NYTF 2014: Armchair Coverage
Pre-Toy Fair News!

NoisyDvL5


So I was planning on posting a review for Friday, I’d even managed to scrounge up one more female action figure to finish off the girls week and then… Vault reviewed Casey Jones? Well, now you know why I usually put the theme week graphics in the top corner. They’re to remind him!

Anyway, it’s probably for the best because I forgot that Toy Fair news has really changed over the last few years. It seems like just yesterday when Convention Coverage was a multiple day affair, waiting for various sites to get their galleries up and longer for any reporting beyond a few sentences. Back when Armchair Coverage was useful.

Then, technology started to catch up, eyeFi cards that would load the pictures to the ‘net as they were taken. Twitter & Cover It Live could bring the news from the floor & panels to the globe almost immediately. For those who can’t travel to the show, we were just short of live streaming panels. We could almost be there by proxy.

But then the toy companies kinda caught on that they were letting toy blogs be their mouthpieces when they could control the news themselves. Mattel started getting all the toy bloggers rounded up in one room and would then post their press pics online while the bloggers were occupied with the presentation. That’ll take the wind out of your coverage. Other companies haven’t been quite so stingy – they prefer to just release some news & images to various media outlets prior to the show.

This is particularly true at NYTF which isn’t open to the public. Today has already been filled with news of that nature, so I’m going to skip the review and head right into coverage for today.

Here are some highlights:

MARVEL LEGENDS

Hasbro had already let slip that the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy film would be getting Marvel Legends and they opted to use Yahoo to reveal the figures today. In a cool twist, they displayed the figures in the same style as the recent movie poster:


My personal jury is still out on these. They look like fun figures, but I have to like the movie before I’m going to want the toys. I have a great comic-based Rocket already (& the likenesses on these early samples could be better). Groot is standing out to me though, so I might want him. Will he be a BAF? We won’t know til Hasbro’s panel this weekend.

NECA

NECA’s been getting in the build-up action with a few teases for Aliens 3, Rambo 2, & Dawn of the Planet of the Apes:

I can see ending up with the Alien if it’s cool as the rest of the Xenomorph’s so far. I don’t really need Maurice even though it looks like a great figure, but I will have this Rambo. (Now if we could just get NECA to make Force of Freedom figures…)

Mattel

Mattel also got in on the tease action with this e-mail to subscribers:

For those of you that want her, Congrats! Now where’s my Red Beast & Calix, ToyGuru?

Bluntman & Chronic

Remember those Bluntman & Chronic Retro Figures from 2001? No? Well, neither did I, but check out this cool feature at AFi!

DC Collectibles!

In my standard “Damn You DC” voice, “just when you thought you were out, they go and pull you back in”. I forget the exact quote, but you get it. DC Collectibles gave MTV an exclusive look at their NYTF Reveals.

Now, a lot of them I didn’t care about, but I will get my first New 52 figure form these reveals – I’m the one guy who actually liked the Supergirl costume (pictured at the top of this article) – but there are some interesting designs here based on various DC incarnations. The “Son of Batman” & “Lil Gotham” figures are kinda neat. The Infinite Crisis game figures are weird, but someone will eat them up.

But what’s got me excited is really out of left fiel: DCC is going back to the TAS well with fully-articulated, 6” figures based on the old cartoons. We’ve already got pics of TAS Catwoman and TNBA Batman (bring on TAS Batman, baby). I’m so done with buying Batman villains – it ain’t funny. But getting 6” TAS versions… I… I may be down for a few. Ugh! If DCC can keep that line going… well, it may not be such a “bleak streak” around here as far as DCC goes. I’m such a sucker. Check out all the pics at MTV.

I think that it’s for today. There will be tons more this weekend for sure! I will be working all weekend, but if we’re lucky maybe we can conscript Vault into posting Armchair Coverage for a chance. Vault, are you even reading this? Maybe I need to update that top right corner graphic to get his attention…

NoisyDvL5

44 thoughts on “NYTF 2014: Armchair Coverage
Pre-Toy Fair News!”

        1. One Word: Never!

          I know they have fans. You’re IATs biggest soft goods supporter, no doubt. But I just can’t stand cloth capes! I’d rather pay extra for multiple capes!

          2. he’s the most vocal, but not the only… especially after the achievements 3A in 1/12 scale, soft goods are the way to go for capes and jackets

  2. The new Xeno looks cool. I’m a huge fan of anything PoP-related, and since I sometimes feel like the only person in the world that’s looking forward to Razz, that was a pretty special reveal.

    But OMG BTAS/TNBA 6″!!!1! Not embarrassed to say I totally lost my cheese at that point. They could well be the meaning my life was missing, and I’m hoping for a full villain roster – plus a complete Bat-family, and Jim Gordon, and a Bullock and Montoya for him to pal around with. And then some Batman Beyond. Customs charges be damned!

    I… have to sit down now.

    1. Razz is a GREAT Reveal. I’m saving my excitement until the actual pics. I can’t wait until Sunday… or until Digital River messes up and spoils the reveals.

  3. 1. Gambit joined the Guardians of the Galaxy? I didn’t get the memo.

    2. Madame Razz will please all the She-Ra collectors. She’ll look awesome on my eBay listing!

    3. Those Batman TAS tribute figures are making me feel reaaally old…

    All I care about off the top of my head is if Hasbro will ever deliver all those Marvel Legends variants such as Dani Moonstar, Bulldozer, and classic Hawkeye. I’m also interested in Hasbro’s plans for G.I. Joe’s 50th anniversary.

    Thanks for getting the ball rolling, though! (And don’t work too hard all weekend.)

    1. lol @Razz.

      Hasbro does need to tell us what’s going on with the lost variants. No Bulldozer is just plain wrong.

      I’m trying not to work too hard – we have just had some unfortunate luck. I usually have a staff of 6-7 and I’m running with 3 after various issues. I don’t even have time to hire people, which y’know kinda prolongs the whole thing. LOL

  4. First up, Thank You Noisy for doing this. Some of us just don’t want to deal with all that ‘new media’ crap of NOWNOWNOWNOW NOOOOOOW and just enjoy reading about things in their own time. If I learn of a new line a week from now instead of seconds after it’s announced, I’m OK with that.

    Second, Yes YES on B:TAS figures. Never was keen on New Adventures, design-wise. I thought the TAS designs were very elegant and JUST ‘real’ enough. That likely only makes sense to a couple of people. Sorry. 🙂

    Third: There used to be a pile of links on the righthand sidebar. These are gone and have been for some time. If they were cluttering up the page, what about a new oval up top for links to other sites?

    (running Mac OS 10.5.8 and Firefox 16.0 with adblockers. I’ve turned off adblocker and re-loaded, no change, so I assume they’ve been removed)

    And finally: I don’t get the costume design of Nu-52 Supergirl. Why does she get the red panties and Supes goes without? (but both costumes seem intentionally designed to shout “and HERE is my genitalia!”, the heck?) What the HELL is going on with those odd cutouts on her boots? Those are the most impractical, non-sexy boots ever! I will pretend she’s not holding Kryptonite and it’s the green ‘key crystal’ from the 1978 Superman movie.

  5. GotG- could be worse, but the comparison pics show how much changed.
    Gamora – not liking the facial …tattoos? rest looks decent, or decent enough to custom a few other females that need updates. or movie figures. (koffDOFPkoff)

    Starlord – nice likeness of Pratt, but the coat length is obvious. at least they FINALLY made a NEW COAT instead of that same damn one they’ve (over)used since Fury for Cap1!
    custom potential: Madrox? Sam Guthrie?

    Rocket – ….kinda small for a single card, isn’t he? I expected him to be a pack-in. If there’s a BAF fr this line, this gy gets the biggest piece and then some. He also looks to be only 6poa? (neck ball, waist, shoulders, elbows)

    Drax – again, the raised tattoos are UGLY. didn’t really need him since his regular ML is still pegwarming, and he’s got 20 dozen WWE figs on top of that.
    custom potential: thug/crowd filler

    GROOT – what did I do with my Treebeard?

    I’m still waiting to see pics of Karen and Rooker as Nebula and Yondu. might have to bug Gun about that. again. esp if we don’t see them in the trailer this wkd!
    note to Noisy – Gamora review NEEDS 5″ AMY POND INCLUDED!!!!
    possible BAF: Ronan, “giant Groot”, Collector? dare e suggest THANOS this early?

    also I expect to hear confirmation of those “missing” running changes (Moonstar, Bulldozer, white Iron Fist, She-Hulk Lyrra-?, etc), the Thunderbolts/Jubilee wave, and a comic based StarLord after seeing that AIM torso.

    ———

    BTAS-
    CatWoman- ROWR, baby.
    I thought these were Mattel, as that looks like a Mattel DC buck. I need a few of these. don’t ask why, just get me them. STAT.

    NBA Batman – eh, it’s Bats. again.
    I imagine Joker, Robin, and a few others will debut with Freeze and whoever else has been announced already?

    Bat-kids
    Damien – kinda cute, I guess? did his DCUC ever make it out? or is that out “Super Secret SDCC Surprise” we were promised???
    Joker – kinda cool, but almost as played as Bats variant #46982436

    nu52 Supergirl – I still can NOT unsee that red as “Aunt Flo-ra visiting”. I’m not even starting on those “boots”.
    (did you ever notice nearly all female Krypronians’ names and in -ra? Kara, Lara, Faora, etc)

    “Infinite Crisis” GL – ugh. looks like someone was toying with Metallo in Injustice and threw some green on him and gave him a ring. Injustice GL is bad enough, but this cross of “Hal Corben” is a waste of plastic.

    at least the already announced DCC nu52 Power Girl and Huntress aren’t tooo bad. might get them and Starfire, who really needs bigger
    …hair.
    (what? 😉 )

    ———
    View Askew
    Chronic & Bluntman
    I had to laugh at these. I mean, I had the 8″ versions that came out with (Chasing) Dogma, but BM & C??? and CockKnocker to top it off? LMAO in a good way (unlike “Hal Corben”!)
    I’m not fan of the Mego “style”, but I might pick these up!

    1. oh yeah, Idle Hands has previewed some of the Doctor Who 3.75″ stuff.
      figures are bad 80s Happy Meal toys, but some of the playsets look cool.

      …for mini dioramas with cardboard backers. ugh.

      #ImissthefiveinchDoctors

    2. I’ll say it, if no one else will… Super girl IS wearing stupid boots, and those ARE period panties on the outside of her shorts… and that IS a six inch multiple-speed, water proof personal massager in her left hand… No doubt necessary due to the visitation from Aunt Flo.

      1. Luckily, I don’t go straight to thinking about women’s menstration. So what’re you going to do.

        With the exception of the strange knee-holes in the boots, I like the costume.

        1. oh don’t worry, enough people pointed this out when this design was first revealed for the nu52. I can’t believe they’re still keeping it. >_>

      2. I’m pretty sure that’s a Kryptonian chastity belt. And those boots are awesome. The worst thing about wearing thigh high boots is patella restriction, and her boots fix that problem fabulously.

        1. depends on how long it took her to get off… and it could be a jelly vibrator that just LOOKS like kryptonite… not every lime bomb pop is kryptonite either. 🙂

      4. *sigh* If she had normal boots, and the ‘panties’ were the same blue as the rest of the suit, it wouldn’t look bad. But that looks terrible – and they’re making it into a figure. *facepalm*

  7. I never cared much for movie figures, which is why I skipped over that one Spider Man movies figure series, but I do love GotG way more than Spider Man. I do plan to get this but I’m hoping some comic figures get thrown in there by the time it comes out. And just like I guess good ol Groot came out as the BAF, would have preferred a comic Groot instead though.

    I would love to hear about all the Chase/Variants that were all waiting for. That’s a lot of figures they need to release

    I am looking forward to a dog/ox alien though, I’d buy that for a dollar

    1. I’m sure we’re going to see more GotG figures, movie and comic, in the next few days. We still haven’t seen Gillan’s Nebula and Rooker’s Yondu in their movie looks, BUT the trailer drops this weekend, so IF they are getting toys, this may be the time to reveal it.

      Besides, that AIM torso is begging for a comic Starlord re-use.

      Groot – now that you mention it, he IS a bit taller than the other figures, and as I said above, Rocky better have a LARGE BAF part if he’s single-carded. Giving him the Groot torso would make sense. of course, this opens up another slot for an unseen character in a six figure line….

        1. I would hope so, but I’m not counting on it. I’d love some comics-based Guardians. It’s one of my favorite books right now. Gamora, especially, is on my most wanted list. But if history has taught me anything, it’s that toy companies usually do the opposite of what I want.

            1. Rocket was a BAF in a wave I never saw at retail, and on the secondary market he goes for more than a standard ML figure despite being a quarter the size.

              Drax, as you pointed out, was pretty weak. I saw him on clearance for half off and still couldn’t pull the trigger, though admittedly that was because 1) it was right after Christmas and toy funds were at a minimum and 2) he’s the only 6″ Guardian so far (other than the not-for-you-at-retail Rocket), and I don’t want to get my least favorite team member if the others aren’t on their way.

              Really, I just want a damn Gamora, which will probably never happen, as she’d require almost 100% new tooling.

  8. Timm/Dini batverse am I the only one hoping sales will help get into other Timm/Dini verse figs yes thinking JLU in this scale and CLASSIC DC.

    GotG hoping for Comic looks. Still have two more figs to be shown so who knows.

    The Lil Gotham love the Harley and easy buy. Just wonder scale cause I would have any Harleybholding that Joker doll

  10. HOLY S***********!!!!!!!!!! A 6″ BTAS line? Just when I thought I was “done” with DC… I may just go ahead and sell all of my DCUC figures….

  11. nu52 costumes are unpleasant in 2D or 3D (though the figures themselves look very pleasantly done) but TAS figures in 6″ scale!?! *sigh* stop spending my money for me IAT, it’s bad enough I’m buying Figuarts Power Rangers now, and some NECA odds and ends (I blame you for this, of course), but now this, this is just…Batman: The Animated Series in 6″ scale!

  12. I was really hoping to fall in love with the 6″ GotG figures, but those figures just leave me feeling blah. Part of it is how much they’ve changed the characters from the comics, part is how wonky the proportions are, and part of it is how bad the body language is. Looking at them next to the actual movie poster isn’t helping.

    6″ articulated BTAS figures blow my mind, but why did they start with NBA Batman, rather than the BTAS look? Still, having these representations of the characters in this scale, with this level of articulation, could be one of the best figure lines ever, provided the production version matches the prototype in quality, which, given my recent experiences with DCC products and their (lack of) QC, I’m not holding my breath for.

    1. I keep hearing DCC is better at QC than DCD, but I haven’t snagged one in a couple years.

      I think the reason for TNBA Bats & BTAS Catwoman is just to make it clear that both eras are game. Two-Face & Mr. Freeze will both be TNBA, but BTAS Batman probably isn’t tha far off…

      1. Arkham Origins Batman is one of the most disappointing figures I’ve bought in a long time. I kept hearing how great it was, and in the package, it looked it, but once I opened it, there were all sorts of problems with the paint, joints, and warped limbs. I’d had high hopes that he’d be my “Batman-to-beat” benchmark for figure quality and awesomeness, but the QC problems left me feeling majorly let down. If the joints worked half as well as a normal figure’s, the limbs weren’t warped (especially the left ankle. No amount of boil and freeze seems to be able to get that foot flat on the shelf), and the paint hadn’t stuck to itself anywhere two parts contacted each other, it would be one of my favorite figures.

  14. BTAS figs makes me stoked to see more of the lineup!

    As for Razz, I hope Mattel made way too many and chokes on ’em.

  15. I’m down for the Timmverse stuff, lil Gotham, and yes, that awesome Supergirl. I also happen to like the costume.

    I’ll take some heat for my next comment; I’m glad I’m finally going to get a quasi-Tropic Thunder Ben Stiller Rambo-esque figure (I dare you to unsee it now). 🙂

    1. Oh, and I have to say it even though it doesn’t really fit here, but I cannot get it outta my brain: “Everything is awesome!” 🙂

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