show protuberant fangs on whoever is behind the mask. Not the greatest exclusive ever and I wouldn’t display the figure with this alternate head but let’s be honest, this figure doesn’t need nothing than it already have. So where will you spend your $700: Sideshow Deadpool or Spider-Man 2099?

Who you'll gonna choose?

PLEASE, SIGN THE PETITION

In search for a way to alleviate the increasing market prices over the average consumer, we came up with this petition. If you could sign and, if possible, share among your collector friends this certainly won’t be a great game changer but it certainly will be a more affordable way to get our figures. Please read. 

Below is the link for a petition requesting Sideshow to begin their payment plans as soon as the figures are out for pre-order, giving us more months to pay with smaller monthly fees, making it easier to acquire a figure overall. If you like this idea, just click the link below and sign the petition. It only takes a minute but can bring long-term facilities to all of us collectors of Sideshow (and Prime 1 and Hot Toy and all other companies Sideshow represents). Please, make a difference: take action. We gathered 71 signatures already; 29 for 100 signatures benchmark. The next can be yours.

https://www.change.org/p/sidewhow-collectibles-sideshow-we-want-payment-plans-with-more-and-lower-monthly-fees

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Below are the sponsored links for the two figures.

KILLER CROC VS KILLER CROC… OR DAVID VS GOLIATH

Size does not always matter.

Prime 1 Killer Croc has arrived for pre-order. I wonder why it came in so limited edition… It’s a 35 inches (89 cm) behemoth (albeit Batman prestige edition with its massive base is 34 inch tall). Comparing sizes with Sideshow Killer Croc mere 18.5 inches (47 cm) is like comparing David with Goliath. And like in the Book, David succeeds over Goliath.

At the left Prime 1 base; at the right, Sideshow's. There's no argument who has the better base,
I just wonder who put the squirrel behind bars...

I admit the base of Sideshow figure is ugly as hell, I prefer ten times Prime 1 sewer even more with the skulls (especially Batman’s). But comparing the figures themselves is complete opposite for me. Sideshow Killer Croc with its crude handmade details is miles above in detail and personality over Prime 1 offering. Again we can claim as excuse that Prime 1 can’t detour from the game aesthetics of the character (which seems to me is a quite secondary character in the game, since the scale details are so poor in comparison with the complex bumps and wrinkles of Sideshow version). The chest of Prime 1 Killer Croc Version is simply ridiculous with so sparse blocky “scales”. But then again, one can blame only the designers of the game. What I can blame Prime one is for not put a more ferocious expression on its beast, being it closed (worse) or open mouth (a little better). Sideshow’s on the other hand has that ferocious expression, that bloodthirsty look on the eye besides being much more detail IMHO, even though crafted by hand, not ZBrush or whatever where the possibility of details are virtually limitless. By the way for being one of the last statues well get to see crafted by hand is a merit on its own. A merit Prime 1 collectors will never get a taste of. Regardless of it, I believe the fandom over Prime 1 is so strong nowadays that this meh statue will sell out pretty fast. Let’s see.

I, on my corner, am paying (it’s a thing every seasoned Sideshow buyer is obliged to learn since its QC is nowhere near Prime 1’s and XM’s) to the production piece has the same marvelous color pallet used in Sideshow prototype reproduced with fidelity. It’s a vivid mix of color, a gradient from the blackish green to the brightest yellow that you don’t simply don’t see in the grayish green almost monochromatic Prime 1 statue. Of course, Prime 1 will have the translucent resin that they say “brings skin to life” and will be all polystone while the Sideshow version will have the tacky mixed media pant. That I just happen to find funny yet a nice addition to the sculpt. I love mixed media most of the time. And is something that if used by Prime 1 it is very rarely so.

Before speak of it. I better show this.

In one word, everybody can say the world about Prime 1 QC, detail, and add-ons. But I prefer the Crocodile exclusive head from Sideshow as I think in terms of detail Prime 1 Killer Croc was beaten by the little scaly David fro Sideshow. It’s a matter of taste – and room and money – in the end. But I have the right to share mine. Even I’m a lonely voice amidst the crowd.

Alternate heads. You know which is for whom.

P.S.: David has also a weak spot and it wouldn’t be fair not to mention it here; from some angles the character seems to have lining issues but is just a result of the contorted pose. It looks pretty odd though. Even so I wouldn’t trade my Sideshow Killer Croc for the Prime 1 version, only if to act as a shameless flipper and resell it for a small fortune and buy SS KC again along with OG Hulk.

The lining effects. I most certainly won't display mine from this angle.

PLEASE, SIGN THE PETITION

In search for a way to alleviate the increasing market prices over the average consumer, we came up with this petition. If you could sign and, if possible, share among your collector friends this certainly won’t be a great game changer but it certainly will be a more affordable way to get our figures. Please read. 

Below is the link for a petition requesting Sideshow to begin their payment plans as soon as the figures are out for pre-order, giving us more months to pay with smaller monthly fees, making it easier to acquire a figure overall. If you like this idea, just click the link below and sign the petition. It only takes a minute but can bring long-term facilities to all of us collectors of Sideshow (and Prime 1 and Hot Toy and all other companies Sideshow represents). Please, make a difference: take action. We gathered 71 signatures already; 29 for 100 signatures benchmark. The next can be yours.

https://www.change.org/p/sidewhow-collectibles-sideshow-we-want-payment-plans-with-more-and-lower-monthly-fees

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Sposored links for both Killers Crocs (sorry for Prime 1 doesn't come with a picture):

      DC Comics Killer Croc DC Comics Statue

LIST OF INTERVIEWS

Since the fixed link doesn’t appear on mobile medias visualizations of this blog, I will repost here the list of all interviews we did for this blog so far. I’m quite sure you’ll find one that suits your taste. They are in chronological decreasing order. 

As stated on the figure, as soon as I post a new interview I put it's link here, so if you bookmark this page, you will be up to date with the latest interviews from ccfigures. 

MARKET INTERVIEWS

- Pablood-Z talks about Sideshow Killer Croc (Art Director/Lead Artist Imaginarium Art)

- Kotobukiya, Sideshow, Diamond Select, Gentle Giant - Ed Bradley (painter)

- Pop Culture Shock - Jerry Macaluso (owner, sculptor, art director)

- Sideshow - Amilcar Fong (sculptor, designer)

- First 4 Figures - Alex Davis (owner)

- Sideshow - Mark Newman (sculptor)

- ErickSosa (sculptor, producer, owner, manager etc.)

- Sideshow –Alfred Paredes (sculptor)

- XMStudios – Bryan Tan (co-founder)

- Prime 1 Studio - Alvaro Ribeiro (sculptor)

- Iron Studios - Gabriel Ebehardt (projects & developing)

- Sideshow -Matthew J Black (sculptor) – PART I
- Sideshow - Matthew J Black (sculptor) – PART II

- Randy Bowen



CUSTOMS INTERVIEWS


- PART I - PRODUCERS

- PART II - SCULPTORS

- PART III - PAINTERS

- PART IV - COMMISSIONERS

PLEASE, SIGN THE PETITION

In search for a way to alleviate the increasing market prices over the average consumer, we came up with this petition. If you could sign and, if possible, share among your collector friends this certainly won’t be a great game changer but it certainly will be a more affordable way to get our figures. Please read. 

Below is the link for a petition requesting Sideshow to begin their payment plans as soon as the figures are out for pre-order, giving us more months to pay with smaller monthly fees, making it easier to acquire a figure overall. If you like this idea, just click the link below and sign the petition. It only takes a minute but can bring long-term facilities to all of us collectors of Sideshow (and Prime 1 and Hot Toy and all other companies Sideshow represents). Please, make a difference: take action. We gathered 71 signatures already; 29 for 100 signatures benchmark. The next can be yours.

https://www.change.org/p/sidewhow-collectibles-sideshow-we-want-payment-plans-with-more-and-lower-monthly-fees

$900 OF TROUBLE FOR THE INDUSTRY

Prime 1 1:4 figures: a bless or a curse?

I know, I know, XM asks higher than average prices for their 1:4 statues all the time and they sell. Sell it all. All the time. No news here. But XM is in a league of their own. They are a myth created by the collectors due to the difficulty to acquire and scarcity of their figures in the West. The hype about XM is only this. Of course the statues have an outstanding quality control and a few of them are really creative and daring, but their sculpts, IMHO, left much to be desired in comparison to Prime 1 and Sideshow figures. Especially regarding the figures’ head sculpts (specifically female characters). But, as I said before, XM is a myth and plays their own game. If they sculpt a fart and price it $800 people will buy it just because it is XM and find it revolutionary. One can do nothing about this. XM is a lost case to me. They become flippers’ paradise because of the inaccessibility of their figures in the US and due to the deep pocket guys all think every single one of their figures (even the new uninspired Venom) is a grail and buy them no matter the cost. I never saw so much undeserved hype about any other company in the collectibles industry. So let’s put them out of the equation for one moment especially because they’re not even distributed in the US. Legally, I mean. Remember, flippers.

What I’m really concerned about is the Prime 1 and its new 1:4 (please, pay attention: 1:4 scale) Anti-Venom statue’s price: shocking $900! In Japan! The same price of a 1:3 scale figure of the very same Prime 1 in the US. I’m very much afraid that it becomes a hit and, what’s worse, send the other companies the message that “if they can push the prices so far and sell, why can’t we?” Soon enough Sideshow 1:4 figures that are already around stellar $500 will cost in between $700-750 and the next “complex statues”, as the new Deadpool PF, will hit around $900-1k. The same can happen to Pop Culture Shock (although I believe it’s a bit harder due to Macaluso’s personality and respect for his costumers but, if everyone raises their prices, I doubt if he won’t follow the trend). Even First 4 Figures is slowly but steadily raising their prices already. Just to name a few of the major players. All of them can be deeply impacted by the Anti-Venom price depending on how well the figure sells when it’s out in the market.

The worst thing, and that is what scares me the most, is that this irreversible path might have already been taken by Prime 1 making a videogame franchise of 1:4 statues costing over $700 apiece a hit. Please note again: nor a Marvel or DC or Star Wars franchise but an inexpensive, by comparison, videogame franchise, sold by over $700.

Trouble came before Anti-Venom, in fact.

We’re on a very dangerous moment in this market’s history. Somebody said Prime 1 would enter the 1:4 arena to be a game changer. Whoever said that is probably damn right but in a totally different way: Prime 1 entered to spoil the market to practice even higher prices than they are already doing. Make no mistake; I know the quality of Prime 1 pieces is unparalleled. Not even XM can match them on that (even though XM is more creative and daring on some of their projects, as I’ve previously mentioned). However, nothing, absolutely nothing, justifies Anti-Venom’s price. No matter how complex it is. No matter incresing factory production costs in China. If things continue like this, with Prime 1 releasing 1:4 figures for this prices, within 5 years – being optimistic! – everyone will be practicing the prices XM flippers does today. And who the hell knows how much XM flippers will ask for their figures then?! Lately, the industry has grown a lot and enough rich people has entered the game, which will enable the market to continue asking for higher prices as the ones from Prime 1 new 1:4 figures.

What will happen to the average collector, the ones who struggle to buy one or two Sideshow Collectibles or even two Prime 1 figures per year? Obviously, they’ll – we’ll – all be obliged to quit this hobby…

Again, make no mistake; this is an alarm call. Notice that probably the Anti-Venom statue will cost $900 in Japan alone without counting shipping and distribution costs to US or shipping, distribution plus import taxes to Europe.

I see dark times arriving for collectors. Many of us will be pushed out of our beloved hobby because we will simply no longer be able to afford the figures we desire so much. Times are changing. For the worse. This is my welcome to Prime 1 entrance in the 1:4 collectibles realm. Thank you for showing all the market they can raise their prices to an unbearable plateau. Thank you for turning this hobby into a club only rich people are allowed to enter. Thank you for destroying my dreams as a collector. In one word, $900 Anti-Venom figure my @$$!

Addendum: one more proof provide by fellow Robert Raschal (published on Statue Collectors group) that darker times are indeed coming: 

We got to prepare ourselves. Prices will increase. Even more.

PLEASE, SIGN THE PETITION

In search for a way to alleviate the increasing market prices over the average consumer, we came up with this petition. If you could sign and, if possible, share among your collector friends this certainly won’t be a great game changer but it certainly will be a more affordable way to get our figures. Please read.

Below is the link for a petition requesting Sideshow to begin their payment plans as soon as the figures are out for pre-order, giving us more months to pay with smaller monthly fees, making it easier to acquire a figure overall. If you like this idea, just click the link below and sign the petition. It only takes a minute but can bring long-term facilities to all of us collectors of Sideshow (and Prime 1 and Hot Toy and all other companies Sideshow represents). Please, make a difference: take action. We gathered 71 signatures already; 29 for 100 signatures benchmark. The next can be yours.

https://www.change.org/p/sidewhow-collectibles-sideshow-we-want-payment-plans-with-more-and-lower-monthly-fees

PRIME 1 ON TOKYO COMIC CON FIRST DAY OVERVIEW

What can I say? Lots of great pieces only a few more or less. Superman is the weakest but we already knew him since SDCC. Nevertheless, let’s go this way. I post a pictures and comment about them. I’ll only post pictures of figures that weren’t at SDCC, I guess. I quite don’t remember it anymore. Ah, all pictures thanks to super Kelvin Loke. (Hope you don’t mind I use them to illustrate my post since I didn’t have the same luck as you to get to know Tokyo and the Comic Con. Good envy bro, hope you have the time of your life there!)

Since I began talk about N52 Superman, let’s begin with his companion Green Lantern. It’s just a fabulous fresh rendition to the character that makes me prefer that one over Sideshow version. Even though this is less serious toned and doesn’t have all the muscular details of Sideshow’s version, the whole concept and the perfect finishing of the piece are awesome. It’s the first time I like the use of this translucent material that became a fever among statues, especially Sideshow ones. Looks like Sideshow pulled some decree that all of their new figures now must have in some place this translucent effect. Glad Prime 1 didn’t follow this trend using it just when it will really add something to the figure as is the case of this Green Lantern and Arkham Scarecrow. In one word, Prime 1 finally showed their creative power on this piece, easily the most creative piece of them so far.

Darkside must be the N52 version because his uniform is completely different from what I grow use to. Nothing against it though, just a different take on the villain. Although I believe this version is more detailed than Sideshow, I still prefer SS version with his imposing pose that has a lot more to do with the character than Prime 1 effort. It’s an excellent figure nevertheless. And proves Prime 1 is going all comics with the N52 line whereas Sideshow prefers a more sober tone. The collector will decide which fits him/her best. Once again production is flawless in this piece too with all the cracks and wrinkles of Darkside perfectly translated.

Now a new series I didn’t know Prime 1 would tackle into: Spider-Man 2099. To me the show stealer line of Prime 1 in Tokyo CC. Spiderman 2099 is fabulous and gorgeously detailed. The pose is spot on and the wow factor is high on this one. Very impressive piece indeed. I personally prefer these series entries than the N52 (apart from Green Lantern that is on par with this one). I love to see Prime 1 expanding its 1:4 line up every way the licensors allows it. Fantastic entrance this one. Just love it.

Even more impressive in 2099 series is the Anti Venom. Just an impressive pose that shows how powerful and menacing the character is. His deformed arm is a sight to behold and the level of detail of this figure is simply astounding. For me one of the three best pieces Prime 1 brought to Tokyo. I’ll mention the other two as they appear.

Still on the realm of 1:4 figures we have the three ladies of Witcher 3. I confess that this line doesn’t appeal much to me because I didn’t and can’t play the game because I didn’t migrate to PS4 and don’t know if I will having more than 200 games still to play on my PS3 and they generally take a lot of time to finish. But having said that, I believe this series has the best bases Prime 1 ever produced. Every one has a different monster defeated at the hero’s/heroin’s feet. It’s just amazing the amount of detail put in each base and in each figure. Witcher 3 put to the table some of the most detailed 1:4 I’ve ever seen. But I have to say that the girls a rather expressionless, especially Ciri. Yeniffer is passable and Triss is the only one with a truly heroic face. Is impressive that even the skin marks are translated to the face of characters nonetheless. Once more (and will be this way until the end) the production qualities of the characters – and their bases – is undeniable and every piece only solidifies Prime 1 as the the one who brings the best quality products to the market today. Being it 1:4 or 1:3 (not counting truly high end figures from ECC Cinemaquette and alike).

I just happen to like this frog a lot. ;)

Another new 1:4 franchise that Prime 1 show on Tokyo was G.I. Joe. Starting with the two ninja enemies since childhood: Storm Shadow and Snake Eyes. Both statues are pretty cool and are in very heroic dynamic poses which add points when talking about Prime 1. The poses alone are an achievement but the statues are very well modeled (I just didn’t like completely the wolf) and complete each other as the bases suggest they are near one of the other because there’s the same kind of rock and broken trees on both statues. Again, finishing is top notch and I believe these ones will be a huge success among fans of all ages. Prime 1 has in hands one more undeniable hit.

Finishing the 1:4 part of this article, we have the two pieces from Imaginarium Art that Prime 1 brought to the show: Green Goblin and Pepper Pot Recue Armor. None of them left nothing to be desired when compared to Prime 1 pieces. Even if I think Sideshow Green Goblin one of the best Marvel villains made by Sideshow in a long time, the Imaginarium Art effort doesn’t fall short in comparison. The difference being that Sideshow took more freedom on the elaboration of Green Goblin costume while IA stayed with the classic version. Apart it, both statues have the same quality overall.

Pepper Pot Rescue Armor is where Imaginarium Art is at home and is expert: Iron Man related products. With high production values, IA brings to the show a perfect version of Rescue Armor with tremendously shiny finishing that other companies can’t match. I don’t know what’s their trick is but they push seriously cool Iron Man statues and busts and to bring one of them to the show was a no-brainer. It’s a pity that was one of the least interesting characters in Iron Man pantheon but the figure is perfect to what it is with a very cool gravity defying combative pose.

Moving to where Prime 1 is really at home we arrive at the 1:3 statues and begin with the one franchise that started it all to the company: Transformers. All pieces presented are incredible detailed (as you can see from them pictures), I just didn’t get Optimus Primal figure. I’m not into Transformers since I was a little kid (even though I’ve saw all the movies) so I don’t know where this “primal” version comes from. Maybe I am speaking a heresy here to Transformers fans, but I found it the less impressive of the big robots on display. All the others, including classic Megatron, looked pretty impressive to me but one in especial make my jaw drop as have made many jaws drop on the show floor: Shockwave. I believe it’s one of the most intricate and detailed statue I have ever seen. For me it was the big show stealer from Prime 1. It’s just so incredible that I lack the words to describe it. It’s beyond awesome and certainly will cost a small fortune that those with pockets a lot deeper than mine won’t think twice in sinking their teeth in. I would if I could, at least.

Next, the other show stealer for me was one of the two revealed members of the Arkham line: the Scarecrow. I remember that the parts from the game Arkham Asylum that I loved the most was the psychedelic encounters I had with Scarecrow and the designers of the game really nailed his visual. The result as a statue could not be different, especially coming from Prime 1: and extremely detailed and freaky, sinister character that make me feel depressed for not have the money nor the space to display it. I just love it. It’s IMHO the best 1:3 character Prime 1 did so far. It’s dark and scary just like the game counterpart.

The Killer Croc, on the other hand, apart from all the detail and superb finishing, does not impressed me at all. I know Prime 1 can’t escape from the game design of the character what is a real creative prison but I found Sideshow Killer Croc PF much more expressive and cool than this one. For me is a gargantuan size meh statue with no personality whatsoever. Of course, I won’t deny the quality in every single detail, from the texture of the pants to shiny glossy multicolored painted nails, to the little warts in his abdomen, to the scales, everything is perfect… and lifeless. In comparison, Sideshow Killer Croc looks almost simplistic but the rough organic lines of a handmade sculpture makes all the difference and in this one this differential is even more sensible because there’s an intentional roughness on the SS sculpting style that oozes personality and ferocity, two things that lacks in Prime 1 effort. But I cannot blame the company since the source material constraint their possibilities. I believe I’ll be a lonely voice preferring Sideshow Killer Croc over the gigantic Prime 1 version but it’s my blog and I have the right to share my opinion.

They’re not one 1:3 scale, I believe, because if they were one would need a real garage to display them in, but the Batmobiles are perfect reproductions of the killer designs both from the game as from the Dawn of Justice movie. They’re as cool as should be expensive, again unfriendly to my pockets but a sure buy to the more financially fortunate Batman collectors out there. Black to the heart and with all the details from their sources the cars certainly cause an impression to the viewer. The difficulty here is to know which to choose since both are pretty darn stylish.

 Prime 1 launched a new 1:3 franchise in Tokyo Comic Con: the Suicide Squad characters. Two were on display: Deadspot and Harley Quinn. Deadspot sure resembles Will Smith and the costume with his gazillion of weapons is faithfully reproduced to the shoelace. It’s pretty impressive the level of detail one can put on a 1:3 figures and Deadshot is a proof of that. I like the statue even though I really don’t give a dime for the movie and its characters. Again a merely matter of taste. Fans will (Smith?) surely love and jump onto the figure.

The other character from Suicide Squad that will most surely arise even more the desire (and the libido) of the collectors is Harley Quinn. Even though Prime 1 don’t have the wizardly of Hot Toys in make high fidelity actors faces in their products, I cannot deny they try it and almost nailed. Almost. Apparently she will come with several head displays for one to choose and some, like the one with the bubble gum, can do the trick. Regardless the resemblance or not with the actress, they managed to make her a pretty face that sure will please the Harley’s admirers out there and if I would bet I would say that her statue will be a big hit among collectors. I will content myself with my Yamato Black & White version of the character that I think is the prettiest Harley Quinn ever made and the one that I can afford to have. She matches perfectly with some B&W DC Collectible Batmans I have and with the Hot Toys also almost all B&W Jack Nicholson Joker I also have. Well this has nothing to do with Prime 1 on Tokyo CC, so lets leave the divagation apart and go to the last two figures I’ll cover.

Prime 1 was much more successful reproducing Wonder Woman from Dawn of Justice then Harley Quinn. The portrait of the WW actress is very accurate and The 1:2 piece is just magnificent certainly closing the 1:2 collection of the movie in great style. And by great I mean also the size. I would like to see pictures from a collection that have all the 1:2 statues compared to 1:4 statues just for sake of comparison and to really have an idea of how big these things are. I cannot imagine by myself. I know they’re huge but I have no idea of how big they are. There was also a Heath Ledger Joker there but I couldn’t find a good picture of it.

Finally, the most enigmatic and weird of the characters displayed on Tokyo CC: the 1:2 statue of a character from the upcoming game from Hideo Kojima, Death Stranding. If there was a 1:2 figure I could have this would be it. It looks like an astronaut of sorts and the design of the outfit is as strange as interesting. It certainly causes a strong impression, even more being a 1:2 statue. It’s a bold step from Prime 1 to bet so high on a game that’s not even out yet what, to me, makes this an even more desirable piece. Of course I’ll never have it. I’d rather buy the OG Hulk with that money than this strange astronaut but it certainly caught my attention amongst the huge assortment of new figures Prime 1 was able to amass to the delight of their fans. I bet there’s something more lurking in the backstage to come out in the next days of the show since I didn’t see no Venom, nor the N52 Flash on Kelvin Loke amazing coverage of the convention. I’m sure he wouldn’t miss these figures.

Well, folks, that’s it. My overview of what I could see from Prime 1 presence in TCC. It became such a big article I doubt someone will read it till the end. Or read at all. All I know is that I’m confident that I did my part. I did the best I could do. Hope someone happens to read and enjoy it.

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As I couldn’t lose the opportunity to ask all Prime 1 fans out there to sign the petition I’m carrying. I think it is a fair plead. If you think too, please sign and asking more than I should share it among your Facebook friends so we can make a difference. The idea goes like that:

To those interested in a good fight, or a fight for good, below is the link for the petition asking Sideshow to begin their payment plans as soon as the figures are out for pre-order, giving us more months to pay with smaller monthly fees. If you like this idea, just click the link below and sign the petition. It will take just a minute and can make a lot of difference to all of us average-pocket collectors.

Sideshow payment plans starting along with the pre-orders means more months to pay, meaning cheaper monthly fees, meaning more easier payments. If you want this to happen, sign the petition. It only takes a minute but can bring long term facilities to all of us Sideshow (and Prime 1 and Hot Toy and etc.) collectors.

https://www.change.org/p/sidewhow-collectibles-sideshow-we-want-payment-plans-with-more-and-lower-monthly-fees

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THE CURSE OF THE UNBOXED FIGURES

There are people who are so caring about their figures that they never even take them out of the brown box. They just stock all of them, exactly as they arrive and never ever got the feeling of holding the piece in their hands, assemble it and just watch if it was a good or a bad choice to buy it. If you suffer from this problem know you’re not alone. I don’t know what passes in someone’s head to act like this, but it happens. Often. To many people. I would like someone to behave like that to testify about their feelings regarding collecting this way.

In a lesser degree, and the most common case, I think more common than it should be, there are those that take the figure out of the box, examine to see if everything is in place and lock the figure down in the box again never to see the light of day again. I think this is a trend that happens more severely on collectible figures collectors than in other collectibles cases, since in this hobby the box is as praised as the figure itself. Even the brown box has an intangible (to me) intrinsic value. Having said that I have to admit I have several figures I never took out of the box because I don’t have the proper place to display them… yet. It’s all set to 2017. Me and my mom will join financial forces to remodel my room so all the figures can be safely displayed. However, until then, all my guys and gals are jailed in theirs boxes. I know many of you suffer from the “Curse of the Unboxed Figures” as if take the figures and keep them out of the box was kind of dismantle something in or about the figure or in / about you. It’s like a comfort to know you have them and that they’re all protected. Even if one do not enjoy the pleasure of seeing his/hers beloved statues.

I believe that while inside the box, the magic is kept, like Pandora’s box, once open hell will in some form unleash and break up the magic of the figure. I guess these collectors content themselves with the utopian image they have from their figures on their heads. This is a very contradictory behavior to say the least, since the statues are meant to be displayed and appreciated. Physically not mentally. I hope I get rid of the “curse” once my room turns into a collectible friendly environment. And once it’s done I will commit the greatest heresy of all to any cursed collector: I will throw all the boxes away because simply there’s not enough space in my house to keep the boxes plus the statues. I bet some of you even feel a chill down the spine just to think in throwing the brown box, the artbox, all boxes finally away. But I don’t mind. I’ve selected very carefully what I collected along these years and don’t plan to sell any of the figures of my collections. All the ones that had to go are already gone. Some I really miss (like my Deadpool with chicken hand SS Exclusive or my F4F Skull Kid and Metroid Varia Suit). But they were gone to buy even better or at least equally good new statues. So my collection, apart from Japanese anime PVC and hand painted resin kit models and some Bowen and Diamond Select pieces, and lots of some other smaller stuff, as some B&W DC Collectible Batmans, is composed now by Sideshow Statues. And I’m dying of curiosity to see them all displayed together like one happy big family.

I forgot to tell. I live in Brazil and more than half of my collection is in my brother’s basement in US, especially the big SS ones (but also a ton of smaller ones). Every time we go to visit him or he comes to visit us each one tries to bring as many figures as possible. What is never too many. The first visit I pay him in US I was able to bring two big figures: SS Daredevil and SS Captain America allied against Hydra (or something like that) and a lot of smaller ones. I must admit that I only had space right now to open Daredevil, since there’s no room for the old Cap and his raised hand here in my room right now. I must admit too that I didn’t have the courage yet to throw Daredevil’s artbox away. What I should have done after all I’ve said. I hate to admit but I’m a little cursed myself. However, I promised to me that I’ll get rid of all of the boxes once the reform of my room is over. I hope I keep that promise and do that. I don’t want and don’t stand to be cursed anymore. And, most importantly, I don’t have space for the figures and their boxes. And I don’t want them inside the their boxes either. I want my figures at plain sight where I can spend all the time I want inspecting mesmerized each and every piece, switching an exclusive item or another to get a new visual to a given image etc. I think that’s the reason I bought the figures in first place. I don’t want to just pile them up in their box never to be seen and live surrounded by boxes as I live today. And will live even more because my brother is coming to pass the end of the year holidays here and will most certainly bring some new stuff. I hope my SS He-Man comes with him. At least this piece. And it will be another hell of a box in my room (apart some smaller anime pieces he may bring). I will open He-Man, of course, but will not assemble it because I don’t know how to put it back inside the box again (talk about clumsy) and, as I said, I don’t have space to display it mounted yet. Once the reform is done, box will be banished from this house. I am lucky that Sideshow put all dimensions of their figures in each reference page so I can give the architect who will transform my room all the dimensions of the figures that are still in the US so he/she can calculate the space of the shelves according (leaving some room to three to four more figures). Yes, I’m planning to give up collecting in the near future. It became a too expensive hobby to me. And indeed there’s only one figure I don’t have that still excites the hell out of me that is old rare Sideshow Hulk, green version (…for now, is good to add). I will most certainly leave a space separated to accommodate him, since I will join all the money I can to buy him and close my collection with the grail of all grails figure IMHO. And will get rid of his box too! I’ll leave an extra space though because one never knows what will launch tomorrow… ;)

So, to everyone who suffers from the “Curse of the Unboxed Figure” I want to hear your comments. How do you deal with it, if it’s not a problem at all, if you feel anguish, if it has to do with trading value so you never sure what to keep and what to let go; in one word, what’s your relation with the boxed pieces?

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Oh, and to those interested in a good fight, or a fight for good, below is the link for the petition asking Sideshow to begin their payment plans as soon as the figures are out for pre-order, giving us more months to pay at smaller monthly fees. If you like this idea, just click the link below and sign the petition. It will take just a minute and can make a lot of difference to all of us average-pocket collectors.

Sideshow payment plans starting along with the pre-orders means more months to pay, meaning cheaper monthly fees, meaning more easier payments. If you want this to happen, sign the petition. It only takes a minute but can bring long term facilities to all of us Sideshow (and Prime 1 and Hot Toy and etc.) collectors.

https://www.change.org/p/sidewhow-collectibles-sideshow-we-want-payment-plans-with-more-and-lower-monthly-fees

INTERVIEW ABOUT KILLER CROC WITH SCULPTOR PABLOOD-Z

Sideshow’s Killer Croc figure got me when I saw a close up of its face. The lines where crude, rough, almost as they were being made with anger, with the same ferocity of the character. Obviously and undeniably, it was hand sculpted. Computers can’t do that. As I loved the result, I decided to look for the main sculptor – Pablood-Z – to discover more about the process of bring it to life. Here is what we got about this figure that’ been low on the collectors radar, but is a sculpting accomplishment to those who likes their statues to have strong personality and enjoys pieces done the old fashion way.

Killer Croc: rough, organic - human - lines. That makes all the difference.

1 – I like very much the way Killer Croc was sculpted it has more crude, rough lines than any other statue I’ve ever seen on Sideshow. It was decided by the design team? Or it was in common accord with you?

(Pablood-Z): Working with Sideshow is all about teamwork, a lot of decisions are taken before and after they assign a project to sculptors, however each sculptor put its style on it, and that's what I always do, give my vision of the character, always that I am allowed.

2 – Looking at the figure and you soon realize it was hand sculpted. The pose the imperfections, the asymmetry… humanity in this statue is explicit. It was a decision taken early on in the project? Not to look like a computer generated image?

(P-Z): I don't think so, nowadays I could say that digital sculpture has conquered the market, and it has open the doors to many digital sculptors that have not a “strong" artistic formation, I feel digital media only expands and increase my possibilities as sculptor, I am happy that I decided to make the transition.

3 – This idea of a more “crude” sculpting has to do with the character represented or did you wanted to make a totally “non-computer” sculpture to show Sideshow still pulls it great style?

(P-Z): When I sculpted Killer Croc, I had zero digital experience, I just did it the only way I knew. However I agree that the crude style fits better on characters like these.

Good old had sculpt all along.

4 – Don’t you think it was an audacious undertaking? Many people could turn their noses thinking it looked like an “unfinished” figure of sorts or “made in a rush”… (even though nobody seemed to care as much as I do about this aspect of the Killer Croc)

(P-Z): Well, it always depends on everyone's point of view, many people are not able to see the difference between a good and a bad job. But never pursued to get an unfinished general aspect, rather I pursued an organic one.

5 – Anyway, I think the result turn out awesome because of the roughness, there are almost “violent” lines on the sculpt which makes it feels so fresh and different and matches so well the feral character. Well, being said that, I would like to know, because I believe the comparison is valid since they’re all “reptiles”: were the Sideshow Teenage Ninja Turtles sculpted in ZBrush (or whatever software you use)? If so, it influenced in some way the decision of going old style with Killer Croc?

(P-Z): No idea of who sculpted the turtles for Sideshow or if they are digital or traditional sculpt, but in any case, I go my own style always that's possible.

Turtles, hope we don't cross at the sewers... for your own good...

6 – Speaking of ZBrush you also sculpt in 3D software? If so what do you prefer: hand sculpt or computer sculpt? What are the benefits and the hurdles of each method?

(P-Z): Although there is a lot to learn about Zbrush, I already can say that Zbrush allows me more freedom and control over traditional. In fact, I am at a point where I tell myself why I didn't make the change years before, I feel that digital flows inside me more in only 1 year than traditional did for more than 15 years of sculpting. I don't miss traditional, but I know that thanks to it I grew as an artist.

7 – It was more easy or more difficult to sculpt Killer Croc this way, more rough around the edges? Or is this your style of sculpting?

(P-Z): I felt very comfortable sculpting Killer Croc, I think it has to do more with my style. This has been one of those easy to do sculpts compared to other projects.

8 – How much time from first discussions about the character to the prototype we saw at Comic Con? I just discovered you changed companies and became the Art Director/Lead Artist from Imaginarium Art (a good subject for a next interview! That there will be if you’re up to!)

(P-Z): Killer Croc was sculpted by ends 2014 I think. It took me 2 and a half months to get it complete. Previously, David Igo, incredible friend and Art Director, came with the idea of it and he provided some reference images of the style he was pursuing, then told me to generate some ideas for a statue based on that style. I made several rough sculpts and we went for one of them, that took me a couple of weeks.

Sometimes I'm falling to pieces, somebody put me together... ;)

9 – What was the role of Alfred Paredes on the sculpture? I bet that mouse was his idea.

(P-Z): Alfred Paredes? No idea. The sculpture is reflecting 98 % the work I made. Oh yes, I just checked, they added one line of Bricks at the bottom of the base. Sometimes, Sideshow makes tiny adjustments and they credit that person at the same level as the one who made the entire job which I do not agree.

I am providing some images of my original sculpt that will allow you to get your own conclusions. The rat was not on the original concept, I decided to sculpt and put it there because I felt it was a good harmless addition.

 

Details... and the rat! ;)

10 – Why Sideshow is using this translucent effect in every new figure it releases? Is it a new technology? A new material? What it is? It’s getting quite out of control, annoying, in my opinion. It’s like customs trend of doing every single character “on throne” now. Annoys me too. (But those are very subjective opinions! To me, just gets overwhelming, repetitive and boring everything with translucent effect, everyone on throne. Gets stale fast.)

(P-Z): Translucent effect? Where precisely? I only noticed the translucency accordingly applied on the water on base, which is good. If translucent effect is required, why not use it? That's ok for me, no complain. Thrones, oh yes! Seems like the idea is that collectors want thrones, I am not fan of them at all, but everyone tends to think that characters on thrones will sell.

11 – Are you proud of the result? The painting really brought it to life, especially the eyes, but all the pallet from the darkest blackish green to brightest cream yellow is just fantastic. Apart the painting are you proud of the sculpture and the way it was done?

(P-Z): I think the paintwork is awesome and really brought the character to life, I like it. And I am happy with the job I did, however I am very critic with my own work in general, there are always things that could have been done better, you are able to see that more clearly with the past of time and seeing it from a distant point.

Incredible color palette. Impressive transition from very dark tones to very bright ones.

12 – Speaking of pride, please name three sculptures you’ve done that you’re proud of.

(P-Z): I could not talk about pride, but I can name a few I still like: Hulk vs Silver Surfer Diorama,

Blood Elf vs Draenei Diorama and the Galactus Legendary bust.

Handmade. No computers used.

13 – What character would you like to sculpt but were not able to tackle until now?

I love Silver Surfer, I would like to sculpt a 1/4 statue of it, my own design and style.

14 – What’s your favorite character (not necessarily from comics)?

Love Devilman, Cobra (space adventure), Ryu, Ken, Akuma and Bison

Akuma, Ryu, Ken some of Pablood favorite characters.
A Street Fighter fan, perhaps? :)

15 – What it takes to be a good sculptor? Can somebody embrace the profession in a cold, unpassionate fashion?

I am convinced that all is about a mix between passion, perseverance, enjoyment and attitude.

16 – What would astonish you the most: to see an alien or to see a ghost? (No, you can’t answer a ghost-alien or an alien-ghost! Take the easy road takes all the meaning of the question. :P)

Both are really interesting, I don't like aliens if we are referring to Giger's “Aliens”, I find them very boring at this point.

17 – Three bands you love and three favorite movies.

No favorite bands, I enjoy music in general, nowadays I am enjoying a lot Lana del Rey.

Movies? Many! “The Road”, “A Story of Violence”, “Oblivion”.

18 – Leave a phrase, a bombastic news or a quote to our fellow readers.

"I believe in god when everything is lost", I find it funny and a so fucking true statement at the same time.

And I have faith in you and in your bold decision of leave Sideshow and start a new career in a much smaller place. I desire you all that is best and that we can see your work again soon enough. I would like to add that, as probable the last Pablood-Z hand sculpt, certainly Killer Croc will be that much more valuable to me now. Thank you for taking your time to answer the questions. I and I believe the readers are thankful for that.

You can order Killer Croc with the exclusive crocodile alternate head right now through Sideshow sponsored link below (while supplies last):

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Oh, and to those interested in a good fight, or a fight for good, below is the link for the petition asking Sideshow to begin their payment plans as soon as the figures are out for pre-order, giving us more months to pay at smaller monthly fees. If you like this idea, just click the link below and sign the petition. It will take just a minute and can make a lot of difference to all of us average-pocket collectors. 

Sideshow payment plans starting along with the pre-orders means more months to pay, meaning cheaper monthly fees, meaning more easier payments. If you want this to happen, sign the petition. It only takes a minute but can bring long term facilities to all of us Sideshow (and Prime 1 and Hot Toy and etc.) collectors.

https://www.change.org/p/sidewhow-collectibles-sideshow-we-want-payment-plans-with-more-and-lower-monthly-fees