POWER AND DISMEMBERMENT

For those who don’t believe in the power of Facebook collectors groups an undeniable proof was given: you complained so much about Sideshow Psylocke portrait that the company changed it creating a completely different look for the statue. If it turned out better or worse is a subjective matter,  the fact is they did change the portrait because of us. I cannot stress it enough, we have power, our voice is heard by the companies. I can only wonder what we can achieve if we create a coordinated movement to, let’s say, ask for more months to be added to payment plans or to ask them to make a Flash or Penguin statue. I said it more than once, our saying is powerful, now with Psylocke's new portrait, you have the proof. I’ve tried to make a poll asking which statues you want Sideshow to do the most. The level of engagement was minimal because it seems we don’t know or don’t want to work as a group. I gave up trying to mobilize the community towards a goal it’s too frustrating to see so much potential capable of shape the hobby we love wasted. I won’t do it anymore but you again give the cue: at least Sideshow hears us because we are their core public. Prime 1 is another story, another reality altogether with censorship at bay. I don’t like this behavior. About XM I cannot speak because I really don’t know the company and its relationship with the public. Sideshow hears us if we mobilize ourselves towards a goal it may very well happen. I have to promise to myself that this is the last time I  talk about this subject.

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On another topic altogether, an inevitable path the evolution of statues is leading us is of increasingly complex pieces to mount. I don’t know if they think the collector likes to assemble their statues so the more pieces are regarded as better or simply because they’re daring more in the composition of the statues and it leads to this fragmentation of the pieces. I must admit I do not like complex rassemblement of my pieces, the simpler the better for me.  It’s all for now. Don’t have many contents this time around but felt the need to share this with you and hear your thoughts.

XM ON STGCC – INNOVATION FOR ELITE COLLECTORS

I have to take my hat off XM. They’ve put up the most impressive show. Better than Sideshow at SDCC and that’s saying a lot coming from an auto-proclaimed Sideshow fanboy. While Sideshow invested in portraits that are more realistic as the differential, XM truly innovated creating never before seen daring dioramas. Though there was plenty of average statues to the average collector (many very, very cool) the showstoppers were really geared towards top money collectors with plenty of space. Even though I believe, one of the best ones will be affordable to the average XM collector, the Hulk Transformation, a very inventive take on the hero, marvelously executed as Doctor Banner is detached from Hulk, making several ways of display possible. And they delivered one of the best Hulks sculptures I ever saw.

As I said, aside from Hulk Transformation the show wasn’t short of dioramas, some gigantic, all fantastically detailed and painted (a feature the XM highly praised QC will certainly deliver). I have no doubt that what was shown on the floor will be exactly like the piece you will receive at home. If they don’t improve it. XM seemed not to be afraid of alienate part of their customers from its more innovative – and massive – pieces. And there were several. Batman Shogun was one of them, a statue with a horse where the horse makes a big difference unlike Prime 1’s Wonder Woman on horse IMHO.

 The incredible Hulkbuster and its capacity to accommodate a 1/4 scale Iron Man coming out of him allowing for a variety of display options is impactful as well. And big.

The megastructure that is X-Men versus Sentinel diorama (which I don’t know why didn’t impress me as much as the ambition of such project) but is sure to please the deep-pocketed fans.

Finally, the diorama that stole the show due to its concise (so to say) size and surprising harmony of design: Batman Sanity. To display so many characters at once in such a constricted space and with elegance was no small feat. To me, the best sculpture ever released by XM. The only piece that I would truly own from the company, even though I know I will never have the means to. Because I can’t. I’m the average collector. And I know many won’t either. Affordability and displayability don’t seem to be a concern of XM as they sure are to Sideshow (a quality that I like about SS).

XM set or create a new standard with their dioramas. I don’t know where they go from here, how the industry and the collectors will react to what they shared. But I believe was the best expo I ever saw in my collector's life. There was something for everybody, everything impressive. Almost everything, I disliked the Red Hulk (just plain ugly, especially on the back) and the 1/3 Captain America failed to impress me (even though I love how the scales on the uniform turn feather-like in the shoulders of the statue). I still think that regarding portraits, Sideshow tops XM but only in this aspect (apart from being easily available and more affordable in the US where my brother lives). This show may be a game changer to the industry, especially if XM manage to sellout these crazy dios, which I’m certain they will. Hobby is about to get even more expensive I guess (albeit I thought the prices to be reasonable for what one will get, which isn’t the case with Prime 1 insane pricing and sometimes with my beloved Sideshow). 

Wanna see Sideshow top this base on their upcoming Juggernaut.

   

THE POLEMIC ABOUT ROGUE’S PORTRAIT AND PRICE

Angelina Jolie? Fergie? Kirstie Alley? Who the portrait of the Sideshow’s newly released Rogue Maquette really looks like? Answer: none and all of them. Sideshow took a bold step this year revealing figures – especially females – with more realistic portraits. Greater realism had an interesting side effect on collectors’ perception – which I believe Sideshow didn’t expect –: they found resemblance of the portrait with real life people. I don’t know how this will impact the sales but if Sideshow continues to pursue this venue, comparisons like that will become a rule more than an exception. Is it bad? I don’t think so. In my own personal opinion, I think the statues look much livelier with said realism; it adds a completely new level of personality to the pieces that I think is an admirable feat and a thing that must be valued. I thought Red Sonja Queen of the Scavengers was the apex of Sideshow efforts regarding female portraits. I imagined nothing could surpass her. SDCC18 came to prove me wrong; Rogue, Psylocke, Emma Frost, Elektra, X-23, Wonder Woman, Rebel Terminator and Harley Quinn have all distinctive realistic portraits with well-defined expressions, conveying an attitude and, even further, a charisma unseen in this hobby. I’m fine with the comparisons with real people, they help the figure to get a buzz, it’s an automatic promotion of the piece among the community what I believe won’t hurt Sideshow. On the contrary.

Talking about comparisons, I couldn’t care less about Terminator-related figures but I found Rebel Terminator to have a striking resemblance with my beloved Natalie Portman so she instantaneously became number two on my list (in between Little Mermaid and Harley Quinn). I couldn’t see that coming or even possible (since Sideshow is terrible replicating real life people). It blew my mind; even though my sister said the portrait had nothing to do with Natalie at all. Lol. In the end is how one looks to these more realistic portraits, Sideshow just need to keep them beautiful. What of course they will.

About Rogue’s price, I must say it’s out of my league, but by today standards, taking into account the complex engineering of the figure – sustained only by one hand – and by being labelled as “maquette” (which Sideshow already made clear are their deluxe, more expensive line) I don’t think it’s a friendly price but I think it’s a fair price. When one compares the figure with Prime 1 1/4 offerings, that clock around seven hundred bucks as well, I think it’s even more fair. I predicted a couple of years ago that a nine hundred dollars Anti-Venom 1/4 statue from Prime 1 statue would have a disastrous impact on the market. If there’s a company driving the prices of the figures up, the honor goes to Prime 1 in my humble opinion. But back to the subject, look at the two Sideshow pictures below:

Now tell me what you prefer: to spend 300 USD on the left one or 715 USD on the right one? Of course, you could choose to save your money (which is always the smartest choice!) but you cannot deny that there’s an immense evolution from one figure to the other. To say the least. I prefer the term revolution. Is this revolution worth 400 + dollars? Unfortunately to me it’s too much, but I am a very financially constrict collector. I can’t buy anything over six hundred dollars. Once per year. If so! I bought none this year so far. However, to the collector that buy two or three statues each year I believe is a completely feasible price for such a high-end statue. Please, compare again the two pictures below:    

Can you see any difference in the quality of the portraits of these two figures? The first (the well-versed collector surely knows) is the newest Catwoman 1/4 figure from the all-hailed XM Studios. I think that it is subpar when compared to Rogue. To say the least again. Of course, she comes with a bike and god knows how many swappable parts but I hardly believe it has an affordable price when shipped to US. What surprises me though is nobody complaints about her price. And even more, I see community praise the face sculpt of this piece while saying the new Sideshow outings to be masculine. In my humble personal opinion XM have some great male portraits, especially villains, but in the female department there’s no match in the 1/4 market to what Sideshow presented us this year on SDCC. I can’t even imagine what comes next. And can’t imagine the uproar when Juggernaut price is unveiled. Lol. That’s how the community is, in my humble opinion again, Sideshow is the company everybody loves to hate and complain. Sometimes with reason sometimes not. But, hey, as I said in the last post, I’m a Sideshow fanboy, so I’m totally biased about my opinions. I would like to close this post with a phrase: pictures don’t lie. See ya (I hope!).

ADENDUM:

I’ve made a thoroughly research with the Facebook community about which figures they desire the most to be made into PFs by Sideshow. From dozens of suggestions I narrowed the list to around twenty characters (the ones people gave more “likes”) and created a poll on the “Sideshow Collectibles Fan Page” and another on “Statue Collectors” Facebook groups. I then contacted Sideshow and shared the links of said polls for them to analyze. The rep replied me telling that she passed the links to the Production Team.

I have made all this effort in order to help fellow collectors (like you, I assume) to show Sideshow the figures they should consider doing, since the community comprises the core public of their products. To my dismay, the adhesion to the polls was underwhelming, as I believe, would be necessary hundreds of votes to get Sideshow attention. So I came here with a plead: even if you don’t believe, even if just for fun, if you’re a member of one of the said Facebook groups, take a look, click on the characters you like, make a difference. The links are below. You may say I’m a dreamer but I think that if enough of us participate we may surprise ourselves. Enjoy! I won’t do this twice and I pretty sure no one else will. ;)

- Poll onStatue Collectors

- Poll onSideshow Collectibles Fan Page

BONUS! CONVERSATION :P

IMO its all about opinion... But, even though the quality is better and realism isnt bad, i think ROGUES portrait isnt good and doesnt look like her. It has great quality, but, i really dont like it. Its all opinion.
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Like · Reply · 44m
Bolalaranja Smith
Bolalaranja Smith I must confess I don't like the portrait either. But one cannot deny the qualities of the sculpture regardless its own taste.
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Like · Reply · 37m

The quality is top notch. The problem isnt the quality for me. Its the design the look itself, it doesnt appeal to me at all.
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Like · Reply · 32m
Bolalaranja Smith
Bolalaranja Smith The ones I like I already named in the post (Little Mermaid, Rebel Terminator, Harley Quinn and, as a very distant dream, the all-hated PVC Swamp-Thing. He is my favorite character and I happen to love the sculpture that much. Done by hand, the old style, is fabulous). I don't like the portrait of Rogue, I would never buy that statue as cool as think it is, it isn't beautiful. And what I seek in those statues is beauty. All forms of beauty, from Little Mermaid, to Rebel Terminator to Swamp Thing. There's no connection between, they don't belong the same universes, they are very different "sculpturally" speaking, but their are beautiful, very beautiful in my eyes. That's what matters to me. And second being from characters I could relate to. Almost all the time, I remembered I don't have no relation with the character Captain Marvel and I have her. Red Sonja I read some stories but beauty alone was what made me choose her.
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Like · Reply · 17m

I choose statues cuz of characters I love and the statue being a must for me. Pose, quality, details, all counts. I pre ordered Prime1 sqamp thing cuz it blew my mind. I always liked swamp thing, and, for me the portaits, the extra arm with the sword. Its just amazing for me. Its all about what YOU love and you want. As long as you love it, go for it!
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Love
 · Reply · 12m
Bolalaranja Smith
Bolalaranja Smith Think I will post what I just wrote in the post. Lol. I think this honesty about the figure must be revealed. Do you mind if I copy and paste on the post your comment as a closure? When I update the blog I Iet you know so you can see it.
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Like · Reply · 7m · Edited

Sure thing man! Thanks! Ill look forward to it!
Manage
Like · Reply · 5m
Bolalaranja Smith
Bolalaranja Smith I go beyond, you said it. Is not just beauty, it's love. That is what has to guide me. Beautiful and love are connected, we are visual beings, but love is deeper than beauty. So is a better guide for my choices.
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Like · Reply · 4m

No doubt about it! Go for it man, i always say it, i pre order and own pieces i LOVE. Its what matters the most for me.
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Kristie's face with Angelina's nose.
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Like · Reply · 1h
Bolalaranja Smith
Bolalaranja Smith Don't you want to read? I talk about XM in the end. And make one invite. ;)
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Like · Reply · 1h

I did read it. And I stand by my opinion, humbly. 😉
Manage
Like · Reply · 54m
Bolalaranja Smith
Bolalaranja Smith Lol. Thank you. The post was updated, by the way. I added more content. And maybe add some more. If I find someone to tel what just happened.
Manage
Like · Reply · 4m · Edited
Bolalaranja Smith
Bolalaranja Smith Life got funny and crazy now. Surprising to say the least.
Manage
Like
 · Reply · 2m
Bolalaranja Smith
Bolalaranja Smith Bye I need to put an end in this subject on the blog.
Manage
Like · Reply · 1m
Bolalaranja Smith
Bolalaranja Smith Discover. And if possible, use.
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Like · Reply · 1m

Go live once more seeking some answers. All we be revealed.

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A private message conversation that happened.

Hey there. Saw your post linking to your blog and after reading through the article you linked I had a question for you: would you have an interest in exchanging your time writing articles for $ and/or discounts on Sideshow/Hot toys, etc products? I'm  a wholesale distributor who recently started up a new website (https://www.toyorigin.com) and am looking for a few writers to come on board to help me regularly publish articles to the blog related to one sixth scale figures, statues, news about the space, stuff like that. Doing article re-writes of articles on competing websites that I want a version of on our website

What's your proposal?
I'll make mine afterwards. 🙂

Open to discussing on the particulars on an agreement, just mostly wanted to check if it was something you might be interested in or not to begin with

What are the particulars, through what medium?

I would be looking for articles written in the toy space. Would probably start with re-writes. so I will link you an existing article that I want "re-written" in your own words while using a set of keywords that I give you throughout the text.

I would like to know how much I would receive for doing this.

O
Oops*
I'm open to negotiating the rate, but it would be per article. Or instead of cash; if you purchase items from Sideshow regularly I am a distributor and can offer you the amount in the form of savings.  Cash-wise  per article though I'm open to hearing what you think is fair. ~4-500 word articles

So it means is my turn. 🙂

Indeed, haha

Three points has to be made clear from the start. I will be completely honest.
- I’m Brazilian and live in Brazil. My English is self-taught so is not up to represent your company.
- I can try to re-write the articles still if you want. To see if I like or feel able to do it.
- I don’t know the value of such services.

That being said here’s is my proposal. To work the other way around. Instead of rewriting things for you that I wouldn’t publish on my blog or divulgate on the communities, I put you as sponsor of my blog. In every post I make I would put an advertisement of your company. But I’ll go further. Since you are starting, to attract new costumers, you could give 20% discount, what I think is a very attractive number, I would be attracted by it, through a link especially in my blog. I would put something along these lines: Only on ccfig: 20% off on ToyORigin. You would send me some pictures of the figures you would like on the background I would create the banners and direct possible costumers to your store. Man of Acton Figures, a competitor of yours, gives these discounts periodically to costumers, hence the suggestion. Plus, I will post only when I find a good story. It’s how it works for me. The content with my bad English wouldn’t be inside your company yet you would benefit by my services, of writing, being an active member of the community (somewhat respected) and divulgate your brand in all statues communities that really matters. I would like for this services 77USD per post, is my lucky number :), paid through PayPal. I can begin in this post that is online right now. It may reach, by the hot subject, 1k readers. I have already 510 hits. So think fast. And choose one of the products sideshow sells so I can create the banner and post as soon as possible. That’s it.

(the conversation went all the night until morning and I ended empty-handed as I was and expected. :P) 

BONUS 2 - List of Characters on the polls.

Dark Knight Returns 5
Classic Doctor Octopus 4
Nightcrawler 15
Doctor Strange 4
Silver Surfer 11
Adam Warlock 3
Beast 8
Hawkgirl 4
Winter Soldier 3
Bishop 4
She-Hulk 5
Two Face 4
The Riddler 5
The Flash 20
Nightwing 6
Spawn 5
Etrigan 6
Martian Manhunter 8
The Question 5
Red Lantern Bleez 4
Captain Cold 4
Michael Myers 4
Pumpkinhead
Leeloo (Fifth Element)
Moon Knight 8
Bizarro 4
Disney Line of Villains
Nova 2
Iron Fist 4
Conan 5
Captain Cold 4

SS SWAMP THING ES AND THE POWER OF THE FACEBOOK COMMUNITIES

I intended to buy SS Swamp Thing statue but the price became very prohibitive for my present reality. Plus I think I would need to ship it directly to Brazil since Brazilian’s airports don’t accept oversized luggage (what I think is precisely the case) and shipping to Brazil, paying all the taxes here would more than double the value of the statue. I don’t mind it being PVC at all (since is my all-time favorite character) but most of the members from the Facebook’s communities thought otherwise and despised the figure. I went to check the statue just now and discovered that the Limited Edition size to be of only 250 pieces! Astonished, this led me to some conclusions. First, the immense majority of the collectors are members of said communities. Second, we have the power to simply shake the market with our words and actions (or, in the case of Swamp Thing, lack of action). I think I’m not overestimating things here. As another example, I could mention that former custom sculptors highly praised by the community are now working for the big companies, as is the case of Daniel Bel and Kucharek Brothers (to name the ones I’m aware of). I believe they would not come to the eyes of the big guns if it wasn’t for us, collectors who religiously build these communities. Most of us decided not to buy SS Swamp Thing and since most of us are the majority of their buyers, we flopped the statue. We clearly stated that we don’t like our statues to be all PVC. For some reason the community understands that PVC is a worst, cheap material to build a so expensive figure and this common sense of hundreds or thousands of people hit heavy on Sideshow. We, even without organizing any movement, were able to achieve those things. I can only imagine what we could achieve if we organized ourselves. I believe every major company has the eyes upon us. They know we are their core public, the ones that really love collecting figures and the ones that drive the sales of their products. We, members of the main statues communities are the ones who spend hundreds and commonly thousands of dollars in their products per year. We are their public, the target they have to hit. We have a power, a saying, that I don’t know how to measure. Or better yet, I know. I will launch a little experiment and see what happens. Wait and see. If I’m correct about our latent power we will achieve something most of us desire. And I will gladly wait Sideshow give a fat discount and free global shipping to Swamp Thing to see if I can gather the means to acquire it. Swimming against the tide I’m not a PVC hater and I just happen to love the character and the sculpture (and the EX). Being said that, I felt fooled because my most expensive piece, SS Hulk LSB (is the fourth time I mention this statue today, utterly curious) is made out of fiberglass. I asked Sideshow the material and they never answered. That got me pissed but I love the piece so much that decided to accept the facts.

In resume, you and me and everybody from the Facebook communities have (Sideshow at least) in our hands. We’re just not aware of that and don’t know what to do with such power. Well, this is my conclusion. I know that many of you don’t believe that. Wait for my experiment and the next SDCC and we’ll see. I may be proven wrong but I really believe I won’t.

Finally, I would like to thank each and every one of you that makes these communities so lively and fun. It’s a pleasure to be part of them with you. It’s a thing made by collectors to collectors that only who’s in and love figures can truly grasp. I’m sure that at least all of us share this sentiment. J       

P.S.: you may be asking why I don’t think the communities affect Prime 1 and XM as much as Sideshow. Well, first XM has lower ESes, is from a different market and everything they do sells out. As for Prime 1, their community feels like 1984 or a Disney cartoon, one cannot criticize, everything is always wonderful there, always flowers and smiles (a too alienated place for my liking). It’s like the fans lack the personality that Prime 1 figures also do. That’s why.

P.S. 2: anyone got scammed by Project Triforce too? Lost 750 bucks ordering a never to be seen Goliath from the Evolve game.

P.S. 3: I will run the experiment on Statue Collector community. Hope you participate on it. 

THINGS LIKE THANOS PRICE...

Come and get me, jerk.

Things like Thanos on Throne Maquette price and it’s huge acceptance are what make the market come out with these crazy prices. I thought that the market – aside Prime 1 whose new character from the Batman series jumped from 1k to 1,5k (besides other price atrocities like Venom and Anti-Venom) – things had being quite stable for some months. Had. At least at Sideshow front. Now Malavestros costs 600 bucks, a character from an IP Sideshow owns. So no extra IP costs here. It’s a magnificent piece for sure. One of the last pieces almost entirely sculpted by hand (except for the scroll). But man, 600 bucks when months ago we were complaining of Deadpool $699 price tag…

Apart from one last piece to spend my hard-earned reward points (which I thought it could be Malavestros but now I begin to believe will really be the new She-Ra) I’m off the collectible statues bandwagon. It’s too much for me. I think if prices continue to raise this way they will alienate the ones who helped this market flourish at first place. Now it’s becoming a Richie Rich limited club. And Thanos is not a 1/3 statue. It is a big 1/4 statue for sure but still smaller than Prime 1 1/3 offerings. And by the looks of it, it will be almost all hollow as Sideshow’s last set of Hulks. It’s a pretty impressive piece nonetheless. Massive and detailed. I will not deny it. I believe – if Thanos comes detached from the throne (what everyone expects) – it will come in two boxes or on a very, very big one so the shipping costs won’t come cheap too. Be prepared to spend at least $1,300 for it. Still a distance from Prime 1 new Mr Freeze but not that far. Scarily not far. And collectors asks for more of it so the sky is the limit for statue’s prices. Again. And again here I am complaining on the prices of statues. When I remember I bought Captain America Allied Charge on Hydra PF, an astounding piece, for $399 I know how off the prices had gone. They can argue what they want, that manufacturing is becoming increasingly expensive, that the pieces are more detailed due to being computer generated but at the end of the day this industry seems to walk against market rules, where the more the competitors the lower the prices. In collectible figures industry it doesn’t matter the increasing number of competitors the prices keep on rising. Incredible. 

Malavrestros or She-Ra. One of them will be my farewell to this. It seems a plausible assumption to me that in maybe three to five years, if the industry don’t collapse meanwhile, an average 1/4 figure will cost $800 and there will be people still buying them. Wait. There are already 1/4 figures costing more than $800! Unbelievable.

Well, when the plateau reaches this high I’ll be long off and will just watch with a mix of pity, sinful joy and perplexity who are paying for these prices. As many may already be doing the same thing behind our backs right now. Very wise of them. 

$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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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